Attempting Fate

In March of 2011 I churned out this short piece from an idea that my friend Ces brought to me (I’d previously written a one-act for her A-level drama group about the women in Alfred Hitchcock’s life, which seems all but lost to the ages). I honestly do not recall anything else about this, but I might consider polishing it in future.

INT. FLAT — EVENING

Flat can be interpreted however you wish, it depends on your own view of the protagonist’s income and lifestyle. It must be clear, however, that the flat itself is on a higher floor than ground level. The MAN comes rushing on stage, gathering randomly strewn items of clothing from around the place. MATE pursues.

MAN

No! Listen, I just can’t have you here in my flat any longer. You eat my food, you break my stuff, you befoul my shower-

MATE

Hey, I’ve already explained that-

MAN

That wasn’t an explanation! That was just more reason for me to kick your sorry face out of here! Yet you persist to do such things!

MAN forces gathering of clothes into the MATE

MATE

You think I’m trying to make you angry at me or something? Now, I can understand that you’re pretty mad with me right now, but I-

MAN

You finally figured that out all by yourself? Bra-vo! Well done. You shit. Now get out.

MATE

Oh? Sarcasm? Well aren’t we mature!

MAN

Out!

MATE

There’s no need to raise your voice-

MAN

I said get out and I meant it too!

MATE

Fine! I have places to go anyway!

MATE leaves Flat violently. MAN is left alone, pacing and tidying the area in silence.

MAN

Damn… What the hell?

MAN collapses and hits the floor.

MAN (CONT’D)

Heh. Sure, we’re friends. I’ll give it a few hours, then I’ll calm down. But I’m not apologising.

The sound of a painful clashing fall is heard

MATE (O.S.)

Aaaaaaargh!!!

MAN

What the?!? Hey! Hey!!!

MAN runs offstage

MAN (O.S.) (CONT’D)

No! Hey! … Why aren’t you moving? … Hey! … Hey! … Shit.

MAN comes back on stage, dragging the MATE who is flung over his shoulder. He drops the MATE center stage and tries to make them comfortable.

MAN (CONT’D)

Hey! Wake up! You can take a fall like that – I know you – Always throwing yourself into things. Heh! Come on! Stop-

MAN checks for pulse and breathing, but finds nothing.

MAN (CONT’D)

No… No… No! GOD DAMMIT! Why were you carrying so damn much, you idiot!? You- You- IDIOT!

MAN backs away from the body and slumps against the wall. FATE enters, expressionless, and stands over the body. MAN sees fate and panics.

MAN (CONT’D)

Who the hell are you? Get away from my friend! Get away now!

MAN makes a mad run at FATE, but FATE raises a hand up to the MAN, stopping him instantly, and inducing a daze.

FATE

I am Fate. I am that which is and those that are. I will be, have been and I am. I say what and when and how – not necessarily why, though. I like keeping my intentions to myself. I say the event and the time and the place, as I have done and will do until I am unnecessary. I say you are alive, and I say your friend here is dead.

MAN

What? … What is this? …. Wha-

FATE

You are in a stupor, as I intend you to be, and have so intended you to be. Feel free to question my intention, but prevention of my intention is out of the question. I will not provide answers, only means. If there’s a means you seek, reveal it – I am Fate.

MAN

… I … Why did you-

FATE

I did nothing to his person here before me and I have no intention to do anything to this person here before me. This person here before me is dead. I am Fate, I merely said what and when and how.

MAN

Then … Then why did you say now?

FATE

It was his time. I wouldn’t argue with fate if I were you, but as I am not you and never will be you, I shall allow myself a question. Oh, Fate, Why hast thou appeared?

MAN

Yes- Yes, why are you here?

FATE

Please do not reply to my question, for I was addressing myself, and shall answer myself. I have appeared because you know you were a factor contributing to the fate of the corpse here before me. And as a factor of the fate, you are therein a factor of… Me. For I am Fate.

MAN

No. This just doesn’t make sense.

FATE

Sense? I never intended such a thing. I do not believe in it either. How inconceivable! Sense! A thing that puts restrictions on existence and exists to restrict that which we experience. Sense also brings pain – As ignorance is bliss, so sense is anguish.

