Character List

LEA - Shy, confused, professional dancer and Hunter College High School Student.

SADIE - Lea’s little sister who is also a professional dancer. She acts out many scenes from Lea’s memory but is never actually there. Lea wears a leotard and tutu. Her actor also plays Girl Two (who wears a mask, hat, and jacket).

GOD - God wears an all white robe. He voices the SUBWAY INTERCOM (which is really the intercom to the underworld) and also plays PERFORMANCE GUY (appears before actor puts on the white robe in a mask and cap) and DRUMMER ONE (wears a ski mask and different outfit, easily distinguishable from god).

JANET - Janet is an old woman in old woman attire. She is also a ghost on her way to the underworld. Janet’s actor also plays GIRL ONE and DRUMMER TWO.

DEVIL - He is in a suit but has red horns and a red pitchfork. This actor also plays MONEY GUY.

 

LAST SUBWAY RIDE

 

LEA sits on a train next to JANET, an old woman. The moment the curtain opens, their conversation begins. The lights show the moving train. The train is moving along the Manhattan Bridge. It is dark out, and the city lights are visible. All actors are on stage, playing various random characters sitting on the subway. Named characters sit facing the audience, unnamed characters sit masked and with their backs to the audience. Right now there are three unnamed characters on stage. LEA holds the book Dead Souls in her hand.

 

JANET

It’s just worth thinking about, you know, the cyclic. Everything that begins comes back around and back around one more.

 

LEA nods, confused.

 

JANET

Where did you say you’re going again?

 

LEA

Oh, American Apparel. It’s a clothing store. I need some new shirts and… stuff.

 

JANET

I don’t see why, your shirt is fine. People your age are always in search of new things. New shirts, new feelings, new people, new lives?

 

LEA

New lives?

 

JANET

Oh don’t misquote me girl.

 

 

LEA

Sorry.

 

JANET

It’s quite alright, everyone makes mistakes.

 

LEA

Look! We’re on the bridge. The sky looks beautiful today.

 

LEA points at the sky and JANET watches in silence for a moment.

 

JANET

It is beautiful. The city looks so far away.

 

LEA

Yeah. It makes me feel so removed from it, as if I don’t live there and I never have at all.

 

JANET

It’s unbelievable how fast trains move.

 

LEA

It is. And how they can go underground and below the water and above it all. Wouldn’t it be nice if all trains ran in the sky?

 

JANET

It’s a nice thought to think we’re in the sky.

 

LEA

It is.

 

They both sit in silence for a moment. LEA begins to doze off and sits up abruptly.

 

LEA

Upstate all of the waters are frozen over and you can ice skate on them. I went ice skating with my sister.

JANET nods and they sit in silence for a moment.

 

LEA

Sorry. I feel like I’m falling asleep.

 

JANET

That’s ok honey, it’s normal.

 

She continues trying to keep her eyes open.

 

JANET

Say, where did you say you’re going again?

 

LEA

A Bad Bunny concert. With my friends.

 

JANET

Really?

 

LEA

Or maybe… a classical music concert. I can’t really remember.

 

JANET

That’s OK, you can sleep.

 

LEA falls asleep on the subway. The subway stops and the doors open. JANET quietly gets off of the train.

 

GOD/SUBWAY INTERCOM

This is Canal Street. The next stop is Union Square-14th Street. Take care of the closing doors, please.

 

The subway doors close. The lights move to show the subway moving. The sound of a heartbeat is very faint in the background. The sound of the moving subway can be heard. LEA remains asleep. One by one, all the other people on the subway car get off.

 

GOD/SUBWAY INTERCOM

This is 34th Street-Herald Square. The next stop is Times Square-42nd Street. Take care of the closing doors, please.

 

PERFORMANCE GUY gets on the (now empty) subway car. He sets his speaker, playing loud music (a shortened version of pump up the jam), on the ground and stands
up tall.

 

PERFORMER

Helloooo ladies and gentlemen! I’m gonna give you a great show today.

 

The music starts to play and PERFORMER begins to dance, putting his all into it. When the words in the song finally finish he takes off his hat, walking around with it as if waiting for people to drop money into it except there is no one there. He moves past LEA as he does with every other subway seat, not acknowledging that she is the only one there.

 

PERFORMER

A dollar, a nickel, a dime, anything you have would make my day ladies and gentlemen. I hope you all liked the show, if you have nothing that’s ok. God bless you.

 

The train doors open and PERFORMER leaves the train car.

 

GOD/SUBWAY INTERCOM

This is Times Square-42nd Street. The next stop is 57th Street-Seventh Avenue. Take care of the closing doors, please.

 

LEA (to herself)

What was that?

