In a Different World I Loved You, Scene 8/9

Here is where it truly starts to fall apart...So, constructive criticism is welcome and encouraged at this point, please.

Scene eight: Same set as in scene six. Luis stays in his cell to watch the action. Boy's Choir is heard again singing before lights come up music fades as conversation begins. Angela is sitting across the desk from Gomez.

Alfonzo: You're telling me that Luis is crazy and yet refuses to plea insanity?

Angela: That's about the extent of it.

Alfonzo: And you want me to ask the court to find him insane against his wishes?

Angela: Exactly, there's precedence.

Alfonzo: So, with my help, you want to put him in some place where he can get out and do this again?

Angela: We both know you don't have enough evidence for the death penalty, or even a certain conviction. We go to trial he could be found innocent. Think about it. At Tippling they could help him. Give him the therapy he needs. Keep him away from society for a long time maybe forever.

In the cell we see Pedro enter and sit across the table from Luis. They begin a silent conversation. The solo pianist is again heard quietly in the background.

Alfonzo: As far as I'm concerned he's responsible for her death. Your client is now the prime suspect in the disappearance or murder of 114 children over the last five years. He confesses to 140 killings. I'm not going to help you set him free.

Angela: He wasn't even in the country when several of those children disappeared.

Alfonzo: You're telling me he didn't do it?

Angela: What I'm telling you is that he couldn't have killed all those children. (Pause) You started your investigation believing several people were involved. A cult of some kind. You're not going to hang all this on my client.

Pedro hands Luis a small package that Luis hides under his shirt.

Alfonzo: Hanging's too good for the likes of him.

Angela: You can't be certain he's guilty.

Alfonzo: I can't?

Angela: Just hear me out. When the boy in Tunja was killed Luis was in Quito, Ecuador. Three of the disappearances and murders in Villavicencio happened when I have documented proof that Luis was in Pasto, working. None of the 27 bodies found in Valle de Cauca have been definitively, forensically, linked to my client. In fact you had no confession from him on those cases until Gomez asked him about them.

Alfonzo: Angela.

Angela: Here, this is for you. It's a timeline I'm working on. I'll tell you one thing, he did not kill all of those children! Please, as a favor, look into it.

Alfonzo: The task force has been disbanded. As far as we were concerned it was a clean confession, why would he lie?

Angela: Your guess is as good as mine. I'm trying to get through to him. Look, there is no doubt he killed many, possibly most, of these children but not all. Don't you see? If he didn't kill them someone else did.

Alfonzo: O.K., I'll get Gomez to look into Velle de Cauca and Villavincencio some more. You still need to understand he is guilty and dangerous. This is a game to him.

Angela: The time for games is over. Have your Doctors talk to him, see whether they thing he's sane enough to stand trial.

Alfonzo: You're asking a lot.

Angela: It's important.

Lights slowly fade as a voice of a child is heard reciting the following:
Two plus One is Three. Nothing in life is free.
Two plus Two is Four. That's what God is for.
Two plus Three is Five. No one gets out alive.
Two plus Four is six. Nothing He can't fix.

Scene Nine:
Set from cell again. This time Luis is lying on the table as if it were his bed. Lights instantly come up as Luis bolts up from a nightmare and screams.

Luis:
Two plus One is Three. Nothing in life is free.
Two plus Tow is Four. That's what God is for.
Two plus Three is Five. No one gets out alive.
Two plus Four is six. Nothing He can't fix.
Two plus Five is Seven. Bad boys don't go to heaven.
I know the rest. Two plus Six is Eight. . .

(Pause) Almost done. Come on,

Maria: (Entering) Anything I can help you with little brother?

Luis: (looking around and not seeing Maria) Who's that? Where are you? (Pause) Maria?

Maria: Did you have a bad dream?

Luis: Help me!

Maria: With what little man?

Luis: Heaven, what comes after heaven?

Maria: Two plus six is eight. . .

