Super

a play in one act by Christine Prevas

Eight chairs in a semicircle. THEO in the middle.
One of the chairs is empty. All on stage except
JAMIE.
Note: asterisked lines* are delivered straight to the
audience.
THEO
Hi. Im Theo. And Im an alcoholic. Im also a superhero. And Im not sure which one is worse. I
mean, Ive been sober for three and a half years, but I stopped a burglar in a convenience store
while getting gas on the way over here tonight. (He pauses, half-heartedly expecting a laugh that
he will not get.) Right. Last time I make that joke. Well, for any of you out there who are new
today, welcome to H.O.P.E., or Heroes Overcoming Problematic Emotions.
LUCY*
He starts this way every week.
THEO
This is a place to talk, to get everything out in the open and turn to people like you for advice. To
be completely honest, whatever it is you need to say. Whatever your problems are, were here for
you.
LUCY*
Practically the same freaking spiel. Its kind of cute.
THEO
Like I said, Im Theo. Im not powered. A lot of people dont come back to group when they find
that out. I understand. Thats fine, and thats why Im telling you upfront. If you dont feel
comfortable with that, I know that P.P.T. meets in here on Thursday nights at seven if youd
rather go then. But just because Im not powered doesnt mean I dont know what youre going
through.
JACK*
Im fourteen all over again, or sitting in front of the guidance counselor because they think its
gonna help me assimilate. Because I hit another kid, or cussed out another teacher, or cut
another class. Im fourteen and all I want to do is go to track practice but Im missing it again for
detention, sitting in a room with a poorly trained shrink telling me she knows what Im going
through or understands how Im feeling. Im fourteen again and Im sick of this bullshit. But
the court requires I be here and I have work Thursday nights and also I slept with the girl who
runs P.P.T. a couple times and Id rather not have to deal with that again, so Ive got to deal with
Mister Alcoholics Anonymous over here and his how are you feeling and I understand what
youre going through. Bullshit.

LUCY*
Its nice, for me. The consistency of it. I come in here every week with a new face, different
eyes, new hair, a different height. He always recognizes me, no matter which celebritys face Im
trying on for size. And he always starts the exact same way.
CHASE*
Were not superheroes. We dont run around in capes saving lives or fighting crime. Were just
trying to live average lives. I know before they do what they are going to say when they stand up
and introduce themselves. Hi, Im Laura, and this has been a good week for me, or Hi, Im
Kevin and the hazardous toxins I can exude from my skin in self-defense are slowly giving my
mother cancer. Well, hi, Im Chase, and today Im not okay.
OLIVIA*
Theo is dying.
LUCY*
He never looks any of us in the eye. I think maybe its because when he does he can see how
truly miserable so many of us are. I keep trying to talk to him after meetings, but... he must pity
us so much.
IO*
My sister said being here would help me, but I do not understand why speaking of the things that
trouble me would help. It is not as if they will go away.
THEO
Most of you are familiar faces, and I know you all know the routine. But sometimes routine can
help us power through the little things that occupy and distract us. So lets all say our names and
how were doing today.
CHASE*
Hi, Im Chase, and today Im not okay.
NATE*
I could walk into a bank vault and walk out with as much money as I could fit in my bag if I
wanted to. I could take the Mona Lisa or the Hope Diamond. I could get into Disney World after
the park closes.
IO*
Studies indicate that this should be good for me, but I do not think it will help.
JACK*
This is bullshit.

OLIVIA*
Theo is going to die next week. Lucy only has a few short years. Chase will get a month at best
before he finds out he is HIV positive.
LUCY*
I wonder why he keeps running this group if hes not like us.
OLIVIA*
Most of the rest of us will go when the world does.
NATE*
I could give her anything she wanted.
CHASE*
Hi, Im Chase, and today I found out that my lover is cheating on me.
THEO
Chase, how are you today?
CHASE
I am not okay.
THEO
Would you like to tell us about it? Get it off your chest and out into the open?
JACK*
Actually, though. Complete bullshit.
CHASE
Its Zac.
JACK
Who the fuck is Zac?
NATE
His boyfriend.
LUCY
Dont be an asshole. Let him talk.

