MARTIN Holy Sh#t! Zoe! ZOE Hey, Mart...

MARTIN

Holy Sh#t!

Zoe!

ZOE

Hey, Marty.

MARTIN

Ummm...well, hello figment of my imagination!

Does this mean I’m asleep or crazy?

ZOE

I thought it was time for us to talk. Are you ok with that or do you need time to process?

MARTIN

I’m, um, processing. Processing, processing, processing. This is a lot!

Well, I’m not scared. Which is good. I am a bit surprised. I’m also happy to see you. You know, maybe I’m not that surprised. I thought coming back to this place might unearth some old memories.

ZOE

While you figure out if I’m a memory, or a ghost or something else...let’s talk about it.

MARTIN

Ok

ZOE

You’ve been suppressing me all these years. I knew it and haven’t felt comfortable appearing before this...I think you’re strong enough now.

MARTIN

I think of you quite a bit. Wondering about that road we never took. I haven’t been able to commit to anybody or anything since. I even tried to get a dog for a while. Didn’t take and I ended up giving him away. Broke my heart a little but it was better for the dog in the long run. I think I needed to mourn by myself all those years.

ZOE

You were never really one to share that much. Even when we were together you were kind of a loner sort of guy. Made me sad sometimes that you never could totally open up to me. I was willing to work with it and then this silly broken neck thing happened.

MARTIN

(Laughs ironically)

Oh, yeah! That little broken neck thing!

(Regains seriousness)

Did it hurt much?

ZOE No, not too bad, really. I was knocked unconscious and never woke up. Not a bad way to go, if you think about it...except for all the years that I missed being with you.

(pause)

Why didn’t you ever get back into acting? It might have been a great way to get over me since you always dove deep into the roles.

MARTIN

Jesus Christ! I didn’t want to get over you! You were my life! I saw us getting old together. Acting together. Maybe have a couple kids together. We were just starting out and the world came to a screeching halt. First the tornado, then the virus and then you were gone. I didn’t know if I wanted to recover. What was I supposed to do? Walk the streets like a zombie? More than once, I thought about ending it all...maybe intentionally contracting Covid 19 just so I could join you. Nevermind that I didn’t believe in the afterlife...I might have been willing to take a chance.

ZOE

That would have been a mistake. And the Afterlife is not what you think it is. Or isn’t. It’s complicated.

MARTIN

Yeah! I guess! Then...what are you?

ZOE

You’ll have to figure that out for yourself. But let’s stay on topic. I don’t know how much time I have with you.

MARTIN

Huh? What do you mean?

ZOE

When you leave this theater, you’ll never see me again. I don’t know how I know this but I know it for a fact. Now’s your time to ask me anything...and my time as well.

MARTIN

That’s not fair.

ZOE

You’re right...but that’s the deal.

MARTIN

What have you been doing all these years? Just waiting for me to show up?

ZOE

I knew you’d get here eventually. It was like I had an invisible lasso around you and every year I could pull it a bit closer. I knew you were coming. I was excited about it. I’ve been thinking about you and us. Lots of time to think.

(A beat.)

So, you were going to ask me to marry you?

MARTIN Eventually. I was enjoying our relationship. More than any in my life to that point and was happy with where we were and where we were going. I was going to ask you to move in with me. I mean, you were over at my place most of the time anyway so what the heck, right? I remember that we were going to go out dancing the following week and I was going to ask you then. One of my regrets in life is that we didn’t dance as much as you liked. I mean, I was happy to dance with you but sometimes I didn’t make the time. I wish we had danced more.

(They stare at each other, lost in remembrance.)

MARTIN

Say, can we dance now?

ZOE

I’m not sure...I don’t know what happens if we try to touch each other. I’m willing to find out though. Here, one of my new super powers now that I’m deceased is that I have full access to Spotify For the Dead! What’s your pleasure?

MARTIN

How about “Funny Valentine”?

ZOE

You got it.

ZOE waves her hand in the air and the music starts.

ZOE holds her hand out and curtseys.

ZOE

May I have this dance?

MARTIN bows and takes her hand

MARTIN

You certainly may, my dear.

They dance for a while

They smile and dance….then MARTIN falls to the ground and starts to cry

MARTIN

Sorry. I’m just so sorry. I should’ve saved you! It all happened so fast! I tried to reach you but...I just couldn’t.

ZOE sits next to him

ZOE

That’s okay, Marty. Totally fine.

MARTIN

I didn’t think it was going to be this painful. I guess I really didn’t think about this happening at all. I’ve never addressed my pain and suffering head on and I think it’s time to do that. You’re my inner motivation, aren’t you? Time to move on? One last visit before I go?

ZOE

Something like that.

You know, I still have that flower you gave me the night of our last show. A red rose. Still beautiful. I think of you whenever I look at it.

MARTIN

Where is it now?

ZOE

Backstage. I keep it in a vase back there as I walk the halls. Want me to go get it?

MARTIN

Sure!

ZOE

Be right back

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