Cast of Characters Aaron: Student body president of an Ivy League college. Blonde haired, attractive. Ericke: Aaron's roommate. Similarly attractive, dark hair, glasses. Ian Rosen: An older graduate student, plain looking. Valerie Kimball: A sweet, blonde high school senior. Gertrude: An older woman, brunette. Kane: A distinguished member of the University faculty. Scene The action takes place in and around an anonymous Ivy League University. Scenery and furniture is minimal. AARON, ERICKE, GERTRUDE and KANE are all well-dressed. IAN and VALERIE are more casual. The scenes are divided by blackouts, during which the characters add or remove a piece of clothing to signify a time change. Time The events in the play take place between October 18 and the present, April 3. Proem Time Yesterday, the third day of April. 3 p.m. AARON Before we proceed any further, hear me speak. KANE (v.o.) (A low, booming voice.) Speak, speak. AARON I stand here committed to revealing the truth of the matter at hand. And although I have been very forthright in revealing these truths, my initial position has not changed. I say to you all, here, now, that I will enter the kingdom of God both cleansed and free of sin. KANE You have been found guilty of two counts of first degree murder. AARON This is true. KANE These murders were intentional, premeditated and malicious. AARON Again, this is true. KANE Under the laws of this great state, on this day, April the third, you are hereby sentenced to death by electrocution. AARON I have been cleansed by the Lord our Savior. The truth in his words has saved me. KANE Do you have anything further to say? AARON I hope the court will respect the wishes of my family and release my body to my grandmother who will, in turn, organize a proper memorial. KANE We hope that God will have mercy on your soul. AARON I suspect He will. (Blackout.) Scene 1 Time October 18, the previous year. AARON Okay, let's go through this one more time. ERICKE Must you? AARON Yes. Yes. Cheating is a fine art, my friend. It must be meticulously planned out in such a manner that no one will find out the truth. ERICKE No one will find out the truth, Aaron. AARON You mustn't underestimate our superiors here at the college, Ericke. ERICKE Okay okay. Well then, go through it once more. AARON Alright. With a little help from our poor, financially obligated friend Ian, our midterm in English 614 will be a breeze. ERICKE Yes. And how much exactly will we be paying him this time? AARON Ah, poor Ian. From what I understand, his mother has lost her job again. This is good for us because Ian, who is financially obligated to the University, is behind on his payments. ERICKE And we will be able to help him with this difficulty? AARON Naturally. ERICKE How much? AARON We've agreed upon three hundred dollars--about half of what he owes the University for next month's November payment. ERICKE His poor mother. She's once again unemployed? AARON Yes. The woman can't keep a job. Ian's told me the situation in quite explicit detail. ERICKE Do tell. Do tell. AARON Well, when Ian was born, his mother was single and alone. She worked as a waitress in a local diner while Ian spent his childhood at the daycare of the local YMCA. ERICKE Doomed from the start. AARON Exactly right. The mother was on welfare for Ian's entire childhood. She drifted from job to job on minimum wage. Somehow, after Ian graduated high school, he managed to make it into the University on scholarship. ERICKE What a dreadful story. AARON It gets even more pathetic. ERICKE Go on. Go on. AARON The University pays for his tuition, but Ian must, in return, make payments of about six hundred dollars every month to cover housing and meals. ERICKE That's absolutely dreadful. AARON So it is, with great reluctance, that Ian takes us up on our offers, and accepts our payments. Without them, he could not continue studying here. ERICKE Lucky for us. AARON Indeed. ERICKE I never knew the extent of his situation. I always assumed he just needed the money for extra curricular things--clothes, recreation, et cetera. AARON I, too, never realized the magnitude of his problem until he confided in me just one week ago. ERICKE It's a sad case. AARON Yes. In any event, Ian has agreed to supply us with the answers to the multiple choice midterm in English 614. ERICKE Really? AARON Yes. He works as a teaching assistant right next door to our professor. From what I understand, he is able to get into the office at night and extract the mid term files from our professor's computer. ERICKE Splendid. AARON And we will be able to ace the exam without even bothering to read the text. ERICKE Oh, what will I do with the extra time? AARON The possibilities are endless. ERICKE