Night Terrors
End of the Line
Written by
Elie Hirschman

CAST:
Garrett Hughes – (loud and obnoxious New Yorker. Brooklyn born.)
Lenya – 
Subway announcer – 
Old Lady – 
Homeless man - 

SCENE 1:  

SFX: NYC Street sounds - buses and cars, people talking as they pass. Cell phone dialing noises as Garrett walks. 

GARRETT:	Larry!  Whattya say, Larry? Hey, it's Garrett! Yeah, just leaving the office now… Busy, busy, busy- these shelves won’t clear themselves, you know.  Well, I just needed to thank you for that lead you sent my way.  Poor bastards wouldn’t know a hard drive from a blender, but they sure did shell out the cash once I convinced them I could bring their office into the new century.  <laughs> Yeah, all the old models!  Look, they don’t know there’s a recall on those boards, and they were so pumped with their purchase, they forgot to ask about any warranty plans.  I foresee some lovely business for your support department! <laughs>
SFX: bumps into someone, papers fall
	Hey, watch it! I’m walkin’ here! <into phone> Damn foreigners don’t know how to walk a sidewalk. Anyway, I’m about to go into the subway, so I’m prob’ly gonna lose you once I get inside the train.  
SFX:  Ascending metal staircase. 
So you keep finding chum to throw to the old shark, heh? We make a good team.<pause, then laugh hard> That’s great, that’s great. All right. 
OLD LADY: Excuse me, do you know if the man in the booth can make change of a twenty?
GARRETT: What do I look like, the information booth? Buy a friggin’ metrocard, honey.
SFX:  Metrocard swipe. Entering Turnstile. Subway sounds  (above ground). 
<into phone>Look, Yanks vs. Mets on Tuesday, right? You know my Mets are gonna clean up this season. Aw, don’t gimme that.  We know HOW to win.  We aint been to a banquet in a while, so when we get there we EAT, y’know what I’m sayin’?  

SUBWAY ANNOUNCER: This is a Manhattan-bound Number 1 train makin’ ALL STOPS, ALL STOPS. This is 207th Street. Next stop is Dyckman Street (DIKE-min). Stand clear of the closin’ doors, please. 
SFX: “bing bong”, doors close
Gimme a call tommorrow, all right? <pause> Joo got it, mang. Ciao.

SFX:  Subway train heads off down the track, fades.
END SCENE 1:  

SCENE 2:
SFX:  Subway entering underground tunnel. Subway interior sounds 

HOMELESS MAN: <reciting off of a card>Ladies and Gentlemen, I am sorry for interrupting your ride. I do not want to beg for your change.  I am selling a paper produced and distributed by homeless people like myself.  By buying this paper, you will be enabling us to – 

GARRETT: Hey, buddy! Do you honestly think we want to read a crappy paper written by illiterates and druggies? Huh?

HOMELESS MAN: Sir, if you’d just open your heart-

GARRETT: Don’t give me that “open your heart” crap – you mean “open my wallet.” Speaking of wallets, did you pay the fare or jump the turnstile? Go on, get the hell out of this car.  Go bug some other people.
SFX:  Doors open to the next subway car, some people shuffle out amid mumbles. 
Brakes, doors open, people get off and on. High heel shoes click.
	Ooh, honey… you better put those legs away. Those are DANGEROUS! Mmmmm-mmm. Better yet, put ‘em here on my lap.
SFX:  Sounds of disgust, a woman getting up and moving to the next car
Hey, come on, don’t walk away like that? Breakfast at my place? Whattya say? <pause> Aw, you getting up now too, buddy? What’d I say? I wasn’t talkin’ about YOU, pal. You know that, right?? 
SUBWAY ANNOUNCEMENT: 168th St.! Transfers available to the A & C trains.  Next stop is 163rd St., Amsterdam Avenue.  Stand clear of the closing doors, please.
SFX:  Doors close. He is alone in the car.
GARRETT: Ah, the hell with all of ya.  <Grumbles, snorts, relaxes> 

