TheKillerInMe

Lightsgoupandbrianisasleep.Ontheothersideofthestageishisyounger
counterpartandflashbackbegins.Hisyoungerselfaround15ishomealone,sick.Thephone
rings,heanswersthephoneunawareofwhatishappening.Theaudiencecanhearhisparents
voices.

YoungBrian
:Hello?

Brian'sMother:
(
rushedtalking
)Brianwedontknowhowmuchtimewehaveleft(screamsin
thebackground)WeloveyouBrian,everythingwillbealright.Youaregoingtobe

YoungBrian:
(
distressedvoice
)Mom!?Dad?!Whatshappening!?

BriansFather:
(
straininhisvoice
)

Youllbeokay,wewillallbeokay.Justknowthatwewill
alwaysloveyouandbethereforyou,nomatterwhat.

YoungBrian:
Momwhyareyousayingallthis?Whatishappening?Ialreadyknowthatyou
guysloveme.Pleasecomehomeyourescaringme

Thelinecutsout.CurrentBrianwakesupinacoldsweatfromthisnightmare.Lightsgodown.

Parados
Lightsgoup.Aworkerinthetwintowersiscoveredinash,standingsidebysidewitha
Firefighterwhoalsodiedtryingtosavepeople.
(
angel/devilrelationship
)

VengefulGhost
:Brianhasbeenhauntedbythesenightmaresfor14years,heneedstoget
revengesohecanbeatpeace.

PeacefulGhost
:(
Calmly,alittleannoyed
)Heneedstomoveonandacceptthepast,thatisthe
onlywayhecanbeatpeace.

VengefulGhost
:(
Angered
)No,revengeistheonlyway!Heneedsthisinordertomoveon.

PeacefulGhost
:Thatisn'ttrueandyouknowit.

VengefulGhost
:(
Pridefully
)Iguesswecanonlywaitandsee...

Lightsgodown

Scene1
Lightsgoup.Chorusghostsstandoneithersideofthestage.Amirissittingonaparkbench
centerstage.

Brian
:(
kindly)
Hey,isthisseatfree?

Amir:
No,itcostsadollar.
Smiles
itsallyours.
BrianlooksaroundbeforesittingdownonthebenchnexttoAmir.

Brian:
Itsabeautifuldaytoday,perfectforwalkingdogsandflyingkites.

Amir
:Uh,yeah,Iguess.(
slightlyconfused
)Dayslikethislovetojustsitouthereandreminisce

Brian
:(
interested
)Isthatanaccent?

Amir
:Alittle.MymomwasborninDubai.Iprobablypickeditupfromher.

Brian
:Huh,thatscool,haveyoueverbeenthere?

Amir
:AfewtimeswhenIwasyounger,butnotrecently.

Brian
:Iveneverbeen,Idontreallyplantoeither,Idontlikechange.

Amir:
(confused)
Oh?

Brian:
Yeah.

Looksdownatwatchandjumpsup.

Brian:
(
Rushed)
Ineedtogo

Brianstartstowalkaway,rightbeforehegoesoffstageheturnsaround

Brian:
Wait!Ineveraskedforyourname.

Amir
:ItsAmir,whatsyours?

Brian
:ImBrian,niceknowingyou.

Brianwalksoffstage,thenquicklycomesbackon.Heslylywalksbehindthebenchandputsa
clothwithchloroformoverhismouth.Amirstrugglesbeforepassingout.BrianPullshimoff
stage.Lightsgodown.

LightscomebackuptoBrianwalkingincirclesaroundAmirwhoissittingonthefloor.Amir
hashishandstiedbehindhisback.

Amir:(

angryandconfused
)

Whyareyoudoingthistome?WhathaveIdonetodeservethis?!
(
almostintears
)Whyme?

Brain:
Deeplysighs
(
pityingtone
)

Itsnotyou,itsthepeoplewhoyouarelinkedto,through
religion,throughblood.Bothofmyparentswerekilledon9/11,theyleftmeanorphanatage
15.IhavesufferedforyearsandnowIcanfinallyhavemyrevenge.

