Miss me but let me go

A contempory, devised play in 4 acts about the nature and results of greif. Follow the stories of 5 people and how they deal with the same problems in completely different ways. Typing up other acts as we speak.

 

Miss me but let me go     -    A play in 4 Acts by Kiri-rae

 

Act one

 

Audience come in. Song playing (“we cry” by The script.) Coffin in the middle of the stage. Spotlight on coffin.

 

When audience seated. Song fades. People walk onstage. 4 columns of light on them. All in black. All standing in square formation, opened up at front so people not blocking on another.

 

Person 1:  Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
                    Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
                    Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
                    Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Person 2:   Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
                    Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
                    Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
                    Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

Person 3:   He was my North, my South, my East and West,
                    My working week and my Sunday rest,
                    My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
                    I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

Person 4:  The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
                    Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
                    Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
                    For nothing now can ever come to any good.

All lights go off except ones on person 1 and coffin.

 

Person 1: Certificate of death

                  Name: Steven Perkiss

                  Date of death: 17^th of July 2006

                  Cause of death: Liver failure

                  Other details: Son of 35 inherited all property, including debts.

 

Blackout, person 1 becomes Nathan. Person 2 becomes Mandy. Nathan goes and sits at a desk in the centre of the room. Lights come up on the scene. He is looking at a photo. Mandy comes in cautiously and slowly and puts her hand lightly on his shoulder.

 

Mandy: (Hesitant) Are you ok?

 

Nathan shakes her off roughly.

 

Nathan: Yeah, I’m fine.

 

Mandy hesitates.

 

Mandy: We need to talk about this.

 

Nathan gets up roughly and backs away from her, trying to control his anger.

 

Nathan: We don’t need to talk about anything. Ok? Just leave me alone.

 

Mandy flinches at his harshness. Looks upset.

 

Mandy: Nathan... Nathan, we’re supposed to be married, we’re supposed to talk about these things...I know... (she pauses nervously) I know your upset about your father, but we can get through this. (Reaches out to him) Just let me help.

 

Nathan swipes her hand away. Backing away more and getting angrier.

 

Nathan: Don’t you dare talk about my father... you know, he was right about you. He always did say you were a heartless b-

 

Mandy: Well he wasn’t exactly my favourite person either!

 

Nathan snaps and advances on Mandy. She stumbles back fearfully. He grabs her arms violently, she cringes away.

 

Nathan: You ungrateful little...

 

He strikes her across the face. Music starts (“My immortal” Evanesance) Column of light on them. Freeze, tableau. Person 3 enters, regarding the scene with clinical detachment. Speaks to audience.

 

Person 3: Anger is commonly known as the second stage of grief and is often taken out on other members of the family leading to child abuse and domestic violence. In 2006, 285,000 women were abused. And over a third of these were seriously injured or killed.

 

Person 3 exit. Tableau unfreezes. Mandy turns slowly to Nathan holding her cheek.

 

Mandy: What did you just do?!

 

Mandy pushes Nathan away. Nathan grabs her by the shoulders and throws her to the floor. A column of light over each of them. Tableau. Person 4 enters, regarding scene and speaks to audience.

 

Person 4: “When your heart is broken, your head doesn’t work.” Bice Awan, the walking wounded, 2005.

 

Person 4 exit. Tableau unfreeze. Nathan starts kicking air in his column of light. Mandy reacts in hers.

 

Tableau.

 

 Person 3 enters as Judge. Facing audience with tableau in background.

 

Person 3: Sentenced to 5 years in prison. Court is adjourned.

 

Sound of judge's hammer. Music stops on bang.

 

 

Lights change to side light with Prison Bar gobo on the sound of a shutting prison gate. Nathan collapses to floor with head in hands.

 

Blackout.

 

Lights up on Nathan sitting in prison visiting chamber. One table, two chairs. Officer shows Mandy in then goes to stand directly behind Nathan. Mandy sits. Nathan leans towards Mandy across the table like a drowning man reaching for a life vest.

 

Nathan: (almost crying with emotion) Oh my god Mandy! I’ve being trying to see you for so long!

               (pulls himself together a bit.) Thank you so much for coming, I know I don’t deserve it.

 

Mandy leans away. Face deadpan.

 

Mandy:  I wasn’t going to.

 

Nathan looks desperate.

 

Nathan: Yes, but the fact that you did... the fact that you’re here... it means a lot to me.

 

Mandy: Don’t get your hopes up. It doesn’t mean anything (quieter) It doesn’t change anything...

