[The scene starts out with Porfiria and Her two grandparents sitting on an old and dirty couch illuminated by the soft blue glow of a television. The room is bare save the couch and TV Porfiria and her grandfather sit awake while her grandmother snores lightly with her head laid back and her mouth hanging open.]

Grandfather: [Laughs] Those are a couple of dumb butts.

Porfiria: [Laughs too] I don’t know what you’re laughing at, you’re just like them.

[The Grandfather laughs and smacks her lightly upside the head]

Grandfather: Yeah, maybe, but you have my genes too, don’t forget.

[Porfiria laughs mockingly and sticks out her tongue.]

Grandmother: [Snores loudly]

Grandfather: [Chuckles lightly] I guess that means its bed time.

Porfiria: [Groans and begins to rub arm] Man.

Grandfather: [Worried voice] What's wrong? You’re arm hurting again?

Porfiria: Yeah, it hurts a little more then usual though.

[Porfiria begins to get up slowly when suddenly she falls back down and moans in pain, her grandfather begins to get up when everything around her freezes suddenly and the pain begins to go away.]

Porfiria: Hey, its doesn’t hurt anymore. It was probably Nothing gramps, I just shouldn't have had so much Pepsi is all.. Maybe I Sh- [She cuts short and stares at her grandfather] Gramps?

[A voice comes from the left of her in a deep tone]

???: He can’t hear you.

[Porfiria snaps up and turns to the right to see who it is. Entering stage right is a tall figure wrapped in an old cloak. His face is a dull gray and his eyes were darker then the shadows around them and long black hair that hung from his hood. A scythe stands next to him as he walks up to her and she begins to back away]

Porfiria: Wh-who are you? How the heck did you get into my house? [she grabs the remote and holds it above her head as a possible weapon]

???: Me? Why my dear, don’t you recognize me? You’ve drawn my picture before and have even written stories about me. I am Death.

Porfiria: Death? Hah, yeah right. I’m not that dumb. [He steps forward once more and she jumps off the couch waving the remote]  Whoa buddy, you better stay back, or you’ll be meeting the real grim reaper.

Death: [sighs] They always have to make it hard, Listen. you-are-deaduh.

Porfiria: Oh yeah? How? I’m only seventeen!

Death: Yeah, with a bad heart, liver, stomach, a weight problem, and stress issues. I’d say a heart attack. I’m surprised you lasted this long actually. I was getting tired of hanging around this place and waiting.

Porfiria: Yeah...Well I still don’t believe you!

Death: [shakes head and rolls eyes]  Okay, then how do you explain the grandparents freezing and TV freezing? Hello, death power, come on! Denial is so annoying.

[Porfiria lowers her remote and stands staring at Death with a look of realization]

Porfiria: I’m dead?...

Death: That's what I said...three times.

Porfiria: No, I mean, sure the doctors said I should go on a diet, and I had a few problems...but I never really wanted to die. At least not like this, hell.

Death: Oh really? And how would you prefer to die?

Porfiria: [raises voice slightly] Not like this! Old age would have been nice, or maybe jumping off the school but not a Heart Attack! At seventeen. Its pathetic, and it’s not fair!

[Death pulls out a notebook and begins to flip through the pages while Porfiria stares at her feet, utterly horrified and shocked.]

Death: [Stops at one page and begins to read] Hmmm....nope, old age was defiantly not an option and I’m getting tired of picking up pancake teens so this is the only way. [he closes the book and stuffs it back in his cloak]

Porfiria: that’s not fair! [she throws the remote on the floor]

Death: hey, hey, don’t be getting aggressive, or you won’t get your request.

Porfiria: [calms quickly] Wait, what request?

Death: The request, everyone who dies gets one last request. It’s a rule, unless of course I’m being attacked, then I usually just get to take them off to wherever they go.

Porfiria: Hold on a minute, request aside, I have something I need to know first.

Death: [groans]  Alright, fine, but hurry up, I’ve got a schedule to keep.

Porfiria: What happens to my grandparents? [motions towards grandparents]
My Mom’s gone and probably won’t be coming back and the rest of their kids are prison bound, I’m their last chance at a good kid.

Death: Them? Well [He again pulls out his notebook] Lets see...well looks like you don’t have to worry for too long, your grandfather dies of a heart attack about 3 years after you and your grandmother, well... with you and your grandfather gone, she stops trying and just dies 3 months after your grandfather

Porfiria:[in disbelief] No...not that, their still healthy! Well, I mean my gramps does go out a little much and my grams is overweight and exhausted but, look at them! For their ages they’re in darn good shape. No one can win in arm wrestling with gramps and if you get my grams mad...well lets just say you better be wearing some good shoes and have an extra pair of dry underpants. [she gives a sad smile and then frowns]

Death: yeah, but grief is a hard thing. Sometimes health isn’t an issue.

[Porfiria stands quietly and thinks to herself. She slowly brushes back some hair and shakes her head slightly while death waits]

Porfiria: Okay, what about my sister? [doesn’t look up and stares at grandparents]

Death: Brittany right? [begins to flip through pages again]  According to this, she gets into a drunk driving accident when she turns 30, her daughter lives though and the other driver is only injured slightly.