Yes. We're lucky the professor didn't decide to give us an essay exam on Coriolanus. AARON The truth of the matter is, he thought about it. But the class voted against it. ERICKE Ah yes. AARON Anyway, Ian should have the answers to us by tomorrow morning--just in time for the midterm on Thursday. ERICKE Excellent. AARON So what are your plans for today? ERICKE Very little. I'm staying in, I think. I've got to get some sleep. I stayed up last night and didn't get to bed. AARON Got a case of insomnia, there? ERICKE Or something. And what about you? AARON I've got a date with Valerie. ERICKE And who is Valerie? AARON The professor's daughter. ERICKE No! AARON Yes. ERICKE You're asking for trouble, Aaron. AARON True. ERICKE That girl can't be more than eighteen years old! AARON She's seventeen and a senior in high school. ERICKE Well, be careful. If the professor ever knew that you-- AARON He won't find out. We're being very discreet. We're meeting at a coffee shop across town. ERICKE The professor's daughter, eh? Have you lowered your standards? Have you forgotten that family is the latest generation in a long line of poor white trash? AARON I'm quite aware, yes, Ericke. But I'm drawn to her--to Valerie. She's different. I don't know--she's mature and--sophisticated. ERICKE You have fun, then. Sleep beckons. AARON I'll catch you later. (AARON exits. KANE enters.) KANE Ericke, forgive me for calling on you so early in the morning, but, there's a matter that I must discuss with you. ERICKE Mr. Kane, it's no problem, I just woke up. KANE You look tired, Ericke. Long night? ERICKE Long night of studying. Big midterm on Thursday. KANE I'm sure you'll do fine. ERICKE I hope so. I've studied so much, I've got Shakespeare ringing in my ears constantly. KANE Well, don't wear yourself out there, Ericke. You wouldn't want to fall behind in your other classes. ERICKE Of course, sir. KANE Listen, Ericke, I came up here today because there seems to be a little problem with your account. ERICKE My account? KANE Yes. The comptroller has pointed out that you've yet to submit payment to the University for this term's fees. ERICKE Sir, I'm sure that it's a mix-up. You'll have to contact my father. KANE I'm sure it is, Ericke. And I tried to contact your father, but it seems we have no current telephone number for him on file. ERICKE That's perfectly understandable. He's a hard man to reach. KANE I understand. If you could just give me his phone number, we can get this matter cleared up immediately. ERICKE Of course. I have it here in my desk. Just a second. KANE Excellent. I'll try and get in touch with him today and let you know. ERICKE Thank you, Mr. Kane. KANE Take it easy Ericke. Don't burn yourself out. ERICKE I won't, sir. KANE I'll see you again. (KANE exits. Blackout.) Scene Two Time The second day of April. 9:30 a.m. ERICKE Listen, Aaron, I'm not going to condemn you for the things you've done. AARON Thank you, Ericke. ERICKE But, to tell you the truth, I cannot honestly stand here and listen as you insist that God will forgive you. I just can't justify it. AARON God has forgiven me, Ericke. I am cleansed and free of sin. ERICKE Tomorrow you're going to be sentenced to die. You do understand that, don't you? AARON I do. ERICKE And you accept it? You accept the fact that the state is punishing you for your crimes? AARON Of course I do, Ericke. I accept the fact that I have sinned, and by listening to the truth in God's words, I have been cleansed from these sins. ERICKE What made you do it? What went wrong inside that mind of yours to put you in such a state to commit such a terrible-- AARON Are you familiar with the teachings of Jesus Christ, Ericke? ERICKE Well, I went to Sunday School. I know a little. AARON I seem to recall a parable which brings me much comfort in these last days. What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, does not leave the ninety nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it? And when he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost." And so, I say to you, that there shall be more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety nine righteous persons, who need no repentance. (Blackout.) Scene Three Time October 20, the previous year. AARON And so I say to you, my fellow students, that the actions of small minority should not make you stray from your educational objectives. The actions of these three students, however heinous and wrong they may be, should not make you think less of this university. Cheating is a sin. And I'm glad the truth has come out in such a manner that these three individuals will be punished for their actions. I ask you all, today, don't let this distraction stop you from pursuing the ultimate quest of