CHASE
I met him when I was a freshman in college. You know the type dashingly handsome drama
major who sits across the table in your English seminar, exchanging those wistful, romantic
looks across the table for just too long.
JACK
Ugh.
LUCY
Shhh.
CHASE
I used to use my telepathy to figure out the right thing to say when I wanted to flirt with
someone, but with him I never did. I guess I didnt have to. He was like an open book. I knew
what to say without having to read his mind. We spent a lot of time going to this coffeehouse,
just talking, and he was just very... honest, very genuine. Completely brilliant. I sort of realized
somewhere along the way that I was in love with him, in love with this person whose mind I
didnt have to read. When I told him about my power, I promised him Id never read his mind
and he promised me hed never lie. For the first time in my life, I could pretend I couldnt read
minds. I could interact with someone on a purely human level, where I didnt need to know what
he was thinking at all times to understand his actions or feelings.
JACK
Fag.
CHASE
You had sex with a man when you were seventeen.
JACK
How did you what?
CHASE
Telepath, asshole.
THEO
Chase, would you like to continue with your story?
CHASE
Like I said, I knew his every thought without having to pry. It was the first time anyone had ever
been that open with me. It was weird... I knew less about him, so every thought he divulged felt
so much more intimate. I never felt insecure in our relationship at all. I trusted him completely.

IO
I do not understand why his desire for you not to read his mind would allow you to trust him.
This is counter intuitive.
CHASE
Yeah. I know. Doesnt make much sense. In retrospect I guess I had it coming. But hes been
acting weird lately, so I thought it couldnt hurt to see what he was really thinking, just once. It
was well-intentioned, I swear. I thought if I knew what was making him upset I could fix it
without him having to bring it up. And. Well. I guess I hadnt considered the possibility that I
wouldn't like what I found.
LUCY
Oh, Chase...
CHASE
Hes been cheating on me for a few months now.
LUCY
Have you told him you know?
CHASE
No.
LUCY
Youve got to confront him!
CHASE
And tell him I was reading his mind?
LUCY
Technically, he lied to you first, so it wouldnt be breaking the promise.
IO
Studies indicate that sixty percent of all men will have an affair at some point in their lifetime.
The odds were not in your favor to begin with.
LUCY
Thats a horrible thing to say.

CHASE*
She doesnt mean it. Io is not okay today either. Io is very, very rarely okay when she comes to
group.
IO*
I see very little point in interacting with other humans.
CHASE*
Io overhears what people say about her.
IO*
They never believe what I say, anyway.
CHASE*
They think she has some sort of developmental disorder. She doesnt. She just doesnt have room
in her brain for human interaction once you factor in the vast amount of information she is
constantly processing.
JACK*
Still bullshit.
NATE*
At least Chases lover can cheat.
CHASE*
Io solved the problem of world hunger in the second grade. She has designed a ship that could
colonize Mars and proved Fermats Last Theorem when most of us were struggling with long
division. Most people do not believe her when she tells them this. She thinks about these things a
lot.
OLIVIA*
Ios brain will overheat on her twenty second birthday, sending her into convulsions and killing
her before the ambulance can arrive.
CHASE*
Im not sure what else Io thinks. Her brain moves faster than I can process most of the time.
IO*
I do not have time to sit here listening to the emotional problems of others. I have work I should
be doing.

JACK*
I wish everyone would just hurry up and let me get out of here already.
NATE*
I could walk straight into an empty room in a five-star hotel without having to pay.
IO*
I do not care that Chases lover is cheating or that Lucy is prettier than I am or that Theo is an
alcoholic. There are more important things at hand that they wont let me bring to this room.
LUCY
You could be a little more sensitive.
CHASE
Leave it, Lucy. It's fine.
OLIVIA*
Chases lover Zac is also contemplating suicide. He will take his own life two months and six
days after Chase leaves him.
CHASE*
Io, though she cant consciously admit that emotions phase her, is very, very sad.
THEO
Io, is there something you would like to say to the group?
IO
Einsteins theory of relativity is incorrect.
THEO
Im sorry?
IO
Scientists have found particles that can move faster than the speed of light. I have created a
model to confirm these findings, and replicated the tests. They are correct.
THEO
Well

