Disclaimer: I don’t own the song Hate me by Blue October

"Hate me today…

Hate me tomorrow…

Hate me so you can finally see what’s good for you…"

Act 1: Scene 1

A man, Zero, plans to leave town for good not taking into consideration the feelings of his girlfriend Carrie and is shown strong feelings of love, sadness, heartbreak and devotion when Carrie accidentally enters while he is half packed and thinking his last thoughts of his life before he leaves.

I have to block out thoughts of you so I don’t lose my head
They crawl in like a cockroach leaving babies in my bed
Dropping little reels of tape, to remind me that I’m alone
Playing movies in my head that make a porno feel like home
There's a burning in my pride, a nervous bleeding in my brain
An ounce of peace is all I want for you. Will you never call again?
And will you never say that you loved me just to put it in my face?
And will you never try to reach me? It is I that wanted space

A man with wet messy jet black hair and baggy black heavily destroyed jeans walks in from a door at the back right side of the stage, his fists clenched stiffly at his sides and dripping wet from head to toe.

Hate me today
Hate me tomorrow
Hate me so you can finally see what’s good for you

I’m sober now for 3 whole months it’s one accomplishment that you helped me with
The one thing that always tore us apart is the one thing I won’t touch again
In my sick way I want to thank you for holding my head up late at night
While I was busy waging wars on myself, you were trying to stop the fight
You never doubted my warped opinions on things like suicidal hate
You made me compliment myself when it was way too hard to take
So I’ll drive so fucking far away that I never cross your mind
And do whatever it takes in your heart to leave me behind

He picks his way through the cloths laden floor to the desk and grabs the gun. He kicks the desk in anger screaming out his frustration, the desk skids some feet and stops. He moves to the desk again, gun still in his left hand and kicks it over to lay flat. He continues to destroy his room till he gives up after some minutes of heavy pounding and sits on the wall the desk previously rested in-front of; his head between his knees, elbows resting on his knees and gun loosely held in his lift hand.

Hate me today
Hate me tomorrow
Hate me for all the things I didn’t do for you

Hate me in ways
Yeah ways hard to swallow
Hate me so you can finally see what’s good for you

And with a sad heart I say bye to you and wave
Kicking shadows on the street for every mistake that I had made
And like a baby boy I never was a man
Until I saw your blue eyes cry and I held your face in my hand
And then I fell down yelling “Make it go away!”
Just make a smile come back and shine just like it used to be
And then she whispered “How can you do this to me?”

Hate me today
Hate me tomorrow
Hate me for all the things I didn’t do for you

Hate me in ways
Yeah ways hard to swallow
Hate me so you can finally see what’s good for you

Song Ends

Sounds of running steps, fumbling for keys and mumbled words could be heard from outside the doorway. Zero does not move, he only grips the gun tighter and unlocks the safety with his right hand.

Carrie: Very excited, slightly winded as if she has been running Zero!

Carrie enters pushing the door hurriedly. Carrie is a thin, shapely woman with raven straight hair, about 5’3” and deep blue eyes.

Carrie: Notices the state of the room and stops still, right hand frozen on the door knob. She looks around and snaps her head sharply to the left at the sound of a click

Startled Yell of surprise ZERO!
She runs to him and tries to pull the gun from his hands only to be pulled harshly to the side

Zero: Very cold, low voice You shouldn’t be here, get out Carrie.

Carrie: Sad voice, still facing the floor at Zero’s feet Zero what are you…

Zero: Cutting her words off with a cold, low voice Carrie, Leave!

Carrie: Throws her head up sharply, a look of determination on her face, blue eyes narrowed in anger NO! Don’t shut me out of your life Zero. You always do that, saying it’s good for me to leave you. Don’t tell me to leave Zero; you’re just wasting your breath. I’m not going anywhere so put the gun down.

Her face changes to a look of sorrow, pleading look; her voice soft almost a whimper Please Zero…please She lets out a sob

Zero said nothing but lowered the gun and locked it with the safety switch.

Carrie: You’re soaked; did you walk in the rain?

Zero: Hn…

Carrie: sighing she lifts herself from the floor and walks to the other side of the stage and off the stage from lower left corner and re-enters with a white towel. Kneeling before Zero she places it on his head and began drying his hair You’re going to get sick…

Zero: Hn…

Carrie: Nervous laugh Are you going to say monosyllabic things all day?

Zero: low voice, small chuckle Heh… Maybe…

Carrie: worried tone Zero… what’s going on? Why are there cloths on the floor?

Zero: sighed out I’m leaving…

Carrie: surprised voice, low as if she couldn’t get it past her lips Wha...Wha…What!

Zero: Low I’m leaving Carrie. I don’t want you to worry about me anymore; your life will be much better once I’m gone. Think of it, a normal life Carrie.

