PLANNING THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONEby Seth Adam ScheinbergThe scene opens with three people gathered around a table in akitchen that is fairly modern. There is an older man, he iswearing a business suit with the tie loosened and the collarundone. He looks nervous, even sweating a little. There are twowomen. One is a visibly older, and she is wearing casual clothes.She looks distressed. The younger women is crying, and she isdressed in sweat pants and a sweatshirt. A cat sits on the table.The older woman pets it gently.RUTHI agree, Ken. We have to do something. He’s going crazy, and I won’t, I can’t, put upwith it any longer.ANNIEI know, Mom, I understand that. I think he’s crazy too. But we can’t just kick him out,he’s part of the family. You can’t just give up on him.KENI know he’s part of the family, but I warned him. I’ve told him so many times that hisbehavior is unacceptable.ANNIEBut Daddy, you know he doesn’t understand!KENI don’t care, he knows he’s wrong to do the things he does.(The group all sit quietly and stare at the center of thetable for a few seconds. ANNIE continues crying, but hermuffled weeps and not too loud.)RUTHI think we should take him tomorrow. I can’t live here knowing he’s in the next room.And God knows what he might try next, or where!ANNIETake him where tomorrow?!RUTHWe’re taking him to a special place. They’ll let him stay there. They’ll work with him,help him get better. For right now, I don’t trust him. I don’t want him here. Whenyou’re at work, and Daddy is at work, when I’m here all day, what if he tries somethingthen. I can’t handle him. He’s vicious when he’s like that.

ANNIEMom, I want nothing more than for you to be happy. But there has to be a better waythan just sending Chester away.RUTHThis is a very good place, Annie. They’ll treat him well, make sure he gets fresh air.And it isn’t too far.ANNIE(excitedly) That means…can I visit him!?KENNo, Annie, you can’t go visit him in a place like this. My advice is just forget about him.Remember him as the good old Chester, not the vicious, mean, animal he is now.Anyway, they’ll probably kill him.RUTHKenny! That’s not true Annie. Kenny, I can’t believe you would say something soinsensitive.KENOf course it’s true, Ruth. She knows it. That’s what they do when they’re this out ofcontrol. I’m telling you, he can’t be part of society anymore.ANNIEThey’re going to kill him? I thought you said they were going to work with him! Mom,you told me Chester was gonna be okay!RUTH(angrily) Ken, I though we agreed not to tell Annie about this. (calmly) And Annie,dear, this is how it has to be. Chester has lost touch with reality. They’re not going tokill him. I mean, they may, but they probably…(Ruth continues petting the cat. More uncomfortablesilence follows, and this time, ANNIE’s whimpers aremore audable.)ANNIEI can’t believe how removed you are from this. You’re planning his death!RUTHAnnie, I know it’s hard to swallow, but what else can we do?KENI’ve given him all the chances he gets! My decision is final in this house. I can’t take it.If he keeps this behavior up we’ll have a lawsuit on our hands.