IO
Additionally, I have found seventeen new uses for the element Tellurium that would improve
every day items.
CHASE*
No one she speaks to will believe her.
THEO
Would you like to tell us how youre feeling today?
IO
I am functioning sufficiently.
CHASE*
Io has never felt love.
THEO
Thats good to hear, Io. We worry about you sometimes.
IO
There is nothing about which to worry. I do believe, however, that there is cause for concern
about Nate. He has been significantly quieter today than he has been in the past. His pupils are
constricted. His shoulders are tensed.
THEO
Nate?
NATE
Its... nothing.
THEO
Are you sure?
JACK
Jesus, he said it was nothing. Can we get a move on, please?
NATE*
I could give her anything in the world she wanted. Steal the crown jewels or the Pieta or the
dinosaur skeleton from the museum. But I cant give her the one thing she needs.

LUCY*
Nate always looks so sad.
CHASE*
Hi, Im Nate, and I can walk through walls.
NATE*
Intangibility, they call it.
IO*
His atoms can shift and separate to move through other matter.
NATE*
It doesnt just mean that I can phase through solid objects. Sometimes it means I cant be
touched.
THEO
Are you sure?
NATE
Im fine this week. I promise.
LUCY*
Theo wont even make eye contact with Nate.
THEO
And how are things with Claire?
NATE
Theyre fine.
CHASE*
They arent fine. He hasnt stopped thinking about how not-fine they are since he got here.
THEO
Im glad to hear that, Nate.
(JAMIE stumbles in, takes a seat in the empty chair.)
THEO
Hello?

JAMIE
Oh, god. Am I late? Im so sorry
THEO
Uh. No, it's fine. Have a seat.
OLIVIA*
Theo is going to die this week.
JAMIE
Thanks.
THEO
Why dont you introduce yourself?
JAMIE
Uh. Okay. Hi. Im Jamie.
THEO
And how are you feeling today, Jamie?
JAMIE
Alive.
THEO
Always a blessing.
JACK
Oh, come on. Look. Can I just say how Im feeling, tell my sad little story, and get out of here?
OLIVIA*
Jacks molecules will one day vibrate so fast he will quite literally dissipate into thin air.
JACK*
Im only here because I could get out of doing community service if I promised Id come to a
support group once a week.
CHASE*
Hi, Im Jack, and I hate everybody in this room.

THEO
So what is it you want to tell us?
JACK
Well, for one, that Im sick of all this how are you feeling shit.
LUCY
Look, Theos just trying to help
JACK
Do you even know what it feels like?
LUCY
What do you
JACK
Dealing with all of you average people.
CHASE
None of us here are average.
NATE
Unfortunately.
JACK
Fine. Average speed people. Look. Have you ever been in line at a bank right before closing on a
Monday? And youre eighth or ninth in line, and you know you have to get to the front and
deposit your paycheck before they close, but every single person in line in front of you is
opening a new account, or doesnt speak English, or is handling a whole envelope of thousands
of dollars in ones and keeps having to count and recount them to make sure theyre depositing
the right amount. And you know, if you could just go in front of them, youd be out the door
before they finished counting, because literally all you have to do is give the teller the signed
check so they can deposit it into your account for you, but no one is listening. And youre
desperate to get this check deposited because your rent is due and, well. Yeah. Its like that.
Every interaction I have with other people is like that. Everyone is just... so... fucking. Slow.
IO
Yes. The average human mind moves at an incredibly slow pace.
JACK
You What?

IO
I understand. When I converse with human beings, I am constantly surprised at the pace of their
thought processes. If average human reaction time were a millisecond or two faster, we would
likely be far more advanced scientifically as a species. You move much faster than average, both
physically and mentally, and while this should be a great advantage on your part, you view it as a
disadvantage. Why?
JACK
Because Ive been constantly punished for it. You know, I was going to be an Olympic athlete
when I turned sixteen, and my speed disqualified me. They said it was an unfair advantage.
LUCY
Oh, Jack...
JACK
Running is literally all I'm good at, and I'm not even allowed to do it.
NATE
Hey man, I can't do what I love, either.
CHASE*
What Nate means to say is, I can't do who I love.
JACK
No, you don't know what it's like. Spending twelve years of school getting in trouble for moving
too quickly, getting tested for ADHD because I switched focus faster than the other kids,
everyone thinking I had problems because I didn't like sitting still or being inside or having to
move as slowly as the other kids around me.
IO
I do know how you feel.
JACK
Oh yeah?
IO
When I was a child my mother could not get me to talk, and when she did , I spoke too fast for
her to understand what I was saying, and she would tell me to slow down but I did not know how
to slow down, so I simply ceased speaking. My father thought that I had autism. And when they
passed away and my sister was left to take care of me, she did not now how to cope with my
differences either. But... My speed is not a disability. It is not a handicap, and neither is yours.
JACK
It's not the same.

