Initial Script by Nick M
Nov 18, 2015 12:06:38 GMT
Post by joannem on Nov 18, 2015 12:06:38 GMT
This seasonal contemporary ghost story was written by our very own Nick M.
The play will be produced by Phil J.
NickM will play Jonathan
PhilJ will play Kaldor
The part of Alice will be cast shortly
A Family Christmas
By Nick M
F/X A knock on a front door. It opens.
Jonathan: Father Kaldor, come in, it’s freezing out there.
Kaldor: Thank you.
Jonathan: Let me take your coat. It’s so good to finally meet you.
F/X The conversation continues as the two enter the kitchen and we hear Jonathan preparing drinks.
Kaldor: I apologise for my late arrival Jonathan… Your driveway’s not so easy to find.
Jonathan: Busy roads before Christmas, the snow, it’s a wonder you found it at all. To be honest it's why we bought the place, a hideaway miles away from anywhere. Peace and quiet for the family…
Kaldor: Quite.
Jonathan: I’m sorry for dragging you out here on Christmas Eve but…
Kaldor: Oh, I’ve not had a parish for many years, I do good where I can.
Jonathan: Can I get you a drink?
F/X A clink of glasses. This clearly doesn’t mean a cup of tea.
Kaldor: Perhaps later.
Jonathan: Yes, yes, maybe later. But look. It's nearly 9. Let’s go through to the lounge. Alice will be down in a minute I’m sure.
Kaldor: A punctual lady, your wife?
Jonathan: Always.
F/X The two men walk into another room as they talk.
Jonathan: So, this particular…Have you…
Kaldor: Every circumstance is unique.
F/X A clock strikes nine
Jonathan: Ah. She’ll be -
Alice: Jonathan! We have company! You should have said, I’d have made a meal. At the very least changed my dress.
Kaldor: Ah, Mrs Fleming, I presume? I’m sure you look very presentable as you are. I’m Father Angelo Kaldor, Mrs Fleming.
Alice: Alice, please.
Jonathan: Father Kaldor’s here to help us. I wasn’t sure he’d come.
Alice: Ah. I hope you stay longer than the first one. Five minutes and he was gone.
Kaldor: Well, to the point. You believe you are haunted?
Alice: It’s not a matter of - I know for a fact that it’s true.
Kaldor: And the spirit?
Alice: Robert. My son.
Kaldor: I understand the spirit never…never communicates directly?
Alice: I know it is him. A mother knows her child.
Kaldor: Your husband tells me… He is blind to such things? The spirit affects only you?
Alice: He always was a mummy's boy.
Jonathan: I don't doubt for a moment that what she says is true. I’ve never heard… myself but once Alice is free of this torment…then…well, I’ll be too.
Kaldor: You love each other. That is good. Something to work with.
Jonathan: No matter what happened, or what will, I love her – I love you, darling – more than anything. I’ll never let you go. I couldn’t bear…
Kaldor: I have no doubt of that, my son.
Alice: So, is this a typical Christmas Eve for you father?
Kaldor: You’d be surprised. Or maybe not. We felt that tonight was well suited.
Alice: Yes. The anniversary. Of course. Two years. Who’d believe it?
Jonathan: Four, darling.
Alice: What?
Jonathan: It's been four years since he died.
Alice: Yes…yes. I suppose it must. Time plays such tricks on the mind.
Kaldor: It’s understandable. So, though you’re aware of his presence all year round…?
Jonathan: The season brings back -
Alice: Is it really four years Jonathan?... Why do I forget so much?
Kaldor: Can you tell me what you actually remember?
Alice: About…
Kaldor: Yes.
Alice: Everything... was in place for a perfect Christmas. Just us three out here, no in-laws. And it was getting late…Christmas Eve. I was driving back from Matlock, I had Rob in the car. Snowing, like tonight, but… Getting cold. We were just a minute from home. The lorry came out of nowhere, wrong side of the road, slewing on the ice… I couldn’t…
Jonathan: There was nothing you could do.
Alice: He never knew what hit him. I walked out with hardly a scratch but Robert was…
Kaldor: I’m truly sorry for your loss. For both of you.
Alice: It was so hard to let go.
Kaldor: So how soon after the accident were you aware that…
Alice: The first days, the first months, all a bit of a blur.
