Stage Master: Welcome everyone, thank you for coming to our performance today. Now we'll first start off with a short play, a play with only 5 scenes.
Scene 5
Curtains pull open to reveal a body covered in cloth on a slab with a vertical slab behind the body, on it the label "Here lies E. Ben Axel". On one side is a grave worker, while on the other are two individuals, one dressed in white while the other in black.
Grave worker: Is no one else coming for the funeral? Where are his relatives and friends?
⚪: He only has one. But I'm afraid it will be just the two of us. He wasn't very popular when he was alive.
⚫: He might come later, but I wouldn't bet on it though. In fact, you shouldn't bet on it either. Gambling is bad, kids.
The stage master runs out in panic, yelling at them to stop.
Stage Master: Stop! Stop! What are you guys doing?! Which scene is this?
⚪: Uh... Scene 5?
Stage Master: Why are you guys starting at scene 5? Do you guys even know how plays work? You start at scene 1!
⚫(pulls out script): Well, I mean, the script-
Stage Master(interrupts): Whatever, just start from scene 1, move the props right now! Everyone, I am so sorry for this error.
Props are moved in as curtains close. As curtains are fully closed, ⚫ peeks out.
⚫: Just so y'all know, this is all intentional, we're totally professional enough to not actually make a mistake like this, also in the industry, this is called Foreshadowing.
Stage Master shoos ⚫ as ⚪ pulls ⚫ back into the curtains.
Stage Master: Anyway, let us start with a play with 5 scenes.
Scene 1
Stage Master leaves. Curtains open to reveal the same slabs, this time the Ben is shown sitting up with a blanket on him. The label is no longer there. Beside are two tables, which are covered in small bottles. Ben is still asleep. A nurse enters from stage left with a servant.
Nurse(gently): Sir, wake up, it's time for your medicine.
Ben groggily wakes up and takes his pills with some water.
Servant: Sir, there is a visitor at your door.
Ben: Is the doctor here already?
Nurse: No, it's not, it is the one who has been trying to visit you the last week.
Ben: I don't know who that is, send him away and tell him to never return! And tell the doctor to come immediately!
Servant: Yes, sir.
Servant leaves from stage left.
Nurse: Sir, who is this person that's been trying to see you? I feel like it might be important, you probably should see them while-
Ben: I said I need to see my doctor now!
The nurse sighs and leaves.
Ben: I swear, no one in this house cares for me. Everyone I know doesn’t. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here right now. Absolutely useless!
Nurse reenters with a doctor. The nurse rearranges the bottles and keeps some of them away.
Doctor(Turns pages on his files): Hello, sir. I have brought you the results you wanted, I'm afraid your request for a transplant surgery has been denied.
Ben: What?! Why is that?!
Doctor: I'm very sorry, but your body is currently too weak for a safe transplant, the risk of the surgery is just too large. We cannot perform the surgery.
Ben: What other options are there?
Doctor(sighs deeply): I'm sorry. We've tried everything, but right now, my advice would be to make the most of how much you have left.
Ben: I can’t believe this! I’ve worked so hard all my life, and this is all I get? To be left to die alone!
Doctor: I am very sorry-
Ben: I don't want you here! Get out of my house!
Ben grabs the cup beside him and pulls back to throw it at the doctor.
Lights out.
Lights on.
The white figure reappears in front of the doctor, holding the cup an inch away from the doctor.
⚪(Pulls the cup away and placing it on the table): Now now, this is what would send you to the bad place, we don't want that.
The doctor and the nurse remain completely motionless. Only Ben turns his head in fear towards the white figure.
Ben: Who are you? (Turns around to see no one is moving) Am I dead?
⚪: No, not yet. (Pause) But you will soon be.
Ben: Are you an angel?
⚪: Of sorts, yes. I bring good souls to the place they deserve for their good deeds.
Ben: I'm going to heaven?
⚪: No.