Luis: Hurry don't be late!

Maria: Yes, yes, don't make us wait.

Luis: No, no, never.

Maria: Why did you do it Luis? Why did you hurt my boys?

Luis: Made you stop. I win this way. (Laugh) I got more than you did! I win! (Laugh)

Maria: You cheated! Cheaters never will! Brother will punish you!

Luis: Don't you see? The game is over and I won. I couldn't let you win, I couldn't let you hurt any more, no not you.

Maria: You broke the rules! Rules are important, brother said so, we are nothing without rules.

Luis: I don't believe in the rules any more Maria. When you don't believe anything is possible.

Maria: You're alone now, you cheater!

Luis: I win, you loose, now get out!

Maria: (slowly backs off stage while repeating this line) Two plus Seven is Nine. Two plus Seven is Nine. Two plus Seven is Nine. (Laughs as she gets off stage.)

Luis: Wait, I'm not finished with you. Maria!

Fast to Black

Dribble

“I remember nothing.”

That is a lie, one that makes her feel better in many ways, one that makes this new existence easier to continue to the next, and beyond. That is the lie that was once the truth. The lie that must continue if only to find where it leads. To remember and honestly see could, most definitely would, be far more difficult than the here and now. She remembers nothing. She thinks she hides her awakening from all, illusions are at times necessary for continued life.

In a Different World I Loved You, Scene 6/7

Scene Six: Set is a desk and three chairs placed so that the audience can still see the jail cell. Gomez is sitting at desk talking on the phone. Luis is in his cell. Children saying Patty Cake, Patty Cake etc. . . begins as soon as lights up when they get to "fast as you can" Gomez begins talking and rhyme slowly fades as Pedro enters while Gomez is midcnversation.

Gomez: Yes sir. I understand sir. I have children of my own. (pause) No, I can't imagine what you are going through. I understand. All of the. . . children, have not yet been identified, yet. It may take some time sir. Yes. Please tell your wife that you are in my prayers. Thank you. Try to get some rest. I'll keep in touch. (hangs up phone)

Pedro: May I? (pointing to chair)

Gomez: Be my guest. I've just finished your report. Startling. Can't imagine finding my children like that. No wonder she lost it. What else can you tell me about her?

Pedro: Not much. I'm not her doctor. They had her sedated at Tippling last I heard. Heavily sedated.

Gomez: What about him? This Luis character? Do you think he did it?

Pedro: Up to a jury. I can't talk about that.

Gomez: Guess Angela will be pleading insanity. Try to make the jury believe he didn't know what he did was wrong.

Pedro: He'll have his day in court.

Gomez: Can't blame me for trying? (pause) Why are you in my office? What do you want? I have work to do.

Pedro: Just a visit between friends, we are friends remember. I thought we could do lunch.

Gomez: Can't today. Things are still busy, matching victims to dental records and all that fun stuff.

Pedro: So, with Luis's arrest I suppose the Ritual Slayings with multiple perpetrators theory is debunked?

Gomez: We still have several other missing or murdered children to investigate. (pause) Honestly, with his confession, I don't know.

Pedro: How are the kids, your kids?

Gomez: They want to know when I'll be home for dinner.

Pedro: With Luis in jail you should take some time to be with them. You have your man in custody. His confession should have cleared most of your open cases. Over a hundred and forty, wasn't it?

Gomez: It's not that simple.

Pedro: Yes, it is. If you don't relax and smell the roses, as they say, you're no good to anyone, not your family, not the department, not even your friends. You got the bad guy, take some time for yourself.

Gomez: You just want someone else to beat ion the court.

Pedro: Now that you mention it, how about tomorrow afternoon? We could play, then I'll take the whole family out for a nice dinner. Kill two birds with one stone.

Gomez: Next week is possible, tomorrow is not.

Maria: (offstage) Get your news here! Hot off the presses! Paper sir? Columbian killer confesses! News here! Mothers across Ecuador and Columbia breath sigh of relief! EI Loco in jail! Get your news here! Hot off the presses!

