How it all Began…
On the 23rd day of the month of September,
In the eighth year of a decade known as the Noughties,
The human race suddenly encountered
A deadly threat to its very existence
And this terrifying enemy surfaced; as such enemies often do,
In the seemingly most innocent and unlikely of places
Ron, along with Rufus, is at his locker reading the newspaper. On the front is the headline 'TOTAL ECLIPSE BAFFLES MIDDLETON'. He looks up from the paper to see Kim walking towards him holding a coffee can full of dirt. Coming out of the dirt is a withered avocado-like pod with brown leaves. She approaches Ron's locker.
Kim: Hey Ron.
Ron and Rufus stop reading and turn to Kim.
Ron: Hey KP. (Noticing the plant) Woah, what's with the weirdo plant?
Kim: It's not weird. It just hasn't been feeling well lately.
Ron: What sort of plant is it?
Kim: I think it's some kind of Venus flytrap, but neither me nor Wade have been able to identify it on the internet.
Ron: Where did you get it?
Kim grabs the paper and points to the article on the front page.
Kim: Remember that total eclipse of the sun a couple of weeks ago?
"DA-DOO"
Girls (singing): Da-Doo!
Kim (singing): I was walking in the wholesale flower district that day.
Girls (singing): Shoop-da-doo!
Kim (singing): And I passed by this place where this old Chinese man.
Girls (singing): Chang-da-doo!
Kim (singing): Who sometimes sells weird and exotic cuttings,
Girls (singing): Snip-da-doo!
Kim (singing): 'Cause he knows, you see, strange plants could be someone's hobby.
Girls (singing): Da-da-da-da-da-da-doo!
Kim (singing): He didn't have anything unusual there that day,
Girls (singing): Nope-da-doo!
Kim (singing): So I was just about to, you know, walk on by.
Yori (singing): Good for you!
Kim (singing): When suddenly and without warning there was this…
All (singing): Total Eclipse of the Sun!
Kim (singing): It got very dark. And then there was this strange humming sound, like something from another world.
Girls (singing): Da-doo!
Kim (singing): And when the light came back on, this weird plant was just sitting there.
Girls (singing): Oops-ee-doo!
Kim (singing): Just stuck in among the zinnias.
Girls (singing): Audrey II!
Kim (singing): I could've sworn it hadn't been there before.
But the old Chinese man sold it to me anyway
For a dollar ninety-five.
Girls (singing): Sha-la-la-la-la-la-doo-doo-doo-doo…
Just as the song finishes, the plant wilts forward.
Ron: Uh Kim, I think the plant's dead.
Kim: I told you it's been giving me trouble. The Audrey II is not a healthy girl.
Ron: Strictly between us, neither is Bonnie.
Kim: If only I knew what breed it was, but it's nowhere in the books.
Ron: Well, Kim, my advice to you is you better figure it out and fast. Think about what this exotic plant could do for you.
Kim: You're right. Leave it with me, I'll think of something.
Kim walks off to the science lab and shuts the door. She looks at the plant and sighs.
Kim (to the plant): Oh Twoey, I don't know what else I can do for you.
Ron and Rufus, they've only just met you. But I've been going through
This with you for two weeks – grow and wilt, spurt and flop. Are you sickly,
Little plant? Or just plain stubborn? What is you want? What is it you need?
She puts the plant on a bench, grabs a broom and starts sweeping up the broken glass strewn about the floor.
"GROW FOR ME"
Kim (singing): I've given you sunshine;
I've given you dirt.
You've given me nothin'
But heartache and hurt.
I'm begging you sweetly;
I'm down on my knees.
Oh please – grow for me.
I've given you plant food
And water to sip.
I've given you potash,
You've given me zip!
Oh God how I mist you,
Oh pod how you tease.
Now please, grow for me!
After sweeping the glass into a pile, she bends down and starts to carefully pick up the glass and put it in a nearby bin.
(Singing) I've given you southern exposure
To get you to thrive.
I've pinched you back hard,
Like I'm supposed to,
You're barely alive.
I've tried you at levels of moisture
From desert to mud,
I've given you grow lights and mineral supplements,
What do you want from me – Blood?
As she works, he pricks her finger on some broken glass.
Kim: Ouch! Stupid glass!
Kim begins to suck the blood out of her finger, but as she does so, she hears a sucking noise coming from the plant. Standing up, she looks at the plant, quickly realizing that the plant lives on blood.
(Singing) I've given you sunlight, I've given you rain.
Looks like you ain't happy, 'less I open a vein.
I'll give you a few drops, if that'll appease.
Kim gingerly extends her bleeding finger toward the plant. It vibrates in anticipation. Kim squeezes his finger over the plant, extracting a drop or two of blood. The pod opens, snapping at the drops like a puppy, begging for more.
(Singing) Oh please –
Oh, oh, oh please…grow for me?
Kim leaves. As the music build, we see the plant begin grow…and grow…and grow…until it gives a little circular flourish, almost seeming like a bow.