Amoris Mali (First Half of Act One)

Act One
(We open with a shadowy view of Annabelle’s house, before it is lit up by the stage lights. Annabelle is standing on her front porch looking out into the distance, while she is waiting for her parents to come outside. As she begins to zone out, her mother enters the stage from inside the home, with her father following close behind.)

Levana: Annabelle darling, what are you doing? Are you ready to go to church?

Annabelle: (Startled) uh, why yes mother. Sorry I was just…

Peter: You were just what, day dreaming? There’s no time for that kind of nonsense! Now get in the car, we’re going to be late!

(Peter quickly enters the car and impatiently beckons Levana and Annabelle to do the same. While they’re driving to church, Annabelle’s father tries to engage in friendly conversation in order to make up for scolding her.)

Peter: Annabelle?

Annabelle: Uh, yes dad?

Peter: Have you made friends with any of the boys from church?

Annabelle: What do you mean by “made friends”?

Levana: Well, have you talked to any of them?

Annabelle: (Frustrated) why does it matter?

Peter: (With hesitation) well, it’s nothing really. It’s just that me and your mother thought it would be appropriate for you to start dating now. You’re already sixteen after all, and you could use someone with good Christian morality.

Annabelle: I don’t like any of the boys from around here, dad!

Levana: But you haven’t even talked to any of the boys.

Annabelle: (Furious) I don’t care!

(The car comes to a sharp stop)

Peter: We’re here.

(Annabelle and her parents exit the car and enter the church. There are several rows of seats lined up, facing the audience from the side. The people in attendance at church are facing the right side of the stage; the pastor enters the stage from behind the curtain and approaches the podium.)

The Pastor: Let us pray…

(The voice of the pastor is drowned out by the sound of Annabelle’s inner thoughts racing through her head with bitter resentment toward her parents.)

Annabelle: I can’t believe them! How do they expect me to talk to any of the boys here? All of them are just as fake as most of the girls, and they’re so naïve they barely know how to live their lives without their parents telling them how!

(Suddenly, a second voice can be heard from inside of Annabelle’s mind.)

Amon: Hey, could you keep it down? I can hear you all the way from up here.
(Frightened, Annabelle looks up and scans the room, searching for the origin of the mysterious voice)

Annabelle: Oh my God, what was that? Hello?

Amon: Yes? Hello there. May I help you?

Annabelle: Holy shit! Who the Hell are you?

Amon: Over here, in the front.
(The room becomes completely silent, as time seems to have stopped completely. Annabelle looks toward the front and sees a tall boy stand up and look at her with a smiling, confident face.)

Amon: And it’s pretty funny that you mention Hell, because that just so happens to be where I’m from.

Annabelle: Who are you?