A teenage room, books and other papers scattered about cluttering the area. A single unmade bed sits next to one wall, a pile of papers near the foot of it, half covered by sheets. A computer desk and computer sit on an opposite wall, the computer on displaying some screen saver flashing across the screen. Disks and more books litter the desk and chair. There is a dresser on another wall opposite the door, and under a slightly open window. A Stereo sits atop the dresser, CD cases and Cassettes piled around it. Posters layer open spaces on the walls and door, one half covers the top of the window.

Mid afternoon.

As the scene opens we see the door is closed on the room, and it is silent. Many things lay scattered over the floor.

The door opens and a man walks in, immediately slamming the door behind him. He moves towards the bed pushing the sheets and books to the side, some of them falling down to the already cluttered floor.

[John] - Damn I hate school, Why cant the damn teachers leave me alone for awhile.

John shrugs and throws off his jean jacket. It falls and lands on the end of the bad. He is wearing jeans and a black T-shirt underneath.

[Betty] - {From behind the door} John I said to close the door when you come in.

John turns towards the door and frowns.

[John] - Mom, It really doesn’t matter.

[Betty] - Yes it does we are not heating the outside.

[John] - Give me a break, me leaving it open for two seconds isnt’ gonna kill us.

[Betty] - don’t give me that Young man, while you are living under this roof you will follow our rules.

John grabs one of the notebooks sitting at his side and tosses it at the door, making a loud thump.

[Betty] - don’t you throw things at me, I’ll go tell your father.

[John] - Dads dead remember mom? he died four years ago, we were at his funeral.

[Betty] {a sound of sadness in her voice} - don’t talk about your father that way, he is not dead, he is down stairs now.

John stands up and moves towards the door. Behind the door you can hear his mother crying. When john motions to open the door you can here her footsteps as she runs away form the door, down some stairs.

[John] - Damn I wish she would just let him go. I did.

He turns around and starts walking towards his dresser. When he reaches it he flips the switch on and music pours out of the speakers. John looks down and slides open his top dresser drawer, looks inside and moves some things out of the way. He retrieves a cigar box and opens it up slightly, peering in side. Just then a phone rings, John sets the box on top of his dresser and kneels down next to the bed. He shuffles through the pile of clothes and pulls out a phone.

[John] - Hello. Hey Greg how’s life... Well you know how it is... Yes I am sitting alone, what else would I be doing... oh come on now man, don’t give me that... when you going? tonight? well let me think;about it and I will get back to you. OK?... all right then talk to you later.

John hangs up the phone and sits atop his bed, his hands covering his face.

[John] - Why does everything seem to happen to me.

John jumps up and moves towards the door. When he reaches it he opens it and scans the hallway. He turns to his left and yells down the stairs.

[John] - Mom I am going out with Greg tonight. Me and a couple of guys are hitting the clubs downtown.

[Betty] {from a distance} - No your not you have work to get done. You have to clean your room and do the dishes.

[John] - OK mom I understand I won’t be home too late.

[Betty] - Wait just a minute young man, Didn’t you hear me? I cant have your dad doing everything around here. You have to do some your self.

[John] - Yes mom I understand. I know what you mean.

John slams the door and moves over back towards the bed.

[John] - I just wish she would let him go. It is driving me crazy listening to her talk about him as if he was right down stairs. He is dead.

John lifts his head and looks back toward the box, his eyes watering as he looks at it.

[John] - Why are all the bad things in my life coming forward now. I wish they would just stop. I wish it would just end.

John drops his head into his hands and starts to cry.

Fade out.

Later that night

As the scene opens we see the room, in slightly better order. The clothes and papers that were scattered around are now either gone or piled next to the desk. We hear some mumbled voices behind the door, followed by laughter.

The door opens and three men enter, the first one being John. The other two seem to be laughing along with him. Greg is dressed in a black Leather jacket and blue jeans. Rich has a black cloth trench with slacks underneath.

[John] - What a night. I cnt believe all the woman there.

[Rich] - Yeah. I thought I had gone and went to heaven. Who would think that you could see that many girls at a metal show.

[John] - Man am I beat.

John looks around the room as he makes his way to the bed. His eyes widen with surprise then narrow with anger.

[John] - What the fuck.

John takes his coat off and throws it onto the bed.

[Greg] - Whats wrong man.

[John] - That damn bitch cleaned my room again. I thought I told her to stay out of here.

Greg moves closer to john, patting him on the shoulder.

[Greg] - Hey man clam down. She is your mother, they will pull things like that.

John snaps around and glares at Greg.

[John] - Oh dont give me that shit. I have told her a thousand times to stay out of my room. But she still comes in here messing with thing, and throwing things out.

[Greg] - No need to bitch at me man.

[Rich] - John, you have to calm down. Dont let things bother you as much.

John turns around and moves towards the pile of books and papers near his desk.

[John] - You see these, they are all my papers from school and such. Before I left they were on my bed layed out so I could study them in order.

John bends down and picks up a pile of the papers.

[John] - Now I have to go through the damn things and sort them back out because that bitch cant keep her hands off my stuff.

John throws the papers and books against the wall. Greg and Rich look at each other and start to move towards John.

[Greg] - Man calm down, why are you letting this bother you so much?

[Rich] - Did you have a bad day at the office dear.

[John] - I have had a read bad day today. Everything seems to be screwing up.

[Greg] - Like what?

John moves over the the bed and sits down. Greg and Rich follow and sit next to him.

[John] - Well I found out today that my classes were canceled.

[Rich] - Did you forget to pay the bill again.

Greg backhands Rich in the arm. Rich grabs the spot.

[Greg] - Did your financial aid come though yet?

[John] - Nope. They canceled it saying that I was not eligible. Because I took too few classes last semester.

[John] - Yeah that and I am failing two courses this semester also.

