Play 55: Sunrise part III (aka, Waiting Room part I)

CHARACTERS
AARON, 32
DEREK, 32
DOCTOR, early 40s

(Hospital waiting room, Aaron is sitting in a chair staring at the wall with a mixture of sadness and disbelief.)

(Derek enters at a quick pace, he’s almost running. Aaron gets up as soon as he sees him.)

AARON
Hey.

DEREK
What’s hapenning? I got a call saying my dad was here so I came as fast as I could.

AARON
I, uhh…(his voice trails off)

DEREK
What?
(A look of horror comes across his face.)
Aaron, he’s okay, isn’t he?

AARON
He’s (beat.) Derek (beat) he’s dead.

DEREK
(Yelling) What?!

(he steps backwards.)

(suddenly his expression lightens up.)

DEREK
Wait a minute, you’re joking aren’t you?

AARON
(With a deadly serious look on his face.)
Derek—

(Derek laughs in a slightly forced sounding manner.)

DEREK
Sure, and next you’ll be laughing your ass off and telling everyone about how good you got me.

AARON
I’m not joking.

(Doctor enters.)

DEREK
(To Aaron) Here, now I can find out what’s really going on.
(To the doctor) Hey, I’m Derek Cohen.

DOCTOR
Peter Cohen’s son?

DEREK
Yeah, how is he?

DOCTOR
I’m sorry to tell you this, but—
(a look of horror comes across Derek’s face.)
he’s passed away.

(Derek walks over and sits in one of the chairs, he looks very fragile.)

DEREK
You weren’t lying.

AARON
No, I’m so sorry.

(He sits a chair next to Derek.)

DEREK
I wish you were.

AARON
Me too.

(Blackout.)