Kaldor: I understand.
Alice: Everything stopped that day.
Jonathan: She’s not left the house since.
Kaldor: Is that so?
Jonathan: Not that I know of.
F/X A knock.
Alice: That’s him. He knows we're talking about him.
Jonathan: Really?
Kaldor: I heard it too.
Jonathan: Where…?
Kaldor: The room directly above.
Alice: Robert's bedroom.
Jonathan: How can you hear… When I hear nothing?
Kaldor: One gets attuned to such things.
Jonathan: So –
Kaldor: So let’s see what he wants.
F/X The knocking becomes louder and more insistent.
Alice: Robert…Rob. I know you're there. We have…company darling. A man who wants to help.
F/X The intensity of the knocking increases again.
Jonathan: (From the sound of his voice, not yet at the door) Nothing.
Kaldor: (Similarly, bringing up the rear with Jonathan) No, that provoked a response.
Jonathan: It can’t be something physical, surely I would hear?
Kaldor: People have their own ways of… He’d be what? Sixteen now?
F/X A huge thump from the other side of the door. The sound of a doorknob being turned.
Alice: He knows you're here.
Jonathan: You’re not going in?
Kaldor: Why else am I here?
F/X The door opens.
Jonathan: …I don’t see anything.
Kaldor: Did you expect to? It looks…
Jonathan: Exactly the way it did when he…
Alice: I didn’t touch a thing, in case he… It was all I had left of him.
Jonathan: I keep it clean, but every toy, every poster… I know it’s not the done thing.
Alice: It was his space, what have we left to fill it? He may be departed but this is still his home.
Kaldor: And this is where you sense him strongest?
Alice: Always… Always here.
Kaldor: It seems quiet now… Is he…?
Alice: I'm…I'm not sure. He can be good at hiding. What are you looking for?
Kaldor: Temperature drops… disturbances… Perhaps Master Fleming could...
F/X The sound of a car approaching, the blast of a horn, the squealing of a lorry’s air brakes…
Alice: What’s going on out there?
Kaldor: Not out there.
Alice: Oh, God. It's happening again? Please, please, make it stop!
F/X The sound of a car approaching, the blast of a horn, the squealing of a lorry’s heavy brakes, a terrible rending of metal…
Alice: Oh God! Robert! My baby!
F/X Sudden silence.
Jonathan: Could somebody please tell me…
Kaldor: Alice and I just heard the accident outside.
Alice: That's never happened before.
Kaldor: But it has Mrs Fleming.
Jonathan: Brought on by what? The anniversary? You being here?
Kaldor: Perhaps, but I don’t think so. We can only hold on to the past for so long.
Jonathan: So, it is time?… Perform the exorcism now?
Kaldor: This isn’t about me. Alice - A boy needs his mother, you must go to him now.
F/X A radio turns itself on.
Robert: (distorted and distant through the radio)Mum…mummy. Are you there? Come home, please. It’s dark. Are you there? Are you there, mummy? Mummy. Come and hold me, please…I’m so…Mummy, why won’t you answer me?
Jonathan: Oh my God.
Alice: Robert, darling. It’s mummy. But I am home. This is home. I’m right here.
F/X Crashing and smashing sounds fill the air.
Kaldor: Look out!
F/X The turmoil stops abruptly.
Kaldor: Teenagers.
Jonathan: It’s wrecked. How the hell…?
F/X The radio clicks on again. The boy shouts through it, insistent now.
Robert: Mummy! Mummy!!
Jonathan: I don’t know how much more of this I can take.
F/X The sound of the accident replays, getting faster as if played on a tape which speeds up towards its conclusion. It begins again, getting faster still.
Alice: (close to tears) Father, please, what can we do?
Kaldor: It’s what you can do, Alice. You can go to him.
F/X The accident loop stops immediately.
Kaldor: It…it must be very lonely…it’s the worst thing to feel unheard.
F/X The radio switches on and then off again.
Kaldor: Jonathan, Alice. Might you leave us for a moment?
Alice: I hope you know what you’re doing.
Jonathan: Come on.
F/X Alice and Jonathan leave, closing the door behind them.
Alice: Why does he need to talk to him?
Jonathan: Maybe he wants me to talk to you. You know I’ll always love you, don’t you? Always have, always will.
