Jack & Death

(The scene opens up to reveal an old, weather-worn bench that one might sit upon at a bus stop. The bench is not overly large, but is big enough to comfortably fit three people. Off to the side of the bench but remaining in front, is a thin, blue metallic bus stop sign. A few various car sounds are heard, along with chirping birds, lawn mowers, and other sounds to signify that the bus stop is not in a city, but more of a suburban area. All the while, sitting upon the bench is DEATH. DEATH's hair is a dark brown or even black, fashionably styled in with a light cut and appears to be around his late twenties or early thirties. He sits rather relaxed, leaning back into the bench seat with his left leg crossed over his right leg and his arms outstretched upon the back of the bench. He wears a black business-esque suit and slacks; his jacket left unbuttoned to fully reveal the light pink button-up shirt he wears beneath his suit jacket. His black tie is a little loose as well, although he doesn't look disheveled. A few seconds pass, and JACK walks over from stage left. JACK has a boyish look, making him appear to be in his early twenties. He wears clean khaki pants and a light, casual blue shirt. Everything about JACK seems extremely clean and with him, he carries a brown handbag.)

(JACK sees DEATH and hesitates for a moment, seeing DEATH's sprawled out posture. DEATH nods to JACK, shifting so that his arms sit on his lap to allow JACK a more comfortable space to sit in. JACK nods and sits down, as far away as possible from DEATH. After a few moments, JACK glances a few times at DEATH.)

JACK.
I'm sorry to bother you but... do I know you from somewhere?

DEATH.
We might have met before.

JACK.
Sorry, I just thought you seemed familiar...

DEATH.
It's alright, I get that a lot. I must just have one of those faces.

(JACK opens his bag and pulls out a small bottle of hand sanitizer and squeezes some of it into his hands. Putting the bottle back, he rubs his hands together.)


JACK.
So, are you on your way to work?

DEATH.
Yeah, I have a busy day ahead of me. What about yourself?

JACK.
I'm actually off to see a movie. It's a little... sort of tradition of mine to see a new movie every Sunday afternoon. I like to take advantage of those nice matinee prices.

DEATH.
What movie are you going to see?

JACK.
I'm not sure, I usually don't pick a movie until I get there. I like to just show up and randomly pick one based on the time and title. Keeps me a little spontaneous... you know, living a little on the edge.

DEATH.
(Laughing.) Yes, on the edge.

JACK.
Well... okay so maybe not on the edge, but I like to be a little adventurous sometimes.

DEATH.
To each their own I suppose. I can see how the unknown can be adventurous, even if its simply through observation.

JACK.
I prefer things that way. You can never be too careful these days.

DEATH.
(Looking more directly at JACK.) I disagree, actually.

JACK.
What?

DEATH.
I disagree with what you said because I think a person can be too careful. What is the point of existing if you're too afraid to fully live life?

JACK.
(Nervously.) W-well... I'm  fully living my life,  I'm  just  careful about what I do. I can get enjoyment out of life without being reckless, which is what most people do these days.

DEATH.
"These days," you keep saying that.

JACK.
(Hesitation.) Well I mean during these times, things are especially dangerous. People are dying of disease, dying of obesity, getting murdered, drinking and driving... the list is endless.

DEATH.
Again, I would have to disagree. The world is just as dangerous as it was yesterday. Yes, the dangers change but the threat of horrible things happening remains the same.

JACK.
Say that to Japan when we dropped the atom bomb on them. Can you think of anything before we dropped the bomb that brought about so much death?

DEATH.
The Bubonic Plague comes to mind right away, but I think that's because I'm nostalgic of Europe.

JACK.
The plague wasn't a weapon of war, it was an accident of-

DEATH.
Accidents, weapons of war, murder... aren't we just simply talking of what you deem as "horrible things?"

JACK.
(Defeated.) True... I guess I got carried away. I'm not used to having these types of conversations much, so I jumped on the chance. My friends are more worried about their next dinner date to think of anything beyond themselves, so my chances of talking to them about such things are next to nothing.