knowledge you've come this far to attain. Thank you. ERICKE Nice speech, chap. AARON It went well, I hope? ERICKE Most definitely. AARON I can't understand how careless those three kids could have been. ERICKE No doubt. I mean, all three of them had the exact same answers on a multiple choice exam. AARON Let's just hope our friend Ian is not as careless as these weasels. ERICKE Weasels? Ha ha. Exactly. AARON Yes. ERICKE So tell me about your tryst with Valerie, the professor's daughter. AARON There's not much to tell. We went out for coffee, and that was it. ERICKE You mean to tell me you didn't-- AARON Fuck her? ERICKE Yeah. AARON No. I didn't fuck her. ERICKE Is that the truth? I don't believe it. And why not? AARON I underestimated the amount of naivete in the girl. ERICKE Remarkable. Completely straight edged, is she? AARON Unbelievable so. ERICKE I gotta tell you, Aaron, girls in this town are so uptight. AARON You don't have to tell me. ERICKE It's as if the entire female population has made a concerted effort to lock their legs together and give themselves to no one until they all get married. AARON I understand. I've resorted to calling upon Gertrude, my Calc TA from two semesters ago, for secret midnight trysts. ERICKE What's with the secrecy of it? AARON Well, Gertrude was my salvation during our freshman year. I tell you, that woman was the best lay I've ever had the pleasure of fucking. ERICKE I remember. AARON But--she got herself pregnant and ended up marrying the football coach. It's only long after she's tucked the kid into bed and her husband's asleep that I can see her. ERICKE It's funny how Gertrude can blatantly marry that man for his money. He's an unattractive disgusting man. (IAN enters.) IAN We've got big problems, Aaron. AARON Well, if it isn't Ian, our computer hacking savior. What's up, my friend? IAN Aaron, I've got to ask you--did you read the questions on the multiple choice midterm exam, or did you just merely fill in the answers I gave you. AARON Well, Ian, I simply filled in the answers you provided me. Ericke and I staggered our answers, though, so as not to appear suspicious. ERICKE What's wrong, Ian? IAN Shit, guys, I gave you the answers to an old exam. AARON You what?! IAN I don't know how it happened, but I guess the professor decided to use some sort of preformatted test. AARON You've got to be kidding me! IAN (Quickly.) No, I just ran all the way over hear because I planned on scoring the exams like normal for him, but he said there was no need to because he was trying out some new format that scores them in some machine and-- AARON Jesus Christ, Aaron. What were you thinking? Do you realize what kind of fucking trouble we're in now? IAN Of course I do, Aaron, that's why I came over here and-- AARON I swear to God, Ian, if this comes out that the student body president and his roommate are involved in some sort of sordid cheating conspiracy, I'll kill you. With my bare hands! IAN Aaron, it's not my fault, I-- ERICKE Okay, calm down, now. Let's think about this thing logically. You say the exams are graded by a machine. AARON Which means we both flunked that fucking test! ERICKE Easily explainable, Aaron. You and I have been so busy the last few weeks, we just got burned out. AARON But, Ericke-- ERICKE There's a remedy to this whole situation, Aaron. We just calmly explain to the professor, after learning about our scores, that we were 1.) not prepared and 2.) need another chance to make it up. AARON (About to lose it.) He'll know the truth--he'll-- ERICKE He won't. He won't find out the truth. The only person, besides us, who knows those answers match last year's exam is Ian. IAN That's right. He won't even think to check the scores with the old exam. ERICKE We just bombed the test because we're burned out. He'll understand. And we'll retake the exam. Problem solved. AARON (Suddenly composed again.) You do realize, Ian, that we'll expect the money back. IAN Of course, Aaron. No problem. AARON Goddamnit, Ian, you really screwed up this time. IAN I'm sorry. It won't happen again. AARON Of course it won't. Now get out of here. I'm sick of looking at you. (IAN exits. Blackout.) Scene Four Time The second day of April, 9 a.m. ERICKE Hello, Aaron. AARON Nice of you to come visit me, Ericke. I haven't had that many visitors over the last few months. You're a site for sore eyes. ERICKE I wanted to come and talk to you before tomorrow. Before they sentence you. AARON How splendid. Come, sit down. What did you want to chat about? ERICKE I've done a lot of thinking about what you've done, and I've come to the conclusion that I cannot come to your--your execution if that's what it comes to. AARON That disappoints me, Ericke. Plus, I haven't been