Porfiria: [looks up at death] she has a kid?

Death: yep, 2 actually a little boy and a little girl.
Porfiria: That’ not fair though! You can’t give her kids like she’s always wanted and then just take her away. It’s not right!

Death: I never said it was.

[Porfiria again flips her hair and paces back and forth in front of the television.]

Porfiria: And Mom?

Death: Oh I know that one by heart, there's a riot where she stays and she's trampled. She’s not the only one though, it’ll be big in the news.

[Porfiria crouches down and holds her head on her knees and fights her urge to cry.]

Porfiria: [muffled] It’s still not right

Death: okay listen, I don’t have time for this anymore, just give me your request so we can get it over with. And don’t even think of asking to live because it won’t work, it’s in the rules.

[Porfiria stands and stares at death with hatred in her eyes but then sighs and looks away.]

Porfiria: Fine....I want a dance.

Death: A dance? Is that it? No skydiving, no wanting to be a professional model or a superhero?

Porfiria: [in a serious and low voice] No, I want a dance, I have never had a slow dance with anyone. The snowballs at central don’t count either.

Death: perfect then, this will be easy, any kind of style or any kind of partner in particular?

Porfiria: yeah, I want a waltz, in a dress, with a guy named Nate Crate.

Death: As you wish! [he snaps his fingers and the lights go out]

[The sound of a whistling wind and the snap of fingers can be heard as a spotlight snaps on and there stands Porfiria in a flowing black gown with her hair up and gloves on her hands. Standing where death had once stood was a tall young man who was a little bigger then most guys, but not exactly fat. His hair is raven and he wear a black satin suit and bowtie]

Porfiria: [in disbelief] Oh my goodness....I can’t believe this...I actually look good. [her eyes travel upward and she catches sight of the young man] Nate!
[the young man smiles and then holds out his hand]

Porfiria: Wait....you’re not Nate.

[The young man smiles and shrugs]

Death: Well, no duh. I can’t exactly pull someone from reality and stick him here. I’m pretty sure he’d find it suspicious but at least I look like him. [shrugs and holds out his hand again] Now, shall we dance?

[Porfiria hesitates and looks at the hand, she waits and thinks about it before sighing and grabbing his hand. Immediately they are accompanied in graceful music and he begins to lead her in a waltz around the stage in circles while the spotlight follows them. Porfiria looks up at the fake Nate and follows him]

Porfiria: You’re not bad, I didn't think death could be light on his toes.

Death: Same goes for you, though you have stepped on my toes three times.

[They spin and dance for what seems like hours before death sighs]

Death: So when so you want this dance to end? Are you satisfied yet?

[Suddenly Porfiria grip on his hand becomes tighter and she grins at him, death becomes a little wary]

Death: Ow!

Porfiria: No, I’m afraid I’m not ready for this dance to end just yet.

Death: What are you doing? You can’t keep this up forever, we’ll have to go sometime.

Porfiria: Oh no we don’t, you said I had one request and I asked for a dance, but I didn’t say how long I wanted to dance, and you can’t just take me away because I’m not harming you, [triumphantly] I’m only dancing with you.

Death: [irritated] Why are you doing this? It won’t save you.

Porfiria: I don’t want to save me, I only want to save my family. As long as you’re stuck dancing with me you can’t take them!

Death: you’re crazy! Would you rather them stay alive in pain?

Porfiria: Pain can only hurt for so long.

Death: Maybe for some, but not for all, and let me tell you, your family is a little out there.

[Porfiria begins to speed up as she begins to get a little angry and so does death, the music also increases in pace]

Porfiria: my family is not! It’s strong.

Death: People are meant to die! There’s nothing you can do about it!

Porfiria: [yells] You’re wrong!

Death: [yells too] No I’m not! If people don’t die then people can’t be born, its the circle of life. You’re sister never has her kids, and future leaders and heroes are never going to fulfill their destinies. Besides, just think of what it would be like if people like Hitler and Stalin didn’t die.

[The music begins to slow and Porfiria falls silent and they go back to their graceful dance. They both dance in silence before soon the music stops and so does the dancing. Before she can start again, death snaps his fingers and the spotlight goes out. After a while again he snaps his fingers and they are standing in her living room with their normal clothes back on.]

Death: [sighs in relief] You understand now?

Porfiria: [under her breath] No...[in her normal voice] But you were right in some ways I guess.

Death: Glad we finally agree. [his voice becomes gentler] Now, come on, it’s time.

Porfiria: Wait. [she moves over to her still frozen grandmother] Grams I’m sorry I was never very helpful around the house, and that I yelled at you. I didn’t mean to always get so angry... and I‘m sorry if I ever hurt you[hugs her grandmother and moves to her grandfather]  Hey gramps, it was a good show tonight huh? [she smiles but then turns sullen] Well....I know we haven't always gotten along, but we did have our good times and even if you always yelled at me, I know you really cared. [hugs her grandfather]

Death: come on now.

[Porfiria gives them both one last a kiss on the cheek and then stands with tears in her eyes and walks over towards death. She looks back one last time]

Porfiria: [sadly] Bye guys, I’ll see ya soon.

[Death once again offers her his hand and she takes it without hesitation. They begin to walk off to stage right as the curtain falls.]