{the will to live}

I remember posting a little bit about a play I was writing - I've remembered it now, after I forgot for a few weeks or so. I thought maybe now would be a jolly good time to post a little portion of it - so here it is!!

Characters: 

GRACE WILSON - main character, a girl who is lost and has lost the will to live..

MIRANDA BRANCH - an older woman, around 30, who is an author.

RUBY CARMICHAEL - a young lady, around 25, who is studying to be a psychiatrist.

FAITH MARCH - an older woman, around 30, who is an English teacher.

MOM - Grace’s mom, doesn’t appear until the very end. Has on a subdued outfit, and looks a bit frazzled. Has a cell phone in her pocket.

Setting:

The stage is separated about in half. The play begins on stage left, and there is one beam of light facing left. There are three doors set up near the back, again on stage left, and the faint beeping of a heart monitor in the background. On stage right, there is some sort of separator (see Notes). Grace enters from far stage left.

Grace

Hello? is anyone there? Anybody? Please, I need help! I... I don’t know where I am, and... and I think something’s wrong. I think I should remember... I think it’s important... I need help - please! (long pause, and she lets out a shaky breath) So... I’m all alone. I... I just wish I knew what was going on... (looks around again) Hello?! (notices doors, and walks towards and around them, examining each in turn) My word, I wish I knew what was happening.... (goes back to the middle of the stage)

(Miranda comes out of the first door)

Miranda

Hello? Oh! Hi! Um... what’s your name?

Grace

OH MY WORD! uhm... My name’s Grace. Where did you come from?

Miranda

That door over there. The first one. It’s nice to meet you.

Grace

Wait! That’s not possible! I walked all around that door, it isn’t even attached to anything!

Miranda

Most things that happen here aren’t actually supposed to happen.

Grace

What’s that supposed to mean??

Miranda

See... it’s like this - 

(second door opens. RUBY walks in)

Ruby

Hello?! Oh, finally! someone’s here!

Grace

(screams) Again!! How did this happen?!

Ruby

What - Oh honey, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Ruby Carmichael. Spent 11 years in school and I can now call myself a psychiatrist. I’ve got a family, too, you know. Did this one introduce herself? Bet she didn’t... She’s Miranda. Branch, is it? 

(Miranda nods) Yes. Branch! She’s an author - rather accomplished, yeah?? Of course!  Now - were you saying something, darling?

Grace

Yes! Yeah, I was! WHAT is going on?! HOW do you people keep showing up?! AND! WH-wait. What’s your name again?

Ruby

Ruby - Carmichael.

Grace

But... that’s my mother’s name.

Ruby

(a little nervous) oh... really??

Grace

Yeah! And... And Miranda, that’s the name I chose as my pen name in English my senior year. What’s going on here, really?! Where am I?! Where do you come from?! And WHY do you keep avoiding my questions?!

Ruby

Grace, honey, calm down. We’ll tell you. See... it’s like this. You - 

(third door opens, FAITH comes out)

Faith

Hi guys... Sorry I’m late! Class went over time. What’d I miss?

Grace

(shakes head tiredly) Another one. So. Is your name somehow freakishly connected to my pitiful life history?

Ruby

Oh, honey, it isn’t anything like that!!

Grace

No. It was terrible, because I was terrible - AM terrible. But you couldn’t possibly know! So who are you? (points accusingly at Faith)

Faith

I’m Faith March, hon. 

Ruby

She’s an English teacher at a highschool. Very impressive! Large family, as well.

Grace

Yeah. I don’t really care what she does or what her life is like - I don’t care about any of your lives right now because I’m not sure if they’re even REAL. Just... (sighs defeatedly) Please just tell me what’s going on.

(Ruby, Miranda, and Faith look at each other uneasily, silently debating what they should do)

Ruby

Miranda... You’re the best with words. Could you... ??

Miranda

I think I can. Now... Grace... (all move closer together, except for Grace, who stays on the outside, still on stage left) we’re here to help you. You’ve been through some hard times, honey. We all know that. But we think you’re giving up.

(Grace sputters)

Ruby

I know it’s hard to really fathom, honey, but it’s true! We’re here to try and help you.

Grace

(grabs hair) Alright. So, let’s say that that’s actually true. That really doesn’t explain anything. How I got here. What I’m doing here. Even what’s going on, and how all of these things are happening! I need answers!

Faith

And we said that we’re here to help you! We’re here to see you through that! But.. helping doesn’t mean giving everything away - all of those questions, you’ll have to answer on your own.

ANNNDD there you have it! The first little bit of my play! Now, of course, it's still partially in the editing process, however, I rather like it! Perhaps next post I'll share some of my experiences with becoming a playwright, eh? 

I'll tell you something... I'm also going to look up why on earth you're supposed to spell it "playwright" instead of "Playwrite", or "playwriter", or "playauthor".

So, more to look forward to, more to come!!! Adios!

Be blessed in your endeavors,

tinydancer