SCENE TWELVE
PAUL is sleeping. ROLAND quietly enters. He opens his case. He removes a knife. He sneaks onto Paul’s bed. He watches for a moment. He pokes Paul. Paul wakes up.
ROLAND
Shhhh…
PAUL
Roland, what -
ROLAND
Shh! I’m not kidding.
PAUL
Roland. Why are you here?
ROLAND
I want more tabs.
PAUL
I don’t have any.
ROLAND
This bed.
PAUL
What?
ROLAND
How much did it cost you? How much?
PAUL
I don’t know, couple thousand?
ROLAND
I slept here.
PAUL
You did. That was forever ago.
ROLAND
Best night of my life.
PAUL
Best and worst.
ROLAND
I need more. I threw the pills in the toilet. I flushed them. I ran. There’s dark stains on my shoes. Does anyone know why they’re there?
PAUL
I don’t have any.
ROLAND
What about White Carlos?
PAUL
I don’t know. He only shows up when I need him.
ROLAND
You need him now.
PAUL
Put down the knife, please.
ROLAND
I have to stop, there’s only two things that work, and you can’t make it happen. What do I have to lose, you know. You simpering puppy.
PAUL
I’m your friend.
ROLAND
I gave up friendship.
PAUL
Where’s Stella?
ROLAND
Who knows? Who cares! She blames me! ME! I only did what she wanted, whatever she wanted, always, every time, every cut, every pill, every scream, every sweaty sleepless night, and WHAT suddenly I know, I know she’s trying to kill me! Slow. Slow. That’s not right. I escaped. She should’ve stuck a knife in me.
PAUL
She’s been in the paper. Her career is taking off.
ROLAND
I don’t want to hear it! Success? Reviews? Her dancing.
The art we created… she ran from it. She’s stained too. She’s running.
PAUL
Running from what?
ROLAND
You talk to her. You find her. You get her to meet me. She’s the second thing. And I love her.
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