 

Pause

 

Nathan: (desperately trying to lighten the conversation) How’s home? Have they finished the garden

                yet?

 

Mandy: My home life no longer concerns you Nathan.

 

Nathan uncomprehending.

 

Pause.

 

Nathan: What do you mean?

 

Pause.

 

               Mandy?

 

Mandy: I’ve filed for divorce. The courts have decided the children and the house are to be left in my care. You’re to stay away from them.

 

Long pause. Nathan getting angrier and angrier...shaking, fists clenched. Officer puts warning hand on his shoulder.

 

Nathan: What?! Why? How dare you?! It’s my house and my property you ungrateful witch! How –

 

Interrupting, almost hysterical.

 

Mandy: You almost killed me Nathan! What did you expect? For me to forget all about it and play happy families? No, Nathan I’ve had enough. I stayed with you through everything. Even when your father died and you drove everyone away. I was a fool. A fool to think that you could ever change. I actually thought we had a relationship. But now... now I realise that the only relationship you ever cared for was with your father.

 

Breathes in deeply to calm her then stands.

 

Mandy: The papers will be here Monday.

 

Nathan jumps up and is immediately restrained by the officer. Struggling against the officer, shouting at Mandy who stands up slowly, not looking at him and walks slowly away.

 

Nathan: Don’t do this Mandy. Please don’t do this! I’m so sorry!! Please don’t do this!! HOW

               COULD YOU?! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?? MANDY?! MANDY GET

               BACK HERE!! MANDY!!!

 

Whilst he is still screaming, Mandy pauses at the door and looks back sadly.

 

Mandy: Goodbye Nathan.

 

Mandy exit. Nathan left screaming. Black out.

 

Spotlight on Nathan in middle of stage. Reads as if from a newspaper cutting.

 

Nathan: Middle aged man beats wife nearly to death after death of alcoholic father. Nathan Perkiss, from Graham estate London, attacked his wife viciously last Sunday. The victim, middle aged Mandy Perkiss, is said to have suffered severe wounds to the back, head and stomach. Nathan Perkiss is currently in an east London jail and is looking at an undecided sentence of at least 5 years. Harriet Carter reports...

 

He chucks the newspaper away and speaks directly to audience.

 

 I looked at the papers every day, with their exaggerations and their gossip and the various spellings of my name. They portrayed me as a villain and as I read them I became more and more depressed and more and more angry. My anger was a problem in prison; it got me into fights... a lot of fights...so a decision was made to put me in isolation for 6 months...to simmer down... the loneliness was crushing. I soon lost the will to live. In my mind I'd lost the right to...

The funeral was quiet, after all who would want to admit they knew me? But Mandy came; she even shed a tear, though shed never let anyone see. But she went eventually and I was laid to rest in my shallow tomb. No fancy tombstone decorated my grave. No loving epitaph reminded passers by of my story. All that remained of Nathan Perkiss was a pile of forgotten bones and a horror story in the newspaper that would soon be forgotten as the nexttragedy occurred. No one mourned me, no one remembered. All that was left was “Nathan Perkiss. Rest in peace.”

 

 

 

Blackout. End of Act one.

 

Act two

 

 

4 columns of light and light on coffin come on. All on stage, each in column of light.

 

All: Father be with her family

       As they cry with sadness today

       Aching hearts feeling such a loss

       May they know your love

 

       Comfort them with your love, o lord

       As they try to understand

       Why you called her to be with you

       May they know your peace

 

Lights out except ones on person 3, and on coffin.

 

Person 3: Certificate of death

                  Name: Daniel Hampton

                  Date of death: 5^th of October 2007

                  Cause of death: Drowning

                  Other details: The deceased’s twin sister under school surveillance due to extreme reaction 

                  the deceased’s death

 

Person 3 becomes Catherine. Catherine walks to centre spotlight (on light). Still and silent. Person 1enter in white doctor’s coat. Catherine stands up expectantly on his entrance. He is hesitant.

 

Person 1: I’m sorry there was nothing we could do.

 

Catherine collapses on a chair holding her chest.

 

Person 4 as Manipulator. Manipulator rises behind her and manipulates her like a puppet as he speaks. Catherine breathing heavily and exaggerated. Manipulator’s hands move in and out with her breathing as if making her breathe.