Ben: I'm going to hell?! But I have never done anything wrong in my life! I've been a good man!
The black figure jumps out from behind the 'bed' onto the opposite of the white figure.
⚫: You're not going to H-E-Double-Hockeysticks you scrooge ripoff!
Ben(screams): Who are you?!
⚫(sass): Well duh, by the stark contrast in our cheap costumes, I bring bad souls to the place they deserve for their bad deeds to suffer!!
Ben(whimpering): You're... the devil?
⚫(offended, then smiling): Yes, and I'm here to take your soul! (Screams, then scowls)
⚪: Stop scaring him. (Turns to Ben) Calm down, you're not dying, you're not going anywhere either. Not just yet.
Ben: I... I don't want to die!
⚫: You ARE going to hell if you don't shut up right now.
Ben(Towards ⚪): I've... been a good man! I swear!
⚪: Yes, it is true you've not done very much evil in your life...
⚫: But you haven't done much good in your life either. In fact, you've barely done anything in your life. (Turns to ⚪) If that cup had hit (points towards the doctor) him, (turns to Ben) your sin count would increase by 50% and I would get to go back and condone in sins with the letter o in them. Why did you stop that, A?
⚪: We came to give this man a second chance, which is what we will do. Besides, remember you promised to do this to take off half of your debt.
Ben: What?
⚫: I owe A a hundred dollars.
⚪: You wouldn't if you stopped while you were ahead instead of losing another 5 rounds on the craps table.
Ben: Can't you just pay back the money?
⚫: A, why don't you just start your monologue of the premise we're having?
⚫ walks off during ⚪'s monologue to toss around the bottles, removing objects from frozen characters' hands and putting them back.
⚪(Sighs): It is true, you were not evil, nor were you good, you were, no offense, nothing, even with almost 70 years in your life. Souls like you remain on Earth, left to wander in regret, as they had when they were living, always focused on the wrong things. Which is why we are here. We will give you a chance to souls like you to redeem yourself, to fix your mistakes. This time, try not to waste your chance, or your empty life will be what you will live for the rest of eternity. We do not have long to do so, as we only have until Scene 5 when your mortal body dies. If it remains without a resolution, your fate will be one I consider worse than an eternity of pain.
Ben: I still don't understand. What is scene-
⚫(Stomps towards his original position): This is taking too long. You will understand when we get into it. (Yells) Next scene, Lights out.!
Scene 2
Lights on.
The nurse and the doctor are gone, props such as an old radio show this to be the 1950s. At stage front is a man sitting at a table drinking tea or something, who is dressed in a Camo outfit. ⚫ looks towards the radio and picks it up and presses a button, which plays some 1950s music.
⚪: I'm sure you remember this scene, don't you?
Ben: I remember this place, I grew up here, but I don't quite remember who that is...
⚫(pulls out a wheelchair from behind): How convenient, wouldn't you like a closer look?
⚪ mildly panics before continuing with mild hesitation.
⚪(to Ben, who is also hesitant): Don't worry, they can't see or hear us unless we let them.
⚫ drops Ben onto the wheelchair.
⚪: Careful!
⚪ pushes Ben towards the man so he can have a closer look.
Ben(angrily): It’s him!
⚪: Do you remember now?
Ben: Of course, he is-
A child enters, pulled in by a caretaker. The man looks towards the child. Ben nearly jumps back in shock for his wheelchair(but fails as he is a frail old man who can barely move). Lights focus on stage front.
Man(coldly): Hello, Ben.
Ben: ...cold as he was.
The child hides behind the caretaker, unwilling to go towards the man, only slowly following his caretaker.
Caretaker: Come on now, no need to be shy, go say hi to your father.
Child: H...Hello.
The caretaker nudges the child towards his father, who stares at him coldly.
Caretaker: Don't be shy, give him a hug!
Ben: No one would ever go near that robot.
The child breaks free from his caretaker, then runs off stage. The father remains motionless.
