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'TEA & BISCUITS PART 3
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"TEA & BISCUITS"

Original Script

Written by Lee Neville

© 1999 Devotion Productions

 

CHARACTERS

 

Gerald

Rebecca

Dad

 

TEA & BISCUITS

 

It is night.

GERALD’s room.

Just off-center on the left is a chair, facing towards center stage and the audience, but at a slight angle.

Another chair is opposite, just off-center on the right, facing towards center stage and at a slight angle.

Between the two chairs is a table facing straight on at the audience.

On the table there is a crossword book, a selection of pens, a book and a photo of GERALD and his father.

A medium light focuses individually on the middle, the left, the right and the middle. As GERALD enters, the light follows him from the left, the middle and then the right side of the stage. GERALD gestures for someone to enter.

REBECCA enters cautiously stage right. She is wearing casual clothing. As she enters the lights on the center stage come up to fill the whole room. She has a bag on her right shoulder. She has clearly never been here before. She walks up to the chair on stage right and pauses.

GERALD enters confidently stage left. He is dressed in quite a smart way. He is carrying a cup of tea and a plate with three biscuits on it. He puts the tea and biscuits on the table, and then sits on the chair on stage left. He takes a sip of his tea and then starts to eat one of the biscuits. He then notices REBECCA who has been watching him very carefully.

GERALD: You can sit down if you want.

REBECCA: Gerald, I didn’t come to sit down. I came to get that book you said you

would lend me.

GERALD: I know why you’re here.

REBECCA: Ok so can I have the book please, ‘cause I gotta go.

GERALD goes to get the book.

GERALD: Would you like some tea?

REBECCA: No thank you.

GERALD puts the book on the table.

GERALD: How are your classes going?

REBECCA: Same as usual.

GERALD takes a sip of his tea.

You know my best friend?

GERALD: Annie.

REBECCA: Emily.

GERALD: Emily? So she’s your best friend now. You do change best friends

regularly, don’t you?

REBECCA: Well we’re not…anymore. Best friends that is.

GERALD: Aha.

GERALD takes a sip of tea. He then takes the crossword off the table. He opens it and begins flicking through the pages, and finds the crossword he’s been looking for. He picks up one of the pens on the table and starts work on he crossword.

GERALD: Best friends don’t exist. You can’t rely on anyone in life.

REBECCA: (interrupting) Except your family of course.

GERALD: …not even your family.

Pause.

GERALD picks up his biscuit and eats it. He then goes back to the crossword book. He suddenly looks up at the ceiling, and then to the crossword book.

REBECCA: Why not?

GERALD: My Dad trusted me. And then he died.

REBECCA: Well everyone dies eventually. That’s no one’s fault.

GERALD: With my Dad, it was my fault.

REBECCA: (letting GERALD indulge himself) Ok, so what happened to your Dad?

GERALD: It was a long time ago.

GERALD puts his crossword book and pen down on the table. He shuffles in his chair. He takes a sip of tea. He looks upward at the ceiling, and then takes another sip of his tea.

REBECCA: (enthusiastically) I want to hear!

GERALD shuffles in his chair. Pause.

GERALD: It was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away.

REBECCA: What?

GERALD: Or something like that.

REBECCA: What are you talking about?

GERALD: Star Wars. Great film.

REBECCA: I don’t get it.

GERALD: You didn’t like Star Wars?

REBECCA: It was ok. Anyway, we were talking about your Dad. What has Star

Trek…?

GERALD: Star Wars!

REBECCA: …Got to do with anything?

GERALD: I know. I just liked Star Wars.

REBECCA sighs.

REBECCA: Carry on.

GERALD takes a sip of his tea.

GERALD: A long time ago it was my fault. And to this day it is still my fault. I was

16, and the worst thing anyone could do I did. You see, I caused my Dad’s

death. He wasn’t exactly my real Dad. But he was the only one who cared.

He adopted me when I was four, after he found out early in life that he

couldn’t have children. My birth Dad didn’t even want me, so I don’t

consider him my Dad. My adoptive Dad is the only one I’ll remember. I

was close with my Dad, partly because he had adopted me, and I was his

only son. Sometimes we’d just have fun.

Pause.

It’s kind of funny that when we walked down the street, no one would

realize he was my Dad.

REBECCA: Why not?

GERALD: Because we looked nothing like each other.

GERALD takes a deep breath.

We were just on our way to a restaurant when it happened. It was a burger

Place.

REBECCA: So did your Dad get food poisoning?

GERALD sighs.

GERALD: I don’t have much time, so be quiet and listen.

REBECCA feels embarrassed.

GERALD takes a sip of tea.

The lights cross-fade to a stage left spotlight with DAD standing in it, facing

off-stage.

VOICE OF GERALD: We were walking when…

DAD: Gerald, slow down.

