An End
Int. House/Bedroom – Evening
CARRIE, a middle-aged, fairly attractive woman lies on top of her bed. She has her hair done up and she is wearing a fancy red dress—her high heeled shoes are still on her feet. Suddenly, there is a knock at her bedroom door.
CARRIE
Yep, I’m in here.
The door squeaks open and in walks JOHN, a man about Carrie’s age and quite handsome. He has just come from work, as he has on slacks and a collared shirt. He timidly sits at the edge of Carrie’s bed.
JOHN
You left that door unlocked.
CARRIE
Well you said you were on your way, so I figured-
JOHN
That’s really not safe, Carrie
Carrie laughs.
CARRIE
It was fine. I unlocked it a few minutes ago. I knew you’d try to open it anyway.
JOHN
I only do that to make sure you locked it.
CARRIE
Well I guess I appreciate that.
John pauses briefly, staring at Carrie.
JOHN
So are you going to tell me why you asked me to come over? Do you need me to fix something? Or is there maybe another box of my stuff somewhere in this house?
CARRIE
John, you know I gave you all of your stuff back before the divorce was finalized.
JOHN
Except that baseball I caught during- Carrie, you know I’m kidding.
CARRIE
I know. I know you are.
JOHN
Then why am I here?
Carrie takes a deep breath.
CARRIE
How many years were we married, John?
JOHN
Fifteen. Was that supposed to be a test?
CARRIE
And how many years have be been divorced?
JOHN
I think it’s been maybe eleven years. Where are you going with this?
CARRIE
We got married so young-
JOHN
We were twenty-four
CARRIE
-But we were so in love. I loved you so much. And I continued to for a long time. You loved me, right, John?
JOHN
Of course. Carrie, we’ve gone over all of this. What is so important about bringing up our past?
CARRIE
Do you still love me?
JOHN
What? What do you mean?
CARRIE
I know you still care. Do you still love me?
JOHN
(pauses)
I guess in a way.
CARRIE
I know. But if I were in trouble, you’d do what you could to help, right?
JOHN
Carrie, what is going on? What trouble?
CARRIE
Just answer me first.
JOHN
Yes, I would help. You’re starting to scare me. What the hell is going on?
CARRIE
(long pause)
I never beat it.
JOHN
Never beat what?
CARRIE
The cancer. It never went away. I still have it.
JOHN
No… no, the doctor said months ago that you were fine.
CARRIE
I forged that email.
JOHN
What? Why?
CARRIE
Because I didn’t want you or the kids to know that I- I’m dying.
JOHN
Dying? No. But- you’re fine, you look fine, the doctor said-
CARRIE
He didn’t, John. He didn’t say I was fine. He told me that I had a few months left. I didn’t want you or the kids to know. I wanted to enjoy the time I had left with my family, no matter how broken it is.
JOHN
Carrie, you’re not making any sense! You are not dying! You are fine, I talked with the damn doctor-
CARRIE
That was my dog walker. I paid him to make that call. I didn’t want you to know.
JOHN
Why?! Why wouldn’t you tell me that?! I can pay for any kind of treatment you need! Just tell me what you need!
CARRIE
This isn’t something you can fix. I’m very near to the end now. The only thing I need you to do at this point is to help me.
JOHN
Please, let me help! Let me take you to the hospital! Let me make this-
CARRIE
John, I need you to help me end my life.
JOHN
What?! No. Carrie. Stop. Don’t even start talking like that.
CARRIE
Please just hear me out. I went to the doctor for the last time today and he said I only have a few days left. Now I don’t want this fucking thing to get me. I’ve never let it get the best of me… I’m not about to start now. If I’m going out then I want to go out my way. I want to slip away peacefully, not slowly and painfully surrounded by unfamiliar doctors and tubes. I’m done with hospitals.
Carrie reaches into the drawer on her nightstand and pulls out a bottle of prescription pills.
JOHN
Carrie, stop! Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare kill yourself! Don’t you take a mother away from those kids! I won’t let you do this to yourself!
CARRIE
So you’d rather have the cancer do it for me?! Please, John! You were the only man I ever truly loved. I’m not quite sure if I ever completely stopped. I’ve left messages on all the kids’ machines already. I don’t want them to remember me like this… you’re right, they’re losing a mother. But you- you’ve always been there for me. My entire life. I need you to be here with me now- at the end of it.
JOHN
Carrie, stop-
CARRIE
Please.
(pause)
Will you just sit here with me? I just need you to sit with me. That’s all I’m asking. Talk to me. Talk about work. Talk about our past. Talk about how your mother is doing. Please-
JOHN
Carrie, you don’t know what you’re asking me to do-
CARRIE
I realize it sounds morbid and terrifying. I realize that. I’m sorry. But I don’t want to do this by myself. I’ve been by myself for too damn long- eleven goddamn years! Is it wrong for me to be selfish now? Is it wrong for me to want you here?
John looks bewildered.
CARRIE
I don’t think it’s wrong.
(pause)
Please, John. Talk. Talk until I’m asleep. Just sit here with me and talk. When I’m asleep, you can call the hospital or the kids or whomever you’d like. But for right now, let’s be husband and wife again? If only for a little while.
Carrie swallows the bottle of pills with some water. John doesn’t try to stop her.