DEATH.
I'm sure if you tried hard enough, you could find the conversation you're looking for.

JACK.
I could find some discussion groups... I hear they have a lot of them at churches but I just don't have time.

DEATH.
Except Sunday.

JACK.
Sunday is my own personal vacation in which I just want to relax, watch a movie and think of nothing else.

DEATH.
(Looking away.) Then I apologize if I disturbed you.

JACK.
Oh no, no, you didn't disturb me at all. I enjoyed our conversation and I wasn't implying that I didn't enjoy it. I just meant that, I mean, what I was trying to get across was-

DEATH.
Relax. You don't have to explain yourself to me.

JACK.
I just didn't mean to offend you, if that's what I di-

DEATH.
There was no offense taken, I assure you.

(The sound of a bus parking nearby is heard.)

JACK.
Good, I hate making bad first impressions. (Beat. JACK gets up.) And here is my bus, is this yours as well?

DEATH.
No, my bus is the next one.

JACK.
Maybe I'll see you around then.  My name is Jack by the way. And you are?

DEATH.
Death.

(Pause.)

JACK.
E-excuse me?

DEATH.
(Plainly  spoken.) Death. My name is Death.

JACK.
(Pause.) That's an... interesting name. Is it foreign?

DEATH.
I suppose it can be.

JACK.
(Confused.) I'm sorry... I don't think I understand what you mean.

DEATH.
Death is a foreign thing to most people, I suppose. Although it isn't to everyone.

JACK.
Wait... are you talking about actual Death or your name now?

DEATH.
I'm talking about both, actually.

JACK.
Both?

DEATH.
You see, I am Death.

JACK.
(JACK reaches into his bag and takes out the hand sanitizer again, using it as he speaks.) N-n-no, n-n-no you mean your name is Death.


DEATH.
(Smiling.) No, I am Death.

JACK.
(Nervous laughing.) Are you seriously suggesting that you're Death itself? As in, the Grim Reaper?

DEATH.
I much prefer references to Anubis rather than the Grim Reaper, but to get my point across I'll say yes. I'm the Grim Reaper of sorts, although truthfully calling me Death is preferred.

JACK.
You're insane!

DEATH.
Many have claimed that before about me, but I assure you I'm very clear headed. And you've missed your bus it seems.

JACK.
I'll catch the next one. (JACK moves slightly closer to DEATH, but remains standing.) So, you think you're Death, huh?

DEATH.
(Sighing.) This skepticism that humanity has gets a little old at times... I find I must repeat myself again and again. So for the very last time, I will say it. I do not think I am Death, but I am Death.

(Pause.)

JACK.
Well... let's say that I believe you.

DEATH.
Yet you do not.

JACK.
Okay, but let's just say  that I do, for curiosity's sake.  If you're Death, then how come you're not off killing things with a scythe and wearing a billowy cloak and all that.


DEATH.
You're making references to the Grim Reaper again. Ugh, that was a horrible mistake on my part long ago.

JACK.
I'm not sure what you mean-

DEATH.
Middle Ages. It was the "in" thing to wear, you know, dark cloaks and flashy weaponry. It was really for show, you know- the scythe. I didn't really go around killing people with that, otherwise there'd be blood everywhere and life would get pretty messy. I got rid of that look long ago, after that little time period was done. It would be rather silly to walk around dressed like that now.

JACK.
(JACK sits back down on the bench, still far away from DEATH but a little bit closer than before.) Wait, so you used to look like the Grim Reaper but now you don't because of fashion?

DEATH.
What? Because I'm Death I'm not allowed to care what I look like?

JACK.
The idea just seems... silly.

DEATH.
Well, I'm quite sure that if I were dressed up in black robes and carrying a scythe, that you wouldn't have come sit by me.

JACK.
But... if you're Death, why do you care if people sit by you or not? Shouldn't you be off killing people anywa-

DEATH.
Just because I end people's lives doesn't mean I don't enjoy talking to them.

JACK.
I don't really get it...