VOICE OF GERALD: Don’t worry Dad. I’m fine.

DAD: Gerald, watch out!

DAD runs off-stage out of the spotlight.

Sound of car screeching. Pause.

The spotlight cross-fades, to GERALD and REBECCA.

GERALD: It was my fault. I wasn’t looking when I crossed the street. I never noticed

the car coming, but Dad did. He pushed me out the way and ended up

being hit himself.

The lights cross-fade to a stage right spotlight with DAD lying face down.

GERALD walks into the spotlight and lies down on his side behind DAD.

GERALD slowly looks up at the body of DAD. He gets up, goes over to the body and shakes his DAD with his hand, just to see if he is alive. While GERALD stays looking towards the ground, DAD stands up and walks behind GERALD. DAD then tries to get the attention of GERALD, but finds that he is locked inside an invisible

box. While GERALD is trying to wake the now unseen body of DAD, DAD is meanwhile trying to call out to GERALD from inside the invisible box.

The spotlight cross-fades, to REBECCA. GERALD returns to sit next to

REBECCA.

GERALD: He was gone.

REBECCA: I’m not sure I’d be able to get over that. Losing someone, right in front

of me.

GERALD: Time goes by and eventually, people do get over things.

REBECCA: But that didn’t happen to you, did it?

GERALD: No. I couldn’t adjust to the fact that when someone dies, people do tend to

get over it. I realized that if I forgot my Dad, no one else was going to

remember him after I was gone. I didn’t like that at all. There was a

funeral afterwards, and everyone was saying all these wonderful things

about my Dad. I didn’t say anything though, ‘cause I felt that no matter

what I said I could never say enough. My emotions were so confused. I

didn’t even cry.

REBECCA: I’m sorry.

GERALD: Don’t you be sorry. It was my fault.

REBECCA: (sarcastically) Did you drive the car? No! Then it wasn’t your fault!

GERALD: If it wasn’t for me my Dad would still be alive.

GERALD takes a sip of his tea. GERALD coughs.

It’s hard to believe. Tomorrow it will have been twenty years since my

Dad’s death. You know what? I am the same age my Dad was when he

died.

REBECCA: Oh.

GERALD: I loved my Dad and I’ll never forget him. He was always there for me,

right up to the end. And since he died, I’ve kept seeing a vision of him in

my head. Every now and then, he tells me to go on with my life. But I

haven’t been able to.

REBECCA: Well. You seem to have sorted out your career. Teaching I mean.

GERALD: I just wanted to pass the time. Anyway, some may call the visions part of

my imagination, but I know I believe in it. He seems so close.

The lights cross-fade and the stage goes into darkness with a spotlight on GERALD. Another spotlight comes up on DAD.

DAD: Of course I’m close. I’m right here son. I’m not going anywhere.

GERAD stares forward.

GERALD: You’ve never lied to me before Dad. Don’t start now.

DAD: Gerald. I’m not lying to you. As long as you remember me, I will always be

with you.

GERALD: I don’t want to have to remember you. I want you here with me now.

DAD takes a deep breath.

DAD: I’m sorry. There’s no time. I can’t say all the things I want to say to you now. I

can’t be with you now.

GERALD: You can’t just come into my life and adopt me as your son, then leave me.

DAD: Gerald, I’m not in control here.

GERALD: I know. I am. I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.

DAD: I could never have chosen a better son. It’s not your fault.

GERALD: Dad! Don’t leave me!

DAD: Listen to me!

GERALD: Don’t leave me!

DAD: Listen to me! You are going to go on with your life. You’re going to have a

wife and loads of kids. You are going to live your life. And you are going to

make me proud. Gerald! I love you!

The spotlight on DAD fades to blackout, followed by the spotlight on GERALD.

Lights fade in on the whole room.

REBECCA: I don’t know what to say.

GERALD: No need to say anything.

GERALD coughs.

Every year on the date of my Dad’s death I particularly remember him. I

remember his jokes. I remember the way he acted. We used to go to the

cinema every Saturday afternoon, before going to a restaurant.

GERALD sighs emotionally.

Our first movie we saw together was Star Wars. It was a long time ago in a

galaxy far far away.

REBECCA: (annoyed) You talked about this before.

GERALD: Well Star Wars was my Dad’s favorite film.

REBECCA: (calming down) Oh.

GERALD: This is my Dad’s house. I’ve stayed here all my life. It was the closest I

could get to him.

GERALD picks up one of the biscuits on the plate.

I love these biscuits. My Dad liked these biscuits too.

 

GERALD puts the biscuit back down on the plate. He picks up his crossword book and pen. He looks up and then looks back at the crossword book.

My Dad liked crossword books as well.

REBECCA: You want to be like your Dad, don’t you?

GERALD: (angrily) What’s wrong with that?

