A play,
@iJake and
@Sweetgeek. Nt quite a story, but I enjoy this type of writing better. I hope you don't mind.
(A man called Simon, in his late 20's with dark hair and green eyes is sitting at a brown kitchen table with a pure white table cloth on top of it and some broken glass around him. Another man caled Harry, slightly older and wearing a suit enters the kitchen carrying a gun.)
Simon: You're late. Mind the glass.
Harry: i'm sorry, slept in.
Simon: I hope this won't be a problem.
Harry: No, I'm ready.
Simon: Well I'm not quite convinced of that. Look, i know we have been working on this day for weeks, but I have just got this strange feeling that you won't be able to do it.
Harry: I think I can.
Simon: You think?
Harry: I mean, I know I can.
Simon: That sounds better. Still, I want to test you some more. Do you mind?
Harry: Again?
Simon: It's for your own good.
Harry: You always say that, but it never is.
Simon: Trust me.
Harry: I'm not sure I do trust you with you springing surprise tests on me just when I'm about to do this job for you.
Simon: Ah, see! That is what I mean. You get distracted by such pettiness, so how are you going to focus when the time is right.
Harry: When the time comes I will be ready.
Simon: Actions do speak louder than words, Harry.
Harry: Well how can I prove it to you?
Simon: You can't, only when you have completed the job will I be satisfied. But I would like you to focus on this shiny gold coin for a moment.
Harry: Are you serious?
Simon: Yes, this will be very good for you. It will help you a lot.
(Simon takes the shiny gold coin out of his tattered jeans pocket and holds it up in front of Harry's face. Harry, his eyes firmly on the gold coin, tries desperately not to blink.)
Harry: This is really hard. How long do I have to do this for.
Simon: Until i say stop...wait stop. You failed, you blinked.
Harry: I never blinked.
Simon: Yes you did, I saw you just then.
Harry: This is silly. You can't prove that I blinked.
Simon: I saw you, don't deny it.
Harry: Are you really ging to argue about something so trivial?
Simon: I am when what you are about to do for me is so damn important!
Harry: Oh, ok, whatever, I blinked. Lock me in cuffs and throw away the keys. I mean honestly, who cares?
Simon: I care, Harry. I care because when you pull that trigger I want you to be one hundred percent focussed on doing the job. I do not want you to hesitate. Not for one momnt, or for one half a moment. I want you to be prepared, and to fully understand the consequences of what you are about to do. This task could end up with you in dead or in jail if you do not prepare yourself thouroughly to not only complete the job, but to get out of this country once the job is done.
Harry: I get it. But you know, I never even tought about jail.
Simon: Why not? I mean you are going to shoot someone. There is a chance that you could end up spending a long time in prison.
Harry: Yeah, I know. Still, I think I didn't think about it because I was too excited about all that brand new money I got in my bank account.
Simon: Shhhhh! For god's sake keep your voice down.
Harry: Sorry. Got a bit carried away. It's just that I have never seen that much money in my life before. Growing up, living on the rough end of my town was very tough. My mother worked night and day to support us five kids, and my father, with his bushy beard and deep yet reassuring laugh, worked until he was about 75 in the glass factory. My parents bled for us, but it still wasn't enough. No matter how hard they worked there was never enough bread to go around. I once had a pet rabbit. George I called it. A nice fluffy white rabbit who I sent years looking after by feeding and watering him and making sure he had a nice clean home. He was my best friend, I felt that I could tell him almost anything and that he wouldn't judge me or make fun of me. But one day, on an especially bad week for my family, when there was no food at all and we were completely out of money, I had to get the gun, look my best friend, the one thing in my miserable god-forsaken childhood that gave me any sort of pleasure and shoot him for our dinner. It wasn't easy, and sometimes I still see george in my head, but I had to do it.
Simon: Wow, I never knew that, Harry. I am so sorry to hear about that.
Harry: Thanks.
Simon: Any other concerns?
Harry: ummm, concerns?
Simon: Well you were talking about jail before. Let's say you did get caught and end up in jail, what would concern you the most about that?
Harry: Well how about the fact that I ended up in jail. Plus I would miss seeing the outside.
Simon: That's fair enough. I mean missing your family would be tough on anyone.
Harry: I didn't mean my family.
Simon: What? Didn't you just tell me a story before about your close knit family?
Harry: Did you even listen to what I said? I had a miserable childhood. I as poor, bullied, and alone.
Simon: At least your family loved you.
Harry: I do sometimes wonder...
Simon: Wonder what?
Harry:....whether my family upbringing, or my childhood is why I accepted this job off you.
Simon: Well you accepted this job for your own reasons. Does it matter why you are doing this job?
Harry: I guesss not.
Simon: So why bring family into this?
Harry: because I want you to understand that I'm not taking this lightly. I mean, I appreciate the money. Even if I do get caught or die I have arranged for the money to go to various worthwile cancer charities. But i have often stayed up half the night tossing and turning wondering if I was doing the right thing. I mean, I'm about to kill a man.
Simon: With good reason.
Harry: I realise that, but it still doesn't make it any easier.
Simon: This isn't about being easy, this is about doing what is best.
Harry: Best for who though?
Simon: Best for us all. Best for you, best for me, and best for the man you are about to kill.
Harry: Is the man i'm about to kill agree with that?
Simon: Yes, I do agree.
Harry: i know the doctor said you only had a few weeks left to live, Simon, but is this the way you really want to go?
Simon:Yes it is, Harry.
Harry: But why do I have to kill you?
Simon: Because I don't have the strength in my fingers anymore to pull the trigger. Don't you think I have tried it myself? Just the other week I got my gun out of my drawer and tried to kill myself But I just could not do it. My fingers could not help me in my quest to end my pain. Because I am in pain, Harry. There are days when the pain is so unbearable that I want to to tear my own skin off. My life is shit. I have no family, my ex-girlfriend cheated on me with my ex-friend, I was fired from my last job, and not to mention the cancer in me that has made my life a lving hell. I mean, you see this glass around me? I was just trying to get a simple glass of water. Nothing is simple for me anymore, Harry.
Harry: I get it. So, shall we get on with it then?
(Harry starts to prepare the gun for shooting Simon)
Simon: I can't wait until this is over.
Harry: Neither can I.
Simon: I just want to know one thing: Why did you accept this job?
Harry: Because I believe that everyone deserves to choose their own destiny Doesn't mean I have to feel good about it.
(Harry points the gun straight at Simon.)
Simon: I never feel good about anything?
Harry: Not even this?
Simon: Well I guess I feel good that my suffering will finally be over.
Harry: That is one positive.
Simon: Every clou....are you stalling?
Harry: Yeah, I am a bit.
Simon: Can you please get on with it?
Harry: I'm not sure if I can...
Simon: Come on, do it.
Harry: What if I..
Simon: JUST FUCKING DO IT!
(Harry finally pulls the trigger, shooting Simon right in the heart, killing him instantly. Harry, quickly races outside before the police come and find the dead body, not knowing if he will ever be free.)
The End.