DEATH.
Look Jack, take for example a veterinarian. They love animals and enjoy them greatly, but every day they end up killing one by putting it to sleep. So is it really farfetched to think that I would enjoy talking to you, even though I'll take your life away eventually?

JACK.
(Nervously.) Is that a threat?

DEATH.
(Sighing.) Calm down Jack. We're just talking.

JACK.
It's not just talking when you make statements about killing me.

DEATH.
Forgive me then.

(Pause. The sound of a bus parking is heard.)

JACK.
Is this your bus?

DEATH.
No, not yet.

JACK.
The bus I missed only comes every so often, so I'm stuck here awhile. What bus are you waiting for?

DEATH.
The right one.

JACK.
Okay... I'll just take that as some philosophical remark about Death.

DEATH.
(Sighing.) Go ahead. Ask me another question then.

JACK.
Hmm, alright. If you're Death, then how come you're not off killing people right now? People die every second, all over the world. Seems pretty crazy that Death would waste time waiting for a bus.

DEATH.
Good point. However, there isn't just one of me. There are several extensions of myself, all throughout the world doing my work.

JACK.
So there is more than one Death in the world?

DEATH.
They're all essentially me... if you were to combine us all, we'd make up the same essential being. I know what all the different copies of me are doing and it allows me some leisure time. If you can call waiting for a bus, leisure time, that is.

JACK.
Interesting idea, I'll give you that much.

DEATH.
(Grinning.) At least you're giving me something.

(Pause.)

JACK.
What I have a hard time understanding is how you're killing people. And why. Why does Death- why do you- exist at all? Wouldn't the world be a better place without Death?

(JACK takes out the hand sanitizer again and uses it.)

DEATH.
You're filled with questions, aren't you. I'm surprised you haven't left yet.

JACK.
My bus isn't here yet.

DEATH.
It was here.

JACK.
Yeah, but I missed it because of you.

DEATH.
(Chuckling.) Alright, I'll attempt my best at answering your questions. First of all, how I'm killing people is quite obvious. How are people dying? Heart attacks, murders, disease, drowning, car crashes, alcohol poisoning, war- the list of possible reasons for the end of one's life is limitless. As for -

JACK.
But why have-

DEATH.
Don't interrupt Jack. As for the reason why I exist, well... isn't that obvious? I'm needed for several reasons. To prevent the world from being overrun by living creatures, to allow human souls to move on from this world to the next, to end pain and suffering...

JACK.
Wait a minute. End pain and suffering? Aren't the different methods of killing you just listed filled with pain and suffering? You're going to have a hard time telling me that war isn't painful or that people don't suffer from disease.

DEATH.
Oh, I won't argue that. However, I didn't say I caused war or disease... I said that I used them sometimes to end a person's life.

JACK.
I don't get it. You don't cause disease, but yet you cause disease to kill people?

DEATH.
(Leans forward, resting his chin in his hands for a moment.) Wars happen. Diseases infect people all the time. Yet, war doesn't always kill everyone involved, and sometimes people fight off diseases. My job is to extinguish lives when it is their time and I just use these circumstances to my advantage, as crude as that sounds. So if a person, let's say, has cancer, they could fight it off for years. They might even think they've beaten cancer. Yet if their life is ticking down and its their time to die, I might use that disease to my advantage and cause it to kill the person. That's what I mean when I say I don't cause horrible things to happen, I merely use them as a tool.

JACK.
(Pause.) It still sounds horrible to me... isn't Death horrible to begin with?

DEATH.
(Looking directly at Jack.) Do I seem horrible?

JACK.
(Pause.)  If you were Death, I'd say no you don't seem horrible. Although its disturbing how you can talk about this so calmly.

DEATH.
And perhaps even more disturbing that you participate along?

(Pause.)

JACK.
(Thinking.) Maybe.  But if you are Death, then I'd say that you don't seem horrible in conversation. However, dying itself is horrible.

DEATH.
How so?