Caretaker: Elliot Ben Axel! Come back! (Turns to the father) I am so sorry, the boy is just shy, he's like that all the time.
Ben: No I’m not. You(gestures towards father) were the cause of this. You never ever talked to me.
Father robotically stands up and starts to pack his bag.
Caretaker: You're going already?
The father continues without a word.
⚪: Would you like to talk to him? Your father?
⚫: You can, just call out his name.
Caretaker: You should at least stay for a while with your son, you're the only family he has and he has barely even gotten to know you.
Father pauses briefly and looks at him, then continues to leave.
Ben: I have nothing to say to him.
Caretaker: Then you will return soon?
The father leaves. After a while, the caretaker cleans up and leaves as well.
⚪: You didn’t take your chance. You have learned nothing.
Ben: It’s not my fault my father didn’t care enough to ever come back to be with me!
⚫: Oh, I wouldn’t bet on that. He will be returning very soon.
⚪: As he already did.
Lights out.
Scene 3
Lights on.
The scene changes to the 1950s, instead of the dining table, there is a man sitting at the desk, typing on a computer and flipping through files at the same time. Ben is visibly surprised to see this scene.
⚪(pushes Ben towards the desk): I think you must remember this scene very well.
Ben(stuttering): Yes... And... That's...
⚫(interrupting): You during your mid-life crisis, yeah we know.
⚪snaps at ⚫, who keeps quiet.
A teenager slowly walks in.
Lights focus on Young Ben and the Teenager.
Teenager: Umm... Dad?
Young Ben(warmly): Yes?
Teenager: You might not know this but I have been accepted into the art college and I will be leaving for overseas tomorrow.
Young Ben: When did you apply for this? You did all this behind my back?!
Ben: I should have seen this coming, especially from my good for nothing, disrespectful son.
Teenager: Dad, it has always been my dream to become an artist-
Young Ben: Who's going to afford your expensive college fees?!
Teenager: I'm already 18! I can do what I want!
Ben: Just because he is, he thinks he had do anything.
Young Ben: If you go overseas, then who's going to take over my company?!
Teenager: Sorry, but I just don’t want to take over that lousy company of yours.
Young Ben: I put in so much effort to support this family, to give you an easy life for your future, and all you do is throw it away for a dumb career with no future?! You are a failure of a son!
Teenager: Fine! All you care about is your failing company instead of me, your son! You always insist on me to become a part of your company, one you aren't even capable of running, one that's failing from all of your egotistical and cowardly decisions. You are stubborn, heartless, and a coward! I've had enough! Now, I'm leaving!
The teenager runs out, storming. The younger version of Ben tries to go after him, but after a while returns alone, and collapses at his desk.
Lights on.
Ben(angrily): He was right about one thing, my company eventually dwindled and became unpopular in the 2000s. It went bankrupt soon after.
⚫: That's karma for you, innit?
⚪: Perhaps, but is that what we're supposed to be focusing on here? When was the last time you talked with your son since then?
Ben(angrily): Well it’s not my fault he never came back to me!
⚪: And we’re giving you a second chance to fix that. Try to learn.
Lights out.
Scene 4
Lights on.
All of the tables have been removed, and instead lamps and artificial rocks create a road in front of them. At the end of the road is what resembles a door and in front of awaits two visitors with luggage bags facing stage left.
Ben: Hold on, I don't remember this happening.
⚪: I assure you, this is an important event in your life.
Visitor 1: So this is where you've been every morning and afternoon for the past week?
Visitor 2: Yes.
Visitor 1: Have they ever let you in?
Visitor 2: Not yet.
Visitor 1: Who are you even looking for anyway?
Ben: Who are they?
A servant comes out from the doorway.
Servant: My apologies, but my master has said he does not want to see you.
Visitor 2: Wait, tell him that-
Servant leaves.
Visitor 1: You know what, I don't even care, they might be important to you but clearly you're not important to them. We must catch our flight in an hour or we're going to miss it.
