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BANG BANG YOU'RE DEAD
(ABSOLUTE DARKNESS. A voice in the dark. After a moment, a flashlight explores the stage, moves along the bottom length, then up, finding Josh asleep on the jail bed. Josh jumps to his feet.)
JOSH Who's there? Who is it? Who's there?
(Michael holds the flashlight under his chin illuminating only his face.)
MICHAEL Why me?
JOSH What is this? What is this?
MICHAEL We played ball together. You were awesome on the field. You were unstoppable.
JOSH Survival of the fittest, baby.
MICHAEL And you were only a freshman. You could've been team captain in your senior year. Why'd you kill me? I never hurt you.
JOSH It was more fun than droppin' dudes in a video game.
(Michael's flashlight goes out. Katie holds her flashlight under her chin.)
KATIE Why me, Josh?
JOSH Why not? World's overpopulated. I wanted to do my part.
KATIE You liked me.
JOSH Once upon a time.
KATIE Why'd you have to kill me?
JOSH Felt like it, okay? Happy now?
(Katie's flashlight goes out. Matt holds his flashlight under his chin.)
MATT Why me?
JOSH What is this?
MATT Why me? I don't even know you.
JOSH You were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
(Matt's flashlight goes out. Jessie holds her flashlight under her chin.)
JESSIE Why me?
JOSH Why not you? Everybody's gotta die sometime. Might as well get it over with.
(Jessie's flashlight goes out. Josh lays back on the bed. Emily leans over him, holds her flashlight under her chin. Josh springs up, surprised.)
EMILY Why me, Josh? We live on the same street. We used to make mud pies together when we were little kids. I taught you how to blow bubbles with chewing gum. I came to your birthdays, you came to mine. When we were eleven you let me play war with you and the other boys because you liked how I died.
(Let the five deceased improvise pre-teen kids playing war, using their fingers for guns and making shooting sounds. They run around in the dark, their flashlights sweeping the floor, looking for the enemy, the lights criss-crossing. Let them shout "bam, bam you're dead" ("pow, pow" and other variants). Eventually Emily "kills" Katie and Matt who drop dead. Michael shoots Jessie who falls dead. Michael and Emily shoot each other at the same time. Michael drops dead at once. Emily dies very dramatically with all the appropriate sounds. Beat.)
EMILY (LYING ON FLOOR) Hope I didn't disappoint you in the cafeteria this morning. Hope I died just right for you, Josh.
JOSH You didn't have to fall on me and get me all bloody.
(Chorus echoes "alive.")
ACTOR 2 Respect.
ACTOR 4 Watch out!
ACTOR 5 Move aside!
JOSH Nobody can touch you.
ACTOR 2 When you have a gun--
JOSH Nobody mocks you.
ACTOR 4 When you have a gun--
JOSH You can take on anybody.
ACTOR 5 Anybody.
ACTOR 2 The champ wrestler.
ACTOR 4 The whole wrestling team.
ACTOR 5 The bad dudes.
ACTOR 2 Gang bangers.
JOSH When you have a gun, people talk nice.
ACTOR 4 When you have a gun--
JOSH People look at you like a V.I.P.
(Chorus echoes "V.I.P.")
ACTOR 5 Somebody bumps you, they say, Excuse me.
JOSH
You walk different--
ACTOR 2 When you have a gun.
JOSH You talk different--
ACTOR 4 When you have a gun.
JOSH You think different--
ACTOR 5 When you have a gun.
JOSH It's so cool--
ACTOR 2 When you have a gun.
(Chorus loudly echoes "gun.")
ACTOR 4 It's an A-plus.
ACTOR 5 Slam dunk.
ACTOR 2 Touchdown.
ACTOR 4 Put down.
ACTOR 5 All in one.
(Chorus echoes "one.")
JOSH Love that military stance!
ACTOR 2 You ain't got a chance--
ACTOR 4 Respect!
ACTOR 5 Watch out!
ACTOR 3 (AS JOSH'S MOM)
I wish you felt as passionate about your grades as you do about a rifle.
JOSH You're changing the subject.
ACTOR 1 (AS JOSH'S DAD) You've got a high I.Q. Your B's and C's could be all A's.
JOSH Will you get off my back about my I.Q.?
ACTOR 3 (AS JOSH'S MOM) We might feel differently if you were living up to your full potential.
JOSH Okay, you get me the rifle and I'll bring home all A's on my next report card. Deal?
ACTOR 3 (AS JOSH'S MOM) We'll talk about a rifle when we see all A's.
