Heaven's Gate (one-act play)

HEAVEN’S GATE by Karen Harper1

(Lights up on the Gate of Heaven.  It is dimly lit, and stars 2

hang from the ceiling.  Upstage center is the large, black, 3

wrought-iron gate.  Julius is sprawled out, face down, in 4

front of the gate.)5

JULIUS6

Ohhh... my head... Ughhh...7

(At left, enter Laila, Angel of the Lord.  She wears 8

glasses and a black business suit.  Tattered, black wings9

sprout from her back and she carries a clipboard and pen.)10

LAILA11

(reading from clipboard)12

Julius Marcus Popovich?13

JULIUS14

(raising hand)15

Here.  Hey, what the Hell-16

LAILA17

If you’d prefer Hell, that can be arranged.  If not, I suggest you watch your language.18

JULIUS19

Oh.  Sorry.20

LAILA21

Now, Julius Marcus Popovich, I need to ask you a few questions-22

JULIUS23

Jeez, why do you keep saying my whole name like that?  Just call me Julius-24

LAILA25

Your language, Julius Marcus Popovich!  I assure you, Beelzebub will be only too happy to welcome you if you keep this up.26

JULIUS27

What did I say this time?  Jeez!28

(Laila scowls at him.)29

JULIUS30

Oh.  Right.  Sorry.  Man, what a trip!31

LAILA32

Now we will proceed with the interrogation.  Julius Marcus Popovich, do you swear to tell the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?  Be aware that I can read your mind, and any falsehood you speak will be used against you and may result in your disqualification.33

JULIUS34

Great, I’ve got Miss Cleo for a judge.  What kind of fair trial is this?  35

LAILA36

I enforce God’s law, Julius Marcus Popovich.  It is not a question of fairness.  37

JULIUS38

God’s law?  You ever heard of separation of church and state, lady?39

LAILA40

Your insolence does not amuse me.  Do not forget whose court you are in!41

JULIUS42

Yeah, some crazy, religious maniac’s court!  Jeez, lady, what kind of judge wears wings, for Christ’s sake?  This is a real bad trip.  Where’s Cara?  I guess I dropped too much acid.  I want to go home.43

LAILA44

Cara is dead.  And I suggest you watch your language.45

JULIUS46

(laughing hysterically)47

OK... yeah, wow.  This is some kind of crazy trip, man.  First I wake up in this place, then I get questioned by this freaky lady, and now my wife is dead.  Ha!  Man, I really need to lay off the acid, huh?  48

LAILA49

Too bad that didn’t occur to you before the accident.50

JULIUS51

(still laughing)52

Man, this just gets weirder and weirder.  Cara!  Cara, sweetheart, I’m all messed up.  Cara, come here, baby.53

LAILA54

Your wife is dead, Julius Marcus Popovich.  That is the reason I’m here to interrogate you.55

(Pause)56

JULIUS57

Screw you.58

LAILA59

Do you see this gate, Julius Marcus Popovich?  Your wife Cara passed through it just a little while ago.  I’m here to determine whether or not you will, too.60

JULIUS61

What- No.  No.  This isn’t happening.  I’m tripping.  I- She-62

LAILA63

I’m sorry.  Please accept it now so we can get down to business.64

JULIUS65

(lunging towards Laila)66

Shut up!  Just shut up, you goddamned little-67

LAILA68

I am Laila, Angel of the Lord!  You will not lay a hand on me!69

(Julius collapses in front of her, stunned.)70

LAILA71

And watch your language.72

JULIUS73

(weeping)74

Goddamn it.  No.  No.  What happened?  Where am I?  Where’s Cara?75

LAILA76

I know it’s hard, but please, work with me here.  I have to report back to Him in half an hour.77

JULIUS78

Him?  Oh, God... God, I just want to die...79

LAILA80

You are dead, Julius Marcus Popovich.81

JULIUS82

OK, fine.  I’m dead.  I don’t know what to believe anymore, so that’s just dandy.83

LAILA84

Let us proceed, then.  Now, Julius Marcus Popovich, do you swear to tell the whole truth-85

