Stop.

By: Hannah Jahal

(Underlined portions in this script indicate things that need to be edited.)

Characters (in order of appearance):

Ruth: Late 40s. Loving, warm, reasonable. Ivans mother.
Dan: Early 50s. Cold, calculating, critical. Ivans father. Business
man/Workaholic.
Ivan: 23 years old. Sarcastic, resilient, awkward. Older brother to Charlie.
Charlie: 21 years old. Creative, smart, adventurous. Younger brother to Ivan.

Setting:
Takes place in the home of the Harlings in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

(The following lines are read overlapping each other in a cacophony.)

RUTH: You cant blame yourself forever.

DAN: There was nothing we couldve done to stop it.

RUTH: If only hed reached out.

DAN: If only we hadnt fought.

RUTH: You couldnt have known.

DAN: This is all your fault. He looked up to you.

RUTH: You were his role model. Why didnt you see it?

DAN: This wouldnt have happened to him, if it werent for you.

IVAN: STOP.
-----------------

(IVAN and CHARLIE are in the smallest bedroom of the house--Charlies

room, sitting on the floor and looking through a couple of boxes.)

CHARLIE: You know, you cant stay in here forever, right?

IVAN: Sure, I can. (he examines the trophy in his hands) Just bring me a
supply of food and cigarettes every week or so, and Ill survive. (he gently
places it in the box.)

CHARLIE: Ha. Ha. Youre so funny. Im serious. Being in here isnt good for
you.

IVAN: I know. Believe me, I know. (he gets up and goes over to the
bookcase, taking a few books and looking through them)

CHARLIE: Look, I know this is hard. But--

IVAN: Can you believe this? (he scoffs and looks through the books) Conrad,
Faulkner, Passos, Hemingway? This kid sure knew how to pick up some light
reading.

CHARLIE: Look, Ivan. You can do this later. This room is always going to be
here. But right now, there are people out there that are wondering where you
are.

IVAN: This room is going to be rummaged through and changed completely.

You know that. I give it a week before its torn apart and turned into a gym or
something. I know that. I know.

CHARLIE: You really think itll be a gym? I see it as more of an office. Come
to think of it, maybe a spa area for mom. (he chuckles)

IVAN: Now whos being funny?

CHARLIE: All Im saying is that youve been in here for twenty minutes.
Meanwhile, theres a wake happening in the next room. Do you not have
your speech ready or something? Because I can--

IVAN: Dont you think I know that? (he grips the book even tighter) Theyre
counting on me being there. I get it. (he sets the book down on top of the
bookcase) Just--give me a second.

CHARLIE: Youre forgetting--I know you, Ivan. Youre planning on sulking in

here until its over. Mom will kill you. Or worse--shell sick dad on you. Lets
just get out there, alright?
IVAN: Dad doesnt want to see me. He cant stand to look at me right now.
I think those were his exact words, right?

CHARLIE: Hes just--not taking it well. Okay? He shouldnt be taking it out on

you, but you--

IVAN: Hes not just taking it out on me, he blames me.

CHARLIE: Ivan this isnt your fault. This isnt anyones fault.

IVAN: I dont want to talk about this right now. (pause) Youre right. We
should just get this over with.

(IVAN places some books in one of the boxes and goes out into the living
room, where the wake is taking place. Lights fade on CHARLIE. DAN spots
IVAN and goes over to him.)

DAN: (he comes up, his face stoic) Ivan. Nice of you to finally grace us with
your presence.

IVAN: (he straightens up) Im here, arent I? (he takes out a pack of
cigarettes and takes one out.)

DAN: What the hell are you doing? (he snatches the cigarette from him)
Stop. Dont you think that can wait?

IVAN: (he sighs and pushes his lighter back into his pocket.)

DAN: Just get over there.

(IVAN shuffles over to the corner of the room, near a large framed picture of
Charlie and stands there, scanning the room. Stifled cries fill the room and
people slowly start to get quiet, turning their attention to him.)

