Shawn: 12 years old boy.
Sarah: 24 years old. Shawn’s sister.
(The lights are off)
Shawn’s voice:
A happy place to live your life
With a soothing voice to end your strife
Or a corner in mind to ease your pain
And to bring that smile back once again.
An open window showing you the light
Not the one that you see at bay
Not the one that gives you the fright
But lets you know that you’re still alive
And you’re here to play for yet another day.
Sins of past to be washed away
Hiding your fears in a useless space
Trying to wipe those tears
Off your pale white face.
Look into the sky, looking into the night
Wondering what is wrong, wondering what is right
While chasing the stars with your glaring eyes
Watching them fall, watching them dance
Hoping for a moment without a withering glance
Wishing for a little more time
and one last chance.
(Lights fade in. A bed with side rails placed in the middle of the stage, Shawn and Sarah are sitting at each ends facing each other. A metal stool adjacent to the bed, an I.V stand placed on the left side of the stage and a small cupboard on the right side of the bed, where Sarah is sitting. )
Shawn: So?
Sarah: That was beautiful.
Shawn: No.
Sarah: Believe me dear it really was beautiful.
Shawn: You’re just saying that to flatter me.
Sarah: No I’m not sweetie. I didn’t know you knew so many words. You’re really good at this.
Shawn: Really? Well, I used a dictionary.
Sarah: I must say you should write more often.
Shawn: I’ll try.
Sarah: And I’ll wait.
Shawn: I’m not so sure if you’ll have so much time to wait.
Sarah: Probably not.
Shawn: Shouldn't you do something else with whatever time you have left?
Sarah: Like what?
Shawn: Like talk to me.
Sarah: I can surely do that. What should we talk about?
Shawn: I don’t know.
Beat
Sarah: well then, you wanna eat anything?
Shawn: No.
Sarah: What me to read you a book?
Shawn: Not now.
Sarah: Maybe I should just wait then.
Shawn: No! Don’t.
Sarah: why not?
Shawn: you don’t have time.
Shawn: I know.
Shawn: Let’s do something then.
Sarah: Like what?
Shawn: Let’s talk.
Sarah: About what?
Shawn: About Mum.
Sarah: You sure you want to?
Shawn: You might never be able to tell me after today.
Sarah: Maybe.
Shawn: So then tell me, why did she leave us?
Sarah: she…had to.
Shawn: No. She had a choice.
Sarah: She did not.
Shawn: ‘To go or not to go’.
Sarah: No she didn’t dear.
Shawn: Why not?
Sarah: It was like that.
Shawn: So you’re in the same situation?
Sarah: maybe.
Shawn: So are you gonna leave me too?
Sarah: No I won’t dear.
Shawn: thank you.
Sarah: You don’t have to thank me for that.
Shawn: Okay.
Sarah: Good.
Beat
Shawn: You shouldn’t waste time.
Sarah: What should we do then?
Shawn: We should do something.
Sarah: Do what?
Shawn: Talk.
Sarah: About what?
Shawn: About dad.
Sarah: What about him?
Shawn: Why did dad leave us?
Sarah: Because he wanted to.
Shawn: He had a choice?
Sarah: Yes.
Shawn: But mum didn’t?
Sarah: Mum loved us, dad didn’t.
Shawn: people who are able love don’t get any choice?
Sarah: it isn’t always like that.
Shawn: Do you have a choice?
Sarah: I… I guess I don’t.
Shawn: Okay
Sarah: you’re not gonna ask me why?
Shawn: No. I know what is gonna happen.
Sarah: You do?
Shawn: Yes I do.
Sarah: I’m not gonna go away Shawn.
Shawn: But you have to, don’t you?
Sarah: No I don’t. I’ll always be with you.
Beat
Shawn: You wanna play cards?
Sarah: Do you?
Shawn: No I don’t. I don’t know how to play.
Sarah: I can teach you.
Shawn: But you don’t have time.
Sarah: So what should we do?
Shawn: We should talk.
