Death's Waiting Room

Dramatis Personae

Jay Peregrine Jones: m 20’s: A good person, kind, level headed and fair. The good guy next door type. A man seeking adventure and excitement.

Adam: m 20’s (ageless?): Angry, not a people person. Been in the waiting for a long time, unapologetic, sarcastic and mysterious.

Dinah Williams: f middle age: devoutly religious and an even more devoted mother. Stubborn and strong willed

Timothy: m middle age. Cunning, the man with a plan. Always trying to talk or worm his way out of the consequences. He believes his death was a mistake and would do anything to escape hell.

“Kari”shma Amala Patel: f 16: A kind hearted, compassionate and empathetic teenager. Kari died too young,unable to fulfil her dreams of putting real good out into the world she remains a light even in death.

Lights up dimly, to show a table on stage covered in a magazines, a TV remote, and chairs lining the stage. DINAH sits by the table flipping through one of the magazines. TIMOTHY is on stage right standing on a chair. ADAM sits upstage left draped in a chair lazily. Upstage center is JAY laying across a row of chairs asleep. KARI sits by him watching.

Lights up fully as JAY sits up gasping.

JAY

Who? What? Where?

ADAM

Wouldn't we all like to know?

KARI

Hi.

JAY

Hi. Ummmmm sorry about the screaming but again; who? What?

KARI

Where? Well let's save that one for later. As for the first one, I'm Kari, reading over here is Dinah, this is Timothy and brooding in his corner is Adam.

JAY

Nice to meet you Kari. And Uhh the rest of you. But I meant who am I?

TIMOTHY

They don't remember either huh?

DINAH

Probably not a life worth remembering.

ADAM

You all remembered who you were in time. Just give it a few minutes, it's quite a shock being ripped from your body.

JAY

I'm sorry, I was what?

KARI

Right the second question. What. Maybe you should take this Adam, I don't think I can give the sorry you're dead speech.

JAY

The what speech?

ADAM

Ahhh come on, you just did the hard part.

(To Jay)

Sorry you're dead. Really all there is to it.

JAY

I'm dead?

KARI

Yeah, sorry for your loss….of your own life….

JAY

Then last question. Where?

TIMOTHY

Kari! KariKariKari! Come here I think I think this grate will pry off! I felt a shake. Come on….come….on

Timothy falls off the chair onto the floor where Kari rushes to help him up and sits him next to Jay.

ADAM

Could have told you that wouldn't work. Oh wait I did. Should have put money on it.

DINAH

Gambling is immoral behaviour. ...not that I'm surprised.

JAY

Uhh what was it you were trying to do?

TIMOTHY

Escape.

JAY

Escape?

TIMOTHY

Take a look around, you see any doors?

Jay takes a good look at the waiting room

JAY

No. But how did I get in here then? How did any of us?

KARI

You just showed up lying on those chairs.

ADAM

We all did. At some point we all just woke up in this room. As clueless and confused and as dead as you.

JAY

You still haven't answered my question. If I'm dead. If we're all dead then where are we?

Silence

DINAH

Hell. We're in hell.

JAY

What? which Hell? Like devil and pitchforks hell?

ADAM

Have you been to another one? Cause if so Satan should sue for copyright infringement.

JAY

I don't need your sass, I just found out I might be in hell. There has to be some mistake.

TIMOTHY

Yes! Exactly why I'm trying to escape. I don't belong here. My death was mistake. Will you help me get back?

DINAH

Do not get pulled in to his blasphemy. There are no mistakes.

JAY

(To Kari)

We’re really in hell?

KARI

Well. That's what Dinah thinks. We don't actually know for sure.

TIMOTHY

I don't plan on sticking around long enough to find out where they put me. I'm going back to the world of the living. Whether I need to claw my way out of hell, jump from the clouds of heaven or break out of this room. Now everyone start breaking the legs off the chairs, we're going to make shovels.

ADAM

And what is your oh so brilliant plan? To tunnel?

DINAH

All you'll do is the devil's work. Making the Pit bigger.

TIMOTHY

I don't see either of you coming up with ideas,

DINAH

I have an idea. I've been praying since I got here. If God shows mercy he will send an angel to pull me from these depths. Until then all I can do is beg forgiveness.

