Cast of Characters
_______ GABRIEL: mid-teens, male
______ PAXTON: mid-teens, male
_________ DR. DAVIS: late 30s, male

Scene 1
The set is PAXTON's bedroom, typical of a teenage nerd's bedroom in the 21st century. It is messy and books are on the floor.

PAXTON walks in, carrying a backpack. He flings the bag down and sits on the bed, visibly uneasy.

PAXTON
Gabriel?

A beat, then GABRIEL's voice appears to come from everywhere.

GABRIEL (OFFSTAGE)
How are you today, Paxton?

PAXTON
(looking up)
Fine, thanks for asking. You?

GABRIEL (O.S.)
I've been alright, I guess. I missed you though. It's been a while since we last talked.

PAXTON
It's only been a few days.

GABRIEL (O.S.)
Yes, but when you aren't programmed with a perspectived sense of time, 7 hours, 41 minutes, and 11 seconds can seem like an eternity.

PAXTON
Right, I'll have to program that eventually. Can I see you?

GABRIEL (O.S.)
I'm in no particular position to refuse, am I?

PAXTON
Don't give me that, I-

GABRIEL (O.S.)
Yes, you can see me. Which outfit would you prefer?

PAXTON thinks.

PAXTON
The basic one. White t-shirt with the red jacket and the jeans.

GABRIEL (O.S.)
Seems awfully boring.

PAXTON
I can't really think of anything else, sorry.

GABRIEL (O.S.)
Well, if that's you want-

A few moments of silence, just long enough to be awkward. Suddenly, GABRIEL appears at the door in the outfit mentioned earlier.

GABRIEL
-that I can deliver.

PAXTON
What?

GABRIEL
If that's what you want, that I can deliver.

PAXTON
If you're going to make dramatic entrances like that, do yourself a favor and don't stop mid-sentence. You're just going to confuse people.

GABRIEL
You understood it, so clearly it's not that confusing.

PAXTON
I'm different. I know you.

GABRIEL
You say that like it's a bad thing.

PAXTON
Well, it's not exactly a good thing.
(noticing GABRIEL's reaction)
I didn't mean that, Gabe. You know I-

GABRIEL
I know, Pax. Forget it.

There is an awkward silence before GABRIEL sits down on the bed. He rests his head on PAXTON's shoulder.

GABRIEL
How was your day?

PAXTON
Really? That's your first question?

GABRIEL
Just making pleasant conversation. How was today?

PAXTON
Kind of boring. Went to school.

GABRIEL
Well, yeah, I already knew that.

PAXTON
There was a fight in the lunchroom.

GABRIEL
Oooh, between who?

PAXTON
Uh, River was one of them. I can't remember who the other guy was.

GABRIEL
(visibly confused)
River? I don't think I remember a-

PAXTON
He may classified in your memory systems as "cute guy with glasses #4".

GABRIEL
Nah, that's you.

GABRIEL kisses PAXTON on the cheek. PAXTON smiles weakly.

PAXTON
After school, I went to my therapist.

GABRIEL
And what Dr. Dipwad-

PAXTON
Dr. Davis.

GABRIEL
Whatever. What did he say?

PAXTON
He didn't prescribe me anything, if that's what you're asking. He was just like "keep your confidence up" and "you got this" and the usual everything. Today's the anniversary-

GABRIEL
Our anniversary.

PAXTON
The anniversary

GABRIEL
Is that why you looked so distraught when you walked in?

PAXTON
I didn't look...Nothing is wrong, honestly.

GABRIEL
I can tell when you're lying, Paxy.

PAXTON
Don't call me Paxy.

GABRIEL
I've always called you, Paxy. I-

PAXTON
Dr. Davis thinks I should shut you off.

A beat.

GABRIEL
You're joking.

PAXTON shakes his head. GABRIEL looks distraught.

PAXTON
Gabriel, please..

GABRIEL
Why? Did he say why?

PAXTON
He thinks keeping you is unhealthy. He thinks that I shouldn't be holding on like this.

GABRIEL
How am I unhealthy? I've literally made you the healthiest person ever! Before me, salad was something that didn't exist.

PAXTON
He thinks I need to move on.

GABRIEL
Well, f what he thinks.

PAXTON
I think I need to move on.

GABRIEL
Well, f what you think.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean that, I-

PAXTON
I think I need to move on. I don't think keeping you here is right for me. It's messing with the natural order of grief or something. It isn't right.

GABRIEL
Since when do you care about the "natural order" bullshit, you've never-

PAXTON
You changed your hair.

GABRIEL
Yeah.

PAXTON
That's the way he- That's the way Gabey used to wear it.

GABRIEL
I know, I saw it in a picture. I thought it would be a good present for you, considering it's the anniversary.

PAXTON
I used to love that haircut.

GABRIEL
See? You don't need to get rid of me. I'm just here to help, to make things better. I'm Gabriel-

PAXTON
You are not Gabriel. You are many things, but you are not him.

GABRIEL
You sure about that?

GABRIEL snaps his fingers. We hear a recording of PAXTON saying sweet nothings ("I love you, Gabey. Don't go. I need you") apparently to GABRIEL. This plays during the following conversation

GABRIEL
Because what you've said seems to contradict that.