Visitor 2 hesitates.
Lights focus on Ben.
Ben: Is that the person who's been trying to see me the past week? I don't know who they are!
⚪: I'm sure you will know who they are.
⚫: Spoilers: you already do.
⚪: You can take the time to figure it out on the way because we don't have much time left for that, we must now return to Scene 2, the one where you were a child.
Ben: Why?
⚫: Because we've only got 15 minutes left until our next play!
Ben: What are you guys talking about?
⚪: As I said, you'll figure it out. But this time...
⚫: We will be directing the play. Lights out.!
Scene 2 (Redo)
Stage returns to Scene 2.
A child enters, pulled in by a caretaker. The man stands up and walks towards the child, smiling. Ben nearly jumps back in shock for his wheelchair(but fails as he is a frail old man who can barely move). Lights focus on stage front.
Ben: Why are we here again? We’ve already seen this scene.
⚪: Yes, as you remembered it.
⚫: As you’ve directed it.
Man(warmly): Hello, Ben.
Ben jumps at this(except he does not as he is a frial old man). The child hides behind the caretaker, unwilling to go towards the man, only slowly following his caretaker.
Caretaker: Come on now, no need to be shy, go say hi to your father.
Child: H...Hello.
The father smiles warmly and squats down towards his son. The caretaker nudges the child towards his father.
⚫: You might notice this is not how you remembered this scene. Because it isn’t.
⚪: No, this is as it happened.
Caretaker: Don't be shy, give him a hug!
The child breaks free from his caretaker, then runs off stage.
Caretaker: Elliot Ben Axel! Come back! (Turns to the father) I am so sorry, the boy is just shy, he's like that all the time.
Ben: (tries to say something)
⚫: Shush, don’t deny your father his lines.
Father(stands up and picks up his bag): It's fine, you have raised him well enough. He’s healthy and clearly, he’s gotten close to you, and I’m happy for that.
Caretaker: You're going already?
Father(packing up): Unfortunately, war is still ongoing, I am needed elsewhere and it is my duty to return to my post very soon.
Caretaker: You should at least stay for a while with your son, you're the only family he has and he has barely even gotten to know you.
Father(Pauses): Perhaps for now, it is better that way. I can't stay for long and he is still too young to understand what's going on. It wouldn't make sense to him why I returned only to leave so quickly. I just wanted to make sure he is well, that is all.
Caretaker: Then you will return soon?
Father: When the war is over, I promise. Then I will have the chance to fully explain everything to him. Just tell him, I love him, and I will be returning soon, alright?
The father leaves. After a while, the caretaker cleans up and leaves as well.
Ben: He never upheld that promise.
⚪: He… couldn’t. Neither could anyone on his team that day, and it wasn’t their fault. They were brave men trying to do the best they could in the situation, it just was not the right situation to be in.
⚫: You know though, right? You’re in denial.
Ben falls silent.
Lights out.
Scene 3 (Redo)
There a man sitting at the desk, typing on a computer and flipping through files at the same time.
A teenager slowly walks in.
Lights focus on Young Ben and the Teenager.
Teenager: Umm... Dad?
Young Ben(Without looking away from his work): Yes? I'm busy right now.
Ben is visibly uncomfortable at looking at this scene.
Teenager: I've been putting this off for a while but... I have been accepted into the art college I had applied for. I know this is quite sudden and I’m sorry for that but I will be leaving for overseas tomorrow and I just-
Young Ben: When did you apply for this? You did all this behind my back?!
Teenager: Dad, please, it's really my dream to become an artist-
Young Ben: Dreams? Do you really think you can live off of dreams?! Who's going to pay for your college fees?!
Teenager: I’ve only looked into taking up a part-time job to pay for it myself, there are many I can take-
Young Ben: If you go overseas, then who's going to take over my company?!
Teenager: Sorry, but that's just not my thing dad.
