BEVERLY: You’d be amazed… You’d be amazed the things you can tell about people by simply watching.

TEEGAN: I think it’s quite weird.

(Girl walks past the window, checks herself out in the reflection.)

TEEGAN: So… what can you tell about her??

BEVERLY: She’s probably in university, she’s not quite sure of who she is yet… I think.

TEEGAN: Why would you say that?

BEVERLY: Dunno.  I just know.

TEEGAN: What?  ‘Cause she’s always looking in the reflection?? I do that!

BEVERLY: I know.

CHLOE: It was the last time I ever saw him and I never even said goodbye

Past

PETER: Can you read me a story? 

CHLOE: What about mum?

PETER: She can’t. Busy doing work.Filling in papers about my chemo. 

CHLOE: You’re lucky. You’ve nothing worrying your little bald head.

PETER: Don’t! People tease me about it at school.

CHLOE: Don’t they know you have leukaemia?

PETER: No.

CHLOE: You poor thing! Tell you what, I’ll take you to the cinema and we can watch Peter Pan together. Yeah?

PETER: Yipee! This isn’t because you feel sorry for me?

CHLOE: Fine. I won’t buy popcorn.

Present

CHLOE: That was it. No goodbye, no last words. Nothing. 

BOY   Can I change?

Stillness.

MIKE  Come on.

JILL    Change into what?

BOY   My favourite colour’s red.

MIKE  We don’t wear red.

Stillness.

JILL    Is that all?

BOY   Where are you hiding it?

MIKE  Is he sleep-walking?

JILL    Hiding what?

BOY   The virus.

MIKE  Viruses are everywhere.

BOY   But there’s one you’re hiding.

MIKE  What’s he heard?

BOY   Everybody’s sick. When will you release the virus that cures us all?

JILL    We don’t have that.

BOY   But I heard you.

JILL    Viruses can’t cure.

BOY   So you have it.

MIKE  Quiet. Come on.

BOY   Take it out.

Stillness.

JILL    You wouldn’t want that.

MIKE  Give him red pyjamas.

JILL    Have faith and wait.

TEACHER 1: Nope. We’ve spoken about it and this is our final decision.

ASHA: So you’re trying to tell me that you don’t want me any more?

TEACHER 1: It’s not that we don’t want you…

TEACHER 2: He just doesn’t think it’s the right place for you.

ASHA: But what do you think? 

TEACHER 2: Since the beginning of year 10 you’ve had six fights and been excluded three times.

ASHA: Yeah, but it’s not my fault. I deserve another chance.

TEACHER 1: Don’t you see? You’re a ‘menace’ to this school. We can’t keep you here any longer.

ASHA: (angrily) So where else do you expect me to go?!

1: Weirdo!  Where am I?

2: Home.

1: Why?!

2: You really hate this place…

1: Duh!  Gypsies are mad, weird people. 

2: No, that’s just prejudice. 

1: What do you mean?

2: There’s a reason for your fear.

1: I’m not scared!

2:  You shouldn’t be.  We’re not like them.

1: I don’t understand.

2: It’s OK. I do.

1: You’re mad, you are!

2: Five years ago your sister was kidnapped by gypsies.  Although I do prefer the term traveler.

1: You’re sick!

2: No, I just understand.

1: Then how did you—?

2: Saw it in the councilor’s files.  I know how you feel.

2 (Circling, getting closer): It wasn’t yours to know.

1: Before it came, I was never here, next it came and I stopped, I wasn’t scared. Now it roams and I run. Didn’t beat me. 

2: So where’s the end?

1: Where’s the start?

2: Nutter. You’re going round the bend. But where did it all begin?

1: Where?

2: You don’t get it do you? You can’t beat it if you don’t fully know it. Look, keep running. Run forward but before the end, take a look back to where the end began.

GIRL: Before we were together 24/7. But now we’re nothing. 

BOY: If you never did what you did, things would still be the same. 

GIRL: I never done nothing! I was sticking up for myself. 

BOY: So why did you do it? I loved you, did everything for you…YOU ruined our relationship. 

GIRL: I ruined our relationship? Me? You know what – I don’t need you in my life any more. 

BOY: What…wait I didn’t mean it like that. 

GIRL: I know exactly what you meant. You don’t want me in your life. You’re nothing to me any more. 

BOY: I love you. 

N:           You know I’m not really a TV person.

Pause.

N:           But I’m watching a lot. TV I mean.

J:             I wrote you.

N:           Do you have TV in here? Course you do.

J:             Why didn’t you come?

N:           Eastenders. Jersy Shore. All those...

J:             Six months.

N:           I don’t even like the shows. I sort of zone out. Go blank.

J:             I been waiting. Like nobody cared.

N:           Some nights I want to go blank because I can’t stop thinking about what you did.

Pause.

J:             I need cigarettes. Can you bring me some next time?

N:           Next time.

J:             You will come. Mum?

Pause.

N:           Marlboroughs?

ELEKTRA: Before, I was on the streets with the Cobras, and now I have a family?!  I’m getting adopted.  But I don’t want this.  I actually can’t believe I am going to say this, but I like Pinetree House.

MIKE: But next you will have your own room and a family.

ELEKTRA: I already have a family – you guys.

MIKE: This is for the best.

ELEKTRA: What about us?

MIKE: Well, what about us…?

(Pause.)

MIKE: So, it’s settled?  You’re going.

ELEKTRA: You don’t care about me.

MIKE: It’s better this way.  I’m holding you back.

Elektra leaves

JOHN: Oh my God! This place is gonna blow! Let’s get out of here! 

VLADIMIR: What do you know? Puh. No-one understands me.

JOHN: You think you have problems? All you scientists do all day is what you please! I have to clean up your crap! You don’t know how I feel! Heck, you don’t even care!

VLADIMIR: I’m sorry but you must leave.

Vladimir closes his eyes

JOHN: You know what yeah? You’re not even worth dying. You should stay alive and live with yourself as punishment.

The lab blows up