Amir:
(
angryandemotional
)Revenge?!Isthatwhatthisisabout?Gettingbackonthosewho
havehurtyou?Everyonegoesthroughtragiceventsintheirlifetime.(Provingapoint)People
needtoforgivebutnotforget,rememberthegoodandnotthebad.Youarenottheonlyonewho
lostsomeonein9/11,Itoolostarelativeandthousandsofotherpeoplealsolostlovedones.
Theymovedonwiththeirlives,buttheydidn'tforget.

Brian:
Isthattrue?Didyoulosesomeone?

Amir:
(
sincerelyandfullofemotion
)Yes,Ilostmyoldersister,shewastryingtohelppeople
onherfloor.Shegotalmosteveryoneout,butastheywererunningfromthebuildingapieceof
concretefellonher,killingher.Shesavedthelivesofsomanyaroundher,butsheendedup
dyinglikethousandsofothers.

Brian:
Ihadnoidea.ImsosorryIdidthistoyou.ButIhavenootherchoice,Ineedtohave
closure.

Chorus1

Thetwoghostsareoneithersideofthestageinastandofflikeinanoldwesternmovie.They
circleoneanotherwhiletalking.

Vengeful:
No!IcanfeelBriandriftingheneedstogothroughwiththeoriginalplan.

Peaceful:
Whatareyoutalkingabout?ThisisgoodforBrian,heislearningtoforgive
andneverforget.Amirismakinghimrealizethegoodinlife.

Vengeful:
(
gettingaggravated
)

Briandoesntneedtoseethegoodthingsheneeds
revengethisisntfairtheykilledhisparents!

Peaceful:
Hedoesntneedrevenge.HeneedstounderstandthatkillingAmirwont
solveanything,itwillmakehimfeelguilty.

Vengeful:
(
veryangry
)YoudontknowwhatBrianneeds!

Peaceful:
Andyoudo?

Vengeful:
(
angryandslightlycrazed)

Yes!IknowwhatBrianwantsandneeds.He
needsrevenge,heneedstokillAmir.Aneyeforaneye,someoneneedstopayforwhat
happened!

Ghostslookateachotherangrilythenexitthestagequicklyinoppositedirections

Scene2
Brianturnsthetvontothenews,thereporteristalkingaboutthedisappearanceofAmir
andthatthepoliceareclosinginonthekidnapper.(Screenfacingupstageandpersonstanding
offstagetalkingintomic)

Brian:
(
Angeredandfrustrated)
WhathaveIdone?Ineedtohide.WhatamI
goingtodowithAmir,whatifheratsmeoutandtellsthepolicewhoIamandwhereIam?

Amirwalksintotheroomwherebrianisat(relaxed)

Amir:
Whatsgoingon?whatareyoutalkingabout?
(jokingtone)
Youbetternothave
ruinedthefoodagain.

Brian:
Thereisnotimetobejokingrightnow!

Someonehasreportedyoumissingand
thepolicearetrackingmedown.Idontknowwhattodo.
(Sighsandcovershisfacewithhis

hands,stressed
)IwanttoletyougobacktoyournormallifebutImnotsurethatIcantrustyou
yet,howdoIknowthatyouarentgoingtogivemeuptothepolice?

Amir:
Ihaventtriedtoescapeyet,whatmakesyouthinkthatIwouldallofasudden
giveyouup?HaveInotgainedyourtrustyet?
(
Angrynow
)Ihavebeenwaitingforyoutolet
megoforweeksnow,IhavecooperatedfullyandIdeserveforyoutoatleastgivemeachance.
(
broken
)Youcantkeepmehereforever.

Brainsstanceridged.BrianandAmirareinastandoff.Eachwishingtheotherwould
backdown.

Brian:
Idontseehowyouwouldnttellthepolice,aftereverythingIhavedone
toyouhowwouldyounotwanttogetvengence.Idontseehowyoucouldpossiblyforgiveme
forwhatIhavedonetoyou.Youseemlikeacoolguy,butIbarelyknowyou,Idontknowwhat
youmightdo.

