* Inspired by Joanna Murray-Smith's "Honour" *
[Contains mild course language]
[Contains mild course language]
SCENE 1:
[The stage in darkness. A young male's voice can be heard.]
NICHOLAS: [Sighing with a sense of disappointment] Oh. . .hi
[Pause. A young female's voice is now heard]
KATRINA: Hello. You seem upset. [Pause] Is everything okay?
[Pause. A young female's voice is now heard]
KATRINA: Hello. You seem upset. [Pause] Is everything okay?
[The stage lights up, but remains dim, suggesting night-time. Two teenagers sit on either end of the stage, back facing each other, with KATRINA sitting on a bed and NICHOLAS on a couch. Both stare at something in front of them, which is unknown to the audience]
NICHOLAS: You know me. It's always the same story. Nothing is ever okay. [Beat] Whatever, as long as you're having fun, why should it matter to anyone else? It's to benefit you, right?
KATRINA: Are you implying something?
NICHOLAS: Not at all.
[Beat]
KATRINA: I'm not following. I don't understand.
NICHOLAS: Oh, just about how I haven't even spoken to you in about a week or so. [Pause] Which in reality is not a good thing. The more we don't talk, the more we distance ourselves from each other. Before you know it, our future plans will be non-existant. You can kiss them goodbye.
KATRINA: Nick, I've only been gone for three days and when I come back, you're upset? I thought we left on a good note last time we spoke.
NICHOLAS: Yeah, but I know that when you get back into work and school, you won't even bother talking to me anymore. [Adding coldly and quietly] I know how you think now, as opposed to how you were before. There's nothing left.
KATRINA: You can't keep presuming the worst -
NICHOLAS: [Snapping] I can presume anything I want. I sure as hell have the right to.
KATRINA: [Defensively] Don't you think it's a bit unfair on my side? Presuming things about what I'm going to do?
NICHOLAS: You can do whatever the hell you want. You got rid of me so easily. So therefore, you have no problem with that.
KATRINA: [Sighing] We were fine before. . .and now THIS?
NICHOLAS: What do you expect? You want nothing to do with me and I'm still upset about that. It's not the same. [Pause, shifting down a gear] Whatever. Just like everyone else, you've grown tired of me constantly whining about my life. So whatever. Just leave me the hell alone.
KATRINA: Nicholas. . .
NICHOLAS: [Rising up a gear] I don't need to feel this. . .PRESSURE on me because I know I'm going to be casually talking to the person I used to love most in the world, and that she has no intention or desire of having feelings for me anymore. So whatever. [Pause] Go find some other guy to be with. Leave me the hell alone.
KATRINA: [Rising to NICHOLAS' tone] Why can't you see things from my point of view? I asked that you respect my decision in deciding not to be in a relationship at this point in time.
NICHOLAS: You don't ever see anything from MY point of view. So whatever, have fun being alone. [Getting angry and teary] You'll never, NEVER know what it feels like when I'm alone. It's a wonder why I even bother talking to you right now. You just don't get it.
[Beat]
NICHOLAS: Oh, just about how I haven't even spoken to you in about a week or so. [Pause] Which in reality is not a good thing. The more we don't talk, the more we distance ourselves from each other. Before you know it, our future plans will be non-existant. You can kiss them goodbye.
KATRINA: Nick, I've only been gone for three days and when I come back, you're upset? I thought we left on a good note last time we spoke.
NICHOLAS: Yeah, but I know that when you get back into work and school, you won't even bother talking to me anymore. [Adding coldly and quietly] I know how you think now, as opposed to how you were before. There's nothing left.
KATRINA: You can't keep presuming the worst -
NICHOLAS: [Snapping] I can presume anything I want. I sure as hell have the right to.
KATRINA: [Defensively] Don't you think it's a bit unfair on my side? Presuming things about what I'm going to do?
NICHOLAS: You can do whatever the hell you want. You got rid of me so easily. So therefore, you have no problem with that.