JULIUS86

I don’t do the whole swearing thing, OK?  I’m an atheist.  87

LAILA88

You’re not being very cooperative.  Perhaps I’ll let Beelzebub deal with you-89

(She pulls out a cell phone, turns on the speaker, and dials.  Someone answers in a loud, incoherent growl.  In the background is the sound of humans screaming in agony.)90

JULIUS91

No!  Hey, listen, lady- Your Honor, whatever.  What if I promise to tell the truth?  I’ll promise, but no swearing.  Is that good enough?92

LAILA93

(considering)94

OK.  I’ll accept your promise, but no swearing.  Agreed?95

JULIUS96

(grumbling to himself)97

Agreed.98

LAILA 99

Very good.  Now, tell me, what was the last thing you remember?100

JULIUS101

I remember- sitting beside my wife, Cara.  We were on our way home.102

LAILA103

Yes.  And then what?104

JULIUS105

I don’t want to talk about it.106

LAILA107

Julius Marcus Popovich.  You promised.108

JULIUS109

Fine.  We were on our way home, and everything was kind of fuzzy-like, you know?  Just kind of blurry, and colorful- and dreamy- like, I don’t know.  Just beautiful.  And then...110

LAILA111

Continue, please.112

JULIUS113

I don’t- I guess we hit something.  I mean, I felt an impact, but I don’t know what happened.  I don’t know, ok?114

LAILA115

Were you driving under the influence?116

JULIUS117

Yes.  Does that make you happy?  Yes, I was high as a kite, ok?118

LAILA119

Very good.  Julius Marcus Popovich, do you realize that both you and your wife would still be alive had you been sober?120

JULIUS121

No!  Don’t put it on me, man.  I never wanted this to happen.  Please-122

LAILA123

It doesn’t matter whether or not you wanted this to happen.  The fact is that two people are dead as a result of your carelessness.124

JULIUS125

I’m sorry!  What do you want me to say?  I’m sorry...126

(breaks down)127

LAILA128

I cannot make a decision based on your testimony alone.  I call to the witness stand Cara Marie Popovich, wife of the defendant.129

(Laila produces a large key and unlocks the gate.  Cara 130

enters, dressed in white.  She spots Julius and crosses her131

arms, scowling.)132

JULIUS133

Cara!  Baby, I’m sorry.  I’m so sorry.134

CARA135

I’m sorry too, Julius.  136

LAILA137

Cara Marie Popovich, give me your account of the accident, please.138

CARA139

Your Honor, my husband was on acid the night of the accident.  We were on our way home from a party when he started mumbling something about- pretty sparkly shiny things- and he swerved and hit a tree.140

JULIUS141

Cara- baby, please-142

LAILA143

Silence!  It is not your turn to speak, Julius Marcus Popovich.  Cara Marie Popovich, you say your husband was intoxicated at the time of the accident.  Was he a frequent drug user?144

CARA145

(not looking at Julius)146

Yes, Your Honor.  Almost every night of the week, it was something else with him.  Acid, coke, meth, booze.  And always running to me to make it all better.  Always looking to me for comfort when things got too scary and he couldn’t handle it anymore.147

(Turning to Julius)148

Baby, you’re better than that.  I don’t know why you- let things get so out of hand.  I love you, Julius, but- we’re dead now, honey.  When will you ever learn?149

JULIUS150

Cara, I’m sorry, sweetheart.  I’m so sorry.  I never meant for any of this to happen.  Please believe me, Cara.  I love you.151

CARA152

I know you didn’t mean it, baby.  But that doesn’t change what happened.  153

LAILA154

No, it doesn’t change what happened. 155

(Pause)156

Cara Marie Popovich, were you aware that your husband was under the influence when you got into the car?157

CARA158

What?  No.  No.  I didn’t know.  No.159

JULIUS160

You tried to take the keys from me!161

CARA162

What? I did not!  163

JULIUS164

You tried to grab the keys-165

CARA166

You lie!167

JULIUS168

-and you begged me not to drive-169

CARA170

Stop it!  Stop lying!171

JULIUS172

If only I’d listened to you-173

CARA174

No!  175

(To Laila)176

He lies!177

LAILA178

Silence!  Answer the question, please.  Did you, or did you not, know that your husband was intoxicated that night?179