 

Manipulator: Breathing stops. (Catherine stops breathing and Manipulators hands stop) you think it will never start again, after all what’s the point? But as your head swims (manipulator makes a circle above Catherine’s head and her head rolls in sympathy with the movement.) you force your self to take another breath... in (exaggerated breath in, manipulator controlling... etc) out... (breath out) in.... (breath) out.... (breath) keep up a regular rhythm. Keep up a facade. Get up (Manipulator appear to have her on strings as Catherine gets up) walk out. Walk away. (Catherine made to walk down stage) Find solitude. Break down. (Manipulator pushes Catherine down without touching her. Then appears to rock her to and fro as if having her on strings) Cry. Keep crying. Never stop. NEVER STOP!

 

Catherine ends up downstage on floor in a ball with manipulator standing over her. Blackout.

 

 

Lights up on cafeteria scene. Catherine sitting round lunch table with friends. Keeps head low over empty tray and doesn’t look up. Figure on floor where Catherine was. In same clothes. Crying softly throughout scene.

 

Person 2 as Lauren. Lauren eats for a bit then looks worriedly at Catherine.

 

Lauren: Catherine....are you alright?

 

Catherine looks up bewildered for a moment then answers with small smile on her face.

 

Catherine: Yes, Lauren. I’m fine. Absolutely fine.

 

Lauren looks slightly creeped by the polite address. She leans, concerned, across the table.

 

Lauren: Catherine you’re not eating. Aren’t you hungry?

 

Catherine: No, actually Lauren I feel a bit sick.

 

Lauren: Maybe you should go home then, you do look kinda pale.

 

Catherine looks down for a bit, then looks up.

 

Catherine: I don’t think that’s necessary. I’m sure I’ll be fine.

 

More concerned.

 

Lauren: Well you should at least go to the medical centre.

 

Catherine looks faintly annoyed.

 

Catherine: Really Lauren. I’m fine.

 

Lauren looks uncertainly at her for a bit then decides not to bother. She resumes eating. Person 1 enters as another friend, grabs Lauren’s attention, very excited.

 

Person 1: Lauren, Lauren! Did you hear what happened down the river last Monday?!

 

Figure on the floor goes tensely still, as does Catherine at the table. Lauren completely immersed in conversation.

 

Lauren: No! I never got told! What happened?? They say a kid died!

 

Figure on the floor screams in agony, clawing the floor.

 

Person 1: Yeah apparently someone did, they didn’t name names though so I don’t know who it was, but basically what happened –

 

Catherine stands suddenly, interrupting him. They both turn to her surprised.

 

Catherine: (still very tense and looking down.) I think your right Lauren. I think I should go home.

 

She runs off without another word. Lauren and the Person 1 stare after her gaping. Blackout.

 

Lights up on Catherine, Manipulator back. Figure on floor gone. Catherine slowly collapsing to the floor.

 

Manipulator: Walk out. Walk away. Find solitude. Break down. Cry. Keep crying. Never stop. Never stop. (Repeat for long as necessary)

 

When Catherine on her knees sobbing into her hands, she throws her head back when manipulator pulls, screaming in grief. Then proceeds to slowly collapse to the floor.

 

Black out.

 

Figure on the floor where Catherine collapsed wearing the same clothes as Catherine again. In a teacher’s office, Catherine standing awkwardly opposite. Teacher looks up.

 

 

Teacher: Ah, Catherine. Do sit down. I’ll be with you in a moment.

 

Catherine sits cautiously.

 

Teacher: So, Catherine how are we today?

 

Catherine: Fine thank you.

 

Teacher: I hear from Mr. Kenly that you got full marks in the test this afternoon. I have to say well done, I was never very good at Maths myself... well actually, I was terrible to be honest so that is definitely something to be proud of in my books.

 

Catherine: Thank you sir.

 

Distinct pause.

 

Tone kinder and quieter. Quite awkward.

 

Teacher: So Catherine, I understand that your brother... died recently in that terrible accident...

 

Figure on the floor gasps in pain. Catherine freezes.

 

Catherine: (tightly) Yes, sir.

 

Teacher: And... how are you holding up? I know it’s hard to cope with on your own...

 

Catherine: (still very tense) I’m fine sir.

 

Pause. Teacher continues in a rushed way, desperately trying to say anything that could possibly help.

 

Teacher: The doctors say that your brother was in no pain when he dies. (figure on floor groans) he died a peaceful death. (Figure on the floor starts to whisper the words “Walk out, walk away, Find solitude. Break down. Cry. Keep crying. Never stop. Never stop” getting louder and louder as Teacher speaks. Eventually drowning him out.)