KATRINA: [Sighing] We were fine before. . .and now THIS?
NICHOLAS: What do you expect? You want nothing to do with me and I'm still upset about that. It's not the same. [Pause, shifting down a gear] Whatever. Just like everyone else, you've grown tired of me constantly whining about my life. So whatever. Just leave me the hell alone.
KATRINA: Nicholas. . .
NICHOLAS: [Rising up a gear] I don't need to feel this. . .PRESSURE on me because I know I'm going to be casually talking to the person I used to love most in the world, and that she has no intention or desire of having feelings for me anymore. So whatever. [Pause] Go find some other guy to be with. Leave me the hell alone.
KATRINA: [Rising to NICHOLAS' tone] Why can't you see things from my point of view? I asked that you respect my decision in deciding not to be in a relationship at this point in time.
NICHOLAS: You don't ever see anything from MY point of view. So whatever, have fun being alone. [Getting angry and teary] You'll never, NEVER know what it feels like when I'm alone. It's a wonder why I even bother talking to you right now. You just don't get it.
[Beat]
KATRINA: I'm not perfect Nick.
NICHOLAS: [Laughing credulously] Oh, you're FAR from perfect. [Pause] You're flawed: the most flawed person I've ever met. You put EVERYTHING on me! You-you even did it when we WERE together. Why do you think I considered HER in the first place? Because WE were falling apart.
[Beat. KATRINA sits in silence for a moment, obviously hurt by his words]
KATRINA: [Cautiously] What do you want me to say?
NICHOLAS: I don't expect you to say anything. [Pause] Just go. . .
[Stage fades into darkness]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SCENE 2:
[The stage is brightly lit, showing NICHOLAS and KATRINA closer to each other, yet, their backs remain facing each other. Again, both stare something in front of them, which is unknown to the audience.]
KATRINA: [Biting her lip] I'm thinking.
NICHOLAS: It doesn't take 5 minutes to think.
[Beat]
KATRINA: It depends what you're thinking about.
[Beat]
NICHOLAS: [Rising to the challenge] Yeah I suppose. Like if you're thinking about if the rest of your life will be spent by yourself or with the one you once loved most in the world. [Shaking his head, obviously fed up] Whatever, I can't handle this happening EVERY time I talk to you.
[NICHOLAS stands up and storms off to the right of the stage, revealing a laptop in front of him]
KATRINA: [Quietly] I can't talk about this anymore Nick. . .
[The stage is brightly lit, showing NICHOLAS and KATRINA closer to each other, yet, their backs remain facing each other. Again, both stare something in front of them, which is unknown to the audience.]
KATRINA: [Biting her lip] I'm thinking.
NICHOLAS: It doesn't take 5 minutes to think.
[Beat]
KATRINA: It depends what you're thinking about.
[Beat]
NICHOLAS: [Rising to the challenge] Yeah I suppose. Like if you're thinking about if the rest of your life will be spent by yourself or with the one you once loved most in the world. [Shaking his head, obviously fed up] Whatever, I can't handle this happening EVERY time I talk to you.
[NICHOLAS stands up and storms off to the right of the stage, revealing a laptop in front of him]
KATRINA: [Quietly] I can't talk about this anymore Nick. . .
[As the stage goes dark, NICHOLAS can be heard]
NICHOLAS: Why is it. . .that the one person in the entire world that completely understands you, is the one person you can never be with? I love her much. I don't know how much longer I can stand without her. I can't even begin what I feel now, without her. [Pause] Without anyone. I keep promising myself that things will get better, but they don't.
[Beat] I just want to be with you, Katrina.
NICHOLAS: Why is it. . .that the one person in the entire world that completely understands you, is the one person you can never be with? I love her much. I don't know how much longer I can stand without her. I can't even begin what I feel now, without her. [Pause] Without anyone. I keep promising myself that things will get better, but they don't.