TIMOTHY

Right, well I’m not ruling out angelic assistance in this escape but it seems the angel brigade is running a little late, so maybe we should work on a plan b in case that doesn't pan out.

ADAM

Alright plan a for angels, plan b for bumbling moron digs a hole-

TIMOTHY

At least I'm not a brooding, standoffish, rude, selfish-

ADAM

I feel bad now, your listing my best qualities and I only insulted you.

DINAH

You are both so petty it's no wonder you're in hell.

KARI

Guys come on let's not-

ADAM

Yeah Angels and why do you think-

TIMOTHY

It was a mistake thats why I'm digging-

DINAH

None of you deserve salvation-

JAY

Jay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TIMOTHY

K?

JAY

Jay! That's my name. I remember my life! I'm Jay Jones, and I was born in Toronto Canada, my mom raised me herself before marrying Pete my step dad. I have a step sister that teaches kindergarten, and I'm a pilot.

ADAM

Well I certainly hope you didn't fall asleep at the wheel, or you're going to have a lot of people to answer to.

JAY

What? No..I. ..I. .I don't remember how I died.

KARI

That was the last thing that came to me. Just give it time.

DINAH

We have a lot of that, what with eternal damnation.

JAY

Wow. So you're really sold on this hell thing, huh?

DINAH

Yes.

JAY

Right. Do you mind if I ask why?

DINAH

God works in mysterious ways but you must have committed great sin in your lifetime.

JAY

Yeah that's the thing. I don't really remember all of my life, but most of its back, and I don't think I was a terrible person.

DINAH

If you ever want forgiveness you must first accept that you have done wrong.

JAY

Why do you think you're here?

DINAH

I told you

JAY

Because of sin and mysterious ways I know. But what was the worst thing you ever did when you were alive?

ADAM

Ohhhh I like you newbie. This game should be fun.

DINAH

You really expect me to air out my dirty laundry in front of a bunch of evil strangers?

JAY

Well you keep saying that, but don't you want to see how evil we actually are?

KARI

I think it's a good idea. We want to know where we are right? So maybe this will narrow it down a bit.

TIMOTHY

Hmmmm. I suppose if we knew which afterlife we were in, it could help us know what we're up against in our escape.

ADAM

Your escape.

DINAH

It will be like confession. We will admit to our sins, perform penance and the Lord will be impressed at our devotion to him.

JAY

Sure. Who wants to go first?

Silence. Then everyone but Jay touches a finger to their noses.

JAY

What we're doing that thing? Alright. I guess it was my idea. The worst thing I've done….or did I guess was cheat on my partner.

DINAH

Adultery is a sin. As is premarital sex.

JAY

What? I didn't. ….well I guess that second one technically. But I didn't physically cheat. Emotionally though yeah.

ADAM

Emotionally?

JAY

I fell in love with someone else while I was still in a relationship.

TIMOTHY

Does that count though? If you didn't act on it?

JAY

Of course it counts. I was in a loyal relationship and betrayed my partner's trust by loving someone else. Why should it matter if physically I followed through? I lied to my partner for months about it. I strung them along in a dead relationship and betrayed them by not staying loyal.

ADAM

Well, I suppose you have a point. Dante's Inferno had betrayal as the sin that landed a person in the deepest circle of hell.

JAY

Thank you. Uhhh I guess.

KARI

So what happened? With the relationship, and the person you were in love with?

JAY

Nothing. That's the worst part. I was too afraid to try it with the person I loved so I stuck around to what was safe and stayed in that relationship. ….they'll be mourning my death now.

TIMOTHY

Alright so worst thing you've ever done, cheat on your partner, keep them in a broken relationship because you were too afraid to move on betraying them, yourself, and the very act of love. Betrayal an act according to an old poet being worthy of the worst of hell.

ADAM

That about sums it up.

TIMOTHY

Excellent who's next?

KARI

I guess I could go?

JAY

Go ahead. No judgement here.

ADAM and DINAH

Speak for yourself.

JAY

Maybe you two would like to go then?

ADAM

Sure. I'm gay.

JAY

What?

ADAM

I'm gay.(To Dinah) That’s enough for your God isn't it?

