"Vicious Cycle: Part 2..."

Vicious Cycle: Part Two

Scene 1

(The year was 2002. The winter conditions were relentless, snow heaped down from the heavens. Martin held his sister’s hand tightly as they walked through the street. Everywhere they passed was busy, everybody was buzzing with excitement because of Christmas. Children played with snow in the street. Martin smiled down at his sister, she was entranced by all the lights and decorations in the city. He could see that her hands were changing from caramel to blue due to the frosty weather. He picked her up and walked faster towards the house. He waved at his neighbour as he walked onto the path in front of his house.)

Mary: Hey guys!

Martin: Hey mum.

Mary: Aww my baby! Did you enjoy the lights Chantelle?

(She plants a kiss on Chantelle’s cheek and Martin’s cheek.)

Mary: Did you say thank you to your brother?

(Chantelle nods her head and smiles.)

Mary: What did you buy her now? Don’t spoil her! You and your father are terrible, don’t get trigger happy with your student loan!

Martin: What happened to your Christmas spirit mum? It’s fine! Haha

(Martin’s father enters the living room with a big smile on his face. He embraces his wife and shake Martin’s hand.)

James: Santa!

(They all burst into laughter. They head to the table and start to eat. The room is filled with joyous laughter and banter. After a few hours Chantelle dozes off on the dinner table. Her mother takes her up to her room, Martin and his father remain behind to clear up the kitchen.)

James: You’re a good older brother you know, your always looking after your sister

Martin: I spoil her too much though, I can’t help it.

James: She gives the puppy dog eyes and then the deal is done, I’m as bad as you I can’t resist those big eyes.

Martin: haha

James: I’m proud of you, your almost like a second father to her.

Martin: Thanks Dad! Well I have you as a model to look up to hence why I’ve probably picked up similar qualities.

James: Haha. Well you should thank my father before me!

(Once they clear the kitchen they both sit down and watch the remainder of the Arsenal vs Chelsea football match.)

James: How’s your course going? You enjoying it

Martin: It’s going great, I’m enjoying it, I didn’t think I’d enjoy Politics but the way the University lay out the course is brilliant.

James: Met any ladies yet?

Martin: No dad, I’m not interested in girls right now, I need to focus on my course for now.

James: Don’t be so closed minded son, you never know, I met your mother at University, we had some good times-

Martin: Erm ok, no more information please.

(They both laugh.)

James: Well I’m off to bed son. I’m proud of you son, I love you, keep on making us proud. And 

never forget to be yourself.

End Scene

Scene 2

(The buses lined up in the bus lane one after the other. The road was piled up with traffic, Jasmine used the baby pram to ram past people who were taking long to pass by, she knew if she didn’t get to the doors first she wouldn’t get on the bus. She eventually managed to get to the front of the bus, as she was about to get on she saw something in the corner of her eye. Simon slowed down behind the bus in his BMW.)

Jasmine: Simon! Wait!

(Simon turned down the stereo as he caught site of her. He rolled his eyes and kissed his teeth. He looked over at Candy in the passenger seat.)

Jasmine: Give us a lift please!

(Simon rolled down the window and looked at her, he looked down at the pram and grimaced.)

Simon: Catch the bus!

(Simon peeled off and sped into the distance. Jasmine screws up her face and pushes the pram onto the bus. The baby begins to scream loudly and people on the bus stare in her direction. She picks up her phone and calls Rosemary.)

Jasmine: My baby father is crazy you know! I can’t believe it, he is so disrespectful to me!

Rosemary: Don’t worry about him.

Jasmine: I can’t believe how selfish he is, he saw me struggling with Jess and just drove past us!

Rosemary: I’ll come and pick you up. When you hit the Tesco give me a call.

(An hour later Rosemary and Jasmine are in Jasmine’s flat watching TV. Jess was happily sleeping whilst Rosemary and Jasmine sat and gossiped.)

Jasmine: Men! I hate them! They confuse me so much, I thought Simon was a real man! He doesn’t even want to look after his child properly.

Rosemary: He is still young Jas! He will come around eventually.

