"Ghosts: Scene 4"

Ghosts: Scene 4

(Mary's phone vibrated and she shot up from her bed. She scrambled in the darkness, fumbling for her mobile. She picked it up and laid back on her bed. She clutched the phone to her chest. She stared at the ceiling and took some deep breaths. She turned her phone over and unlocked it and read the message.)

Mary: I took the test. I'm pregnant, I don't know what to do. I'm sorry, I didn't expect this to happen.

Jamal: Kmt! I'm not looking after no baby! What do you think this is? You always wanted to trap me! I knew it! I should never have trusted you! You have ruined everything. Don't contact me again, keep it moving!

(Mary read the message a million times over hoping Jamal's message would change. But the harsh words were permanent, as if inscribed in stone. Each word cut into her heart and soul. She read over the words 'you have ruined everything'. She had never felt so defeated in her life. The sickening feeling of regret ran over her. She buried her head in her pillow crying. She could hear the house stirring but she was in no rush because it was exam season. She had to be in college for her exam at 1pm. Her dad opens her door.)

Dad: Good Morning! You will pass your exam in Jesus name my wonderful daughter. Please make me proud. I love you!

(Her mother creeps behind him and steps into the room smiling.)

Mum: Kojo don't scare the girl, she hasn't even applied her lipstick and you are talking about exams. 

Give her time, we know how proud she makes you. Sometimes I think you love her more than me.

Dad: Don't be silly I love you both the same! I just wanted to encourage her because it is her day of reckoning! She recognises the family legacy! A legend in the making!

Mary: Thank you Dad, please I need to get ready, my exam is at 1pm but I want to go through a few notes before the exam.

Dad: Ok, well we are going. Make us proud, then you are off to Oxford!

(Mary smiled grimly and got up to get ready.

She got out of the shower and looked in the mirror. She couldn't believe she had got into this situation. She was so book smart but she ignored the voice that told her to stay away from Jamal. He was known all over the area for getting girls and dabbling in some illegal activities. But Mary was lured in like a moth to a flame. She couldn't help it. An image of him smiling with his beard and gold tooth flickered in her mind. Butterflies danced in her stomach, she couldn't help how she felt about him. She wanted to wait till marriage to lose her virginity but he had sweet talked her into giving up her innocence. No longer the virgin Mary of her year group. Everybody else had had sex but none of them were pregnanat. It seemed so fun and cool with no consequences.

 She quickly got changed and left the house. She met Ann and Joyce at the gates of college. They nodded their heads as Mary approached them. They embraced her tightly. As they were about to swipe in the building a car cruised past. It was Jamal in his punto. There were two girls in his car, one at the front, one at the back. He glanced at Mary and looked away. He rolled down the window to throw his joint out the window. He sped forward when the traffic lights went green. Mary's mouth dropped and she shook her head in disapointment. Ann and Joyce looked at each other and urged Mary to go to the library. The library was tense. It was in deep silence. Everybody was scrambling and scanning their notes. Biology and chemistry exams were the last ones of the term. Mary and Joyce had already been accepted into Oxford but they both needed to pass the exam to get in officially. The tension was thick.)

Joyce: It's ok Mary you don't have to do it today. Tell Ms. Simpson I'm sure she will let you defer it. You can do it another time. Your mind won't be on it today.

Mary: It's ok I will just have to try my best, I can't let all this hard work go to waste. I've came this far I have to see it out till the very end.

Joyce: Ok, I know you can smash this exam I was just worried it might be a bit too much-

Mary: I'll be fine.

(After a few hours the exam candidates got alled out in alphabetical order. Mary got up when her name was called and sat at her seat. She looked at the paper in front of her. It was a multiple choice exam so it should not  have been too much for her. She had gone through several past papers so she knew she would be ok.)

Ms. Simpson: Ok the time starts now.

(The room fell deathly silent. Everybody forgot their friendships and banter. The seriousness in the atmosphere was strong. Mary opened her paper and her mouth went dry. She began to sweat profusly and felt dizzy. Her pencil slipped off the side of the table. She bent down to pick it up, suddenly her head began to swim. She felt like throwing up but she forced it back. Her head was still spinning, suddenly she blacked out.)