sentenced yet. You don't know that I will be--executed. ERICKE It's almost a given, Aaron. I mean, the sheer magnitude of the accusations that have been brought against you. AARON Que sera, sera, Ian. If you don't want to come to my execution, so be it. ERICKE So you've come to terms with the fact that you will die for all this? AARON A certain part of me has, yes. Yes, I think that's accurate. ERICKE Do you understand why I can't be there to see you die? AARON No. But I accept it. ERICKE Aaron, I can't go through any more of this. I can't put myself through any more of this torture. AARON Very well. ERICKE People will study you for years, Aaron. They will look at your life, dissect it, try to understand what you did--what made you do what you did. They will try to find the truth in your actions. AARON If it pleases them to do so, I have no problem with that. ERICKE Do you see yourself as a martyr? Will your death, and the deaths of these innocent people, serve some sort of purpose in the years to come? AARON Why are you here, Ericke? What do you want from me? ERICKE I don't know. I don't know why I came here. I just thought I could get some sense of closure from talking with you. AARON The things I've done were done because I was an egoist. I lived my life for myself. ERICKE I know. AARON I destroyed anything--anyone that got in my way. You understand that, at least, don't you? IAN I've known you for a long time. I understand that your beliefs often have gotten you in trouble-- AARON Not my beliefs, Ericke. An egoist is one whose entire life is centered around himself. I didn't care what anyone else did--as long as it didn't affect me. ERICKE So where do we go from here? I have to live out the rest of my life after going through this hell. And you--you are going to burn in hell for what you did. AARON No. I will not. God has forgiven me. I will spend eternity in the kingdom of heaven. (Blackout.) Scene Five Time October 22, the previous year. ERICKE So here's the story. I was at Jay's house looking to score a sack of weed, just enough to get us through these fucking midterms, right? And of course he had plenty. I bought an ounce. AARON Excellent. ERICKE But here's the kicker--Jay said he could give me a real good deal on some coke . . . some real fine pure shit from down south. AARON How much? ERICKE Two grand for this. AARON Excellent. ERICKE And I just couldn't resist. Even after I promised myself no more. AARON Ah, yes, after the infamous streak through the woods. ERICKE I swear to God, Aaron, after I woke up butt-naked face down in the mud in the middle of the woods, I swore to myself I would stick to pot and alcohol--no more hard drugs. AARON Promises are made to be broken, Ericke. ERICKE Anyway, I want to try this stuff out before I start selling it. AARON Break it out. ERICKE You have plans today? AARON I'm trying my luck with Valerie again. ERICKE What's the point? She won't give in. AARON Ah, Ericke, you underestimate me. ERICKE Here--try this. AARON (He inhales.) Oh that's smooth. ERICKE (He inhales.) Yes, definitely worth the money. AARON So, who are you going to sell this shit to? ERICKE The usual. Our friends at the frat house. Those gold card hippies across town. And anyone else I can get to fork over the dough. AARON You're likely to make a very handsome profit with this. ERICKE I figure enough to pay for our Easter break trip. What sounds good this year? Cancun, Key West? AARON Hmm, I don't know. How about Europe? I could get Valerie to go with us. ERICKE Yeah right. Her parents are really going to go for that. AARON You're right. I know--Amsterdam. Legal pot. Legal whores. Legal fun. ERICKE Amsterdam it is, then. (They each inhale another line of cocaine.) AARON Speaking of Valerie, I've got to meet her in a bit. ERICKE Where are you meeting her? AARON I am meeting her here. ERICKE You're meeting her here? AARON I'm meeting her here. ERICKE Speaking of Valerie, where are you meeting her. AARON I'm meeting her here. ERICKE You're meeting her here? AARON Yeah. ERICKE You're meeting her here. Is she coming over? AARON Yeah. She's coming over here to meet me. ERICKE When you meet her, will she be here, or will you have to go pick her up? AARON No no no. She will be coming here to meet me. ERICKE And when she meets you here, what will you do? AARON We will eat meat. ERICKE You will meet her here, and you will eat meat. AARON You've got it. ERICKE What kind of meat will you eat? AARON Huh? ERICKE When you meet her here, and eat meat, what kind of meat will you eat? AARON Hamburgers. ERICKE Oh. AARON So, make yourself scarce so I can meet her. ERICKE Okay. I am going to make myself scarce so you can meet her. AARON Good. See you. (ERICKE exits. VALERIE enters.) VALERIE