The Director Sector

SCENE 5 - The street

(ROLF is centerstage, still in the ragged clothes.  He looks relieved, refreshed.  He’s free from DEVIL’s obligations.)

ROLF

You know, what I’ve realized?  I don’t need any of that crap.  The house was too big, the clothes too nice.  The servants were always underfoot.  No, no, this is better.  This is freedom.

(GIRL enters.  She’s furious.)

ROLF
Honey…

GIRL
Don’t “honey” me, you bastard.  What the hell did you do?

ROLF
Honey, I can explain–

GIRL
How could you?  How could you throw away everything?

ROLF
But we don’t need all that.  It’s just noise, it’s extraneous, it’s–

GIRL
I need it, Rolf.  I need it!

(ROLF approaches her, to comfort her.  She avoids his affections.)

ROLF
Hey, hey, we can live on love, cause love is worth much more than–

(GIRL, disgusted, leaves.  ROLF calls out after her.)

ROLF
Do you love me?  Do you? Or are you just.. you know.. digging for gold? Huh?  Are you?

(DEVIL appears.)

DEVIL
Of course I am.  That’s what I do, you know.

ROLF
You!

DEVIL
Me.

ROLF
Go away.  Just get the hell out of here and leave me alone.

DEVIL
You see, Rolf, once you sign this contract, you can never be free of me.  You’re mine, for all eternity.

ROLF
Eternity? What do you mean?

DEVIL
See for yourself.

(DEVIL hands ROLF the Contract.  ROLF scans it quickly.  He looks up at DEVIL, then reads it again more carefully.)

ROLF
“I, Rolf, hereby referred to as the CLIENT, do hereby sign over my soul to Mephistopholes, hereby known as OWNER, for all eternity…”

What? I didn’t sign this.

DEVIL
Yes you did.

ROLF
No, no way.

DEVIL
Keep reading.

ROLF
“Upon signing this Contract,  the CLIENT may receive items and services from the OWNER.  Acceptance of these items constitute acceptance of the following:  upon death, the soul of the CLIENT transfers to the possession of the OWNER.  Once items are accepted by the CLIENT, there can be no return.  The deal may not be broken, except by the consent or death of the OWNER.  If said items are rejected, payment by CLIENT is due to OWNER within 24 hours.”

DEVIL
You see, my friend, you have no choice.  You are mine.

ROLF
Never.

DEVIL
Always.  You have no choice.

(ROLF rips the document.  The DEVIL laughs and pulls out another Contract from his jacket pocket.)

Nice try.  You see, Rolf.  I like souls.  I like your soul.  It’s got a certain charm to it.  You see, I like a hard-earned soul.  I like it when they fight back.  So by fighting back, Rolf, you’re giving me what I want.  Entertainment.

ROLF
That’s all I am to you? Some game?

DEVIL
Of course not.  You’re so much more than that to me.  But eternity is such a long time, and this contest I’ve got going, well.. Let’s just say I’m not going to lose it.

ROLF
I’m just another notch on your belt, then.  Just another.. conquest.

DEVIL
You make it sound so… horrible.

ROLF
Well it is horrible!

DEVIL
No!

ROLF
Yes!

DEVIL
Say it ain’t so!

ROLF
It is!

DEVIL
Well, too bad.  I’m the Devil, after all.  It’s supposed to be horrible, aren’t I?  Nevertheless, since you’ve rejected the things I’ve given you, then I suppose my payment is due.

ROLF
Your payment?

DEVIL
Your soul, of course.  I want it.  Now.

ROLF
What’s that mean?

DEVIL
Well, I can’t have your soul until you die, so… my friend Thanatos should be here any moment to… well, you know how it works.

ROLF
How what works?

DEVIL
What?

ROLF
Who’s Thanatos and what is he gonna to do?

DEVIL
Well he takes this… it’s really easy, really, he just takes… Well, he’s got this scythe, and he waves it around somehow, and..

ROLF
Death? Thanatos is Death?

DEVIL
Well, if you want to be crude…

ROLF
Death? You’re going to have me killed cause I don’t want to play your little game?  You’re gonna KILL me?

DEVIL
When you put it like that…

(beat.)

Yes.

ROLF
ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!
You think you can just waltz in, screw with someone’s head, and take their soul?

DEVIL
That is what I do, after all.

ROLF
Well I’m ain’t gonna like it.

(DEVIL raises his hand, ROLF falls too his knees uncontrollably.  He’s in pain.)

DEVIL
You’re mine, whether you like it or not.  You see, Rolf, life is nothing but a game.  You’re just a pawn on my chessboard.  You’re not even important.  I’ve got dozens more just like you waiting right now, and hundreds more already behind me.  Thousands.  You’re mine, Rolf.  You can’t lose.  You can’t run.  You can’t hide.  And most importantly, you can’t resist.

You’ve sold your soul, Rolf, to a very, very greedy buyer.

ROLF
What.. what are you going to do with me?

DEVIL
Why, I’m going to kill you myself.  Your soul is worthless to me while you live, especially since you’ve rejected my gifts.  (beat)  My, my, my.  Looks like you’re really nervous.  You’re sweating like a pig.

ROLF
Shut up.  Just shut up and get it over with.

DEVIL
Now why would I do that? This is highly entertaining to me, Rolf.  I am, after all, the master of evil, and.. well, this is just plain fun.

(DEVIL flicks his wrist and ROLF screams in agony)

ROLF
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, STOP!

(DEVIL winces)

DEVIL
Don’t say that.  (flicks his wrist again.  ROLF screams again)

ROLF
OH MY GOD, STOP!!

DEVIL
I said, don’t say that! (flicks his wrist again)

ROLF
I’LL KILL YOU! I’LL KILL YOU!

DEVIL
No, I’ll kill YOU! (begins to flick his wrist again, but ROLF manages to elbow him in the nuts.  DEVIL howls.  ROLF jumps to his feet and runs).  Come back here! Get back here, I said!

(blackout)