Death of a Pokémon Trainer

It's been a tough 40 years for Ash Ketchum

"Death of a Pokémon Trainer" follows the story of Ash Ketchum, a 63-year-old Pokémon trainer who is struggling to keep up with the younger trainers in the competitive world of catching and battling Pokémon. Ash's Pokémon, Pikachu, is no longer enthusiastic about the grind, and Ash has been reduced to catching only low-level Pokémon like Pidgeys and Caterpies.

Ash's wife, Misty, has been with him for decades and knows him well. She can tell that Ash is reaching the end of his rope and is struggling to come to terms with his failures as a trainer.

Ash's son, Biff, is about to leave home to follow in his father's footsteps and become a Pokémon trainer. Ash is proud of Biff and believes that he has the potential to succeed where he himself has failed.

Ash's other son, Happy, is a source of frustration for Ash. Ash believes that Happy is working for the Devon Corporation, but in reality, Happy has joined Team Rocket as a low-level thug. Happy is terrified that his father will find out and is constantly trying to cover up his involvement with the criminal organization.

As Ash's mental and physical health deteriorates, he is forced to confront the reality of his failures and the ways in which he has let down his family. The play ends with Ash's death, as he is unable to come to terms with his inability to catch them all and achieve his lifelong dream.

(The stage is set with a small bedroom in the Ketchum household. Ash is lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. Misty is sitting at the foot of the bed, knitting.)

Ash: (to Misty) I don't know what to do, Misty. I'm 63 years old and I can barely catch a Pidgey these days. The younger trainers are passing me by, and Pikachu doesn't even have the energy for a single battle anymore.

Misty: (gently) You've had a long career, Ash. It's natural for things to slow down at this age.

Ash: (frustrated) But I had a dream, Misty. I wanted to catch them all. I wanted to be the best Pokémo

n trainer in the world. And now, I'm barely even a shadow of what I used to be.

Misty: (sympathetic) I know, Ash. I know how much this means to you. But you can't keep beating yourself up over it. You've accomplished so much in your career. You should be proud of that.

Ash: (defeated) It doesn't matter. I'll never be able to achieve my dream now.

Misty: (reassuring) You don't know that, Ash. You still have time. You just need to find a way to keep going.

Ash: (sighs) I don't know if I have the energy for it anymore, Misty. I'm tired. I'm just so tired.

Misty: (gently) It's okay, Ash. Just rest for now. We'll figure it out together.

(Misty continues to knit as Ash closes his eyes and falls asleep.)

(Biff and Happy, Ash’s two sons, are lying in bed, listening to the conversation between Ash and Misty in the next room. Biff looks worried, while Happy appears indifferent.)

Biff: (to Happy) Do you think Dad will be okay?

Happy: (shrugs) I don't know. He's getting old. It's tough for him to keep up with the younger trainers.

Biff: (determined) I'm going to make him proud, Happy. I'm going to follow in his footsteps and become a great Pokémon trainer.

Happy: (sarcastically) Good luck with that. You'll be lucky if you even catch a Pidgey.

Biff: (frustrated) You always have to bring me down, Happy. Why can't you support me for once?

Happy: (defensive) I'm just being realistic, Biff. It's a tough world out there. You have to be the best to survive.

Biff: (determined) I'll be the best. I'll make Dad proud.

Happy: (sighs) Whatever. Just don't expect me to cheer you on.

(Biff rolls over in bed, trying to ignore Happy's negativity. Happy lies awake, staring at the ceiling.)

(Ash is lying in bed, while Misty continues to knit at the foot of the bed.)

Misty: (gently) Ash, have you thought about asking your boss for a desk job? That way, you wouldn't have to be in the field as much.

Ash: (frustrated) A desk job? I'm a Pokémon trainer, Misty. I can't just sit behind a desk all day.

Misty: (understanding) I know, Ash. But you're getting older, and it's getting harder for you to keep up with the younger trainers. Maybe it's time to think about a different role in the company.

Ash: (defeated) I don't know. I just feel like such a failure. I can't even catch a decent Pokémon anymore. How could I possibly be of any use behind a desk?

Misty: (reassuring) You have so much knowledge and experience, Ash. You could be a valuable asset to the company in a different role. It's worth a try, at least.

Ash: (sighs) I'll think about it. But I don't know if I have the energy to start over again.

Misty: (gently) Just take it one day at a time, Ash. We'll figure it out together.

(Ash nods and closes his eyes, trying to rest.)

(Ash is sitting across from Gary Oak, his old rival and current boss, in Gary's office.)

Gary: (sternly) Ash, I'm afraid I have some bad news. Your performance has been declining for some time now, and I'm afraid I can't justify keeping you on as a trainer.

Ash: (surprised) What? But Gary, I've been with this company for over 40 years. I've dedicated my life to being a Pokémon trainer.

Gary: (unsympathetic) I understand that, Ash. But the reality is that the younger trainers are outperforming you. You can't keep up with the demand for stronger, more powerful Pokémon.

Ash: (desperately) Can't you give me a desk job or something? I'm willing to do anything to stay with the company.

Gary: (firmly) I'm sorry, Ash. We don't have any desk jobs available. And to be honest, I don't think you have the skillset for it. Your best bet is to retire and move on.

Ash: (devastated) Retire? But I'm only 63. I have so much more to give.

Gary: (coldly) I'm sorry, Ash. But the decision has been made. You're no longer an employee of the company.

(Ash sits in stunned silence as Gary dismisses him from the office.)