Pedro: What do you know about nursery rhymes?

Gomez: Nursery rhymes? Like "Little Boy Blue"?

Pedro: You have kids, I need to know about nursery rhymes. Specifically, rhymes that teach addition. Do you know any?

Gomez: What? Do I look like Mother Fucking Goose?

Pedro: Mother Goose?

Gomez: (laughs) You're serious? My wife says that nursery rhymes were originally designed to frighten children into proper behavior. We don't do nursery rhymes.

Lights slowly fade as the voice of a child is heard reciting the following twice:
Two plus one is three. Nothing in life is free.
Two plus two is four. That's what God is for.
Two plus three is five. No one gets out alive.

Scene Seven: Jail room is placed as in scene three. When lights come up Margaret is seen sitting in one of the chairs staring out into nothingness. She is humming a simple tune to herself and is startled as Luis is lead in to the room. She stands and holds her arms out. Luis sits rather than hug her.

Luis: How nice of you to come and visit.

Margaret: I would have come sooner but they refused to let me.

Luis: I understand.

Margaret: Luis, what is going on? The papers are saying terrible things about you. I don't know what to do.

Luis: Get on with your life, forget me and all this.

Margaret: Forget? How am I supposed to forget? I love you. Am I supposed to forget that?

Luis: You don't love me.

Margaret: We can get you out of this. I'll hire the best lawyer money can buy. They don't have enough evidence for a conviction.

Luis: I have a lawyer. They have a confession.

Margaret: She's not the best. Please, just tell me you're innocent and I'll do anything to get you out this place.

Luis: (pause) I can't tell you that. (solo pianist begins to play)

Margaret: Yes you can!

Luis: Don't you see? I can't. That wouldn't help, not now.

Margaret: What?

Luis: Listen, I'm going to ask you to do me a favor. Can you do one thing for me?

Margaret: Anything.

Luis: I want you to go to Tippling and visit someone. Just tell them you're her sister in law.

Margaret: Who am I going to see?

Luis: Her name is Maria Alftedo, my sister. Give her a message. Make sure she understands the message is from me.

Margaret: Your sister?

Luis: Tell her to visit Mother. Tell her to go the same route, she can find her. Everything is taken care of

Margaret: I don't understand.

Luis: Pretty Margaret. (touches her face) She'll understand.

Margaret: And then what? Will you let me hire a lawyer?

Luis: No, my love, no lawyer needed.

Margaret: Luis!

Luis: Don't you see? It all ends here. Made sure of that. No more blood to ruin innocence. It's all over now. Or, will be soon.

Margaret: What's all over? You're confusing me.

Luis: Deliver the message, the sooner the better. (stands) Don't visit me again. Relax and smell the roses, as they say.

Margaret: You love me!?

Luis: In a different world, I loved you. (pause) But that wasn't me. Not really me. Now, go, get as far from here as you can. Nothing he can't fix.

Margaret: (as Luis moves her towards the door) We can still fix everything?
Luis: I'm working on that. (Margaret exits and Luis faces audience, music stops)

Fade to Black

Presidents Day!

So, what WOULD I do today IF I did not have to go to work?

Suggestions welcome...

In a Different World I loved You, NOTES

This is a play that I wrote several years ago....It is based on a short news article that I read online as part of a playwriting class that I was taking. That article was all the information that I had at the time and I was fascinated with the fact that this man, this terrible monster, could have lived a life that resembled normalcy in any way. He had a girl friend, he volunteered at schools and churches, he held down a job from time to time, he is the worlds most prolific serial killer, he was the guy next door, he may get out of prison....soon.

Since the time of its original conception this play has gone through countless changes and normally comes back to its present state. It needs work, it needs a workshop, it needs a staged reading, it needs help........for so many reasons.....yet, it is good, it is almost good enough.......I just don't seem able to get it there.....YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I thought that I could publish it here, I would somehow infuse new life into a tired, old animal.