END SCENE 2
SCENE 3
SFX: GARRETT snoring, squeal of train wheels as they take a curve
SFX: doors between trains open, close. Someone walks into the car.
GARRETT: <awaking> Huh? <spots Lenya>Well well… all right . Welcome to my subway car, beautiful. Feel free to climb aboard…
 LENYA: Hello, handsome. Mind if I sit across from you?
GARRETT: Aw, honey- you sure you wouldn’t want to sit next to me here.. within my arm’s reach?
LENYA: Oh, but the view is so much better when you’re across from me…
SFX: swish of stockinged legs as she uncrosses and crosses her legs
GARRETT: Whoa, Honey! All right.. I gotta admit, your idea has some definite plusses to it. 
LENYA: <giggles> I thought you’d see it my way.
GARRETT: I don’t know about your WAY, baby, but I like what I just saw for a brief second there.
LENYA: You don’t have any idea. I can show you things that will make your head explode.
GARETT: Keep talking, Honey. This is definitely the most promising conversation I’ve had today. 
LENYA: There are certain things we can do together.. I guarantee you’ll never be the same.
GARRETT: That’s right. How about we get started back at my place. Christopher Street’s coming up soon.
LENYA: “Back at your place…” Please. If I slept with you, your mind would twist and snap, like some dried out tree branch.  You’d go absolutely mad the second I laid my hands on your flesh
GARRETT: That good, huh?
LENYA: Like I said, you have no idea at all.  The things my body would do to your sanity… you’d rip your own throat out, and write long, ranting expressions of devotion to me on the wall in your own blood.
GARRETT: <pause>Uhh.. OK, that aint sexy sweetie. I don’t know where you  picked up that talk, but it’s not gonna get anyone to pick up your tab in the bar.
LENYA: And when you’d spent your energy iin your deranged tribute to me, I’d rip a hole in your stomach with my nails.. and then begin to feast upon your entrails.
GARRETT: <stands up> You’re frikkin’ psycho, lady. Maybe some of the Goth punks in the village are turned on by that sicko-weirdo stuff, but you just made me wanna puke.
SFX: walks away, then through the door to the next car
GARRETT: <mutter>What’s wrong with women today? Hell of a power trip she’s on… Hmm. Hot as hell in here.  Been a while since the last stop-<stops short> What the Hell?  It’s pitch black out there! No lights or anything!! Just – 
LENYA: Dead blackness?
GARRETT: <Yells in shock> How the hell did you – 
LENYA: Take another look out there, little man. You’ll see it’s not as dark as you thought. Even now, the glow is beginning to show itself.
GARRETT: What the hell are you ranting about now? Quit following me!
SFX: Walking fast to the next car. Speed of car increases
GARRETT: <beginning to breathe heavily> Crazy bi- Hold up. <pause> she’s right. There’s some weird red glow starting to build up outside.  What the hell is going on? Where’s the next station?
LENYA: End of the line.
GARRETT: <Yelps> YOU! Keep away from me!
<SFX: runs off>
END SCENE 3
SCENE 4
SFX: door to the next car bursts open and Garrett falls heavily to the floor
GARRETT: <yells in pain> Ah God.. my knee.. Aaaahhh!
LENYA: Need a hand, loverboy?
GARRETT: How are you doing that? Just.. cut it out!
LENYA: Aww, poor guy.  This is becoming a rough trip for you, isn’t it?
GARRETT: <pulls himself up from the floor, groaning all the time> Just shut up, you wacko.  I shoulda known it when I seen you first.  You’re just another subway looney, like all the other- <shocked pause> Where the hell is everyone else? Has every car been … empty?
LENYA: Hmmm… You seemed to want me all to yourself when I first approched you.  Now you want to share me with other people? Hmmm.. I’m open to that kind of thing..
GARRETT: You’re friggin’ crazy! I wouldn’t touch you to slap you. Crazy broad – AAAAHH!
SFX: train speeds up more and screeches into a sharp turn. Garrett screams as he goes flying into a pole
LENYA: Oooh. That’ll put a dent in your manly plans, now won’t it.
GARRETT: <whimpers> What do you want from me? Can’t you just leave me alone?
LENYA: No, Garrett, I’m afraid not.  Once you made your move to claim me, I in turn was able to claim you. Now I have you, and it’s the end of the line for you.
END SCENE 4

SCENE 5
SFX: train wheels screech again, this time with an undertone of something screaming/wailing/snarling
LENYA: On your feet, you worthless, weak piece of crap.
GARRETT: Whyncha leave me alone?  Get away from me! I- I’m gonna miss my stop! <pants> Jeezus, what happened to the A/C?
Lenya: Oh, I don’t think you need to worry about missing your stop.  You’re going… to the end of the line. As I keep telling you, imbecile.
Garrett: Wha… End of the line? What are you talking about, ya crazy witch? Lemme off, it’s gotta be my stop!
SFX: bumping, squealing metal outside the subway car, mixed with a low roar, sounds of the car speeding up
Lenya: <laughs darkly, quietly> Your stop won’t be coming up for a while. Like I said.. you’re coming with me… to the end of the line.
Garrett: South Ferry? But- but that’s way too far!
Lenya: Oh no, little man… we passed South Ferry long ago. The end of the line is MUCH farther than that. <laughs again, softly and slightly more sinister>
Garrett begins to whimper and stutter in total fear
Lenya (mixing with his sounds): Why don’t you come here and have a look out the window.  Enjoy the scenery.
Garrett: What - <begins breathing heavily, hyperventilating> God, I’m burning up in here.. What’s that out there…? 
Lenya: Glorious, isn’t it.  Breaktaking. The faint firelight, illuminating snatches of –
Garrett: But that’s not… it – it’s not possible! Where – 
Lenya: Look, Garrett. Look at the torutured creatures outside. It’s hard to see them at this amazing speed, but the ghastly, bewitching glow lets you have a quick glimpse.  Just enough to give you an idea – 
Garrett: Oh my god Oh My god Oh my god – 
Lenya: - of what lies ahead for you.
Garrett: How do you  know my name? 
LENYA: <chuckles> I know all about you, little man. Little, evil, disgusting man. I know all your base desires, your sinister actions, your plotting and schemeing, your actions against those wearker or less knowledgeable. I know every last lustful and greedy thought you’ve had in that vast space between your ears.
GARETTE: How – how do you – 
LENYA: It’s my job to know, you stuttering freak.  Oh, and my name’s Lenya, by the way.  We’re going to know each other even more intimately soon, so I figured you prbably should know what name to scream when you’re begging for mercy.  Not that it’ll help…
GARRETTE: <gasps> Wha - <shudders> Where are we going? Where are you taking me?? <gasps again> So hot in here – 
Lenya : <laughs> It feels delightful in here to me.  Sit back and enjoy the ride, Garrett.  Come sit close to me – 
Garrett: NO!
Lenya: Wouldn’t you like to kiss me, Garrett?
Garrett: NO!!! <begins to scream long, piercing screams>
Lenya: <laughs and laughs, as if each scream gives her pleasure>
<SFX: subway speeds up even faster, metal screeches, then train plunges into an endlessly deep tunnel and is lost>
Subway Announcer (slowed down): Stand clear of the closing doors…
<SFX: The gates of Hell slam closed, Satan laughs>
END SCENE 5 
The End