Sarah: About what?
Shawn: About mum.
Sarah: Why she had to go?
Shawn: Yes.
Sarah: She had to.
Shawn: Because she had no choice?
Sarah: Yes dear.
Shawn: What was wrong with her?
Sarah: She had something in her head.
Shawn: A worm?
Sarah: No.
Shawn: A tape worm?
Sarah: No dear not any kind of worm.
Shawn: Oh. And you have the same thing?
SARAH: I guess so.
Shawn: I don’t like that.
Sarah: I don’t either.
Shawn: My head hurts.
Sarah: Mine does too.
Shawn: Mine hurts a lot.
Sarah: I know dear.
Beat
Shawn: Will you be here with me tomorrow?
Sarah: I’ll always be with you dear.
Shawn: But you said you have no choice.
Sarah: But I can still stay.
Shawn: But you have the same thing that Mum had.
Sarah: It doesn’t matter.
Shawn: So you’ll stay?
Sarah: Yes.
Shawn: Good.
Sarah: You wanna wear your hat?
Shawn: Which one?
Sarah: The red one I brought last Christmas.
Shawn: But I lost it. Don’t you remember?
Sarah: Oh, must have slipped.
Beat
Shawn: Can I get you something?
Sarah: Like what?
Shawn: Like juice or something?
Sarah: No, thank you sweetie.
Shawn: Can I take a walk?
Sarah: I’m sorry honey but you don’t have time.
Shawn: Oh, yeah.
Sarah: Wanna play cards?
Shawn: I don’t know how to play.
Sarah: Want me to teach you?
Shawn: No. You don’t have that much time.
Sarah: Should we talk then?
Shawn: Yes.
Sarah: About what?
Shawn: Love.
Sarah: What about love?
Shawn: Do you love me?
Sarah: Of course I love you. You’re all I have in this world.
Shawn: No.
Sarah: What?
Shawn: You have your car, your bags, your shoes…
Sarah: …You’re the only family I have.
Shawn: What about Johnathan?
Sarah: He’s not like you dear.
Shawn: But you love him.
Sarah: Yes I do but…
Shawn:…Who will you give more time to?
Beat
Sarah: You’re my only family Shawn.
Shawn: Oh. Yeah. But aren’t I supposed to say that to you?
Sarah: It’s still the same thing honey.
Shawn: Yeah probably. I always feel that you love me just like the way Mum did.
Sarah: Maybe I do.
Shawn: You remember the time when I rode my bicycle right into the lake?
Sarah: You got us really worried.
Shawn: Mum was angry. She didn’t love me.
Sarah: She was angry because she loved you more than herself.
Beat
Shawn: What does love mean?
Sarah: It’s when you care for someone more than yourself.
Shawn: So mum left because she loved me?
Sarah: No dear. She didn’t have a choice.
Shawn: Do you?
Sarah: No. I don’t.
Shawn: You wanna play cards?
Sarah: You don’t know how to play cards.
Shawn: Oh. That’s right.
Sarah: You want me to read you a book?
Shawn: No.
Sarah: I have time for that.
Shawn: Still no. You want me to make a sandwich for you?
Sarah: You don't have time dear.
Beat
Shawn: We should do something then.
Sarah: What do you wanna do? Talk?
Shawn: Yes. Let’s talk.
Sarah: About what?
Shawn: About death.
Sarah: Death? Why talk about that?
Shawn: Because it’s funny.
Sarah: You find death funny?
Shawn: Yes.
Sarah: Why so?
Shawn: Because it teases you.
Sarah: I don’t understand dear.
Shawn: You see... when you want death to come for you it never comes... Times when you really don’t wish to go on to breathe another breath, it doesn’t show up. You’d beg for it to come but it doesn’t... But after you get through that part... when you want to move on, when you wish for more time it suddenly comes creeping behind your back and whispers... "I am here"... It doesn't give you the time you want, it will never hand you more... Sometimes it doesn’t even let you know that it has come for you... It doesn't give another chance. For those who wish for death it never comes when they want it to come, it comes when they wish for more time. It’s funny how it works... It likes to have fun.