IO
I believe it is not so very different. You have used your speed to run away as I have used mine to
escape the inanity of the world around me. However, we can not do this forever. We are alive in
this world; it would be foolish not to live in it while we are here. At least, so I have been told.
JACK
And why should I have to slow myself down to accommodate others?
IO
You do not have to slow yourself down. Use your speed as the advantage that it is. They may
have trouble interacting with me, but that doesn't mean scientists would be incapable of
appreciating my discoveries if they listened.
JACK
But why would you try to help the people who don't believe you?
IO
Because I know that I am right, and I know that one day they will realize this fact too. And so it
is wasteful to run away.
JACK
And why should I run towards the people who hate me?
IO
Because you can help them.
JACK
I'm not some sort of super hero, why do they deserve my help?
IO
Because if we stop running away and give them a reason to believe us, maybe they will learn.
JACK
You really think that?
IO
You should take advantage of the speed. That much faster than the average human, there are
amazing things you could do that don't involve running away.
OLIVIA
Theo is going to die tomorrow.
( OLIVIA screams, and continues to scream over the
following dialogue.)

LUCY
Oh God...
THEO
Olivia, are you okay? Olivia, sweetheart, it's okay...
OLIVIA
They're coming...
JAMIE
What is it? What's wrong with her?
CHASE
She can see the future.
JAMIE
All of it?
THEO
Olivia. Honey.
LUCY
Just people's deaths. It's really forlorn, actually, on the days she does speak. She told me a few
weeks ago, after an episode like this, that I only have three more years to live.
JAMIE
She'll tell you how you're going to die?
NATE
She tends to stay pretty quiet. I tried to ask her once, and she wouldn't say.
THEO
Olivia, come back to us.
JAMIE
So wait, what is she seeing?
LUCY
She won't tell us, she never does. I'm not entirely sure she can.
CHASE
She's seeing the end of the world.

LUCY
What?
JACK
Well shit.
NATE
What's it like?
JAMIE
How do you?
CHASE
Telepath. It's, um. It's not very clear. Fuzzy, dark, quiet.
THEO
Can you tell us what you're seeing? Can you describe it?
CHASE
She can't.
THEO
Can you?
CHASE
She doesn't want to tell us. She's blocking me out so I can't see, she doesn't want to hurt us.
OLIVIA*
They don't want to see. It's... horrifying, watching them die. I've seen this my whole life, it's... it's
okay. I'm used to it. But sometimes,when it's them...
THEO
Olivia? Can you hear me?
OLIVIA*
When it's him...
THEO
Olivia...
OLIVIA*
Theo is going to die tonight.
THEO
Olivia.

OLIVIA*
It feels... inevitable. More so than before, more than the others. Like he has been running.
THEO
Olivia, let us help you... Let me help.
OLIVIA*
You can't run. I know. He tried, Adam tried, my parents tried for him, they did everything they
could but he Adam died. And he was all I saw until he did, like the universe had dedicated itself
to his death, to setting things right. I saved my brother once, I saved my brother again and a gain,
but my brother died. Adam died. After a while he got so tired of being warned that he gave up.
Stepped in front of a bus. He knew the universe didn't want him.
JAMIE
Hey. What are you seeing?
CHASE
She won't say.
JAMIE
Is it me?
OLIVIA*
I can't tell them. It's a horrible thing, to know when the universe is finished with you.
JAMIE
Why not?
OLIVIA*
It's much easier to keep quiet.
THEO
Olivia?
OLIVIA*
To smile and pretend that he isn't going to die.
THEO
Olivia, sweetheart, can you hear me?
OLIVIA
Yes.
THEO
Are you okay?

