The Ninth Step.pdf - Alex Broun

1The NinthStepThis play is free to download and perform. The only condition is that you must emailAlex Broun at abroun@bigpond.net.au and let him know where and when youproduced his script, listing the director, cast and theatre.Good luck with the production !May 2011© Alex Broun 2011www.alexbroun.com

2CharactersCALLUMANDREWTimeNow.SettingRoom. Table, chair, laptop.

3The Ninth StepA room. Andrew sits a laptop computer. Callum nearbyANDREW: How do you want to start ? (BEAT) If you donʼt write it –CALLUM: What ?ANDREW: It doesnʼt mean … How about “Dear Mr and Mrs Regis” ?CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:Alright.Youʼre meant to be doing this.Alright. “Dear Mr and Mrs Regis”.ANDREW TYPES.ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:Okay. Youʼve started. Now whatʼs next ? (BEAT) Maybe itʼs tooearly.Letʼs just do it.Iʼm not going to write it.I know.Well then.I know.ANDREW: Want do you want to say ?CALLUM:Iʼm sorry.ANDREW: Is that it ?CALLUM:Yeah.ANDREW: Thatʼs it ?CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:Yeah.“Dear Mr and Mrs Regis, Iʼm sorry. Yours faithfully, Callum.”No.ANDREW: Then what do you want to say ?

4CALLUM: I donʼt know.ANDREW: What are we doing ?CALLUM:I know.ANDREW: What are we doing ?CALLUM:The Ninth step.ANDREW: And what comes before the ninth step ?CALLUM:The eighth step.ANDREW: Which is ?CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:Became willing.Became willing to make amends.I am willing.You donʼt seem it.I am!Donʼt get angry at me.Alright.You asked for my help.Youʼre my sponsor.Doesnʼt mean I have do this.Okay. Let me think.ANDREW: Try to imagine –CALLUM:I said give me a moment.ANDREW: Iʼm just trying to –CALLUM:Just let me think for one fucking second!PAUSE.

5ANDREW: The problem is –CALLUM: What ?ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:Youʼre not sorry.I am.No youʼre not.CALLUM: I ʻm just trying to –ANDREW: What ?CALLUM: You know ?ANDREW:CALLUM:No I donʼt.To find …ANDREW: Find what ?CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:The words. Iʼm just trying to find the words. Iʼm not like you.Alright.Iʼm not a writer.Alright.Words donʼt come …You made your point.Itʼs easy for you.Iʼm trying to help.You can help.ANDREW: What ?CALLUM:Write the letter for me.BEAT.ANDREW:No.

6CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:I canʼt do it.Yes you can.Youʼre the writer.I canʼt write it.CALLUM: Neither can I.ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:You have to.I canʼt.Callum.Itʼs a letter. Why does it matter who writes it ? As long as theyget it.Itʼs part of the process.Fuck that.ANDREW: The process of -CALLUM:ANDREW:You know what my father said to me last week.Donʼt listen to him.CALLUM: Heʼs my dad. “Havenʼt you been recovering for long enough ?Shouldnʼt you be better by now?”ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:How many times do I have to tell you ? Itʼs a journey. Not adestination. You need to make amends. If you donʼt make amendsyou canʼt continue that journey.I served my time.Yep.Twelve months.You did.You try doing twelve months.ANDREW: Itʼs not –

7CALLUM:You wouldnʼt last twelve days, twelve hours, twelve seconds.ANDREW: So ?CALLUM:So I did the time.ANDREW: And what ? You didnʼt deserve it ?CALLUM:Sure I deserved it.ANDREW: “Sure” ?CALLUM:Yes I deserved it.ANDREW: Why ?CALLUM:Cause.ANDREW: Cause what ?CALLUM:He died.ANDREW: No, he –CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:He died.He didnʼt die.He died.He didnʼt die.What it says.ANDREW: Where ?CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:On his gravestone.He didnʼt die.Heʼs fucking dead.He didnʼt die.I punched him.He didnʼt die.

8CALLUM :ANDREW:He died because I punched him.He died because you killed him.BEAT.CALLUM: I didnʼt mean to –ANDREW:CALLUM:Doesnʼt matter.Not what the court said.ANDREW: Only thing -CALLUM:Involuntary.ANDREW: That matters –CALLUM: Accidental –ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:Is how you feel.Iʼm sorry.What you say.I said Iʼm sorry.What you say.I am.Doesnʼt sound like it.I am.Donʼt act like it.I am.Then write it.Alright.Do it.I will.

9ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:ANDREW:Now.Okay.Do it!Just give me a moment.You canʼt.TOGETHERCALLUM: I said – Give – Me – A – Moment – Iʼm not – Iʼm not – Shut up -Shut the fuck – Shut – Let me – Iʼm not – Youʼre putting - Wouldyou – Shut the -ANDREW: Cause youʼre not - Sorry. You donʼt - Care. Youʼre -.glad heʼs –dead - Had it coming. Asking for it. Youʼre not to blame. Youshould never have even been convicted. Youʼre blameless.Pure. Holy.ANDREW:(CONTINUING ALONE) Youʼre the Virgin fuckinʼ Mary! Youshould get a medal. He got what he deserved and we should allget down on our knees and praise the great Callum for riddingthe earth of that lousy piece of shit !CALLUM SUDDENLY GRABS ANDREW. HE PULLS BACK HIS FIST,READY TO PUNCH HIM.CALLUM: Iʼll –ANDREW: Youʼll what ?CALLUM: Iʼll –ANDREW: Youʼll finish me ?CALLUM: Iʼll –ANDREW: Finish me like you finished him ?CALLUM:ANDREW:CALLUM:You want to know what I feel.Yes.What I really feel.

10ANDREW:CALLUM:Tell me.Iʼll fucking tell you.ANDREW: Say it !CALLUM:Iʼm not sorry. The fuckinʼ prick deserved it. I walked away. I let itgo. He followed me in to the car park. He wanted to carry it on.He opened his mouth - so I shut it – permanently - and Iʼm glad Idid.LONG PAUSE. THE TWO MEN SEPARATE, PUTTING SOMEDISTANCE BETWEEN EACH OTHER. EVENTUALLY:ANDREW:CALLUM:Are you …(EMOTIONAL NOW, THE ANGER TURNING) No. I didnʼt wanthim to die. He deserved to be hit, he was asking for it and Iʼmglad I hit him – but I didnʼt want him to die. (PAUSE) Now, youtell me – how do I write that to Mr and Mrs Regis ?ANDREW PLACES THE LAPTOP IN FRONT OF HIM.ANDREW:One word at a time.CALLUM LOOKS AT THE SCREEN. PAUSE. HE BEGINS TO TYPE.CALLUM:(AS HE TYPES) “Dear Mr and Mrs Regis …” Dear Mr and MrsRegis …SUDDENLY HE BELLOWS IN FRUSTRATION. HE STANDS ANDWALKS AWAY FROM THE LAPTOP.ANDREW WATCHES CALLUM. HE IS SILENT.PAUSE. CALLUM SITS AGAIN. HE STARES AT THE SCREEN.HE BEGINS TO TYPE.CALLUM:(AS HE TYPES) “Dear Mr and Mrs Regis, I didnʼt know your son…HE CONTINUES TO TYPE.ANDREW WATCHES CALLUM TYPING.THE LIGHTS FADE.