Setting: The outskirts of a city, three days after the end of the world.

CHARACTERS:

Marie: A logical woman, trying to do her best to deal with a crisis. Not terribly emotional.

James: Emotional, if a bit aggressive. Not southern, or ridiculous.

Lights up. Spotlight on JAMES who is kneeling, either in prayer or to pick something up. Another light shines stage right on MARIE as they enter and cross over to JAMES and the same light shines on both of them.

Marie: Hey! Hey you!

James: jumps up, startled Oh my God, you startled me! I've been wandering around for days I didn't think... I didn't know if...

Marie: If anyone else was still alive?

James: sheepishly Eh... Yeah, yeah I guess so. Hey, have you got any water? I didn't think to bring any with me and I must have left home a few days ago.

Marie: tossing JAMES a water bottle Yeah, sure. I brought plenty, you've gotta use your head in times like these, right?

James: Ah thanks, I really needed that. So, what's your name?

Marie: I'm Marie, you?

James: James they shake hands Pleased to meet you.

Marie: Likewise... Hell, I'm happy to see anyone. It's been so long... What do you think it was?

James: What what was? You mean that destroyed everything?

Marie: What else could I mean? Civilization literally disintegrates and you think I'd be talking about the weather?

James: Heh, I guess not. I dunno, though. I think... I mean, all I saw was this great big flash of light, like all hell breaking loose, and then everything was just... gone. What did you see?

Marie: More or less the same thing, to be honest. For a second I thought the sun was going to go nova. What do you think it was?

James: Well, isn't it obvious? There's a bright light, everyone dies, it's gotta be the Rapture.

Marie:

Takes a few steps away, snickering slightly. The lights split in two, again, one spotlight on each. Says this line incredulously

Seems a tad far-fetched if you ask me. Come to think of it, I remember a really loud noise... Maybe it was some sort of bomb?

James: I don't think so, I'm a truck-driver, see. My truck ran out of gas a day or two ago and I couldn't find any gas stations, but I didn't get any signal on my radio in the mean time and it's picked stuff up from across the planet before. Whatever happened must have happened all over the world, not just here. Obviously distressed I... I really do think this might be the wrath of God; we're dealing with here. Maybe the light was some sort of... some sort of angel, or something... Oh sweet Jesus...

Marie: moves closer and the lights rejoin, speaks reassuringly

Unless it was a lot of bombs... All going off at once, all over the world, wiping out everything... It's gruesome, and terribly 80s, but not impossible.

James: Well wait, look at your forehead.

Marie: Feels forehead and backs away, the lights split.

What? What's wrong with it?

James: It's red and blistered and deformed. That... That's the mark of the beast!

Marie: Oh don't lose your head! It's probably just a radiation burn!

Moves back to him and the lights become one again.

Hell, you've got one too.

James: See!? I have one and I didn't get called up with everyone else! It's like in the bible, we were judged and we were wicked!

Marie:

Crosses away and once again the lights split.

I don't know if I should feel piteous or insulted! Shit, man! I know things are stressful but you can't lose your head in times like these. Now, I'm sure there's a perfectly rational explanation for all of this. Whatever it is, we know that we're alive. Maybe other people are too. We need to find more people and see if we can establish some sort of society or community or something.

James: Society!? Don't you see, we don't have TIME to find others or rebuild the world or anything like that. This is real wrath of God stuff we're dealing with. If we don't repent immediately, if we don't... if we don't do something it's not gonna be good! When I was a kid I used to go to church, and I remember they'd always talk about the world ending and eternities in hellfire and all that. Well it's HERE. Hell is coming and I aim to get out!

Marie: And what if that isn't what it is? What if it WAS just a bomb? What're you going to do? Just sit there and wait for God to swoop down and beam you up onto some cloud? This is insanity; you can't afford to be illogical at times like these! You'll starve to death or die of exposure or radiation poisoning if we don't figure out what's going on.

James: I... No, I won't. Because he'll save me. Do you have any way of proving that he won't?

Marie: Well, no, I don't.

James: Exactly!

Marie: But you should try to save yourself anyway!

James: Why should I bother when he'll do this all for me? Why should you?

Marie: Because he might not do it!

James: But if he DOES you'll go to hell! If you're wrong you're doomed! Can you afford to take that risk?

Marie: Can you? At least this way, my fate's in my hands.

James: Dammit, there are BETTER hands than yours!

Marie: shaking her head I'm sorry, but you're crazy. I don't... I don't know if I'm safe as long as you're here. You might try something, and I can't take that risk.

Pulls out a pocketknife.

I'm sorry.

MARIE Approaches JAMES, knife ready. The lights merge.

James: Dammit, put that down!

Backs away, and the lights split

You can't take me up, He has to! This is a bad idea, you'll only doom yourself!

Marie:

MARIE continues to pursue him, and the lights merge once more.

Better than letting you doom me. Better to be doomed by my hands-

James: There are better hands!

Catches her by the wrists and tries to take the knife.

Marie:For your sake, I hope so!

The two continue to fight for control of the knife for a few more moments. The lights go off, and the two scream.