Al and Zach have been driving up to The Spot where they go every Saturday to pray. In this scene, Al finally tells Zach that God has commanded him to sacrifice him as a burnt offering.
AL
He spoke to me again.
ZACH
What?
AL
He spoke to me again. The Lord. He came to me at work.
ZACH
For real?
AL
Yes. For the first time in years.
ZACH
Wow.
AL
I was on the loading dock. And His voice is so… it comes from outside of you and then reverberates inside of you—
ZACH
Awesome.
AL
I was shaking.
ZACH
Dad.
AL
I fell to my knees and cried. I couldn’t stop.
ZACH
That’s gotta be the meds, dad. Come on! God spoke to you! I wish He’d talk to me!
(Al is silent.)
So what’d He say?
(A short beat.)
Dad?
AL
He told me that He wanted you.
ZACH
Me?
AL
Yes.
ZACH
Are you kidding?
AL
No.
ZACH
I knew it! I felt it! So today is the day! What does He want me to do?
AL
He just said that He wants you. I don’t know why.
ZACH
Why d’ya hafta be—?
AL
What?
ZACH
—like that? Is it so impossible—
AL
I—
ZACH
—that God could want me for something? Am I so useless?
AL
I didn’t mean it that way, Zach.
ZACH
Yeah. Sure.
(Short pause.)
I wonder what He wants me for? Well, whatever it is, I bet it’s cool. He can just come and get me, right? Send an angel down. Maybe even come Himself? Waddaya think?
AL
He wants me to give you to Him.
ZACH
Give me? How are you gonna do that? Have me beamed-up?
AL
Zach.
ZACH
Call Fedex? Next day delivery?
AL
You don’t—
ZACH
Or Priority Mail from the Postal Service? Flat Rate! Stuff me in one of those pre-paid envelopes—
AL
Zach.
ZACH
—my legs stickin out! “Hey! Watch it, buddy! That’s my favorite foot!” Or I could always go Parcel Post! Of course, by the time I get there—
AL
Why do you—?
ZACH
—I’ll be a hundred and fifty years old!
AL
Please!
ZACH
You don’t hafta get so mad.
AL
I’m not mad. I’m—
ZACH
You sound pretty mad—
AL
I’m not! I’m…
ZACH
What? What?
AL
You’re not listening!
(Silence. Pause. Carefully—)
I’m to give you to Him as a burnt offering.
ZACH
A what?
AL
A burnt offering.
ZACH
I’m not gettin this.
AL
He wants me to… sacrifice you.
ZACH
Sacrifice me? For what?
AL
For Him.
ZACH
You mean, like a human sacrifice?
AL
Yes.
ZACH
Oh.
(Pause.)
Like, you’re gonna… uhmmm, like… kill me and burn me?
AL
It’s not like that.
ZACH
Yes, it is.
(A short beat.)
So, He doesn’t want me to do anything? Just… die?
AL
No. No. He wants you with Him. In His Kingdom.
ZACH
For what?
AL
It’s a new beginning, Zach. A new life with Him.
ZACH
A new life?
AL
(Short pause.)
I’m very proud of you.
ZACH
Why? I didn’t do anything.
AL
He chose you. He loves you very much.
ZACH
You always say that. “He loves you, He loves you, He loves you.” You don’t have to tell me every second. Startin to sound a little weird.
(Short pause.)
And that’s where we’re going now?
AL
Yes.
ZACH
To our Spot?
AL
Yes.
ZACH
To do it?
AL
Yes.
ZACH
That’s what you think.
AL
It’s the Lord’s Will.
ZACH
That’s why you were so nice to me— thanking me and everything. All along you were planning—
AL
I wasn’t planning anything Zach.
ZACH
Right.
AL
I was only trying to—
ZACH
It doesn’t matter, I’m gonna be dead soon anyway. Right?
(A short beat.)
Did you ask Him why?
(Silence.)
Hello? Did you ask Him why?
(Silence.)
Are you kidding me? You didn’t even ask Him?
AL
I did. He didn’t answer.
ZACH
Guess He was busy doing something important.
(A short beat. Taunting his father—)
Big fighter. Al Wells! Leader of the Community! Fighting for everyone! But when it comes to me or mom…
AL
Zach—
ZACH
(Mimicking a “weasel”—)
He didn’t answer.
(An outburst.)
You didn’t even ask Him! You’re the worst father ever! Big Man of God! God Is His Friend! He Walks with God! Well, while you’re out walkin with Him, put in a good word for your son!
AL
Zach. The Lord asked for you. Do you know what that means?
ZACH
No. He didn’t ask me nothin!
(To the Heavens—)
Hey! Dontcha wanna know how I feel about being a burnt offering? Don’t I count for anything?
(Zach waits for an answer.)
Not a word. Ever. Nice guy.
(To the Heavens—)
Well, guess what? It ain’t happenin! I didn’t do anything! It’s not fair! I don’t even have a girlfriend yet! Lemme outa the car!
AL
I can’t! We’re in the middle of—
ZACH
Stop the freakin’ car!
(He repeatedly punches his father on the shoulder.)
No! No! No! No!
AL
Zach. Stop. Stop it!
ZACH
How could you do this to me?
AL
Zach, I don’t want to do this. I love you—
ZACH
Sure.
AL
—but I can’t break a vow to God. You know that better than anyone!
ZACH
I don’t care about your stupid vow!
AL
You don’t mean that.
ZACH
Yes, I do. Sooner or later you’re gonna have to stop, and I’ll get outa this car and you’ll never see me again!
(A beat.)
So, how did you think you were gonna accomplish this? Slip me some drugs or somethin?
AL
Of course not. I’m to do it, and you’re to submit to it.
ZACH
Submit?
AL
Yes. Peacefully. No. Willingly.
ZACH
So, I’m just supposed to accept all this?
AL
Yes.
ZACH
Why would I? It’s crazy!
AL
You would because you love and trust in The Lord.
ZACH
What if I don’t?
AL
You don’t? I hear you’re a bigger fanatic than me.
(A short beat.)
ZACH
No. I’m not doing it.
AL
You’re sure?
ZACH
I’m sure.
AL
You realize we’re disobeying The Lord’s Command?
ZACH
I realize it. I realize it.
AL
Just so long as you understand that—
ZACH
I understand it! It’s not so difficult to understand! I’m not stupid!
AL
No one said you were stupid.
(Short pause.)
Okay, then. It’s settled. We won’t do it.
ZACH
Good!
(A short beat.)
Do you think He’ll be mad?
AL
What do you think?
(Silence.)
ZACH
Is this cause I get headaches and don’t play sports and stuff?
AL
Of course not.
ZACH
He thinks I’m weak, right?
AL
The Lord doesn’t think you’re weak.
ZACH
He does. Sickly. Like you do.
AL
I don’t think you’re sickly.
ZACH
Cause I was only four and a half pounds, right?
AL
Zach. No.
ZACH
How about when you told mom my headaches were psychosomatic?
AL
I was upset, Zach.
ZACH
So, not only am I sickly, I’m crazy, too.
AL
I just… didn’t want to believe that you were really sick. That’s all. You’re my boy.
(Short pause.)
ZACH
Migraines isn’t “really sick.”
(Short pause.)
You hate everything I do. My games. My shows. My music. Star Wars.
AL
I don’t hate—
ZACH
Everything I say is wrong—
AL
No.
ZACH
You hate me.
AL
Zach, do you honestly think that?
ZACH
Seems what I think isn’t very important.
(Silence. We hear the sound of a train approaching as they reach a railroad crossing. The sound of the train grows louder. The barrier goes down. They stop. The train passes in front of them.)
End of Excerpt