Wasteland

Wasteland

By Kiernan Angley

Lights up. We appear to be in a fairly

traditional suburban home. There is living room

furniture set up down-stage center and what

appears to be a front door stage-right. Suddenly

the door flies open and GEORGE rushes in with a

baseball bat. Somewhere off stage we hear:

TODD

I don’t know, man. I don’t know. I don’t know. 
I don’t know.

GEORGE

Come on, come on! Fuck! We’re clear! Fuck!

TODD is coming in dragging PAUL with him. GEORGE

is frantically running around the stage checking

behind and under things and then runs of stage

left for a bit.

TODD

Oh my God dude. Ohmigodohmigod.

TODD has returned back to the living room.

GEORGE

Shut the fuck up, get in here, and close the door!

TODD drops PAUL’s body onto the ground and shuts

the door fast, locking and latching everything

before slumping to the ground his back against the

door.

TODD

What are we going to do man? Are you sure we’re clear

in here?

GEORGE has finished checking out the house and is

looking out a "window" near the door down stage

right.

GEORGE

(Less angry now)

Yeah, I...I checked everything out we should be

good. Everything’s locked up. Doesn’t seem to be a

back-door or nothin’ so we got lucky. I think.

How...how is he?

TODD

(Looks to PAUL)

Aw Hell man.

Crosses to check on him

TODD(con't)

I don’t know he...

Breathing slower, calming down

He’s pretty beat up. I mean, it’s pretty nasty looking

but...it doesn’t look like anything really

serious. Lots of scrapes and bruises y’know but

nothing like...life threatening.

GEORGE

Dude, he hit the pavement pretty hard. He might have

like, a concussion or something.

TODD

Yeah. He might. I won’t really be able to tell unt-

Suddenly the front door begins to shake as it is

repeatedly banged upon by the other side. Not

knocking as much as it sounds like someone

attempting to push through rather than open door.

TODD jumps but covers his mouth. GEORGE brings

his finger to his lips and slowly creeps to the

door looking out the peephole. He visibly tenses

up but tries to keep his cool. He waits for the

banging to stop which it soon does.

A pause.

GEORGE

It...it was just one of them. We should be fine.

TODD

Fuck man, what are we going to do?

GEORGE

I don’t fucking know! Ok? I just...I don’t fucking

know.

He slumps to the ground much as TODD did at the

beginning. Now subdued.

A long pause and GEORGE begins to break down

TODD crosses over to his friend and puts a hand on

his shoulder.

TODD

Hey man, we’re alright we all made it.

GEORGE stares up angrily for a second before

violently pushing TODD back.

TODD

Jesus! What the Hell man?!

GEORGE just keeps staring angrily for a bit.

TODD

Oh jeez. I’m...sorry you know that’s not what I

meant. I didn’t even think about that. I’m sorry.

GEORGE glares for a bit more, sighs and then nods.

GEORGE

No. It’s alright...you’re right. I should be glad

that we were able to even get out of there at all. And

Paul man...jeez...I mean...........FUCK.

TODD

What?

GEORGE

Oh my God, oh my God Todd. What are we going to tell

Paul?

TODD

Tell Paul? About/(what?)

GEORGE

Amber.

A moment of realization before TODD too slips back

to sit by the door

TODD

Oh Christ.

GEORGE

Maybe...maybe he won’t wake up.

TODD

Dude! Why would you even say something like

that? Look...we did the best we could alright? Like

you said, we’re lucky we even got out of there.

GEORGE

But maybe I could have

TODD

What? Done something different?

He gets up and crosses to PAUL

Help me get him onto that couch.

GEORGE gets up and crosses to PAUL. Together they

lift him and gently lay him out on the

couch. GEORGE goes and sits in one of the chairs

in the room.

After a pause:

TODD(con't)

Look. From what you said, you reacted faster than

anyone else. As soon as those...

They look at the front door for a moment before he

can manage the will.

...things started showing up. Most people panicked,

most people just froze up in place, and those people

are dead now. You? You grabbed Amber, pulled her into

the house, and grabbed a fucking baseball bat.

GEORGE

But Paul...

TODD

He’s a big boy. He took care of himself. He’s still

alive isn’t he?

Sighs and crosses to GEORGE

Look. He’s the one who called me right? Told me to,

"Get my ass over there." You did what you had to do,

and he did what he had to do. If he hadn’t we all

might not be here. Amber...