OLIVIA
Of course.
THEO
You sure?
LUCY*
He won't look her in the eye. He won't look any of us in the eye.
OLIVIA
I'm fine. I'm sorry.
LUCY*
Like he pities us.
CHASE*
He's lying about how long he's been sober.
(THEO puts a hand on OLIVIA's shoulder,
comforting.)
THEO
It's okay. There's no need to apologize.
OLIVIA
Thank you.
CHASE*
He's been sober for three hours.
OLIVIA*
He's going to drink himself to death in an alley downtown.
NATE*
He's comforting her...
CHASE*
There's something wrong. Jumbled. I can't figure it out...
OLIVIA*
It's a shame. He really is a good man.
NATE*
You have no idea how comforting a hand on your shoulder can be until you can't feel it anymore.
One of the most intimate possible gestures. Intangibility doesn't just mean that I can phase
through solid objects. Sometimes it means I can't be touched. I can't control it. When I get

NATE* (cont.)
emotional, I phase in and out, slip through the cracks. The other morning I stubbed my toe, fell
through the floorboards, and got stuck around my ribcage. Had to wait until I'd calmed down
enough to fall the rest of the way through.
OLIVIA
I'm okay, Theo. Someone else can go.
NATE*
I can give my wife everything she wants. Money, diamonds, anything. But I can't touch her.
JACK
Nate, man, are you... crying?
NATE
No.
CHASE
He is.
LUCY
Whats wrong?
CHASE
Hes thinking about his wife. About how he cant
NATE
NO! Dont you dare use your telepathy on me. That is breaching my privacy and my rights as a
human being. Does anyone else think its a little unfair that he gets to use his special fucking
gift to find out things wed rather no one know about?
CHASE
He cant touch his wife. Cant control his emotions well enough to stay tangible around her.
NATE
Fuck you.
LUCY
Nate...
NATE
Fuck you.

THEO
Look, maybe...
NATE
FUCK YOU!
OLIVIA*
Out of us all, Nate is going to live the longest life.
NATE
I cant... I cant... She wont leave me. I keep telling her to, but she wont do it. Im tired of
putting her through this, but she just wont go...
OLIVIA*
That's still not very long.
IO
I do not understand. You love her, and yet you are sad that she will not leave you?
NATE
She deserves so much better.
IO
But she does not want better. Even I can see this fact is quite clear. She loves you. Is that not
what love is? Wanting to be with someone despite their obvious flaws?
NATE
I...
IO
Even I can understand the attraction to flawed things.
LUCY
Nate? Would you like to see her?
NATE
What?
LUCY
Claire. Maybe if you could see her face, pretend you were talking to her... it might help? You
could get out all of the things you need to say.

NATE
I'm not sure that's a good idea.
THEO
I think Lucy's right. It could help. At least give it a shot.
NATE
. . . Fine.
(LUCY stands in front of Nate, her back to the
audience.)
NATE
Claire, I...
THEO
Go on.
NATE
Why won't you leave me? . . . I keep telling you to go, I know you're not happy like this, neither
of us is happy like this. We keep talking about it, about all the things we want and can't have.
About... vacations I can't go on because I'm too scared to fly, about the times you need someone
to comfort you and I can't be there, about having a kid, raising a family, and how even if you
could, I couldn't. I couldn't hold our child or take care of her... or take care of you. I know you'd
be better off without me, find someone else to love and start a family with someone else, and I
could deal with it as long as I knew you were happy, but dammit Claire, why won't you leave
me? I just... I just want you to be happy, and I know, I just know that can't be with me, and it's
okay, I know it's okay, and if you could just realize that too you could go be happy
(NATE realizes that he is touching LUCY's face,
and withdraws.)
LUCY
Nate?
NATE
I can't This was a terrible idea.
LUCY
Nate, look at me.
THEO
Lucy.
LUCY
Nate, please...