JOSH You don't even trust me.
ACTOR 3 (AS JOSH'S MOM) Josh, you know that's not true.
JOSH If you trust me, then get me the rifle now.
ACTOR 1 (AS JOSH'S DAD) When you get all A's, we'll discuss it.
JOSH Hunting season will be over before grades come out. Then I have to wait a whole year!
ACTOR 1 (AS JOSH'S DAD) You have to learn patience.
JOSH Hunting teaches patience. Grandpa said. But what's he know? He's only your father. All I want is to spend some time with grandpa and hear his stories about when he grew up. Learn some responsibility. Learn respect for firearms. How is all that bad?
ACTOR 1 (AS JOSH'S DAD) It's not bad, Josh. It's just that we're not comfortable with guns.
JOSH
If I wanted to, I could get a gun in school for fifty bucks.
ACTOR 3 (AS JOSH'S MOM) How?
JOSH Easy. I know a kid who stole a gun from his father. But I wouldn't buy it because that would be wrong. Is this what I get for being honest?
ACTOR 3 (AS JOSH'S MOM) Maybe his honesty deserves the rifle for a reward.
ACTOR 1 (AS JOSH'S DAD) Maybe you shouldn't cave in every time Josh throws a tantrum.
ACTOR 3 (AS JOSH'S MOM) What about the electric guitar you got him when he threw himself on the floor?
ACTOR 1 (AS JOSH'S DAD) At least that showed an interest in music.
ACTOR 3 (AS JOSH'S MOM) Yeah, and now it's collecting dust in the closet.
(Actors 1 and 3 walk off arguing.)
JOSH Divide and conquer. Works every time. So don't blame me. Blame my folks, okay? They didn't have to buy me a rifle.
EMILY You still didn't answer my question. Why me? Why did you kill me?
JOSH It's simple math. My rifle holds five bullets. Five bullets, five people. Perfect.
MICHAEL The bullet that killed me pierced my parents' hearts, too.
KATIE Pierced my brothers' and sisters' hearts.
MATT Pierced my friends hearts.
KATIE
Not fair.
MATT Not fair at all.
JESSIE That we're under the earth--
EMILY And you don't even care.
JOSH Know what's not fair? Some dude jumped me before I had a chance to reload. I could've dropped a lot more bodies and made history.
MICHAEL We demand an honest answer, Josh. Why? Why'd you kill us?
JOSH It was fun.
(The deceased stand in a circle and push Josh around like a ball.)
KATIE You don't have the proper frame of mind.
MATT We'll be all over you.
JESSIE Up one side.
EMILY Down the other.
MICHAEL In your face.
KATIE Under your skin.
MATT Till you tell us why.
JESSIE Why?
EMILY Why'd you kill us?
JOSH Lay off me.
MICHAEL
We're gonna open you up.
KATIE Dissect you like a frog.
MATT Pluck out your heart.
JESSIE Just for a start.
MICHAEL Till you tell us why.
EMILY Why?
MICHAEL Why me?
KATIE Why anybody?
MATT Why?
JESSIE Why?
EMILY Why'd you kill us?
JOSH 'Cause there was nothing good on t.v.
MICHAEL We'll do whatever it takes tonight.
KATIE Whatever it takes.
MATT To crack you open.
JESSIE Till then you'll live in hell.
EMILY Without love.
MICHAEL Without decency.
KATIE Without comfort.
JOSH
If that dude didn't jump me I had enough ammo on me to take out a hundred more. I'd've made history.
DRUMMER (AS CON) Tomorr' we gonna see just how bad you are.
JOSH What do you mean?
DRUMMER (AS CON) You'll see what we mean, bad boy.
JOSH (to himself) Whoa.
MICHAEL Feel your cell start to shrink?
KATIE Feel the walls closing in?
MATT Compressing your thoughts?
JESSIE Cramming your brain?
EMILY Driving you insane?
MICHAEL You'll wish you were dead every so often.
KATIE Your six by eight will be your coffin.
MATT Nobody will hear.
JESSIE When you scream and cry.
EMILY Why? Why? Why'd you kill us?
JOSH You can't hurt me. You're all dead.
MICHAEL We need some answers, Josh.
KATIE We want some answers tonight, Josh.
MATT
We want the truth.
JESSIE The whole truth.
EMILY And nothing but the truth.
JOSH As the cop said, I have the right to remain silent. Anything I say can be held against me in a court of law.
