© Chris Port
Central School of Speech and Drama, 1998
Aims
- To use script as a stimulus for discussion about peer group pressures and relationships.
- 6.1: Script Girlfriend and boyfriend.
- Photocopy Resource 6.1: Script Girlfriend and boyfriend. One copy per student. N.B. The word ‘shit’ occurs. If this is likely to cause any problems, please censor or alter the dialogue appropriately.
- Extract is taken from The Party © Chris Port, 1994.
- Distribute photocopied resource as above.
- Ask for volunteers (or assign conscripts) to read parts of Monica, Dan and Louise.
- Volunteers/conscripts read out script.
- Ask students to discuss the relationship between Monica and Dan and Monica and Louise. Ask them to avoid discussing it in terms of plot or soap opera. Concentrate on the relationship between the sexes, the relationship between the personalities, and the issues underlying their behaviour.
- Ask students to propose a ‘biography’ for Monica (for example: age, where she lives, relationships with parents, siblings and friends, hopes, anxieties, strengths and weaknesses, ambitions after leaving school).
- Ask students to describe Monica in the future at intervals of 1 year, 5 years and 10 years.
- De-brief students and ask for feedback on exercises.
* * * * * * * * * *
Please return this sheet at the end of the session.
(The following dialogue is taken from the stage play The Party, © Chris Port, 1994).
The story so far...
Monica’s parents are away. Her younger sister, Louise, has organized an illicit teenage house party. Monica has been avoiding her boyfriend, Dan, throughout the entire play. Louise calls Dan and asks him to come over. Dan catches up with Monica in the back garden. This is the first and only time the audience see him.
(Dan comes out into the garden, obviously slightly drunk. Monica is sitting on the patio step, looking up at the stars).
DAN
What are you doing out here. (No reply). Not talking to me?
MONICA
I was just looking at the stars. (Dan laughs). What’s funny about that?
DAN
Nothing. Sorry. Nothing. (He sits down beside her). You know, the ancients believed that the night sky was this huge domed canopy that God put over the world so we can sleep. But He didn’t want to leave us in complete darkness. So he made thousands of tiny pinprick holes in it. And through those holes, you can see the light of Heaven. (Slight pause). Complete bollocks, of course, but it’s a good optical trick.
MONICA
Why do you always do that?
DAN
What?
MONICA
I’ve noticed. Every time you say something nice you always have to spoil it. You’re always trying to prove how clever, how ironical, you are. It’s just boring. I’ve had enough of it.
DAN
Why are you shaking?
MONICA
I’m not shaking. I’m shivering. But being thick-skinned, I don’t suppose you’d notice.
DAN
Oh. Well. If I’m thick-skinned and you’re cold, you’d better wear my jacket then. (He takes off his jacket).
MONICA
I don’t want your jacket.
DAN
(Sniffing jacket). Yeah. I see what you mean.
MONICA
(Smiling, in spite of herself). No. I don’t mean that you smell. I just don’t want to wear your jacket. I’m happy the way I am, thank you.
DAN
Don’t be stupid. You’d rather be cold?
MONICA
I’m alright. Why don’t you go inside and get a drink?
DAN
Alright. What would you like?
MONICA
I don’t want one, thanks.
DAN
Well I’ve had enough tonight.
MONICA
Are you drunk again?
DAN
It’s only my body that gets drunk. My mind is completely sober.
MONICA
(Shaking her head). God.
DAN
You called?
MONICA
No. I said God, not shit.
(Pause).
DAN
Why don’t we go away somewhere?
MONICA
What?
DAN
Not this second. On holiday, I mean. I’ll take you away to Paris next month.
MONICA
No.
DAN
Alright. I just thought you might like Paris, that’s all. Where would you want to go?
MONICA
It’s not that. I just don’t think it would be a good idea.
DAN
What wouldn’t?
MONICA
Us going away together.
DAN
Why not?
MONICA
It just wouldn’t. Not now.
(Pause).
DAN
Let’s go upstairs.
MONICA
No.
DAN
Oh for... Christ’s sake! What is it now?
MONICA
I just don’t feel like it.
DAN
(Joking). If you loved me, you’d let me.
MONICA
If you loved me, you wouldn’t ask.
DAN
If you loved me, I wouldn’t need to ask. (Pause). Monica? Are you going to tell me what’s going on?
MONICA
I don’t feel the same way about you anymore.
