Question

One Giant Leap for Mankind

Scene One

As the curtain rises, NEIL ARMSTRONG and BUZZ ALDRIN are sitting at the Eagle’s controls. They are nervously preparing to land on the Moon. A chimpanzee is jumping up and down nearby making a lot of noise and trying to play with some of the controls.

NEIL ARMSTRONG (Annoyed): If we’re not careful, that silly chimp is going to push the wrong button and then we’ll really be in trouble.

BUZZ ALDRIN (Turning to Armstrong): Don’t worry, Neil. Landing should be a piece of cake. The Sea of Tranquility looks like a flat plain. Buster is just excited about getting out of this thing. You know how he loves to explore.

NEIL ARMSTRONG (With a worried expression): Hmm . . . I think you’d better take a second look, Buzz. The Moon’s surface is peppered with craters and boulders the size of small cars! I can’t see an adequate place to land, can you? (Turning to the chimp) And you’re not helping my concentration one bit. I wish you’d be quiet for two seconds!

BUZZ ALDRIN: Well, I guess we’re just going to have to land this thing manually. If we don’t, we’re sure to crash-land into one of those massive craters! You can do it, Neil. I have faith in you. Or maybe you’d like to let Buster give it a try.

NEIL ARMSTRONG (Angrily): This is no time for fun and games, Buzz!

Armstrong manages to land the Eagle safely on the Moon’s surface. Buster excitedly runs circles around Armstrong and Aldrin, making even more noise. Armstrong swats at him.

NEIL ARMSTRONG: Houston, Tranquility base here. The Eagle has landed.

MISSION CONTROL: Roger, Tranquility. We copy you. You had a bunch of guys about to turn blue here. You only had a few seconds of fuel left. Now that we’re breathing again, can you tell us what all the commotion is in the background?

BUZZ ALDRIN: Uh, that would be Buster, sir, my chimp. I guess he sneaked on board without our realizing it. He’s a pretty determined little fellow. He even brought his astronaut suit with him!

MISSION CONTROL: Smart monkey, I mean, chimp.

NEIL ARMSTRONG: As far as I’m concerned, he’s a big pain in the neck. He’s continually getting into things and making a mess.

MISSION CONTROL: Just make sure that he doesn’t interfere with your mission. We’re going to let you get back to work. Good luck.

BUZZ ALDRIN (Looking out Eagle’s window): Okay, who’s going to be the first one out of this thing? I didn’t think I was going to be so nervous about walking on the Moon. Are you nervous, Neil?

NEIL ARMSTRONG: Yes, a bit. You can go first.

BUZZ ALDRIN: Hey, let’s flip a coin to see who goes first.

Just as Neil Armstrong is about to object, Buzz Aldrin removes a coin from his pocket and flips it into the air. The coin flies up and out of sight.

BUZZ ALDRIN: Oh yeah, I guess that’s not going to work without gravity. I know, let’s send Buster out first.

NEIL ARMSTRONG: What? Let a monkey take the first step on the Moon? I don’t know, Buzz.

BUZZ ALDRIN: No one will know. We won’t take any pictures.

Buzz opens the hatch and crawls out onto the deck, holding Buster by the hand. Buster quickly climbs down the ladder and steps onto the Moon’s surface. He starts hopping around like a kangaroo. He picks up rocks and inspects them. He tries to eat one of the rocks and then throws it.

BUZZ ALDRIN: Looks safe to me!

NEIL ARMSTRONG: I had better get out there before that chimp destroys the Moon. Okay, here I go.

Neil Armstrong gingerly climbs down and steps off the bottom rung of the ladder. He places one foot on the Moon’s surface.

NEIL ARMSTRONG: That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

Question 6 of 17

What is the tone of this selection?
playful
fearful
serious
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