Sarah - Unfinished

Act 1, Scene 1

Setting

(A hospital waiting room full of chaos and restless people, with chairs neatly lined up and magazines in straight piles on top end tables. There is a wheel trolley with coffee and tea and a neat cup of sweetener packets. Waiting people cannot sit still while trying to listen for news of their own loved ones, and nurses and doctors go back and forth across the stage talking and shouting about patients and things they need. Center stage sits Boy, unmoving and still. He dresses conservatively, lost in the background amongst the chaos of the hospital. Boy has his hands together on his lap and looks down upon his shoes.)

(Slowly, all characters leave through their movements leaving Boy alone in silence)

Boy

(Still looking down)

I think we all have something to say; something dark, fantastic, morbid, or something romantic. Maybe we all have something to say that has all of that. I think we’ve all told lies before, too…to get what we want, to feel better, to cover up other lies…I think we’ve all told at least one fantastic, romantic, dark or morbid lie. And sometimes, we get lucky and we don’t get in trouble. Other times, we do get in trouble, and we get punished. A few times, we get in trouble, but we never get punished. This time, though, I didn’t get in trouble, but I’m still getting punished.

(Looks up from his hands)

You know, I think that’s the worst of the three. Because no one is mad at me, but everyone is punishing me, and they don’t know it. And Sarah….

(Looks back down to hand)

But lying…it’s just a part of being human, a part of having an conscious, a part of…

(Pauses, then sadly)

...being alive…

(Pauses, then questions pleadingly, sadly, with urgency)

…Right?

(Waiting room crescendos with original hectic talking and noises. The scene surges back with waiters, nurses and doctor. A stretcher quickly crosses the stage, and the waiters all turn their heads and take a tentative step towards it to see. Boy keeps motionless and silent. A nurse walks up to Boy, says something gravely to him, then hugs him tightly, pats his hair back and walks quickly away, wiping away her tears.)

(All sound ominously quiets down into silence, but movements continue.)

Boy

You know, Sarah was the only person I ever trusted in the world with my secrets, other then my older brother. I told her when I was six I was going to run away from home, I told her when I was eight I broke my dad’s screw driver set trying to climb the side of the house like mountain climber, I told her when I was thirteen when I had my wet dream, and I told her when I was that I loved her more then anything else. I told her all of that, because it was true and I trusted her…but at the same time I still kept too much away from her. I shouldn’t have done that, I should have trusted the world more, should have trusted her even more. And now I can’t even look at anyone too much, because of their sad eyes. They punish me with their looks, sad and tearful every time they take a glance at me.

(Boy sighs, and pauses)

All this noise reminds me of this one time when Sarah and I were both eleven. We were both at her house, during a thunder storm.

(Everyone walks off stage through movements, hospital props are taken away)

Scene 2

Setting

(All lights turn off; a sofa is placed askew to the house, center stage. Sarah sits on the sofa, bundled up in blankets, and Boy joins her. A flash of light brightens the stage and a delayed thunder clap sounds through)

Sarah

Dang it, the power went out. Now we can’t watch TV.

Boy

What are we going to do now?

(Lightening)

Sarah

I don’t know. Can we tell stories?

Boy

I don’t know any stories.

(Thunder)

Sarah

I know a story. Every single second the universe experiences, a lightening bolt strikes somewhere in the world. And the weird thing is, even if the stars didn’t exist, the lightening wouldn’t be bright enough to light the world up. That is why we still have night. And because light travels faster the sound, you can count the seconds between the lighting and the thunder to see how far it hit.

(Lightning)

And did you know that thunder bolts is hotter then the sun’s core?

(Thunder)

Boy

Sarah?

Sarah

Yeah?

Boy

That wasn’t a story.

Sarah

Oh. But it was interesting, right?

Boy

Mmm hmm, it was. It’s really cool to think that there isn’t a time in the world that isn’t safe from the lightening and the thunder. Cool, and a little scary. I can just imagine someone in Asia or Africa or Europe, two kids, a boy and a girl. They are the best of friends, and both scared because of the thunder storm outside-

Sarah

-I’m not scared.

Boy

…Both scared from the thunder storm outside, and the girl is telling the boy about the wonderful things in the world. How a man in New York called his friend in Bangkok, who called his friend in Johannesburg, who called her friend in…

Sarah

…Helsinki?

Boy

Yeah, that’s where it was. And the woman called her friend in Helsinki, and they all were talking to each other about the wonderful things that happened to them in the week. And they can feel each other’s heart through the words they tell each other, about how Jenny is pregnant or how Greg just got a promotion. The cool thing is that even though they don’t live on the same street anymore, and they can’t walk to school together, they still feel like best friends who can tell each other everything.

And even though it’s nearly time for bed for Harrison and Hellene is just about to get out of bed…

(Lightning)

…They are all blinded at the same time. And through the telephone, their gasps are heard as a rumbling clap rings through the receiver and to everyone else’s speakers…

(Thunder)

…And for a moment the world swore that every living being saw and heard the same thing in just five seconds. The four best friends couldn’t stop laughing at the idea that they were so close, and yet so far all at once. And when they hung up, they all started to cry.

