The Suiciders: Act I, Scene 1

SETTING: A study. The room is occupied by SARA LAW sitting in a chair. A moment later JOSEPH LAW enters, slowly making his way to a chair in the center of the room. He sits down and proceeds to pull out a small handgun and a box of bullets which he places on the small table next to the chair. There is a phone and a pad of paper on this table. He then takes one bullet out of the box, opens the gun, and places the bullet in the chamber.

JOSEPH: Why is it that good people who just want to live life the right way, and help others, and be good people have to be the ones who are gunned down in the streets?

JOSEPH: Why do the gangs who dedicate their lives to hurting others get whatever they want out of life while the rest of society has to slave over a job just to get by?

JOSEPH: Why do drug dealers live in the fanciest houses when all they're doing is killing people, and ruining lives?

SARA: (irritated). Who knows.

JOSEPH: This God person, he has one sick sense of humor sometimes. (Picks up the gun.)

SARA: You’re just noticing that?

JOSEPH: Maybe I am immortal.

JOSEPH: Maybe there is a reason for my being in this world.

SARA: Of course there is.

JOSEPH: Then again, maybe I'm meant to suffer for trying to do the right thing with my life. Maybe I should have mugged old ladies in the street, and pushed little kids in front of cars. Maybe I should hold up liquor stores and beat up women. It's a known fact that the assholes of the world who abuse both mentally and physically get the best women.

SARA: Oh good lord will you knock that shit off.

JOSEPH: I thought you said you’d stop with the language.

SARA: I lied. (Pause.) What are you doing?

JOSEPH: What’s it look like?

SARA: It’s not right.

JOSEPH: But it is. It has to be done.

SARA: There are other ways.

JOSEPH: I’ve tried the other ways and they haven’t worked.

SARA: That isn’t what I meant. What I’m saying is that you have other options.

JOSEPH: Understand my side of it my dear. If you did, you wouldn’t keep coming around like you do.

SARA: And why do you believe I come around like this?

JOSEPH: I do not know. But I know what I have to do. This is the only way to put an end to it.

SARA: There is a better answer.

JOSEPH: I’ve thought of everything.

SARA: No you haven’t. You could walk away from this.

JOSEPH: It’s too late. They’re all counting on me.

SARA: And who’s the ultimate loser going to be? It will be you.

JOSEPH: No, I will be the winner.

(He spins the chamber and snaps it into place. A moment later, he places the gun back on the table and remains seated.)

SARA: You’re nuts. I almost believed you this time.

JOSEPH: Then I’m getting better at it.

SARA: You’re still nuts.

(Sara exits as MICK DANIELS enters.)

JOSEPH: (still looking forward). Well what?

MICK: How are you doing? You were acting weird earlier.

JOSEPH: Do you see any blood? Did you hear anything?

MICK: Right, of course. I just wanted to make sure, you know, with you carrying around that gun and all.

JOSEPH: (solemnly). Right.

MICK: (pause). You okay Uncle Joe?

JOSEPH: Why wouldn't I be okay?

MICK: Yeah, right. Of course you would.

JOSEPH: Not by choice Mick.

MICK: Yeah, okay. I’m going upstairs for a while.

JOSEPH: You do that.

MICK: You sure you’re going to be okay?

MICK: Good deal, dude. Check you later. (He exits.)

(Joseph gets out of his chair and begins to slowly wander

around the room. He stares at the gun, but doesn't pick it up.)

JOSEPH: (looking up and around). Please go away.

SARA: I will in a moment.

JOSEPH: No. Go away now.

JOSEPH: (looking down). You know why.

SARA: Perhaps. Listen to me. You have the ability to make up your own mind. Nobody can take that away from you unless you allow it. Don’t allow that to happen.

JOSEPH: Please stop. Don't torment me like this. I can't take it.

SARA: I've seen. Death is not what's meant for you. You should have figured that out the first time you tried.

JOSEPH: Then what's for me? I had everything I ever wanted, and in the blink of an eye, it was taken away from me. What did I do to deserve that?

SARA: Bad things often happen to good people. You said it yourself.

JOSEPH: This isn't you talking, Sara. If you were really you, you would want me to find those guys and torture them for what they did. And for a while, I did just that. But I never found them. No matter what I did, I couldn't do it. I failed.

SARA: You didn't fail. You were misled. Like now.

JOSEPH: Now? How is that? I can't work. I can't sleep. I have nothing left. And I can't take much more of this.

SARA: Much more of what?

JOSEPH: You. You showing up the way you do.

SARA: I'm sorry I can’t do more for you.

JOSEPH: Then why do you keep showing up?

SARA: To keep you safe, and to tell you to get your head together. To beg you. God that sounds cheesy.

JOSEPH: I can't do that. If it is my destiny, then it is my destiny.

SARA: But it’s not.

JOSEPH: Prove it. Prove to me that I have something to live for. I appreciate the caring. I mean, Mick is concerned too.

SARA: Until you die. And then he'll forget you ever existed.

JOSEPH: Mick is family. The only family I have left.

SARA: If family meant something to him, he would be trying to help you.

SARA: It's too bad you feel that way.

JOSEPH: Maybe it is. Please go.

JOSEPH: (sits and closes his eyes). I'm sure.

(Sara exits. A moment later Joseph opens his eyes.)

JOSEPH: (looking around). Sara? (Pause.) Of course not. I've got to end this. And I have to do it soon.

(Joseph gets up and exits stage left.)