MAN

Please stop. I’m still trying to comprehend what you are, let alone your views on nonsensical things…

FATE

I am Fate.

MAN

And as Fate, you must have the power to take things back!

FATE

I certainly would not deny it.

MAN

Then take me back a few minutes ago! Please!? I beg you! Please?

FATE

… Very well. Your inability to comprehend my coherent explanations persuades me somewhat. To value Fate and that which I control, you must first experience lack of control. I shall take you back. Awake, and return.

FATE leaves the stage as FATE’s Minions scatter the MATE’s clothing all over the set as it was before. Upon their exit, the MATE awakes.

MAN

Ha! You’re alive!

The two get up, the MAN grasps his MATE, trying to control his overwhelming relief and excitement.

MATE

Woah, woah, woah! What do you mean? You were just yelling at me for being unbearable to live with – and now you want a hug?

MAN

Oh. Right… You don’t remember what happened. I mean… What’s going to happen… I mean… What was going to happen, but isn’t any more!

MATE

What the hell are you on about?

There is a knocking at the door.

MAN

Hang on… That didn’t happen last time…

MATE

What are you on about? People knock on doors; it’s just something people do. You understand how that works, right?

MAN goes and opens the door. STRANGER bursts in.

MATE (CONT’D)

No! No! How- How did you find me? I didn’t tell anyone-

STRANGER

You didn’t tell anyone where you lived? Of course you didn’t – which is why it was so much harder to track you down. For giving me more work, I’m gonna make you pay.

MAN

What the hell is going on? Who are-

STRANGER pulls a gun out and points it at the MAN

STRANGER

If you want to live, you’ll remain ignorant. This Mo’ here owes me for more than you’d like to know. What will proceed here is an honest-to-god punishment that you’re gonna forget about the second it’s over. Understood?

MAN

Understood? Understood?!?

MATE

Hey, man! Help me here!

The STRANGER turns the gun onto the MATE and shoots point blank into the chest. The MATE falls to the ground, dying.

STRANGER

That’s what this idiot gets for trying to talk out of turn. If I find that you’ve told a single soul about me, I cannot be responsible for your fate.

The STRANGER exits. The MAN hesitates, but quickly runs to his MATE’s side.

MAN

No! Not again! I’ve already had to go through you dying once! You idiot! What- What the hell were you doing, messing with people like that? Why didn’t you- … Why didn’t you tell me? …

FATE enters again, and stand close to the MAN as he cradles his MATE.

FATE

Are you not relieved?

A silence as the MAN tries to understand the question.

MAN

… Rel- … Relieved … Relieved? What the HECK do you mean?!? Am I not relieved?! What’s your problem?

FATE

I choose to ignore your banter. Now listen, and understand – That strange person was there the whole time, you did not see him the first time because it was he that pushed your friend down the stairs from your flat. I bring you relief from your grief.

MAN

But why did you put me through that again? Are you sadistic?

FATE

I am nothing but fate – to fully comprehend my functionality one must first function to my comprehension. It was your friend’s fate to die then and there. Though you change your path the second time around, you have not the capacity or power to change the path of those around you. Their fate is not to be molded by you.

MAN

You knew I wanted my friend live, and yet you knew they’d die. You have no right to toy with me!

FATE

You expressively suggested I return you to before your friend’s death. And so I did. I sent you to a little time before your friend’s death, and undoubtably, your friend suffered the end of life survival not long after your arrival.

MAN

Then I ask again, send me back.

FATE

For what purpose? Though I have knowledge of your answer, your answer fails to give me knowledge of your intention. Your answer?

MAN

To prove you wrong, Fate, to prove you wrong.

FATE

We are under your roof and between your walls, and I am an infrequent frequenter of your abode. Therefore I suggest I am your guest and must adhere to your request.

FATE exits. FATE’s minions heal the MATE’s wounds and exit. Once again, the MATE returns to life. This time, there is a silence between the two for a while.

MATE

Look. I’m sorry for behind such a weight on your life, man. I guess I’m just so attached to this place that I think it’s my old home, where I ruled the roost, you know?

