SCENE 1

The stage is black.  LIZ stands DSR, HOPE down center, JADE DSL, PATRICK is in the window between LIZ and HOPE, and SEBASTIAN is opposite PATRICK.  Lights come up, dim, spots on all five.  Three candles sit in a triangle around HOPE, she takes out a lighter and lights them one by one.  A collective sigh is heard before the first word.

 

LIZ:                 (bows head) Dear lord,

HOPE:            (clasps hands, bows head, kneels between three candles) You who rule the heavens

PATRICK:     (closes eyes, fists at sides, shoulders hunched) Our Father 

JADE:             I guess this is it God… (SEBAS looks up to the sky, nervous smile.  JADE begins pacing, with hatred) I don’t even know where to begin,

PATRICK:     Who art in heaven

SEBAS:          I’ve never done

                        This before (gestures up)

LIZ:     I’ve never had to do

            This before (gestures to belly)

PATRICK:     Hallowed be Thy name

HOPE:            And made the earth

JADE:             We haven’t really talked in a while…

LIZ:                 I’m just nervous I guess

SEBAS:          I don’t understand

PATRICK:     Thy kingdom come

JADE:             Hell (stops)

LIZ:     I mean (looks away)

SEBAS:          No (looks up)

HOPE:            Listen to me now

PATRICK:     Thy will be done,

LIZ:                 (place one hand on belly) I’ve never been a mommy before.  I don’t think I can do it… Can I?

JADE:             We’ve stopped listening to each other.

SEBAS:          I just don’t understand.

PATRICK:     On earth

SEBAS:          I just don’t get you.

PATRICK:     As it is

HOPE:            Bless me thy humble servant

PATRICK:     In heaven

SEBAS:          YOU’RE not supposed to make mistakes

JADE:             (breath) It’s not my fault, you failed me.

LIZ:                 It’s no mistake.  I am gonna be a mother…

PATRICK:     Give us this day

HOPE:            For, I know, your love abounds

LIZ:                 (looks up) But will I be a mommy?

                        (Beat)

SEBAS:          Has it all been a lie?

JADE:             I wanted to feel something real.

SEBAS:          How do you expect me to know what’s the truth?

PATRICK:     Our daily bread,

JADE:             Cocaine is real

SEBAS:          What’s real?

LIZ:                 And who will be my baby’s father?

SEBAS:          Why did you make me like this?

HOPE:            I know I am crafted

PATRICK:     Forgive us our trespasses

JADE:             Not some fantasy.

SEBAS:          I didn’t choose this,

JADE:             Not some man in the clouds

SEBAS:          I didn’t ask for it at all!

LIZ:                 At first I didn’t want it, I never asked for a child.

HOPE:            Crafted in your likeness

SEBAS:          It’s not my fault!

PATRICK:     As we forgive those

JADE:             Let him among us

                        Without sin

                        Right?

SEBAS:          Yeah I know it’s a sin!

                        Screw it though!

                        Screw sin!

LIZ:                 It wasn’t a sin, was it?  I made a mistake

HOPE:            Let Me purify this world

SEBAS:          These feelings…

PATRICK:     Who trespass against us

SEBAS:          They can’t be sin! How can love be a sin?

LIZ:                 He didn’t love me.

JADE:             Damn, it's not like I killed someone.

PATRICK:     And lead us not into temptation.

HOPE:            Let Me rid the land of the devil’s Pride

LIZ:                 I couldn’t live knowing she would have a harder life because of me.

JADE:             (begins to fiddle with a white powder bag, stored in sleeve) shit

SEBAS:          I can’t choose the easy life.

HOPE:            May thy hand smite those against your grace

PATRICK:     But deliver us from evil.

HOPE:            The homosexuals

                        (JADE stares intently into the bag, it calls for her)

SEBAS:          I’m gay

PATRICK:     For thine

HOPE:            The drug addicts

JADE:             I can’t resist! (Said smiling. She deliberately kneels and turns her back to the audience. She sniffs the cocaine.)

PATRICK:     Is the kingdom

HOPE:            The prostitutes

LIZ:                 I couldn’t resist. (She collapses to her knees.  A silent cry weeps from her, as she heaves on the floor.)

PATRICK:     And the power

HOPE:            Help us resist,

PATRICK:     And the glory forever

SEBAS:          (Beat.) I’m done lying God.

HOPE:            Help us resist all sins of the world.

PATRICK:     So, when does it stop?

SEBAS:          (looks up to God, throws the candle down) I’m gay and I am done lying.

(PATRICK’s lines continue under TALYER and SEBAS)

HOPE:            Help us resist the seven

SEBAS:          My friends left me

HOPE:            The sin of greed

SEBAS:          It’s all about sex

HOPE:            The sin of lust

SEBAS:          People hate me

HOPE:            The sin of wrath

SEBAS:          Girls scoff me

HOPE:            Envy

SEBAS:          Guys spit on me

HOPE:            Pride

SEBAS:          Mom can’t look me in the eye!

HOPE:            Vanity

PATRICK:     When does it start to feel good?

(look down shaking head)

I want him back! (hand to head)

He was my best friend!                                                

(Throw arms down, stare into heaven)

HE WAS ONLY SEVENTEEN!

 

Take me,                                                                      (Slowly collapses to knees)

Take me instead;

 

Please, make the pain stop

SEBAS:          No one wants to help me,

HOPE:            Valor

SEBAS:          (a beat) Just (beat) change me.

(A moment of silence.  Deafening silence. JADE faces audience, she is high.  LIZ looks up.)

LIZ:                 How can I afford this?

PATRICK and SEBAS: It hurts

SEBAS:          You know

JADE:             (begins to laugh softly)

PATRICK:     He was always there for me

LIZ:                 What’s dad gonna say?

SEBAS:          That silence, after you tell someone

JADE:             (laughs harder)

PATRICK:     And now he’s gone

SEBAS:          The look of shock on there faces

PATRICK:     And it’s all my fault

JADE:             (throws her head back with glee)

HOPE:            And lord,

LIZ:                 What will mom and dad do?

PATRICK:     My brother

HOPE:            Bless me. (begins to smile)

SEBAS:          That single tear that runs down their cheek

                        (quick beat)

JADE:             How could anything this good could be so wrong?

LIZ:                 I’m not ready

PATRICK:     I want the pain to stop

SEBAS:          I’m different now

PATRICK:     I want to be numb

HOPE:            Let others take example of my life (gets on knees)

JADE:             (Turns around and faces PATRICK.  There is a moment of recognition between them) You want to be numb?

HOPE:            Let others follow in my footsteps. (sits completely up on knees)

SEBAS:          I’m done lying

HOPE:            Let others learn from me (raises arms out)

LIZ:                 I have to be ready

HOPE:            As I walk my path to glory (stands completely, arms thrust out in crucifix position)

JADE:             Come here (PATRICK slowly begins to move toward JADE)

LIZ:                 Help me to be a mother

SEBAS:          Help me live the truth

JADE:             (PATRICK reaches JADE and she hands him the bag.) I can help

HOPE:            For it is in your almighty name that I pray

SEBAS:          In Christ’s name (LIZ crosses herself)

HOPE:            (Opens her eyes, smiles, brimming with self confidence) Amen.

(Black out.)

 

©2007 Austin Turner