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Writer's pictureMoritz Wenzel

A play with DNA


This is what DNA can do

Scene 1

In heaven, God/Allah/Jehovah sits on a giant chair of clouds contemplating his many names, which never really credited his almighty-ness enough, when Jesus walks by. Clearly disturbed by something, Jesus walks up and down in an unrestful manner, provoking God, in his all knowingness, to comment on it.


God:

Jesus is concerned about the future of the humans and tries desperately to find a solution to their moral problems. He walks up and down in heaven as if he hadn’t had sleep in millennia. Why oh why? he asks himself, while all these other lazy gods don’t lift a finger no more.


Jesus:

Stop it Dad! You and your all knowingness can be quite annoying. Can’t you keep it to yourself some time? Besides, the humans are reaching a critical point in their life. They are now able to manipulate their DNA. The DNA is the very thing that makes them who they are.


God:

Jesus is now worried about the future of the humans. Apparently, they are now able to change their very nature, which could have great but also catastrophic consequences. How to ensure that all humans get the same chance in such a new world is what concerns him the most. It is clear that with great power comes great responsibility.


Jesus:

I am really worried about our beloved humans to develop into different species. And those species would primarily be determined by the amount of money their parents have. This is not what we were dreaming of. You know that.


Zeus:

Wait a minute, did God just call me lazy? Do you want me to demonstrate my power?


God:

The power of dressing up like animals and be indiscreet with humans? No, we are good. Thank you for your comment Zeus. Now Jesus. Don’t worry so much. Our humans are doing stupid things, yes, but aren’t they always figuring out their mistakes at some point? And aren’t they continuously improving over the course of history?


Jesus:

Yes you are right, of course…, but I am worried about them making a mistake that cannot be reversed. What if two types of humans develop only because of… ugh money?


God:

They can only develop responsibility if you give them responsibility. So stop running up and down on my clouds, you are going to wear them out.


(Jesus sits down dramatically on the floor next to God.)


God:

With Jesus having finally settled down, humanity still manipulating their own genes, Zeus changing into another animal, and God ME being always right and all powerful; the situation remains tense. The suspense is killing me.


Scene 2

Meanwhile on earth, two friends are meeting in a bar. John called Daisy earlier, so that she would give him some company. Apparently, something dramatic happened in Johns life.


John:

Hey Daisy, thank you so much for coming.


Daisy:

Of course, John. What happened? You look devastated.


John:

We just got the diagnosis from the gynecologist. He told my wife that our child will be born without arms. Apparently a very rare DNA defect that occurs completely at random.


Daisy:

Oh Jesus, John. I am so sorry! I cannot even imagine how you feel. Nobody would want that for their child or any child at all really. If there is anything that I can do to help you, just tell me.


John:

Can you make it all go away? Cure the disease?


Daisy:

No John, I am sorry.

John:

I can’t believe that this is happening.


Daisy:

You know, I can’t cure it. But have you heard about this new technology for gene manipulation? Bio hacking, they call it. Me and my husband were actually considering looking into it. Apparently, there are some doctors who can change all sorts of genes and fix many DNA related disorders. There is a catch though, it is very expensive.


John:

Do I look like I care about money? Are you seriously telling me that this disease could possibly be cured? I will do anything for it.


Daisy:

If you want, we can go together and see what the possibilities are. But I cannot guarantee you that your child's disorder is curable. I know this slightly sketchy looking Doctor called Frankenstein. She may be able to help you.


John:

Great! I want to see her right away.


Daisy:

Let’s go together then. I can’t wait to find out what Frankenstein can do.


Scene 3

Frankenstein’s office was dimly lit with a plastic skeleton in a corner. The skinny observer was tilted away from Frankenstein’s library, where various plastic organs were displayed. In between the organs a couple of liquid filled jars were aligned to display their disgusting looking content. Even though John was expecting them to be filled with brains and eyeballs, he recognized that they were filled with pickled apricots and plums. Clearly, the doctor had some sense of self-irony and enjoyed playing with the emotions of his patients.


Frankenstein:

Welcome, you must be John and Daisy. How may I help you?


John:

Thank you for seeing us Doctor. My child was diagnosed to be born without arms, only because of some stupid DNA defect. Can you help us? Please!


Frankenstein:

Of course. That is a minor issue for my skills. But is that really all? Just two arms. You don’t want any other ‘improvements’?.


Daisy:

Speaking of improvements, me and my husband, we are also considering having a baby. So, I thought, maybe a little DNA boost could be helpful? To make sure our child gets the best out of life. What exactly is it that you can do Doctor?


Frankenstein:

Ah, I can see your ambitions are a bit higher than those of your friend here. What would you like? (Sinister smile)


John:

Wait a minute are you saying, we can also change the appearance? Like eye or hair color, maybe even skin type?


