Verdict

by John Cosper

SCENE ONE

(Two rows of five chairs, slightly spaced and off-set from each other, are on stage. Mike sits in the far stage left chair in the front row, staring out over the audience as if in shock. Alan enters, uncertain where he is or how he got there. He sees Mike, studies him from afar. It has been some time since he last say Mike, so he is cautious about approaching him. Something is not right about the place, or about the fact that Mike is present. Alan finally decides it must be Mike. He approaches him and sits beside him.)

ALAN- Hey, buddy. What's going on? I haven't seen you around in a while. How've you

been? Huh? Never were much of a talker, were you, Mike? Well, 'til someone put a script in your hands. Then you came alive, but... (pauses, disconcerted by the lack of response) Away from the stage, man, you seemed almost... (pause) dead. Still seem that way. Actually, wait a minute... Aren't you... Didn't you... Eh.

(Karin enters.)

KARIN- Alan?

ALAN- Karin! Oh, am I glad to see you.

KARIN- Yeah, same here. Uhm, you have any idea what this place is?

ALAN- Not a clue. Strangest thing, I wake up, I'm in this white hall with white floors. I

get up, I start walking--

KARIN- You end up here.

ALAN- Yes. Wherever here is.

KARIN- You have no idea.

ALAN- None.

KARIN- Does he?

(Devin enters.)

ALAN- I don't know. He hasn't said.

KARIN- What about him?

ALAN- Who's he?

KARIN- Hey! Any idea where this place is?

DEVIN- Hmm?

KARIN- I guess not.

(Devin finds the farthest chair from Alan and sits.)

KARIN- Say, isn't that Mike Dumas?

ALAN- Sure looks like him.

KARIN- Alan, either he is or he isn't.

ALAN- He hasn't said. Hard to tell.

KARIN- Well, Mike always was the quiet type.

(Anne enters.)

ALAN- I guess.

KARIN- Hi there. Welcome.

ANNE- Welcome to what?

KARIN- Got me. I was hoping you might know.

ANNE- No, I just... I came from the hall.

KARIN- Same here.

ANNE- This is very Kafka.

KARIN- What?

ANNE- Kafka. Frank Kafka. German philosopher and novelist.

KARIN- I don't know that stuff.

ALAN- You know what I was thinking? Our Town.

KARIN- You mean that stupid play we read freshman year?

ANNE- I love Our Town.

KARIN- I couldn't stand it.

ALAN- You remember the play though, right?

KARIN- Sure.

ANNE- The funeral.

ALAN- Exactly. This is just like the funeral scene. With the chairs and the bare stage.

KARIN- Yeesh, how morbid.

(Richie enters.)

RICHIE- Okay, this is weird.

ALAN- Richie! Man, you remember that play, Our Town?

(Dayla enters.)

RICHIE- Unfortunately yeah, why?

ALAN- Take a look around you, man.

RICHIE- Oh this is weird.

DAYLA- Nice and cozy place. What's up, Anne?

ANNE- Hey.

DAYLA- Anybody know what this is about?

KARIN- Nope.

DAYLA- Tremendous. So what do we have here? Couple outsiders, couple preppy

church kids, me... wait, Mike Dumas?

KARIN- Looks that way.

DAYLA- Looks that way, but is it? I mean it can't be, right? Mike Dumas he's...

(Cori enters.)

CORI- Where am I?

KARIN- Hi, Cori. We were... just sorting that question out.

CORI- Mike? (runs to Mike's side) Mike, is that you? Mike, say something!

ALAN- He's not saying a word, sweetie. Not to me. Not to anyone.

DAYLA- Why is that?

ALAN- Who knows? Maybe... maybe he's deaf. Maybe he can't hear us.

MIKE- I can hear you.

(Everyone focuses on Mike.)

MIKE- I can hear your words and your thoughts. You're asking, wondering where you

are. The truth is, you know the answer.

RICHIE- Okay, definitely getting a weird Our Town vibe, Alan.

ALAN- I told you.

KARIN- So you can hear us? Talk to us. Tell us why we're here.

DAYLA- And where here is.

MIKE- You are no where.

DAYLA- Okay, uhm, that's not really an answer.

MIKE- It's no more than what you already know.

DAYLA- That's blatantly obvious.

CORI- Mike, how can you be here? I don't understand.

MIKE- You mean you don't want to understand. And who can blame you? This is not a

happy place.

RICHIE- Gee, Mike, I think we got a handle on that one already.

MIKE- You haven't got a hold of anything. Except denial.

DAYLA- Even when he was alive, the guy was a never ending fount of joy and

happiness.

KARIN- Say that again?

CORI- Mike... how did you get here? You're... you died a month ago.

MIKE- Time has no meaning in this place. And the real question you should ask is not

how I came here. The real question is how you came to be here.

RICHIE- Okay, this must be some kind of bad dream, right?

(Dayla pinches Richie.)

RICHIE- Ouch!

KARIN- Oh my goodness...

DAYLA- Wow.

ANNE- It's not possible. Is it?

ALAN- (turns to Devin) You.

CORI- No, this can't be happening.

ALAN- You did this. Didn't you?

DAYLA- That's a rather harsh accusation.

ALAN- He's the one who was suspended a month for, what was it, Devin? A story or

about a shooting spree?

DEVIN- It was a note that no one but myself, (glares at Anne) and the recipient should

have ever seen.

KARIN- No. That's not true.

DEVIN- Lists are impossible to fulfill. I ended up tossing it out and deciding, well, I kill

who I kill. Simple as that.

CORI- How could anyone be so heartless?

DEVIN- It's not as difficult as you people think. I was going out. Do you really think I

cared if I took anyone with me? Or who for that matter?

(Richie moves to attack Devin. Dayla and Alan block him.)

DAYLA- What do you think you're doing?

RICHIE- Get out of my way!

ALAN- You really think you're going to hurt him? Here? There's nothing you can do to

change what's happened. It's in God's hands now. And He will judge Devin.

DEVIN- Oh will He?

ALAN- Yes, I believe He will. That's why we're here, isn't it, Mike?

MIKE- You are correct.

DAYLA- Please, let's not begin with some archaic discussion of God and judgment. No

one with a rational mind believes in that nonsense anyway.

MIKE- Whether you believe it or not--

VOICE- Michael Vincent McHugh.

(Mike stands.)

MIKE- Present.

VOICE- You will come before me now.

CORI- Mike, where are you going? Don't listen to them.

MIKE- I don't have a choice any more.

(Mike steps to center into a colored spot.)

VOICE- We have made careful examination of your life. Do you have anything to say on

your behalf?

MIKE- I have nothing.

VOICE- Your name is not listed in our record.

MIKE- I know that.

VOICE-Then you know where you are bound.

MIKE- I know.

VOICE- Come. Your place is prepared.

MIKE- (stands, very soberly) Goodbye, Cori. I hope all of you came prepared.

(Mike exits toward the judgment.)

CORI- Mike, what are you talking about? Prepared for what?

(Blackout.)