His Whispers

Scene 1

(Levi is sitting on a beanbag, lost in his music and a comic book, on stage left. The calm atmosphere is shattered when Dad storms in from stage right, his voice booming.)

Dad. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! (No response)

Izzy. (Stepping between Dad and Levi, calm but firm) Leave him al–

Dad. (Cuts her off) NO! HE CAN'T JUST THINK HE CAN DO WHATEVER THE HELL HE WANTS!

Izzy. (Matching his volume, desperate) OH COME ON! HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG! IT WAS ONE MISTAKE, AND IT'S FIXABLE!

Dad. HA! Do you think it's THAT easy? This boy can't understand a single thing he's told to do.

Izzy. Then let me talk to him. (He glances at Levi with a mixture of concern and frustration) He doesn't listen to you, Dad.

Dad. (Scoffs) And that's another problem! (He glares at Izzy as if blaming him for what's happening. He returns the look, knowing there's more behind his anger.)

(Izzy walks over to Levi, crouching to his level to make the interaction more intimate.)

Izzy. (Softly) Hey... Enano... (affectionate Spanish nickname for little one) You wanna talk about what happened today?

Levi. (Shrugs without looking up) No.

Dad. (In an icy tone, crossing his arms) Well, that's too bad, because we're talking about it whether he likes it or not. (Turns to Levi) This attitude you've got going on—it's not gonna fly.

Izzy. (Holding his ground, voice softer but firm) Stop. You're not helping. Let me talk to him.

Dad. (Voice rising with frustration) NO, I'M TIRED OF HAVING IT YOUR WAY! IT'S ALWAYS YOUR WAY, AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN! DOES HE EVER LISTEN TO YOU? (Pauses for effect) NO!

Izzy. (Holding back tears, but resolute) Maybe because you're always threatening him, taking things away... He's terrified of you. I'm terrified of you.

Dad. (Laughs, mocking) He wants to know what real fear is. (Pulls off his belt, tightening his grip on it) Fine. I'll show him fear.

(Izzy steps back, alarmed, as Dad steps toward Levi, raising the belt. Levi looks up, fear breaking through his calm facade.)

Izzy. (Panicked, pleading) What are you doing? Stop! You don't need to do this, Dad. Let me handle it! Please!

Dad. NO! NO MORE TALKING! (Grabs Levi by his shirt, yanking him up. Levi's comic book falls to the floor as he's startled and begins to panic.)

Levi. (Screaming, voice cracking) LEAVE ME ALONE! MOM! PLEASE, HELP! AMMA!

Izzy. (Desperate, voice breaking) LEVI, STOP! Just—Dad, stop, please!

(Levi, flailing in desperation, lands a punch on Dad. Silence fills the stage momentarily as the impact of the hit sinks in. Dad looks stunned, touching his cheek where Levi hit him.)

Dad. (After a pause, seething) Why, you little s–

Izzy. (Frantic) It was an accident! Please, Dad, just let it go—

Dad. (Snaps) SHUT UP! (He slaps Izzy hard across the face. She falls, hitting her head against the floor, dazed.)

Levi. (Tearing up, trembling) Papa... I'm sorry! Please... I didn't mean to... I'm sorry!

(In a fit of rage, Dad grabs Levi by the neck and pushes him onto the beanbag, choking him. Levi gasps, struggling as Izzy begins to stir, pulling herself off the ground.)

Levi. (Through desperate gasps) I-Izzy... I love you. (He stops struggling, his body going still.)

Dad. (Realizing what he's done, releases Levi and stumbles back, horrified)

Izzy. (Stares in shock before letting out a heart-wrenching scream) NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!

Dad. (Stammering, his face twisted in regret) I-I don't... I didn't mean—

Izzy. (Shouting in grief, rocking Levi's limp body) AMMA! PLEASE COME HERE! (Cries) Levi... please wake up. This can't be happening. Not you. Please...

(Mom enters from stage right, carrying a basket of clothes, freezing as she takes in the scene.)

Mom. What's going on in him– OH MY GOD! MY BABY! WHAT HAPPENED?!

Dad. (Weakly) I-I'm sorry... I—

Mom. (Screaming, enraged) WHAT DID YOU DO?! WHAT DID YOU DO?!

(The stage lights turn red, slowing time as Mom and Dad argue, their voices echoing in distorted, overlapping tones, as Izzy clings to Levi.)

Izzy. (Clinging to Levi, whispering) Enano, please... I know you're just pretending. You're not... gone. You can't be...

(The lights flash red and orange, Mom and Dad's argument escalating as they push each other. Izzy shakes his head, whispering "no" repeatedly until he snaps back to reality.)

Izzy. (Louder) No... no... NO. NO! (Realizes the truth) YOU KILLED MY BROTHER. YOU'RE A MURDERER. (Voice breaking) Do you even remember what you were yelling at him about?

Dad. (Utterly shaken, at a loss) I... don't...

Mom. (Furiously grabs for the phone) I'm calling the police!

Dad. (Snatches the phone, smashing it) No one's calling the cops.

Izzy. (Defiant) Oh, yes, we are. YOU KILLED MY BROTHER.

Dad. (Coldly) Unless you want to end up just like him... you'll bury him in the forest. And we'll never speak of this again.

(Dad walks offstage. Izzy, devastated, collapses to his knees, cradling Levi. Mom rushes to comfort him, as the stage lights dim to a cold blue, isolating them in their grief.)