 

GOD/SUBWAY INTERCOM

This is 57th Street-Seventh Avenue. The next stop is Lexington Avenue-63rd Street. Take care of the closing doors, please.

 

MONEY GUY walks onto the train car.

 

MONEY GUY

Anyone got a dollar? Just a dollar, a quarter, anything you have. Thank you, thank you.

 

MONEY GUY walks down the train car waving his hat back and forth rapidly. LEA takes out a dollar to give to him but he doesn’t even acknowledge her and is moving the hat back and forth too fast for her to put any money in it.

 

LEA

Excuse me!

 

MONEY GUY leaves the train without acknowledging LEA. GOD gets on and sits next to her.

 

GOD/SUBWAY INTERCOM

This is Lexington Avenue-63rd Street. The next stop is 72nd Street. Take care of the closing doors, please.

 

LEA

Do you know if that man was ok? It was like he didn’t even realize I was there.

 

GOD

People get stuck in their routines. If you do something enough you begin to do it everyday, regardless of who is there to watch. He walked around asking enough, that now he does it every day without stopping.

 

LEA

Oh.

 

GOD

Where do you find yourself headed on this fine day?

 

LEA

Just to Duane Reade. I need to pick up some things. Pens, notebooks, stuff for second semester.

 

GOD

Fascinating! I’m headed to meet some friends just east of Central Park.

 

LEA

Wait, I’m sorry, have we met before?

 

GOD

Oh not really. I’m God.

 

GOD holds out his hand for LEA to shake. They do.

 

LEA

Huh. That’s a fun name.

 

GOD

It is. Do you believe in god?

 

LEA

No. No offense of course, Mr. God.

 

GOD

Oh, none taken. I find it fascinating the way that people find their own beliefs in this life. I think everyone is entitled to shape the world as they see fit. Tell me, do you believe in any sort of higher power?

 

LEA

That’s a bit of an invasive question.

 

GOD

Sorry. Can’t help myself sometimes, you know.

 

LEA

That’s OK. Um well I’m not sure. I want to think that there’s more to the world than the mundane day-to-day but I don’t know. I kind of feel like if there isn’t more than what I know right now, then isn’t life a little meaningless? At least people who believe in God believe they have a purpose?

 

GOD

Do you have a purpose?

 

LEA

No. I’m just a typical, aimless high school student.

 

GOD

You seem very smart.

 

LEA

Thank you.

 

LEA takes out a book (Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol) and begins to read. She is interrupted by God.

 

GOD

Tell me, what stop did you get
on at?

 

LEA closes the book, mildly annoyed by his nagging.

LEA

In Brooklyn…at least, I think. I remember crossing the bridge… But… I can’t remember anything before that. Oh. Where are we right now? Do you know what’s happening to me?

 

GOD (offhandedly)

Where did you say you were
going again?

 

LEA (not thinking about it, then deep in thought)

Famiglia Pizzeria. Wait. Why can’t I remember getting on the train? Where did that woman I was talking to go? Where am I???

 

GOD

I don’t know. What do you remember?

 

LEA

I remember being upstate with my younger sister. She and I both dance so we’re rarely free at the same time. We went ice skating together on a pond.

 

The scene begins to form further downstage. LEA gets up and acts it out with SADIE.

 

SADIE

Tag you’re it!

 

SADIE runs away from LEA who begins to chase her.

 

LEA

I’m gonna get you!

 

SADIE

[squeals] No! You can’t!

 

LEA

Yes I can!

 

LEA begins to quickly skate towards SADIE. There is a loud sound, a flash of light, and suddenly the scene is dissipating. Everything that just happened is rapidly rewound as the characters move backwards until SADIE is offstage and LEA is back sitting next to GOD.

 

LEA

I- I don’t know. That feels like forever ago but I can’t remember anything since?

 

GOD

Where are you going, Lea?

 

LEA

The grocery store.

 

GOD

Where are you going, Lea?

 

LEA

Home! I just want to go home! Get away from me!

 

LEA pushes GOD and GOD gets up and moves to a different part of the train car; he is no longer facing the audience and is away from LEA. The car doors open. The sound of a heartbeat is just barely louder.

 

LEA

What is happening to me?!

 

GOD/SUBWAY INTERCOM

This is 72nd Street. The next stop is 86th Street. Take care of the closing doors, please.

 

GIRL ONE and GIRL TWO get on the train and sit close to LEA.

 

GIRL ONE

Liam has just been so weird lately and I don’t know, he’s so confusing.

 

GIRL TWO

Girl I don’t get it. Why are you two even together still? Like yeah I get it you have an apartment together but seriously, he’s not treating you right. You need to think about how much this relationship means
to you.

