Act 4, SCENE 1 INT: AMED/LINDA HOME – LATE NIGHT
LINDA opens the door for OMAR.
OMAR:
Hey. Where’s he?
LINDA:
Upstairs. I was finally able to get him to put some clothes on. He was standing naked in the kitchen and mumbling to himself over a pot of hot water.
OMAR:
Weird, but everything’s gonna be alright.
LINDA:
That’s what he kept repeating.
OMAR:
Oh okay.
LINDA:
Does it mean something? Omar, you gotta tell me.
OMAR:
Just something we heard as kids.
LINDA:
He hasn’t spoken to me after I called you. I think he’s mad at me.
OMAR:
He’s had a stressful day.
LINDA:
That’s an understatement, Omar. I’m worried about him.
OMAR:
Don’t worry. I got this.
OMAR sprints upstairs.
ACT 4, SCENE 2 INT: AMED/LINDA HOME – HOME – CONT’D
AMED sits on the corner of his bed fully clothed. He barely registers OMAR walking into the room and sitting on the bed next to him. They sit in silence for a moment.
OMAR:
So, yo, this is weird.
AMED:
Why?
OMAR:
Because you’re usually the one checking in on me.
AMED:
I’m fine, Omar.
OMAR:
I believe you, but can you stop scaring Linda?
AMED:
She wasn’t home when she was supposed to be. I needed her, and she wasn’t here. She’s lying to me.
OMAR:
Linda doesn’t lie to you.
AMED:
That’s what I thought.
OMAR:
Knowing you, I’m sure you’ll get down to the bottom of it, ask a million questions, and sniff out the truth. (beat) Why were you boiling a pot of water naked?
AMED finally looks over at OMAR with a deadpan expression.
OMAR:
Right, okay. Touchy subject.
AMED:
I told you I’m fine. I just had a moment.
OMAR:
Yea, I think anybody would after the day you had. Just remember, you’re a hero.
AMED:
I didn’t tell the psychologist this during my after action eval, but I know that kid was possessed just like mom. He said the same thing she said to me. “More blood.” When I was shooting him, I saw mom.
OMAR:
That’s kinda fucked up, Amed.
AMED:
I know.
OMAR:
I don’t remember mom, or anything much before the hospital. More like flashes really. I remember waking up in a white room next to you; all the tubes sticking out of you, and a lot of beeping.
AMED:
They said you wouldn’t leave my side.
OMAR:
How could I? You were all wrapped up like a mummy. I wanted to rip all those tubes and gauze off you and make you better. Even then I knew you were a hero. You were my hero. I needed you to be better because heroes shouldn’t die.
AMED:
I was so angry. No one could tell me what was happening to me or you. Or what they did with mom.
OMAR:
They didn’t have to tell me anything. I knew they killed her. I remember banging and a lot of yelling. She probably went at them with a knife. They had to put her down after what she did to us.
AMED:
I wouldn’t believe a word they told me until they told me to my face, but I guess they couldn’t really look me in the eyes until I was ok.
OMAR:
Do you remember the angel? I remember her clearly. The doctors and social workers finally left us alone, and I crawled into bed with you. I hugged you so tight. We cried until she came to us.
AMED:
She lied to us. Whatever she gave us isn’t working. I didn’t want anything like that to happen to us again, but the past is still repeating itself. I can’t go back to that place. I can’t go back to any hospital. You hear me?
OMAR:
I know, but we’re not kids anymore Amed. We have to think bigger than that. Maybe we should see Rev Mac.
AMED rolls his eyes and gets up.
OMAR:
C’mon. Sister took us to his church every Sunday. We had dinners at his house. You know he can fix this.
AMED:
I never bought into much of what he said. I still don’t. It never rings completely true to me.
OMAR:
All he talks about is change, and I know you want a change.
AMED:
I want to forget the past. I want it gone. I don’t want this weight on me anymore.
OMAR:
Me too.
They sit in somber silence.
ACT 4, SCENE 3 INT: RISE CHURCH – BASEMENT – LATE NIGHT
SISTER NETTA is stacking away chairs with other volunteers. She spots MELISSA slowly enter the basement.
SISTER:
Well I’ll be damned.
SISTER approaches MELISSA and they embrace deeply.
SISTER:
It’s been too long since I’ve seen you. Where’re you coming from looking like the cover of EBONY?
MELISSA:
At a gala with the Mayor, but I knew I had to leave as soon as he hit the podium. News flash: His wife has cancer.
SISTER:
Lord. Bless her heart.
MELISSA:
Yeah, very sad, and convenient. Did I miss group?
SISTER:
Group always ends round this time. You know that. Aside from jetting around the city for stories and annoying the hell out of politicians, you should’ve been here with the courageous people. With all the recent tragedies, group is growing in size every day. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would grow this much. This new bunch can benefit from hearing from you.
MELISSA:
No, they’ll benefit more from hearing your story.
SISTER:
We ain’t competing for headlines. We’re changing lives through shared experiences. We’re building a community that will rise up for the future.
MELISSA:
Nice, working in that church pun, but you don’t have to sell me, Sister. You’ve always been my inspiration to keep going.
SISTER:
Well if you aint here to listen or share, what did you really come down here for?
MELISSA:
Everyone knows to come to you when they need a reading.
SISTER:
I don’t have any of my tea here. It doesn’t work much without it.
MELISSA:
It’s okay. Just listen then. I’m on the verge of something big, and maybe you can see something that I can’t see.
