Scene: A backyard, late afternoon. The actors are relaxing. Hraust and Kromdale play chess. Theo sprawls in a hammock. Quisyndia hovers over a barbeque grill. Squitchy cavorts through a tree.
Hraust: Checkmate...again...
Kromdale: You got lucky. Go again. I'll get you this time.
Hraust: Not if you never move that queen.
Kromdale: Move the queen? Why would I be stupid.
Hraust: She's the most powerful piece on the board.
Kromdale: Bah! Chicks are useless.
Quisyndia: I heard that!
Kromdale: See...there's the proof. You want her on your side?
The sky darkens as storm clouds rush in. Lightning flickers...
Hraust: Yikes! Calm down Quis!
Quisyndia: Tell him to say he's sorry.
Kromdale: I'm allowed to say what I want.
Theo: I'd want her on my side. I can think of a lot of things Quis would be good for.
Quisyndia: Theo! Wipe that grin off your face!
Theo: What: I was thinking of...umm...sewing? Doing math?
Quisyndia: Sure you were...
The clouds disperse, A last lightning bolt crackles down and there is a yelp from the next street over. Everyone freezes for a moment, but no other sounds follow.
Kromdale: Bah! I'm still not using this queen. What good is a woman anyway?
Crickets as everyone looks at each other than at Kromdale.
Kromdale: What?
Hraust: nevermind...
Quisyndia: Let me play, I'll show him!
Hraust: Have you played chess before?
Quisyndia: i've watched. I know how some of the pieces move.
Kromdale: This isn't amateur night! This is a serious game here! The rules are complex.
Quisyndia: Gee, I barely scraped by magical physics and advanced elemental logic. How will I ever understand?
Kromdale: Exactly. You'll never get this.
Theo snickers while Hraust rolls his eyes. Above, Squitchy collapses in laughter.
Kromdale: What?
Quisyndia: Duh! Sarcasm.
Kromdale: Don't pull some obscure philosophy on me. Sit down, shut up, and lose.
The ground rumbles.
Theo: Um, Quis?
Quisyndia: Oops! Sorry.
The rumbling subsides. Quisyndia sits and studies the pieces. The game progresses.
Kromdale: Hah! Lost your bishop already.
Quisyndia: I forgot those horses can jump.
Kromdale: Bah. Those are knights.
Quisyndia: Horses.
Kromdale: Knights!
Quisyndia: Horses. Oh, and check.
Kromdale: What? How--
Quisyndia: My queen.
Kromdale frowns. Several more moves are made. Hraust makes faces in the background.
Quisyndia: I'm going to move my castle here, and say check again.
Kromdale: Fine. I move my knight in the way.
Quisyndia: Goody! Queen to here, check again.
Kromdale: Whoa. Almost got me! Luckily I can put this useless chick in the way. Queen up one.
Quisyndia: HAH! Got you. Rook over to here, and say check.
Kromdale: Whatever. I move behind my queen.
Quisyndia moves he castle over in line and smiles.
Hraust: Game over, Krom.
Kromdale: No way.
Hraust: Your queen can't get out of the way, so...
Kromdale: I can take her castle, like this! Dumb woman!
Quisyndia: My other castle takes your queen, and that is check mate. Now, what were you saying about chicks?
Kromdale: &^$%#! I said they were useless, and I'm right. Look at the barbeque!
Kromdale points at the thick black smoke coming from the grill. Quisyndia rushes over and stares at the charcoal that used to be their steaks. Clouds rush in and the ground begins to rumble. Slowly she turns and glares at Kromdale...