 

GIRL ONE

But there’s more to it than that. It’s not just about what the relationship means to me or the apartment or even our cat. My mom gets it too. It’s different. He’s just ­—

 

GIRL TWO

Bestie, this isn’t about him. It’s about you, queen. What are you feeling?

 

GIRL ONE

I’m feeling like something isn’t right.

 

LEA

Yes, something isn’t right. Excuse me!

 

GIRL ONE and GIRL TWO don’t seem to hear or acknowledge LEA.

 

LEA

Excuse me! Do you know whats going on?

 

GIRL ONE and GIRL TWO don’t seem to hear or acknowledge LEA.

 

GIRL TWO

Don’t let yourself get creeped out just because you’re looking to not have this conversation.

 

GIRL ONE

I’m not! It’s not like that.

 

GIRL TWO pushes GIRL ONE in a friendly way and she laughs.

 

LEA (getting more agitated)

Oh no.

 

GIRL ONE (CONT’D)

No, seriously!

 

GIRL TWO

Whatever you say, babes.

 

GIRL ONE

OK, I’m totally changing the subject, but did you hear about Brie and Gracie’s fight?

 

GIRL TWO

Yes! Oh my god, it was so dramatic. I heard it right from Brie when they finished.

 

GIRL ONE

I heard it from Gracie!

 

GIRL TWO

Oh my god, everyone else must be so jealous of how much those two tell us.

GIRL ONE

Literally.

GIRL TWO

What I heard was —

 

GOD visibly snaps his finger and the girls go silent. They still appear to be talking but the audience can no longer hear them.

 

GOD (to LEA)

Jealous?

 

LEA (completely falling apart by this point)

Shut up!

 

LEA buries her head in her hands. GOD snaps again and the girls are back to speaking but they are sped up — moving and speaking fast, but not seeming to notice themselves. GOD pulls out a book and begins to read. It is the same book (Dead Souls) that LEA had.

 

GIRL TWO

So I tell Brie, girlie, you have to get your sh*t together. Like, what is even happening? Like, yes she kissed your boyfriend, but we all know she was drunk and it’s not like you weren’t going to dump his ass sooner or later, so why don’t you just get over it?

 

GIRL ONE and GIRL TWO stand up and get off the train, still moving at an eerie 2x speed.

 

GOD/SUBWAY INTERCOM (in 2x speed)

This is 86th Street. The next stop is 96th Street. Take care of the closing doors, please.

 

GIRL ONE

Exactly! And like she knows that we’re all going to give her sh*t if they get together, so like they’re not going. It was just a kiss. Honestly, I would have kissed Ben too. He’s so hot.

 

GIRL TWO

Oh my god, you can not say that!

 

GIRL ONE

What? It’s true. Wouldn’t you?

 

GIRL ONE and GIRL TWO continue to talk until they are offstage. GOD is still reading. LEA takes her head out of her hands and breathes.

LEA

It’s going to be OK. I just need to get to the ice to skate more. No, JFK for a flight. No, Krispy Kreme. No, Luzzo’s. Where am I going? God! Where am I going?

 

GOD ignores LEA.

 

LEA (CONT’D)

What is happening? Just take a deep breath, Lea, you’re not going crazy, you just have to make it to the Met. It’s going to be OK.

 

LEA takes out her book, Dead Souls, and begins to read aloud.

 

LEA (CONT’D)

Niccoli Gogol. Dead Souls. Page 173. For contemporary judgment does not recognize that equally wondrous are the glasses that observe the sun and those that look at the movement of inconspicuous insect; for contemporary judgment does not recognize that—

 

GOD

much depth of soul is needed to light up the picture drawn from contemptible life and elevate it into a pearl of creation—

 

While LEA speaks, SADIE comes on stage, dancing a sort of ballet.

 

LEA (almost interrupting him)

for contemporary judgment does not recognize that lofty ecstatic laughter is worthy to stand beside the lofty lyrical impulse, and that a whole abyss separates it from the antics of the street-fair clown!

 

SADIE continues to dance as she speaks. It is a slow and sad dance. LEA is transfixed. GOD is still reading. SADIE slowly comes closer and closer to LEA, so close that Lea tries to reach out and touch her. SADIE jumps back, and dances to the door of the train car.

 

SADIE

This contemporary judgment does not recognize; and will turn it all into a reproach and abuse of the unrecognized writer; with no sharing, no response, no sympathy, like a familyless wayfarer, he will be left alone in the middle of the road. Grim is his path, and bitterly he will feel his solitude.

 

SADIE exits the train car.

 

LEA

Sadie!

 

LEA drops the book. It is very loud. She runs to the doors of the train car, but is body-slammed by the DEVIL and falls over backward before she can manage to get out.

 

LEA (from the ground)

Sadie no!