Ms. Simpson: Mary!

Joyce: Oh my gosh! Somebody call 999! Help!!

(Hours later Mary woke up in a hospital bed. She had a drip connected to her arm. She could hear a machine beeping. It was a bizarre feeling as she had never ever been to a hospital since she was a kid. The lights felt so bright, the lamp on the drawer by the bed beamed right in her face, she rolled over to turn it off. She glanced over and saw Joyce and a nurse having an intense conversation. They noticed that Mary had awoken from her slumber. They walked over to the bed slowly.)

Nurse: Good evening Mary, how are you feeling dear?

Mary: What time is it?

Nurse : It is 5:10pm dear. You will be fine, we can probably discharge you soon. You just had a little panic attack that is all. Just a few quick questions, have you had a panic attack before?

Mary: No.

Nurse: Have you got a history of any heart problems in your family?

Mary: No. I want to go home please.

Nurse: Well ok, I will speak to my seniour doctor and find out if we can let you out yet. Just need you to sign some documemts before we let you go. Are you sure there is anything you want to talk about? Your friend was quite worried when you were brought in.

Mary: Yes, I'm fine.

(The nurse walked over to the desk. Mary looked at Joyce and turned over. Joyce shuffled to the desk and spoke to the nurse. The nurse nodded her head and came back to the bed. Mary turned over and looked up and saw the nurse smiling at her. Joyce looked around the room nervously.)

Mary: Can I help you?

Nurse: Your friend tells me congratualtions are in order.

(Mary gasps and scowls at Joyce.)

Mary: Well, um, nobody was supposed to-

Nurse: Being pregnanat is an amazing thing! A baby is blessing!

Joyce: I told you!

Mary: Pleasse I just need to go to sort things out.

Nurse: Your parents are coming to pick you up soon.

(Mary's stomach sank.

Within 30 minutes the double doors burst open. Her parents entered the room. They both shared the same look of despair on their faces.)

Dad: Are you ok sweet heart?

Mum: Thank God your awake!

Mary: I'm fine just a little panic attack, nerves got the best of me. But I'm ok now. Let's go home.

(She couldn't keep eye contact with her parents and she began to feel dizzy again. Joyce smiled at her and she smiled back. She just wanted to get home.)

Mum: Are you sure your ok? You have been doing exams since you came out of my womb, this has never happened before, you sure you are ok?

(Mary nodded her head. As she reaches for her bag as the nurse calls her Dad over. But Mary is too busy looking through her phone. Hoping Jamal has sent her another message. Her mum embraces her as she sits up from the bed. Joyce notices her Dad at the desk, she tries to get her attention by tapping her.)

Joyce: Mary the nurse-

Mary: Yeah it is fine-

Joyce: No, she is telling your-

Dad: PREGNANT!

(Mary and her mother turn around.)

Dad: Pregnant? what? This is a lie!

Nurse: Calm down sir-

(Her Dad storms towards the bed where Mary and her mother are sitting.)

Dad: Pregnant? Is this true?

(Mary nods her head and sobs immediately. Her Dad doubles backwardsa and storms out of the room.)

End Scene

"Ghosts: Scene 3"

Ghosts (Scene 3)

(The rain beat against the window furiously. Patrick sat with a piece of paper near his bedroom lamp reading. His eyes were blood shot red. He yawned continously, he was clearly deprived of sleep but  continued to read the sheet of paper. He removed a highlighter pen from his draw and highlighted a few lines. He muttered them under his breath. He picked up the paper and read a few lines, then stood in front of the mirror and repeated them slowly. The rain continued to beat against the window, the wind continued to whip viciously, carrying remenants of litter into the air. Patrick stood and looked into the mirror and repeated lines of the script.)

Patrick: A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me!

(Suddenly his door burst open. His mum burst into his room.)

Mum: Pat! Didn't you hear your Dad calling you!? Quick we will be late!

Patrick: I am already dressed, I was ready.

Dad: Pat! Quick!

Patrick: Yes Daddy!