Jasmine: If he carries on like this I won’t let him see Jess anymore! He’s acting like my dad, he was never there for me when I needed him, they are all the same!

Rosemary: Sorry.

Jasmine: I should have been a virgin Mary like you! Haha! No stress!

Rosemary: I guess so but it gets-

Jasmine: How was your date with Greg the other night! He took you tinsel town? How was that?

Rosemary: It was alright, don’t think he would get a second date though.

Jasmine: These guys never get a second date with you ever! Haha!

(Jasmine looks over at the clock. Rosemary glares at her.)

Jasmine: What!?

Rosemary: You know what!

Jasmine: So I can’t have visitors?

Rosemary: Jess is here!

Jasmine: Look if Simon doesn’t want me other people do, I’m still ripe, I can still have fun and enjoy life.

Rosemary: You can’t jump from Simon to another guy just because he isn’t giving you the attention, be patient-

Jasmine: Nope I’ve been too patient. Anyway let me get ready, Richard will be here any time soon!

End Scene

Scene 3

(Martin and Simon laughed out loudly as they played FIFA. Martin’s father walked into the room and smiled as they enjoyed the game.)

James: Simon! Hows your baby?

Simon: She is fine sir.

James: Good, good, how about your father, I haven't seen him in a while.

Simon: He’s just been out and about, I think he has some business to sort out.

James: Really? I didn’t know he had a business.

Simon: That’s my dad, he is always busy.

James: Ok, I’ll leave you guys to enjoy. Goodnight

Simon: I respect your Dad you know

Martin: Haha where did that come from?

Simon: Seriously, he’s humble and down to earth, he’s a real stand up guy. He takes care of your mum and your sister, and you as well. Maybe if I had that kind of influence in my life maybe things would have been different. I was bringing a different chick to my house every single week and my Dad didn’t correct me once, I was too carefree. Now look at my situation! Trust me your dad is a top man, I hope I can be half the man he is, maybe I could survive in this life. It’s crazy the way life can turn out.

Martin: You’ve changed your tune mate. Relax, things will get better. If I had an unplanned kid I will go crazy as well, but I know you work hard. Things will pay off and work for the best trust me.

Simon: I hope so, I know Candy just likes me for my money, she doesn’t care about me. It’s funny I’ve always pushed you to be like me with girls, but to be honest it’s not worth it. I’m not just saying it because I have a kid now, but my dad and older brother never taught me how to treat women properly or with respect. At least when a lady comes for you, you have an advantage because you have seen your dad do it.

Martin: At least you get a look in, these chicks don’t give me a chance.

Simon: You spoken to Rosemary?

Martin: We don’t speak, I tried but I haven’t got anything to say to her. I used to chase her a while back but now I’m not interested, she probably has somebody else there.

Simon: I doubt it you know, Jasmine always moaning about how she doesn’t talk to any guys. She is proper tight. Imagine Greg took her out and she never returned his calls after. Funny, she doesn’t strike me as the type to use a guy just to take her out.

(Martin shrugs)

Simon: Haha. I know you still like her after all this time.

Martin: Nope. I need to stay focused on this course, the business is picking up as well, so for now I have to forget all these girls. Rosemary included!

Simon: Yeah man! Forget her, you’re a nice guy, better than most, it’s her loss! Jasmine reckons it’s because of her dad as well.

Martin: What do you mean?

Simon: Her dad batters her mum all the time. Jasmine said he’s always beating her in front of 

Rosemary, he’s a nutter.

Martin: Hmmm.

End Scene

Scene 4

(Rosemary walked down the escalators in the shopping mall. The mall was crowded as usual. She had just finished work and decided to treat herself to some shopping. As she reached the bottom of the stairs she saw Martin walking through the crowd. She smiled at him and waved. Martin looked up and saw her, he was startled as he wasn’t expecting to see her or anybody he knew. He caught eye contact with her and turned his head away and kept on walking. Rosemary stared in shook at his behaviour. Martin immediately regretted this action but he told himself that she was a distraction not worth giving into. Rosemary called after him but he kept on walking.)

Rosemary: Martin!?

(Martin acted like he was on the phone and exited the mall.)

