ActI

Scene 1

We are in a small apartment right in the center of Battery City. It is about 17 stories from the ground and a little run down. On the far left, there is a kitchen with yellowing appliances and a little dining area with a round wood table and two falling apart matching wood chairs. In the middle is an entertainment space complete with a couch, end tables, two chairs and a tiny TV. On the far left is a door to a balcony that is too small to furnish but too big to leave empty so a plant is off to the side. The view makes up for the shabby living conditions though, as you can see just between two buildings the desert and the sun is rising. This apartment was the place of a huge party the night before. There are red Solo cups littering every surface, passed out people on the floor and a hole in the back wall. Everyone is wearing the uniform all white jumpsuit. Mikey Way is one of the people passed out. Gerard Way is standing on the railing of the balcony looking down, ready to jump. Mikey wakes up, rubs his eyes, and notices Gerard. He runs to the balcony.

Mikey: Sings Save Yourself, I'll Hold Them Back: Panicked at first, then throughout the song, more reassuringly.

I hope you're ready for a firefight
'Cause the devil's got your number tonight
They say! We're never leaving this place alive
But if we sing these words we'll never die

Get off the ledge and drop the knife
Not a victim of a victim's life
Because! This ain't a room full of suicides
We're believers, I believe tonight

We can leave this world,
Leave it all behind
We can steal this car if your folks don't mind
We can live forever if you've got the time

Na na na na na (x2)
If you save yourself tonight
Na na na na na (x2)
If you save yourself tonight

I'll tell you all how the story ends
Where the good guys die and the bad guys win. who cares?
It ain't about all the friends you made
But the graffiti they write on your grave

For all of us who've seen the light
Salute the dead and lead the fight (hail hail!)
Who gives a damn if we lose the war?
Let the walls come down, let the engines roar!

We can leave this world,
Leave it all behind
We can steal this car if you folks don't mind
We can live forever if you've got the time

I'm the only friend that makes you cry
You're a heart attack in black hair dye
So just save yourself and
I'll hold them back tonight

Are ya'll ready where you are?
If you save yourself tonight
They'll be coming for you
Can you save yourself tonight?
Right now!
Cause I'll hold them back

We can leave this world,
Leave it all behind
We can steal this car if your folks don't mind
We can live forever if you've got the time

You motherfucker! whoa

You're the broken glass in the morning light
Be a burning star if it takes all night
So just save yourself and
I'll hold them back tonight

Na na na na na (x2) If you save yourself tonight
Na na na na na (x2) Can you save yourself tonight?

Gerard: Come any closer and I'll jump! (Without looking from the ground)

Mikey: (abruptly stops) What the Hell are you doing? Come down!

Gerard: I can't do this anymore! (Still looking down)

Mikey: That's just the drugs talking! Just…

Gerard: (cuts him off) No! It isn't! This is the only way I'll be with Anne again! I should've died with her! I can't bear the guilt anymore.

Mikey: You didn't do anything wrong.

Gerard: You weren't there! (Now looking at Mikey, there's tears in his eyes) you didn't see your fiancé's brains being blown out of her head by some of Korse's thugs! Your head wasn't beaten in the head with a bat! You didn't black out and wake up charged with you fiancé's murder! (He breaks down sobbing)

Mikey: (Taken back by his brother's tears) No, I wasn't (pause) and I don't know what it's like. That doesn't mean you should do the cowardly thing.

Gerard: (Still sobbing) my parole ends today, brother. We both know what that means. Korse is too powerful. He probably already went to the prosecutors and gave them fake evidence and false stories. I don't stand a chance in the court room. Once the sun rises, I'm a dead man. I'd rather take my own life than let Korse take mine. (Silence)

Mikey: (After pause, looks Gerard straight in the eye) We could run away.

Gerard: It would never work (Looks back down at ground)

Mikey: The desert is just a few miles East of Battery City. You can see it from here! (Points to horizon) We've both been there. If we leave now, we could be past the city border right as the sun is done rising. You'll be safe!

Gerard: (looks at Mikey's face for a few seconds processing his thoughts) I do have nothing to lose (steps of railing) but what about you?

Mikey: Let's just say ever since you've been attacked I've been a little paranoid (trails off) but anyways! In that paranoia I already packed our survival bags so let's go! (Walks over to Kitchen with Gerard following him and reaches over passed out guy to get into a kitchen cabinet to grab two white backpacks inside)

Mikey hands Gerard his backpack and without another word, they slip out through the door. The scene cuts to them driving towards the desert with the sunset towards them as it just rises above the horizon. Scene fades to black.