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ACT I scene I

(Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata is playing while last of audience is being seated. Lights fade out, spotlight on Lisa wearing black turtleneck and black jeans or slacks sitting on a bar stool up center stage, music ends.)

Lisa: Things are changing. (Dimmer lights fades on in background revealing two people in background seated at a table silently playing chess.) The world has changed and I with it; Gary was my anchor and Scott my emotion. (sigh) The truth is; I feel I... or we are on trial, at a crossroads. We seem to be at an edenlike stage, only removed from the static and misdirection of religion. What does it all mean? If it means anything at all,.... If that's the case I'm just deluded, confused, insane, (Laughs) I don't know, I just don't know. (She picks up stool puts it next to other at kitchenette bar and walks off stage. Spotlight fades out lights over chess game brighten, chess players become audible.)

Gary: Check

Scott: Aren't you the bloody shark.

Gary: (Dwells, makes move.) Check

Scott: I almost had you. (makes move.)

Gary: (moves) Check,

Scott: I beat you only when your drunk, really peeved about something or, (laughs,) when I cheat. (moves)

Gary: You are very emotional, it can give you a temporary edge but, (Moves) check, you need more of a balance. (Scott makes move.) Emotion is like a drug, Something you need to control, (moves) checkmate.

Scott: Thank you Obey one. (He brushes the chess pieces aside,) Try again?

Gary: No I need to study. (Begins methidodicly placing pieces in box,)

Scott: Me too. (sits on couch, turns on TV with remote and begins writing in notebook. Gary begins taking out and arranging books on table. Lisa enters front door, paused in front of door, removes coat, gloves, scarf, she is dressed differently then when she previously appeared and goes in kitchenette making tea, finishes, brings two out, places one in front of Scott,) Hi, Lee Lee. (and one in front of Gary.)

Gary: Thanks Lee. (She goes back to get her own and sits next to Scott, absently looking at TV.)

Scott: (Reads aloud from book, Gary and Lisa seem to half listen as if Scott has done this before.) Is Murder wrong? Violent intentions..... Would not the Government kill if it had the neat, efficient means to do so? (Lisa begins listening more intently. Gary stops reading.) What are the most horrible thoughts of the holocaust?, not the statistical facts of millions dead, but the imagined stench of the burning bodies stuffed in an over crowded incinerator or the claw marks on the ceiling of the poison gas showers, the thought of piling dying bodies in irrational hope of escape. The warehouse full of human hair, the bone thin starving

deathfaced bodies with neutral horrorific expressions. Slow untidy deaths are what we fear. How is it that the idea of Hiroshima and Nagasaki doesn't make us as uneasy. Remember that Star trek episode where the two planets were fighting a war mathematically; they let the computers fight,

to save unnecessary destruction and the people accepted this and blindly walked into the disintegration booths when the computer told them they were a casualty. Anonymous deaths don't seem to bother us, It's those deaths we taste that really seem to get us.

Gary: Cheerful.

Lisa: Do you think murder permitable?

Scott: I don't know, but under the certain circumstances, I see it being accepted.

Gary: (from table,) The death penalty should be accepted.

Lisa: Do you really think so?

Gary: I think an act can be so heinous, like the kid last week, right down the block, that can warrant death. (There is a knock at the door.)

Scott: The pizza.

Gary: (Gets up and answers, opens door slightly startled by man in black holding pizza.) Thanks, (takes pizza,) Here ya go, (hands him money,) Keep the rest.

Black: Thanks.

(Gary Puts pizza on coffee table, Gary and Scott start eating.)

Lisa: What about those people found innocent after they were killed.

Gary: First of all, those were a few isolated incidents and I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Scott: They're innocent people.

Gary: They can't be all too innocent to be a murder suspect.

Lisa: Living in certain neighborhood can make you a murder suspect.

Gary: Look, I don't want to see innocent people killed and it is very tragic that those people would tend to be poor, but the fact is, I think the death penalty remains the best of many imperfect options.

Scott: Gary Saxon... republican, for mayor.

Gary: (laughing,) Scott Geinco, sensitive, beatnik, poet and the duke of despair.

(Scott throws a piece of sausage at Gary. Gary retaliates with the balance of his pizza. Scott picks it up eating it.)

Scott: Male bonding, I love it! (Gets up) Get ya a beer, (Gary nods) ...Lisa?