IVAN: (he clears his throat quietly and shifts uncomfortably in front of the
small crowd.) Hello, everyone. Uh, thank you all for coming. Your--support
means everything to us in our time of need. (he glances up to see DAN,
exchanging skeptical glances with RUTH) My brother was something. He was
sharp--resourceful, incredibly smart--which he never let me forget. He was
kind and silly and good. He also had an unhealthy obsession with eating
pizza rolls while watching the news at 5:00 in the morning. (he chuckles and
wrings his hands nervously) My brother and I had this--morbid joke that if
one of us ever (he clears his throat) then, we would recite a poem we
wrote together back when we were kids. Our only collaborative work. (he
takes a folded up piece of paper out of his pocket and looks at it for a
moment, but folds it back up and puts it in his pocket again. He clears his
throat). Uh, seeing as that poem was written by two kids in sugar induced
comas, I think well pass on that. So instead, I think Ill read a passage from
his favorite book--one he would never shut up about. (he reaches over and
gets the book from the table next to the picture of CHARLIE) Its from--

(DANs cell phone goes off and he reaches for it frantically, answering and
taking it outside.)

IVAN: (he looks over as the door slams, then looks back at the group of
people in the room.) Excuse me. I--just need a second.

(IVAN rushes over to the door, following DAN outside, irate. He stomps over
and pulls the phone out of his fathers hand, throwing it to the ground.)

IVAN: Are you fucking kidding me?

DAN: What the--Ivan, dont start this now. (he picks the phone up,
examining it for damage) We dont have time for another one of your--

IVAN: Why, do you have another call to take?

DAN: Its work. You know I cant--

IVAN: (he over exaggerates, mocking him, irate) Mr. Harling! Always
throwing his family under a bus to make the best deal at work. Well, guess
what? Theres a room full of our family, grieving the loss of your son, in
there. (his voice breaks) And you decide that now is the best time to take a
conference call?

DAN: Regardless of what you may think, Im still trying to take care of this
family. I cant do that if I lose my job, now can I? Just go back insi--

IVAN: Why is this not important to you? For once in your life, why cant he
come first in your long list of priorities?

(RUTH comes outside and closes the door behind her quietly.)
RUTH: What is going on out here?

DAN: You think this doesnt affect me? You think that Im not falling apart
like you are? Just because I have an obligation? You have no responsibility.
You have no one to take care of. You dont--

IVAN: Your obligation to your family is all that should matter right now! (he
gestures to RUTH) Have you even asked Mom how shes dealing with this?

DAN: Who are you trying to impress with this tantrum, Ivan? How is this
going to help anything? Youre the one that pushed him to this! Maybe you
should be analyzing yourself instead of--

IVAN: I pushed him to it? I was the only one there for him. You and mom
pretended--

RUTH: Stop.

DAN: You gave him false hope. You told him his condition was okay when--

IVAN: Its not a fucking condition to love someone!

DAN: You fed into his delusions--made him think it was okay. And guess
what? As soon as he told other people, he was eaten alive. You threw him to
the wolves. They tore him to shreds. Where were you then?

IVAN: (he scoffs) Youre not going to stop, are you? You still dont see whats
wrong with this picture. It wasnt him--it was you. All I told him was that he
could love whoever he wanted to love.

DAN: He was sick. If I wouldve known what he was going through, we

couldve gotten him help. But instead--you decided you knew what was best
for him, per usual. You cant even take care of yourself. What makes you
think you have the right to dictate someone elses life? You endorsed his
brain lying to him, Ivan. Thats all you did. And what did he do? He took your
goddamn advice. Of course he did. He worshipped you--he looked up to you.
And look what happened.
IVAN: You know what? Yeah, I did. I told him that he could love whoever he
wanted to love. I told him that what he was feeling didnt make him less of a
human--that he deserved everything this world had to offer and that I would
support him no matter what. Thats something a parent should tell their kid.
But you? No, youre so caught up in your own head that you cant even see
that.

DAN: You dont understand. Until you have a kid of your own, you wont
understand. You help them grow up, you shape their minds, you put
everything into helping them succeed. And when they fail you--

IVAN: Fail you? You think he failed you because he was brave enough to--

DAN: Ivan, I dont have time for this. The office has called twice now. (he
looks back down at his phone again) We arent all able to avoid our
responsibilities--

IVAN: You know something? You better be careful. You keep going like this
and youre gonna lose another one of your kids.

DAN: You--

(DAN scoffs and lunges at IVAN. IVAN dodges him and goes to punch him,
but RUTH gets in front of him)

RUTH: Ivan, no! (she pushes him back) Stop.

IVAN: Go ahead! Call them back. But you can only hide yourself in your work
for so long before you realize what youve fucking done!

