Roads

Episode 1, Scene 3

Common People

(Chris' work. Chris comes in with a uniform on, through a set of dark blue doors situated on one side of the stage. Beyond that lay numerous tables and chairs, at the back if the stage with a man sitting on the far side. Head down and wearing black. And a few old sofas are at the front of the stage. Chris goes to sit st the sofas. Then... Ray comes in and jumps over the back of the sofa and lands next to Chris)

Chris: normal people say hello

Ray: but we ain't normal are we

Chris: what's wrong with being normal?

Ray: what's good about it?

Chris: many things. But its not like its something that we want. Right? (sarcastically)

Ray: finally your getting it.

Chris: so what's going on today?

Ray: well there's this guy i know

Chris: im not surprised

Ray: what? Its you

Chris: coming on a bit too eager

Ray: (laughing inappropriately) coming...

Chris: wow okay

Ray: anyway, so i was thinking when do you get off work?

Chris: same time everyday.

Ray: good. We going to get a drink then?

Chris: this conversation is turning quite awkward all of a sudden.

Ray: oh shut up.

(Ray slaps Chris on the shoulder. Chris gets up as the stage moves around and goes off to the left. the man in black takes off a hood and takes from the right a part of a bar and behind that are two stools. In which he sets them up and starts to pour drinks. Ray and Chris come on from the right not wearing their uniform and sit. The bartender gives the two beers. Ray downs his, whilst Chris just looks at his and then back at Ray who burps. Chris just hands his beer back to the bartender)

Chris: not feeling it today.

Ray: what's up with you?

Chris: (sarcastically) something called c-

Narrator (as bartender): -coke was the only thing he could think of.

(Chris just realised that the narrator is  pretending to be the bartender)

Ray: what's up?

Chris: I erm… yeah I would like a coke-

(Narrator slams the glass of coke onto the table)

Chris: (awkwardly) Thanks (Narrator listens in on their conversation)

Ray: (slightly drunk) okay… so I think we should talk about the situation your in

Chris: (eagerly)Yeah. We might as well get it out the way.

Ray: so why her?

Chris: Because I feel as though I must.

Ray: But do you really want to go and see her? (Pause. Chris thinks) After all this time aswell.

Chris: Who says time has changed? Nothings changed, I’m still the same person-

Ray: -Yeah but your not are you.

Chris: She doesn’t have to know.

Ray: Yes. Yeah she does.

(Chris drinks the coke)

Ray: Stop trying to drink away your sorrows. Either you really want to go or you don’t.

Chris: (a bit louder than before) I’m not drinking away my sorrows.

Ray: Then why are we hear?

Chris: (louder) Because you said we should!

Ray: But you still agreed to

Chirs: But You still suggested it-

Narrator: (shouting whilst slamming his fist on the table between them) Right!. (Looks at both of them) I’ve been listening to you two and theres no way of getting around it from my point of view. If you’ve got cancer, then go ahead and see her. Think about it, what happens if she’s thinking the same thing but shes too scared or afraid or whatever to do anything about it. Take this girl for example (Beautiful blonde woman comes on to the stage, downstage left. Ray and Chris look on amazed. Jaws open wide, and as the Narrator goes to speak he taps the jaws back in place.) Go on.

Ray: What?

Narrator: go over there and talk to her

Chris: No-

Narrator: Why? It’s the same concept

Chris: But its not. I don’t know what shes thinking, what happens if she doesn’t want to have a conversation… (He realises it is the same concept)… do you think I should?

Narrator: yeah why not?

Chris: okay. 3. 2-

Ray: 1. (Ray gets up and talks to woman and they both go of stage)

Chris: Okay fine. It doesn’t matter anyway. I’ll-

Narrator: -You won’t see her again.

Chris: It doesn’t matter

Narrator: so going to see her doesn’t matter then?

(pause)

Chris: I don’t know anymore.

Narrator: Yes. Yes you do. (Spotlights surround the two so that only they can be seen) You know what I think? Somewhere and somehow, along the line we create those little wonders. Those little moments that define what we stand for. From the moment we are born we are conducted and guided along the ‘right’ way. (Looks away from Chris and towards the audience) Until we gain that sense of independence, that key to righteousness. In some ways it is based on the confides of confidence - the foundations of flight and endevours! (Stops.) But other times it will just (beginins to look down) happens. Reaches the floor and turns to see Chris) And yeah… she could fall in love with you all over again, but do you really want to find out that shes better off-

Chris: -That’s the only think that keeps me going. I have to know if shes happy. To just know that is a thing worth dying for. A thing like that cannot be just ‘told’ that shes ‘alright’ and just let it blow over. It’s an anomaly that has to be seen through the eyes of someone who cares so much to go see it for themselves. And that is the path I pursue. The thought of not going to see her knocks me back a mile. It drops me into a mindset that I can only get out of by hoping…By hoping is one thing that keeps me going. From the smallest thing… from getting off work to when I’m sitting on a bus or a train and I think to myself all the things I would be better off doing. All the things I wouldn’t have to do. So I am going to see her. I’m not saying I must, like it’s a chore, love… isn’t a chore. It’s a bubble that can’t be popped. Weakened yes… but not broken. (Pause. Downs the coke) I’ve got to go.

(Chris exits, only the narrator is left on the stage, looks up and says…)

Narrator: No tip then?