: death personified :
Together Again
by machine

((NOTE: Absurdist Theatre in One Short Scene. Inspired by a student production of Endgame. It may eventually become a longer piece. But not now.))

A bare room. Stage right is a window, or there is assumed to be a window in that direction. An intense spotlight of evening sunlight beams through, red. This is the only light.

There is a large chair to the right of center, facing downstage, its back to the window. Slouched on the chair is RADU, old, arms on the armrests, head down, his features mostly silhouette against the light.

Left of center, standing still with his head down, is SONNY. Younger. He faces the window.

Their shadows are long and stark, reaching into the audience.

Brief tableau.

Radu startles in his chair. Raises his head. Groans loudly. Silence. He groans again. Sonny looks up.


SONNY: Oh. Are you in pain again?

RADU: Yes.

SONNY: Let me do something. (He does not move.) Should I do something?

RADU: Yes.

SONNY: What should I do?

RADU: It's not so bad. Sonny. Not so bad as before or before that. Not so bad.

SONNY: Before it was bad. I remember.

RADU: And you helped. Before. Oh you're a sweet boy.

Silence. Radu's head drops. Sonny waits. Silence.

SONNY: Are you asleep? Radu? Are you sleepy? Are you well? It doesn't look so bad. Not like before. Let me help. (He does not move.) Are you asleep?

Nothing. Sonny waits.

SONNY: Are you asleep, father? Finally sleeping, so it won't hurt? Should I get you your blanket? No. Should I help you turn over? Not yet. Should I go? No. Yes. No. Stay. (Pause.) I come in at night and you sleep. You cough in your sleep. Groan in your sleep. You soil the sheet so I take it away. I give you fresh sheets. I check your pills. I whisper to people on the phone so you don't wake. You soil the sheet so I take it away. (Pause.) I bring the sheet back. Radu. Father. Radu. Pathetic. I bring the sheet back and I cover you with it while you sleep. The soiled sheet. I pretend you are furniture. I pretend you are dead. But you stink. You shit. Cough. The pain. (Pause.) I take the sheet away. I give you fresh sheets. (Pause.) Are you asleep? Does it hurt, Radu?

Sonny waits. Silence. Sonny's head drops.

A long silence.

Radu startles in his chair. Raises his head. Groans loudly. Silence. He groans again.


RADU: Ah!

Sonny looks up.

RADU: Ah!

SONNY: Oh. Does it hurt again?

RADU: Yes.

SONNY: Let me do something. (He does not move.) What should I do?

RADU: My pills. My pills. (Pause.) Is it time?

SONNY: Not yet. If you wait it will be time.

RADU: Not now?

SONNY: I can't.

They wait. Sonny's head drops. A long silence.

RADU: Ah!

Sonny does not move.

RADU: Ah! It must be time. I've waited long enough. (Silence.) I say I've waited long enough.

Sonny looks up.

SONNY: Oh. Are you in pain again?

RADU: Yes. My pills-- my pills.

SONNY: Are you asleep?

RADU: Yes. I think.

SONNY: What should I do?

RADU: My pills-- my pills.

SONNY: Not yet. I can't yet. If you wait.

Silence.

RADU: I tell you I've waited long enough. I tell you it's time.

Sonny looks down.

RADU (suddenly, violently): GOD DAMN YOU I SAY IT'S TIME! God damn you you fucking child! What must I do you fucking child! I tell you it's time and TELL YOUR MOTHER TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE BED BECAUSE I KNOW SHE'S THERE! (Pause.) I know she hasn't left!

Radu groans. Silence.

RADU (calmly as before): Turn me around. I want to see the sun.

Sonny looks up.

RADU: I would like my pills and to see the sun and your mother will come out from under the bed and bring me water and I will have my pills. (Pause.) Sonny.

Sonny does not move.

RADU (suddenly, violently): I tell you I WON'T PISS IN THIS PAN and you can stop looking at me like I'm a child! I say STOP LOOKING YOU FUCKING INGRATE!

Sonny's head drops.

RADU (calmly as before): I want to see the sun before it goes down. I want to see the sun before it's night. (Pause.) I remember her now. I didn't a moment ago but now I do. She had her mannequin in the corner and she sewed. "I'll make you a shirt for going out." Always making shirts. Always with the mannequin. And her records. How she played her little records. (Pause.) I know she hasn't left because she hasn't left. (Pause.) Tell your mother to come out from under the bed. She can't stay under there forever. Tell her she must bring me a glass of water. (Pause.) She can't stay under there forever. (Pause.) Is it time? It must be time.

Sonny looks up.

SONNY: Oh. Are you in pain again?

RADU: Yes.

SONNY: What should I do?

RADU: Yes.

SONNY: Are you asleep?

RADU: Yes.

SONNY: What should I do? Here. Let me help.

Sonny does not move. Silence.

RADU (suddenly, violently): I KNOW I'M STILL HERE BECAUSE I STILL HURT! You ingrate! So take this sheet away you stupid child! I'm not gone yet! I'm not gone yet! (Pause.) I KNOW WE'RE STILL HERE BECAUSE WE'RE STILL HERE AND WE'RE STILL THE SAME AS BEFORE AND BEFORE THAT!

Sonny says nothing. Brief silence.

RADU (calm as before): I'm stuck.

SONNY: Should I turn you over?

RADU: Yes.

SONNY: And your pills?

RADU: Yes-- is it time?

SONNY: No. It's not time. If you wait it will be time.

RADU: Then I'll wait. (Pause.) Turn my chair. I'd like to see the sun. I'd like to see the sun before it's night.

SONNY: I can't. You'll have to wait.

RADU: I know she's still here because I still hear her music. (Pause.) Will you turn down the record? Will it end with a sudden silence? Will it end and then begin again? (Pause.) Has it begun again? (Pause.) Is it time? (Another pause.) Or is it always again and again?

Sonny's head drops. Brief silence.

RADU: I can't. (Pause.) Then I'll wait.

They wait. Radu's head drops.

A long silence.

Radu startles in his chair. Raises his head. Groans loudly. Silence. He groans again.


RADU: Ah!

Sonny does not move.

RADU (no louder): Ah!

Sonny does not move. A pause.

RADU: Then I'll wait.

They wait. Radu's head drops.

Sonny looks up. Pause. Sonny's head drops. Brief tableau.

The light fades.

And nothing else.



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