[Beat] I just want to be with you, Katrina.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SCENE 3:
[The stage is brightly lit. KATRINA sits on her bed and studies some roses given to her. She fondles them nervously for a moment before placing them out of sight. NICHOLAS sits upright on the couch. Both have their backs facing each other. Both are on laptops.]
NICHOLAS: [Struggling for words] They're. . .kind of representative of how I feel towards you, I suppose.
KATRINA: I don't know what to say.
NICHOLAS: [Sadly and quietly] You never do, anymore.
[Beat]
KATRINA: Something happened Nick.
NICHOLAS: [Expecting the worst] What? [Nervous laugh] You fell in love with some other guy?
KATRINA: You could say that.
NICHOLAS: Explain.
[Beat]
KATRINA: He and I, are together now.
[Silence as NICHOLAS is stunned. He appears heartbroken for a moment. KATRINA sits nervously, staring at the laptop. NICHOLAS quickly readies himself and begins to furiously type]
NICHOLAS: Cool. Whatever. Good for you. [Pause, more ridiculing] You're a beautiful girl, Katrina. Why waste your time on someone like myself?
KATRINA: [Becoming annoyed] Oh don't start-
NICHOLAS: [Ignoring her comment] After all, I mean fuck all to you anymore.
KATRINA: [Beat shifting up a gear] Just because I'm with someone else, doesn't mean I've disregarded you. Do you think I'd be talking to you now if I didn't care about you?
NICHOLAS: [Ignoring her comment again] You know, I've never literally thought about killing myself before, but now I am seriously considering doing it.
KATRINA: [Incredulously] Because I'm with someone else?
NICHOLAS: Sure, yeah.
KATRINA: Don't talk like that. It's not fair-
NICHOLAS: [Aggressively] I can talk whichever way I bloody well like!
[Pause]
You think it's not fair? Hm? You really think it's not fair? You know what's not fair? My god-damned fucking life. It's never been fair! So screw you, okay?! I don't care about you anymore.
KATRINA: [Becoming angry] Don't you talk to me like that. It's because I'm seeing someone else, right? Is that all what this is about?
NICHOLAS: No, my life has been worse off already. . . but you just pushed me over my breaking point now.
KATRINA: Oh my god. . stop it. Do you hear yourself?
NICHOLAS: I have no intention of talking to you anymore. It ruins my entire mood when I talk to you. Seriously. . . Have you noticed that? Have you?
KATRINA: [Ridiculing] Oh, but you complain when I don't talk to you. I can't win either way.
NICHOLAS: I'm sorry I can never stop relating things to you, okay? But at some point you bloody well loved me over anything else. [Beat, shifting down a gear] And now. . .now you treat me as if nothing ever happened between us.
KATRINA: [Gently] That's not true.
NICHOLAS: It sickens me to the point of depression.
KATRINA: Nicholas, it's called moving on.
NICHOLAS: [On a roll] I can't trust anyone anymore. I'm just so alone. [Pause] I've been hurt so many times, and I act like I don't care. But. . .but it rots away inside of me each time. I'm afraid I'm going to turn into something I don't want to be.
[Beat.]
I'll never meet anyone like you ever again. . .
KATRINA: We've been great friends who have rubbed off on each other.
NICHOLAS: Bullshit. I'm not even half the person you are. I can't play this "Friend Game".
KATRINA: It's not a game Nick.
NICHOLAS: Did you ever think, that perhaps I would feel hurt, by you informing me of such events?
KATRINA: [Shooting back] Would you have rather I kept it to myself?
[NICHOLAS remains silent]
[The stage is brightly lit. KATRINA sits on her bed and studies some roses given to her. She fondles them nervously for a moment before placing them out of sight. NICHOLAS sits upright on the couch. Both have their backs facing each other. Both are on laptops.]
NICHOLAS: [Struggling for words] They're. . .kind of representative of how I feel towards you, I suppose.
KATRINA: I don't know what to say.
NICHOLAS: [Sadly and quietly] You never do, anymore.
[Beat]
KATRINA: Something happened Nick.