Hello Aaron. AARON Valerie, my sweet suckling. Here--give Aaron a kiss. I've missed you so. VALERIE Are you high? You look high. AARON Now, Valerie, do you really think I would jeopardize my schooling by ingesting such poisons? VALERIE No. Of course not. I'm sorry. You just seem--different today, that's all. AARON It's the look of a young man in love, my dear. VALERIE Oh please, you flatter me! AARON I hope you've put some consideration into the offer I proposed to you the other day. VALERIE Aaron, I have, and I don't think I can really-- AARON Listen, Valerie, if I'm going to be your boyfriend, you're going to have to understand that I have needs. VALERIE I understand that, Aaron, I do. AARON And you're turning me down? VALERIE Listen, I said I'd give you a blowjob, but beyond that I can't really-- AARON You've turned me down! Once again I'm faced with the painful feelings of rejection. VALERIE (She spots the remnants of the coke on the table.) I really think I should be going. (AARON grabs HER and begins kissing HER. SHE struggles and tries to leave. HE grabs her again, but as she moves away from HIM, HER shirt rips.) AARON (Softly.) Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. VALERIE I'm sorry. I don't know what I've gotten mixed up with. AARON Stay, please, Valerie. VALERIE No. I've got to go. Please let me leave. AARON No. You're staying. Here--have some of this-- (HE points towards the cocaine.) VALERIE No, Aaron. I can't. You're a bad bad person. I need to talk to my father, I need to-- AARON No! You will not talk to your father. VALERIE You can't stop me! You led me in here, you tried to force yourself on me. AARON You're just like your father. Poor white trash. That's why you will never be able to get into the University. You're born from a family with no money, Valerie. And money makes the world go ‘round. VALERIE Let me out out here. Let me out-- AARON Watch what you say, Valerie. The truth will get you in trouble. VALERIE I'm going to tell my father. I'm going to tell my father the truth--the truth about you and-- (AARON grabs her from behind, and begins to strangle her with a tie he has found. Sounds of VALERIE choking as: BLACKOUT.) Scene Six Time October 23, the previous year. 2 a.m. GERTRUDE Oh, Aaron, you smother me. You make me want to divorce my husband, leave my kids and move far away with you. Isn't that silly? Isn't that silly that I think these things? AARON No no no. Gertrude, your feelings are perfectly understandable, but entirely implausible. GERTRUDE I know. I know they are, but a woman can dream, can't she? AARON Yes, of course, my love. GERTRUDE So what was it tonight? Bomb a test? Fight with your roommate? AARON Struck out with a girl. GERTRUDE Oh. Poor boy. AARON Poor me is right. And I really liked her, this one. GERTRUDE Tell me about her. AARON She's from the wrong side of the tracks, but that didn't scare me away. All my life I've been looking for the right girl in my own backyard. And I find this one all the way across town. GERTRUDE What went wrong? AARON I may have come on too strong. GERTRUDE You? Never! AARON She's poor. Her father is a professor at the University. I don't know what exactly attracted me to her. She had such a sense of--sophistication. GERTRUDE Sometimes we find love in such strange places. AARON Or maybe it was the fact that she didn't need money to be happy. For me, it's different. Money is my lifeline. I've had it all my life. I will have it until the day I die. GERTRUDE We're materialistic, you and me. We thrive on the pleasures of possessions. AARON And our own sense of self fulfillment. GERTRUDE And this girl was different? Different from any other you've dated? AARON Most definitely. GERTRUDE To some, particularly those who've never had it, money means nothing. And these people must find happiness in other ways. AARON I suppose I was looking to find that. I was looking to find what it is like to be happy without money. GERTRUDE But you never will understand it. You never will find it because you've always had it. AARON I came on too strong. I scared her away. GERTRUDE Well, you can learn from these mistakes. You're still young. Not like me. I've made mistakes I can't fix. AARON Are you saying you regret marrying into money? GERTRUDE On some levels, yes. But I think, deep down inside, I'm the type of person who doesn't want to be tied down. But I've been roped into this life, and I've got to accept it. AARON Well, you'll always have me, Gertrude. I'll always be here for you if you need a little--diversion. GERTRUDE That's what I'm counting on. (Blackout.) Scene Seven Time October 25, 1:00 p.m. AARON I am reminded of a quote by an old philosopher. "It is as hard to see one's self as to look backwards