Act 2, Scene 1: The curtain rises. Saturday. Darkness.
Gradually, some areas of the stage are lit, dimly at first. Most slowly become well-illuminated over the course of a few minutes. Other areas remain dark or ill-lit.
This appears to be the same set as Act 1. However, as the lighting begins, it becomes obvious this isn’t exactly the same set at all. What appeared in Act 1 to be a neighborhood in Atlanta is now divided into distinct areas. Boundaries are drawn, more or less corresponding with the lighting.
Some areas of the stage are lightly dusted with white powder. Others have several inches or are mostly bare. These patches appear to have no correlation to how the various areas are lit.
Within each area, ATLANTANS are sleeping. Gradually, they rise. All are wearing heavy clothes — gloves, hats, boots, and sweatshirts. The sweatshirts all bear different lettering, none of which appears to correspond to either the boundaries now drawn on stage, the lighting, or the white powder. (Examples include: ATL: North, OTP; ATL: South, ITP; ATL: West, East Point; AinT’L: Tucker; etc.)
At one end of the stage a sign reads: “Ice Rink closed due to ice.”
At the other end of the stage, a sign reads: “Snow Mountain closed due to snow.”
A WEATHER EXPERT enters.
WEATHER EXPERT: What you have to understand is that weather-forecasting is a complicated science. If you read into the details …
ATLANTANS begin to boo.
WEATHER EXPERT: … of our five-part hexa-terrific model, you will begin to understand that the patterns that emerged from this storm system are correct to within three decimal places of expectation for …
ATLANTANS continue booing, now drowning out whatever it is that WEATHER EXPERT is saying.
WEATHER EXPERT: [ad-libbed scientific-sounding phrases that will not be heard]
ATLANTANS boo until WEATHER EXPERT exits the stage.
In each area, ATLANTA CHILDREN begin to stir and tug at their parents.
ATLANTA CHILD 1: I want to see the snow!
ATLANTA CHILD 2: Mommy, mommy, snow!
ATLANTA CHILD 3: Daddy, daddy, snow!
ALL ATLANTA CHILDREN: Snow! Snow! Snow!
ATLANTANS in all areas begin to further bundle their children (who are already wearing gloves, hats, boots, and sweatshirts). Scarves, parkas, and heavy outer jackets are applied until all ATLANTA CHILDREN can barely move. Gleefully, the children waddle out to play.
TV NEWS REPORTERS enter. They jostle one another, fighting for space within each area of the stage in a seemingly random manner. ATLANTANS in each area dance and wave at them, most pointing excitedly at the nearest ATLANTA CHILDREN. Eventually, the TV NEWS REPORTERS are more or less evenly distributed about the stage. The MEME SALESMAN lurks in the background, slinking from area to area with a camera and a notepad.
TV NEWS REPORTER 1: As you can see here in ATL-OTP-PRIME, #ATLSNOMG2017 has brought nothing but joy!!!!
TV NEWS REPORTER 1 is standing in a well-lit area with mostly very little white powder but a few small mounds. TV NEWS REPORTER 1 grasps handfuls of the white powder and holds them high toward the audience. Nearby ATLANTANS cavort with their children.
TV NEWS REPORTER 2: As you can see here in ATL-ITP-PRIME, #ATLSNOMAGEDDON2017 has had a devastating effect!!!! Inches of snow cover every surface, and some homes are still without power!!!!
TV NEWS REPORTER 2 is standing in a dimly lit area with very little white powder in scattered patches. Nearby ATLANTANS shiver dramatically. Only a few feet away, ATLANTANS in a completely dark area scowl and shake their fists, but you can’t see them.
TV NEWS REPORTER 3: As you can see here in …
THE GOVERNOR enters, accompanied by HANDLERS, YES-MEN, and THE MAYOR OF ATLANTA.
All TV NEWS REPORTERS stop what they are doing and rush toward THE GOVERNOR. In so doing, some of the TV NEWS REPORTERS comically collide with cavorting ATLANTANS in well-lit areas while others rush past obviously distressed ATLANTANS trying to get attention in dimly-lit areas.
As the TV NEWS REPORTERS approach, HANDLER 1 grasps THE GOVERNOR by the left arm and whispers fervently into his left ear. Immediately, HANDLER 2 grasps his right arm and whispers fervently into his right ear.
THE MAYOR OF ATLANTA brushes imaginary dust off his expensive suit, clears his throat, and approaches TV NEWS REPORTERS, who walk right past him.
THE GOVERNOR: I am pleased to stand before you and say that our great state has weathered another mighty storm.
ATLANTANS in completely dark areas continue to scowl and shake their fists, but no one pays them any attention, except HANDLER 2, who glances their way briefly, then shrugs.
THE GOVERNOR: We have done so thanks to the great leadership of our state officials.
THE MAYOR OF ATLANTA appears upset. He raises his hand. No one pays him any attention.
THE GOVERNOR: I am pleased to report that power has been restored to most areas, and all businesses are up and running safely.
In the background, GROCERS walk by, each dragging a comically large bag labeled $$$.
THE GOVERNOR: By working diligently throughout the night, our multi-agency strike teams have kept our roads and interstates clear and free of ice and snow. We encourage you not to use them, however.
THE MAYOR OF ATLANTA loudly stomps off the stage.
THE GOVERNOR: GDOT is continuing to monitor the situation and is responding to any and all trouble spots accordingly as those reports come in.
TV NEWS REPORTER 1 wanders off.
THE GOVERNOR: Schools will remain closed at the discretion of local officials.
TV NEWS REPORTER 2 wanders off.
THE GOVERNOR: The State Operations Center will remain active until my Proclamation of Emergency expires at midnight Sunday.
TV NEWS REPORTER 3 wanders off.
THE GOVERNOR: Everything will be fine in time for your commute to work on Monday.
All ATLANTANS groan.
THE GOVERNOR: I urge Georgians to remain cautious, vigilant and patient.
THE GOVERNOR exits, accompanied by HANDLERS and YES-MEN.
—–
Act 2, Scene 2: Saturday evening. The stage is the same as before, only now there is no longer any white powder visible, and the lighting is uniform.
ATLANTANS sit, dejected, while ATLANTA CHILDREN, now covered in mud, play.
The MEME SALESMAN wanders the stage, attempting to sell captioned photos of ANGUISHED ATLANTAN, now with added mud snowman and milk sandwiches.
Curtain.
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