Play 56: Sunrise part IV (aka, Waiting Room part II)

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

(Waiting room, Derek and Aaron are seated next to each other, the doctor is standing.)

DEREK
(To doctor) What happened?

DOCTOR
He had a severe heart attack.

DEREK
Where?

AARON
At home. I (beat.) I was there with him.

DEREK
What happened?

AARON
I was around his house so I figured I’d stop in and say hi, I hand’t seen him in a while so I figured it’d be nice.

DEREK
(slightly annoyed) No, I mean what happened with him.

AARON
Sorry, we were eating lunch and he just fell off his chair.

DEREK
That’s it?

AARON
I (beat) I don’t know, I can’t remember, it was all really confusing.

DEREK
Well what did you do?

AARON
I went over to him, I tried talking but he didn’t respond so I tapped him, I just kept tapping him thinking he’d just wake up—

DEREK
What about an ambulance?

AARON
I called one after a bit.

DEREK
Why didn’t you do it at first?

AARON
I dunno, it didn’t occur to me for a bit.

DEREK
It didn’t fucking occur to you?

(he stands up)

(Aaron stands up)

AARON
Yeah, I was confused.

DEREK
Confused? It’s simple, you call a fucking ambulance!

(He looks enraged, his face is red and his veins are visible.)

AARON
Derek, I—

DEREK
He could still be alive!

AARON
Derek—

DEREK
Why didn’t you call a fucking ambulance?!

AARON
I don’t know!

DEREK
Why didn’t you—
(his voice is getting shaky.)
Why didn’t you—
(He starts crying.)

(Aaron hugs him.)

(They stand embracing, Derek is sobbing.)

AARON
I’m so sorry.

DEREK
(in-between tears) it’s not your fault.

AARON
No, I should’ve called immediately.

DEREK
You did what you could, I didn’t mean what I said.

AARON
(His voice is very shaky)
I’m sorry Derek

(Fade out.)