Frankenstein: Precisely. And color is not the only thing we can change. Do you want them to have a six pack, without ever lifting a finger; To never have a double chin; To have full, strong and, if desired, curly hair until they die? Those are just minor adjustments, if you ask me. The really interesting part is the intellect.

(Grinning villainously)


Daisy:

You can change the intelligence of an unborn child? What a miracle.


Frankenstein:

Miracles are overrated. This is science.


Daisy:

Ok doctor, but how much will that cost?


Frankenstein:

It will cost a small fortune. But when you put a price on the future of your children, a fortune really doesn’t seem like that much. Don’t you think?


John:

We will not be able to afford this, but the genetic defect of my child you can fix, right?


Frankenstein:

Genetic disorders I fix for free. I am not a monster you know.


John:

Thank you so much doctor. I will return with my wife as soon as humanly possible.


Frankenstein:

Well, You can’t do it superhumanly now, can you? (smirking)


(John leaves the office.)


Frankenstein:

And now to you, Daisy, what did you have in mind?


Daisy:

I have a pretty significant inheritance from my mother’s side. I am willing to spend it all, if you can provide what you claim.


Frankenstein:

Worry not. I can deliver. Come back when you are pregnant, and I am going to make sure that Your child Will be superhuman.


Scene 4

In the future, Dan is sad about the death of his mother, so he decides to buy some flowers in honour of her name. Getting a bouquet of daisies makes him feel lighter and refreshed, plus it gets him out of the house. When he walks down the street he encounters a homeless woman with a sign saying: “I am willing to work, please help me find a job!”


Dan:

Hello there, unfortunately I can’t offer you a job. But if you want, I can give you some change.


Jules:

No, I don’t want your pity. I just want to fit into this world.

Excuse me Sir, but have we met before? Something about you feels familiar.


Dan:

Oh my god you are right! Aren’t you John's daughter? He was a really good friend of my mother.


Jules:

Yes, I am indeed! You must be Dan, right?


Dan:

Exactly. What happened, why can’t you find a job? Is there anything I can do to help?


Jules:

Oh, you know exactly what happened. Ever since people modified their children, only the super intelligent are allowed into universities. I never had a chance to study and make something of myself.


Dan:

Oh no, I am sorry. But don’t blame it on me, you should blame it on your father. He decided to not give you the DNA modifications necessary, to make you as smart as possible. That was an unethical decision on his part, don’t you think?


Jules:

Are you kidding me? Genetic modifications are extremely expensive. The unethical decision was done by your mother and that crazy doctor. Making intelligence something that your parents had to pay for, is completely unacceptable.


Dan:

Woah, hang in there. This is just part of human evolution. We found a way to enhance ourselves so it was just a matter of time until someone would do it. You cannot stop progress, the world will move on without you, if you’re not keeping up. I am sorry that the cost was beyond your fathers budget, but this simply the world we live in now.


Jules: A world where only rich people can get the genetic modifications they need, in order to fit into a society, they create? I am disgusted by people like you! Everyone should get the same chances, no matter who your parents are.


Dan:

I agree with you. Everyone Should get the same chances. But that is simply not how it is. What do you want to do about it?


Jules:

It should have been regulated from the start. Jesus Christ! Somebody must have seen it coming. Now it is too late. We have multiple levels of humans that are so far apart from each other that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve equality.


Dan:

I never thought about it in this way. I was so blinded by my own life that I didn’t even see the problems that arose around me. Maybe I can make a difference. I am a lawyer you know.


Jules:

The only words you know are I and me. It is to late Dan. Can’t you see. The world has become hell for most of us.


Scene 5

Meanwhile in heaven, Jesus is witnessing the world in despair.


Jesus:

See father. The rich are modifying themselves at an unbelievable rate, while the poor are completely left aside. It is too late to correct this. They have already evolved into different species. Soon they will find out how to avoid death all together and life will become a privilege.


God:

Well, maybe we can have a little intervention now? Maybe a meteoroid? Like at the time when the dinosaurs became too powerful?


Jesus:

You can’t just solve your problems with disasters every time a creation of yours does something unpleasant. It’s not right. We have to make them understand.


Zeus (coming back disguised as a Giraffe):

What the FUCK, have you done? I just went down to earth to… get some fresh air, and what do I find? Multiple species of humans.

You Idiots!

Let’s start over again shall we?


Zeus raises his hand over his head and with a dramatic flex of his biceps sparks an enormous lightning bolt in his hand. Fully convinced of doing the only reasonable thing, he throws the gigantic electric charge at earth and eradicates everything bigger than a mouse.


The End


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susanna.wenzel
susanna.wenzel
14 de nov. de 2019

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