Personae (16 page)

NESTOR: Hear that? (
the
Drums
have
resumed
)

This isn’t over, stand so we can at least have the dignity that comes with a defiant end.

(
Clarissa
and
Nestor
stand
together
as
the
noise
of
the
Drums
achieve
crescendo
until
Adam
walks
in,
blood
covering
his
chest
and
the
point
of
his
spear,
and
the
Drums
cease.
)

CLARISSA: Holy…

NESTOR: Hell.

CLARISSA: (
noticing
the
blood
and
moving
toward
Adam
)

You’re injured!

NESTOR: Stop! That’s not his blood!

CLARISSA: What?

NESTOR: Not his blood. Yet!

ADAM: He’s right.

(
Nestor
raises
the
gun
at
Adam.
)

CLARISSA: Who’s then?

ADAM: Linda. It’s Linda’s blood.

(
Nestor
cocks
the
gun.
)

NESTOR: Now let’s see what a mixture of yours and hers looks like.

ADAM: Wait. It was you two who unfeelingly sent her out there to her death. You think I wanted this?

NESTOR: Yes.

ADAM: It’s her blood but I didn’t spill it. I almost died trying to protect her.

NESTOR: You look quite lively.

ADAM: I can explain.

NESTOR: Please, explain. But first I’m going to kill you just in case.

CLARISSA: Let him explain Nestor, we need to know what happened!

NESTOR: Fine, he puts down the spear and we can discuss it.

ADAM: When I put down this spear it’s going to be into your heaving chest for what you did to Linda.

NESTOR: Or we can (
he
shoots
Adam
in
the
chest
) proceed differently.

CLARISSA: What did you do? What if he was telling the truth?

NESTOR: He wasn’t, don’t go near him.

(
Clarissa
runs
over
to
Adam,
drops
to
her
knees,
and
begins
to
attend
to
him.
)

CLARISSA: He’s still alive.

NESTOR: Don’t grant him last words.

CLARISSA: Why not? That’s his right.

ADAM: (
struggling
) Because he doesn’t want me to pronounce what he did.

CLARISSA: Which is what? What did he do?

(
Adam’s
fighting
but
can’t
form
the
words.
Nestor
walks
over
to
them.
)

NESTOR: Stand clear, I need to finish this.

CLARISSA: No chance.

(
She
stands
to
turn
Nestor
and
his
gun
away
from
Adam.
)

NESTOR: I believe it’s pronounced… gui—

CLARISSA: What?

(
Nestor
turns
to
reveal
that
Adam’s
spear
is
sticking
out
of
his
back.
He
drops
to
his
knees.
He
turns
and
raises
his
hand
to
shoot
Adam
but
when
he
squeezes
his
hand
he
discovers
it
is
empty
as
Clarissa
has
taken
the
gun
from
him.
)

NESTOR: You too Clarissa?

CLARISSA: Me too what Nestor? I don’t know what to think anymore. What are we up to by now, the old quadruple cross?

(
Drums
)

NESTOR: What more do you need? He killed Linda.

ADAM: Not true.

CLARISSA: Then who did?

ADAM: He did.

CLARISSA: He was here with me. Who literally killed her?

ADAM: You don’t understand.

CLARISSA: Make me understand! In the plainest language possible explain how Linda came to her end and why I should disbelieve the mountain of circumstantial evidence against you.

ADAM: It’s a long story. In the beginning…

CLARISSA: No!

NESTOR: See? Only the guilty disseminate. The truth is pithy and direct.

(
Linda
enters
haltingly,
covered
in
blood.
)

LINDA: What would you know of truth?

(
Drums
)

CLARISSA: Linda!

ADAM: No! I watched her die! Address her ghost at your peril.

(
Clarissa
approaches
with
cautious
awe.
)

CLARISSA: But what could be more consoling than a ghost? Proof, as it is, of human transcendence and meaning.

ADAM: Credit not its words though, as death terminates all responsibility to the living and their notion of truth.

LINDA: I know nothing of the dead as you know nothing of that plaything but if you wish to join them you’ll continue disparaging my veracity.

NESTOR: If you still breathe then breathe to us what happened out there.

LINDA: You would have me deliver such a coveted gift without proper recompense?

CLARISSA: Linda what on earth are you talking about? What happened?

(
Linda
collapses.
Clarissa
moves
toward
her
but
Linda
raises
her
hand
to
stop
her.
)

LINDA: No! Don’t deprive me of this. What remaining strength I have will be used in reaching my beloved.

(
She
crawls
to
the
area
where
Adam
and
Nestor
are
lying.
)

And only his ears will hear the solution to this puzzle, that mystery and mystique shall continue to permeate this place, though he will of course be free to disclose it freely.

(
She
continues
crawling
to
a
point
between
them
but
is
slowing
greatly.
)

CLARISSA: You won’t make it, let me help you.

(
Drums
)

LINDA: No. Must…

CLARISSA: Tell me then. Tell me what to do if left alone.

LINDA: I have no idea but if a rope comes down…

CLARISSA: What? If a rope comes down what?

ADAM: It’s a rescue line, climb up it to safety.

NESTOR: No! It’s a noose, don’t touch it!

CLARISSA: Which Linda, which is it?

LINDA: Maybe use it to bind me to my love.

(
She
appears
to
reach
out
to
Nestor
only
to,
at
the
last
second,
change
direction
and
place
her
hand
on
Adam’s
chest
warmly.
After
resting
her
hand
there
a
moment
she
suddenly
presses
down
harshly
on
the
gunshot
wound.
Adam
exerts
a
final
convulsion
and
dies.
)