 

Teacher (cont.): And it wasn’t your fault in any way. Even if you had gone with him you wouldn’t have been able to do anything without seriously injuring yourself. That river is too fast and too deep and it was pure bad luck that you brother slipped. (figure on floor puts its hands over its ears.) no one is to blame. No one. Not his friends, not the hospital and definitely not you.

 

Catherine stands and runs out. Teacher stands as if to catch her, concerned. Freeze. Blackout.

 

Spotlight on Catherine and manipulator. Figure on floor gone. Catherine kneeling on floor. Manipulator whispering the same lines again and again behind her (walk out, walk away...etc). Catherine with knife. She holds out her wrist and places knife on it then says the last 2 lines with the Manipulator. Looking up at the audience on the last “Never stop”.

 

 

Blackout.

Ending of Act 2

 

Act 3

 

 

4 light columns on each person again. Spotlight on coffin.

 

All looking down at start. Look up sharply on their verse. Others look up sharply and then look at person speaking at the same time. Should be very sharp and clinical.

 

Person 1: The art of losing isn't hard to master;

               so many things seem filled with the intent

               to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

 

Person 2: Lose something every day. Accept the fluster

               of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.

               The art of losing isn't hard to master.

 

Person 3: Then practice losing farther, losing faster:

               places, and names, and where it was you meant

               to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

 

Person 4: I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or

               next-to-last, of three loved houses went.

               The art of losing isn't hard to master.

 

Person 1: I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,

               some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.

               I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.

 

 

Person 2: --Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture

               I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident

               the art of losing's not too hard to master

   though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster

 

 

All lights go out except one on person 2.

 

Person 2: Certificate of Death

                 Name: The innocence of a young girl

                 Date of death: 27^th of January 2003

                 Cause of death: Forced exposure across the internet         

                 Other details: Victim unable to tell anyone due to shame

 

Translucent screen wheeled in, covers coffin but we can still see its ominous silhouette and the silhouette of a girl typing on a computer.

 

Person 2 becomes Millie.

 

Spotlight on Millie as she says the “mind” of the person behind the screen.

 

Millie: (giggles) He always knows just how to cheer me up, he’s so funny, charming too...not to mention cute... well he is in his picture... hmmm... Millie and Henry... Henry and Millie (smiles, pausing as if picturing it then giggles and looks at where the screen of the computer would be if it was there. Her smile falters.) what? (pauses) I don’t want... I’m not ready for... No don’t leave! It can’t hurt... (person behind screen takes off top, Millie smiles shyly but holds a tense, self conscious posture) There that wasn’t so bad. Anything to stop him leaving me. (pause) More? (Looks worried) But what if I don’t want...No please, please don’t leave. I’m doing it. (Person behind screen strips a bit more, pause) No, I’m not doing anymore... (Pause) of course I have a choice! (Jumps and recoils as if he’s just said something violent, close to tears) I shouldn’t have told him where I live... (Person behind screen strips more) There are you happy now? I’m going, I don’t want anymore of this!

 

Person behind screen runs off. Blackout.

 

Lights up on classroom scene. Teacher at front.

 

Teacher: Right class, in today’s PSME we will be talking about abuse. Who can give us some examples of different types of abuse?

 

Pupil 1: Physical?

 

Teacher: Yes that’s certainly one.

 

Pupil 2: (snickering with friend) Sexual? (bursts out into suppressed laughing)

 

Teacher: Yes that is one and you shouldn’t be laughing, sexual abuse is a very real and problematic issue.

 

Pupil: (still laughing) Tell us about sexual abuse, what are the different types of that? (guffaws with his friend.)

 

Teacher: (keeping very cool) Well sexual abuse can be a wide range of things, from enforced intercourse to forced exposure across the internet. But all of them, no matter how apparently trivial, are punishable by law if threat or force is used. Yes, Millie?

 

Millie has put her hand up and is trying to look casual.

 

Millie: If someone was being abused what should they do?

 

Teacher sees nothing amiss.

 

Teacher: Now that’s a good question, the most important thing any one can do is tell someone, preferably an adult or of not, a trusty friend will do just as well. And then that person can help the victim decide what to do next. A problem shared is a problem halved I always say. Yes?

 

 

Pupil 2: (Petulantly) What’s a cliché shared?

 

Teacher: Now don’t be silly!

 

Freeze. Spotlight on Millie. Everyone else exit after a beat of silence.

 

Millie: A problem shared is a problem halved. A problem shared is a problem halved. The most important thing you can do is tell someone. Just tell someone. Tell someone.