THEO
Lucy!
(THEO pulls LUCY away.)
THEO
Nate, are you okay?
LUCY*
He won't look me in the eye.
NATE
I'm fine.
LUCY*
Why won't he look me in the eye?
THEO
You sure?
LUCY*
I've had my fair share of men who won't look me in the eye, believe me, I have. When you can
look like anyone or anything there's never a reason for someone to look you in the eye. Because,
I don't know, maybe they still see me in my eyes, no matter who I'm pretending or trying to be.
For a long time, it was okay, because even if people weren't looking at my eyes, at least they
were looking at me, and that was better than nothing, wasn't it? That was better than being
ignored or invisible.
NATE
Yes, I'm sure.
LUCY*
I guess I just thought, if anyone could be different, it would be him. If he looked me in the eye it
would mean something.
THEO
I know it hurts now.
LUCY*
He's supposed to be the one who understands. The one who helps. Why would he be here if it
wasn't to help?
THEO
I know there's nothing I can say to fix this.

LUCY*
Doesn't he know how easily he could help me? Fix me?
THEO
I know it's hard, but everything's going to be fine.
CHASE*
Sometimes when Theo tells us that everything is going to be fine, he's saying it more to himself
than to us.
IO*
Even I can understand the attraction to things that are flawed.
JACK
Well, now that Shadowcat over there has given us his sob story, can I leave?
NATE
Asshole.
CHASE
Jamie hasn't spoken yet.
JAMIE
I
JACK
Yeah she has. She said she felt alive, remember? All done, whoop-de-doo for her. We're all so
proud.
OLIVIA
Jamie tried to kill herself three hours ago.
LUCY
What?
OLIVIA
And again, twelve hours before that. And again, a day and a half ago...
NATE
How do you know that? I thought you only saw when people died...
OLIVIA
You did die. You died each time, for a while.
JAMIE
Hey. Whoa, wait

OLIVIA
I see many deaths before you.
JACK
She's immortal? That's not fucking fair. You get to live forever? I'm stuck with a world that runs
slower than I can walk and you get fucking immortality?
CHASE
Jack.
JACK
Do you know what I'd do to be able to live forever? I'd kill to trade with you.
JAMIE
Yeah, and I'd die to trade with you.
CHASE
Why do you keep trying after it didn't work the first time?
JAMIE
Because I thought maybe one time I could finally do it.
THEO
Jamie, life is an incredibly valuable thing
JAMIE
Oh, come on. Save the support group crap. I'm not here to listen to you go on about the beauty of
life and convince me to go on living. I came here because... Because I thought that maybe if
someone else with powers could kill me, I would... it might last.
NATE
What?

JAMIE
Like you! You could... I don't know. Reach through my chest. Take my heart out. I don't think I
could regenerate a heart. Or he could run me to the top of a volcano and drop me in. I don't
know, I just. I thought it might work.
JACK
That's disgusting. There's no way I'm dropping you in a volcano.
NATE
I'm not even sure I could control myself long enough to do that, even if I was willing to try...

THEO
This group... this is a place for healing. If you're not willing to try, to help yourself, you
shouldn't be here.
JAMIE
Okay, fine. What reason do I have to live, huh? Enlighten me.
THEO
There are other people who care about you. Your family, your friends.
JAMIE
My family is dead. I don't know if you've got a family, but when everyone you've ever cared
about is gone and you've been around for half a century longer than you ever intended to live,
life doesn't seem quite so much like sunshine and rainbows. When life isn't a good enough reason
to live anymore, it takes a hell of a lot to get out of bed in the morning. Give me one good reason
and I'll be on my way.
THEO
Do you know what some people would give for the chance to live forever? What they could do
with it? You have a gift, Jaime.
JAMIE
You do this for a living and you're still using that bullshit your powers are a gift line?
Honestly? If they were a gift, none of us would fucking be here complaining about all the
problems our shit powers cause for us. He could touch his wife, she could interact with people
without screaming bloody murder, he could learn how to not be a jackass...
JACK
Hey!
NATE
She's got a point.
CHASE
She does, Jack.
JAMIE
Do you even have a power? You don't even know what it's like to be abnormal, to have this
problem. It's like a cancer, and it never goes away, but instead of killing me, mine is keeping me
alive when I. Don't. Want. To be alive. Don't you pretend you understand any of us, not even for
a second.
THEO
But, think of the people you can help. Given unlimited time, unlimited life...