Amir:
(
angryandconfused
)ThenwhatamIsupposedtodo?Stayherewithyou
forever?

BrianStartspacingdownstage,thinkingofwhathisnextmoveshouldbe.

Brian:
Yes!No.Maybe?Idontknow,butwecantstayhereforever,thepoliceare
comingandweneedtogetoutnow.

Chorus2

Peacefulliscenterstage,Vengefulisslowlycirclinghim,staringhimdownlikeavulture.

Vengeful:
Thepoliceareonhistailanditlooksliketheendisnear.

Peaceful:
(
disappointed
)
Looksliketheyaretryingtoescapebeforetheygetcaught.Amirwants
Briantolethimgo,totrusthim.

Vengeful:
ButBrianstillfeelslikehecanttrustAmir.Heisputtingbothofthematriskbynot
lettinghimgo.

Vengefulstopscirclingwhenontheoppositesideofthestage.Theybothstaretheotherdown.

Peaceful:(
curious
)

WhatlengthswillBriangoto,toensurehewontgetcaught?Toensurehe
cantrustAmir?

Vengeful:
IfBrianwantstoavoidaprisonsentenceheneedstogetout,withorwithoutAmir.
Asofrightnowheisfacingupto25years.

Peaceful:
Iftheygetoutnowtheybothcanliveouttherestoftheirlivesinpeace,unlessBrian
doesn'tletAmirgo.ThenBrianisdoomed.

Theylookatoneanotherwithhatred,crossoneanotherthenwalkoffoppositesidesofstage.

Scene3

Brian:
Ihaveaplanofescape,butyou'renotgoingtolikeit.

Amir:
Whatisit?Pleaseletmego

Brian:
Iwill,Iwill,butrightnowwejustneedtogetoutofhereandIwillletyougooncewe
makeit,thenyou'llbefree.Itrustyou,youshouldtrustme.
Amir:
Whatisthisbrilliantplanofyours?

Brian:
Ihavethisfriend

Amir:(
InterruptsBrian)

Friend?Youhaveafriend,thatssurprisinghowsomeonelikeyoucan
havefriends?Wherehashebeenthisentiretime?

Brain:
(
sarcastically)
Haha,sofunny.Myfriendwasinprison.
(pause)
Buthesoutnow,
andnowheisgoingtohelpus.Heisgoingtobeourgetawaydriver.Hewilldrivebythe
buildingpausingonlyforustogetin.IfthepolicearehereIwillholdagunuptoyourheadso
theydontshootatme.Dontworry,Iwon'tshootyou,youllbefine.

Amir:
(shocked)
Holdon,youexpectmetoletyouputaguntomyheadandgetintoacarwith
afriendofyourswhojustgotoutofprison!?!?Putyourselfinmyshoes(
getsrightinBrians
face
)YeaImtotallygoingtolettheguywhokidnappedmeputaguntomyheadandthenget
intoavehiclewithhimandanotherpsychopath

Brian:
Youwillbeokay,justcooperatealittlelonger,wewillbothmakeitout.Youwillbe
fine,myfriend(sayingtohimself)Wewillbefine.


Chorus3
Thescenefreezes.Thetwoghostscomeinoneithersideofthestage.TheyNarratethescene.
Brianlooksoutthewindow

Peaceful:
(
disappointed
)

thepoliceareoutside,alongwiththegetawaycar.

Brianscramblesaroundtheroom,pickingupthingsatrandom.

Vengeful:
Heneedstoactquickorhewillloseeverything

Peaceful:(
disappointed)

Hehasalreadylosteverything,sohasAmir.Theyjustdon'tknowit
yet.

BriangrabsagunandAmirsarmandrunsoffstage.AmirslightlystrugglingagainstBrians
tightgrip.

Peaceful:
Now

theyarebothontherun

Vengeful:
AndAmirwantsout.

Peaceful:(
nervose
)
ThingsaregoingtogobadfastIcanfeelit.

Vengeful:
ImworriedforBriantoohecantgetcaught,hehasneverthiscloseofafriend
before.AmircouldruinBrianinmorewaysthanone.

