KARL: (Beat.) I said no
STEPH: People used to pick on me all the time…call me fatso…miss piggy…thunder thighs…lard arse….jelly bitch…used to stick compasses in me in school…make me bleed…
KARL: (Horrified.) What are you telling me this for?
STEPH: Why wouldn’t I tell you?
KARL: Because…it’s…it’s embarrassing isn’t it? For you…it’s embarrassing for you
STEPH: (Beat.) I’m not embarrassed…wasn’t my fault…and I like telling you things about me…like you telling me things about you…getting to know each other…it’s nice. (Enter DANIEL from the bedroom, he looks wrecked, he goes to STEPH.)
DANIEL: Did you take it?
STEPH: What?
DANIEL: I don’t mind if you did, I’d just rather you asked is all
STEPH: Take what? (DANIEL looks at her, then at KARL.) You alright Danny? (DANIEL looks back at her.) Those newspaper guys keep calling, they want to talk about the show, I’ve had to take the phone off the hook
DANIEL: I need to be able to trust you if you’re going to live here
STEPH: You can trust me Danny
DANIEL: What about that time you took my bike and said you didn’t?
STEPH: I was only seven
DANIEL: You still lied. Are you lying now? Did you take it?
STEPH: Take what?
DANIEL: I had a picture, of a woman, sitting in the park. I left it here yesterday and now it’s gone… I’ve done the whole place and it’s gone
STEPH: What would I want with a picture of some woman? Do I know her or something?
DANIEL: (To KARL.) You see it?
KARL: Huh?
DANIEL: My picture, did you see it?
KARL: Didn’t see a thing mate… (DANIEL goes to the coffee table and stand in front of KARL.) Can’t see the box
STEPH: You alright Danny?
DANIEL continues to stare at KARL, then he starts pulling up the cushions on the couch.
KARL: Hey…
STEPH: Danny
KARL: I’m sitting here
DANIEL: (Quietly at first.) Move
KARL: Huh?
DANIEL: Move… (Louder.) Move. (Louder.) Move.
KARL: Alright… (Standing.) Jesus Christ… (Puts on his coat, heads for the door.) fucking lost it (DANIEL starts rooting where KARL had been sitting.) What’s up with him?
STEPH: (Worried.) He’s just looking for something…he’ll be okay in a minute…
KARL: I’m going round the pub
STEPH: But I was going to make dinner…you said you liked pasta?
KARL: (DANIEL is now sitting on the couch with his head in his hands.) I think it’s disgusting what you did…disgusting (DANIEL looks at the TV.) You know my mate has a mate whose cousin was on that bus…thought it was fucking disgusting…how you used it…to make money…
STEPH: He didn’t
DANIEL: I did
KARL: See? How much money you make?
DANIEL: A lot, but I didn’t mean to…
KARL: See?
DANIEL: (Beat.) I wanted to do something real…something accessible…something everyone could see
KARL: Should have killed yourself then…had someone take a snapshot
STEPH: Karl (But DANIEL looks at him, KARL turns and leaves, DANIEL lies down on the couch.) He shouldn’t have…said that…he can be a bit…difficult sometimes but he’s a good guy really…he’s going to help me get started you know? And it’s all about contacts in this business (Beat.) Danny? What’s the matter? (Beat.) You’re not yourself, you want me to call Mum? Maybe she can come out here for a few days, make us some of her dinners? (She reaches out to stroke DANIEL’s hair.) You know…you know I love you… I love you so much Danny…you’re the most important person and thing to me in the whole world…you always have been (Beat.) I just couldn’t bear it when you left, I couldn’t stand it, not seeing you, not knowing what you were up to. (Beat.) But I don’t know how to look after you (Beat.) I can’t even look after myself (Beat.)
DANIEL: (Beat.) You don’t need to worry about me
STEPH hugs him tightly.
STEPH: But I am worried. Let’s go home Danny, you and me, right now, let’s just go home and go down the lake and swim and do all the things we used to do before… (DANIEL pulls back, STEPH pauses.) before you left
DANIEL: (Takes her hands.) I want you to do something for me, will you?
STEPH: Sure…anything (DANIEL exits and enters again with a golf club, he hands it to her.) Golf?
