ANNIVERSARY

Cast of Characters Michael…………………………male. 40-something Angel………………………………female. 40-somethingSynopsis Two cheating lovers wake up in a hotel room, but oneof them is dead. Note:

Anniversary

had productions at FirstStage and atthe Write Act Repertory.

2The Time: The present.The Place: In a bed in a hotel room.

(At Rise: early morning, about 4:30 a.m. Subdued lighting. MICHAEL and ANGEL asleep, lying back to back. Silence except for MICHAEL’s breathing.Presently MICHAEL begins moving, slowly at first.Then we see him moving more, tossing about. Then hestarts waking up by degrees. He props himself up to get his bearings. He switches on light)

MICHAEL: Angel. Angel. Wake up, Angel. The cushion is soaked. Wakeup.

(Silence. ANGEL does not move)

MICHAEL:

(A little louder)

Angel. Wake up. Angel!

(Silence. ANGEL does not move)

MICHAEL:

(Prods ANGEL with hand)

Angel. Angel. Are you okay? Are you sick? Angel please. Angel. Wake up. Please wake up.

(His face close to her lips)

You’re not breathing, Angel. What’s the matter, Angel? OhGod, Angel, no. Please, Angel. Please be okay. Please. Whatdo you do when there’s no breathing? Tilt head back. Yes!Tilt head back!

(He rolls ANGEL onto her back. Tilts her head back)

What’s next? What do I do next? Listen for breathing. Yes!Listen for breathing.

(He listens)

Oh God, you're not breathing. Breathe, Angel. Come on, breathe.

(He listens)

No breathing. What next? Uh. Pinch nose, cover mouth and blow.

(He does this)

Nothing. Oh God. Oh God.

(He does it again)

3 MICHAEL

(Cont):

Nothing. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. Angel, please.

(He straddles her body, starts pressing on her chest,speaking panicky encouragement through grunts)

Come on, Angel. Please start breathing. You can do it, Angel.Let’s see you start now. Come on. In. Out. In. Out.Breathe, Angel, breathe. Do like this. In. Out. In. Out.Come on. Do it for me. Do it for Michael. Please, Angel.Breathe. Breathe. Come on, Angel. Breathe. Breathe.Breathe. Oh God, God, it’s not working.

(Stops. He is out of breath. He puts hand in frontof her nose)

Nothing.

(Then he slowly gets off her. Then he stands, staresdown at her, running his hand through his hair in dismay. Silence. Then suddenly he blurts out……)

My God, Angel. You’re……you’re dead. You’re……dead. ANGEL:Yes. MICHAEL:I. I can't believe this. ANGEL:I'm sorry, Michael. MICHAEL:You know, you’re. You’re my first. My first dead person. ANGEL:His first. He always does that. Michael's big on lists and prioritizations. First, second, third, etc. Like it meanssomething. MICHAEL: And. And I don’t know what’s supposed to happen next. What arethe rules when. When you wake up and you get. This? ANGEL:He’s asking me? He thinks I know? Believe me, Michael. Thiswasn’t planned. You’ll just have to feel your way along.