Woe and Tragedy

Open scene. A man is lying on the floor, center stage. A second man enters, notices the first man and quickly runs to him. The second man kneels down and hold the first in his arms.

Second Player: Alas! [Looks up at the audience .He speaks in a quiet but

audible voice but fool of emotion] He is dead! Woe! Woe! Woe! The heart

Within my breast weeps for you. A life, in midst of its prime, brutally cut short!

It was not your time to die, but time is a cruel mistress, indeed. [Removes a fancy

watch from the first players wrist.] I could I but turn back the clock, and offer my

Blood in change for yours, I would not hesitate. [Holds watch in the air, then

Pockets it.] My friend, I remember, just yesterday, we spoke, laughing together,

Safe, at ease. No inkling had we to the fate you would soon suffer, no last

Words, or teary good-bye could escape our lips before yours would fall silent

Evermore. [Removes a necklace from the players neck and pockets it] I weep at

The thought of your family's sufferings once they have learned your cruel fate.

And I weep for the young love blossoming in the summer air, only to be cut

Short by fall's first frost. [Removes a ring from the players finger and pockets it]

I weep, my lost friend , for all the opportunities lost, all hopes dashed, all

Achievement cut short before it had a chance to grow! For truly, you

Had all the wealth of the world, laid out before your very feet. [Removes the player's

shoes.] I promise you, my friend, you shall have a fine funereal. I shall return your

Body to the earth, as is our custom, and we shall mourn you well. I promise

you, not a soul on this earth shall go, without a tear shed for this great loss.

We shall all show your passing the utmost respect. [Removes the players wallet,

looking through and removing all of his cash before replacing it in the player's pocket.]

Sleep well, my lost friend! May the worries of this brutal world

Cease to worry you any longer. [The player stands up, about to leave, but

First looks down. He looks around him cautiously. In a normal, perhaps

Rough voice, mumbling but audible.] ...Nice shirt... [Bends down and

Takes the player's shirt (ideally an undone button down over a white

T-shirt). The player once again turns to leave the stage, takes a step, stops,

looks around, quickly turns back, punches the first player, the runs off-stage]

First Player: [After the Second Player exits the stage, suddenly all other lights go

Out and a bright spotlight shines down on the First Player. Chorus music plays in

The background as the player slowly rises to his knee, arms outstretched with his

Index and middle finger pointing outward in a very Christ-like pose. The player's

Eyes stay closed and his mouth slightly agape for the duration of this action.

He then hold position for a few seconds at the top of his kneeling pose

Before the spotlight also goes out and the room is completely dark.]

End scene.