DANIEL: I want you to hit me with it
STEPH: (Giggles, thinks he’s joking, then stops when she sees he’s not.) No
She drops the club, he picks it up again and gives it to her.
DANIEL: You said you would
STEPH: I didn’t know you wanted me to hurt you
DANIEL: You won’t… I promise
STEPH: Of course I will, it’s a golf club for fucks sake
DANIEL: I need you to do this…please…please…
STEPH: (As KARL re enters.) I can’t
KARL: Can’t what?
STEPH: I thought you were gone
KARL: Need some cash, you got twenty I can lend?
DANIEL tries to take the club from STEPH, she realizes what he’s going to do and holds on to it.
STEPH: No
KARL: What’s going on?
STEPH: Nothing Karl, go away
DANIEL: She won’t hit me
KARL: What?
STEPH: No Danny
KARL: (Indicating the golf club.) With that?
DANIEL: (Letting go.) Yes
STEPH: But I won’t do it
KARL: (He looks at DANIEL.) You want her to hit you with the golf club?
STEPH: No
DANIEL: Please
KARL: You heard the man (He wrestles the club from STEPH.)
STEPH: No, you’ll hurt him
KARL: (Pushing her off.) He wants to be hurt… I’m just being polite. Now where exactly do you want me to hit you?
DANIEL: Anywhere
KARL: Except the head right?
DANIEL: Huh?
KARL: You don’t want me to hit you in the head though…you could die and all that…or the balls…somewhere in the middle alright?
DANIEL: (Beat.) Okay
KARL: (Takes a few practise swings.) Nice club…you play?
DANIEL: No
KARL: Right then
STEPH: I can’t watch… I won’t
KARL: Suit yourself
STEPH: Danny
DANIEL: It’s okay…really…it’s okay… (To KARL.) I appreciate you helping me out like this
KARL: That’s me alright…just love helping folks out…do it all the time…get a kick out of it, bit of a rush. Yeah that’s me…helping people…wherever I (Swings suddenly and hits DANIEL with the club, knocking him to the floor, STEPH screams and rushes to him, KARL stands back and wipes his forehead.) …go…
STEPH: (Sitting on the floor and putting DANIEL’s head on her lap.) You alright? Danny? You want me to call the doctor? (DANIEL shakes his head.)
KARL: (Taking some more practice swings.) Hey Steph, you got that twenty?
She looks at him angrily then fishes a twenty from her pocket and gives it to him.
STEPH: Just go
KARL: Can I keep this?
STEPH: Just go
KARL: You know he asked for it, was only helping out (Exits with club.)
STEPH: (Sits, stroking his head.) What you want to do that for?
DANIEL: Feels good
STEPH: How can it feel good?
DANIEL: Feels…just feels…good
Lights down on her holding his head.
SCENE TEN
LJ’s apartment, minimalist, expensive. LJ wheels in with shopping bags. She puts the bags down. She opens one of the bags and takes out a new top. With difficulty, she takes off her jumper and tries to put on the new top. We hear someone vacuuming off stage.
LJ: I thought
I told you to go (The vacuuming continues.) I thought I told you I didn’t need you to do that, do you hear me? Do you speak fucking English? I said leave it? (Vacuuming stops.) Just get out of here and don’t come back alright? Just tell them I want someone else, someone who understands it when I speak to them, who does what they’re told, tell them that alright? Tell them fucking that?! (The doorbell rings.) And you can get that on your way out (Beat.) You understand me? Get the door, the door, the fucking door!
LJ struggles with the top, she is just in her bra now, she is getting more and more frustrated. Enter DANIEL with his arm in a sling.
DANIEL: Oh…sorry… I can wait (He turns around.)
LJ: You’re early
DANIEL: Wasn’t doing anything else so…
LJ: (Manages to pull the top on.) Nothing you haven’t seen before
DANIEL: Sorry?
LJ: A girl in her bra…nothing you haven’t seen before
DANIEL: Oh…yeah…
LJ: Alright…you can look… (He turns around.) What happened to you?
DANIEL: Nothing…just…had an accident
LJ: What kind of accident?
DANIEL: It’s nothing…really…how are you?
LJ: Alright…you like my place?
DANIEL: It’s huge
LJ: Takes me ten minutes to get from the bedroom to the kitchen
DANIEL: It’s great
LJ: Want to see it?