In a Different World I Loved You, Scene 4/5

Scene Four: Two young boys are seen delivering newspapers at dawn they are throwing newspapers offstage playing and laughing with each other. Luis is seen entering putting on a monks robes.

Jose: Don't run so fast, I can't keep up.

Pablo: If we hurry I'll have time to meet Mary before Church. She has the prettiest eyes in all the world. I've almost saved up enough to get her a rosary for Christmas.

Jose: Mary Shamary! I want one of those bikes with big baskets in front and back. A red one. We could deliver papers just like (tries to snap fingers) that, with my new bike.

Pablo: We can deliver papers just like (mimics Jose snapping) by walking.

Jose: You know, real fast. (pause) Give you more time to look at Mary before Mass. I don't understand you. Are you ever going to talk to her?

Pablo: As soon as I save up enough money for that rosary. Now, lets get going. (Luis places himself in front of boys, causing Pablo to run into him and fall down) I'm sorry. Oh, hello Padre'. (boys begin picking up dropped papers) Will you be coming back to the school again this week?

Luis: I'm afraid not. What are the two of you doing out this early? Oh, I see, delivering the daily news are you? Would you do me a little favor? I have a few things in my room that need delivered to Ms. Mendex at the school Monday morning and was hoping you could be my delivery boy, or boys. I'm afraid I will be leaving town for a few days and will be unable to deliver them myself.

Jose: We deliver papers, sure, why not?

Luis: Are you sure your mother won't miss you if you're a few minutes late? I just live over the butcher shop down the road. Do you see it? Go up the stairs and knock on my door. I'll have the letter ready in a few minutes.

Pablo: Sure, we'll finish with these and stop there on our way home. Glad to be in the service of God, Padre'.

Pablo and Jose exit still throwing papers off stage as Luis watches them leave.

Scene five: Luis enters his apartment above the butcher shop. Margaret is standing beside the coffee pot watching it brew. She is dressed in a nurses uniform. She is humming to herself Luis enters throwing Monk's robes and walks toward Margaret.

Margaret: Oh, good morning darling. (they hug, she kisses Luis on cheek) How was the audition?

Luis: Well, there were three men and one woman (kisses her) all sitting behind the longest table ever known to man and after my monologue they all just stared at me as if they didn't even see me. I really thought I'd blown it when the woman suddenly comes to life and says: (imitating a woman's voice) "Do you think, Mr. Vi, that you could kill someone with a smile on your face? We're looking for someone who can lose his mind without losing control." Do you know what I told her?

Margaret: (playing with his hair) That you lost your mind when you were a little boy and have been looking for it ever since?

Luis: No, not exactly. What I told her was that I could do it, if it meant that I could get the woman of my dreams to finally agree to marry me and live happily ever after.

Margaret: Well, I hope you're audition was better than that line. (they hug) How long will you be gone if you get this job?

Luis: You didn't let me finish. So, then she handed me another monologue, really strange stuff. When I was finished and looked up all four of them, all four, were smiling so much I thought I was watching a toothpaste commercial.

Margaret: How long?

Luis: The shoot is supposed to be in Ecuador with a two-week schedule. I think they start shooting around the first ofthe month. So, if things go well, I should be home in plenty of time for Christmas.

Margaret: Then can we, you know, find someplace better to live with the New Year? (a more passionate kiss) I know you're attached to this little room, but I can hardly stand the smell anymore.
Luis: Yes, my dear, I was out looking just the other day. That "smell" is all your imagination. I'm telling you things are really looking up. Did John, from down stairs, ever pick up those rolls of plastic?

Margaret: Not unless he did it while I wasn't here. I think they're still in the hall closet. Why can't he store that junk in the shop? Sometimes I feel like I live in a butcher shop, not above one.

Luis: I promise, as soon as I get a few more jobs we are out of here. Don't you believe in me?

