The Story, Life & Death Of Ryan McKenzie

This is a true story about my best friend who died in a car crash in 2000. It is a very moving story and was hard for me to write but at the same time, it is a good piece. I directed this play script in university on the 30th March 2007.

 

The Story, Life & Death Of Ryan McKenzie

 

By Daniel Seal

 

Characters

 

Dan

Ryan

Tom

Hannah

Vicky

Extras

 

Scene 1 – Introduction

 

 

(The stage is dark for a moment. Lights up, DAN enters)

 

Dan:

This is a story about a friend of mine who was very important to me. Someone I looked up to, someone who looked up to me, someone I could talk to about anything. But one thing I learnt was that you don’t truly appreciate someone until they’re gone. And so my story begins,

One person’s story. One person’s life. One person’s tragic death. Ryan McKenzie, born July 1986 to June 2000.

My best friend.

 

(Blackout. The sound of a screeching car crashing is then heard. We hear music play over the speakers. After a while the music fades)

 

Dan (voiceover):

This story takes place in summer 6 years ago. I was on my way to see my Nan when I bumped into some old friends of mine, Hannah, Vicky & Tom. Hannah & Vicky were both high school mates. Tom was my best friend’s brother.

 

 

Scene 2 – Empty Stage

 

 

Lights up on stage. TOM, HANNAH & VICKY enter with rucksacks, they seem to be chatting away. Dan is standing at the opposite side looking at his watch. Hannah is first to notice him.)

 

Hannah:

Hey look!

 

Vicky:

What?

 

Hannah:

Isn’t that Dan standing over there?

 

Tom:

Where?

 

Hannah:

Over there!

 

Vicky:

Oh yeah that’s him.

 

All:

DAN!

 

(Hannah & Vicky run over and hug him. Tom shakes hands.)

 

Dan (surprised):

Alright guys! How are you lot doin?

 

Vicky:

Yeah we’re good. How about you?

 

Dan:

Yeah not too bad. Tom! Bloody hell mate I haven’t seen you for a good few months! Everything ok with you?

 

Tom:

Yeah not too bad mate!

 

Dan:

What’s with the rucksacks?

 

Hannah:

We’ve just been on a hike.

 

 

Dan:

Cool! Oh by the way Tom, how’s Ryan?

 

Tom:

Funny you should mention him actually. He’s home tonight for a few weeks.

 

Dan (shocked):

You are joking me!

 

Hannah:

You didn’t tell us that Tom!

 

Tom:

Well I forgot soz. Anyway yeah, he should be home around 6 or 7. He kinda wanted it to be a secret so he could surprise us but oh well.

 

Dan:

This is great news!

 

Vicky:

Shall we call round later then?

 

Hannah:

Why don’t we hold a surprise party for him?

 

Dan:

Good idea! Yeah that’s great.

 

Tom:

We’ll surprise him at our house tonight.

 

Dan:

Ace! Well let’s hope we can pull it off! Soz, I’ve gotta catch my bus, I’m just off to see my Nan for a bit.

 

Hannah:

Ok. We’ll help set up a nice surprise for him.

 

Vicky:

Let’s go and get some supplies!

 

Tom:

Yeah, we’ll meet up around 5 at mine.

 

Dan:

No problem, see ya later guys.

 

All:

Seeya!.

(Blackout)

 

Dan (voiceover):

We had a lot in common growing up together. Ryan was born the same day as me as well as the same year, we both lived in the same town and we went to the same school. Ryan was the sort of person who always made you feel better about yourself. If you ever had a bad day or something personal had happened in your life, Ryan would always know what to say to make everything right. That’s what made him my best friend.

 

(Music begins to play)

 

Scene 3 – Ryan’s House

 

 

(Stage lights up, the music fades out. On stage is a sofa, a table, 2 chairs, a small coffee table and a phone and a mirror. Hannah & Vicky are tidying up the place, cleaning the table etc and a group of about 4 friends are in one corner talking. Tom and another friend are sat on the sofa playing on the Playstation.)

 

Vicky:

There! That should do! Any better Hannah?

 

Hannah:

That’s great yeah! Tom could you please give me a hand?

 

Tom:

Yeah 2 secs, it’s dead addictive this game, wait there!

 

Hannah:

Get off your arse now Tom.

 

Tom:

F**k I crashed! (sarcastic) Cheers Hannah.

(Dan enters hastily)

 

Dan:

Guys! He’s here, he’s just walking up the driveway now. Get in the kitchen quick!

 

(They all exit into the kitchen, Dan turns the light out, lights fade to dim. RYAN enters. He looks around slightly puzzled, lights up.)

 

All:

SURPRISE!!!!