Young Ben: I put in so much effort to support this family, to give you an easy life for your future, and all you do is throw it away for a dumb career with not future?! You are a failure of a son!
Teenager: Fine! All I wanted is your support, yet all you care about is your failing company! No matter what I do, you're never proud of me. You always insist on me to become a part of your company, one you aren't even capable of running, one that's failing from all of your egotistical and cowardly decisions, instead of supporting what I want. You are stubborn, heartless, and a coward! I've had enough! Now, I'm leaving!
The teenager runs out, storming. The younger version of Ben hesitates, before trying to go after him, but after a while returns alone, and collapses at his desk.
⚪: It seems your father did return to you.
Ben(Starting to understand the subtext, however still in denial): No, what are you talking about.
⚫(flips open the script): Thou were physically there for thy son, yes. Yet were thou there for him figuratively? When he's most down; when he's trying his hardest? Didst thou aye take the chance to reconcile with thy child? Ir didst thou, like thy father, abandoned thy child when he was still vulnerable.
⚫ tosses the script aside and leans towards Ben.
⚫: This literally can't be spelled out any clearer without it seeming like us padding the runtime.
⚪: But remember, there's still a chance, which we had given you.
Ben: What chance?
⚫: Scene 4 please!
Lights out.
Scene 4 (Redo)
Lights on.
Lamps and artificial rocks create a road. At the end of the road is what resembles a door and in front of awaits two visitors with luggage bags.
⚪: This is your last chance.
Ben: For what?
⚫: To make up for the chances you didn’t take.
Visitor 1: So this is where you've been every morning and afternoon for the past week?
Visitor 2: Yes.
Visitor 1: Have they ever let you in?
Visitor 2: Not yet.
Visitor 1: Who are you even looking for anyway?
A servant comes out from the doorway.
Servant: My apologies, but my master has said he does not want to see you.
Visitor 2: Wait, tell him that-
Servant leaves.
Visitor 1: You know what, I don't even care, they might be important to you but clearly you're not important to them. We must catch our flight in an hour or we're going to miss it.
Visitor 2 hesitates.
Visitor 2: I need to see him. He's my father.
Ben looks up in surprise.
Visitor 1: The one who you said didn't want you to become an artist?
Visitor 2: Yes, he might not be the best father, but he is my father nonetheless, who raised me up.
Ben: Son? Son! It's me!
Son: I want him to come see the convention, I may not be the best artist yet, but being the first national art convention in which my art is featured, I only wish for my father to see my progress. I don't expect him to be proud of me, but I hope he will be.
Ben: Son! I am! Can you not hear me?! I'm right here! Let me talk to them!
Visitor 1(sighs): Fine, I'll wait for you slightly longer, but as I said, if you want to get to that convention, we need to catch that flight which is like only 40 minutes away, so when I say we need to go, we're going, alright?
Son(Walks towards the door): ...Okay.
The son continues to knock on the door, to which he receives no response.
Ben: I'm right here! Why can 't you hear me? Son!
Lights focus on Ben.
Ben(sobbing): Why can't they hear me?
Ş̵̥̝̲̐̕c̵̨̳͈̿̋e̵̪͚͗̿́n̵͖̖̳̈̚é̷̛̞̗͆̄ ̶̡̖̤͘3̵̲̰̯̞͒́
Young Ben and Teenager move in two tables and place them beside the 'bed'. ⚪ pushes Ben back to the bed.
⚪: You can't change the past.
Ben: You... You lied to me! You said that's what you were going to help me with!
S̵̜̘̍č̷͖̱̟̺̆͠ė̸̜̱̱n̷̙͓̈́͐̀ě̶͍͎̾̀̈ ̴̟̑̿͝2̴̖̖̳̒̉̚̕
Caretaker, Father, and Child walk in and place the bottles on the tables. ⚫ places Ben back on the bed.
⚫: No, we said we will help you fix your mistakes, and you do that not by dwelling over what cannot be changed, but by focusing on the present.