JAMIE
Maybe we're not all cut out for saving the world.
THEO
It's not saving the world. It's helping people. It's being a decent human being instead of wasting
your life by trying to end it
JAMIE
You have no idea what the fuck you're talking about. You can't help these people.
THEO
No
JAMIE
What, do you think you're noble, wasting your nights coming here and pretending like something
you can say will change the world?
THEO
Please
JAMIE
It can't. It won't. You're never going to help anyone, because you don't know what it's like
THEO
Stop.
(A moment. Everyone but THEO is frozen, just for
a beat. He collects himself, shakes his head, and the
scene returns.)
THEO
Jamie
JAMIE
No, stop trying to You don't know what it's like. You can die.
OLIVIA(*)
He will. Tonight on his way home he will buy a bottle of Everclear and he won't stop drinking
until it kills him.
THEO
What?
OLIVIA
What?

THEO
What did you just say?
OLIVIA
I didn't say anything.
THEO
No. You said I'm going to die. You said tonight. That's not... no, not tonight. A month, a week,
please I haven't had a drink in three years.
CHASE
Yes you have.
THEO
No, I...
JACK
What?
THEO
I haven't...
CHASE
Stop lying.
THEO
No, I didn't...
JACK
You give us all this bullshit about how you're an alcoholic and how you've been sober for years
and how inspiring all that shit is supposed to be, and it turns out you had a drink, what, last
night?
CHASE
Three hours ago.
IO
I do not understand why you would choose to drink if you know how it affects you.
LUCY*
Oh, Theo...
THEO
No, it's not

JACK
Look, I'm bailing.
IO
I think I should probably leave as well.
THEO
No, you don't understand, it's not what it looks like.
JAMIE
He's right, this is bullshit.
LUCY*
He doesn't pity us, does he?
NATE
Yeah, I'm done.
LUCY*
He's trying to escape our pity.
JACK
What's even the point of this fucking support group? Do you get off on listening to our problems
or something? Do they make you feel better about the fact that you can't even deal with your
own fucking alcohol problem?
THEO
This isn't about that. I didn't drink, I didn't... I just...
JACK
You have no more control over your life than any of us.
NATE
What authority do you even have to be doing this to us?
LUCY*
The poor man...
JAMIE
This is a fucking joke. I'm out of here.
JACK
Bye.
THEO
No. Wait, listen. Wait, just

CHASE
Hold on something is wrong. Something is...
THEO
STOP.
(All freeze except THEO, who takes a step towards
the audience, addressing them for the first time.)
THEO*
I just want to help. That's all I've ever wanted. To help. To do something for someone before I
die. Because... I'm dying. I die today. I didn't mean to... to lie to them. I never mean to lie. I know
what they're going through, I do. And I know that I'm about to die, but... I can stop that. I can
stop myself from dying, if only I can... if I can fix them. Maybe I get a second chance. I can't
help that I'm weak, that I'm doing something wrong, that I can't fix them. I can't help that I'm not
who they think I am. But... I can help them. If only I can get this right, just once, I can help
them... So I'll try it again. And again and again, until I get it right.
(THEO looks at his watch, counting seconds.)
THEO*
Five... four... three... two...
(He looks up at the audience.)
THEO*
One.
(All but THEO move back to their seats, seated as
they were at the top of the show, except JAMIE, who
now occupies her own seat. THEO is standing where
he was at the beginning of the play as he begins to
address them again.)
THEO
Hi. Im Theo. And Im an alcoholic. Im also a superhero. And Im not sure which one is worse. I
mean, Ive been sober for three and a half years, but I stopped a burglar in a convenience store
while getting gas on the way over here tonight. Right. Last time I make that joke. Well, for any
of you out there who are new today, welcome to H.O.P.E., or Heroes Overcoming Problematic
Emotions. This is a place to talk, to get everything out in the open and turn to people like you for
advice. To be completely honest, whatever it is you need to say. Whatever your problems are,
were here for you. Like I said, Im Theo. Im... powerless. A lot of people dont come back to
group when they find that out. I understand. Thats fine, and thats why Im telling you upfront.
But that doesnt mean I dont know what youre going through. Believe me, I do.