Note for reader: Along with the many scraps of details, horror prose and poetry left behind in my mother's box, there are a few plays. As long as I knew her, she never expressed any sort of intense love of theatre so I don't understand why she would create these. Then again, I never knew anything about the 'Beatrice Record' (and still am no closer to understanding why it's called that). Here is one such play. It has the title "Probably for the Best" Viewer discretion: there's a lot of swears44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D6Q6ZhtOD
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Probably for the Best44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GwCeU0rBD
Characters: 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFaOfxqbXn
4 (Eve), 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtdsuCtZHH
3.5 (Adam), 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6n8v9qJ8p
1a (Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh), 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNioSXYNvK
1b (Hallelujah), 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡem1Syz5NiB
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Time and Place:44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkY3WHFeoBf
Many years into the future. A shelter or room deep underground. Dimly-lit enclosed space. All characters sit on floor despite two benches upstage center. Light from phone screens must be able to illuminate faces. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86WgYwdAn5
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SCENE ONE 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG4PtglOkU
Dim fluorescent lights illuminate a shelter. There are two dirty benches upstage center, which remain empty, but for an old rotary telephone – between 1b and 1a. Also, a window with only darkness outside it. Four people sit huddled around on the floor. From left to right, there is 3.5, 4, 1b and 1a. The numbers correspond to the person’s rank, but also their title. All are dressed in combat boots and dark, stained overalls. Messy hair, especially 1a and 1b, whose mannerisms and actions are like young children. All are engrossed in their phone screen, except 4, who stares straight out. 3.5 also sometimes breaks their gaze away from the screen to stare at 4. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCe2PddcYF
For a moment all simply sit in this space, before 4 starts to speak. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW43D0sQiSn
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4 Listen to the ghosts. Listen for the Word. Listen. No. Don’t stop speaking yet. You think you’re high and mighty now that you’re above them, pissfuck? Excuse me.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2htWd85wNu
Music* Begins. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRf7w9GvI4W
3.5 I’m right here if you want to fight me, you pathetic fuckcupboard-head. Say it to my face. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHFSqQnSIA
4 I can’t look at you. I won’t think about the violent acts I want to enlist on you. Excuse me. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzYFEhEeBj
3.5 Through all of these endless tribulations, I’m glad it’s ending. There! I said it. I said it because it’s true. You’d say the same if you had balls! Fuck-cunt! 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjjChL2sNE
4 Excuse her. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5NIE96IJX
3.5 What are we waiting for? Let’s end it now! 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiZEgDBwd0
1b We’re waiting for the Word! 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvnmNJ9ze0
1a Woohoo! 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iTsr5j0xQ
Pause. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXDAvEi5Fq
4 Oh, someone fill the fucking silence! Excuse me. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDo61vIIXm
1a Excuse me? 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPSmm9jl0x
3.5 What would you have us do, pissbitch? 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvC6T4oigt4
4 Our time is precious. So, fill-fucking-fill it! Excuse me. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQbZe8uWjo
1a (as if they’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to speak) Well, I would like to take this moment to say that I have enjoyed every moment of our time here, and through and through, all of the days and years and how long, the black days, the fighting nights, all of the on-and-ons – all of it. So, yeah. / Thanks guys. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGbloz2pC6
4 (to 3.5) I’ve been thinking it over in my head. Excuse me. Thinking over each and every way I could break your neck and get away with it unseen, so to speak, excuse me! 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aIaQYj6Gk
3.5 I’m right here, whorehouse. I wish you’d done it before you went and betrayed me. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y6AoJyqF9
4 I never / betrayed you. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEHskkquPA
1b And so, we wait. Not a word, nor the Word. From outside. I miss the sun. It’s been some time now since it was visible. I miss the rain. Even the burning one. I miss it all. Now just a memory, and even that ... I think I can hear a ghost ... 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnhaFMNQHS
Pause. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeBcvgNFio
4 Fill the space!44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB1DSx89zU
3.5 You betrayed me. You betrayed me. / And now you blame me? 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mdwRQv6YL
4 Fucker, I never betrayed you (excuse me), I ‘teached’ to you, and you listened, gaping and glistening for all of the wisdom in the world. Let us pray! 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCcyfaOyfG
1a (innocently) Who will we pray to today?44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ei1APm5HN
1b I thought that I saw an illusion in the blackness. I think it was my dashing husband. Can we pray to that?44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9f6K6eDt4
1a Can we pray to that?
3.5 Can we? 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQk38sBRqk
4 Can we what? 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrlpOIsb5D
3.5 Pray to his- / sorry, her illusion? 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTkRYjui5J
1b Her 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmMbCoLJ4k
4 You ridiculous fucking children! Excuse me. No, you cannot pray to that, you won’t have arses when I’m done lashing you. Now. Pray! 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JvefaBSCI
Pause. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZ1zgHicEi
Mumbling prayers. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLL2KiCoJM
Not quite. Fill the space! 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNYtx0Vfre
Pause. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13WC9DJaYE
Rest of party unsure whether they should continue praying or speak. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5za8e8Ivy
1a I heard a ghost! 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6ytYsCOAD
4 (frightened) What did it say? 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDZiHBEdKH
1b I hear it too. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6LjWwkcCj
4 What is it saying? 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAflc4JL8jA
1a Just... 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ2uT1ahr9
1b Whispering. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiycOKXUcJ
4 (to 3.5) What do you hear? 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYK2noN8s8R
3.5 An annoying fuck-sucker running their mouth fucking dry. I doubt any of this carry on is even worth it. What when the time comes, will we really draw this moment back? 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXKcJgRWtI
4 Wait for the Word. It will not be the last-44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbfOye5GIz
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SCENE TWO44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2uEXPO8Jz
Suddenly, the overhead lights shut off. All are plunged into fear and darkness. 1a and 1b open their eyes wide, taking a heaving inhale, staring at something unseen in wonderment for a moment, collapsing into limp piles. They do not move from this point on. 4 stands up. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6KAQEsetU
4 What happened? 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZs4HjDICs
3.5 (realisation setting in) The Word... 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgaSgIAEne
4 That wasn’t the fucking Word, did that sound like a fucking Word to you? Excuse me. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcnKJKK1jk
3.5 There can be no Other. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8haIzFdLU
4 (calling up) Hey! You forgot us. Forgot me. I’m still here. You forgot about me. I have a reservation! / Come back for me! 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6owPHH81y2
3.5 Would you shut up? No-one's coming to rescue us. There will be no others. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodwbQelvoA
4 Have some fucking faith. (cradles telephone) It will come. Must come. Soon to come. Will come. Has to come. Please come. Listen to the ghosts. No. Not yet. (whispering) Not yet. Not yet. Listen. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTDLssHEA2
3.5 Is crying allowed? 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02A1EIJOLH
Pause. Music cuts. End.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs9D8d308w
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Notes for performers44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRgSTuAn1I
> When a / mark occurs, indicates that the next line of dialogue begins. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCF2ShlUIr
> While the four characters are somewhat familiar with each other, there should be no allusion to familial or relationship ties. They are a set of strangers, brought together by unknown circumstances.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtZe2ewr5o
> Love you forever B <3
ns216.73.216.240da2
and then Add to home screen.