Fragment III

Doctor : Memories and emotions are irrelevant.

Adam : I don’t believe you, doctor.

Doctor : I’m very serious. Have you never seen anyone invent a memory - either from a lie or a dream - thinking that it actually happened? I’m sure that you, too, have forgotten memories that you no longer care to think about. Emotions are much the same way. They’re like a pendulum. If a person is pulled too much one way, there is a need to eventually swing just as far in the opposite direction, sometimes without even any cause. Your grandson is emotionally unstable, I remind you.

Adam : I know that.

Doctor : I know that you know that. But I think you need to understand that his emotions are unstable and easily changed because of chemicals in his brain. We are all a little broken like that one way or another. Controlling his emotions or letting them go will not cure your son. Only he knows how to bring himself back. You should let him know that you love him and care for him. Whatever you do, do not lie to him.

Adam : Why would I do that?

Doctor : To help him get out of here, of course. It’s not that wanting him well is wrong, it’s just that if you even tell him a small untruth to help him recover and he believes it, it may bring a relapse when he discovers the truth.

Adam : Alright, Doctor. I’ll try.

Doctor : Thank you, Adam. Someday, I think he’ll thank you too...

Enter stage-left: Joseph and Cadence

Joseph : Hello Grandfather, how are you today?

Adam, surprised at this welcome intrusion, puts his coffee on the nearby table and stands up to embrace his grandson.

Adam : I’m doing well. How are they treating you?

Joseph : Good enough, but the food here is worse than at school. I didn’t even think that was possible.

Adam : Staying sane are you, boy?

Joseph : Why would you ask a thing like that? Of course, I’m staying sane. But I keep getting all these bloody counseling sessions that go on and on... I’m just fine, you know that Doctor?

The Doctor rises to face Joseph who is standing behind the middle of the three chairs. In the meantime, Adam pulls a fourth chair for Joseph from a nearby table and places it between his and Cadence’s. There is no interruption in dialogue as they each take their seats, first Joseph, then Adam, then the Doctor.

Doctor : I know, Joseph.

Joseph : I told you not to call me that. It’s not my name.

Doctor : Well, fine enough then, Cain. Tell me, do you know this woman?

Joseph : Yes, she’s my mother. But she says her name is Cadence.

Doctor : Is that not her name?

Joseph : If she says it is then I suppose it is.

Doctor : But you told me your mother’s name is Eve. This young woman, whose name is Cadence, brought her son here for a few tests; he was an intelligent young man by the name of Joseph. If you are not Joseph then she has come here for nothing, for you are not her son.

Joseph : I am her son.

Doctor : But you are not. She has come here to see Joseph and you are not he, correct?

Cadence (quietly) : Please stop, doctor.

Doctor : Are you Joseph or are you not?

Joseph : I...

Cadence (upset) : Please...

Doctor : Well?

Adam : Doctor, please, we’ve had enough of this game. He is my daughter’s son no matter what he says his name is.

Doctor : I would beg to differ. You brought him here for a reason, did you not?

Adam : That’s irrelevant to the way you’re going about this.

Doctor : You know better, do you?

Cadence (frustrated) : Please. Both of you just stop. We can’t argue like this when we all know...

Adam : This is madness.

Joseph : I think you’re right. This is madness. But I know who I am.

Doctor : You say that you do.

Cadence : I used to know...

Joseph : But I do know who I am.

Adam : I know who I am too, boy. And I think you know what’s going on here. Why don’t you even try? It wouldn’t take much to prove it.

Joseph : I can’t. That would sacrifice everything I believe.

Doctor : But then you could go home... today... now.

Cadence (smiling a bit) : I’d like that.

Adam : We’d be glad to have you back, boy.

Joseph : But I’m not the same. I don’t think any of you understand that. I’m different. I’m a prophet of the coming age and I need to be protected until the time comes...

Doctor : If it’s security that you want I think you’re looking in the wrong place.

Joseph : I don’t think I am. This is the last place that the enemy would think to look for the last incarnation of the first son of Eden.

Adam : Come on, now. You don’t actually believe that you’re the real Cain, do you?

Joseph : I don’t think - I know.

Cadence : Son, please, are you being serious?

Joseph : I am. I know it’s hard for you to believe, but you must. I have received a message from the angels that may save humanity from the anarchy that this age will bring upon us. I don’t want to believe it myself - but because of my visions, I know it to be true.

Adam : Visions...? Destruction...? What message?

Joseph : I can’t tell you the message - not yet anyway. But I know that the Beast has awakened and the Dragon is readying itself for the end. I alone can atone for the sin of the first murder. I’m not sure how, but I expect to know only when the time is right.

Adam : This is exactly the kind of talk that will keep you in here.

Joseph : I want to be kept in here.

Cadence (upset) : But why? I love you...

Joseph : I love you too, but for now this is where I need to be. It is only a small part of the larger picture. I know you can’t see that but I can and that is why I submit myself to the perfect will.

Adam : Joseph, you’re talking like you really are crazy. Doctor, is he like this all of the time?

Doctor : Actually...

Cadence : But don’t you want to go home, son? We can take care of you.

Joseph : No, I think at this point I will only be a burden to you. Here I am among those that understand me. So many here have their very own demons that mine go unnoticed. No one here condemns me for my visions. The outside world would not understand me. From here I shall send my message.

Adam : Goddamn it! What is this message?

Joseph : Patience is a virtue, grandfather. But since you’re not learning anything here, would you like to meet some of my new friends?

Adam : Well, why would I want to? They’re probably a bunch of imbeciles anyway...

Cadence (lecturing tone) : Father...

Adam : Jesus. Oh, alright...

Joseph and Adam stand and walk to the doors at stage-left.

Joseph : See, there’s Mark, who’s a really nice guy and wouldn’t even be in here if he didn’t always take all of his meds at once. Then there’s this girl Martha; she’s alright, if it weren’t for this one little thing...

Exit stage-left: Joseph and Adam