THE ANGEL

by Robert J. LeBlanc

15 Kent St, Newburyport, MA 01950

978-809-0732 • bob@robertjleblanc.com

©2019, Robert J LeBlanc. All rights reserved.

THE ANGEL
Robert J LeBlanc

PRODUCTIONS
18 January 2020........................ New Works Festival 2020
Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport, Massachusetts, Full Production

AWARDS
9 June 2020................................ Best Play, The Crowbait Club Playwriting Death Match

©2019, Robert J LeBlanc. All rights reserved.

 SYNOPSIS
Jack has a terrible secret. He’s stuck with no way out until a chance meeting with a
stranger in a deserted subway station gives him everything that he asked for.

TAG LINE
Be careful what you wish for.

CAST OF CHARACTERS
Man Male, any age. Man dressed in rags.
Jack Male, 25 - 50s. Well dressed in business attire. He
is hiding a terrible secret and needs to tell.

GENDER ROLES
This play can easily be produced with the roles changed for any gender. If doing so, please
change the pronouns in the show to reflect the desired changes.

SCENE
Deserted Subway station. A pile of filthy rags lay against the rear wall.

TIME
The present
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Setting Subway station

At Rise JACK stands DL at the edge of the platform in an
empty subway station. There is a heap of filthy
blankets piled on the floor against the wall in the
back of the station UR.

(JACK takes a step closer to the edge of

the platform. He is distracted, depressed.
He takes another step forward. He is
focused on that third rail.)

(The heap of old blankets moves

aside. MAN is revealed to be sitting
underneath. He sees JACK moving
closer to the edge. MAN shakes off the
blankets and stands.)

(JACK takes another step forward. It

looks as if he is going to make the leap
on to the tracks.)

MAN
(Approaching cautiously, ready to grab
JACK if it looks like he’s going to jump.)
I wouldn’t do that if I were you. It makes a hell of a mess.

(MAN cautiously moves CR.)

JACK
(Startled)
Jesus! I, I didn’t see you there.

MAN
Yeah, I figured. Most people don’t kill themselves with an audience. You know?

JACK
I wasn’t going to kill myself. I just got distracted. That’s all.

MAN
Didn’t look like you were distracted. Looks like you were pretty focused. Seems to me
like you were set on riding that third rail out of here.

JACK
It’s not like that
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MAN
Well, it’s something. What the hell happened to you to put you here?

JACK
I don’t have any money for you. All right?

MAN
(Laughs)
Who said anything about money? I don’t need any money. I have everything I need
down here.
(Takes another step closer to JACK until
he is standing Center stage.)
So, what are you doing? What are you down on your luck or something?

JACK
I’m not going to talk about it to a stranger, I’m definitely not going to talk about it to you.

MAN
All right, be hostile, asshole. Take a step if you want. It’s a hell of a way to go, though.
You know it doesn’t kill you all at once? It freezes you to it, locks up your muscles, sets
you on fire. You start to burn.

JACK
Jesus.

MAN
It’s a hell of a way to go, buddy. There are easier ways.

JACK
(Turning crossing CR)
What are you, some kind of expert?

MAN
I’ve been down here long enough. I see what’s going on. I’ve seen people jump in
front of trains, I’ve seen suicides, overdoses, murder. I’ve seen rage, anxiety, depression.
I’ve seen the helpless, the hopeless… I’ve seen good people. I’ve seen evil.

JACK
I wasn’t going to kill myself. I, I just needed some time to think.

MAN
Think? Yeah, I get it. You just had that look in your eye. You know? Like you want to
hurt someone. I just figured that someone was you. But no, it isn’t, is it?

JACK
Back off, man.
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MAN
No. You want to hurt someone else, don’t you? Maybe you already have?

JACK
Back off. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I do want to hurt someone. Isn’t that enough to
leave me alone?

MAN
(Hands up, backing off)
Okay. I get the picture. I get it, man. Trust me, I’ve seen a lot of shit. I’ve had a rough
life myself.

JACK
So what? Are you going to try to help me by saying that I have some sort of perfect life?
Are you going to try to convince me that just because I made better choices than you that
I somehow have it all? That my pain doesn’t matter?

MAN
What the hell are you talking about? Fuck you and your “better choices.”
(Turns to walk away. Angrily turns back
to confront JACK.)
And what type of sick fuck one-ups hardship? Look buddy, there is enough pain in the
world to go around without trying to corner the market on it. Give me some friggin credit.
Just because I had a rough life doesn’t mean that you haven’t. Trust me, there’s enough
pain to go around. It’s not pie. You want a slice of hurt, fucking take it.