Ben: What do you mean?
Scene 1 (Continued)
Doctor and Nurse enter and regains their frozen posture.
⚪: This scene is not that far past, remember?
Ben thinks for a moment, then jumps up and runs towards stage right offstage, Nurse and Doctor regain movement, and are surprised by this.
Nurse: I thought he couldn't walk, what's he suddenly running like that for?
⚫: You and me, dude. I'm surprised too. (Nurse does not react as ⚫ and ⚪ are usually invisible to mortals)
Servant appears from stage left.
Servant: Stop knocking, I said our master does not want to see you.
Visitor 1: I've told you so, let's just go already or we are really going to miss our flight.
Son(starts to panic): But...
Ben runs out from stage right.
Ben(happily): Son!
Son(happily): Dad!
Ben: It's been so long!
Son: I have so much to tell you!
Ben: I know, son. We can talk inside.
Ben and his son walk inside, Ben lies on his bed. ⚫, ⚪, Visitor 2, Servant, Nurse and Doctor remove any props at stage front.
Son: Dad, I'm so sorry for leaving you, and not coming back to you for so long.
Ben: It's fine, what matters is we're together now. I... am sorry too, for what I've said. I'm proud of you and how far you've come.
Son: You knew?!
Ben(weakly): ...Yes. And I am, from the bottom of my heart, happy, that unlike me, you took the opportunity and youth you had to achieve your fullest potential and your true dreams.
⚫ and ⚪ enter solemnly. Standing from a distance, they stare at Ben. Ben slowly closes his eyes.
Son: Thanks Dad, I never had the chance to tell you this either, but... I love you.
Ben doesn't respond.
Son: Dad?... Dad? Dad!
The son tries to hold up his father in desperation.
Son: Help! Is there a doctor here? Help!
The Doctor and the Nurse rush in, as lights slowly dim out.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
Scene 5 (Final)
A body covered in cloth lies on the slab Aith a vertical slab behind the body, on it the label "Here lies E. Ben Axel''. On one side is a grave worker and another man dressed in a dark suit, while on the other are two individuals, one dressed in ⚪ while the other in black. This is the first and the last time this scene is seen.
Son. Elliot Ben Axel is my father. He... Well... We never spent much time together, to be honest. But he was brave, caring and most importantly a man who always tried his hardest for me. He raised me up, and not only that, he supported me in my dream, even when I was unaware of it. Unfortunately, I was never able to repay what he has done for me, but I will do my best to honor him in his death.
Son sits down next to the grave.
Son: Dad, I love you.
Son leaves, and the grave worker leaves after him.
⚫ jumps from behind ⚪ and sits on the foot of the slab.
⚫: Well, glad that's finally over with.
⚪snaps at ⚫, who jumps up into a standing position.
⚪: To be honest, I just feel like we have lied a lot in this one, you know, to Elliot, to the audience basically.
⚫: Well, they're just little white lies, aren't they? Everything turned out alright. As the moral of the story goes, focus on the present instead of dwelling on the past.
⚪: Is that really how it's supposed to go?
⚫: Nah, it's all up to interpretation actually, we're just characters, we don't need to worry about that. (Takes out a stack of paper) The script says it's time for us to go back now anyway, which is exactly what I want to do right now.
⚫ puts away the papers.
⚪: Huh. Remember, you still owe me 50 bucks, when can you hand it over?
⚫: What?
⚪: You owe 50 bucks, this is only taking half of your debt, remember?
⚫: Well I'm not paying.
⚪: No you are, I expect it by next week. You got it?
⚫(looks towards the audience): Lights out.!
⚪: Where did- Lights on.!
⚪ looks around to find that ⚫ has disappeared, looking around, ⚪ finds ⚫ sneaking out from behind the slabs.
⚪: Come back here! (Chases after ⚫)
⚫(running away, towards the audience): And Scene.!
