Editor's Note: This is the original script, as shared by the author.
DARKNESS:
MARTIN and JENNIFER are stumbling around the theater, looking for the circuit breaker box.
MARTIN:
I know it’s around this area. We used to blow circuits all the time, sometimes even in the middle of a show and I’d have to get the lights up and running pretty fast! This old theater...
JENNIFER:
Here, let me help.
JENNIFER turns the light of her phone on and shines it on the walls, finally ending up on the circuit breaker box on a wall STAGE RIGHT. MARTIN heads over there and switches the circuits on, one by one, revealing a terribly neglected theater. Props are scattered all over the place, the long table and chairs on stage are overturned, curtains are torn and it’s filthy. MARTIN slowly looks around, obviously emotional. JENNIFER’s surveillance is more objective.
MARTIN
(gets on STAGE and turns a chair upright, straightens others out, then gives up in exasperation.) This was it. What was supposed to be our last performance of “Death of a Salesman”. The Unicorn Theater’s Board of Directors decided that one last show before closing because of The Quarantine would be fine.
JENNIFER:
I loved that movie! Never saw the play. Who did you play?
MARTIN:
Willie Loman. Every man. When I saw Lee J. Cobb in the movie...
(JENNIFER shrugs, she doesn’t know what he’s talking about.)
MARTIN:
Lee J. Cobb.
(JENNIFER still doesn’t know what MARTIN is talking about.)
MARTIN;
Dustin Hoffman?...Chris Pine?
JENNIFER:
Oh! I loved him in those old movies!
MARTIN:
(sighs) It was my first major role and I was psyched. It didn’t matter to me that I was playing this older guy. Every actor wants a shot at Willie Loman and this was my shot! We had a weekend of shows under our belts and had fine tuned it to where we were In The Zone. We were supposed to do two more weekends but then the word came out about closing meeting areas and bars and theaters and pretty much everything because of The Virus. The word came down from on high that Friday was to be Closing Night. We were sad and disappointed. But we understood and accepted it. That’s when IT happened.
JENNIFER
I’m so sorry. It must have hurt pretty badly.
MARTIN
Yeah, but we were going to go out in a blaze of glory. Then this guy John Spenser showed up with his huge automatic rifle and all hell broke loose. He was pissed that we decided to have a final show; said we were “selfish elitists” or something like that. Ran up on stage, waving his rifle around and pointing at the audience...screaming at everyone. I don’t think he really wanted to hurt anybody. Just scare them out of the theater. Well, it worked. Everyone panicked and made a mad rush for the exits. As you can see, it’s not a very big theater but we had a packed audience that night. People were in a weird mixed mood of celebration and sadness.
JENNIFER
My God. That must have been terrifying. So...did anybody get hurt?
MARTIN
My girlfriend, Zoe. She confronted Spenser and he knocked her down. She fell off the stage. Right there.
Indicates a specific spot on the stage.
She broke her neck and suffocated.
JENNIFER
God, I’m so sorry,
MARTIN
Worst day of my f#@king life.
JENNIFER
What happened to the theater.
MARTIN
We disbanded after the Quarantine was lifted. Everyone was broke. And broken.
JENNIFER
Did you find another place to act?
MARTIN
I never went back. Too painful. This is actually the first time I’ve set foot in a theater since then. Believe me, I’m feeling it.
JENNIFER
Do you need to sit down or go outside? I’m really in no hurry here.
MARTIN
Huh? Oh, no. I’ll be ok. Just lots of memories crashing back into my head. Should we keep moving?
JENNIFER
If you’re sure you’re ok. How long has the theater been closed?
MARTIN
Oh, about 15 years. Once the world settled down and things got somewhat back to normal, it became apparent to The Unicorn that the air was out of the balloon in this theater. They sold it just so they wouldn’t go bankrupt. It’s sat idle ever since.
JENNIFER
I really like the stage. And this is just the size my group is looking for. We’re all just out of college and a bunch of us want to bring back the old classics. We even know the first show we’d like to put on. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” I might even direct it myself.
MARTIN
That’s a great play.
JENNIFER
You should consider going out for it. You know, you’re just about the right age to play George! Might give you a foothold back in that world.
MARTIN
I doubt it. I’m having enough issues just walking through this place.
JENNIFER
Well, think about it. Anyway, I have three other investors - some of our parents - who are onboard for a small theater like this. Just have to find the place. So far, it looks perfect. I like the fact that there’s a bar next door too. Maybe we could work out a deal with them to provide beer and wine at intermissions.
MARTIN
Sounds like the good ol’ days. What’s the name of your theater company again?
JENNIFER
Youngblood Theatre!
MARTIN
Of course it is.
JENNIFER
I want to thank you for showing me the place.
MARTIN
It was a crazy time. The big tornado had just hit Nashville and we were working on recovering from all that. Most people your age don’t remember it but that dam tornado brought out the best in Nashville with volunteers and love everywhere. It was incredible! Then the world became infected and turned upside down. The virus forced us into isolation and fear and mistrust and created worldwide panic. The shelves were empty and people were scared to come out of their homes. We never fully recovered.
JENNIFER
I wasn’t living in Nashville at that time so I don’t really recall too much about it. I remember when the tornado came through but the virus came on its tail so fast that it didn’t seem like that big of a deal. I’m sure that wasn’t the case if you lived here.
MARTIN
You’re right about that. The whole world forgot about us.
Awkward silence.
JENNIFER
I have to go to the ladies room. Where is it?
MARTIN
Exit stage right and follow the signs. See that little light behind the curtain over there? Careful, it’s dark. Hope there’s toilet paper! Haha.
JENNIFER
Be right back.
MARTIN
Yup.
MARTIN walks around
ZOE ENTERS the stage, startling MARTIN.
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.
ZOE exits. JENNIFER returns.
JENNIFER
Well, that was a bit scary. Pretty dark back there except for that one little light on the floor. No soap but there were about 10 little tubes of hand sanitizer so we’re all good.
MARTIN
It seemed like everybody was carrying one of those things around with them in those days. It’s even become a habit with a lot of people still. I have mine right here.
JENNIFER
I saw the posters of you and the crew. Zoe was a lovely young woman. I started to cry backstage just thinking of what you and your friends went through. I hope you’ve found some relief. I’m not sure I would ever get over something like that.
MARTIN
I still have flashbacks. Alcohol helps a bit. But that’s a path to a new problem. Maybe I need a new path. A new path to an old calling. Maybe this is what she was trying to tell me! That I belong here.
JENNIFER
Who?
MARTIN
You know, I will go out for George at your auditions. It’s time.
JENNIFER
That’s awesome! And I have someone in mind for Martha. I think you two would get along horribly...but that’s kinda the point with that play, isn’t it? Well, don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. Don’t even have a theatre yet. Lead on, brave knight. What’s next?
MARTIN
Let’s have a look at the green room. That’s where I spent many an evening prepping.
MARTIN and JENNIFER EXIT.
ZOE ENTERS with a single red rose in a small vase. She places it on a table Center Stage, looks around and EXITS.
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END