Sarah

Why did they cry?

Boy

Because they were so far away from each other. That, and Megan couldn’t join them on the phone.

Sarah

Why couldn’t Megan talk on the phone with them?

Boy

Because she just died a week earlier.

(Lightning)

Sarah

That’s really sad.

Boy

She isn’t dead, I change my mind. She’s in the hospital.

Sarah

That’s still sad.

(Thunder)

Boy

Because she just gave birth to her first son, Frederic. Now Joanna has someone to play with.

Sarah

Oh, okay that’s happy.

(Pause)

Boy

Sarah?

Sarah

Yeah?

(Lightning)

Boy

If thunder bolts are hotter then the sun, and people can live after being hit by thunder bolts, does that mean we can live on the sun? Or go to the sun for a second and come back home?

(Thunder, then silence)

(Pause)

Sarah

I don’t know.

Boy

Sarah? Do you want to go to the stars?

Sarah

Do you?

Boy

I was thinking about it a while ago. I don’t think I would want to. I would get too lonely. And then I couldn’t see all the other stars, and I would get scared, and there would be no one to talk to, or to hug when I get scared.

Sarah

I think so too. Maybe looking up at them is good enough, until we can bring them down here.

Scene 2

(A Nurse walks onto the stage, and whispers something into Boy’s ear. He shakes his head and says a quivering “Not yet,” and the Nurse walks off the stage. Sarah leaves, the set changes back to the hospital waiting room, and Boy resumes his original spot with his head hung low. Stage lights turn on. There are no sounds, but movement from the other waiters, nurses and doctors.)

Boy

And there would be no lightening.

(Sarah’s Parents walk into the waiting room, and see Boy. They sit on both side of him. Sarah’s Mom takes Boy’s hand in hers, and Sarah’s Dad holds his hands together.)

Sarah’s Dad

How are you doing son?

(Boy nods)

Sarah’s Mom

Are you taking everything okay, darling?

Boy

(Boy nods)

I’m…doing okay. How are you two?

(Sarah’s Dad pulls a meek smile, and turns to wipe away tears. Sarah’s Mom grips Boy’s hands harder, and kisses him on the cheek.)

Sarah’s Mom

Do you want to go see her? You can see her now if you want. She isn’t being responsive, and the doctors don’t know when she is going to come out of the coma. But I think she would like it if you went to see her.

Boy

(Worried, apprehensively)

Well…

Sarah’s Mom

(Smiling, looking directly into Boy’s eyes)

We told the receptionist you would be coming by soon. You can go any time, darling.

Boy

(Boy nods hesitantly. He gets up, hugs both of Sarah’s Parents, and walks upstage, center, to face the audience.)

They don’t know. What I like is how they would love me the same, if they knew, but their eyes would be different.

(Sighs)

I wouldn’t be…darling, or son…

Scene 3

(Stage lights turn off; Boy stays center stage, props change for ICU props. The bed is placed at the same skewed angle the sofa was at, medical equipment lays everywhere. A seat is placed next to the bed, where Sarah lays silently apart from the whirrs and twitches of the equipment. Stage lights turn on.)

Boy

(Boy sits down on the chair next to the bed)

Hey there. How are you doing?

(Silence)

The quite must be nice, hmm?

(Boy tried to pull a smile, only ends up looks awkward)

(Silence)

Umm…

(Silence)

I hope you get better soon, right? We want you to get better soon.

(Silence)

We all want you to get better quickly, we do. Everyone tells me…

(Vocally staggers, and pauses)

Uhh…I miss you, get better soon, please?

(Silence)

I’m sorry.

(Boy clutches his hands together on his lap, and stares at his shoes)

(Sarah sits up in her bed, looking around curiously and apprehensively. She gets out of the bed, taking the IV with her.)

Sarah

And he thinks I don’t know, either. But let me tell you one thing if it may be the most important thing:

(Hesitantly, as if admitting to a wrong)

I do know…I did know, and it’s why everything is so messed up now. He is rightly sorry…

(Pauses, then realizes)

No, no, don’t get me wrong! I don’t mean to torture him, to play the “I told you so” game. I just meant that…that he was right about what he thought he should give apologies for. I actually feel bad right now, because everything is wasted, and I doubt things will ever get better for him, and rightly for me. It will probably never get better for anyone, and it isn’t his fault. He couldn’t help it. I was just being selfish and stupid.

(Pauses)

(Lowers head so not to face audience)

I’m sorry.

(Begins to cry)

(A Nurse brings in a chair for Sarah. Sarah thanks the Nurse tearfully, and takes a seat.)

Sarah

(Draws a deep breath)

I wonder if I can tell a story right now. I never could tell a good story if at all. I was never that good at it like he was. But I’ve had time to think…Umm, we were both in kindergarten when we first met. He was five, and I was four. I was already bigger then him though. And we would play in the dress up area together. He didn’t like to play outside, unless it was jump rope.

(Breaks into a smile)

And I was too busy liking him. He would play the dad, and I would be the mom. He would come home and I would be done with dinner, and there was a baby I had in a stroller. And every day we had several friends at our house. Some came and went, but there were the four or five that were a constant. And we would eat dinner, and we would talk about our babies and the things they did, and who went to college and who was a doctor and who was a fashion designer. Those were our first days.