DINAH

I knew it. I knew you homosexuals would all burn in hell!

JAY

OK. Hang on. I seriously don't think you're in hell, if we're even in hell, because you're gay.

ADAM

Nah I've done things actually worthy of the Flames, but that seems enough for her so why give the whole list?

DINAH

I knew you were all sinners.

JAY

Excuse me, but what happened to only God can judge? Let he is without sin cast the first stone?

ADAM

I think it's high time you spilled.

DINAH

I…..I broke the 9th commandment.

The other characters begin counting on their fingers.

KARI

(Guessing)

Theft?

JAY

Adultery?

TIMOTHY

Murder?

ADAM

Did you use “omg” when texting? I'm pretty sure there's one about using the Boss’ name in vain.

DINAH

No. How do you expect to be saved if none of you know basic scripture?

ADAM

Atheist.

JAY

Agnostic.

TIMOTHY

Ditto.

KARI

Hindu.

ADAM

Basically I don't think any of us went to Sunday school. Mind enlightening us?

DINAH

Oh I think if you're here it's too late for you to see the light.

JAY

He meant, tell us what the 9th commandment is.

DINAH

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. I committed perjury.

ADAM

Wow a moral, and criminal offense this got interesting.

KARI

Why?

DINAH

To protect my son. He was up for charges for robbing a convenience store. He swore to me he didn't do it. That they just took him for it because of the colour of his skin.

JAY

Sounds like you're lucky they didn't shoot him.

DINAH

They would have given him the maximum sentence, even with circumstantial evidence. So I took the stand and I said he had been with me all that night.

TIMOTHY

You gave him an alibi.

DINAH

Yes. But. That's wasn't all I did. I..I was cleaning my son's room one day and I found a gun. The police had missed it, but I found it in the ceiling tile. It was the same kind as was used in that robbery. I was terrified, I had to protect my son.

KARI

Alright so you knew, or at least thought that he did it and you still lied for him. That doesn’t seem like a terrible thing. He was your son.

DINAH

There was another boy, one of my sons friends who had been in trouble in the past. I'd watched law and order, I knew what I needed to do. I wiped the gun of my son's fingerprints and my own. Me and the boy’s mother were friends. She invited me into her home. I hid the gun in their bathroom, then when I got home called an anonymous tip to the police.

TIMOTHY

You framed another kid to save your son.

DINAH

Yes! I planted a gun, I set up a boy who was not without sin but innocent of that crime, and I knowingly lied in court about what happened!

ADAM

Damn. Literally I guess in this case. That might have actually Damned you.

JAY

You're not helping.

ADAM

But I am at least funny right?

JAY

Timothy let's hear it, worst deed, is it worthy of hell?

TIMOTHY

Uhhh. Worst deed. Well I'm a lawyer. Aren't there all those jokes about lawyers going to hell?

JAY

Well, yeah, I've heard the jokes, but did you actually do anything to make those more than just punchlines?

TIMOTHY

Uhh….Uhhh. .I….once represented a company that tore down an orphanage to build a bank.

ADAM

Seriously?

JAY

Wow. That's. ...you tore down an orphanage?

TIMOTHY

Yes! Yes. And I feel awful about it. It was a good home for those kids. One of the better ones in the city. A lot of those kids probably ended up in bad homes or on the street.

DINAH

No question he belongs here.

JAY

Uhhh ok Kari last one unless Adam wants to give a real answer?

ADAM

I stand by my sin of loving people the same gender as me.

KARI

OK. The worst thing I've ever done. Well there's the jaywalking- which I know is illegal but it's the fastest way to get to the animal shelter.

ADAM

The animal shelter where you….mocked abused animals?

KARI

No! I volunteered, I took care of them.

JAY

Remember Kari something worthy of hell, try a little more extreme than jaywalking to save puppies.

KARI

Right, well…….I once lied to my best friend and told her that her dress didn't make her look fat. It kinda did, but she's always so hard on herself about her body I just wanted her to be a little confident.

JAY

What else? Something that's gnawing away at you with guilt.

KARI

Theft! I'm a thief.

ADAM

What did you steal?

TIMOTHY

Diamonds? Identity? Wallets?

