Two firefighters enter from stage left. They are wearing masks and talking through intercoms. BILLIE an older, experienced fighter is taking ALEX on their first assignment. They are walking through a burnt out region of forest in California.
BILLIE:
How you doin’, Rookie? You breathin’ ok in dat ting?
ALEX:
Yes sir (or ma’am if BILLIE is a woman), Billie. I’m doing fine. I didn’t realize how claustrophobic these suits can be.
BILLIE:
Yeah, but it’s a good ting we gots them on. These Joshua Trees put off some real toxic fumes when they burn. I know they’re protected and such, but why them tree huggers in the city so upset? Burn the toxic trees and get them out of our lives, I say.
ALEX:
Um … I don’t think that’s right. They’re not trees. They’re large yucca plants. And they’re not toxic. What I know is they been used by Native Americans for all sorts of things. Food. Medicine. Shampoo.
BILLIE:
(uninterested)
Heh … They got their name from some Mormon guy. After he move out here with his wives he sees this here tree pointin’ up to the sky, like some old dude from the Bible.
ALEX:
Joshua?
BILLIE:
You’re probably right. So … if it weren’t for them Mormons we never would’ve had these “Joshua Trees.” And without these trees we wouldn’t have had these fires. And without these fires we wouldn’t be walkin’ around here like idiots. Damn, Mormons.
ALEX:
Um … these trees have been here for centuries. People only started calling them Joshua Trees in the 1880s … long after the Mormons settled around here.
BILLIE:
That’s right. These damn Mormons. Knockin’ at my door when I’m in the middle of dinner. Tryin’ to make me change my mind about religion.
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