without turning around." As we all gather on this solomn occasion to remember the daughter of one of our faculty, these words comfort me. It's hard to sit here and look at ourselves without taking a real good look deep inside our souls. This is a trying time for our University. To many of you, it may seem that any hope for amity is lost within these walls. Well, I say to you--look inside yourself and find the strength. Death is ubiquitously apparent in our lives. It's something we have come to accept as an eternal truth. The truth is that none of us are ever really ready to experience death. The truth is that we are all scared of it. Let me assure you all that this campus is safe. We are safe. And we will find the person responsible for this heinous crime. None of us will rest until we do. (Blackout.) Scene Eight Time April 1, 9 p.m. KANE Aaron is very sick, Ericke. ERICKE There must be some other alternative, sir. I mean, can't the court accept his pleas of insanity? KANE He refuses to use that line of defense. ERICKE But why? Anyone who's done what he's done, who's admitted to doing what he's done, has to see that his mind isn't in the right place. KANE You and I can accept that truth, Ericke. But, Aaron has come to some sort of peace with himself. He realizes what he's done, and that it's wrong. ERICKE But he wasn't in the right frame of mind-- KANE He feels regret. He feels remorse for his actions. These are not feelings of an insane man. ERICKE When is the sentencing? KANE Friday the third. ERICKE He has tonight and tomorrow, then. KANE Indeed. Ericke, are you okay? How are you dealing with this? ERICKE It's rough. It's very rough. KANE Aaron is talking to the priest as we speak. It's good for him. He will leave this world with a clear conscious. ERICKE I don't think that's possible. KANE Ericke, are you going to go to Aaron's execution? ERICKE No. KANE Why not? ERICKE I want out of this! I want no more to do with it. I've been tangled up in this wicked web for six months. Enough is enough. KANE Don't feel guilty for what you've done. It's not your fault. Any of this. ERICKE That remains to be seen. (Blackout.) Scene Nine Time December 24, the previous year. 8 p.m. IAN Ericke, I'm really scared about what Aaron's going to do. I've never seen him this mad before. It's almost--psychotic. ERICKE I wouldn't worry about it. He just needed to blow off some steam. He knows it's not your fault we flunked that class. He realizes that much, anyway. IAN I don't know if that's necessarily true. I don't think he's going to forgive me for that first exam. The one you both failed because I didn't get the right answers. ERICKE That's not true, Ian. Aaron is a little mad now, because it's the holidays and all, but he'll get over it. Trust me, I know him. IAN Well I just hope he doesn't squeal and get me--get us all-- in trouble. That would be bad for all of us. ERICKE He wouldn't do that. He wouldn't jeopardize himself like that. IAN You think? ERICKE Trust me. (AARON enters.) IAN Hey, Aaron. What's up. AARON I'll deal with you in a minute. Ericke--come here, please. (AARON whispers something in Ericke's ear.) ERICKE Aaron, I-- (AARON shows him out. ERICKE exits.) AARON So, I just got off the phone with my grandma, Ian. She's devastated that I received a failing grade in English 614. She's at her wit's end. She doesn't know what she's going to do with me. IAN Aaron, I've apologized for-- AARON And she was just as devastated to here that I wouldn't be coming home for Christmas this year. She wants to know what's wrong with me, what's going on down here. IAN I'm sorry, Aaron. It's my fault. It's true, it's all my fault. Can you forgive me? AARON I don't know. You realize what you've done to my academic career? I talked with the professor and there's no chance in hell he's going to let me make up this class. IAN I understand that, I do. AARON Well, that's fine and I believe you. I accept your apology and I feel it's time to move on with this. IAN You. . . you do? AARON Of course, Ian. We're good friends, right? Best buddies? And I know that cheating is wrong, and that I should have studied in that class. Sometimes, you don't know you're wrong until the very last minute, right? And then it's too late. IAN Right. AARON And I have to look at this whole situation from a different prospective. Sure, my grandmother is fuming, but it's just one failed class, right? It's not the end of the world. IAN Sure, Aaron. You're right. (AARON crosses behind IAN, who is sitting. HE pulls a flask out from his pocket.) AARON Would you like a drink, Ian? IAN Sure. I could use one. What you got? AARON Scotch, of course. IAN Thanks. (AARON hands the flask to IAN, who takes a big gulp.) AARON Anything I can offer