GEORGE suddenly surges up

GEORGE

I told her to fucking stay put! I told her to fucking

stay right there and I’d be right back. And what did

she do? Huh? She went and got herself killed!

TODD

She went looking for her brother.

A beat.

She knew Paul was still out there and she was

frightened. With everything that was going on there

wasn’t really anything to say that you were coming

back. But family? Man, she had to know about her

family.

PAUL begins to groan on the couch

GEORGE

Paul?!

They both quickly cross to him.

PAUL

Whas...sappening? Where..

GEORGE

Shh, shh, shh. We’re alright. We’re safe. Todd came,

we got in his car. We’re safe now.

PAUL

You weren’t at the party.

GEORGE backs up a litte. PAUL hasn’t broken eye

contact with him. TODD laughs.

TODD

I know man, I know. Though I do have to say I was a

little disappointed when I showed up. Your parties are

a little crazier than that usually.

A pause, then they laugh.

PAUL starts coughing.

TODD

Why don’t you take’er easy there cowboy. You got

pretty roughed up back there.

GEORGE

Yeah man how many of them did you get again? Not

saying I’m keeping count or anything. Just...I think I

might have got a few more than you did.

PAUL chuckles weakly.

PAUL

What? You and your skinny white ass? You had it

easy. They didn’t want anything to do with your bland,

bony-ass body, they wanted a little Latin spice.

He begins coughing roughly again. He’s more aware

now, and he begins looking around.

Hey...where’s...where’s Amber.

Silence.

GEORGE falls back a little. TODD coaxes PAUL’s

head back down.

TODD

Amber...Amber didn’t make it man.

PAUL crumbles at this.

PAUL

She...what?

TODD

She didn’t make it. George grabbed her and hid her

down in your basement. When we went back to get

her...she...she wasn’t there.

PAUL

But that doesn’t mean

that she’s dead! She

might be out there...

He is struggling to sit up. TODD pushes him back

down.

...she!

TODD

No! Paul! We...saw

her. Again. When

we were running

to get back to my

car. She....

He has to steady himself again.

Look man. They got her, alright? And really. It’s

best that you don’t remember any of it.

PAUL

I think I’m gonna be sick. Help me up.

They help prop him into a sitting position. There

is long awkward silence. GEORGE is unsure what to

do.

TODD

Hey, why don’t you go check out to see if there’s any

food in the kitchen?

GEORGE is thankful to have something to do and

exits.

TODD(con't)

Hey man, I don’t know if it means anything but...I know

George really did his best to keep her

safe. Apparently kicked some ass too while he was at

it.

PAUL looks strangely at TODD for a moment, almost

bemusedly. GEORGE comes back in with various

items: bread, a large knife, peanut butter.

GEORGE

They’ve got some bread and stuff back there. Y’know

pretty basic but should hold us for awhile.

PAUL

Todd, I’m still feeling pretty off. Do you know if

there’s anything here you can use to help me out?

GEORGE

I think they’ve got something like a medicine cabinet

in the bathroom past the kitchen.

TODD

I’ll go have a look.

TODD exits. There is silence. GEORGE begins

making some peanut butter sandwiches made all the

more awkward by the size and sharpness of the

knife he had found. PAUL simply stares.

PAUL

So...you were some sort of badass back there I hear?

GEORGE

Uh...yeah...I guess so. I mean what else could you do?

PAUL

Die...I guess.

There’s an uncomfortable silence.

GEORGE

Look man...about Amber I-

PAUL

Shut up. Just shut up. Ok? I don’t know what kind of

a story you’ve been spinning here while I was out. But

don’t you dare think you can peddle your bullshit to me

man. I’ve been dealing with it for years.

GEORGE

Bullshit? What the hell/ (are you talking about man?)

PAUL

I SAID SHUT UP! Dammit George! Toddy-boy might not

see you for who you are but I do. I always have. He

eats up your bullshit stories but I can always smell

’em from a mile away.

GEORGE

Paul...seriously man I don’t know what you’re talking

about.

PAUL

Amber.

Silence.

GEORGE

What about her?

PAUL

See. Todd seems to be under some impression that you

uh, rescued her? Found her or something I don’t know.

GEORGE

What the...what the fuck are you trying to say

man? You weren’t there you don’t know what happened.

PAUL

I know you were screwing her.

GEORGE just stares caught in the headlights.