 

SADIE dances off stage. LEA stands up. GOD drops his book and GOD and the DEVIL both stand up and grab either of her shoulders. Everyone is speaking loudly by now, but not quite yelling.

 

LEA

Sadie, come back!

 

GOD

Where is your sister, Lea?

 

LEA

I don’t know! Let me follow her!

 

DEVIL

Where are you going, Lea?

 

LEA

The 96th Street Stop! I’m going to the 96th Street Stop! Where I always go for school!

 

DEVIL

No, you’re not! Where are you going, Lea!

 

LEA (screaming)

I don’t know!!

 

LEA falls over dramatically, almost unconcious. The lights flash, and there is a bang. Then, everything but the heartbeat goes quiet. The heartbeat is louder than before.

GOD/SUBWAY INTERCOM

This is 96th Street. This is the last stop on the train car. Please leave and take all of your belongings.

GOD

This is my stop.

 

The DEVIL tips his hat to GOD.

 

DEVIL

You got it boss.

 

GOD exits the train car.

 

GOD/SUBWAY INTERCOM

Take care of the closing doors, please.

 

LEA comes to.

 

LEA

Who are you? What’s happening? Get away from me!

 

LEA inches away from him.

 

DEVIL

What do you remember, Lea?

 

LEA

I told him! I don’t know! What is that sound?

 

DEVIL

What sound?

 

LEA

It sounds like a heartbeat.

 

DRUMMER ONE and DRUMMER TWO enter through the side of the stage. They set down their drums and begin to drum in time with the heartbeat, now even louder.

 

DEVIL

What do you remember, Lea?

 

LEA

I told him! I don’t know! I don’t know anything!

 

DEVIL

What happened at the pond?

LEA

Nothing! Nothing happened at the pond! We were skating and that’s it.

 

SADIE comes on stage and begins to mimic the things said.

 

 

DEVIL

That’s not true, and you know it!

 

LEA (near crying)

I know, I know, I’m sorry. I­- We were skating together.

 

LEA goes up and begins to mimic skating with SADIE.

 

LEA

We were skating together and I- I don’t know.

 

DEVIL

What did you do, Lea?

 

LEA

I pushed her! OK? I pushed her! And I didn’t mean for the ice to break, but it did, and she fell under.

 

LEA mimics pushing SADIE and she falls off the stage.

DEVIL

And then what, Lea?

 

LEA is panicked, crying, a wreck.

 

LEA

Get me out of here!

 

LEA gets up and runs to the door, but she bangs right into it. She begins pounding her fists on the door. The drums are loud, the lights are flashing, everything is very intense.

 

LEA (CONT’D)

Get me out of here!

 

LEA is reminded of the drummers. She points to them.

 

LEA (CONT’D)

Help! Please!

 

LEA runs over to the drummers.

 

LEA (CONT’D)

Please, help me, please! Please!

 

DEVIL

They can’t hear you, Lea.

 

LEA (crying)

How do you know my name? What’s happening?

 

DEVIL

Take a deep breath.

LEA does and everything begins to quiet down. Drummers are still playing the heartbeat.

 

DEVIL (CONT’D)

Now Lea, you have to tell me what happened next.

LEA gulps and goes to stand on the edge of the stage, staring down at SADIE.

 

LEA

I was staring at her and- and I was just watching her sink under.

 

DEVIL

Did you try to save her?

 

LEA

No.

 

DEVIL

Did you call for help?

 

LEA

No.

 

DEVIL

Did you do anything?

 

LEA

No.

 

DEVIL

And what happened next?

 

LEA

The ice began to sink, and I let it and I- I fell under.

 

DEVIL

Then what?

LEA

I- I drowned.

 

DEVIL

Yes.

LEA

Where am I right now?

 

DEVIL

You’re underneath the pond. Your lungs have filled with water, and oxygen isn’t being delivered to your heart anymore. Your heart has been trying to pump blood through your body, but your systems, they’re slowly shutting down.

 

 

 

LEA

Why am I here? Why- why on the Q train?

 

DEVIL

Everyone’s trip to the underworld is different. You’re here because you love this commute. It feels safe and comforting to you.

 

LEA

Oh.

 

LEA takes a deep breath.

 

LEA (CONT’D)

Am I dead yet?

 

DEVIL

Almost. Just a few more moments.

 

LEA

I never thought it would end like this.

 

DEVIL

You deserve this for what you did to your sister.

 

LEA (eyes closed)

I’m so sorry Sadie.

 

DRUMMER ONE and DRUMMER TWO play the heartbeat as it gets louder and louder, until as their last heartbeat is the ding of subway doors opening.

 

GOD/SUBWAY INTERCOM

Welcome to hell, Lea.