KARI

Gum. From Walmart. Once. I had it in my hand, and I was so distracted talking with the cashier that I walked right out of the store with this pack of gum. I didn't notice till I'd driven home and I didn't want to drive back so I did nothing.

ADAM

Wow the road to hell really is paved with good intentions huh, Dinah? She definitely deserves to be in hell for jaywalking to save puppies, lying to save a friend's body confidence, and stealing a pack of gum.

DINAH

It is not our place to question the creator.

TIMOTHY

No way Kari, if this is hell,you don't deserve to be here anymore then I'm supposed to be dead. When I escape you’re coming with me.

TIMOTHY leads to KARI to try a new escape plan, DINAH begins to pray, JAY makes their way over to ADAM.

JAY

You don't really believe we're in hell do you?

ADAM

What gave me away, my sarcasm?

JAY

How long have you all been here?

ADAM

Good question. Hard to answer though. No clocks. No windows. We're dead so no need to eat or sleep. Could be 1 week could have been 1000. It is an interesting take on hell. Waiting for nothing for all of eternity.

JAY

The vikings believed in a hell kind of like that. To them the worst way a person could die was away from battle. It was a death without honour. Those who didn't die a Warrior's death went to Hel, spelt with only one L. It was frozen, instead of flaming. Cold, miserable, and people pretty much did nothing exciting for all of eternity.

ADAM

You think we're in viking hell?

JAY

Is it any harder to believe then the Christian hell?

ADAM

No. Why does a pilot know so much about viking hell?

JAY

I traveled a lot. I loved being in the air, but more then that I loved the places I got to go, the culture, and the history.

ADAM

The gorgeous people who wanted to join the mile high club?

JAY

Hey, I'm not like--

ADAM

Right, you only emotionally joined that club.

JAY punches ADAM who laughs good naturally.

ADAM

About your question from before. I have no idea how long you've been in here, or any of us. But I can tell you that I've been here the longest. Then Dinah. Then Kari, and quickly after her came Timothy. Then a little while later you.

JAY

I know you can't tell me how long but, you said you've been here the longest, after all that time you have no idea what it is we're waiting for?

TIMOTHY falls off another chair, and onto DINAH disturbing her prayer.

DINAH

You clumsy oaf!

TIMOTHY

Maybe you should be nicer to me. When I lead us out of here maybe I'll find the back door into heaven.

JAY

What if we're already there.

KARI

What?

JAY

Well we've already entertained the idea that we're in hell, what if we're in heaven?

DINAH

None of you would get into heaven.

JAY

So you keep saying. But you also keep saying that we can't understand the way your God works. So let's try it. Maybe we're in heaven. Best thing you've ever done.

ADAM

Oh that's easy. I'm gay. (Winks to JAY) your welcome.

TIMOTHY

You can't have the thing that gets you into Heaven be the thing that gets you into hell.

ADAM

Really, I can't?

TIMOTHY

(After a pause)

I want to be angry but you're cheating the system, so respect.

JAY

And what about you Timothy, best thing and try to give a real answer.

TIMOTHY

(defensive)

What makes you think I wouldn't?

JAY

(placatingly)

All I meant was just don't answer like Adam.

TIMOTHY

Right. Well best thing. ...I guess I donated a lot to charity. But I know that that's not enough, I mean I mostly did it for the tax breaks. I've done bad things. That's why I'm so desperate to go back to the world of the living. I need a second chance to make right all the things I did wrong. My death was a mistake.

KARI

So you would rebuild the orphanage?

TIMOTHY

Yes. Something like that. I'd make up for my all my mistakes. IF JUST GIVEN ANOTHER CHANCE!

ADAM

That was his thing when he first got here. Second chance. Kept demanding an audience with whoever was in charge. Thought he could talk his way out. When that didn't work he took matters into his own hands.

JAY

And is trying to escape. Got it. What about you Dinah? You keep praying to get out of hell, what makes you deserve Heaven?

DINAH

Well I was a steadfast and firm believer in my faith. I lived my whole, well most of my life, the way God wanted me to.

JAY

Right. So you were a good person. Went to church, gave to charity, lived by the golden rule?

ADAM

Finders keepers losers weepers?

KARI

Treat others how you want to be treated.

DINAH

Not only that, I was an active member of my community, trying to make it and the world a better place.

