Stop.

By: Hannah Jahal

Characters (in order of appearance):

Ruth: Late 40s. Loving, warm, reasonable. Ivans mother.
Dan: Early 50s. Cold, calculating, critical. Ivans father. Business man/Workaholic.
Ivan: 23 years old. Sarcastic, resilient, awkward. Eldest brother of Charlie and
Remy.
Cara: 23 years old. Witty, caring, intelligent, bold. Ivans best friend.
Remy: 12 years old. Naive, quirky, inventive. Ivans little sister. She looked up to
both of her brothers.
Charlie: 21 years old. Creative, smart, adventurous. Middle child, brother of Remy
and Ivan.

Setting:
Takes place in the home of the Harlings in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

(The following lines are read overlapping each other in a cacophony. All lines are
said from backstage or through a recording.)

RUTH: You cant blame yourself forever.

DAN: There was nothing we couldve done to stop it.

RUTH: If only hed reached out.

DAN: If only we hadnt fought.

RUTH: You couldnt have known.

DAN: This is all your fault. He looked up to you.

RUTH: You were his role model. Why didnt you see it?

DAN: He wouldnt have been there in the first place, if it werent for you.

(The word, stop is seen as a projection onstage and the cacophony ends abruptly.)

-----------------

(IVAN and CARA are sitting in the smallest bedroom of the house, sitting on the floor
and looking through a couple of boxes.)
CARA: You know, you cant stay in here forever, right?

IVAN: Sure, I can. (he examines the trophy in his hands) Just bring me a supply of
food and cigarettes every week or so, and Ill survive.

CARA: Ha. Ha. Youre so funny. (she takes the trophy from him and places it in the
box gently) Im serious. Being in here isnt good for you. Remy is wondering where
youre at. She really needs you right now.

IVAN: I know. Believe me, I know. (he gets up and goes over to the bookcase,
taking a few books and looking through them)

CARA: I know this is hard. But--

IVAN: Can you believe this? (he scoffs and looks through the books) Conrad,
Faulkner, Passos, Hemingway? This kid sure knew how to pick up some light
reading.

CARA: Look, Ivan. We can do this later. Ill help you tonight. But right now, there are
people out there that are wondering where you are. And Remy. She needs you--

IVAN: I know that, Cara. I know that. Just--give me a second.

CARA: Youve been in here for twenty minutes--meanwhile, theres a wake

happening in the next room. Do you not have your speech ready or something?
Because I can--

IVAN: Dont you think I know that? (he grips the book even tighter) Theyre
counting on me being there. I get it. (he sets the book down on top of the bookcase)

CARA: (she puts a hand on his shoulder) Lets just go out there, alright?

IVAN: He doesnt want to see me, Cara. He cant stand to look at me right now. I
think those were his exact words, right? (he scoffs)

CARA: Hes just--not taking it well. Okay? He shouldnt be taking it out on you, but
you--

IVAN: Hes not just taking it out on me, he just blames me.

CARA: Ivan this isnt anyones fault.

IVAN: I dont want to talk about this right now. Youre right--lets just--get out there.
(IVAN places some books in one of the boxes and goes out into the living room,
where the wake is taking place. CARA follows him out. REMY runs up to him,
wrapping her arms around his waist.)

REMY: Ivan!

IVAN: Hey, kid. (he smiles and kneels down, hugging her back) How are you doin?

DAN: Remina, your mother needs to speak with you. (he comes up, his face stoic as
REMY goes back over to RUTH who is chatting with some of the guests.) Ivan. Nice
of you to finally grace us with your presence.

IVAN: (he straightens up) Im here, arent I?

DAN: (he moves closer to him) Your mother has been asking for you.

IVAN: That seems to be the common theme around here today.

(he takes out a pack of cigarettes and takes one out, inching toward the door)

DAN: What the hell are you doing? (he snatches the cigarette from him) Stop. Dont
you think that can wait?

IVAN: (he pushes his lighter back into his pocket.)

DAN: Just get over there.

(IVAN shuffles over to the corner of the room, near the casket and stands there,
scanning the room. Stifled lamenting fills the room and people slowly start to get
quiet, turning their attention to him.)

IVAN: (he clears his throat quietly and shifts uncomfortably in front of the small
crowd.) Hello, everyone. Uh, thank you all for coming. Your--support means
everything to us in our time of need. (he glances up to see DAN, exchanging
skeptical glances with RUTH) My brother was something. He was sharp--resourceful,
with the vocabulary of a 50 year old English professor. He was kind and silly and
good. He also had an unhealthy obsession with eating pizza rolls while watching the
news at 5:00 in the morning. (he chuckles and wrings his hands nervously) My
brother and I had this--morbid joke that if one of us ever (he clears his throat)
then, we would recite a poem we wrote together back when we were kids. Our only
collaborative work. Seeing as that poem is about how much we hated riding the
bus every morning and picking spitballs out of our hair after school, I think well
pass on that. (he chuckles along with the rest of the room) Uh, so instead, I think Ill
read a passage from his favorite book--one he would never shut up about. (he
reaches over and gets the book from the table next to the casket) Its from--

(DANs cell phone goes off and he reaches for it frantically, answering and taking it
outside.)

IVAN: Its from--(he looks over as the door slams, then looks back at the group of
people in the room, biting his lip) Excuse me. I--have to stop.

(IVAN rushes over to the door, following DAN outside, irate. He stomps over and
pulls the phone out of his fathers hand, throwing it to the ground.)

IVAN: Are you fucking kidding me?

DAN: What the--Ivan, dont start this now. (he picks the phone up, examining it for
damage) We dont have time for another one of your--

IVAN: Why, do you have another call to take?

DAN: Its work. You know I cant--

IVAN: (he overexaggerates, mocking him, irate) Mr. Harling! Always throwing his
family under a bus to make the best deal at work. Well, guess what? There is a room
full of our family, grieving the loss of your son, in there. (his voice breaks) And you
decide that now is the best time to take a conference call?

DAN: Regardless of what you may think, Im still trying to take care of this family. I
cant do that if I lose my job, now can I? Just go--

IVAN: Why is this not important to you? Why is this not the most important thing?
For one day?

(CARA comes outside and closes the door behind her quietly.)

CARA: What is going on out here?

DAN: You think this doesnt affect me? You think my heart isnt breaking just
because I have an obligation? You have no responsibility. No drive. You have no one
to take care of. So how dare you--

IVAN: Your obligation to your family is all that should matter right now! Have you
even asked Remy how shes dealing with this right now? And mom?
DAN: Who are you trying to impress with this tantrum, Ivan? How is this going to
help anything? Youre the one that pushed him to this! Maybe you should be
analyzing yourself instead of--

(IVAN scoffs and lunges at DAN, but CARA gets in front of him)

CARA: Ivan, no! (she pushes him back) Just stop.

IVAN: (he lets out a frustrated grunt and storms back into the house, going into
Charlies room.)