Manifestations of Delphi

Delphi
Sometimes the lights go out. They just go out.
They go out and it’s done.
It’s done. Over.
Abrupt ending and the lights go out.
You can’t know when the end is coming.
How could you?

Evan
Feel it.

Delphi
Oh. But how can you know?

Evan
Feel it.

Delphi
You may feel it. How can you know?

Evan
Shock.

Dr. Joyce Canada
Pain can be deceiving.

Evan
Shock.

Dayton
Shock!

Dr. Joyce Canada
Shock can develop as a result of a reduction in the volume of fluid circulating around the body. The most common examples of this are external or internal bleeding, loss of bodily fluids through severe diarrhea, vomiting, or burns.

Evan
*/A cry of incomprehensible pain.

Delphi
*Fuck!

Evan
Want to crawl out of my skin!

Delphi
Why don’t you drive? Why the fuck don’t you drive? You’re never on time. Why can’t we ever get any where on time? I can tell you aren’t listening.

Evan
Wrecked my car. Totaled.

Delphi
I wasn’t the one driving.

Evan
You get behind the wheel drunk.

Delphi
You left me.

Evan
Weren’t watching the road.

Delphi
You left me. Betrayed me.

Evan
Never drive. You get behind the wheel drunk.

Delphi
You couldn't even look at me. Stand the sight of me.

Evan
I heard sirens. Screaming.

Delphi
The car split in half. I walked away.

Evan
You left me.

Delphi
I heard you screaming but I couldn’t find you.

Evan
Left me.

Delphi
I heard the screaming. The begging. I saw the fire.

Evan
I was screaming. I was screaming.

Delphi
I would have pulled you- I would have saved you.

Evan
I crawled out of the car.

Delphi
No.

Evan
I don’t remember. The seat belt held me tight. I couldn’t find the release. I heard the sirens but distant. They didn’t come right away. There was stillness at first. Silence. Then fire. Screaming.

Delphi
I felt the fire and reached for my seatbelt.

Evan
I felt my skin.

Delphi
I couldn’t break free.

Evan
No.

Delphi
I couldn’t break free.

Evan
Fire. It tore at my skin. I wanted to crawl out of my skin.

Delphi
I couldn’t break free.

Evan
You left me. I wanted out. I couldn’t get away from the heat. It tore at my skin. I wanted the breathing to stop. I heard the screaming. I heard the begging. Is this me?

Evan collapses. Delphi holds him.

Delphi
I loved you-but I couldn’t-

Delphi puts her hand over his mouth and starts to suffocate him.

Delphi
I won't let you go.

*/Evan struggles for an eternity then eventually gives up.

Delphi
*Stop. Stop. Oh god stop. Stop the breathing. Stop the breathing. Stop the breathing. Stop. Oh god can't you stop? Stop. Stop. Stop the air. Don’t you know air feeds fire? Air feeds fire. Shh. Shh. Shh. It's okay. It's okay. I won't let you go.

Silence.

Delphi Cont'd
I dreamed about you. You were driving. You had one hand on the wheel and one on my shoulder. It was…
(Us.)
in this…
(perfect moment.)
Your eyes
Everything moving fast around us.
I loved you.
I can’t believe I gave so much away.
I can’t keep doing this.
I can’t keep you…
You fucking owe me.
You fucking owe me.

Silence.

The silence is pierced by the ringing mechanism of a fire alarm.