Alice: Of course, of course I do. Who else but me could put up with you?
Jonathan: I want to thank you. Thank you for everything. For being a good wife… A good mother. I never got the chance...
Alice: I…I tried my best. And… when Robert was alive. We had good times, didn’t we?
Jonathan: Always, darling, always.
Alice: I’m so sorry, the way things turned out. I couldn’t look after him… I have to look after you. You’d be so lonely. So… Alone.
Jonathan: You’ll always be with me, in my heart.
Alice: What’s brought all this on? I’m not going anywhere…
Jonathan: Alice…
F/X The bedroom door opens.
Kaldor: Now. We have…spoken, after a fashion. He knows why I am here… How I can help you.
Alice: Help Robert you mean.
Kaldor: Help you all.
Alice: Can you help him move on, Father?
Kaldor: Yes. And not just Robert. All of you…and especially…
Alice: Me?
F/X The sound of the engines starts again, quieter this time, as if further away.
Jonathan: What on Earth...?
Kaldor: You hear it this time?
Jonathan: Yes…yes. I do.
Alice: Do we have to hear this again? Haven’t we been through enough?
Kaldor: You have all been through so much Alice. And in the confusion, some things have been forgotten.
F/X The screech of tyres, the crunching impact.
Jonathan: Oh, sweet Jesus. I never wanted to hear that sound again.
F/X Silence for a few seconds. Then a gentle ringing sound is heard.
Alice: That light, coming through the window. Head lights? We didn’t see those last time.
Jonathan: I…
Kaldor: You said you’d forgotten some things Alice. Robert needs you to remember. Remember what happened that night.
Alice: What? Do you think I can ever forget?
Kaldor: Yes. Yes, I think you can. I think you have. Tell us Alice, what happened after the accident?
Alice: I…oh this is ridiculous.
Kaldor: Tell us Alice.
Alice: Well, I got out of the car and saw…saw what had happened to Robert.
Kaldor: And after that?
Alice: Well, Jonathan arrived… He heard the crash from the house. He called 999.
Kaldor: Could you not have done that while you waited?
Alice: I…well, I didn’t think…
Kaldor: Did you check on the driver of the lorry?
Alice: I suppose I wasn’t thinking straight.
Kaldor: How did you get out Alice? The car was destroyed… And you walked out without a scratch?
Alice: I… I didn’t need to go to hospital. I… I couldn’t just go. I’d lost Robert… How could he cope without the two of us? I followed Jonathan home… You’re confusing me. So many questions.
Kaldor: Jonathan. Can you tell Alice what you saw when you arrived on the scene?
Jonathan: The car was a mess, like you said…. Must I carry on?
Kaldor: This isn’t for me.
Jonathan: I saw them. Their bodies. What was left. Robert’s… and Alice’s.
Alice: Oh my God.
Jonathan: I saw your body too.
Alice: No.
Jonathan: At nine the next night… You returned. As you have every night since. For the longest time I thought you were just in my head, then I was sure I was going mad, then, well, you were company, and when you're married, a man gets used to anything.
Kaldor: And Robert?
Jonathan: A few days later, after the… The funeral… Or so Alice said.
Kaldor: You remember the funeral. The funeral of your son?
Alice: No, I was… Ill. I must have stayed home. Oh my god…
F/X Robert’s voice is heard, as if in the room.
Robert: Mummy. Please. Please come home.
Kaldor: He can’t… Move on without you. Jonathan needs you… But Robert needs you more. This can’t go on…Alice. Alice?
Alice: No. Jonathan needs me.
F/X A crash as a wardrobe tumbles over.
Kaldor: Robert needs you. Alice. Look at your hands.
Alice: My hands?
Kaldor: Look at them. Tell me, what do you see?
Alice: I see…I see…oh, dear Lord. I see nothing. The light…why is it getting brighter?
Kaldor: A boy needs his mother, not these toys any more, time to grant him his wish. Go to him, Alice. Go home together.
F/X Sudden silence.
Jonathan: She’s gone.
Kaldor: Are you…
Jonathan: She’s gone… Could you see her?
Kaldor: No. No.
Jonathan: I saw her sometimes, then she’d fade away. But her voice, in my head, I thought it was normal, or I was crazy, then… And then you heard her too. You bastard, I’ve lost her, haven’t I?