TIMOTHY

What kind of work did you do?

DINAH

Sang in choir, baked and volunteered at the kids school, burnt down the abortion clinic-

JAY

Wait what?

DINAH

Oh yes I was doing the lords work. Abortion is the murder of children.

(all the other chacters look at each other.)

ADAM

(breaking the silence)

Regardless of the whole pro life pro choice argument, I just have to ask because this is not a morally grey area: there weren't people in the building were there?

DINAH

What? Of course not. It was completely empty.

JAY

Do you have a good deed, the best deed you've ever committed, that maybe didn't involve arson?

DINAH

Its not very good of me to brag about my good deeds. God recognizes the good deed done when none are watching, over the fan fare of one done because of an audience.

ADAM

Like burning down an abortion clinic when no one's looking?

JAY elbows him in the side.

JAY

Well tell us about that good deed then. One you did not because it would look good to people around, hell not because it would look good to God. The one you did because it was the right thing to do.

DINAH

I'll think about it.

ADAM

OK Jay let's hear it.

JAY

I was once flying as a passenger to visit my mom and step dad when the pilot had a heart attack. The kid he was training was panicking about landing alone. One of the stewardesses recognized me as a pilot and I landed the plane.

ADAM

Wow so a good old fashioned American hero.

JAY

I'm Canadian.

ADAM

Of course you are.

TIMOTHY

What about you Kari, other than saving puppies and your friends self esteem?

KARI

Wow. Dinah’s right. It is harder to say something good about yourself then something bad .

ADAM

I think you give her too much credit.

TIMOTHY

Come on Kari, no need to be humble. Just honest.

KARI

I volunteered at an animal shelter. Like I said, thats probably the best thing I got to do in my life. I wanted to do more but I died too soon.

TIMOTHY

I understand.

JAY

What did you have planned to do if you didn't die?

ADAM

Never ask that question. It's just depressing. Especially when they're as young as she is.

KARI

I wanted to be a vet. Open up my own shelters. Crackdown on animal abuse and cruelty. I wanted to shut down sea world, save the polar bears, and the rain forest.

I wanted to move into my own apartment and get at least five rescue dogs, get married, adopt some children maybe….I can't do any of that now though.

ADAM

Told you, it got depressing real fast.

DINAH

I did adopt a child.

JAY

Yeah?

DINAH

My youngest. My daughter. She had..has autism. No one wanted her. But I took one look at her and loved her like my own.

KARI

That's brave.

DINAH

No it isn't. I was just being a mother. It cost me nothing to love that child.

TIMOTHY

Surely to give proper care to an autistic child is expensive?

DINAH

Of course. But she was never a burden

She was my gift from God.

JAY

I think we might have found the good deed that puts you in heaven Dinah.

DINAH

Raising an autistic child. I told you, it doesn't make me a saint, I always hated that. When I told people, or they saw my baby was autistic, that I adopted her, chose her, and it was like I was such a good person and she was a charity case or worse a burden. I was simply a mother.

JAY

You were a mother. More than you were a child of God, you were a mother, and a good one. As someone who didn't have a dad for a lot of their life let me tell you that being a good mother should get you into Heaven.

DINAH

Thank you.

TIMOTHY

So is that it? Are we in heaven?

ADAM

What does it matter to you, wouldn't you just escape anyway?

TIMOTHY

Well yes. But knowing might help me escape or make a deal.

DINAH

No way this is Heaven, not with him.

KARI

That's not fair. He gave to charity, he wants to do better. He's a good person at heart.

ADAM

If this is Heaven, they're should be more comfortable chairs. These ones just don't scream paradise to me.

JAY

Maybe we're in between. I don't think anyone here is evil or good. Except for you Kari you should be in Heaven if it exists. But lots of cultures around the world don't just believe in a place for good and a place for bad, a lot believed in a place where the average everybody else went.

DINAH

Like purgatory. Not for the good not for the evil. Not paradise, not torture, just the inbetween.

TIMOTHY

Purgatory. How does one break out of purgatory ….

KARI

We've been considering very Christian options. I'm Hindu, I believe in rebirth. Maybe that's what we’re doing. Waiting for rebirth.

