A Joyless Search

SETTING: A cluttered living room. The furniture is slightly askew, cushions are out of place, and books lie open on the coffee table. A step stool is in the corner. All the lights are on, casting a bright glow over the chaos.

TIME: June 2025

AT RISE: PENELOPE stands on the step stool, peeking behind the bookcase. ROGER is on his hands and knees, looking under the couch. He scoots across the floor, lifts the cushions one by one, and peers behind them. PENELOPE moves the stool to the window and climbs again, peeking behind the curtains. ROGER moves to the coffee table, flipping through books and lifting knickknacks. PENELOPE walks over to ROGER, lifts the back of his shirt, and ruffles his hair.

PENELOPE

(Frustrated) Can you see her?

ROGER

(Stopping, earnest) No, I can’t.

PENELOPE

(Sighing) I can’t either.

ROGER

(Flustered, a little out of breath) I’m looking everywhere. There’s no sign of her.

PENELOPE

(Stepping back, shouting) Joy! Joy! Where are you? Come out, Joy. Come back to us!

ROGER nods in agreement, searching half-heartedly now.

PENELOPE

(Sadly, looking at ROGER) I can’t find Joy anywhere. Maybe she really is gone.

ROGER

(Putting an arm around her) She might be. There may never be joy in our lives again.

PENELOPE

(Looking down, shaking her head) I can’t imagine we’ll never see Joy again. This is too much. This is so sad.

ROGER

(Slowly nodding) Yes. It’s joyless. We are without Joy. There is no Joy here.

PENELOPE

(Resolute) We can’t just accept this, Roger. I can’t stand not having any joy in my life.

ROGER

(Sighing) I know. But we have to face facts. Joy is not here. Joy is gone. Forever.

PENELOPE starts fixing the cushions on the couch. She sits down heavily. ROGER follows suit, fixing the cushions beside her. He sits next to her and puts a hand on her knee.

PENELOPE

(Speaking softly, staring into the distance) I can’t imagine. We must have joy in our lives. What are we going to do without Joy?

ROGER

(Shrugging, looking at her) I don’t know.

PENELOPE looks up at ROGER, then slowly turns to face him. She takes his hand.

PENELOPE

(Musing) Maybe… maybe we should find more ways to bring joy into our lives. Let’s go to the bedroom. Let’s have sex. Let’s try to make a baby. We can name the baby Joy. That way, we’ll bring Joy back into our lives.

ROGER

(Smiling) Why go to the bedroom? We can make Joy right here on the couch.

PENELOPE

(Laughing, playfully hitting him) Oh, Roger, you sly fox. You know I could never do that. No, we’ll make a new Joy in the bedroom.

ROGER

(Smiling mischievously) What if she comes back?

PENELOPE

(Resolute) We need to face facts. The old Joy is gone. All we have now is the chance to make our own.

ROGER

(Chuckling) It’s a good idea, Penelope. But what if the baby is a boy? We can’t have Joy then.

PENELOPE

(Shaking her head) Don’t be silly, ROGER. Joy is not gendered. Joy can be a girl, boy, intersex, or non-binary. It doesn’t matter. We will bring Joy back to us no matter what.

ROGER

(Hugging her tightly) You’re right. It doesn’t matter what Joy looks like. We just need Joy back.

PENELOPE

(Smiling, standing up, and taking his hand) Come on. Let’s go.

They exit hand in hand, leaving the messy room behind.

BLACKOUT