 If you have the patience, here is Act I of a new two-act piece I have co-written with a friend, Vivian Gündlach. _______________________________________
The Trial of Simone
Simone – A smartly dressed woman of about 30.
David – A suited man of about 40.
A waiting room. Two doors stand either side of the back wall. They each bear a sign, one for “Gents” and the other for “Ladies”. A wooden bench stands against the right wall, and two benches stand back to back down the middle. There is a waste paper bin placed at the end of the two middle benches. There is a clock on the back wall, between the two doors. It is set at 08.42. (It keeps good time). There is a notice board beneath the clock with a timetable and a poster warning that “Thieves operate in this area” pinned to it. There are other notices typical of a train station pinned to the board. A loud speaker sits above each toilet door. The entrance is stage left through a glass-panelled door.
Simone sits in the waiting room with her back to the entrance, on the middle bench, with a portfolio and a camera on her lap and a coat by her side. She is fidgeting. Standing opposite her is a small, unattended suitcase on wheels, and a newspaper on the bench. She takes a picture of it with her camera. The toilet flushes. 10 seconds later David enters through the Gents toilet door and sits opposite Simone. He removes his coat. He moves the suitcase towards him. Simone sits stilly, avoiding his gaze.
Dave (Coughs)
Pardon me. (Stifling a yawn) Terrible weather. Simone (Without looking)
Mmm. Dave You got far to go?
Simone London.
Dave Me too.
(Pause. A station announcement is heard on the tannoy. It is completely inaudible).
Dave Did you hear that? What was that? I didn’t get any of that.
Simone No. I couldn’t hear it.
Dave Never can. Half the time you can’t understand the accent even if you can hear it.
Simone Mmm…
(Pause)
Dave You a photographer or something, then?
Simone Yes. Something like that.
Dave Those your pictures? Can I have a look? I’m quite keen myself. Well, you know, on holidays and stuff. Not professional but I’ve got a good eye for that kind of thing. I obviously don’t develop my own photos. Well, no need is there? You can just run them down to Boots these days and do them digitally down there in one of those machines. You know what I mean?
Simone Yes. But, no. I mean, yes these are pictures and I know what you mean but these aren’t really pictures for showing.
Dave Huh? What’s the point of that then? I don’t get it.
Simone I have to go. My train will be here in a minute.
Dave Oh. My train too, then.
(They both rise to leave, putting on their coats. Dave picks up his suitcase. Simone exits, holding the door open for Dave. Dave exits. There is a long pause. Simone returns. She’s talking into a mobile ‘phone.)
Simone “They didn’t say. I don’t know…oh, you know this lot…wrong leaves on the track probably. It’s this bad weather.
(She removes her coat)
Look, I’m not happy about it either. If I could change it, I would, don’t you think I’d do that? They’re sending for some buses. We have to finish the journey in buses. They said in about an hour, though.
(Dave returns, dragging his case behind him. He speaks on a mobile ‘phone as well.)
Dave If you need to, start without me and I’ll be there as soon as – I can set my presentation up during coffee if I need to. There’s going to be a comfort break at some point, I’m sure.
(He removes his coat)
Yes it is bloody inconvenient but there’s not much I can do. I’ll see you later.
(Call ends).
That wasn’t part of the plan! There was nothing on the “net” this morning when I looked.
Simone No.
Dave That’s going to put me behind schedule. How about you?
Simone I could have done without it.
Dave Suppose we’ll just have to grin and bear it. Looks like we’re here for the long haul!
Simone It seems we have little choice.
(Dave looks at Simone for a moment then gives up trying to converse. He picks up the newspaper and shuffles the pages, folding the paper over. He starts to do the crossword. Simone plays with her mobile ‘phone.)
Dave (Softly)
Five across. Five letters. Indeterminate. Second letter “A”. Ends in “E”.
Simone Vague.
Dave Pardon?
Simone The answer. It’s “V-A-G-U-E”. Vague.
Dave Ha! Thanks! That fits…seven down is “Guilt”, then. Culpability. That’s guilt, isn’t it?