DANIEL: What?
LJ: My bedroom
DANIEL: (Beat.) I…
LJ: I wasn’t sure you’d come
DANIEL: Why wouldn’t I come?
LJ: I don’t know do I? Just thought you might have…other things to do…now that you’re famous
DANIEL: I’m not famous
LJ: (Snaps.) Don’t be humble it’s just fucking annoying
DANIEL: (Beat.) It’s good to see you
LJ: Why didn’t you come around before then? Could have seen me ages ago if you wanted (Beat, softer.) Sick of seeing your ugly mug in the paper…every other day…everyone either loves you or hates you don’t they? (DANIEL looks away.) Said you got hate mail
DANIEL: Some
LJ: What did it say?
DANIEL: All the same…they want to kill me…take pictures…
LJ: (Beat.) So…any groupies then? (DANIEL smiles shyly.) Girls dropping their knickers everywhere you go?
DANIEL: No
LJ: Maybe you’re not going to the right places (Awkward silence.) You want a beer?
DANIEL: No thanks
LJ: You sure? I have a whole cupboard full of booze in there…you might as well have some?
DANIEL: No thanks
LJ: Go on have one
DANIEL: (Firmly.) No
LJ: (Beat.) Got an interior designer…cost twenty five thousand pounds…all this stuff…you like it?
DANIEL: Yeah I like it
LJ: I can see your building from my bedroom window, just the roof, can see pretty much everything from up here (DANIEL nods, beat.) and it’s quiet…a bit too quiet sometimes…catch myself feeling lonely have to snap myself out of it…
DANIEL: You could always ask someone to move in with you
LJ: Yeah?
DANIEL: Yeah well I mean, if you’re lonely, and it’s such a great place, I’d love a place like this, so much light and space…you think you could do that? Live with someone?
LJ: Sure… I mean it would depend on the person
DANIEL: Yeah…
LJ: Would you… I mean…do you…
DANIEL: Absolutely… Steph would love this place…and it’s right on the bus route into town…it would be perfect…and she’s a girl so…you know…might be weird sharing with some strange guy
LJ: Steph
DANIEL: She’s really sweet…and she’s not messy all the time and –
LJ: I don’t want a flatmate
DANIEL: But –
LJ: I like my own space
DANIEL: Okay (Beat.)
LJ: (She sees a bag.) I bought something today…in a gallery
DANIEL: Which one?
LJ: The Cube, you know it?
DANIEL: Of course, what did you buy?
LJ: Open it
She hands him the bag and he opens it. It is a ugly sculpture of nothing in particular. Could be a piece of junk. DANIEL turns it over in his hands.
It’s about the exact moment that the Big Bang happened right?
DANIEL: What?
LJ: But that’s what the woman said, she said it’s a catastrophic gigantic world changing instantly distilled into a piece of ground breaking art (DANIEL continues to look at it in shock.). Aren’t you going to say something?
DANIEL: It’s…it’s…it’s an early piece I made at college… I don’t even know how they got their hands on it…
LJ: What you don’t like it?
DANIEL: It’s a bit embarrassing actually
LJ: How can you not like it? You made it?
DANIEL: I made it years ago…before I knew what I was doing
LJ: It cost me five thousand pounds
DANIEL: (Trying to hide his shock.) Well…
LJ: It’s one of a kind she said, it’s a collectors item
DANIEL: Look if you like it, that’s all that matters
LJ: Fuck sake, just put it down you’re annoying me now, put it down somewhere
DANIEL: Where?
LJ: Give it to me
DANIEL: No just tell me where to (LJ lunges for it and holds it.) Sorry…
LJ: (Long beat.) It’s been weeks
DANIEL: I’m sorry
LJ: You don’t pick up your phone (Beat.) I went round your house the other day. Why didn’t you tell me you were seeing a doctor?
DANIEL: I didn’t want to be making things worse for you
LJ: I thought we were friends.
DANIEL: We are
LJ: Then why didn’t you tell me? (Beat.) You know he’s killed people? That’s what he does, he’s one of those assisted suicide guys, you shouldn’t see him anymore Danny, you shouldn’t
DANIEL: That’s not true
LJ: What you didn’t know? He didn’t tell you?