 

Lights up on William sitting on a chair looking nervous person 3 as his “mind” is standing behind him. Millie comes in with person 4 as her “mind” just behind her and sits opposite.

 

Will’s mind: Oh, god here she comes. She looks really upset, oh my god I hope she doesn’t cry.

 

Millie sits down. She looks nervous too.

 

William: Are you ok?

 

Millie’s mind: (no movement just facial expression) Of course I’m not ok!

 

Millie winces

 

Millie: Yeah, I’m fine.

 

Will’s mind: Fine, yeah right...she doesn’t look fine.

 

William: You don’t look fine.

 

Millie’s mind: you wouldn’t either! Oh god I’ve got to tell him...

 

Millie: Well... I guess I’m not... not really...

 

Millie’s mind: Tell him!

 

Will’s mind: Hell, sounds serious...

 

William: What’s up?

 

Millie’s mind: Oh my god, don’t tell him, what if he tells other people? They’ll think I’m a s**t!! But I’ve got to tell someone....

 

Millie: (almost Hysterical) Alright...but you can tell anyone ok? I mean anyone! I wouldn’t say anything but you’re the only one I can trust and oh my god just please don’t tell ok??

 

Will’s mind: Ok, ok Jesus...

 

William: Ok, ok I won’t tell.

 

Millie: Well, someone’s been making me... do stuff...

 

Will’s mind: Ok...right....

 

William: What do you mean, stuff?? What kind of stuff??

 

Millie’s mind: Oh, god don’t make me go into more detail. Understand, please understand.

 

Millie: Like bad stuff... (William looks blank) ...on webcam...

 

Will’s mind: What does she mean on.... oh... hell... run, run away, I can’t deal with this!

 

William looks uncomfortable and worried. Definitely not disgusted.

 

William: I’m not sure I’m the right person to talk to about this...

 

Millie’s mind: (gradually more hysterical) Oh my god he looks disgusted, I shouldn’t have said anything... Please! If I can’t talk to you who can I talk to? I can’t talk to my parents what would they say?!! You’re my only hope, please, please...

 

Millie: Please William! I need your help, you the only one I can talk to... (Starts to cry)

 

Will’s mind: Oh, god not the water works! I really can’t deal with this... What am I supposed to do??

 

William stands and starts to exit, backing away then turning and walking off as Millie grabs for him.

 

William: I’m sorry I can’t help you.... I’m not the right person to talk to... I’ve got to go... see you around...

 

Millie: (Stands and reaches out to grab him) No please!!! Don’t go!

 

He shrugs her off without looking round completely.

 

William: (with real regret) I’m sorry.

 

He exits. Millie walks back a few paces then collapses to the floor. Spotlight on her. Person 3 and person 4 who were acting as minds become voices, circling her threateningly.

 

 

Voice 1: Another friend driven away... another helping hand lost...well done...

 

Voices continue to circle, throughout this Millie is reacting to the voices.

 

Millie: It wasn’t my fault...

 

Voice 2: You’re despicable you are... nothing more than a s**t... a dirty s**t...

 

Millie: I’m not... I’m not...

 

Voice 1: Yes you are... no one can even bear to be around you... you’ve done this to yourself...

 

Millie: I didn’t mean to... it wasn’t my fault.

 

Voice 2: (more forceful and accusing) Oh yeah? Whose fault was it then? You could have said no! You could have stopped!

 

Millie: I couldn’t have... he wouldn’t let me!

 

Voice 1: S**t

 

Voice 2: W***e

 

Millie: It wasn’t my fault... it wasn’t my fault.

 

Millie is now hunched up on the floor. William runs in and puts a hand on Millie’s shoulder.

 

William: It’s ok, they’ve caught him. He’s gone. You’re safe.

 

Black out.

 

End of Act 3.

Author's Note

Please ignore grammar. Is shocking i know! Typing up other acts soon!

Reviews

[Jennimy Cricket]

Ruby please do say what i need to edit!! would like to correct it. and gee thanks! :) x

[Jasmine]

apart from a few things that need editing, this is incredibly well written, Jen...something i'd pay good money to see acted out in a theatre. your characters are believeable and you've got great description...can i read the rest?! lol keep it up dude :) x x

[deeps]

You have this set up well,
Broke down in the right places.
Wonderful detail and arranged well.

Your characters are wonderful.
Like the imagery you have set up for this.
I like what I have read so far.
I hoep you do have more.
Would like to read more of this.