The Room

Two people find themselves stuck in an empty room, with nothing but two papers and two pens. Emelia is sitting in a corner, relaxed. Joshua is standing in the middle, as if he just appeared there.

Emelia

Welcome aboard, newcomer.

Joshua

Uh, yeah.. Hi.. Where am I?

Emelia

Emelia sighs

There is no specific name for which you seek. I, personally, call it the disappearing chamber, but I’ve been told that sends the wrong message.

Joshua

Alright.. And.. Why am I here, exactly?

Emelia

Emelia shrugs

What did you do?

Joshua

I’m sorry..?

Emelia

With sarcasm

What oh-so-terrible crime did you commit, to be brought here to choose your life or someone else’s?

Joshua

Ehm.. Nothing..? I mean.. I’ve Jaywalked, before..

Emelia

Emelia shakes her head, sighing again

What pitiful rules, society has evolved to punish..

Joshua

Can you just tell me how to get out of here, already?

Emelia

Oh, that’s simple. Just write my name on that paper, there. There’s a chance of it killing me, but it could also just leave me here to rot.

Joshua

And why would I do that?

Emelia

I could write your name down and kill you.

Joshua

Right.. And if I write someone else’s name?

Emelia

If you write a fellow convict, you’re free. If you write an innocent, you’ll die.

Joshua

And if they’re already dead?

Emelia

What, you expect them to come back to life? This ain’t some fairy tale.

Joshua

Makes sense.. And what if I choose to not write anyone’s name?

Emelia

I’ll write yours and get out of here. There isn’t any morally correct way to do this, buddy. In the end, we both find our way out, eventually.

Joshua

Joshua picks up a paper and pen

I guess I gotta write something, then..

Emelia

That’s a good choice.

Joshua

Joshua writes something down on the paper

What’s to say I can’t write two names?

Curtain