An Excerpt From 'Banged Out'
By Robert Higgs, ©2004
Article Added: 23rd February 2007
Warning, contains strong language.
*** SCENE 1 ***
A black stage. All characters appear in school uniform.
An aggressive voice cuts suddenly through the darkness
THATCHER
“How you doin’ four eyes?
Oi. Wanker? I’m talkin’ to you.
Yeah you. Come here dickhead”
The lights fade in revealing a schoolboy, BEN, lying under a duvet. He is turning over in his sleep.
THATCHER
“I said come here”
BEN
(Mumbled)
“No”
THATCHER
Yeah. That’s it. Run. Run for your mummy. You can’t escape me knobhead
BEN suddenly wakes from his nightmare and sits bolt upright. He faces the audience, breathing heavily.
Beat
BEN fumbles for his spectacles and puts them on.
BEN
7:30. Wake up. Realise it’s a weekday. Pull the covers back over my head. 7:45. Alarm goes off. Blink into the light. Wish the new day’d disappear. That time would fast forward. That I was invisible. 7:46. Bang my head into the wall ‘till its throbbing a temperature and full of ache. 7:50. Mum shouts. Gotta get up or I’ll be late.
BEN stands up
7:51. Pretend to be ill again but she won’t have it. 7:55. Eat what I can of my breakfast and sit. Back to the radiator. Let the heat warm me up. Watch the rain outside. Feel sick. Wish I could stay in. Hope the weather gets worse. Hope the school’s burnt down. Hope Thatcher died in the night.
BLACKOUT
*** SCENE 2 ***
Lights come back up.
BEN stands looking at his watch nervously. JOE stands staring at him over his shoulder. BEN visibly wilts when he notices his presence.
BEN
“Can’t you just leave me alone?”
JOE (ignoring him)
“You should be scared. He’s gonna get ya you know. JOE starts to circle BEN It could happen today. Probably will happen. Could be anytime. He’s here today. I’ve not seen him but I know. He’ll be around. He’s been waiting for you. As soon as he spots me.
JOE puts his face up close to BEN’S... "he’ll be right in your face."
OFF: the school bell rings. JOE looks at his watch
JOE
“8:45”
THATCHER enters and begins to circle BEN. As the circles get smaller BEN shrinks as if trying to make himself invisible. THATCHER gets close and pushes BEN with his left hand as he circles to show his control. Beat THATCHER stops and stands right in front of BEN, intimidating him with a hard stare that BEN will not meet. THATCHER puts his face up close to BEN’S then pushes him lightly to see how he reacts. BEN does nothing.
THATCHER approaches the audience
THATCHER
"Anyone seen my victim?"
BEN stands looking at floor as JOE suddenly pins his arms to his sides so he can’t move and holds him still for THATCHER.
THATCHER walks back grinning to BEN. Suddenly, without warning THATCHER throws a punch, pulling it back at the last second as BEN flinches. THATCHER laughs and lightly slaps BEN’S face.
THATCHER
“How are you today Benny boy?”
THATCHER backs away and then advances, shoulder barging BEN to the floor.
THATCHER
“Watch where you’re going knobhead yeah?”
BEN jumps up angrily and THATCHER grabs at his wrists, trying to get a grip. BEN resists and they go into a standing grapple. THATCHER gets a hold and starts kicking out at BEN’S legs, trying to sweep him to the floor. JODY and CHRIS enter and see the fight.
JODY
“Look at this. It’s a fight!”
CHRIS (to JODY)
“No. No. Stay here. Don’t get involved.”
JODY
“Go on Thatcher. Hit him”
BEN falls down and THATCHER backs off. CHRIS tries to pull JODY away
JODY (to THATCHER)
“What you stopped for? Go on. Have him”
THATCHER grabs BEN by the jacket and pulls him up from the floor. He puts both hands round the back of BEN’S neck and starts spinning him round until BEN loses his balance and falls. THATCHER leans over BEN, his fist clenched, about to punch him in the face. At the last second he spots a teacher approaching.
CHRIS
“Come on. Teacher”
CHRIS pulls JODY away. THATCHER goes immediately to help BEN up.
THATCHER (laughing)
“Come on mate. Stop messin’ about. We’ll be late for class.”
THATCHER looks up and speaks to the imaginary teacher
Alright Mr Eavis? See you in PE eh sir?
THATCHER watches the imaginary teacher go. BEN starts to walk away. THATCHER suddenly turns and sees him
THATCHER
“Oi. I didn’t say you could go. Look at me. Look at me”
A dejected BEN turns to face THATCHER
THATCHER
“What? You got somethin’ to say?”
THATCHER pushes BEN violently back. JOE again wraps his arms around BEN immobilising him. THATCHER stands uncomfortably close to BEN, their faces almost touching.
THATCHER
“After school yeah? Me and you.” Beat ”I’m gonna bang you out.”
BLACKOUT
*** SCENE 7 ***
Lights come up revealing BEN sat on a chair. JOE and JESS stand over him. The school bell rings.
BEN
“3:30. Run out the classroom to the yard. BEN runs to the corner of the stage and bends down to unlock his bike. Unlock my bike. Check the tires haven’t been slashed. Looks up at the audience. Again. BEN stands and runs to the other side of the stage. Peg it across the schoolfield and home so fast my legs cramp up. BEN falls to the floor, holding his leg in pain. Beat. Mum comes in. Says ‘what are you shouting for? How was school? Did you have a good day? (Does nagging hand gesture) Getting right on my nerves…..
BEN stands. JOE and JESS takes places behind him as he talks
BEN
"…I love you very much you know. You not think it but I do. You can tell me anything you know. Is there something going on at school you want to tell me about? You can tell me you know."
JESS clamps her hand over BEN’S mouth shutting him up.
BEN shakes his head. JESS takes her hand away.
BEN
“3:59. Another school day over? Can’t get Thatcher out of my head.. Do nothing but think ‘till bedtime. Its going to happen again isn’t it?”
BEN stares into the audience, holding his gaze. JOE and JESS both nod their heads. BEN sits on the chair.
BEN
“5:30. Try and eat my tea. BEN stands. Watch Neighbours ‘till the wrestling comes on. Feel a bit better. But by 8:30. I’m back in my room”
BEN stands in front of a mirror at the side of the stage. KAREN enters.
KAREN
“You are such an idiot. Ugly too. Very ugly. No wonder people won’t come near you. You’re not worth knowing. You’ve got no friends. Might as well be dead.”
JESS approaches from behind and hugs BEN tightly.
JESS (Rubbing his arms)
“It’s your fault you know. It’s what you deserve.”
KAREN
“You can’t go on. Nobody loves you”
JOE approaches BEN
JOE
“Back to school in (looks at watch) twelve hours”
BEN wilts with depression. JESS suddenly grabs him and pulls him to the floor. KAREN circles and then starts to kick BEN. JOE watches at first, then joins in. JESS kneels over BEN, plays with his hair and stares into the audience.
BLACKOUT