Lisa (from distraction,) Sure.

(Scott goes in kitchenette, brings three beers back.)

Lisa: I wish she were dead.

Gary: Who, Kate? (Lisa nods,)

Scott: Why?

Lisa: ......She wants me to transfer, She's being made `chairperson' of the department, her husbands coming back,..... Time to become respectable and give up her alternative lifestyle.

Gary: (puts his hand on her knee.) So, maybe it's time for you to give up yours, but there's no reason for you to transfer.

Lisa: She thinks it will be too distractive, (Laughs,) for both of us. (begins to cry,)

Scott: I'm sorry.

Lisa: She wants to, just shut me off, like this fuckin' TV. (she shuts off TV with remote.) Her, I would Kill. (she takes a long swig of her beer and gets up to put on the stereo, comes back, they all sit in silence for awhile listening to the music. The phone rings,)

Gary: (answering,) Hi Kate........... I'm not sure if she's around. (Lisa motions for the phone, wiping at her tears,)

Lisa: Hi,............ I know,... I'm sorry,.... Ok,..... Ok,....

I don't know if I can,...... OK,... allright, bye.

Scott: You're not going to see her.

Lisa: I have to. (She puts on her coat and leaves, Lights fade out. Short piece of somber music, preferably piano plays in background; lights still out, voices heard.) I just don't understand (soft) I love you.

Scott: We call death, he waits at the door, in our minds.

Kate: I need you to be sensible now.

Scott: We invite him in, offering him a choice seat.

Kate: It's not as if you've been abandoned, I've had the faculty write you stunning recommendations.

Scott: The earth stops cold, growing darker, the people hold their breaths, the weaker gods watch intently.

Lisa: I have been banished, the pretty web I have spun crumbles around me. God is dead or dyeing but his dark minions continue to follow, walking an eroding path.

Scott: An audience of another Rome crumbling around them.

Gary: Must you read everything you write so loudly!

Lisa: We are lost.

(Music fades, lights fade on revealing Gary seated at table studding and Scott on couch.)

Scott: I need to hear it......... I don't always remember writing it.

Gary: You don't always remember my name.

Scott: Why not just have me killed.

Gary: Maybe later. (begins reading the Times.) Scott: (Jovial) Come on, kill me now, I vote liberal, sometimes socialist, almost never pay the rent and I'm a much better writer then you are. (Mimicking,) You're much too rational, it may give you a temporary edge, but you need more emotion, more (screams it,) irrationality!....... Besides, Lisa likes me much better, anyway!

(Lisa enters, stands alone watching.)

Gary: I'll kill you when you make the papers. (He throws down the paper in disgust,)

Scott: Bit too sensitive these days for an admitted lessee fare capitalist, reactionary. (mocking,) Bring back the sweat shops, that's what I say.

Lisa: I'm going to kill her.

Gary: (Gets up, goes to her,) What happened?

Lisa: Nothing new,.... she just wanted to be sure I'd keep things quiet and (laughs,) keep in touch..... I won't let this go on.

Scott: (barely audible,) What are you going to do?

Lisa: I'm gonna kill her, plain and simple.

Gary: You can't mean it.

Lisa: (to Gary,) You go on about the death penalty, (to Scott,) You're always so upset about the masses, how do you put it, the sheep never challenge anything, never deviating from the hackneyed, miserable, unjust path an out of control society sets for itself. Come on, wake up, stop wineing about the crime and the insane mediocracy, It's time to act!

(Lights fade.)

ACT I SCENE 2

(The Door's, The End, is playing, Lights fade in exposing Gary working at the kitchen table, oblivious to the music. Scott is staring at TV screen showcaseing violence, the sound is muted Lisa briskly enters quickly shutting the front door behind her. She holds her coat close to her body, waits by the threshold seemingly for one of them to notice, then impatiently walks over to the stereo and turns it off. Scott looks up startled)

Scott: Lisa!

(Scott shuts off TV, Man in black walks in, Gary seeming to sense his presence looks up, his eyes first lingering on man in black then to Lisa. Scott helps Lisa off with her coat. Man in black looks to Gary impatiently. Gary gets up walks to Lisa.)

Gary: Where were you?(He guides her down to the couch. Man in black walks over and sits in the poets chair across from them) You've been gone all night.