Yeah. Known about it practically since day one. And

you know what? I didn’t fucking care. Because you

were my friend. You know what I did fucking care

about? The fact that you thought you had to sneak

behind my back to do it. That you couldn’t man up and

tell me about it.

GEORGE

I didn’t...

PAUL

No. Just...stop man alright? I know your story is

bullshit because, blow to the head or not? You weren’t

at the party when shit went down. I remember because I

remember Amber was telling me how worried she was about

you and where you might be. Said you called her and

told her to wait up in her room.

Pause.

Now you’re going to stop being a pussy, you’re going to

tell me what really happened tonight. And it better be

good.

Silence.

GEORGE

Fuck off.

Another pause.

PAUL

Excuse me?

GEORGE

You heard me. Fuck. Off. I’m sick of this. You

telling me what to do. Bad-mouthing me, calling me

names and shit. Same fucking thing when we were little

kids. I would think maybe college would’ve changed

that. But no, you’re still the same punk playing

big-dick calling me pussy.

PAUL rises

PAUL

Fine. You think I’m wrong? Because I think anyone who

nails his friend’s sister when he’s away at college and

doesn’t say shit. Is. A. Pussy.

GEORGE explodes and charges PAUL hitting low and

knocking him down to the floor. PAUL rolls him

over and gets a hit in before GEORGE kicks him

back and jumps to his feet. TODD rushes in and

sees the two fighting and looks horrified. He

rushes between them and is pushed aside by

PAUL. He then picks up the baseball bat from

earlier and jumps between them gesturing to stop,

when he sees that they won’t he swings suddenly

and hits GEORGE in the stomach hard. GEORGE

crumples over winded. PAUL suddenly turns on TODD

in disbelief before TODD tackles him

quickly. PAUL is ready to fight back but TODD

covers PAUL’s mouth with one hand and slowly

brings a shaking finger up to his mouth. He is

shaking all over in fact. PAUL stares up

questioningly and raises his hands to show he

won’t fight back. TODD removes his hand and gets

off PAUL slowly. PAUL is confused but steadily

gets up.

GEORGE

Dude what the-

TODD

SH!

They all stand silently for a few

moments. Nothing. Then far off in the distance

they hear:

AMBER

George?

Paul and George straighten up instantly.

PAUL

Amber?

He goes for the door but TODD jumps in the way

blocking it with his body.

PAUL

Todd, man, get the Hell out of the way.

TODD shakes his head.

GEORGE

Todd. Move. Now.

AMBER

George? Where are you?

PAUL

I am getting through that door no matter what, so you

can make this easy on yourself or I can show you the

right way to use that baseball bat on someone.

TODD is terrified but sees the look in PAUL’s

eyes. Pleadingly he brings his finger up to his

lips again and then points up to the peep hole

behind him. Slowly he moves away from the

door. PAUL and GEORGE look at each other confused

and then move over. First PAUL looks through the

hole.

PAUL (con't)

Holy Christ.

TODD

(Pleadingly)

Shhhhhhhh.

GEORGE goes to look next and barely can stifle the

short scream that comes from his mouth as he falls

back away from the door.

AMBER

Please...George...I know you’re

here...somewhere...please...help me.

GEORGE starts to silently sob. TODD gestures to

PAUL to turn the lights out. PAUL nods and slowly

tries to move to where a switch would be and flips

the lights. They all stand paralyzed for a few

moments. Eventually the voice starts to get

further and further away. After some time they

all breathe a sigh of relief. PAUL flips the

lights back on. Suddenly the door starts to

violently shake as it sounds like something is

repeatedly and urgently banging against it.  

AMBER speaks again from the other side but this time her

voice is distorted and inhuman.

AMBER

Here?! Is it in here?! George?! Help me

please! Please come help me! Let me in please!

GEORGE slowly gets to his feet and moves for the

door.

TODD

Dammit George no! It’s not her!

GEORGE stops and picks up the baseball bat

slowly. Feeling its weight in his hand. He

slowly unlocks the door and puts a hand on the

door knob.

GEORGE

I know.

He opens the door and steps outside. There is

noise. Cracking. Screaming. Inhuman

screaming. Then just wet sounds as something is

struck over and over again.

The door knob slowly turns again and GEORGE comes

back into the room splattered with gore. He is

stoic. The others aren’t sure what to do. GEORGE

reaches into a pocket and pulls something out

which he throws at PAUL. A ring case. PAUL

stares at it. GEORGE moves across the room

stripping his filthy jacket off and sits down at

his chair from before and stares at the

sandwiches.

