Scene: A hotel room, with a twin-sharing bed in the middle of the stage. A small writing table and a stool stand at the left. A series of wood panels laminated with the motif of brown balloons serve as the backdrop of the hotel room. A seascape photo hangs on one of the panels.

One night. Two nights. Three. Four five six. There are bottles of whiskey broken lying all around. Blood all over the bed. Under the bed. The medicine box. Empty of all pills.

The actor, playing as MAN TWO, enters the stage from the right when the PROMPTER raises the cue card "APPLAUSE".

***


MAN TWO: I feel unappreciated, perhaps slightly shortchanged. Maybe extremely shortchanged. Very shortchanged.




The PROMPTER raises his cue card "

"




MAN TWO: As you've said

desperately in need, you are,

of a stranger's hand

in this velvet playground

Well, the dream is ending

the dream is ending..




A shot rang out. So bright. And white.




MAN TWO lies on the ground, bleeding. He tried to crawl, to leave the place, but he couldn't.




The stage lights dim and the curtain closes.

***