Kaldor: Only if you forget her. Come on, I’ll take that drink with you now.
The play will be produced by Phil J.
NickM will play Jonathan
PhilJ will play Kaldor
The part of Alice will be cast shortly
A Family Christmas
By Nick M
F/X A knock on a front door. It opens.
Jonathan: Father Kaldor, come in, it’s freezing out there.
Kaldor: Thank you.
Jonathan: Let me take your coat. It’s so good to finally meet you.
F/X The conversation continues as the two enter the kitchen and we hear Jonathan preparing drinks.
Kaldor: I apologise for my late arrival Jonathan… Your driveway’s not so easy to find.
Jonathan: Busy roads before Christmas, the snow, it’s a wonder you found it at all. To be honest it's why we bought the place, a hideaway miles away from anywhere. Peace and quiet for the family…
Kaldor: Quite.
Jonathan: I’m sorry for dragging you out here on Christmas Eve but…
Kaldor: Oh, I’ve not had a parish for many years, I do good where I can.
Jonathan: Can I get you a drink?
F/X A clink of glasses. This clearly doesn’t mean a cup of tea.
Kaldor: Perhaps later.
Jonathan: Yes, yes, maybe later. But look. It's nearly 9. Let’s go through to the lounge. Alice will be down in a minute I’m sure.
Kaldor: A punctual lady, your wife?
Jonathan: Always.
F/X The two men walk into another room as they talk.
Jonathan: So, this particular…Have you…
Kaldor: Every circumstance is unique.
F/X A clock strikes nine
Jonathan: Ah. She’ll be -
Alice: Jonathan! We have company! You should have said, I’d have made a meal. At the very least changed my dress.
Kaldor: Ah, Mrs Fleming, I presume? I’m sure you look very presentable as you are. I’m Father Angelo Kaldor, Mrs Fleming.
Alice: Alice, please.
Jonathan: Father Kaldor’s here to help us. I wasn’t sure he’d come.
Alice: Ah. I hope you stay longer than the first one. Five minutes and he was gone.
Kaldor: Well, to the point. You believe you are haunted?
Alice: It’s not a matter of - I know for a fact that it’s true.
Kaldor: And the spirit?
Alice: Robert. My son.
Kaldor: I understand the spirit never…never communicates directly?
Alice: I know it is him. A mother knows her child.
Kaldor: Your husband tells me… He is blind to such things? The spirit affects only you?
Alice: He always was a mummy's boy.
Jonathan: I don't doubt for a moment that what she says is true. I’ve never heard… myself but once Alice is free of this torment…then…well, I’ll be too.
Kaldor: You love each other. That is good. Something to work with.
Jonathan: No matter what happened, or what will, I love her – I love you, darling – more than anything. I’ll never let you go. I couldn’t bear…
Kaldor: I have no doubt of that, my son.
Alice: So, is this a typical Christmas Eve for you father?
Kaldor: You’d be surprised. Or maybe not. We felt that tonight was well suited.
Alice: Yes. The anniversary. Of course. Two years. Who’d believe it?
Jonathan: Four, darling.
Alice: What?
Jonathan: It's been four years since he died.
Alice: Yes…yes. I suppose it must. Time plays such tricks on the mind.
Kaldor: It’s understandable. So, though you’re aware of his presence all year round…?
Jonathan: The season brings back -
Alice: Is it really four years Jonathan?... Why do I forget so much?
Kaldor: Can you tell me what you actually remember?
Alice: About…
Kaldor: Yes.
Alice: Everything... was in place for a perfect Christmas. Just us three out here, no in-laws. And it was getting late…Christmas Eve. I was driving back from Matlock, I had Rob in the car. Snowing, like tonight, but… Getting cold. We were just a minute from home. The lorry came out of nowhere, wrong side of the road, slewing on the ice… I couldn’t…
Jonathan: There was nothing you could do.
Alice: He never knew what hit him. I walked out with hardly a scratch but Robert was…
Kaldor: I’m truly sorry for your loss. For both of you.
Alice: It was so hard to let go.
Kaldor: So how soon after the accident were you aware that…
Alice: The first days, the first months, all a bit of a blur.
Kaldor: I understand.
Alice: Everything stopped that day.
Jonathan: She’s not left the house since.