(Quick drum rhythm. The deceased up-end the box converting it to a judge's bench by opening the lid so that it's up vertically. Actor 2 stands behind box and bangs the gavel. [Because the courtroom scene is just a fantasy, it should be played speeded up, without pause, so that Josh's nightmare trial is over in a matter of seconds.])
ACTOR 2 (AS JUDGE) The court will hear the prosecutor's opening statement.
ACTOR 4 (AS PROSECUTOR) Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury: seven dead bodies. Dozens of witnesses. What's to think about?
ACTOR 2 (AS JUDGE) The court will now hear from the public defender.
ACTOR 1 (AS PUBLIC DEFENDER) Josh was a good student, a popular student, a good son. There's only one explanation--temporary insanity.
ACTOR 4 (AS PROSECUTOR) I call witnesses for the prosecution!
ACTOR 3 (AS WITNESS) Josh pulled the wings off a butterfly when he was five and he plagiarized on a paper for English class.
ACTOR 2 (AS JUDGE) The court will now hear closing statements.
ACTOR 4 (AS PROSECUTOR) As I see it, you the jury have a very difficult choice between the electric chair and lethal injection.
MICHAEL
Done--
KATIE Seen--
MATT Had--
JESSIE Known--
EMILY Loved in your lifetime.
MICHAEL Now you'll never know all the happiness that was yours.
KATIE But you'll wonder.
MATT And the wonderment will eat you alive.
JESSIE Eat you for breakfast.
EMILY Eat you for lunch.
MICHAEL Eat you for dinner.
KATIE While all your dreams mock you--
MATT Mock you--
JESSIE Mock you--
EMILY Mock you through the bars.
(The box is restored to a bed. Josh lies down to sleep on the blanket.)
JOSH Who cares? The whole thing will be off my record when I'm eighteen anyway. Maybe I'll be out of here when I'm twenty-one. You're all just a bad dream.
EMILY Sometimes bad dreams come true.
(The deceased wrap Josh in the blanket, pick him up, making the box a coffin. They drop him in, close the lid. We hear Josh kicking and screaming inside. They turn the box on its side, open the lid. Josh tumbles out screaming and thrashing around. He begins to look at the deceased with new respect.)
MICHAEL That's how it is under the earth.
KATIE In the dark.
MATT Alone.
JESSIE In silence.
EMILY We really need some answers, Josh.
JOSH Answers to what?
MICHAEL What were you thinking?
KATIE What was in your heart?
MATT Why'd you smile when you killed us?
JOSH I'm just a friendly guy.
JESSIE Didn't you feel badly?
EMILY Did you think of the buck when you shot me?
(Josh is astonished they know about his hunting experience. The tone changes. Josh is feeling vulnerable that they know his mind.)
JOSH What buck?
(The deceased pick up the box and move it to another location.)
MICHAEL You know what buck.
JESSIE
You both bounce on the seat. You can't wait to shoot your new rifle.
JOSH I'm pumped.
MICHAEL Grandpa parks the truck. You both sit there. Waiting for six a.m.
KATIE Waiting to shoot your new rifle.
ACTOR 1 (AS GRANDPA) Let's go, Josh.
MATT You both get out of the truck. It's cold. You can see your breath.
JESSIE Grandpa watches you load the rifle's magazine.
EMILY Five shiny bullets.
MICHAEL You show him the safety is on.
ACTOR 1 (AS GRANDPA) Atta boy. You'll be a man by the end of the day.
KATIE Grandpa pats your back.
MATT You both head for the forest.
JESSIE You see other hunters.
EMILY All grown men with rifles.
ACTOR 1 (AS GRANDPA) Now you wait here. Keep still. I'll drive the game towards you.
MICHAEL You sit on a log for two hours.
(Josh sits on the floor.)
KATIE Hours on a cold, wet log covered with moss.
MATT
Wishing you were still in a warm bed.
JESSIE Wishing you ate the oatmeal your mother begged you to eat.
EMILY Nose goes numb.
MICHAEL Fingers go numb.
KATIE Toes go numb.
MATT And you have a profound thought:
JOSH Hunting sucks.
JESSIE You doze off.
EMILY Doze for five, ten, fifteen minutes.
MICHAEL Something wakes you up.
KATIE Rustling of dry leaves.
MATT You don't move.
JESSIE The rustling leaves sound comes closer.
EMILY And then you see it.
MICHAEL A buck.
KATIE Eight pointer.
JOSH Like in a dream. Amazing.
MATT Magnificent.