Lisa: I've been pretty busy, (Scott goes to the kitchenette to make tea,) presumably doing what you were doing.

Gary: Which is?

Lisa: I killed her.(Man in black sits forward in his chair, playfully gesturing with his hands for her to continue. Gary trying to cut him off,)

Gary: What happened?.... I mean, are you allright?

Lisa: I'm fine and, (pause,) she's dead. (Man in black laughs silently, as if at a casual joke. Gary looks to him nervously.)

(Scott comes in with three teas on a tray, waiter style sets one gently down on the coffee table before Lisa and puts the tray on the table.)

Scott: You OK Lee Lee. (he sits next to her, gently brushes her hair back. She gives him a smile, squeezes his hand and picks up her tea bobbing her teabag preoccupied with it.)

Lisa: I killed her. (she sips her tea, it burns her mouth, she places the tea far from her on the table,) I Called her yesterday, said I wanted to apologize for how childish I've been and told her I'd be willing to transfer. She asked me over. After letting myself in, I made us some tea, as usual. (She gets up picking up two teacups used in the last scene.

Scott and Gary remains looking where she was on the couch, only the man in black's gaze follows her. Lights dim, spotlight follows Lisa as she turns around to face Kate, who walks on stage into the widening spotlight. Man in black turns around to watch.)

Kate: Lisa, I'm so happy you, (pause,) thought things through, It would be painful for both of us, (Lisa hands her the tea and puts her own down,) to see each other after all we've been through. (She sips her tea. Man in black gets up from chair and sits indian style down stage from them, Lisa looks pained for split second.) And you couldn't possibly remain here without attending my classes. (Lisa begins to cry.) Don't cry, (she puts down her tea,) I'll miss you too,

little one,(Kate hugs her tenderly from behind and begins kissing Lisa seductively on the neck, Lisa does nothing to stop or encourage this but looks pained, Kate still from behind starts unbuttoning her shirt and inches it down leaving her shoulders exposed and kisses down to where her arm meets the shirt.) Besides.... your talent has far surpassed anything we can possibly do for you here. It's time to move on to bigger and better th- (she takes two steps back, puts her hands to her throat, gasps Lisa's name and flings herself violently backward hitting the floor dead. Lisa takes two steps toward her and rebuttons her blouse)

Lisa: I,ll miss you too. (She picks up and wipes off both teacups, places them back on the coffee table and sits back in her former spot, the man in black does the same. Spotlight gives way to lights fading in. Gary and Scott begin moving again. The man in black winks at Gary, Gary looks away.)

Scott: That's all,.... how did you feel? How did- (Gary cuts him off.)

Gary: How do you know nobody will find out? (Lisa begins to cry, scott puts his arm around her.)

Lisa: No one but you two knew about us, she was always so secretative, ........................, and I made sure to wipe my fingerprints from the cups and anything else I may have touched and took anything that may link me to her apartment.

Gary: You've been in that apartment quite a bit, you could have missed something.

Lisa: She was so godammed clean and organized, any of my fingerprints had been, a thousand times wiped away. (She shrugs away from Scott. The man in black looks from Gary to Scott, smiling.) She was alive and so fuckin rational. She looked at me, gasped my name. She knew what I did. (Lisa looks off to the spot where the action took place.) And now she's dead, ..........(All emotion leaves her,) now I'm ready to transfer. (The man in black quietly but enthusiastically nudges Gary and gestures to Scott. Scott begins brushing Lisa's hair back. Lisa gets up and brings all the teacups into the kitchenette and dumps them in the sink.)

Scott: You have... no regrets?

Lisa: (From kitchen,) I regret.... that it had to turn out this way. I know that if she really meant to end it, I could have left it. but I felt, I know she was keeping me on a line. It wasn't healthy for either of us. (Begins to laugh.) It wasn't healthy for me. (She comes back standing, with a glass of water.) I don't know, I've been dwelling on it all night.... I guess if a Christian hell exists, I've made my resivation but If I manage to sort this all out, I'll be,.... at least.... better.

Gary: You're still against the death penalty, though.

Lisa: In some sorta warped way,.... yes, I am.

Gary: (The man in black looks to Gary with a child's exaggerated impatience, which Gary tries to ignore.) OK Scott, how did you do?