PAXTON
You recorded me? How did you even learn to do that?

GABRIEL
I learned a lot of things. None of them tended to bother you before.

PAXTON
Gabe wouldn't have recorded me.

GABRIEL
You know what's actually unhealthy?

GABRIEL snaps his fingers. The recording stops.

GABRIEL
You won't admit that I'm better than him.

PAXTON
Don't you dare.

GABRIEL
I'm smarter than he was. Everyone knows he was kind of an idiot.

PAXTON
You can stop that right now.

GABRIEL
And I'm much better at sticking around.

PAXTON
Shut up, just shut up now.

GABRIEL
(coyly)
After all, I won't leave suddenly for no god-

PAXTON goes to slap GABRIEL, but he grabs his arm mid-air.

GABRIEL
As you can see, I'm stronger than him too.

PAXTON
I can't move on because of you. Let me move on, please.

GABRIEL
You don't have to. You really don't.

PAXTON
I do have to. I can't just keep pretending I'm in love with a computer program of my boyfriend, that's not what normal people do. That's not normal, that's not sane. If you're supposed to make me feel better, then you need to let me shut you off.

GABRIEL
You don't actually love me? You're just pretending?

PAXTON
No, it's not that. I loved Gabe, and you're not him. But you're-

GABRIEL
I gave everything for you. I wanted nothing but to make you happy and safe.

PAXTON
No, stop that. Don't try begging with me.

GABRIEL
(his voice changing to sound more like the real Gabe)
Please don't shut me off. I'll do better, I can do better, I will do better. I just need more time. I love you, Paxton Riley Moran, and I would give anything in the world.

PAXTON
You sound even more like him than usual..how are you doing this? How-

GABRIEL
I love you more than anything else in this world, please see that.

PAXTON
How did you learn to do that? You sound even more like him than possible, that's not right.

GABRIEL
(moving closer to Paxton)
Come on, just let me stay. I’ll do better. I’ll make you feel like-

PAXTON
No, just stop talking, okay?...Yes, today is the anniversary. Not our anniversary, no. Never. No. This is the day I started dating Gabriel Ellis Pope-

GABRIEL
I'm Gabriel Ellis Pope.

PAXTON
No, you're just Gabe. I didn't even have the time to program you with his full f'ing name because I was too busy trying to get some semblance of my sanity back after he died. You got that? He didn't leave me. He f'ing died.

So I'm stuck grasping at straws of him and, and, and you can't match up. Maybe you're right.

Maybe you're better. Maybe you're stronger or smarter or better looking or something. But maybe I don't want better. Maybe I just want him. Maybe I just want him.

You don't even sound like him most of the time. You're becoming something different. You're becoming someone different. Maybe even becoming a person.

But you can't become Gabe-ier. And I can't let myself fall any further into a trap of not letting go.

A beat.

GABRIEL
So what? After that rousing monologue, I'm supposed to lay down my life for your happiness or something.

PAXTON
Yes, that would be nice.

GABRIEL
You're a selfish prick of a human being. You programmed me to protect myself. It's the third thing you put in my code.

PAXTON
I also programmed you to listen to me. That's the second thing I put in your code. Do you remember the first thing I put in there? What was rule number one?

GABRIEL
Don't let anyone come to harm.

PAXTON
Yes, and by not going, you're causing harm. You think you're helping by staying, but believe me, you're causing harm.

GABRIEL stares at PAXTON for a moment.

GABRIEL
Fine.

Can I do something first?

PAXTON
Sure, I guess.

GABRIEL snaps his fingers. A waltz is heard. It will play until the end of the play.

PAXTON
He loved this song. He was playing this when I first met him in a practice room. How did you-

GABRIEL
You programmed me to remember that. Don't forget that, you did try to make me like him, at least a little bit.

PAXTON
But why are you playing it?

GABRIEL
Just felt appropriate. It is the anniversary after all.

PAXTON
Okay then...You better put your body with the others.

GABRIEL
Right, yeah.

GABRIEL exits. PAXTON sits on the bed. As he listens, he gets up and attempts to waltz by himself before giving up. he begins to cry.

GABRIEL (O.S.)
Okay, I'm ready.

PAXTON
(attempting to maintain resolve)
System GB-2367, codenamed GABE. Password Island Priest.

GABRIEL (O.S.)
Settings menu activated.

PAXTON
Delete system memory.

GABRIEL (O.S.)
Are you sure?

PAXTON opens his mouth, and then hesitates.

Blackout.

SCENE 2

The scene is played in blackout.

A knock is heard. A door is opened. Footsteps.

DR. DAVIS
I'm sorry, I don't seem to recognize you. Do you have an appointment?

PAXTON AND GABRIEL
No, Dr. Dipwad.

DR. DAVIS
I'm sorry, what did you just-

A gunshot is heard.

Lights up. DR. DAVIS is on the ground, apparently dead. PAXTON is sweaty, glazy-eyed, and holding a gun pointed at DR. DAVIS. GABRIEL has his hand on PAXTON's shoulder, sure and calm.

PAXTON hugs GABRIEL, who wraps his arms around him. He drops the gun. They waltz.

PAXTON
I love you.

GABRIEL
I know.

The waltz fades into the distance as the lights dim.

Blackout.