REBECCA: (defensively) Nothing.

GERALD: Oh!

GERALD puts the crossword book and pen down, sips his tea and the puts it down

quickly.

Pause.

Can you dance?

REBECCA: Huh?

GERALD: When I was little, my Dad tried to get me into dancing, but I was too

young to understand.

REBECCA: Understand what?

GERALD: That simple things in life like dancing can turn out to be really big things.

My Granddad, now he could dance. He taught my Dad. My Dad intended

me to continue the legacy. At least until…

REBECCA: Oh.

GERALD suddenly stands up.

GERALD: I suppose I have just about enough time for one dance. Stand up.

REBECCA: Oh, no, no, no, no, no!

GERALD: You’re in my house. You owe me one dance.

REBECCA: But I can’t…

GERALD: Please.

REBECCA nervously stands up.

REBECCA: Ok, but please don’t tell my boyfriend ‘cause I told him I hated dancing.

GERALD: Well we’ll have to change that.

REBECCA steadily walks over to GERALD who takes hold of her left hand, and puts his right hand on her hip.

Now put your other hand on my shoulder. Oh, wait a minute!

GERALD lets go of REBECCA, goes back to the table and takes a sip of tea.

REBECCA is then puzzled as GERALD then resumes his dance stance with her.

Ready?

Pause.

Rebecca. See, I remembered your name. Don’t worry about the steps.

Just hear the music.

REBECCA: I can’t hear any music.

GERALD: Well I don’t have a c.d. player, so you’ll have to imagine the music.

Pause.

Hear it now?

REBECCA: No.

REBECCA begins to hear some music.

Oh wait. I think I can imagine it now.

GERALD begins to sway to the music.

GERALD: Good choice.

REBECCA begins to sway with GERALD, who directs her in some dance steps.

Now when I go forward on my right leg, you go back on your left leg.

Then you move out with your right leg, and in with your left leg. Here we

go!

REBECCA follows GERALD’s instructions.

And now we do the opposite. Forward with your right leg, over with your

Left, and in with your right.

REBECCA again follows GERALD’s instructions.

We just go round and round.

GERALD and REBECCA repeat the same dance steps.

Now feel the music.

REBECCA is uncomfortable at first, but soon gets the hang of it.

This isn’t too bad, is it? Now you’ll be able to go back and tell your

boyfriend, that maybe you don’t hate dancing so much.

GERALD and REBECCA stop dancing and sit back down in their chairs.

GERALD suddenly seems distracted which concerns REBECCA.

REBECCA: Gerald, are you ok?

GERALD closes his eyes.

The lights fade to blackout.

The lights slowly come up on the table with just GERALD sitting next to it. The other chair is opposite. REBECCA is no longer there. DAD enters from behind GERALD with a tray. On the tray is a kettle with water in it, a cup, and a carton of milk, a teabag, some sugar, a teaspoon and some biscuits. DAD walks up to the table, puts the tray on it, and sits down. GERALD is watching what DAD is doing. DAD acting like a teacher pours a small amount of milk into the cup. Afterwards, he places the teabag in the cup, all the while, showing his technique to GERALD. GERALD and DAD wait a few seconds for the kettle to supposedly boil, and then DAD pours the water from the kettle into the cup. The cup is stirred with the teaspoon. He then picks up the cup and tastes the tea. Since he doesn’t like the taste, he adds some sugar using the teaspoon. With a smile, DAD finally dips a biscuit into the cup and eats it happily. The lights fade to blackout.

The lights come up. DAD is not there anymore, and REBECCA is in the chair.

REBECCA: Gerald, are you ok?

GERALD opens his eyes.

GERALD: Of course.

REBECCA: Thank you for the dance.

GERALD: I’d love to do it again, but I don’t think I have enough time.

REBECCA: Not enough time? Visions of your Dad? There’s more to this, isn’t

there?

GERALD: I’m going on a journey, and I’m only gonna have time to see my Dad

before I go.

REBECCA: So your Dad’s coming here. Tomorrow morning.

GERALD: Yes. I realized that I couldn’t endure life without my Dad, so I figured

the only way I could do that was to be with him.

REBECCA: Look. Most sons try everything they can to be like their fathers, and end

up making the same mistakes. But you, you’re trying to do the opposite.

For you Gerald, that’s a mistake.

GERALD: It’s the only way I can get to be with him, and tomorrow morning is the

only time I can do it. Tomorrow I will be 27 years old. My Dad lived for

27 years, and that’s all I deserve.

REBECCA: Gerald. People die every day. Sometimes due to terrible things such as

Murder. But what happened to your Dad was an accident.

GERALD: Yeah. An accident, that wouldn’t have happened, if it wasn’t for me.

REBECCA: Oh for God’s sake! Your Dad is dead! You can’t do anything about it, so

embrace the pain and deal with it! Sort out your problems!

