Day 31

Rewrite of the play I did. I like this one a little more.

Henry

You think we’re stuck?

Zeta

I hope not, it could be a test, but I don’t know, I’ve never got on an elevator in Hell.

Henry

We were the winner though, weren’t we? There were so many other-

Zeta

(Trying the button a few times) Millions

HENRY

Yeah, and we won, so we don’t deserve this kind of treatment. We’re supposed to be at the pearly gates by now.

Zeta

(Trying both up and down buttons now, mixing his presses)

This is from the Devil though, remember that. We should have both expected this.

HENRY

He seemed nice though…never seen so much crushed velvet on someone before, but you know, it suited him.

ZETA

(Zeta stops pushing buttons) Did we even push these when we got on? Its been what? Two-three hours? I don’t remember.

HENRY

I don’t remember, I was too excited, I think I may have been holding my breath until we stopped. I’m sweating though, are you sweating? Am I flushed?

ZETA

(Moves away from the buttons, sets down case and walks the walls looking for something) You can’t be flushed

Henry

Why not?

ZETA

Because you’re dead. That’s not sweat, its just warmer up here, that’s condensation, like when a toilet sweats on a hot day. You’re not excited, you’re just a toilet.

(He spys the panel on the floor and begins to run his fingers on the handle)

I found something, find something to help me open this!

HENRY

(While Zeta tugs on the handle, Henry looks for a moment then goes for the case, noticing the nameplate)

Zeta? What kind of name is that? Sounds made up.

ZETA

I don’t know, its just a name. I don’t remember mine, so I took that one? You going to help me?

HENRY

(While Zeta struggles, he opens the case and looks for a moment then gasps and tosses the case up, spilling the contents. Photographs scatter and a large wrapped up hunk is displaced midstage. While this happens Zeta is able to pop the hatch and quickly grab a piece of paper from beneath it.)

What the hell?

ZETA

(Zeta bends down and looks at the hunk, he picks it up and its found to be a dead bird wrapped in a paisley tie)

Oh god…

HENRY

Why the hell is there a dead bird in there? What did you do?

ZETA

I don’t know, I don’t remember! I’ve never even opened it before…

Henry

(Beat, while Henry notices the paper in Zeta’s hand)

What’s that?

(He snatches the paper and reads it aloud)

Thank you for using a quality inspected Hell-o-vater…blah,blah…Oh! In power emergencies the lift can be restored by a blood sacrifice…Oh,shit…

ZETA

(Half-chuckle, pointing to the floor) Heh, so that’s why the floor is sloped like that

HENRY

(surprised and afraid) That’s hardly fair, we won fair and square, we were both supposed to go up!

ZETA

Like I said, we should have been expecting this, there’s always a catch…But we can settle this reasonably, like proper people.

HENRY

Yeah, like men. But how do we do that?

ZETA

Well, we should go by who was more evil in their past life, they have to be the blood sacrifice. (Zeta extends his hand) That sound fair?

HENRY

(Hesitant, but extends his hand, they shake) Okay, yeah, well, may the better man win.

ZETA

Exactly my point. You mind going first?

HENRY

No, I’ve got nothing to hide. What should I do?

ZETA

Well stand there, (Zeta kicks the photographs and case to side and sits down opposite side of the drain) I’ll sit and listen to what you remember about up there.

Henry

Well…My name is Henry, I’m not sure what I remember, but-(He produces his picture) I have this, (He shows Zeta) I remember them a little.

ZETA

Your family?

HENRY

(unsure) Yeah…Yeah, I’m sure.

ZETA

We’ll why don’t you tell me what you remember, I know how memory goes when your down there.

HENRY

(nods) Well, I’m walking from work, I remember, its cold, I can see my breath, and I’m staring through the window. And the kids are in the living room, staring at something-T.V. and she’s there, turning away to get something. And then my hand’s on the side door latch and its cold without gloves, and then I’m inside. There is something in the air, murky, dark tea, and nobody turns around as I walk to the mantle, and theres the photograph (He smiles and holds it up) this one right here, and I’m so quiet when I take it, you don’t ever hear me take it out of the frame (He mimes the rest of the sentence) and set it back, and then I take it…I put it in my pocket…I turn around…(beat where he stares at Zeta, expression changes from worry to anger)

ZETA

Yes? What happened?

HENRY

And then I wake up in Hell. I didn’t get a chance to speak.

ZETA

Oh…Anything else?

HENRY

No, nothing else--your turn to go

ZETA

(Stands up) Okay

(They share a look, then Zeta gestures for Henry to sit, and he does, holding the stare.)

I don’t remember as much as I feel. There was this feeling of warmth, I remember being very warm, like I was swallowed in sunlight, it felt great, energizing. And then there’s a wind, like falling, all over my face and arms (He spreads his arms wide) It peels the heat off me and then everything tightens up (He brings his arms in close) Close to snapping, and then…And then nothing, I wake up here too.

HENRY

That doesn’t help us. You’ve got to remember more. Look at the photos, you’ll remember something.

ZETA

What?

HENRY

We’re at a stale mate, just look, try! It couldn’t hurt.

(Another beat look, Henry gestures to the case and photos, and Zeta turns his back and bends down to inspect them, picking up a few. Henry bends down to the bird and gets the tie off it. He wraps it around his hands taut and advances behind Zeta)

Anything?

ZETA

I just get a sad feelng, like something was wrong or went wrong. They look happy…This one even has a cherry tree like yours.

HENRY

(chokes Zeta from behind) I know, you bastard

(Zeta fights to breathe, while Henry tries to choke and hold him down)

You’re a murderer, you deserve this, you sent me down there, I didn’t even have a chance to explain!

(They tussle up to a standing position, and Zeta tries to speak)

Shut up! You don’t get a chance to defend yourself, I didn’t-

(With a solid lunge Zeta sends the two of them into the Stage right wall of the elevator, Henry lands face first and crumbles to the floor holding his nose and whimpering)

Zeta

(heavy breaths as Henry tries to roll over, but Zeta kicks him in the face and he yelps and goes down again)

Henry

(holding his face) You don’t deserve to go! You killed me, I remember-

Zeta

Be Quiet! Victims don’t go to hell, that’s a free pass! Which means you deserved it!

(Zeta looks up, finally noticing the rain sound. He walks underneath the emergency hatch and jumps to get it open. It swings free and cloudy light and rain spill in)

But I’m not going to kill you again. You don’t deserve it. (He steps on Henry and heaves himself up to the hatch and climbs out)

Henry

Wait!

(Henry stands, looking up into the hatch)Help me out, too!

(Pause, there is a gush of blood running down Henry’s front from a broken nose)

…Shit

(He covers his face for a moment, then remembers the drain in the floor and kneels over it. He puts pressure on his nose to make it bleed more and it leaks a small stream before he yelps and pulls his hands away. The elevator shudders and raises a few feet.)

…Shit…Shit!

(Henry paces then sits down by the case and picks up the photographs and begins to leaf through them.)