SISTER is intrigued.
ACT 4, SCENE 4 EXT: REVEREND JOSEPH MACCABEE’S HOME – LATE NIGHT
AMED and OMAR stand outside the front door. OMAR is ringing the doorbell repeatedly.
AMED:
Quit testing the durability of his doorbell.
OMAR:
Okay, Sister Netta.
FRONT DOOR opens to plain-clothed REV JOE MAC. He smiles at them.
REV MAC:
Rejoice, for the sons have returned.
AMED/OMAR (UNISON):
Hello Reverend / Hi Rev.
REV MAC:
Come in. Let’s start.
ACT 4, SCENE 5 INT: REV MAC KITCHEN – CONT’D
AMED, OMAR, and REV MAC are sitting around a dinner table, while RACHEL MACCABEE is serving them tea and cookies frantically, fidgeting.
REV:
I saw the video. It was gruesome. It’s a shame to see what our world is coming too.
AMED:
There’s more to it than that. I saw my mother. Her voice was coming from his mouth. It was like I was 7 again and standing right back in front of her.
REV:
That’s the work of demons. They come from the darkest moments in our past to haunt us and manifest into every facet of our lives. Their power and pull is great, too hard to fight alone, because we are flesh. It almost took me.
AMED and OMAR are listening raptly.
REV:
These *demons* mean to devour you from within. It’s a battle for your very soul.
RACHEL:
I believe it Joe. I really-really do.
OMAR:
Thanks. I don’t need any-
RACHEL over pours the tea and spills onto the table.
RACHEL:
Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. Let me clean it up.
OMAR:
You really don’t have to. I got it. It’s a small spill.
RACHEL:
No, no, it’s my job!
RACHEL runs to the counter to grab a wash cloth, starts back to the table, turns back around to drop off the tea kettle, and then returns to the table and wipes it clean.
RACHEL:
Should I get you more cookies? Looks like you’re running low.
AMED:
I’m fine thank you.
RACHEL:
I insist. I was baking well into the night.
REV:
Rachel…
RACHEL:
I made too much. I got to share it.
REV:
Rachel, stop. We appreciate the hospitality, but we will need to get back to our bible study meeting.
RACHEL:
W-what should I do?
REV:
Give us some privacy. Your prayers are best served from the living room. Please.
RACHEL nods, but walks away bewildered – struggling with being alone.
OMAR:
Is she okay?
REV:
She means well, but she has her struggles. I’m committed to seeing her through her demons though. She is not alone in her fight.
AMED:
Linda and I are going through something too.
REV:
And you think Rachel and I haven’t seen our share of troubles? (Beat). I’ve always had a wandering eye. Maybe I stared a bit too hard at that brothel my brothers and father moved furniture into. I often wondered about the things that went on there. The thoughts kept me up some nights, which led to magazines and websites. Make no mistake these demons will destroy our relationships if we let them. It’s spiritual warfare.
AMED:
Then I’ve lost already.
OMAR:
No you’re haven’t. Tell him Rev.
AMED:
‘Thou shalt not kill.’ I broke a commandment.
REV:
The Crusades were necessary to save the soul of humanity, and the Knights Templar are still regarded as legends. If I wasn’t confronted by my demons, I would’ve never been blest to stand with you today. Everything and everyone has a purpose.
OMAR:
Amed’s scared of the past repeating itself. He thinks he will turn out like our mother.
REV:
Your mother was afflicted with her own demons that weren’t exorcized. Her suffering spread onto you and your father.
AMED:
How do I stop it from taking over me? I don’t want to hurt anyone.
OMAR:
Every act of note in the Bible is a testimony of faith. It was faith in the Lord that allowed miracles. It’s my faith that pulls me through every day. And it’s your faith that will steel you for your battle with your demons.
AMED:
I want to heal, Rev. I don’t want to feel this way anymore.
REV stands and takes his place between to AMED and OMAR.
REV:
Bow your heads and pray.
AMED and OMAR oblige.
REV flexes his hands, inhales deeply, and rests his HAND on AMED’S head. The VEINS of REV’S HAND twitch and bulge.
REV:
Do you believe in the Lord, the Almighty?
AMED:
I do.
REV:
Do you reject Satan and all his empty promises?
AMED:
I do.
REV:
Omar, take my hand.
OMAR places his hand in REV’S. REV’S VEINS begin to slither.
REV:
Now hold your brother’s hand.
OMAR obeys.
REV:
Do you both believe that you can be healed from the past?
AMED and OMAR’S SKIN CRAWL with something under the surface. Their mouths hang open as the REV presses down on AMED’S HEAD and SQUEEZES OMAR’S HAND.
REV:
My God! In this circle, a bond was made out of tragedy. Almighty Father, I ask you to be with us right now. Reach out and touch these souls, oh God. Unify them through your healing.
CU AMED’S EYES roll to the back of his head.
CU OMAR grimaces as his HAND gets SQUEEZED TIGHTER.
CU REV’S face is enlarged with engorged VEINS.
REV:
I speak everlasting protection unto them oh Lord. Together, be healed. His strength will be yours. In Jesus’ name, my God, be healed!
REV rips his hands away and AMED and OMAR gasp and cough as if finally able to breathe.
REV:
Amen.
AMED breaks into a delighted laugh then cries.
OMAR is still catching his breath but cries too. REV pats them on the back and joins them in an embrace.
From the threshold of the living room, RACHEL watches in horror.
END OF ACT 4