JAY

Thats fair. There are hundreds of cultures around the world. All of them hold some unique concept of life after death. Who's to say which one was right?

ADAM

Well did any of them involve waking up in a room full of strangers with nothing but magazines and plastic chairs?

JAY

Not to my knowledge no. This is pretty modern.

TIMOTHY

Maybe it's just a dream. Is it that simple? Click my heels and wake up?

ADAM

Nope. Can't escape by waking up. This is real. Or as real as real can be for dead people.

KARI

You know I like the idea of reincarnation. Of karma. If I put enough good energy into the world then I will get to have a good second life. I want to do good in my next life.

DINAH

God please let me into heaven.

TIMOTHY

There's no place like home. There's no place like home.

KARI

I want to do good in my next life.

JAY

So are we dreaming, In Christian hell, or waiting for rebirth?

ADAM

Personally I liked what you said about viking hell. I'd never heard that one before

JAY

You know what this is don't you? You've been here so long, you've figured it out.

ADAM

I have a guess.

DINAH

Please God take me to Heaven.

TIMOTHY

There's no place like home.

KARI

I want to do good in my next life.

ADAM

We’re in Death's waiting room

JAY

What are we waiting for?

ADAM

Not sure yet. It’s different for everyone as far as I can tell.

DINAH

Please God take me to Heaven.

TIMOTHY

There's no place like home.

KARI

I want to do good in my next life.

JAY

I remember how I died!

ADAM

About time, how'd you bite the dust?

JAY

I had cancer. They found it too late, there was nothing they could do. They gave me 6 months. I flew as long as they'd let me. Then I used all the money I'd made over years of flying buying plane tickets and I flew as a passenger. I took my partner. And even though I wasn't in love with them anymore they were still my closest friend. We traveled as long as I could. And when I got too sick I died in the hospital surrounded by my family, my partner who had stood by me to the end, and the person I'd fallen in love with.

ADAM

I've heard a lot of stories while waiting in this room. As far as dying goes that’s one of the nicer ways.

JAY

How did you all die? And don't say because I'm gay.

ADAM

Actually it was because I'm gay. I was murdered. The victim of a hate crime. Beaten to death by two idiot homophobes.

JAY

Oh. I'm sorry.

ADAM

It's ok you didn't kill me.

DINAH

I fell down the stairs. Broke my neck. Pretty stupid way to die, but God must have had a plan for me, and my family. I have to believe that.

KARI

I died in an accident too. I was hit by a car. Drunk driver.

TIMOTHY

You...you were?

KARI

Yeah, I just hope the guy who did it was stopped. If he killed me he could kill someone else, and my family deserves justice.

JAY

What about you Timothy? Were you an accident too, taken before your time?

TIMOTHY

I killed myself.

DINAH

You blame yourself for your own death?

TIMOTHY

No, I put a gun to my head and pulled the trigger.

ADAM

What the hell man? You chose to die, and then you spent your whole time here complaining about how you're not supposed to be dead?

TIMOTHY

I thought death was the right thing to do! The just thing. But then I realized that me removing myself from the world wasn't enough. I need to actively make the world a better place. If I got another chance at life I would.

KARI

Is this all about the orphanage you feel guilty for destroying?

TIMOTHY

No! No! I made that up. I didn't tear down an orphanage. I drove drunk in my Lexis and killed a girl on Maple street.

KARI

The drunk driver who hit me ran me over on in Riverside New York...on Maple Street.

TIMOTHY

No. The girl I hit. I read about her in the papers, straight a’s….volunteered a lot, her name wasn't Kari. It was Karishma.

KARI

Kari is just a nickname. My name is Karishima Alima

KARI and TIMOTHY

Patel.

TIMOTHY

Oh my-

KARI

You killed me. You ran me over with your shiny car and left me to die.

ADAM

This is new.

DINAH

Shhh. I'm watching this.

KARI

How could you… you didn't even recognize me? You just kept on trying to escape! As if you deserve to live after taking my life.

TIMOTHY

I didn't think I did. I killed myself over guilt for what happened to you. But then I realized what good is that? Killing myself in your name, making your name synonymous with death. That helps no one, it makes no difference. The world is no better with me gone, but if I go back,if I go back a better man, I can make the world better.