Carrie: Shouts angrily I don’t want a normal life if it means that you’re going to leave me! I love you Zero! I…

Zero: lifts his head up sharply, his eyes were narrowed into a piercing gaze Angrily Come on Carrie! Look at me! Stands up rapidly Do I look like a person who would fit into society! I’m a fucking freak of nature! Walks away from her, places the gun into the pocket of his jeans while throwing the towel onto the bed

Carrie: No your not!

Zero: Carrie I’m a Fucking Vampire for crying out loud!

Carrie: I don’t give a damn and neither will anyone else, as long as they don’t snoop around they don’t nee to know.

Zero: Carrie that is exactly what I am trying to avoid. I don’t want to lie to anyone. It’s better this way.

Carrie: looks down, her eyes shaded by her bangs, it seems like she has given up because of the long pause YOU’RE A COWARD ZERO!!!

Zero: look of complete shock written all over his face, lips slightly parted in an ‘o’ form huh…

Carrie: tears running freely down her eyes, shouting angrily You’re a coward. By running away you don’t have to face anyone. There is no temptation to feed off the classmates; on me. If you’re not here there’s no reason for anyone to suspect anything’s wrong with you right? And by doing that the problem might go away right?

Long pause as she waits for an answer

Am I right Zero?

Zero: Carrie…

Carrie: head is lowered back down, eyes shaded by bangs. In a low soft voice, like she is recalling the past You aren’t the Zero I know. The Zero I knew didn’t care what the world thought about him. He did what he loved, said what he believed without giving a damn. The Zero I knew wasn’t afraid to stand and fight. To look a situation in the eye and kick it where it hurts.

Zero: low, shocked voice Carrie… I…

Carrie: lifts her head up sharply to look Zero straight in the eyes, a look of anger and determination set there The Zero I knew didn’t run way!

Yelling Who are you now Zero? Tell me; I want to know who you are!

Zero: His eyes shift away from her to look at the window blinds; he sighs I am who I’ve always been Carrie. I’m not afraid of me, afraid of what I’ve become. What I can become!

Turns to face her, walks up to her and crushes her in a hug, his face in her hair and whispers I’m afraid of what I might do to you. I don’t want to lose you, I can’t… I can’t lose you.

Carrie: tears running down her face, softly says Zero…. I…

Zero: shouts; hugs her tighter I can’t lose you Carrie! If I have to leave to make sure that nothing happens to you I’ll do it.

Carrie: Clutches to him like a life line; crying says Don’t… Don’t leave me!

Zero: I have to Carrie, you’re safer without me.

Carrie: pulls away from him to stare him in the eye No I’m not. It’s much safer for me if you are here with me; think of all the people who could hurt me, our friends, and my brother needs you as well. You know as well as I do that my father isn’t the best role model for him. What’s he going to grow up to be like if you’re not here to help him?

Zero: He has you!

Carrie: I’m not a guy Zero! I can’t help him when it comes to things like puberty, male scuffles or anything like that. I’m a girl, prone to being diplomatic. Males go to other males for help, not their older sister!

Zero: He values your words and opinions more than you think.

Carrie: That pest doesn’t know right from wrong without looking at someone for advice and he sure as hell never asks me for it so why would he value anything I say.

Zero: He does though. He looks up to you, he won’t say it, its one of those male pride things but he’s put you as his role model not me.

Carrie: But Zero…

Zero: I love you Carrie… I really do but I need time to find myself; I need time to learn what it is I’m dealing with and take control of it.

Carrie: Why can’t you do that here?

Zero: Because you might get hurt. If I slip or dig too deep into something I can’t control or even know where to begin to understand, then you might get hurt and I don’t want you hurt. I don’t want anyone hurt.

Carrie: realizes he has made up his mind and sorrowfully says If I let you go, will you promise to comeback while I’m still young; since you’re immortal now?

Zero: smiling I promise. He thrusts his hand into his pocket pulling out the gun and a black velvet ring box. When I come back I want... sighs Carrie… Will you marry me?

Carrie: shocked then extremely happy, she yells, crying and jumps onto Zero and Kisses him YES!!!

Zero: Places the ring on her finger I promise you I’ll return in a year. You’ll be in college by then and I should have at least learned something. Pushes the gun in her hand as well Keep this for protection; I don’t think your dad is up to the job.

Short pause…You still mad at me?

Carrie: smirking A little… I’m sorry I called you a coward.

Zero: smirking, gave a small chuckle and draws her in closer, his lips inches from her own I disserved it. I was acting like a coward, but now I’m going to improve myself then I promise to comeback. Wait for me; one year and we’ll be married.

Carrie: closes the gap between them, lips touching I’ll wait forever for your return Zero share a passionate kiss

End of Scene 1

(1) Yes this is a true gun found at don’t worry it’s for the story purposes only.