_Beach at the ocean. Eric and Kim, two s...

Beach at the ocean. Eric and Kim, two seniors in high school, are lying on lounge chairs. Both have bottles of water.

ERIC [takes sip of water] Hot enough for you?

KIM I'm boiling.

ERIC If it gets any hotter, the ocean may start boiling. Doesn't seem like the responsible way to cook fish.

KIM Just remember, there is no such thing as global warming.

ERIC Right. Gives a new meaning to a scorched earth policy. Meanwhile, somewhere in Alaska another polar bear just fell through the ice. holds up plastic (bottle) Maybe we shouldn't even be drinking out of these things. Think how many fish out there are eating plastic.

KIM You're right. But then so are we. I wonder how much micro- plastic we have in our bodies?

ERIC What's it matter. What we know is, it's there.

KIM I have a reusable plastic bottle. Maybe I should blow off the dust. I can buy you one, too.

ERIC Thanks, Kim. Seems like the least we can do. Just think. If global warming keeps going the way it is, when we reach the prime of our lives, we could be like to be two prime steaks on a grill.

KIM Mind if we change the subject? I'm getting overheated just thinking about it (takes a sip of water).

ERIC What do you want to talk about?

KIM Oh, I don't know. How about what we're going to do for our senior-class drama project? Remember, we're supposed to be thinking about it over the weekend. I don't know about you, but I'm not very excited about the choices. I mean, I know they're both classics but you'd think we could find something more relevant to our lives than Hello, Dolly.

ERIC You'd think. I'm not that excited about Our Town, either. How about you?

KIM It's a nice story. But, Jeez, here we are, wondering if the earth is going to be habitable when we grow up, not to mention what it's like for our kids. And those two shows are supposed to get us excited?

ERIC Well, what good's it do to get upset about it. You and I can't do much about it.

KIM I'm surprised you'd say that, Eric. A lot of kids our age are demonstrating about ... holds up hands to (indicate quotation marks) "climate change." Think about the Sunrise Movement and how the members are fighting for the Green New Deal.

ERIC True. But until a majority of adults get with the program, how much influence can people our age have? I mean, here we are, being taught about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and there they are, thinking about life, liberty, and the pursuit of misery. I don't know about your parents, but about all mine do is sit in front of the TV and groove on how terrible things are.

KIM Mine, too. Only my parents, I hesitate to say, are even scarier.

ERIC What can be scarier than being hooked on misery?

KIM Well, as you know, they're really religious, I mean, what they think is really religious. They can't wait for the "End Times," when we all die, the sinners go to hell, and faithful like them ascend into heaven. You'd think religion would tell them to take care of this life first.

ERIC You'd think. Anyway, it doesn't seem as if there's much of a chance they're going to rush to the rescue of the planet.

KIM Unfortunately, that seems to be the case. Hey, I have an idea.

ERIC Quick. Tell me. I could use a real-world uplift.

KIM What if we suggest to Ms. Carlson that we create our own show? Something about the real challenges we face.

ERIC What? Like climate change?

KIM Why not? Right now it's like what they say about the weather. Everyone talks about it but nobody does anything about it.

ERIC Yeah, but how can we make that entertaining?

KIM Maybe we do something deeper.

ERIC Like what?

KIM A reason to care about the future of the planet. I mean, how much can you really care if you're hooked on misery and if you're deepest religious beliefs offer you a personal escape route?

ERIC How do you think it would affect our parents?

KIM Who knows? But I know how their indifference and the indifference in Washington could effect us in ten or so years unless we act now.

ERIC Tragic but true. Hey, what if we call the show the opposite of what they hooked on? Like Hooked on Happiness.

KIM I like it. Who would think such a harmless sounding title could be such a radical departure from what our parents are so locked into? Do you think Ms. Carlson would consider letting us do our own show?

ERIC Let's bring it up in class. All she can do is reject the idea.

KIM Sounds like a plan. Gee, a different kind of feeling just came over me. Now when I look at the ocean, I don't feel like a threat. I feel like a friend and kind of sacred.

ERIC Yeah, me, too. So let's not disappoint the ocean.

KIM I'm ready to go for it. I'm also already ready to get out of this heat. What do you say?

ERIC Yep. At least, we can hide out in air conditioning.

KIM Sure. Until the power grid goes down.

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