DAN: You little-- (he goes to lunge at him once more, but RUTH jumps in
between them again)

RUTH: JUST STOP!

(pause)

DAN: Were done here.

IVAN: Yeah, hes right about that. (to RUTH) Unless theres something else
you want to tack on to his list of guilt trips.

DAN: Dont you talk to your mother like that, you--

RUTH: Do you even hear yourselves? Charlie is gone. My son is gone. And
the one thing we can do to honor him--the one day we can remember him,
you two decide to ruin it?

IVAN: Mom, I didnt--

RUTH: I dont want to hear it. You two have things to work out, but now isnt
the time. Right now, the only thing you both should worry about is-- (her
voice breaks and she looks to each of them) saying goodbye to your brother
and your son. Find a way to make this right. Find a way to send him off.

DAN: (he pauses for a moment, looking down at his phone, and back at the
house.) I--cant do this right now. I--they need me at the office.

(DAN curses under his breath and shoves the phone back in his pocket,
stomping towards his car.)

RUTH: Daniel-- (she takes a step towards him, but stops, watching him
leave.)

IVAN: (he sighs and puts a hand on RUTHs shoulder) Mom, I-- (he pauses)
How do I make this right?

RUTH: Do what you can to send him off. (she turns and puts her hand on his
breast pocket where the note is.)

IVAN: (he looks down at his pocket and takes a breath.)

(RUTH puts her hand on his cheek for a moment before turning back toward
the house. They both walk back in, the small crowd whispering as they enter.
IVAN walks back up in front of the small crowd and looks at Charlies picture
for a moment. He looks back at the crowd and takes a deep breath)

IVAN: Im sorry--about that. (he clears his throat) A lot of people knew my
brother. They supported him--told him he was going somewhere someday.
And then they found out something they didnt like about him--something
they didnt accept. It made him think that the real him was someone people
didnt like. I wish I wouldve known for sure if he thought that. (he pauses to
compose himself) I was proud of my brother. I am proud of my brother--for
taking a stand. For taking a chance and being himself. He had more courage
than any of the people that shattered his self-esteem. His sense of identity.
(pause) Before, I said Id just planned to read his favorite passage, but--
someone convinced me that there was a better way to honor my brother. (he
looks to RUTH and back down. He pulls out a small folded piece of paper) So
uh--heres what 10 year-old Charlie and 12 year-old Ivan had to say to the
people they loved.

(As the note is read aloud by IVAN, a late CHARLIE steps out and listens,
smiling. IVAN sees him and pauses, seeing him.)

*(add note from their childhood)*

IVAN: Goodbye.

(IVAN gingerly places the note on top of CHARLIEs favorite book and looks
toward the door. CHARLIE smiles again and leaves.)

BLACKOUT

Possible Alternate Ending:

(This ending seems a bit cheesy, but ties in the title pretty well? I
dont know how I feel about it yet, but here it is.)

(As the note is read aloud by IVAN, a late CHARLIE steps out and listens,
smiling. IVAN sees him and pauses, seeing him.)

*(add note from their childhood)*

IVAN: Goodbye.

(CHARLIE turns to leave, but stops.)

IVAN: (turns back to the family) We wont forget him. Or how he--
(DAN enters, upset.)

DAN: Stop.

(DAN approaches IVAN and embraces him. IVAN freezes, stunned but then
hugs him back. He looks over to CHARLIE, who smiles and leaves.)

BLACKOUT

Notes:
Maybe have the picture of Charlie facing upstage until the end so that its
more obvious that Charlie is the brother/also the guy from the beginning
scene? Or is that too much? Theyll probably get it, without the picture thing,
but its an idea.

WHAT IF. The note is tucked away in a book that Ivan is looking through in
the room? He finds it while talking to Charlie and thats why he puts it in his
pocket?

Note for Kat: Ive been working the edits in and reworking dialogue like
crazy, but I still havent figured out the poem bit yet. Ill have it together
before the reading, but right now Im just stumped. I tried looking for poems
that were appropriate (and also something that would appeal to their pre-
teen selves), but I havent had too much luck yet. Id like to take time over
the summer to write the poem (if I run out of time before the readings). But
for now, itll be a placeholder, unless I can think something up. Im still
straining my brain to think about it and Im not going to give up yet! I just
want it to make sense and be something that could plausibly be really
important to them? But I just wanted to let you know Im still working on that
aspect.