Margaret: Now (kissing him again) I really must go before I'm late for work. (Pours coffee into large cup with lid and begins to exit with a smile on her face. At the door she pauses and looks back at Luis) Have a wonderful day darling. I really do love you.

Luis: Off to work now, before you're late. I'll fix something special for dinner tonight. How does that sound? A pre-celebration feast.

Margaret: Pre-celebration?

Luis: I have a feeling I am on the fast track to stardom. One way or another. Get, you still need that job for a few more weeks.

Margaret: See you at dinner. (she closes the door and exits)

(Luis bolts the door and runs to the closet. When he returns he begins spreading sheets of plastic on the living room floor. All this time he is talking to himself)
Luis: Yes, darling. I know darling. Sure thing darling. As soon as you're rich I'll marry you. (Lifts couch and shoves end of plastic under when he stands something about his face has changed) Bad boy. Never do anything right. Don't make a mess on my floor. teach you to make a mess. (goes into kitchen area, rummaging through drawers) Two plus two is four, that's what God is for. (taking our several cutting and slicing devices and placing them on the counter.) Give me that, what do you think you're doing? Bad boy, very bad boy. Two plus two is four, that's what God is for. (taking knives into living area) Late, not good to be late, people get angry when little boys are late. (shoves knives under couch and sits down, beginning to rock) Can't do this anymore... two plus two is four, that's what God is for. Two plus two is four, that's what God is for.

A door slams offstage and we hear foot steps coming up the stairs. Luis gets up and searches for his robes. Finally finds them and frantically puts them on.
Luis: Two plus two is four, that's what God is for. Steady, nothing to worry about. Just a couple of little boys. Two little boys, just like the others.

The sound of the boys coming upstairs stops and we hear them giggle and wrestle for a moment.

Jose: Hey, stop that, give it back, it's mine. If you don't I'll tell Mary you're in love with her.
Luis jerks open door with a smile on his face.

Luis: Are you being bad little boys? Come in, I'll be ready for you in just a moment.

Fade to Black.

Road Trip!

We had to go somewhere, ol' brother of mine and I....................the timing was perfect: no kids, no money, no time....perfect for a spur of the moment road trip! Brings back memories of days gone by when we were all younger, just do it, go, life is too short, live everything to its fullest, get in the car and go baby, not a care in the world.

Where to go? We wanted someplace with history, old buildings, time honored traditions, something we could really sink our teeth into......many destinations were discussed and tossed, we needed something close, not too close, most of all we wanted history......Burnsville, North Carolina, where else? This little town holds some of our fondest memories of childhood.

Burnsville is where we learned about family, unconditional love, the power of laughter and so much more. Honestly, this is one of the first places I ever remember feeling truly safe, sheltered and wholly alive in a manner that can not truly be described and must be felt to be honored. There was a purity to our visits with family there, as if they said "This is life, it may not be a story book but, we, we are going to live it, we are going to cherish every passing moment, the hard work will be done and the laughter will always continue."

So we went. Threw some essentials into the back pack and left.

Yes, Hong Kong Dou Dou is an essential!

My favorite part about the spur of the moment road trip has to be the many unintended or unforeseen benefits that come from such adventures. When you have an idea of what is ahead and can still remain open to whatever may come, no matter what that may be:


Even if what may come just happens to be bears and boots, you just have to open your eyes to the possibilities and truly see. I had to be quick and stealthy with the camera at this gas station, for I had the feeling, the inner awareness, that the proprietors would not have appreciated my taking pictures, while giggling uncontrollably, of what, I can only assume, was something that just never struck them as strange or funny. Bears and boots my friends a nice combination if I have ever seen one, especially at a gas station!

So this next picture should come as no surprise to anyone, here is the art hanging on the ladies room wall:
I really wanted to see what was in the mens bathroom after taking this picture............the door was locked and I did not have the key.....leave it to your imagination.

More later, now I am tired.

Where the will is declining, the action stop.