From then on, we were in every single class together, like a blessing…

Scene 4

(Sarah leaves stage left. The set changes from the ICU to a class room. A teacher’s desk sits stage right and student desks line in neat rows to stage left. A Teacher approaches his desk and begins to fuss with papers, and students, Sarah and Boy file in afterwards noisily. A bell rings and the students dart to claim desks. Friends that talked with each other make to sit next to each other.)

Mr. Holland

Welcome scholars to this new year of learning! Is everyone excited?

(Silence)

Come on, this is an honors class, you all signed up for it, so there must be some enthusiasm for psychology even if it be miniscule, right?

(Students make a meek cheer)

Much better, my juniors! So the amazing thing is that most of my introduction to psychology students are here in honors. Am I an amazing teacher, or what?

Student 1

(Jokingly, innocent)

Of course we think you are amazing Mr. Holland. We are taking this class because of you, not the subject.

Mr. Holland

And I wouldn’t expect anything else.

(General laughs from students.)

(Mr. Holland and the class quiet down into a silence, but still pantomime and go through movements as if normal.)

Sarah

How was Bumbershoot?

Boy

How was it? It was amazing! I’m so sorry you couldn’t go, because everyone was there. I couldn’t believe the lineup. How do you like the shirt though? Does it fit?

Sarah

Fits perfect, thanks. I feel sort of bad though…

Boy

Come on, why can’t you ever accept a gift? I mean, if I didn’t want you to have it I wouldn’t have gotten it for you.

Sarah

I don’t know, I just feel weird with gifts. Like, I know you got it for me, but I feel like you felt you had to get it for me, and that makes me feel guilty.

Boy

Well, I didn’t get it for that reason, so don’t feel guilty. Just be happy, or else I have to take it back.

Sarah

I never said you could take it back!

(Boy laughs)

Mr. Holland

Something funny over there you would like to share?

Boy

No, just Sarah thinks the world is out to get her by gifting her into death. Is there a diagnosis, doctor?

Mr. Holland

Well, when you deprive yourself of sleep and good meals, you do tend to become a bit paranoid. How about nine hours of sleep and three square meals a day, hmm, you love birds?

Sarah

Umm, we’re not going out-

Student 2

-Ooo!

Boy

We’re not going out-

Student 3

Wait, when did you guys start to go out?

Sarah

We’re not-

Student 4

What do you mean, they have been doing out for forever. They have some record for the longest teenage relationship or something.

(The class becomes loud and active as Sarah and Boy try to calm down any speculations and rumors, to no avail.)

Mr. Holland

Okay, okay, enough gossip for one period. While I hand out this syllabus and parent waver slip, try and remember everything you can from last semester because we are going to…

(Mr. Holland’s voice trails off into silence, as does the rest of the class, movements and pantomime of class don’t stop.)

(Boy pulls a stool upstage, center, facing the house)

Boy

We are just so close, and always together. We do have genuine love for each other, all of that makes it look like we are dating each other. And because it’s all been going on since we were in kindergarten, I guess it has looked like we were going out for a long time to some. We aren’t all touchy with each other though, because you know…we aren’t really dating. I guess it shows how much emotions can translate into love even without holding hands, hugging or kissing. So, stop all the touching! We get it, you love him, he loves you, but if you really do love each other you wouldn’t have to prove it to the world by groping each other in every which way, because the world can see love through walls.

(Boy goes back to his seat, Sarah walks up to the stool and sits down.)

Sarah

I’ve been waiting for so long, and I wish he would ask me out.

(Sarah sits down at her desk)

Mr. Holland

Good, good, what else do you remember about guilt?

(Points to a student)

Student 3

Guilt is an important emotion that some people believe to be a key element to being consciously aware. It also goes hand in hand with wrong doings, and also asking for forgiveness.

Boy

(Boy goes upstage and sits on stool)

I…I feel bad about all of this. Sarah probably feels miserable about how people think. I don’t feel good about it, but it is sort of a relief at the same time. I’m always so scared that people will find out about me, but it’s a bit obvious they don’t think that way. I mean…they think I’m going out with Sarah. That is good, right?

(As if searching for something)

I…umm, maybe I…

(Boy goes back to his seat, Sarah walks up to the stool and sits down.)

Sarah

A week later, during an emergency drill, everything changed.

Scene 5

(Sarah stands up, and all the classroom props leave with students and Mr. Holland. Everyone comes back on stage with coats and jackets except for Student 3 and Student 5. There is movement and pantomime, but no sound. Mr. Holland is trying to calm down the class and create order. Sarah is shivering. Student 3 and Student 5 receive their respective boyfriend’s jackets. Sarah and Boy notice.)

Boy

(Boy takes off his jackets and puts it on Sarah.)

(Monotone, sad, in shock, lost)

I…I asked her out. She said yes.

(Turns to Sarah, gives her a smile and embraces her in his arms)

Sarah

(Is very happy, kisses him)

He asked me out!