Mum: Ah, so what was you doing?

Patrick: I was practicing my lines for the school production! I told you I'm playing Mercutio!

Mum: But you haven't even creamed your face! Look at your eyes, didn't you sleep?

Patrick: But..

Mum: It's ok, just get in the car, I will be going to work, your sister will pick you up today.

Patrick: But Daddy is off today? I thought he will pick me up?

Mum: I will see you later, just ask him!

(Patrick hopped in the back of the car. Usually he went with his sister but his Dad had annual leave so he offered a lift.His sat with her head phones in nodding her head to some music.)

Patrick: Oi, what you listening to?

(Mary smiled and continued to nod her head.)

Patrick: Oi man.

Mary: Music init.

(Patrick began to sing.)

Patrick:  My sister may is soo soo stinky, her breath stinks of fish and-

(Mary clipped his ear and they both laughed.)

Patrick: What it's music init? Haha

Mary: You are so cheeky Patty Pat!

Patrick: Na, my name is Mercutio init!

Mary: Opps sorryyy Mercutioooo!

(They pulled up to the traffic lights. Kojo looked in the mirror and smiled as his kids were laughing in the back seat.)

Patrick: Dad are you coming to watch the show today?

Dad: Oh, what show is it?

Patrick: Romeo and Juliet.

Dad: What is that?

Patrick: It's Shakespeare, he wrote plays he is really famous.

Mary: Dad you are a Lawyer, aren't you guys aware of anything outside the courtroom?

Dad: AH, please I don't know these things.

Patrick: Will you come Mary?

Mary: I have an exam, so I won't be around mate. But I will pick  you up. Dad will come in the afternoon to watch you. Aren't you Dad?

Dad: That's my girl, you will score 100% as usual! Yes, I'll be coming, let me sort out some paper work at home then I will go to the GP.

Mary: Great!

(Patrick was grinning ear to ear. They pulled up to the crossing, Mary and Patrick hopped out of the car. Mary clipped Patrick's ear again and smiled at him as he rushed through the gates to meet his friends. She met her friends up the road in front of the college.)

Tommy: Oi! is that Mercutio yeah?

Patrick: Your a joker1 I can't wait, I heard that the BBC are coming you know.

Musa: What? What? Don't lie!

Patrick: Yeah, they are doing a documentary on why your hair is always picky init.

(They are laughed and entered classroom. They were just about on time. They stashed their bags in the cupboard. The class sat quietly throughout Maths and completed their work sheets. Although Patrick was very bright and Maths was his strong subject, today he was not focused at all. Ms. Davies could tell he wasn't focused but she knew it was a big day for him. He had prepared thouroughly for the play. He had tried out last year but didn't get the part but now was his chance to get in the spot light. After maths everybody headed to the hall, all the pupils walked  in single file. Ms. Davies had her class organised from day one. She didn't take any rubbish from her class and they knew it. As they walked in Patrick could see all the people in the audience chattering. Chills went down his spine. But he remained composed and focused. He went behind the board and got dressed into his costume. Everybody around him was speaking and going over their lines. He already knew he was going to kill it. He was ready for his moment. Ms Davies kept urging the audience to keep hush.)

Ms. Davies: Ladies and gentlemen we are proud to present to you the Year 5 and 6 dual presentation of Romeo and Juliet.

(Clive who played Roemo came out to do a mini introduction, then Nigel who played Tybalt done his introduction. Now Patrick was next. When Nigel finished his line he came out onto the stage. He strode out with confidence. His eyes glanced across the audience. His heart was beating fast, he couldn’t see his father. His palms were sweating and his mouth dried up.)

Romeo: Mercutio, what say you?

(Patrick stood in silence a tear trickled down his cheek.)

Romeo: Mercutio, what say you!?

(Patrick began to get dizzy and swayed. The crowd stared in shock. He wiped the sweat off his head and stood up straight. He turned his back on the crowd and ran off the stage. He pushed past the actors at the back and exited through the back entrance. He sprinted down the corridor and burst into the boy's toilet. He entered the cubicle and vomitted, tears streamed down his face. He was drowning in disappointment. He couldn’t cope with it, everybody had their peers and parents supporting him except him. He sat beside the toilet curled in a ball. The door burst open, Nigel and Clive entered the toilet.)

