Scene Description: A substantial amount of time has passed. The woman is sitting on the far side of the stage. The man is back in his normal spot.

Woman: (With frustration and fatigue) I'm starving. I don't know how long it's been since I've eaten, but it feels like weeks. No, make that months. Months. Months without any food or water, and yet somehow I'm alive. (Beat) I still don't know his name. That maniac in the corner. He hasn't moved for ages. His fists are always clenched now and he's always grinding his teeth. I can hear it across the room. (Beat) I haven't said one word since he hit me, and that was a long time ago. So long that the bruises have already healed. (Crying out) I'm falling apart in this corner. I've tried to sleep, but I can't. Every time I close my eyes I still see the white. It's like my eyelids have fallen off and blown away. But how could they? There's no wind in this place. (Beat) When my eyes are closed I can still see him. His big, bloody fist pounding into my face. I'm afraid to speak. The silence drives me insane, but I refuse to speak. If I do he'll burst. He's a big, bloody bubble ready to burst. (Beat) I'm frightened.

(The lights alternate.)

Man: (With numbness and a hint of insanity) I've stopped keeping track of the time. I gave up somewhere around three months. It doesn't matter any more. Nothing matters. Every moment is like an eternity wit her. Every dreadful second is a lifetime of agony. (Beat) I still cannot solve this puzzle of a room and it's killing me. Who built it? Who put me here? Why am I here? Christ, this is ludicrous! (Beat) I haven't eaten in months, nor have I had any water. Yet I'm still alive. It's illogical. Everything's illogical. The thoughts in my mind are beginning to slip away and things don't make sense any more. More and more I'm finding myself confused. I can't focus. (Beat) Sometimes when I look at that woman in the corner I see something foul. I see a beast I have to slaughter. I see red. I don't even know her name... (Beat) My teeth keep grinding together. I have to stop that or they'll wear away. (Beat) The silence is getting to me. The thoughts in my head no longer satisfy my mind. I can't even hear the beating of my own heart. I have to do something. (He stands, yelling.) I have to get out! I have to get out of this room! Let me out! Let me out! Let me out! (He falls to his knees and slams his fists to the floor) Let me out... (There is a pause. The man becomes frightened) I don't know what's happening to me. I'm losing control.

(The man trembles. He lifts his head and points to the woman.)

Man: (In a deep, growling voice) You!

Woman: (Having watched his entire episode, she is on the brink of tears and terrified beyond belief) No, please. No!

(The man stumbles over to the woman and grabs hold of her. He pulls her up with great force and holds her in his grip in his own light.)

Man: (Bringing her close to his face) You. You foul beast. You want to ask me another question, don't you? You want to tell me I'm wrong again!

Woman: (Terrified) ...No! Please put me down!

Man: I'll put you down alright. (The man throws her to the ground, into the dark. He starts to pace around his side.)

Woman: (Crying) Please don't hurt me.

Man: Shut up! Her voice is like a rusty nail on a chalk board. Like poison to my ears. She must be silenced!

Woman: (Sits up) No! Please! Leave me alone. I promise I'll be quiet, quiet as a mouse.

Man: No, that's not good enough. I can't trust her. I must deal with her myself.

Woman: (Mustering up the courage, she grabs hold of the man's shoulder or collar and pleads with him.) Listen! This doesn't have to happen. We can work this out. Are you listening to me? It doesn't have to be this way, we can fix this—

Man: (Pushing her back down) No! No promises, no compromises. What's done is done. (The woman starts to cry loudly, having given up on arguing for her life.) Silence!

(The woman cries heavier. The man, finally broken, screams loudly and crosses over into the dark. The woman helplessly begs him to stop, but soon the noise of struggle overpowers her cries. She gasps for air. He is strangling her! Soon all becomes silent.)

(The man steps back into the light, white as a ghost. He is trembling and walking slowly, his hands hanging to his side.)

Man: I know now that this is hell, for only evil lies within these walls. (Long pause, walking close to the edge of the "room" and trying to hide.) God, I can still hear her voice. (Beat) But she's dead; I killed her with my own bare hands. (The man, finally realizing what he has done, falls to his knees with his hands outstretched.) She's... dead.

(The man hides his head in his hands and weeps softly. He falls to his knees.)

(Lights out.)

Curtain