Lightsgodown.Thechorusexitsoneithersideofthestage.

Scene4

(
BrianandAmirareoffstagebuttheaudiencecanhearthemtalking)

Brian:
ComeonAmirwehavetogonow.

Amir:

Okay,Iamtrustingyou.Youhavemylifeinyourhands.(
nervouslaugh
)

BriancoversAmirsheadwithabag.BrianputstheguntoAmirsheadandleadshimonstage

Brian:
ItsokayAmir,Iseethecar,wearealmostthere.


SlowlyshufflingAmirtothecar(Acrossthestage)

Amir:
Aretherealotofpolice?

Brian:
Yeatherearequiteafew(
Yellingatpolice
)Dontshoot!Don'tshootorillkillhim!No
closer!

ThepoliceareinchingclosertoBrianandAmirwiththeirgunsdrawn.Brianisbackingup
towardstheothersideofthestage.

BrianshufflingAmiracrossthestagewithagunheldtohishead.Twopoliceofficerscomeon
stageafterhim,gunsraised.Brianbacksup,awayfromtheofficers,slowly.Amirstillintow,
terrified.IntheprocessofBrianbackingup,hetripsandfallsbackwards.Thegungoesoff,the
scenefreezesandthestagegoesblack.

Chorus4
Lightscomeuponthescene,stillfrozenexceptforPeacefulandVengefulareoneithersideof
thestage,almostinastandoff.Youcouldcutthetensionwithaknife.

Vengeful:(

triumphant
)
Hefinallydidit.

HeKilledAmir.

Peaceful:(

shockedandsaddened
)
Itwasanaccident,Amirwassoclosetofreedom,socloseto
therestofhislife.

PeacefulandVengefularguingfromeithersideofthestage,bothfullofemotion.

Vengeful:
Brianfinallyhasgothisrevengehefinallyhasclosure!

Peaceful:(
talkingtovengeful
)
Whatareyoutalkingabout.BriandidntwanttokillAmir,he
wantedhimtolive.Amirwashisfriend.Cantyouseethatnow?

Vengeful:
(fullonfury
)

Nomatterwhathisintentionswereheisdead,gone,sixfeetunderand
nothingcanchangethat.
pointstoPeaceful
Notyourwishfulthinking.Nottheeventsthatlead
uptoAmirsfinalmoments.
LooksdownatBrian.
ThoughBrianhasyettofindallofthisout.

Peaceful:
Iamdeeplysaddenedforbrian.Theconsequencesthataresoontocomewillbeharsh
andwillimpactBriangreatly.

Lightsgodown,thechorusexitthestage.

Exodus
Lightscomebackup,thechorusmembershaveexitedthestage.Thesceneunfreezes.Brian
takesamomentandstartstositupandlookaroundhimself,inadaze.HelooksdownatAimr
andbeginsattemptingtowakehimupbyshakinghim.Amirislimp.

Brian:(

horrified
)
OhMyGod,whathaveIdone?Amir?(
urgently
)Amir!Comeon!WakeUp!

Briannoticesallofthebloodandstartstoputtwoandtwotogether.

Brian:
NO!No!No!no!no..
(eachwithanewdepthandmeaningex.shock,hurt,anger,each
oneevolvingintothenext.)

ThepolicehavebeenwatchingBrianwithcalculatedactions.TheyalmostcreepuponBrian,
forcefullyputtinghishandsbehindhisback.Briandoesn'ttrytostruggle.Heisalready
defeated.

PoliceOfficer:
Youhavetherighttoremainsilent.Anythingyousaycan,andwillbeused
againstyouinacourtoflaw.

OneofficerbeginstoescortBrianoffstage,leavingtheotherwithAmir.

PoliceOfficer(Continued):
(fadingastheywalkoffstage)Youhavetherighttoalawyer..

ThesecondpoliceofficerchecksAmirspulsebeforeshakinghishead,thendeeplysighing.
Lightsgodown

Resolution

Thelightscomebackupandtheghoststalkabouthowrevengeshouldnotdriveyouractions.
Youneedtoforgive,butnotforget