Play # 3

Demons and Angels

__________________________

By Joseph Frost

Originally written for the 2019 "31 Plays in 31 Days" challenge

Contact:
Joseph Frost
710 Newland St
Jackson MS 39211
FrostJosephD@gmail.com
 A bench near a fountain.

HELEN and PENNIE sit, both looking out.

HELEN
It may be wrong to say it...

PENNIE
Don’t worry about that.

HELEN
But it feels like the only thing I want--

PENNIE
Sh.

HELEN
I just want revenge.

PENNIE
You said it.

HELEN
I’m sorry.

PENNIE
No.

HELEN
I want to not want that.

PENNIE
I know.

HELEN
But I want it.

PENNIE
So do I.

A moment.

HELEN
Are we even safe here?
 2.

Pennie exhales a laugh.

PENNIE
I don’t know if we can know.

HELEN
I’d like to know.

PENNIE
I’d like to know.

Helen rubs her arms with her hands.

HELEN
I don’t feel safe.

PENNIE
It’s scary.

HELEN
I want to be made to feel safe.

PENNIE
What do you think would do that?

HELEN
What.

PENNIE
What would make you feel safe?

HELEN
I... I’d like to be protected. From the scary things. The fearful things. Protection. That
would make me feel safe.

PENNIE
How?

HELEN
Well, I could look at the things protecting me, and take comfort in their... strength. The
surety that I’m not alone.
 3.

PENNIE
I don’t want to...
(beat)
You’re not alone.

HELEN
You know what I mean.

PENNIE
Do I?

HELEN
I want to be able to see that I am protected.

PENNIE
You want to see it.

HELEN
Yes.

PENNIE
Seeing it would make you feel protected.

HELEN
Yes.
(beat)
I think so.

PENNIE
What would the protection look like. Do you think.

HELEN
You know. Angels.

PENNIE
Angels.

HELEN
They’d have big wings, and armor, and they’d have strong powerful arms, and weapons.
Tools of protection.

PENNIE
Hm.

HELEN
What.
 4.

PENNIE
Nothing.

HELEN
What.

PENNIE
If that’s the Angels...

HELEN
Yeah?

PENNIE
What do the demons look like?

A moment.

HELEN
Scary. Evil.

PENNIE
Yeah.

HELEN
Angels and Demons.

PENNIE
Demons and Angels.
(beat)
Demons and Angels... were the same creation. Some of the Angels became demons.
What would it take, for Angels... to become demons. It’s like... it’s like it’s inside each
one of them, to be either Demon or Angel. To be the protection or to be the evil.

HELEN
Like they have a choice.

PENNIE
A choice.

Helen reaches over and takes Pennie’s hand.

HELEN
I still want revenge.

Pennie puts another hand on top.

 5.

PENNIE
Seems like it would make it all go away.

A moment.

HELEN
I’m not sure it would.

Pennie smiles at Helen.

Helen puts her head on Pennie’s shoulder.

A moment.

The fountain trickles.

Lights down.

End.