LE NON-DIT (THE UNSPOKEN)

-ACT 1-

"LE NON-DIT"

(The unspoken)

Hannah Mathers

"Thoughts Are Just As Poisonous"

SC I.

(Dividing. A wall parts ALEX and her SHADOW, the NEWSREPORTER downstage centre.)

ALEX. Ten deaths.

(SHADOW fights the wall. ALEX ignoring.)

NEWSREPORTER. It cannot yet be identified if the incidents are linked.

ALEX. It's not my fault.

SHADOW. (Shouting) Let me out.

NEWSREPORTER. Police are treating them as suspicious.

ALEX. I said it's not my fault.

SHADOW. (Whispering) Let me out. Let me out. (A moment, then crescendo) Fuck you. Let me go you pathetic piece of-

NEWSREPORTER. No arrests have been made.

ALEX. (Wavering) I'm lost. I don't know what to do.

(SHADOW pounds on the wall. Deadly punches. Relentless. Muffled screams.)

ALEX (CONT'D). (Desperate) Stop! Stop! Please, just...Go away.

(School. The usual. Lunch.)

ALEX. She's on her own.

MARIE. I'm on my own.

ALEX. If I could say it.

MARIE. Would I say it? Would I say that I'm alone?

ALEX, MARIE. Should I ask?

(Time.)

ALEX AND MARIE (CONT'D). No.

ALEX. Wait.

MARIE. Yes.

ALEX AND MARIE. No.

ALEX. I don't know.

MARIE. What would I say?

ALEX. She probably doesn't pay much attention to me.

MARIE. I wonder if she sees me. I wonder if she knows my name?

ALEX AND MARIE. My life?

ALEX. Complicated.

MARIE. Strange.

ALEX. It truly is. Just...

ALEX AND MARIE. Strange.

ALEX. Isn't it-

MARIE. Strange. I can't get this thought out of my head.

ALEX. Do I say something?

ALEX, MARIE. Anything?

MARIE. Go on.

ALEX. Do you think she'll speak first?

MARIE. No, seriously, go on.

ALEX, MARIE. You can do it.

MARIE. You start first.

ALEX. Ok, well, my name is Alex, I'm 16 and I have all of these friends, and I was wondering if -not to bother you- but -if- you wanted to join me? Is that what I should say? This might be a good start, right?