John looks up at Greg, smiles then stands up. He walks over to the dresser and pulls out the cigar box again. He opens the lid and reaches inside.

[John] - I have been so busy I havent even had the chance to get a new job.

John pulls out a small bag with some drugs in it and turns back towards Greg and Rich. He motions to them asking if they want some of what he has. They both shake their heads no.

[Greg] - I thought you threw that shit out man. You shouldnt do that to yourself again.

[Rich] - That s why you lost your job in the first place man.

[John] - I dont care. This is the only stuff that can calm down my mind when I am this stressed.

John pulls out one of the little ciggarettes and puts it between his lips. He pulls out a lighter and lights the tip.

[John] - Besides it doesnt hurt to get stoned every once and awhile.

[Greg] - What does Sharon think about you starting back up.

[John] - I dont care what she thinks. She is never around when I need to talk anbyways.

[Rich] - John why dont you put that out and try to get some sleep. We are gonna get going.

Greg nods to John and starts to stand up. Greg joins him.

[John] - Yeah dont worry about me. I will get stoned and pass out as I usually do.

[Greg] - John get some sleep man.

Greg and Rich start to walk out the door. John waves goodbye to them as they walk. Greg stops and turns to John.

[Greg] - Hey if you still want to get together tomorrow and go out, give me a call.

John nods to Greg and smiles, taking a hit off the joint. Greg turns and walks out, closing the door behind him.

John reached for the Joint and tosses it out the open window. He moves aroudn his room again stoping before the computer desk. He reaches out and turns the computer on. He then turns and walks back toward his dresser and opens the box again, peering inside. He reaches in and starts to remove something, but a knock at the door stops him.

[Betty] - John are you in there?

John turns around and stares at the door.

[John] - No mom, I am just walking around my room for nothing.

[Betty] - Ok I was just worried about you. You were out late tonight.

Behind the door, we hear footsteps walking away.

[John] - Damn her, why can she just see things my way. Why cant she get out of her damn moods.

John moves towards his computer and starts typing on the keyboard.

[John] - Ever sice dad died she has been in her own little world. Always yelling at me, or being so dam nice. Whenever I try to help her she pushes me away. Why?

John gets up and turns off his computer and moves back to the bed.

[John] - Whenever I try to talk to her she forgets I am alive. It is driving me crazy.

John pulls the sheets on his bed back and sits down on the edge, putting his hands over his eyes.

[John] - I cant take her any more. I wish sometimes she would just die.

John raises his head and looks to the ceiling.

[John] - Dad, I love her, but what can I do anymore. She wont listen. She thinks you are still here. Why the Hell did you have to die, Damn you.

John buries his head in his hands again ans starts to cry.

[John] - Maybe it should be me that should join you.

John flops down backwards on the bed and covers his face with his hands. He starts to cry.

Fade out.

Early the next day

As the stage lights you see the room again, in dissarray. The door is closed and John is sitting in front of his computer typing away.

[John] - There I think that should do nicely. If they dont like it tough shit.

The phone rings and John reaches over to pick it up.

[John] - Hello. Oh hi Greg, hows it going. I am fine. actually got some sleep last night. Well right now I decided to get some more of that writing done for classes. I have that project due tomorrow at noon. Well sure, if you guys decide to go out give me a call and we will figure something out. Ok then give me a call. Talk to you later.

John hangs up the phone and pulls the cord out of the side. He then starts to type again on the keyboard. There is a knock at the door.

[Betty] {from behind the door} - John are you there?

[John] - Yeah mom what is it now.

[Betty] - Are you going to do that for me?

[John] - Do what mom? You never asked me to do anything.

[Betty] - Yes I did, I need you to take dad down to the doctors today.

John stops typing and stands up, moving towards the door.

[John] - Mom dad is dead. Why wont you just let him rest in peace.

[Betty] - Ok so you will take him then.

[John] - He is dead mom, I cant take him anywhere. Leave me alone.

The door handle shakes.

[Betty] - John open the door so I can see you.

John walks over to the dresser and opens the drawer. He reachs in and pulls out the cigar box, reaching inside. He turns with his back to the audience and closes the box, funbling with something in front of him.

[John] - This is it. I hope this works out the right way.

John moves back towards his computer and starts typing again.

[John] - I wish there was a better way but I have to do it. I love her I really do and I dont want ot hurt her in any way.

John spins around in his chair and stands back up moving towards the window. When he reaches it he closes it.

[John] {looking towards the ceiling} - Dad please forgive me. I love you and mom dearly but this is what it comes down to.

John moves over to the stereo and turn on the music, turning up the volume. He then moves back toward the computer and sitting down once again. His hands are fitgiting infront of him.

The door handle again starts to move.

[John] - Mom leave me alone I have stuff to do.

John stands up and moves toward his bed. There is a sound from behind the door, like the rattling of keys. John turns towards the door as it starts to open, his mother behind it. John starts to stumble backwards triping over some of the books on the floor.

[Betty] - Now John I need you to drive him down there today. You have to go.

[John] - Mom he is dead, and I think you shold let him be.

Betty moves towards him, reaching her hand out to slap him. As she connects John steps back in disbeleif.

[Betty] - Dont you talk about your dad in that way. He is a very old man, you might hurt him.

[John] - Mom I love you. But you are driving me crazy. Dad is dead, he has been for a long time. Let him stay dead.

Betty again moves to hit John, but he steps back avoiding her hand.

[John] - I am sorry mom. Please forgive me.

The lights fade.

There is a single gunshot on the stage. A short pause and then a second.

End.

This play was orriginally written for a class in college. When the teacher read it he loved it. I have tried to get it produced in a couple one act festivals locally but still have not had luck. Hopefully someday this will be shown publicly, and who knows someone might actually like it.