CARA180

I didn’t know... I didn’t.  I swear it.181

LAILA182

You swear it?  I can read minds, Cara Marie Popovich.  I’m giving you a chance to tell the truth here.  I suggest you tell the whole truth, or face the consequences.183

CARA184

I already went through the gate!  Don’t put this on me!  I’m saved!185

LAILA186

Your innocence... was assumed.  Sometimes... He makes mistakes.187

CARA188

Mistakes?  This is Heaven. Give me a break.  189

LAILA190

Because you were not at the wheel, it didn’t occur to Him to question you.  But now, it seems that your innocence is doubtful.191

CARA192

I’ve put up with this man’s bullshit for the past eight years, and you’re telling me that I am to blame?!  Hell, no!193

LAILA194

Watch your language!  And answer the question.195

JULIUS196

Just do it, baby.197

CARA198

I... What does it matter?  You already know, anyway.  What does it matter now?199

JULIUS200

Cara, please-201

LAILA202

It does matter.  It matters whether or not you can take responsibility for your actions.  It matters that you can accept the consequences.203

CARA204

I am not responsible for his actions!  Do you know what he’s put me through?  Do you?  I’m saved, ok?  I’m through with this.205

(She turns and walks to the gate.  Laila rushes to stop her.)206

LAILA207

You would be alive now if you hadn’t gotten into that car.208

CARA209

Well, I’m not alive, am I?  It’s a little late for that.210

LAILA211

Why did you do it?  212

CARA213

He told you.  I tried to stop him, ok?  I’m telling the truth.  Happy now?214

LAILA215

No.  Why did you get into the car with him when you knew he was high?  216

CARA217

Because I- What else was I supposed to do?218

LAILA219

You could have saved yourself.220

CARA221

And who would have made sure he got home safely?222

LAILA223

No one asked you to be a martyr, Cara Marie Popovich.  224

CARA225

I did what I was supposed to do.  I stayed by his side through all this, the drinking, the drugs, the abuse.  I was there, till death do us part.  I was a good wife.  I’m not responsible for what happened that night. 226

LAILA227

Then why did you lie to me?228

CARA229

Why do you think?  I didn’t want to be blamed for what happened.  It’s not my responsibility!230

LAILA231

(roaring)232

You had a responsibility to yourself, to live!233

(Silence.)234

All those years of playing the victim, pushing yourself aside to take care of him.  Did you ever think of taking care of yourself for once?235

CARA236

I did what I had to do!  I was a good wife!  237

LAILA238

Were you, really?  Was being a good wife all you knew how to do?  Stand by your man, grin and bear it?  How noble of you, really.239

(Cara spits at her.)240

CARA241

You bitch-242

(Laila takes a step towards Cara, who cringes.)243

LAILA244

Have you learned anything here today, Cara Marie Popovich?245

CARA246

I will not take responsibility for his actions!247

LAILA248

You were not responsible for his actions.  You were responsible for your own.249

JULIUS250

(weeping)251

Cara, I’m sorry.  I’m sorry.  I wish to God you hadn’t gotten into the car.  I love you.  I’m so sorry.252

CARA253

I’m sorry too, Julius.  I’m sorry I wasn’t able to stop you.254

LAILA255

I’m sorry, Cara.256

(She handcuffs Cara.)257

CARA258

I’m not guilty!  Go to Hell!259

LAILA260

We will, shortly.  And Julius-261

CARA262

He killed us both!263

LAILA264

That is true.  But he sees the error of his ways, and you do not.265

(She unlocks the gate.)266

Go, Julius.  You have repented.  Walk in the light.267

JULIUS268

Cara-!269

LAILA270

Go.271

JULIUS272

You can’t do this-273

LAILA274

Go now, before I change my mind.275

(Silence.  Julius and Cara look at each other for a moment.   276

He turns and walks through the gate, looking back at Cara.  277

Laila closes and locks the gate behind him.)278

CARA279

Julius!280

(She continues screaming his name as Laila leads her offstage281

right.  Julius looks after them silently from the other side of the gate as the lights fade to black.)282

THE END283