GEORGE (con't)

You wanted to know why I wasn’t at the party

tonight? Why I wasn’t actually there to protect

her? Well...there you go.

PAUL

George...man...this is...

GEORGE

I was waiting till today. I knew I’d been a shit for

not telling you and I figured since you were having

this big coming-home graduation party thing

y’know? Everyone was going to be there. You, your

’rents, cousins, everyone y’know? I was going to make

a big show of it. I’d been saving up for

like...months...and finally I had enough today to go

get it.

PAUL

Oh geez. George I’m...

GEORGE

Don’t worry about it. S’nothing. I just...I really

loved her man. I wanted you to know that. That it

wasn’t me using her or nothing. I...

He starts to break down now. The weight of the

entire night finally breaking in.

PAUL

I know man. She...

A pause.

She told me.

GEORGE looks up.

GEORGE

What?

PAUL smiles a little.

PAUL

Yeah. Told me how you guys had been. Knew how I’d

take it, tried to convince me how good a guy you

were. I told her she was wrong but she knew I was just

being the big brother.

Slight pause.

PAUL (con't)

She really loved you too.

Pause again.

PAUL punches him in the arm. GEORGE starts at

this and reaches for the bat instinctively but

PAUL just smiles.

PAUL (con't)

That’s for nailing my sister.

GEORGE relaxes a little and smiles just a bit.

TODD

Really touching guys. Seriously I think I have a

boner.

GEORGE and PAUL exchange a glance.

GEORGE

Sounds about right.

PAUL

Yeah we always assumed as much.

TODD

Oh for Christ’s sake.

PAUL

Hey it’s ok man we accept you for you are.

GEORGE

Even if it is a big gay smarty person.

TODD

I hate both of you.

They all are in better spirits and arrange

themselves on the furniture. Eventually GEORGE

starts handing out sandwiches and/or making ones

for those he didn’t make earlier and they begin

eating.

There is a knocking at the door. They all freeze

up but look at each other confusedly. Several

gestures are made back and forth about what to do,

eventually though:

TODD (con't)

Um...who is it?

Silence.

AMBER

We want to negotiate.

More gestures rapidly shot across that ends with

TODD getting smacked on the head.

TODD

Um...no thank you.

AMBER

Very well.

Silence.

Then the door suddenly begins banging

again. Noises are heard this

time. Angrier. There is the sound of glass

breaking somewhere on the opposite side of the

stage where the kitchen has been.

The group stands up suddenly. They go

back-to-back, eyes on the various sides that

anyone can come from. TODD grabs the large knife

quickly, GEORGE goes for the bat, PAUL simply

remains alert eyes watchful.

TODD

So uh...exactly what have you guys been doing to stop

these things?

PAUL and GEORGE exchange a glance.

PAUL

Well um...

GEORGE

I just kind of hit them till they stop moving.

A pause.

PAUL

Yeah, pretty much that.

Another pause as TODD stares wondering if they’re

serious.

They are.

TODD

Well. Alright then.

The banging is more violent now. Noises are

coming off from the other side of the

stage. Movement, breathing, things falling and

breaking.

TODD(con't)

I uh...I just wanted to say...

GEORGE

Oh come on man. Don’t start getting all touchy and

stuff with us now.

TODD

No, I just wanted to say why I didn’t come to the party

tonight...

A bit of silence.

PAUL

Yeah?

TODD

Because whenever I end up hanging out with you guys for

too long I end up doing stupid stuff and almost getting

myself killed.

GEORGE

(Seriously)

Geez, lighten up man, it’s not like it’s the end of the

world or anything.

TODD just stares for a moment.

TODD

You just say the most adorable things sometimes.

PAUL snickers a bit.

GEORGE

Dude...you’re a tool.

TODD

I was just going to say...I’m glad you guys haven’t

changed.

They all smile. The door is getting heavy abuse

now and begins to splinter. Despite everything,

they’re frightened.

GEORGE looks to his hands and blood splattered

bat.

GEORGE

No...there isn’t anything in life, that ever stays the

same.

Blackout. The sound of the door finally being

blasted off it’s hinges is heard. Lots of

noise. Fighting. Screaming, someone shouts the

other’s name. Finally the sickly sound of

something wet moving about the space, 

ended with a large crack and then silence.