(Ryan jumps in shock. All the girls run and hug him whilst the guys shake hands)

 

Tom:

Welcome home bro!

 

Hannah:

It’s nice to see you again Ryan.

 

Vicky:

We all missed you loads!

 

Ryan:

Oh my god! I never expected to see you all here today. How did you find out I was coming home early?

 

Tom:

Mum told us and well, I gave the key to the house heh, heh, so we all arranged this surprise party for ya.

 

Ryan:

You really didn’t have to do this for me.

 

Vicky:

Don’t be silly, you’ve been gone 6 whole months! We have to celebrate!

 

Hannah:

Oh yeah!!!

 

Ryan (smiling):

Thanks everyone. How’s Dan? Is he about?

 

(Ryan looks over and suddenly notices Dan on his own in the corner staring coldly at him)

 

Ryan:

Alright Dan.

 

Dan (sarcastic):

Ryan. I didn’t expect to see you back so soon. Maybe it would have been better if you had stayed abroad. You make me sick! Who do you think you are?

 

(Everyone is shocked)

 

(laughs) ha, ha, ha oh I’m sorry I couldn’t resist ha, ha, ha! Man it’s good see you again mate it’s been forever!

 

 Ryan:

Jeez you worried me for a sec!

 

Dan:

Ha, ha, ha sorry mate, it was funny though, you should have all seen your faces ha, ha, ha. How was the flight back from the states?

 

Ryan (sitting):

Well, I’m a bit jet lagged but I’m ok. I’ll live! I’m sure I have some party energy in me (grinning).

 

Dan:

Heh, heh, heh. Nice one! Do ya fancy a drink mate?

 

Ryan:

Yeah cool man thanks, I’ll have anything.

 

Dan:

Well get your own then

(pause)

ha, ha just kidding mate (grinning) I’ll just get you one. If anyone wants a drink, they’re on the kitchen table so help yourselves.

 

(Dan & the other friends go offstage to the kitchen. Vicky & Hannah sit down next to Ryan.)

 

Vicky:

So Ryan have you spoke to Helen since you got back yet? She’s been talking about you all the time since you left.

 

Ryan:

Oh right! Yeah I spoke to her not long before I got here. We’re going out tomorrow.

 

Hannah:

Oh aye! Well come on where are you going with her? Anywhere nice?

 

Ryan:

Well not sure yet but we’ll see what happens.

 

Vicky:

How long have you been with her for now Ryan?

 

Ryan:

Hmmm about 10 months now?

 

(Dan enters with Ryan’s drink.)

 

Tom:

Yo Ryan, come and have a game with us on this.

 

Ryan:

You know I’ll win bro!

 

Tom:

Dream on!

 

(Blackout)

 

Dan (voiceover):

We all had a great time that night. I don’t think it would have been the same though if Ryan wasn’t there. Tom, Vicky, Hannah and myself crashed over at Ryan’s for the night.

 

(Lights up, Ryan is seeing off the guests)

 

Ryan:

Thanks for coming guys! Thanks so much for the surprise, seeya later!

 

Tom (drunk on floor):

Bloody hell, what a night! Did ya see those b*****s? They well wanted me!

 

Hannah:

Er no…

 

Vicky:

We definitely didn’t.

 

Dan (lying on couch):

How much have you drunk Tom?

 

Tom:

Five bottles?

 

Dan:

Lightweight!

 

Ryan:

Same old bro ha, ha.

 

Dan:

(yawn) So, any plans for tomorrow guys?

 

Vicky:

Well Hannah and I are going shopping with my mum if you guys wanna come?

Dan:

Nah I’ll give it a miss.

 

Tom:

Er I’ll give it a miss too ladies.

 

Hannah:

Oh you boring sods!

 

Ryan:

We know!

 

Dan (yawning):

Well I’m goin to sleep guys, seeya in the morning.

 

All:

Goodnight.

 

(Slow fade until blackout)

 

Scene 4 – Ryan’s House

 

 

Dan (voiceover):

The next day was the start of what ended to be a tragedy. Although I didn’t know it at this point. Ryan was my best friend but sometimes he would let you down the last minute on something that was really important to you.

 

(Music plays. Then the stage slowly lights up. On stage is Dan by the mirror, straightening his hair etc. Ryan enters)

 

Ryan:

Dan?

 

Dan:

Yeah?

 

Ryan:

Um, listen I can’t go to the match today.

 

Dan (shocked):

What?

 

Ryan:

Well it’s my girlfriend’s birthday today and I haven’t seen her since I’ve got back so I was going to see her today.

 

Dan:

Yeah well can’t ya see her tonight.

 

Ryan:

No we had plans and she’s busy tonight anyway.

 

Dan:

But Ryan, this is what we’ve been waiting for, for months! Besides we booked the tickets for the match now.

 

Ryan:

Yeah well sorry but you’ll have to ask someone else to go. I can’t let her down.

 

Dan:

So it’s ok to let me down then? Ha, well it’s nice to see nothing’s changed about you. You’re still exactly the same! When it comes to things like this you always let me down Ryan.

 

Ryan:

Dan I haven’t seen Helen for 6 months.

 

Dan:

Yeah well it’s not good enough, you should have told me about this before instead of the last minute.

 

Ryan:

I'm sorry Dan I forgot about today.

 

Dan:

I don’t care! This has really pissed me off. You always do this!

 

Ryan:

Dan for f**k sake give me a break! I’ve just come home 12 hours from the states and I don’t need this s**t from you!

 

Dan:

I couldn’t give a f**k!

 

Ryan:

Look I don’t need this, if you’re gonna moan like a baby then do it in your own time.

 

Dan:

Shut up!

 

Ryan:

Go home and cool off.

 

Dan (leaving):

Ok, fine if that’s how you want it. All I can say is, sort your damn friends out Ryan and think about how you treat them.

 

Ryan:

How I treat my friends? Well listen to the way your mouthing off. Think and listen to yourself! Oh and I thought you should know something else. I’m moving back to the states next week and this time my whole family is going and it might be for longer than 6 months, not that you would care.

 

Dan:

Does it look like I do? No, good riddance. Seeya.

 

(Dan leaves. Ryan sits down in his chair. Pauses for a moment and then bangs the table)

 

(Blackout)

 

Scene 5 – Empty Stage

 

 

Dan (voiceover):

That was the last time I ever saw Ryan. A week had passed since we’d fallen out. I still felt angry with him about what happened that day. But everything changed later that week.

 

(Music plays. Then lights up. Tom enters with a suitcase, Dan enters from the opposite side.)

 

Tom:

Oh alright Dan, well er, this is it. We’re leaving today.

 

Dan:

No Ryan I see?

 

Tom:

He’s just gone to say goodbye to Hannah and Vix. I er heard what happened between you two. I’m sorry it had to happen like this. Hope we can sort this problem out.

 

Dan:

Why do you care? Besides, it’s not the first time he’s done this. I’ve had enough of him and I couldn’t care less what you or him think.

 

Tom:

Come on Dan listen! Ryan said he was sorry for letting you down and…

 

Dan(cutting him off):

Do me a favour? Tell Ryan I said that I don’t care a toss what he says, he’s not my best friend anymore. As far as I’m concerned good riddance to you lot.

 

(Dan leaves. Tom is speechless. After a pause, Ryan enters from the opposite side to where Dan left)

 

Ryan:

Tom? Have you seen Dan?

 

Tom:

You just missed him Ryan.

 

Ryan:

What did he say?

 

Tom:

He wanted me to tell you that

(pause)

he doesn’t care about anything you say and he doesn’t want to be friends with you or have anything to do with any of us anymore.

 

(Pause. Ryan turns around)

 

Ryan:

Oh right. I'm sorry he still feels that way.

 

Tom:

You alright?

 

Ryan:

Yeah don’t worry

(pause)

Come on let’s get going. Mum and dad are waiting.

 

(Tom leaves. Ryan stops for a moment and then turns around.)

 

Ryan:

Seeya Dan.

 

(Blackout as he leaves)

 

(Silence. Then the sound of a screeching car crashing is heard over the speakers as of in Scene 1.)

 

Dan (voiceover):

That was when it happened. I received a call from my mum later that afternoon. She told me that Ryan & the family had a big car crash on the way to the airport. His mum, dad & Tom survived, but Ryan had died tragically.

 

Scene 6 – Ending

 

 

(The stage remains dark, pause)

 

Dan (voiceover):

I never even had the chance to tell him I was sorry for what happened, that’s what upset me the most. I never meant what I said Ryan, you were always my best friend and you always will be.

 

(The stage lights come up the same as in Scene 1. Dan enters)

 

Dan:

Things got better as time went on. But I look back now and wonder what would life be like if he was still here? Would we still be friends? Would life be as it was? Ryan once said that friendship is for life and it’s not something to forget, we must always look out for each other and no matter what happens, a true friendship will last forever. I only wish I could say that was true for me. And so my story ends,

One person’s story. One person’s life. One person’s tragic death. Ryan McKenzie, born July 1986 to June 2000. My best friend.

 

(Blackout. Music plays)

 

The End

 

Copyright 2006

 

Author's Note

All comments are appreciated. Let me know what you think and by all means, be critical.