Simone Yes, if you’re that way inclined.
Dave That way?
Simone It was a joke. I meant, if you have a guilty conscience. Then yes, you’d be inclined to think that way. It doesn’t matter. It could have been “Responsibility”, that’s another meaning for the same word. That’s all I meant. You choose the word you most associate with, to begin with, in crosswords.
Dave Do spare me the therapy lesson, but it couldn’t be that, could it? It doesn’t start with a “G” and it was only five letters long.
Simone Fine. Forget I said it. I’ll keep quiet until you get a seven-letter word then!
(Dave continues his puzzle in silence, while Simone sends a text message. Dave ruffles his newspaper, disturbing Simone. He looks up and meets her gaze. He smiles, embarrassed; she does not smile back.)
Simone Reached a seven-letter word?
Dave Yeah
(Pause)
“To punish, coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure”. Seven letters, fourth letter is a T, so it must be beating. Yes! Beating! Never mind, I’ve got it.
(Dave smiles, triumphantly.)
Mind you, when I was a kid, a smack on the backside never did me any harm. When I was bad, my mum put me in my place and I knew I was wrong. These days not even an ASBO can keep kids in line. Kids just run riot these days.
Simone It’s not “beating”.
Dave Sorry, what?
Simone The word you are looking for, it’s not “beating”.
Dave Yes it is, it’s got seven letters and the fourth letter is a T. It fits.
Simone Ok then, you know best. So, when you were a boy and you were bad, your mum smacked you?
Dave Yes, and when I had been really bad she waited for my dad to come home, and that was no fun, I tell you. Taught me discipline though. That’s what kids lack these days. Discipline.
Simone You got kids yourself?
Dave Yeah, I’ve got two.
(He tries to return to his paper)
Simone Yes? …. And do they have names?
Dave (Pause)
Colin and Suzanne.
(He turns away, slightly)
Simone A boy and a girl … how old are they?
Dave (Pause)
Colin is twelve now and Suzanne is nine.
Simone And are they ever bad?
Dave Well, you know, all kids get into trouble, that’s what they’re kids for, right?
(Dave laughs)
Simone And when they are bad, do you smack them?
Dave No.
(He picks up the newspaper)
Simone I don’t understand that. Just a minute ago you said kids need discipline, but your own kids are the exception to that rule? Figures.
Dave (Softly)
No it doesn’t. My kids don’t live with me –
Simone Sorry?
Dave My kids don’t live with me. They live with their mother.
Simone I see, but then you have them on weekends, right?
Dave No, I don’t. We’re divorced - she moved to Australia and I haven’t seen my kids since.
Simone I bet you must miss them?
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Looking forward to reading this lot
Kenny
I haven't got the quiet time to give this work the attention it deserves just now but I'm looking forward to it and I don't want you to think your art has gone unnoticed and unappreciated in this world. Keep going for it.
Bob
I'm totally cool with that,
I'm totally cool with that, Bob. I appreciate it's a big ask of people to ask them to wade through so much in one go!
I will be "removing" it temporarily at some point as I will be working on it at uni, and whilst it is posted here for evaluation purposes (and minus Act II) only, technically I could be accused of plagiarism if I leave it up. However, I have been working on it over the summer purely for the new term (just in case anyone is looking!) for a "Staging New Writing" project. Writing it now has given me some breathing space for when the new term starts, combining the dull day job with my real passion!
Having others read your work is, to my mind, an important part of the process. It's been subjected to a rehearsed reading, and that proved useful in helping shape the piece.
Any comments gratefully received.
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Laissez lire, et laissez danser; ces deux amusements ne feront jamais de mal au monde!!
Simone's lot plot
Similar to Bob I've only got limited time alloted down library each day until I get set up in my new home. Will attend as time allows and comment accordingly so please don't remove it just yet! I attend the Basingstoke Writers Circle and Petersfield Creative Writers sometimes and it is good to try your own humble work in front of an audience although nerve-wracking. You've also inspired me to contribute here as well
cheers for now
keep up the good work
andi