A MONSTER'S CHOICE
The stage is devoid of props. A lone figure, Marcus, stands in a spotlight at centre-front of the stage. He appears nervous as he looks out at the audience, taking in their attention. He looks to ground, then back to the audience.
MARCUS
Hi, I’m Marcus, and...
(He pauses for a moment, then regains his composure.)
Sorry, I’m a little nervous. This is my first time here. I’m Marcus,
and I’m a vampire. It’s been two nights since my last drink (pause) of blood.
The mere mention of blood causes Marcus to tense up.
MARCUS
The sweet red elixir. The invigorating life tonic. How I hunger for thee.
Just as he is about to lose it, Marcus rubs his face hard with his right hand and again takes a moment to regain his composure.
MARCUS
Before then, it had been a week. Oh, I tried to hard.
I resisted every bloodthirsty urge I had. But then I broke.
I broke because of her...
The stage lights come up a little as a Jane, a young woman, begins walking from stage-left. She walks slowly, in a diagonal direction, so that she will eventually be passing just behind Marcus.
MARCUS
She wore a red dress. She carried a red purse. Red lipstick coated her lips.
She was beautiful, and everything about her reminded me of blood.
At first, I thought I was in love. I spoke to her.
By now, Jane is just behind Marcus, still walking. He turns to her.
MARCUS
Hi.
Jane stops.
JANE
Oh. Hi.
Marcus’ pupils focus on her lips for a brief moment before he looks into her eyes.
MARCUS
I couldn’t help but notice you.
A weird silence fills the air.
JANE
Right.
Marcus shakes his head, embarrassed.
MARCUS
Sorry. That must have sounded weird.
Jane chuckles lightly, sweetly.
JANE
Just a little.
MARCUS
Oh.
Marcus eyes the ground for a moment, feeling like an idiot. Eventually he summons the courage to look back into Jane’s eyes.
MARCUS
Keep walking if you want to ignore me.
We can pretend that didn’t happen.
Jane smiles.
JANE
No, it’s okay.
Pause.
JANE
So, what are you up to tonight?
MARCUS
Not much, actually. Just decided I had to get out of the house. Yourself?
JANE
Same thing, really. I’m trying to avoid my house mate.
I think I heard him masturbating last night, and this
morning at breakfast I got the feeling he knew I’d heard.
MARCUS
Wow. That’s uncomfortable.
Again, Jane chuckles.
JANE
Tell me about it.
The two don’t say anything as they stare at each other for a moment. A fond smile appears on Jane’s face. She puts her hand out for a handshake.
JANE
I’m Jane.
Marcus looks at her hand, then puts his own out to shake it.
MARCUS
I’m Marcus.
They shake hands. Jane goes to release the shake, but Marcus won’t let her. She tries again, with the same result. Jane eyes Marcus nervously as he stares at her dress, then her lips. Suddenly, he pulls her neck to his mouth and viciously bites her. Jane screams and tries to resist, but he fights her down to the ground and maintains the bite. When finished, he gets up and turns to the audience. Jane lays lifeless behind him.
MARCUS
She tasted like an orgasm. I spent the next five hours licking
all around my mouth and teeth, just to make sure I experienced
every last of blood I’d taken. I would have felt guilty if it hadn’t
been so perfect.
He turns and looks at her before facing the audience again.
MARCUS
But as I watched her unconscious body, knowing that I’d
changed her life forever, I was reminded oh too much of why
I’d been stopping myself from doing this. She was going to
wake with the same addiction I had. I’d taken her against her
will and turned her into the exact same thing I was. I’d passed
my curse onto her, and I hated myself for it.
Marcus breathes in heavily.
MARCUS
And that’s why I’m here. I don’t want to be a monster.
I don’t want to force this hell on anyone else, but I just
don’t know how to stop myself. Every neck I see... I’m drawn to it.
My fangs protrude, my adrenaline races and I... I just... I just... AH!
Marcus screams a painful, tortured scream and runs to an actor who is seated in the front row of the audience and pulls her onto stage. He takes her to ground and bites her as she screams hysterically. Eventually her screams die down and she too is unconscious. Marcus stands over her, breathing heavily. He holds his head with both hands and drops to his knees.
MARCUS
I’m sorry. I’m... sorry.
The house lights cut to black. This is the end.
Tell Corey what you thought of this short play in the guestbook.
View My Guestbook
Sign My Guestbook