DAN
Oh. What exactly does that mean?
MONICA
What other way do you want me to say it?
DAN
How can you say that you love someone and then just wake up one morning and say “Oh sorry, I’ve changed my mind”?
MONICA
Don’t be such a prat! I haven’t ‘changed my mind’. I just don’t feel the same way.
DAN
But if you love someone you don’t just suddenly stop loving them, do you?
MONICA
I haven’t just ‘stopped’. I just can’t help the way I feel.
DAN
(Mimicking sarcastically). “I just can’t help the way I feel”. Great answer that. I mean it covers everything, doesn’t it? Change your mind. Break your word. Lie. Cheat. Steal. Do anything you want. When you come before the judge, “Sorry your Honour, I just can’t help the way I feel”. I must remember that one.
MONICA
I can’t talk to you when you’re like this.
DAN
(Standing up). Fine. That suits me fine. I’m going now.
MONICA
(Without looking up). Okay.
DAN
(Softening). I want you to have my jacket. To keep, I mean.
MONICA
I told you, I don’t want your jacket.
DAN
(Throwing jacket on the ground). Then I’ll leave it for you in case you ‘change your mind’.
MONICA
(Looking up). You’re drunk and you’re being stupid. Just pick it up and go. I’ll call you tomorrow.
DAN
(Picking up jacket. Sulky). Why? What’s there to talk about?
MONICA
(Looking back down). Suit yourself.
DAN
(Softening again). No. That’s not what I meant. We could go out for a drink? Tomorrow night?
MONICA
(Standing up). Yes. A friendly drink.
DAN
How about a friendly goodnight kiss?
MONICA
Don’t spoil things. Just go now.
DAN
(Mock seductively). How can you refuse a dying man?
MONICA
You’ll live.
(Dan kisses her).
DAN
You see? If I keep trying, I always get there in the end.
MONICA
Yes. Yes you do, don’t you? Just try it with the rest of your life. (Affectionately). Goodnight you prat.
DAN
(Affectionately). Goodnight. (Exits).
(Monica sits back down and continues to look at the stars. Soft music plays from inside where couples are slow-dancing. Louise comes out and sits down next to her).
LOUISE
Brenda just showed up those bitches in there.
MONICA
(Absently). Bitches?
LOUISE
Yeah. They’re gone now. I think they’ve gone to Tracy Johnson’s party.
MONICA
Oh. Your friends?
LOUISE
No. I don’t know who they came with.
MONICA
Other people leaving yet?
LOUISE
Yes. It’ll be over soon. Did you tell him?
MONICA
Hmm?
LOUISE
Dan. Did you tell him?
MONICA
No. It wouldn’t be fair on him. Not yet, anyway.
LOUISE
What did you say then?
MONICA
That I don’t feel the same way.
LOUISE
And is that true?
MONICA
Mostly. But you don’t ever stop loving someone. Not really.
LOUISE
Monny? Are you really going to go through with this?
MONICA
Yes. It’s what I want to do.
LOUISE
Mum and Dad’ll go spare.
MONICA
It’s my life now, not theirs.
LOUISE
But it might be dangerous.
MONICA
So’s crossing the road. You can’t stay at home all your life.
LOUISE
I can.
MONICA
(Fondly). I know. You’ll make someone a very good wife someday.
LOUISE
Relationships? Yuck. You’re the one for relationships, Monny. That’s what I don’t understand. You’ve got Dan. You’re clever. You can go to university. Get a good job. Get married. Why do you want to do aid work?
MONICA
Because I’m selfish.
LOUISE
Selfish?
MONICA
(Looking back at the stars). ‘We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep’.
LOUISE
I don’t understand. Stop quoting at me, Monny. You know I’m stupid.
(Pause).
MONICA
Louise, I’m scared. I want the world to remember me. But I don’t have any talent. I can’t sing or dance or charm people like you can. All I can do is clean up puke, make coffee and quote Shakespeare. I could be the best educated waitress in the world. But maybe if I could help someone, someone who really needed it, then I’d have made a difference. I wouldn’t have been here for nothing. So you see? I really am quite selfish.
LOUISE
But what can you do?
MONICA
Whatever I can. The interview is on Monday. I’ll find out then.
LOUISE
I hope you’re not qualified.
MONICA
(Not unkindly). Thanks for being so supportive, little sister.
LOUISE
You’re welcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment