Play 23: Forgiveness

by Joseph Frost

a play written for The 31 Plays in 31 Days Project

Draft August 01, 2012

Attic Scripts 4550 Normandy Dr Jackson, MS 39206 atticscripts@hotmail.com

An office with plenty of books. Comfortable. LINK, a burly man is standing near the door. THOMAS is a thin, wearing relaxed clothes. It is an off day for him. LINK I dont want to be here. You can go at any time. You know why Im here. I do. THOMAS LINK THOMAS

LINK So you know I cant just go. Look... Im lookin. THOMAS LINK Link goes to the window. THOMAS I dont have what you need. I know. Then why come? LINK THOMAS

LINK Its the principle of the thing. The principle. THOMAS

LINK Honor among... you know. I do. THOMAS

2. LINK Im not gonna lie to you... Thats wise. Dont be smart. Im sorry. THOMAS LINK THOMAS

LINK You know Im not here by mistake. This is real, now, you understand? Im not here by mistake. So you said. Good. THOMAS LINK

THOMAS You... you dont think the neighborhoods gonna stand for this, do you? Stand for. Theyll be outraged. Damn right. LINK THOMAS LINK

THOMAS You come in here, you threaten me, you-LINK Threaten. Youre misunderstanding all this. threatening you. I feel threatened. THOMAS Im not

LINK No. Im gonna break your legs. Thats whats happening here.

This aint no threat.

THOMAS You see, its statements like that--

3. LINK The threat happened a long time ago. When you were told that if you dont pay your debts, the debts you accrued, your legsd get broke. You welched. Thats why Im here. THOMAS I cant argue with that. LINK And they said you wasnt a smart man. (beat) And as for the neighborhood... Theyll be outraged. THOMAS Outrage in the streets you do not want.

LINK Outrage in the streets can be dealt with. Can it? THOMAS

LINK You think theyll be outraged by me? want to hear what youve done? A moment. THOMAS So how does this happen? An eager man. LINK I like that. THOMAS

How about by you?

They

Not exactly eager...

LINK No, I read ya. What Ill do is this. Ill break one leg first. It will probably be a surprise. I like to give you a minute to think about it at that point. Sort of drives the point home before I break the other leg. Some guys go ahead a do both at the same time. Thats not my way. THOMAS Im glad youve thought this through. I do my best. Good. LINK THOMAS

4. LINK

You need a minute?

THOMAS If I can have one, Id appreci-Link grabs a huge book from the desk and whacks Thomas on the knee. Hard. Thomas drops to the floor. Baaaaaahhh! There you go. Ohhhh.. Jeeeesssshhh... THOMAS (CONTD) LINK THOMAS Oh my...

LINK You go ahead. Let it out. I aint tellin anybody. Someone blows your knee out, you let out a swear word. You aint gonna burn for that. Mmmm.... Oh... THOMAS Link sits in Thomas desk chair. LINK I knew this guy, Eddie. Squealing-est punk. Broke his elbow. Wouldnt curse, ever, just like his moms following him around. But-(snaps) And the stuff pouring out of his mouth... Call a doctor. THOMAS Link opens the book. LINK Thats not really what Im here for. (beat) You ever read this whole thing? Nah. THOMAS ... yah... thats kinda... what I do... Ive read it. LINK Most of it.

5. THOMAS LINK

Oh yeah? Sure.

THOMAS Ive not seen you around here much. Yes you have. In the back. The right. My left is your right. Sure. LINK THOMAS On the left. LINK THOMAS LINK

THOMAS I thought you were there... For this? As a reminder. LINK THOMAS

LINK I can do two things at once. Thomas sits up. Ah... THOMAS

LINK Ive been here every week. Two years. Why havent I seen you? Exactly. THOMAS LINK

THOMAS Thats what you think of me.

6. LINK Youve given me no reason to think otherwise. That Ive been here for two years and you didnt know. And that Im here right now. Neither of those are ringing endorsements. A moment. THOMAS Can we get this over with? LINK I need you to do something first. (beat) Hear my confession. THOMAS I dont think I can do that. Father... LINK

THOMAS I cant do it if I know what youre planning to do immediately afterward. LINK I can take care of that. Link stomps on Thomas other leg. Ahhhh! I think that did it. (beat) You need a minute? No. No. Its fine. THOMAS LINK

THOMAS Its fine. Link kneels down on the floor.

LINK Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. since my last confession... Lights dim. End.

Its been three weeks