1+1=3

OPEN SCENE

(Lights rise into group)

(Start in on group havening a conversation semi-circle with people sitting in light chairs (foldingschool, ECT.))

(Looks like somebody has died (mourning,depressed)

(Visitors get up then disperse and go away male stays at seat with his face in his hands)

Female- thanks for coming

Group-(together) you're welcome (Everybody leaves but female2)

Female2-Im so sorry for your loss

Female1-thanks

Female2-lt's a shame he was only 3

Female1-(sounds angry like she doesn't want to talk about her loss) goodbye

Female2-(softer)goodbye (leaves stage)

(Female comes back to the semi circle with her husband still in the circle looking down)

Female- well that was nice wasn't it

Male- (angrily rising,knocks over chair while getting up)nothing is good about what happened

Female- (rising to pick up chair putting chair touching the one next to It you make it sound like it was your fault

Male- (calmed but sad) it may not have been but if had noticed the cough instead of working on the computer we could have got him to the doctor before he was really sick

Female- (sympathetic) there's no way you could have had no way of knowing he had meningitis and there was no way the you knew he was going to die that very night

Male- it was my turn to check on him, after he stopped crying I thought he was fine and I went back to sleep

Female- exactly you had no idea that when he stopped crying he had died

Male- but If l had of checked I could have seen that he stopped breathing and helped him some how

Female- we both know there was nothing either one of us could do

Male- I know but I I (starts looking cfiown voice lowered) I miss him so much

Female-l know I can't stand that our son died in our own home and under our own care but there is nothing we can do now

Male1-(confused) you sound like you don't even care

Femalel-(very angry)(loud)you think I don't care; he was my first and only son

Male1-(Apologetic)I.. I didn't mean it...

FemaIe1-(still angry)(yelling) just because we were fighting because you are always on that stupid computer and never spent any time with us

MaIe1- I'm sorry: I know that we have been fighting about that, but that's how I run my business

Female-(calmer, but still angry) It just seems like your always on the computer

MaIe1- I'm sorry, I wanted to spend more time with you guys, but (slightly sad) now I can't

Male- its just that there was so much I wanted to show him how to play baseball, how to drive, even how to pick up girls

Female- (starting to get sad too) there was so much he could of done we both saw that look in his eyes when he saw something new

Male- or even when he started talking he was able to say words I didn't know until twice his age; I evenremember his first word he looked up at me after his nap and with that sparkle in his eyes whet daddy

Female- (feeling better) I remember when he first started walking he was stumbling around at first but sure enough he was walking around like you or me, you even got off the computer to see it

MaIe1- it was worth it, I loved him so much

Female- so did I

(Both look at each other and then male looks down and see a picture on the floor)

Male-(excited) look

Female-(confused) what it is

Male- it is one of his first baby pictures

Female- (pointing to the writing on the picture) what does it say

Male 1+1=3... (Reassuring)He made us a family

(Both sit down and look at the picture for a couple seconds and look at each other again hug and start crying)

(Goes on for a,couple of seconds then male 2 comes in)

Male2- sorry I forgot my co...

(Goes to comfort the couple)

(Last 8 to 10 seconds)

Male 2- everything is going to be ok (the two start to compose them self)

Male2-let me take you two to dinner where would you like to go (goes to pick up coat)

Female- (still shaky but getting better) well his favorite restaurant was

MaIe1- the people there would always cut up his chicken nuggets so they looked like dinosaurs

Female- or how whenever he got his drink there was always a twisty straw in it

MaIe1- I think we had some of our best memories with him there

Male2- let's go there

Male and female- (in unison) we would like that

(Couple looks at each other for a second and then hug)

Male- (while hugging) I love you so much and I never want to lose you

Female- I could never lose you

Malel-im sorry about the computer, lIl try to get off it as much as I can

Femalel-im sorry for saying you don't care, I know you do

(Couple stays hugging for a few seconds)

Male2- (understandingly) come on let's go

(Group starts walking off stage slowly male still having picture)

Female- this means so much to us thank you so much

Male2- it's the least I could do for you guys

(Leave stage)

(After second male rushes)

Male- forgot to put this back

(Puts picture on chair upwards so audience can see the photo)

(Male looks to photo for a second)

Male- (with a slight smile) goodbye

(Rushes off set)

(Dim other lights except for middle light)

(Hold light to showcase the picture for a few seconds, and then drop the light)

CLOSE SCENE