you? A smoke. A toke? A line of coke? IAN No, I'm fine. AARON Oh, come on, Ian. Indulge me. (AARON spreads a line of cocaine out on the table in front of them, inhales, then gently grabs the back of IAN's head.) IAN Well, maybe, just a little. (AARON guides IAN's head down toward the table as he inhales.) AARON All right, now, we're having fun now, aren't we? IAN Sure, Aaron. I can't get too fucked up, though. I have to see my parents tomorrow. AARON Ah, of course. I understand. IAN Yeah. AARON Ian, I have a confession to make. IAN A confession. What do you mean? AARON Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. IAN I didn't know you were Catholic, Aaron. AARON I'm not. But, will you hear my confession? IAN Well, yes, I suppose. AARON Ian, I've committed a sin that is against God's way. IAN What kind of--sin? AARON I forced myself on a girl, Ian. IAN No, Aaron. Tell me about it. AARON We came back to my room one night, I wanted her to--well, I expected a little too much if you catch my drift. IAN I think so. Go on. AARON One thing led to another, her blouse got torn. She tried to leave. IAN Did you rape this girl, Aaron? Is that what you're confessing? AARON Oh, God, no! I'm sorry--did I give you the wrong impression? IAN Well, yeah, you did. You said you forced your--- AARON I'm sorry if I misled you, Ian. No, I did not rape this girl. We didn't get that far. IAN So tell me what happened. AARON I strangled her with this necktie. (Long pause.) IAN Valerie. AARON Yes. Valerie. That sweet thing. She just wouldn't put out. IAN Aaron, if this thing happened while you were in some sort of drug induced rage, you've got to tell somebody. You've got to inform the-- AARON I am telling someone. I'm telling you. IAN You strangled Valerie to death with a necktie. That necktie. AARON This necktie. Right. (AARON moves ominously closer to IAN.) IAN Aaron, what are you going to do? AARON Let's talk about you, Ian. IAN Me? Why? What for? AARON We have some--issues--to resolve. IAN Listen, I've apologized for all of that, I don't know what else you want me to do. AARON Tell me about your mother, Ian. IAN What about her? AARON Just exactly how poor is she? IAN You know as well as I do that she's had a hard life. Sure, we're not as well of as you and Ericke and the rest but we do okay. AARON There's nothing that sickens me more in this world than slackers. You follow me? Slackers like you and your mom who suck off the tits of our country, depending on honest, hard working people like me and Ericke to pay for you. IAN That's not true. I-- AARON You took my money, Ian. You took my money because you don't have any. Time and time again you cheated for us and you accepted the money as payment. IAN That's true, Aaron. AARON You know, the bible speaks about money--often with contempt. IAN What do you mean? AARON "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." IAN Is that what this is about? You want me to pay back the money you gave me? AARON "People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy . . ." IAN Aaron, you're scaring me. I think it's time for me to leave. AARON We're two different classes, you and me. You--from the downtrodden, disadvantaged. Me--from the wealthy, affluent . . . I don't think we can coexist anymore in this environment, Ian. "Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death." IAN Aaron, don't. (AARON grips the necktie around IAN's neck.) AARON It's time for you to go away. Just like Valerie. You don't belong in this world. You've taken too much, and now it's time for you to give back. IAN NO. Aaron, no! AARON "Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?" (Sounds of IAN choking as: blackout.) Scene Ten Time January 1, 12 noon KANE You both are being investigated for the deaths of Valerie Kimball and Ian Rosen. You have been called before this board to discuss your involvement in the matter. How do you plead? ERICKE Innocent. IAN Guilty. KANE Who killed Valerie Kimball and Ian Rosen?! AARON I did, sir. KANE And you did so with malice and forethought? AARON Yes. Their deaths were premeditated. KANE And YOU--you claim innocence in this matter? ERICKE I do, sir. KANE Aaron, is there anything you would like to say before I recommend that this case goes to trial? AARON Yes sir, there is. KANE Go ahead. AARON I hope, somewhere deep inside my soul, I can find strength--with the help of God--to cleanse me of the sins I have committed. I hope in the next few months I can be able to look at myself, inside myself, and find the truth behind the horrible deeds I have done. I pray that somewhere, that truth is waiting. I pray that somewhere it is waiting for me to discover it. Until then, I only ask God to have mercy on my soul. (Blackout.) THE END