Pause.

GERALD: I don’t know how. You know something, my Dad was only with me for a

Few years, but he could solve every problem I asked him to help me solve.

He taught me how to fight, how to get a girlfriend, and how to enjoy tea

and biscuits. The only thing he didn’t teach me, was how to deal with life

without him. I didn’t think I’d need to ask.

GERALD looks down, heartbroken.

REBECCA stands up unsure of herself, and walks over to GERALD. She pulls his head towards her, and holds him comfortingly. After a second, GERALD pulls away, and signals for her to sit back down in her chair.

GERALD: My last gift to you is the book you wanted. Read it, learn from it and live.

Oh! And remember me.

REBECCA: I don’t want to have to remember you. I want you here with me now.

GERALD: Never love anything Rebecca, ‘cause you always end up losing.

Goodnight.

REBECCA stands up slowly.

REBECCA: Thank you, for everything.

REBECCA walks away and exits stage right.

GERALD takes a sip of his tea, and then stands up. He picks up the cup and plate, and walks off-stage.

GERALD re-enters the room with one biscuit on the plate. He places the plate on the table, sits down, and gradually falls asleep. Lights fade to blackout.

Lights come up. It is the next morning. In the chair GERALD is asleep.

Next to GERALD is his DAD sitting opposite, smiling at him.

DAD: Gerald!

DAD shakes GERALD’s shoulder to wake him up.

DAD: Gerald!

GERALD slowly wakes up.

GERALD: Dad! You’re here? I knew you’d come.

DAD: Well I had to. Anything for my boy!

GERALD reaches forward.

GERALD: I saved some biscuits for you.

DAD: My favorites.

GERALD: I’m sorry but there isn’t much tea left.

DAD: No problem.

GERALD: I miss you.

DAD: I miss you too son. I know I can’t stay, but it’s like I don’t want to go.

GERALD: Don’t worry Dad, I’m gonna be with you very soon

DAD is puzzled.

Today’s the day.

DAD: The day for what?

GERALD: You’ll see.

DAD: Now Gerald, don’t do something stupid!

GERALD: You know me so well. I’ve wasted my life anyway. I never had that family

and kids. I ended up becoming just another college teacher. I had no one to

fall in love with me because I kept thinking about you. And no one was

going to make me forget you.

DAD: Son, you’re talking crazy. You could still make a great life for yourself. You

have a great life. Imagine how far you could go in life.

GERALD: Dad. It’s too late. I’ve made up my mind.

DAD: Gerald. Let go. If not for yourself, then for me.

GERALD: I can’t. I have to be with you. I have to make up for all that we’ve missed,

away from each other.

DAD: You don’t have to do this for me.

GERALD: I’m doing it for you, and me, so we can be together again.

Pause.

Star Wars was a great film wasn’t it?

DAD: Yeah it was.

GERALD: They’ve actually made a new Star Wars film now.

DAD: They should have left it. You shouldn’t have to change something if it all ready

works.

GERALD: Well if you’re not happy with something, you can always try and make it

better.

GERALD taps the shoulder of DAD in a consoling way.

Things will be better. I’ll see you soon.

DAD: No!

DAD becomes extremely upset.

Gerald, don’t do this.

GERALD: Dad. Listen to me. Do you remember what you said to me that day? You

said it wasn’t my fault. Now forgive me if I’m wrong, but you were

preventing me from getting run over. Therefore it was my fault.

DAD: I don’t care. I didn’t let you get run over, and I’m not going to let you do what

you’re about to do now.

GERALD: You really know what I’m going to do huh?

DAD: If you do this, you won’t be going to where I am. You’ll be going somewhere

else. I can’t allow that.

GERALD: How do you know? Maybe God will realise that my hell has been in

living, and won’t let me endure it in death.

DAD: Gerald.

GERALD hits the table in anger. He then stands up and walks to the right.

DAD follows GERALD who then turns to face him.

GERALD: Life is full of choices. You make them and hope for the best.

DAD: If you make this choice, you won’t have any other choices left.

GERALD: Goodbye Dad.

GERALD then walks off stage.

Suddenly DAD hears the sound of a car screeching. Pause.

DAD drops his face into his hands. He then walks over to the table, picks up the final biscuit and crushes it. He then falls down in his chair and begins to pray.

DAD: Please God. He did it to be with me. I know he has disobeyed life’s greatest

law. That you should never take a life, not even your own. I know that he can’t

come home yet. But please. Please. Don’t condemn him. Please reserve

judgement. Please.

A spotlight appears on GERALD, who slowly walks over to where REBECCA is reading the book he gave her. Afterwards he walks over to where his DAD is standing drinking tea and eating a biscuit. When neither of them responds to him he walks off stage.

Lights fade to blackout.

 

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