ADAM

Wow you really wrote yourself quite the defense huh counsellor? Wonder what the Big Judge will think of it.

JAY

I think the real question, Kari, is what do you think of it?

DINAH

Damn him to hell child.

TIMOTHY

What?

DINAH

An eye for an eye, classic biblical revenge. Its why she's here, don't you see? She must make her choice.

KARI

But didn't Jesus promote forgiveness?

DINAH

Yes. And Jesus is a good enough man to forgive him. You do not have to.

KARI

(To the other two)

What should I do?

ADAM

Well he did kill you, and tried to cover it up by lying about destroying an orphanage. That's messed up.

JAY

In your own belief, I suppose you could ask the universe to turn him into a cockroach, or something easier to squish.

TIMOTHY

Kari I know I am not a good man. And I am sorry you will never do all those things you wanted to do, like adopt a puppy or visit sea world. I know I took that from you

ADAM

It was rescue dogs, and shut down sea world. Among other things.

TIMOTHY

Yes, of course, I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say or do.

KARI

I forgive you.

JAY ,ADAM, DINAH, and TIMOTHY

What?

KARI

(To Timothy)

I forgive you. You did something bad, you killed me, and you tried to make it right by killing yourself. Then you realized; karma. If you truly wanted to make a difference you had to put good energy into the universe. But you're dead, and you can't do good. But I can. I can choose to forgive you, putting good energy into the universe, making my death, my meaningless, accidental, too soon death, mean something good. I can do the right thing, for the sake of making the universe a little more right. And that's why I'm going to forgive you.

TIMOTHY

I don't deserve it.

KARI

No. But I do.

TIMOTHY AND KARI gasp looking over each other's heads.

TIMOTHY

I see a door, an escape!

KARI

My names on it! Karishma Alima Patel.

TIMOTHY

My names on this one. My door to the world, my second chance. I won't let you down Kari.

TIMOTHY and KARI walk almost entranced towards their respective doors on opposite sides of the stage.

TIMOTHY

I'll be a better man. For you, I'll put good into the world in your name.

TIMOTHY exits.

KARI

Good bye. I hope I see you all again in another life.

KARI exists

JAY

What was that?

ADAM

That is what everyone waits for in Death's waiting room. For a door, that only you can see, with your name on it, leading to….whatever comes next.

DINAH

Can you believe she forgave him? After he killed her?

JAY

I think she made the right choice. She needed so badly to have made a difference in the world, and he needed to be forgiven. She chose the option that ended in the least pain.

DINAH

Do you think he really got a second chance? That he stepped through that door and woke up like this was all a dream?

ADAM

It probably fits your worldview better that he went to hell.

DINAH

It does. My world view used be simple. There was good people, and bad people, and good decisions and bad ones. Everything and everyone could eventually be twisted to fit into one of those boxes. But maybe the world isn't in black and white. Maybe bad people are capable of changing, and good people are capable of doing great evil. Maybe I'm the one who's wrong.

ADAM

Can you accept that?

DINAH

I...yes I can. I do. I have tried to be a good person, a good Christian, a good mother. I may have done better in some of those roles than in others. I may have been flat out bad in some of them. But life, Timothy and Kari’s lives, your lives, my life is not made up of the worst or the best thing I have ever done. It's made up of moments. My life is every moment, the good, and the bad. I accept every second, and I wouldn't change a thing.

ADAM

(Aside to JAY)

Wait for it.

DINAH

Oh my G-! I see a door. My name Dinah Williams is on it. It's my door.

DINAH begins to walk towards it as if in a trance. She stops right before she enters.

Do you think I'll ever see my children again?

ADAM

Does it matter what we think?

DINAH

No. No I suppose it doesn't. Bless you two. I hope you find peace, like I have, I genuinely hope so.

JAY

I hope you get to see the people you love on the other side of that door.

DINAH

Hope. Maybe that's all I needed, huh? I had faith, and now I have a little bit of hope.

DINAH exits.

JAY and ADAM are left downstage center.

JAY

She was waiting for hope, Timothy forgiveness, Kari purpose. That's why you called it a waiting room. People come in here, and when they find what they need they can move on.

ADAM

Which just begs the question, what are you waiting for?