Kaldor: Is that so?
Jonathan: Not that I know of.
F/X A knock.
Alice: That’s him. He knows we're talking about him.
Jonathan: Really?
Kaldor: I heard it too.
Jonathan: Where…?
Kaldor: The room directly above.
Alice: Robert's bedroom.
Jonathan: How can you hear… When I hear nothing?
Kaldor: One gets attuned to such things.
Jonathan: So –
Kaldor: So let’s see what he wants.
F/X The knocking becomes louder and more insistent.
Alice: Robert…Rob. I know you're there. We have…company darling. A man who wants to help.
F/X The intensity of the knocking increases again.
Jonathan: (From the sound of his voice, not yet at the door) Nothing.
Kaldor: (Similarly, bringing up the rear with Jonathan) No, that provoked a response.
Jonathan: It can’t be something physical, surely I would hear?
Kaldor: People have their own ways of… He’d be what? Sixteen now?
F/X A huge thump from the other side of the door. The sound of a doorknob being turned.
Alice: He knows you're here.
Jonathan: You’re not going in?
Kaldor: Why else am I here?
F/X The door opens.
Jonathan: …I don’t see anything.
Kaldor: Did you expect to? It looks…
Jonathan: Exactly the way it did when he…
Alice: I didn’t touch a thing, in case he… It was all I had left of him.
Jonathan: I keep it clean, but every toy, every poster… I know it’s not the done thing.
Alice: It was his space, what have we left to fill it? He may be departed but this is still his home.
Kaldor: And this is where you sense him strongest?
Alice: Always… Always here.
Kaldor: It seems quiet now… Is he…?
Alice: I'm…I'm not sure. He can be good at hiding. What are you looking for?
Kaldor: Temperature drops… disturbances… Perhaps Master Fleming could...
F/X The sound of a car approaching, the blast of a horn, the squealing of a lorry’s air brakes…
Alice: What’s going on out there?
Kaldor: Not out there.
Alice: Oh, God. It's happening again? Please, please, make it stop!
F/X The sound of a car approaching, the blast of a horn, the squealing of a lorry’s heavy brakes, a terrible rending of metal…
Alice: Oh God! Robert! My baby!
F/X Sudden silence.
Jonathan: Could somebody please tell me…
Kaldor: Alice and I just heard the accident outside.
Alice: That's never happened before.
Kaldor: But it has Mrs Fleming.
Jonathan: Brought on by what? The anniversary? You being here?
Kaldor: Perhaps, but I don’t think so. We can only hold on to the past for so long.
Jonathan: So, it is time?… Perform the exorcism now?
Kaldor: This isn’t about me. Alice - A boy needs his mother, you must go to him now.
F/X A radio turns itself on.
Robert: (distorted and distant through the radio)Mum…mummy. Are you there? Come home, please. It’s dark. Are you there? Are you there, mummy? Mummy. Come and hold me, please…I’m so…Mummy, why won’t you answer me?
Jonathan: Oh my God.
Alice: Robert, darling. It’s mummy. But I am home. This is home. I’m right here.
F/X Crashing and smashing sounds fill the air.
Kaldor: Look out!
F/X The turmoil stops abruptly.
Kaldor: Teenagers.
Jonathan: It’s wrecked. How the hell…?
F/X The radio clicks on again. The boy shouts through it, insistent now.
Robert: Mummy! Mummy!!
Jonathan: I don’t know how much more of this I can take.
F/X The sound of the accident replays, getting faster as if played on a tape which speeds up towards its conclusion. It begins again, getting faster still.
Alice: (close to tears) Father, please, what can we do?
Kaldor: It’s what you can do, Alice. You can go to him.
F/X The accident loop stops immediately.
Kaldor: It…it must be very lonely…it’s the worst thing to feel unheard.
F/X The radio switches on and then off again.
Kaldor: Jonathan, Alice. Might you leave us for a moment?
Alice: I hope you know what you’re doing.
Jonathan: Come on.
F/X Alice and Jonathan leave, closing the door behind them.
Alice: Why does he need to talk to him?
Jonathan: Maybe he wants me to talk to you. You know I’ll always love you, don’t you? Always have, always will.
Alice: Of course, of course I do. Who else but me could put up with you?