DANIEL: (Beat.) He’s helping me
LJ: You shouldn’t see him anymore
DANIEL: I need him to help me
LJ: Help you what?
DANIEL: (Beat.) Feel better
LJ: (Awkward silence, she wheels over to one of the windows.) I know I’m not like…other people that you know…people you work with…
DANIEL: I…
LJ: No I know that… I know that but… I’m still… I’m a good person… I’m…trustworthy…you can trust me…and you can’t say that about a lot of people you know…most people only look out for themselves (Beat, she looks at him, waits for him to say something, he doesn’t know what to say. Change of mood.) Well I want a fucking drink
DANIEL: I’ll get it
LJ: Let’s go for a pint
DANIEL: I’m not in the mood for all those people
LJ: I haven’t seen you for ages
DANIEL: I know, I’m sorry, It’s hard for me to –
LJ: (Angry she smashes the sculpture on the ground, they both stare at it in shock for a second.) It’s hard for you? It’s hard for fucking you?
DANIEL: That’s not what I meant
LJ: It’s the least you could fucking do isn’t it? Bring me for a pint?
DANIEL: What you mean?
LJ: (Beat.) We just need some normality that’s all, I need to do the things I used to do or else I’m going to take the lift to the top floor and fucking wheel myself off…
DANIEL: (Standing.) Right then
LJ: What?
DANIEL: Where you want to go?
LJ: I know a place. (Beat.) I’ll show you. (Beat, DANIEL goes to push her chair.) I can do it… I can do it on my own
Lights down.
SCENE ELEVEN
GERRY’s office, he is sitting by the window. He looks at the phone. He walks over to it. Picks i
t up. Takes a card from his pocket. Dials a number.
GERRY: Hello? Yes…yes is this the (Reading the card.) Party Line? Doesn’t sound like there’s much of a party going on, well there’s no music is there? Right, yes that’s better, what’s your name? George…that’s not exactly an Italian name. This is the (Reading the card.) Italian Studs Party Line and you…are Italian I suppose? Oh Giorgio…yes I can hear your accent now…very authentic…are there any other Italian studs there tonight or is it just you? It’s just you, no, that’s okay, that’s…fine. My name? My name is…Trevor…yes…you can call me Trev. I’m wearing black shorts…yes they are leather…how clairvoyant of you…short…no not that short…yes…about that length…tanned…oiled…sexy…and…hold on who is calling who here? What about what are you wearing? What about that? (DANIEL enters, he hangs up instantly.) Wrong number, you’re early
DANIEL: I’m not, I’m late actually
GERRY: But it’s only… (Checks his watch.) that can’t be right…it was only two thirty a minute ago…imagine that…losing two hours…sit…sit…sit…how are you today?
DANIEL: I’m alright –
GERRY: Actually…why don’t we talk about me today?
DANIEL: (Beat.) Why?
GERRY: (Beat.) Why indeed…why indeed… (Beat.) You ever own leather pants? I always imagined leather pants would get very…uncomfortable…
DANIEL: No
GERRY: I imagine they would be very uncomfortable, (Beat.) especially in warm weather
DANIEL: (Explosive.) What do leather pants have to do with anything?
GERRY: (Beat.) You’re agitated, I can tell, something happened
DANIEL: I come here and I expect something from you, not much just…your attention…you to listen to me…to hear me… I need you to hear me
GERRY: I’m listening
DANIEL: The girl you met, at the exhibition,
GERRY: LJ
DANIEL: LJ…took me to this place where she used to work, a strip club, in town. I didn’t want to go but she makes it difficult for me to say no (Beat.) It was horrible, seedy, cheap place, red plastic over the lightbulbs. (Beat.) She made us sit right at the front so she could watch the girls dancing. I couldn’t even look at her and watching those girls…dancing…felt like there was battery acid in my stomach and she kept giving me money to give to them and we were drinking…and then…this guy comes over and sits beside us and she recognises him…from when she used to dance…and she says ‘Hi Phil’ and he looks at her, and he doesn’t know her at first and he looks at her chair and then he does know her and…he just says ‘LJ?’ and she says ‘yeah’ and then he gives her this look and she says ‘It’s alright Phil’ and he just goes and sits somewhere else. (Beat.) And I have to leave her ’cos I’m going to be sick all over the place
The Dark Things Page 5