JAY

Can I be honest with you?

ADAM

Eventually some one else will show up asleep on those chairs, but for now it's just you and me. Who am I going to tell?

JAY

I've seen my door since I remembered my name. I asked Timothy why he was looking for an escape and he asked me if I saw any doors in here. I was telling the truth when I said I hadn't but when everyone was arguing again I took another look around and there it was. A door. I read the name on it: Jay Peregrine Jones and I realized that's me! That's my door.

ADAM

Your middle name is Peregrine?

JAY

That's what you got from that? I've seen my door for, I dunno how long it's been but, since before we started talking about Hell, and all you got was my middle name?

ADAM

Sorry. Heh Peregrine. Sorry. No I heard you. I figured you might be able to see the door. Some people are like that. They get over the disorientation of dying and they're ready to move on.

JAY

Why was I so ready?

ADAM

Well unlike Dinah, Kari and me, you knew you were dying. You had time to prepare, you had as few regrets as possible before you died. No unfinished business, you don't need anything from anyone.

JAY

You've been here a long, long time.

ADAM

Feels like it.

JAY

What's on the other side of these doors? It could be anything.

ADAM

Can I be honest with you now?

JAY

Please.

ADAM

You sure you want to know what I know?

JAY

Yes.

ADAM

I have no idea what's on the other side of those doors. Like you said it could be anything.

JAY

Come on! I thought you were going to drop a bombshell on me.

ADAM

Well I do have a secret. I can see my door too. Have for a long time.

JAY

Then why are you still here?

ADAM

Why are you?

JAY

Because I didn't know where I was when I woke up, or where these doors would lead.

ADAM

Same reason. I have no idea whats behind those doors.

JAY

But isn't that exciting? It could be anything. One of hundreds of mythologies and legends could be behind that door. Or a new one no one's ever heard about. A whole world could be behind that door!

ADAM

You call that exciting. I say terrifying. There could be nothing. This place sucks, but at least there's magazines, chairs, and occasionally new people.

JAY

But there could be so much more.

ADAM

Or so much less.

JAY

Well we’ll never know sitting here will we?

ADAM

I've watched hundreds of people walk through those doors. I guess I'll watch you too.

JAY

You refuse to try your own?

ADAM

Good luck on the other side.

JAY

Come with me.

ADAM

I told you, I'm not going through my own door.

JAY

Then go through mine. Has anyone ever tried it?

ADAM

No. That'd be a first.

JAY

Then come on. We’ll face whatever’s on the other side. Could be an adventure.

ADAM

Could be worse than here.

JAY

We'll find out together. My doors right here.

JAY takes ADAM’s hand.

ADAM

I see your door. Peregrine really is a dumb middle name. It even makes the magic door look dumb.

JAY

Shut up, or I'll leave you here waiting till you get the courage to go through your own door.

ADAM and JAY walk toward the door in trance.

ADAM

No. Enough waiting. Let's see what death has waiting for us on the other side.

JAY and ADAM exit.

The End

Click Here to jump to the alternate ending or keep reading!

Alternate Ending

ADAM

Can I be honest with you now?

JAY

Please.

ADAM

I’m Death.

JAY

Death...as in….

DEATH

The Angel of, the Grimm Reaper, etc, etc

JAY

Oh. I’m speechless.

DEATH

Are you really? There must be something keeping you from going through your door. That’s pretty much my job. Directing traffic, guiding people through their doors.

JAY

What’s on the other side?

DEATH

Come on. I can’t tell you that.

JAY

Why? Is it against the rules?

DEATH

No. Well it is, but thats not why I’m not telling you.

JAY

Why then?

DEATH

Because you don’t want to know. Not your style.

JAY

It could be anything. A whole world could be behind that door, hundreds, of thousands of mythologies could be behind that door. Hundreds of thousands of adventures.

DEATH

Yup. Why don’t you go find out?

JAY begins to walk toward their door as if in a trance. They stop before their door.

JAY

Once more into the breech, huh? Time to start a whole new adventure. And, hey, Death? Thanks.

JAY exits.

Death now stands alone on stage, they settle into their chair lazily.

DEATH

Let’s bring in the next batch! I’m dying of boredom in here!

Lights fade.

The End.