(Rosemary hopped in her car and drove to Jasmine’s house. She was extremely perplexed by Martin’s seemingly nonchalant actions.)

Jasmine: Martin thinks he’s a bad boy yeah??

Rosemary: No, I don’t think so, he is a nice guy but maybe it’s my fault. I haven’t been exactly nice to him have I?

Jasmine: So he can’t do that! He wrote a poem for you! Has he forgotten?? haha

Rosemary: Urgh I don’t want to speak about him, it’s fine!

Jasmine: Go back to Greg he’s got big money!

Rosemary: I need to go, I need to help my mum-

Jasmine: How is she? Hows your Dad, is he still-

Rosemary: They are fine!

(Rosemary exits the flat and slams the door behind her. She speeds home in the dark, she even misses some red lights on her way home. Her mind is scrambled, her emotions are all over the place. She pulls up into the house. Her mother stumbles out of the house as she parks up. She is screaming and her dad is also shouting, his head is bleeding. Rosemary stares in shock.)

Jasmine: Mum! Dad! Please stop!

Dad: Your bitch mother hit me, I’m going to tell the police!

Jasmine: Please just stop! Please!

Mum: Jasmine get inside the house, and shut your door its fine.

(A few of the neighbours stuck their heads out of the window to see what was happening. Jasmine trembled in fear, tears streamed down her face.)

Dad: This is my house!

(Martin jogged through the neighbourhood as an attempt to clear his head. He had been thinking about Rosemary for most of the day. He thought he was over her but Simon made it clear he wasn’t over her yet. He jogged through the park and over the bridge. He had got so far from his house without realizing. He sat on the bench to catch his breath. After a few minutes he decided to take the shortcut back to his house. He cut through the back roads and immediately remembered the row of gardens. He was in Rosemary’s area. However he was unconcerned as it was late, he knew she would be at home asleep. He crossed the street and picked up the tempo, as he ran he noticed commotion outside Rosemary’s house. At first he was going to ignore it but he remembered what Simon had told him. He crossed the road to see what was happening. Rosemary looked Martin as if she had seen a ghost. Martin stared at her with a straight face, her face was covered in tears.)

Dad: Get off my property kid! This isn’t your business! Clear off son!

(Martin looked at Rosemary then back at her father. He backed up a few paces and turned back to cross the road.)

Rosemary: Martin! Please! Don’t go!

(Martin’s stomach dropped immediately, his head was spinning. He quickly regained composure.)

Martin: Excuse me sir! Leave them alone! A real man doesn’t hit women!

Dad: What boy!?

(Rosemary’s father picked up a baseball bat and waved it menacingly in the air. Martin stood upright without fear, he went to whisper in Rosemary’s ear.)

Martin: Listen, take my phone and call the police I will distract him.

Rosemary: What? He will kill you Martin! You are crazy!

Martin: Hey Mr! put the bat down, we both know you won’t hit me with that.

Dad: You must not know me boy. I have a strong arm I can do damage, ask that dumb bitch on the floor!

Martin: You hit me, then what? Your willing to go to jail? My Dad is a lawyer you could get a long time, not to mention the damage you have inflicted on your wife and your daughter.

Dad: I don’t have to listen to this, I have business to finish.

(He advanced towards his wife with the bat. Suddenly police sirens could be heard. 3 police cars surrounded the house blaring their sirens.)

Police: Put the bat down, and put your hands up!

Dad: You called the police! Rosemary! How could you, I’m your father!

(He stumbled backwards and swayed forwards. He dropped the bat, he walked towards the police men. He stared at Rosemary and Martin, he looked back at his wife. One of the policemen walked towards him and took out the handcuffs. Just as he was about to put them on him he turned on his heel and ran. He ran down the backstreets and the police immediately pursued him. By now the whole street was staring in shock as the police chased after him. Rosemary ran to Martin and embraced him with a hug. The policeman covered her mother with a towel and gave her a bottle of water.)

Rosemary: I’m sorry.

Martin: It’s ok, no problem, I hope your ok.

Rosemary: Martin, you didn’t have to do that.

Martin: I did, I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.

Rosemary: Thank you.

End Scene