Nigel: Bruv! Where are you?

Clive: Oi! You ok?

Patrick: Yeah man I’m cool, has everybody gone?

Clive: They are having an intermission break kinda ting.

Nigel: Come back man!

Patrick: Na, I’m not ready.

Clive: They need Mercutio.

Nigel: It’s ok everybody gets nervous.

(Patrick came out and dusted off his clothes. He was enraged that his father had let him down. He stared in the mirror, his eyes were bloodshot, he had already forgotton his lines.)

Clive: Let’s go its cool.

Nigel: Yeah my mum took off work to see me do this, so I gotta show her what I can do or she will think I just talk.

Clive:Haha

Nigel: Lets go Patrick you will be cool

(Patrick muttered under his breath.)

Clive: Huh?

Patrick: I said stop saying its cool its not cool init. It's not cool init, you don't understand...

Clive: We get it mate, your a bit nervous. We all are. I heard Martin wet him self. Haha.

(Nigel and Clive looked at each other awkwardly and laughed.)

Nigel: Come on-

(Patrick turned around and dived at Nigel, grabbed him by his neck and shoved him to the wall. Patrick clenched his fist and raised it to Nigel's head.)

Kevin: I swear down yeah I’m going to bang you!

Clive: Stop! Stop!

(The door burst open and Ms. Davies and Mr. Williams the head teacher burst in. He pulled Patrick off Nigel. Patrick knew it was over. Mr Williams commanded him to wait at his office until home time. Ms. Davies tried to speak on his behalf but he was not interested.

Patrick sat outside the office waiting to be collected. He couldn’t keep his eyes off the clock. He wanted time to slow down. The clocked seemed to be going fast. The bell rung, he knew his Dad would walk into the reception with a scowl on his face. The whole build up process to getting beaten was always worse than the actual beating. He would endure silent treatment or harsh words before getting whipped with the belt.To his relief it was Mary who came into the reception. It was as if she glided into the room. He felt so relieved. She exchanged a few words with the headteacher and nodded at Patrick to get his stuff.)

Patrick: Did you tell Dad?

Mary: Nope.

Patrick: Did you tell Mum?

Mary: Nope.

Patrick: Why?

Mary: Because it’s not your fault. Kids fight all the time, no big deal, just don’t do it again.

Patrick: I didn’t fight, it wasn’t my fault-

Mary: I know what happened.

Patrick: Oh.

Mary: It’s fine Mercutio!

(She hugged him as they were about to enter the house.)

Dad: Ah, why are you late?

Mary: I passed by the shops with Patrick after.

Dad: Oh, you ok Patrick?

Mary: Yeah, he is fine. Go upstairs and bath Pat!

(She smiled at him as he left. As he went up the stairs he realised he left his bag in the living room, as he was about to enter the room he heard his Dad speaking.)

Dad: What did you buy him? You like to spoil him too much.

Mary: I just made him follow me nothing like that today.

Dad: Haha. You can do what you want with you money it is not mine.

Mary: I knowwww Dad

Dad: How was your exam princess? Another easy one for my girl.

Mary: It was ok, I just need to finish my University applications.

Dad: You got 85%, next time I want 100%. Haha.

Mary: It was the highest in the year group-

Dad: But still, always aim for 100%!

Mary: But yeah , I collected Patrick from his Drama show.

Dad: His what?

(Patrick was still listening at the door, his stomach dropped, he was expecting Mary to snitch on him. But he remained rooted to the spot listening.)

Mary: His show, you said you were going to watch it. Where were you?

Dad: Oh, Drama, what is drama? Please I had to do work.

Mary: Well, he needs the support he is really good.

Dad: He can support himself, he is almost in secondary now. He doesn’t need me to hold his hand like that anymore.

(When Patrick heard this he went upstairs and slammed his door behind him. He punched the wall and collapsed on his knees. He was shaking in anger.)

End Scene