JACK.
Isn't it obvious? No one wants to die! No one wants to get shot or have a heart attack- we all want to live forever, or at least we want to live freely without fear of Death. I know that I don't want to die randomly, without any tangible reason. I'd rather live my life how I want to and then when I'm ready to kick the bucket, I'd press a little button and bam! Quick, painless Death would occur and I'd be free to move on to whatever else is out there. And if there's nothing else out there, then I guess I would want to just live forever.

DEATH.
So... I'm horrible because you're afraid of me?

JACK.
(Slightly frustrated.) Stop referring to yourself as Death. (Pause.) It's just confusing... if you're going to keep up this charade of being Death, can you at least speak in third person?

DEATH.
... So Death is horrible because you're afraid of Death.

JACK.
No, it isn't that I'm afraid of Death. I just am content with living and I'm not ready to give that up yet. And I'm pretty sure that other people would agree that dying is not a good thing and that all Death does is bring about pain.

DEATH.
Maybe pain is essential to understanding life.

JACK.
I don't believe in that.

DEATH.
Well... do you agree that eventually, everyone should die?

JACK.
Yeah, I suppose we can't all live forever. I just think we should be able to choose when we die. Then we can get things we want to get done without worrying all the time.

DEATH.
And you're saying that you wouldn't just choose to live forever? That eventually you'd pick a date of death?

JACK.
Yes.

DEATH.
Do you think everyone would pick a death date?

JACK.
Eventually they would, I think.

DEATH.
Well then, what if everyone chose a date of death, but it wasn't for thousands and thousands of years. Eventually the Earth would over populate and humans would get to a point where you'd be shoulder to shoulder with your neighbor.

JACK.
That's a little extreme... I don't believe we'd let it get to that point.

DEATH.
Well, let's say you were in a bank filled with people and there's a gun in the middle of the room. There's no way for you or any of the people to leave or anyone else to enter, and in thirty minutes the bank is going to blow up. The only way to get out is to have one person take their own life, otherwise everyone else dies. Would you do it?

JACK.
I... I don't know. I guess I might.

DEATH.
Would you truthfully?

JACK.
I guess I'd wait to see if someone else would do it first.

DEATH.
Exactly. The same would be true if everyone had to pick their own date of death. All of humanity would be waiting for someone to go first and no one would. There might be a few people here or there who do it, but that's just a few. Trust me, Death is necessary.

JACK.
I still just... I see your point and maybe Death is a necessary evil. I guess a little warning would be nice, that's all.

DEATH.
But if I went out giving everyone Death notices, people would try to avoid it.

JACK.
But Death would occur anyway, even they did avoid it.

DEATH.
It'd be more difficult to carry out. When faced with Death, people tend to be unpredictable. Besides, I'm pretty sure people would still hate me- er, Death, just as much, whether they received a notice or not.

JACK.
I suppose so.

DEATH.
Although, I will admit the idea of sending little black cards to people is amusing. "Dear Sir, you have an appointment with Death on March 23, 2010. Save the date! Sincerely, Death."

JACK.
Now who's being morbid.

DEATH.
I'm Death. The idea of myself is not morbid to me.

Jack.
There you go again...

DEATH.
(A little perturbed.) Okay, when you've referred to yourself as Death since the beginning of time... it's a little hard to break that habit.

JACK.
Oh will you stop it already!

DEATH.
(Annoyed.) We can stop talking if you'd like.

JACK.
Well... I don't mean stop talking, I just mean... well, it's difficult to talk to someone who thinks they're Death. (The sounds of a nearby bus parking is heard. Pause.) Is this your bus?

DEATH.
No, I'm waiting for the next one.

JACK.
Exactly where are you going again?

(DOLORES enters from stage left. She looks to be in her early thirties, with blonde curls, wearing a jeans and a simple flowing shirt. She's carrying with her a bag of groceries and another shopping bag filled with clothes. She walks tiredly to the bench, nodding to JACK but pays no attention to DEATH.)

DOLORES.
Hello, mind if I sit here?


JACK.
Oh, here let me scoot over. (JACK sits in the middle of the bench, close to DEATH.)