Jonathan: I want to thank you. Thank you for everything. For being a good wife… A good mother. I never got the chance...
Alice: I…I tried my best. And… when Robert was alive. We had good times, didn’t we?
Jonathan: Always, darling, always.
Alice: I’m so sorry, the way things turned out. I couldn’t look after him… I have to look after you. You’d be so lonely. So… Alone.
Jonathan: You’ll always be with me, in my heart.
Alice: What’s brought all this on? I’m not going anywhere…
Jonathan: Alice…
F/X The bedroom door opens.
Kaldor: Now. We have…spoken, after a fashion. He knows why I am here… How I can help you.
Alice: Help Robert you mean.
Kaldor: Help you all.
Alice: Can you help him move on, Father?
Kaldor: Yes. And not just Robert. All of you…and especially…
Alice: Me?
F/X The sound of the engines starts again, quieter this time, as if further away.
Jonathan: What on Earth...?
Kaldor: You hear it this time?
Jonathan: Yes…yes. I do.
Alice: Do we have to hear this again? Haven’t we been through enough?
Kaldor: You have all been through so much Alice. And in the confusion, some things have been forgotten.
F/X The screech of tyres, the crunching impact.
Jonathan: Oh, sweet Jesus. I never wanted to hear that sound again.
F/X Silence for a few seconds. Then a gentle ringing sound is heard.
Alice: That light, coming through the window. Head lights? We didn’t see those last time.
Jonathan: I…
Kaldor: You said you’d forgotten some things Alice. Robert needs you to remember. Remember what happened that night.
Alice: What? Do you think I can ever forget?
Kaldor: Yes. Yes, I think you can. I think you have. Tell us Alice, what happened after the accident?
Alice: I…oh this is ridiculous.
Kaldor: Tell us Alice.
Alice: Well, I got out of the car and saw…saw what had happened to Robert.
Kaldor: And after that?
Alice: Well, Jonathan arrived… He heard the crash from the house. He called 999.
Kaldor: Could you not have done that while you waited?
Alice: I…well, I didn’t think…
Kaldor: Did you check on the driver of the lorry?
Alice: I suppose I wasn’t thinking straight.
Kaldor: How did you get out Alice? The car was destroyed… And you walked out without a scratch?
Alice: I… I didn’t need to go to hospital. I… I couldn’t just go. I’d lost Robert… How could he cope without the two of us? I followed Jonathan home… You’re confusing me. So many questions.
Kaldor: Jonathan. Can you tell Alice what you saw when you arrived on the scene?
Jonathan: The car was a mess, like you said…. Must I carry on?
Kaldor: This isn’t for me.
Jonathan: I saw them. Their bodies. What was left. Robert’s… and Alice’s.
Alice: Oh my God.
Jonathan: I saw your body too.
Alice: No.
Jonathan: At nine the next night… You returned. As you have every night since. For the longest time I thought you were just in my head, then I was sure I was going mad, then, well, you were company, and when you're married, a man gets used to anything.
Kaldor: And Robert?
Jonathan: A few days later, after the… The funeral… Or so Alice said.
Kaldor: You remember the funeral. The funeral of your son?
Alice: No, I was… Ill. I must have stayed home. Oh my god…
F/X Robert’s voice is heard, as if in the room.
Robert: Mummy. Please. Please come home.
Kaldor: He can’t… Move on without you. Jonathan needs you… But Robert needs you more. This can’t go on…Alice. Alice?
Alice: No. Jonathan needs me.
F/X A crash as a wardrobe tumbles over.
Kaldor: Robert needs you. Alice. Look at your hands.
Alice: My hands?
Kaldor: Look at them. Tell me, what do you see?
Alice: I see…I see…oh, dear Lord. I see nothing. The light…why is it getting brighter?
Kaldor: A boy needs his mother, not these toys any more, time to grant him his wish. Go to him, Alice. Go home together.
F/X Sudden silence.
Jonathan: She’s gone.
Kaldor: Are you…
Jonathan: She’s gone… Could you see her?
Kaldor: No. No.
Jonathan: I saw her sometimes, then she’d fade away. But her voice, in my head, I thought it was normal, or I was crazy, then… And then you heard her too. You bastard, I’ve lost her, haven’t I?
Kaldor: Only if you forget her. Come on, I’ll take that drink with you now.