(Lisa lies stomach down, hugging a pillow, alone on the floor. the man in black sits indian style next to her and begins examining her. Gary flashes him a hostile look.)

bum: Hay scott, (coughs,) my favorite poet, got something new for an old bum to read. (Scott hands him a bottle in a bag, from his pocket.) Thanks my friend, always buying me the

good stuff. (Scott unfolds a piece of paper and hands it to him.)

Scott: How've you been old man.

bum: (Coughs,) gets better every day. (He begins to read. Reading for about ten seconds, quickly folds it up and tucks it in his pocket.) I'll ..... finish it later. (coughs,) cheerful as always, (He opens his bottle and takes a long swig.) Gettin Old.....gettin cold, I even dream about it,...now. I'm tired, (takes a long swig,) so tired. (He coughs which seem to sober him. Pause.) What's you been up to, my boy?

Scott: Nothin much.

bum: You look distracted.

Scott: I Am,......drink your whiskey, It'll keep ya warm.

bum: Warm, stay warm, (drains the bottle gulping it down.) That's warm, (He laughs\coughs,) that's warm.

Scott: They'd never get you in a shelter, would they.

bum: Never get me in a shelter, (coughs excitedly,) nope not me...not me.

Scott: OK...OK. (He takes a long knife hiding it behind him.) You get some rest, old man. (Scott puts his hand behind the man's neck and plunges the knife into the mans gut; he makes no sound, just gets stiff and goes limp. Blood flows outward on the floor. Scott sits next to him for about ten seconds, blood is on his hands. He gets up wipes off the handle, drops the knife next to the man and walks back to the group. The man in black gets up, inspects the body and goes and sits back in the poets chair. Gary and Lisa become animated again.) I sat for some time after,..... until I was sure his...... heart stopped, (he began to cry.)

Lisa: He won't have to suffer anymore.

Scott: But did he, really.

Gary: Wouldn't you, sleeping on the streets?

Scott: That's not the issue..... I remember my grandfather, he complained, (man in black begins to yawn exaggeratedly and leaves the room,) about anything, everything!, much more then he ever did, but he died when he was meant to, (pause) I feel, I've upset things.

Lisa: What you did was for humane reasons.

Scott: Was It? I suppose we should kill all the Ethiopians, nuke them all, for humane reasons. (Laughs) I've allready had this conversation, playing pool in the basement of some hunter type I knew. All over the walls, like perverse graffiti, were the heads and skins of animals. (Sound of toilet flushing. Man in black comes back in.) On the wall a black n white picture of him, at twelve standing next to an eight foot dead grizzly, proudly, fiercely gripping his rifle. He tried to rationalize the killing of dear because the population was too large; he said they would all suffer and starve, of course none of this mattered to him, he was dishing his standard, justification of hunting speech for wimpy liberals, but basically he told me he was doing the humane thing. So I retaliated, pretty dam pleased with myself, I said; so you think we should go to Ethiopia and hunt them all down!............ And that scum said yes.

Gary: You think it would be better if they all suffer?

Lisa: The deer or the Ethiopians?

Gary: (Screams) Look, its done, you don't have to do it any more!

Scott: How bout you, (He points to Gary accusingly.) Who did you mercifully terminate? (The man in black sits forward in his chair.)

Gary: I simply found, researched and killed a drug dealer. No theatrics, no soul searching, just killed him; gave em what he deserved and I don't feel the need to discuss it! (Man in black looks very disappointed. They sat in silence for some time.)

Lisa: I really need to sleep. (She gets up abruptly, gives Scott a tender kiss on the forehead and leaves the stage. Scott turns on TV with remote, flips through channels past violence or news of violence, the sound gets progressively louder, turns it off and frantically puts on his long coat.)

Scott: I gotta get outta here. (He leaves slamming the front door. Gary and the man in black sit looking at each other. Gary gets up, lights dim, spotlight follows him. Drug dealer enters holding a pipe as well as a spaced out girl ,who is sitting on floor in exaggerated sexual matter; she holds herself like a prostitute.)

Dealer: Here, on the house. (Hands Gary the pipe. Gary hesitates but takes it and takes a long drag.) Good huh? (Gary says nothing but hands the pipe to the girl smiling. She takes

it returning his smile.) You like him, do you, ya little slut? (He smacks her hard against the jaw. She just dully takes it.) OK my friend how bout some payment. (Gary reaches into his pocket, pulls out a gun and fires, hitting the man in the forehead, fires twice more. The girl gets up and like a child feels the dealers face.)