Beat
Sarah: You thought that on your own?
Shawn: No. You did. You told me this don’t you remember?
Sarah: I did?
Shawn: Yes. You don’t remember do you?
Sarah: I…well…it must have slipped. And I guess it should be this way.
Shawn: Probably. Hey do you have that red hat of mine you brought last Christmas?
Sarah: No, you lost it.
Shawn: Oh, yes. I remember.
Sarah: You know you don’t have time right?
Shawn: Yes. We should do something then.
Sarah: Like what?
Shawn: Let’s talk.
Sarah: About mum?
Shawn: No. about you.
Sarah: what about me?
Shawn: You don’t have time right? When you're outta time, will I be left all alone?
Sarah: No dear, you’ll never be alone. I’ll always be with you.
Shawn: And what about you? Will you be alone?
Sarah: I…
Shawn: I’ll be with you, always.
Sarah: I know that sweetie.
Beat
Shawn: Hey! You don’t have time!
Sarah: So?
Shawn: We shouldn’t waste it!
Sarah: What should we do then? Talk?
Shawn: Yes! No! I don’t know.
Sarah: You want something to eat?
Shawn: No. I’d like some Pepsi though.
Sarah: But it’s not…
Shawn: …what?
Sarah: Oh nothing. Wait dear.
(She gets and picks up an empty bottle of Pepsi and a glass cup from the cupboard.)
Sarah (handing him the cup): Hold this please will you?
Shawn: Okay.
(She pretends to pour the drink into the cup)
Sarah: Here you go.
Shawn: Thanks.
Sarah: So what was your poem about?
Shawn (taking sips from the empty cup): What poem?
Sarah: The one you just recited to me.
Shawn (taking another sip): Oh. I don’t know. I liked the rhyme.
Sarah: Oh, well. It was beautiful.
Shawn: Thanks. I’ll write more for you if I get a little more time.
Sarah: I’ll wait.
Shawn: But you don’t have time.
Sarah: I do Shawn, now I do. Hey it’s getting late. We should sleep now.
Shawn: Oh. It’s over already? I don’t wanna sleep.
Sarah: Why not?
Shawn: I’m afraid.
Sarah: Afraid of what sweetie?
Shawn: Afraid that you won’t be here when I wake up.
Sarah: Oh honey I’ll always be here with you. Don’t be afraid.
Shawn: What if you don’t wake up?
Sarah: Don’t worry dear, I’ll wake up.
Shawn: I don’t wanna be alone.
Sarah: You won’t be alone.
Shawn: Promise me you won’t leave me.
Sarah: I promise. Hey how about this? When we wake up tomorrow then first thing I’ll do is teach you how to play cards. Okay?
Shawn: I’d like that.
Sarah: Good. Let’s sleep then.
Shawn: Will you hold me, like mum used to?
Sarah: Okay dear.
Shawn: Goodnight. I love you.
Sarah: I love you too dear.
(Lights fade out slowly)
Voice: I'm really sorry. We did whatever we could but there wasn’t much of a chance; the tumor had spread throughout the brain. There wasn’t any time left. It was a miracle to be able to make it this far. Usually the person doesn’t survive after reaching this stage let alone be able to talk or even understand what is going around them or what is happening to them. Atleast you got this much time to spend together.
Beat
(Light on. Sarah standing in front of the bed.)
Sarah (trying to subdue sobs, in a slow pace):
Hiding your fears in a useless space
Trying to wipe those tears
Off your pale white face.
Looking into the sky, looking into the night
Wondering what is wrong, wondering what is right
While chasing the stars with your glaring eyes
Watching them fall, watching them dance
Hoping for a moment without a withering glance
Wishing for a little more time
(pause)
and one last chance.
(She breaks down in tears, on her knees covering her face and sobbing.
Lights fade out)
Points: 345
Reviews: 2
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