Answer and Explanation:
NOTE: Feel free to edit in case this is too long. I got a bit carried away while writing. :)
Characters: William and Joseph, friends. William used to be poor, became wealthy after inheriting money from an uncle he had never heard of. Joseph is his best friend, the only person whose opinion William listens to and respects.
Theme: forgiveness.
Conflict: “man vs. man”; Joseph is trying to convince William that revenge for a past suffering only leads to more suffering.
Year 1923. William’s living room, richly furnished. Open windows reveal a sunset. Joseph walks from side to side. William comes in from the left.
WILLIAM: I’m glad to finally see you again, my friend! What took you so long?
JOSEPH (nervously): I needed time to muster up some courage before I could talk to you again.
WILLIAM (sitting down): And why is that?
JOSEPH (breaths deeply): I’m afraid we can no longer be friends.
William stares at Joseph in disbelief.
JOSEPH: I love and respect you. I love and respect our history. But I can no longer look away and pretend you haven’t become a monster.
WILLIAM: A monster?!
JOSEPH: The revenge you seek has transformed you. You were once a charming, intelligent, kind young man. Poor, I know. But better than what you are now.
WILLIAM: I cannot believe that is what you truly think!
JOSEPH: I can no longer watch what you are doing to yourself and the woman you love.
WILLIAM (stands up): Love?! How could I love her after what she did to me? She promised to wait for my return! I survived war to come back to her only to find her married to someone else! My love vanished at the moment I heard the news, Joseph. I hate her!
JOSEPH: You can repeat that to yourself as many times as you wish, but we both know it is not true. If you didn’t love her, you wouldn’t be angry enough to seek revenge. It is a twisted love, however, because you hurt the very object of your affection. After everything you’ve done, she has lost it all - her home, her husband, even her child. And if that makes you happy, you’re nothing but a sadistic monster. I cannot be friends with that.
WILLIAM (sits down again, looks shocked): Her child?
JOSEPH: Her husband took their child with him when he left. I saw her, William. I saw what all this is doing to her. You have no right to destroy a person’s life like this. Is this what you wanted? To take away everything she cares about? Do you even know why she married that man, why she didn’t wait for you? You have been selfish from the start, and the money allowed you to play God.
WILLIAM: Please, say no more. I have never felt so ashamed. It pains me to admit it, but you are right. I hope you can forgive me.
JOSEPH: Can you forgive her? Can you let go and mature from this? This childish egotism of yours has done enough harm.
WILLIAM (standing up): I see that now. I can forgive her, but now I pray that she can forgive me. I will make things right, you’ll see.
William offers his hand. Joseph hesitates for a moment, then shakes it. They exit.