NICHOLAS: [Expecting the worst] What? [Nervous laugh] You fell in love with some other guy?
KATRINA: You could say that.
NICHOLAS: Explain.
[Beat]
KATRINA: He and I, are together now.
[Silence as NICHOLAS is stunned. He appears heartbroken for a moment. KATRINA sits nervously, staring at the laptop. NICHOLAS quickly readies himself and begins to furiously type]
NICHOLAS: Cool. Whatever. Good for you. [Pause, more ridiculing] You're a beautiful girl, Katrina. Why waste your time on someone like myself?
KATRINA: [Becoming annoyed] Oh don't start-
NICHOLAS: [Ignoring her comment] After all, I mean fuck all to you anymore.
KATRINA: [Beat shifting up a gear] Just because I'm with someone else, doesn't mean I've disregarded you. Do you think I'd be talking to you now if I didn't care about you?
NICHOLAS: [Ignoring her comment again] You know, I've never literally thought about killing myself before, but now I am seriously considering doing it.
KATRINA: [Incredulously] Because I'm with someone else?
NICHOLAS: Sure, yeah.
KATRINA: Don't talk like that. It's not fair-
NICHOLAS: [Aggressively] I can talk whichever way I bloody well like!
[Pause]
You think it's not fair? Hm? You really think it's not fair? You know what's not fair? My god-damned fucking life. It's never been fair! So screw you, okay?! I don't care about you anymore.
KATRINA: [Becoming angry] Don't you talk to me like that. It's because I'm seeing someone else, right? Is that all what this is about?
NICHOLAS: No, my life has been worse off already. . . but you just pushed me over my breaking point now.
KATRINA: Oh my god. . stop it. Do you hear yourself?
NICHOLAS: I have no intention of talking to you anymore. It ruins my entire mood when I talk to you. Seriously. . . Have you noticed that? Have you?
KATRINA: [Ridiculing] Oh, but you complain when I don't talk to you. I can't win either way.
NICHOLAS: I'm sorry I can never stop relating things to you, okay? But at some point you bloody well loved me over anything else. [Beat, shifting down a gear] And now. . .now you treat me as if nothing ever happened between us.
KATRINA: [Gently] That's not true.
NICHOLAS: It sickens me to the point of depression.
KATRINA: Nicholas, it's called moving on.
NICHOLAS: [On a roll] I can't trust anyone anymore. I'm just so alone. [Pause] I've been hurt so many times, and I act like I don't care. But. . .but it rots away inside of me each time. I'm afraid I'm going to turn into something I don't want to be.
[Beat.]
I'll never meet anyone like you ever again. . .
KATRINA: We've been great friends who have rubbed off on each other.
NICHOLAS: Bullshit. I'm not even half the person you are. I can't play this "Friend Game".
KATRINA: It's not a game Nick.
NICHOLAS: Did you ever think, that perhaps I would feel hurt, by you informing me of such events?
KATRINA: [Shooting back] Would you have rather I kept it to myself?
[NICHOLAS remains silent]
Exactly.
[Beat, NICHOLAS realises the hurtful truth]
NICHOLAS: [Shifting down a gear] I don't mean to yell at you, and I do apologise for calling you names. It's just, I don't know what to think anymore.
[Beat]
Katrina, can you promise me. . .one thing? Just one.
KATRINA: Anything.
NICHOLAS: No matter what, we'll be together in a few years?
KATRINA: I promise.
[Stage fades to darkness]
[Beat, NICHOLAS realises the hurtful truth]
NICHOLAS: [Shifting down a gear] I don't mean to yell at you, and I do apologise for calling you names. It's just, I don't know what to think anymore.
[Beat]
Katrina, can you promise me. . .one thing? Just one.
KATRINA: Anything.
NICHOLAS: No matter what, we'll be together in a few years?
KATRINA: I promise.
[Stage fades to darkness]
An intriguing scenario! Tense and certainly exploring the wonder of confused communication! But that last line is so double-edged! It could be hope...but it may be a little ominous!
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