MAN

Heh. So – If I stayed silent for longer, you’d have apologised.

MATE

Heh – Umm.. What do you mean?

MAN

Look, I have no time to explain things to you in depth, but I have to tell you one thing – there is a man about to arrive at the door who will kill you.

MATE

… You know that’s not funny.

MAN

It’s true, I swear. He thinks you owe him something.

MATE

How- how did you know about that?

MAN

Ehh… You died. Twice. And each time, I met Fate. I met the physical form of Fate. Your fate? My fate? I really don’t know. Perhaps our universal fate. Either way, Fate sent me back to before your death, and each time it was because of…

There is the same knocking at the door. The two know that it is the STRANGER, and they look at each other in horror. The shock over the MATE’s face calms into a softer look.

MATE

… Look. I’m going to believe you right now, since believing you is the safest option open to me. Heh. But before anything happens, I want you to know that I really am sorry for everything – not just the bad things I’ve done to you, but for everything. I’m living my life in regret. Hell – I’m living what could be the final few seconds of my life in regret. I only wish Fate could have come to ME earlier in my life and told ME what would happen if I chose the decisions that I did. Maybe then I could’ve had a second chance … But what now? Here – go into the kitchen and fetch me a good sized knife or two. I don’t wanna know how I died before, I just hope that I ain’t gonna die again this time.

The knocking comes again, but louder and harder.

MAN

(whilst fetching the knife, so that his MATE doesn’t hear him speaking)

If Fate came to you earlier, you’d have died today anyway, I’m sure of that now. But how about a little something Fate wasn’t counting on?

The MAN returns brandishing a large knife. The MAN stands at the door and the MATE remains in the center of the room.

MAN (CONT’D)

You ready?

MATE

Yeah. I’m ready. No matter what happens, it’ll be release from something; bondage here to my earthly body or bondage to my debt and regret. I’ll be free.

The MAN nods and opens the door; once again the STRANGER bursts in, and goes straight for the MATE

STRANGER

You left me waiting while I was knocking. That wasn’t very polite. And for that, I’m gonna-

Suddenly, the MAN attacks the STRANGER from behind and delves the knife deep into his back. The STRANGER screams and the MATE fumbles around the twitching, sunken STRANGER until he finds the gun and fires it point blank at the STRANGER. The instant that the trigger is pulled, the MATE also falls back to the ground, clutching his chest. The STRANGER slows down convulsing with pain until complete stillness. The MAN falls to his knees beside his MATE.

MAN

What happened? Why did you fall?

MATE

R- R- … Ricochet… C- C- Can you … Believe it? … Heh …

MAN

Don’t go! Don’t die again! No!

MATE

B- Because we saw th- th- this coming, I d- d- do n- not regret it … B- But for the life I have l- l- led, I regret … everything.

The MATE dies once again, and FATE returns.

FATE

As I retorted to your request to reset the events of your friend’s death – Your friend is dead. Your friend is dead. Your friend was fated to die, and finally met his fate in death.

MAN

You are done now; I do not intend to go back again. Leave me.

FATE

Hark, you. I shall leave you and I shall never return. I shall never be the fate to you as I was to your friend and this stranger here before me. You took away the life and altered the path of this person who was not by me fated to die. My folly was to allow you return to the past. Your folly shall never allow you to meet your fate in death. I banish you from release from the mortal coil; for all eternity will you remain a conscious being, unable to die, but able to witness the death of everyone you’ll ever know and love.

MAN

No! I did not wish for death either, but I do not wish for its absence! You will never again take me to relive this experience, but I will relive it in each companionship I find again here on earth. Kill me. Allow me to live AND die.

FATE

You cannot be the master of Fate. What will be, will be – Que Sera Sera. I have dealt my conclusion and I am conclusive in my dealings. Good day, fool. Enjoy eternity!

FATE exits once again, leaving the lights of the flat dim, and leaving the MAN all alone.

MAN

I cannot ever die – I can’t live without pain. I’ll always be living, to live through this again. As dealt to me by fate, this is my punishment. An awful, wicked state; this unjust arrangement. What moral do I hold? The lesson that I lack. Beware choices in life – you cannot take them back.

The end.