DOLORES.
(Sits down on the edge.) Thank you very much. It feels good to sit down after such a long walk.

JACK.
Early day shopping?

DOLORES.
Yes, I have a busy husband and three children who are in need of some new summer clothes.

JACK.
Well, I can't say anything about the clothes but the food looks delicious.

DOLORES.
Tonight's dinner.

JACK.
Good choice. (Pause.) I'm a nutritionist you see, so it makes me happy when I see families making healthy choices.

DOLORES.
Oh really? Well good for you! I bet you help a lot of people.

JACK.
(JACK reaches for his hand sanitizer again, rubbing it over his hands eagerly as he talks. He stutters a few times when talking.) I try, although it really is sad the shape people are in these days. America is the fattest country in the world you know and its all because they're too lazy to cook their own meals and people just rely too much on fast food. I'm hoping that one day I can at least have a bigger hand in changing all that.

DOLORES.
(Tired, only half-interested.) Are you going to start a business of some sort?

JACK.
I think so... well, I might. I'm not exactly sure how, but I want to start something big or maybe attempt to get a little famous so that I can open people's eyes about their eating habits.

DOLORES.
Well good luck with that, people are really hard to change. Especially when it comes to food. (Chuckles.)

JACK.
(Smiling.) Well, even if it only affects a few people... I'd say that's a success. But I've always wanted to be a famous nutritionist. The more people respect me, the more influence I could have to help change their ideas about food!

DOLORES.
I'll keep an eye out for you then.

JACK.
(Pause.) Sorry about that... I get a little excited when I talk about my area of expertise and-

DEATH.
I found it interesting. You should keep talking.

JACK.
(Turning to look at DEATH.) No, no, I'm quite sure she's had enough.

DOLORES.
(DOLORES looks at JACK and then looks over at the bench where DEATH is. She doesn't see DEATH.) Excuse me?

JACK.
(JACK turns back to look at Dolores.) That you've had enough of my blabbering.

DOLORES.
(Looking a little confused and nervous.) You weren't blabbering, it's alright.

DEATH.
She thinks you're odd.

JACK.
(Motioning at DEATH.) Don't mind him, he's a little odd himself.

DOLORES.
Who are you talking about?

JACK.
This guy right here. (JACK again motions at DEATH.)

DOLORES.
Are you feeling alright dear?

DEATH.
She can't see me you know.

JACK.
What do you mean...? Can you not see anyone here?

DOLORES.
There's no one there.

DEATH.
If you keep making references to me, she's going to think you're crazy. Although, she probably already does.

JACK.
(Growing more frantic.) This is a joke... isn't it? You're pretending you can't see him to freak me out.

DOLORES.
Honestly, I don't know what you're talking about.

(The sounds of a bus parking is heard again.)

JACK.
Both of you are in on this... thought it'd be some fun little joke to play on some poor sap who decides to take the bus. Well, I'll tell you it isn't very funny at all. I can't believe peopl-

DOLORES.
You know what, my bus is here. I'm sorry for bothering you. (DOLORES gets up off the bench, grabbing her bags.)

JACK.
No, don't go away. (JACK grabs DOLORES by the arm.) Just because your little twisted joke is-

DEATH.
Jack, calm down. This isn't a joke. She honestly cannot see me. If you keep going-

JACK.
(JACK looks at DEATH but holds onto DOLORES' arm.) Shut up! Stop pretending you're Death! You're not Death, nothing like that is possible. I played around with your little game long enough, but now it has to stop.

DOLORES.
(Trying to tug away.) Let go of me!

JACK.
No, admit that you're in on this too!

DOLORES.
Honestly, I don't know what you're talking about. Please let me go! The bus is here!

JACK.
Just admit it!

DOLORES.
Someone help-

JACK.
Tell me the truth dam-

DEATH.
(DEATH'S voice echoes and bellows, being impossibly loud and surround sound-like. His voice has a demanding yet ethereal quality to it.) JACK. ENOUGH.