Gary: How bout some payment, (he mimics, eyeing the girl who gets up to face him. he drops the gun and begins kissing her.) What's your name,... Lisa? (Man in black silently laughs in amusement.) come on what's your name? (They kiss more passionately, he starts groping her. He throws her to floor, lights dim, blackness. Audience hears slap, silence, more action, gunshot, exert from, the Doors `The End')

SCENE 3

(Lights fade in. Gary is asleep on couch. Man in black is sitting in poets chair watching him. Gary wakes up with a scream immediately making eye contact with man in black.)

Gary: Will you leave me alone! Just stop it! I'm beginning to feel like (He screams it,) MACBETH!

(Enter drug dealers girl from previous scene. Stands behind him.)

Girl: You've never had his ambition, (Gary screams and quickly turns to face her.) though, (Rubs her hands through his hair,) I did feel a certain amount of passion. (she puts her arms seductively around him and tries to draw him close.)

Gary: Get away from me!

Girl: I am yours now, you made it so. (she starts massaging his shoulders)

Gary: Leave me the hell alone! (he slaps her hard)

Girl: That's OK you can do what you want with me, as you always have wanted. (he looks toward Lisa's room) Oh that in there, she's just the skin I've shedded, an echo of what I once was. No, you're not going mad, you just need to clear the air, wipe the slate clear (he looks to death) and you'll be fine. She steals away to Lisa's bedroom, where Lisa emerges, rubbing her eyes.)

Lisa: You OK?

Gary: Lisa!... I... I'm ....yes. Scott's not .....home yet.

Lisa: Don't worry, he does this time to time anyway. (she touches his hand reassuringly) He's just thinking.

Gary: Yeah I guess....... How are you?

Lisa: I don't know, I don't really want to think right now.... I want to sleep. (she hugs him) You should get some too.

Gary: I know.

Lisa: Give me a nudge when he gets in. (she goes back to her room)

(Bum comes from behind, keeps walking as he talks, backing Gary to the wall.)

Bum: You really aught to be worrying, (Gary spins around.) He's really broken up, you saw him. There's really no telling what he may do, may even be planning your murder. Hell, death does has it's benefits, but you're meant for bigger and better things, aren't you, but not like that, hugh. Come on, get up, compose yourself. (lifts him up, straightens his cloths,) Now that's better. You go get em and get em good.

Kate: (From off stage,) That,s right, poor thing, you're loosin it pretty bad. I'm not even real, just a figment of a sick mind. (she taps his forehead, slaps him.) I hate you, I always have, don`t you think I know you slept with her. Don't you think I know what you did to her. You're the one who destroyed her life and you're the one who will continue her suffering as long as you live. But she doesn't matter to you, does she.

Gary: No..... yes!

Kate: But you know your screwed, even if they don't catch you for your own reprehenceable crimes, your stuck up poet friend is loosin it and you know he'll give you all away, you know his emotion will betray him, it always has and you know it will. (she grabs him and kisses him passionately then slaps him.) It seems you have one of two options; save Lisa, even save yourself, if you really think it necessary. What the hell, (she slaps him again.) I always wanted to do that. A shame it's not really me but a false creation proceeding from a heat oppressed brain. (Taps his head, Walks to the door,) You know what to do. (Scott enters, she looks from Scott to Gary and laughs.)

Gary; Where have you been?

Scott: Out,.... thinking.

Gary: What about? (man in black watches, amused,)

Scott: About you, me, Lisa, (Lisa enters unnoticed,) Kate, drug dealers,...(pause,) Life, death, taxes, The moon, the stars, infinity, (looks to his hands,) my hands, God!, Oh yes, I'm still an atheist, but I can still think about it, can't I, Cows, sheep, meat eating, (Lisa goes to him,) Lisa. (rests his head on her shoulders,) Hi, Lee Lee.

Lisa: Come on, Lets get you to bed.

Scott: Sleep, dreams,...... dreams, purple remnants of an icy blue existence. Listen to Scott raveing like a madman. I need sleep. (Lisa guides him to his room, Gary and Man in black engage in a staring contest.)