JACK
I didn’t mean…

MAN
Like hell you didn’t.

(MAN pulls a flask and takes a sip.)

JACK
I didn’t mean to…

MAN
You’ve been here for ten minutes. Two trains came by already and you’re still standing
here. Are you running away? What’s going on?

JACK
I needed to think. I’m in a bad way, I just...I figured I’d have some time alone here. I
didn’t mean to bother you.
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MAN
You’re not bothering me buddy. If you haven’t noticed I don’t have a lot going on
down here.

JACK
The police don’t bother you?

MAN
What police? They don’t come. They don’t check down here. We’re about as alone as we
can be. Just me and you.

JACK
Is that a threat?

MAN
It’s an answer.

JACK
(Nervous)
I should be going.

(JACK turns to leave and crosses UL.)

MAN
She cheated on you, didn’t she?

JACK
(Turning to face MAN)
What did you say?

MAN
She cheated on you. You came home and caught her. Things got out of hand and you
what? Hurt her?

JACK
I didn’t mean to do anything. You don’t know what you’re talking about.

MAN
I was close though, wasn’t I? You didn’t hurt her. You killed her.

JACK
(Getting nervous)
Who are you? What did you see?

MAN
Calm down. I didn’t see nothing. The way I figure it, there are only a handful of reasons
why you’d be acting this way. I picked the easiest one.
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JACK
This conversation is over. I’m leaving.
(MAN reaches out and grabs JACK.
JACK spins around.)
What the hell are you doing?

MAN
You ain’t leaving. At least not without me.

JACK
What the hell is that supposed to mean?

MAN
Tell me, did you really do it?

JACK
You really want to know?

MAN
I already know. I just want to hear it from you. I won’t tell no one. You did, didn’t you?

JACK
(Caving, desperately wanting to tell his
secret to someone)
I didn’t mean to do it. It was an accident. Oh God, you need to believe me. It was
an accident. Jesus. I need to get our of here.

(JACK turns, once again to leave.

MAN Grabs him by the shoulder.)

MAN
You’re going nowhere. I have something you want. No. I have something you need.

JACK
What, like drugs?

MAN
Do I look like a pusher, asshole?

JACK
Have you seen yourself lately? That’s exactly what you look like.

MAN
(Looks down at his filthy clothes.)
All right, I’ll give you that. No. Not drugs.
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JACK
You don’t have anything I need. Buddy. Unless you’re offering to take the rap for me.
You have nothing.

MAN
Oh really? Huh. You want absolution? You want forgiveness? You want a way out?
What if I said that whatever you want, I got.
(Laughs)
Anything you need I can get it for you.

JACK
And how are you supposed to do that?

MAN
I’m willing to give you whatever you want. Whatever your heart desires, it could be
yours. All I need from you is a price.

JACK
You can’t do shit for me. It’s already too late.

MAN
Hypothetically, what would you give, ha? What would you give for me to just take
it all away, make it better? Would you give me your happiness?
(Laughs)
Would you give me your first born like in some fairy tale?
(Dead serious)
Would you give me your soul? Whatever you offer I’ll take. I got nothing else here.
Except money. I have enough money.

JACK
Buddy, if you could make it go away I’d give it all to you.

MAN
Don’t doubt it. I accept your offer.

JACK
What the hell are you going to do for me? Take the rap? You’d really do that for me?

MAN
Maybe I could? This state don’t got a death penalty. Three square meals and a roof over
my head don’t sound too bad, does it.

(JACK looks pensive, crosses DC. MAN

crosses to stand beside him and hands
him his flask. JACK takes it.)
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JACK
I guess it doesn’t. You’d do that for me? You’d take the heat? Make it right? You’d
do that?

MAN
Take your pain away? Yes. I’d do that.

JACK
(Suspicious)
For what? What could I give you?

MAN
You’ve already given me everything I need.

(SOUND of a train approaching

the platform. A light shines onto
JACK and MAN from Offstage Left
and gets brighter.)

JACK
(Takes a hit from the flask)
Maybe we could do this. It was a mistake. I never meant to hurt her.

MAN
Of course you didn’t. It’ll be okay. I’ll take care of everything.

JACK
What are you, some kind of angel?

MAN
Sure, let’s go with that. And Jack?

JACK
(Caught off guard)
Wait, how do you know my name?

MAN
Mind the gap.

(With a grunt MAN pushes JACK onto

the tracks.)

(BLACKOUT as the sound of the train

enters the station.)