(Pause. JACK lets go of DOLORES and she quickly runs off stage, onto the bus. JACK is left standing near the bench. A few seconds pass.)

JACK.
So... you're Death...

DEATH.
(DEATH's voice is normal again and he appears more relaxed.) Yes.

JACK.
(Pause.) So why couldn't she see you?

DEATH.
(Shrugging.) Sometimes people see me, sometimes they don't. It's a matter if they want to or not.

JACK.
You're saying I wanted to see you?

DEATH.
Yes.

JACK.
Why?

DEATH.
That's not a question for me. That's a question for you.

JACK.
I don't know why I'd want to see you... I still am having a hard time believing this is even real.

DEATH.
Yet you know it is real.

JACK.
(Thinking.) Yeah... I do.

(Pause. JACK sits back down on the bench, almost near the middle.)

JACK.
You know, my mother died a few years ago. Car crash. Some stupid idiot was drinking and driving, ran a red light just as my mother was coming home. The idiot survived but my mother didn't and I kept asking myself, "Why? Why did she have to die? What purpose was there?"

DEATH.
I remember.

JACK.
(JACK's voice grows louder.) Why? Why did you have to take her life?

DEATH.
It was her time. According to the higher up, it was her time.

JACK.
But WHY?! Her death didn't have any meaning! She wasn't dying to save anyone else... it was just pure randomness. Some random idiot drinking was her death sentence!

DEATH.
Jack... that's something I can't even answer. I don't know why some people have a shorter life span than others, that's not my power to know. I simply am the hand. What I can say however, is that your mother's death did have meaning. It must. For as long as I've been around, I've found that everyone's death brings about some meaning... even though humans may not understand it. They might not even agree with it. But I think that eventually, with a little faith, through me you can come to understand it.

JACK.
(JACK looks away.) It could have been some other way.

DEATH.
You know, your mother did save people. While you might not like this idea, I'll still tell you that she saved people through you. Before she died, you weren't doing much with your life, correct?

JACK.
How do you-

DEATH.
Think of who you're talking to.

JACK.
Well, okay... yeah, I wasn't doing much with myself. But I don't want you-

DEATH.
When your mother died, it inspired you to become a counselor for alcoholics. Yet you found that too difficult, so instead you changed your profession to a nutritionist.


JACK.
(Sighing.) I didn't do anything amazing. I'm not a doctor or anything.

DEATH.
You'd be amazed how a person's lifespan changes when they start eating healthier. They accomplish goals that they wouldn't have been able to if they hadn't changed their diet.

JACK.
But couldn't there have been some other way? Why did she have to die for that to happen?

DEATH.
I can't answer that. Like I said, I don't know the reasons. All I can offer is my own insight.

JACK.
(Quietly.) She shouldn't have had to die. There could have been another way.

DEATH.
Let me ask you this. Take my previous idea of the bank with the people trapped inside. Do you think if your mother knew her death would save lives, that she would have sacrificed herself?

JACK.
I don't know... maybe. (Pause.) She was always helping other people... but not at the cost of her life!

DEATH.
(DEATH looks directly at JACK.) It's not for you to decide. I would say that it would be her decision, to decide if her death was worth it or not. I suppose what you should be considering is what she would think.

(Pause.)

JACK.
... I just miss her.

DEATH.
I know.

(The sound of a bus parking is heard nearby.)


JACK.
Looks like my bus is here. (JACK gets up slowly, pausing for a moment as he looks back at DEATH.) I needed this conversation.

DEATH.
I know.

JACK.
(JACK nods.) Thank you, Death.

DEATH.
(Surprised, but nodding.) You're welcome.

JACK.
(JACK takes a few steps towards the bus, looking back at DEATH.) Taking the next bus?

DEATH.
(DEATH gets up while talking rather slowly, casually.) Actually, I think I'll be getting on this one.

(JACK pauses for a moment, looking at DEATH as the two both stare at each other for a beat. Then JACK nods as DEATH takes a few steps towards him. The lights fade to black as DEATH walks past JACK.)