Harm

Douglas Maxwell

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2015
• Topic: Literature
• eBook ISBN:
  9781780015835
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

A father and son wait in a new 'self-harming unit'. As the clock ticks by, the father begins to pour out his guilt, anger and concern to his son.

Douglas Maxwell's short play Harm was first performed at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow, in September 2006.

HARM

Douglas Maxwell

Harm was commissioned by Sweetscar as part of the Sure Shots season, and first performed at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow, on 12 September 2006, with the following cast:

FATHER	Stewart Porter
SON	Mark Wood
Director	Adrian Osmond
Designer	Kirsty Mackay
Lighting Designer	Malcolm Rogan
Producer	Purni Morell

Characters

FATHER

SON

Note

In 2006, St George’s Hospital in Staffordshire began a pilot project where young people who self-harm can do so in a ‘clean, supervised environment’.

Underneath the hopeful posters and booklets,

Behind the covered couch,

Below the happy curtains and the ‘it’ll do for now’ table

Is a hospital room.

A clean, supervised environment

Where once upon a time

People died.

You can’t hide that.

Here’s a FATHER. Here’s a SON.

A nurse has just left the room

And this vacuum is what they’ve both been dreading.

The FATHER remembers (just in time) that he’s got a booklet in his hand.

He reads it.

FATHER. ‘A clean, supervised environment.’

We’re probably being supervised now, I should think. That’s probably a camera. Do you think? Or was she the supervision? Maybe she sits in. Do you think she sits in?

No. It’ll be cameras. Everything’s cameras. Cameras everywhere. It’s like that film you used to love, isn’t it? What’s it called again? That film. You used to have the poster on your door, mind? What’s it called? Help me out, mate, what’s that film called?

It’ll come back to me.

Hey, if it is her that’s supervising she’s not doing a very good job, eh? Day one of Supervising School: ‘Stay in the room.’ Did you see that graffiti in the lift? ‘This lift can hold up to fifteen people’ and someone’s written underneath ‘Or three nurses’. Must’ve been talking about her, eh?

Nah. Shouldn’t ridicule the fat.

Don’t know why, though, they bring it on themselves, don’t they? Not like they’re born eating a pie roll. They decided to buy that pie roll and they decided to eat it. It’s just a stupid, greedy, selfish…

Habit.

Or maybe not, I don’t know. Genetics.

God, that was a faff getting out here, though, eh? Two buses.

I should have a car again soon.

Mind you, it’ll be your mother that brings you next time. If there is a next time. But today’s my day and that’s that.

Still. Has to be done.

Much better doing it here in a clean, supervised environment than at home. Isn’t it? More official.

Everything’s sterilised. You’ve got your bandages and that all laid out. Razors. Lighters. Lighters?

Yup. Says here. ‘Lighters.’

Oh aye, says that after a while they get you onto alternatives. That’s good, isn’t it? ‘Ice cubes on the skin, flicking the arm with elastic bands, behavioural therapy sessions.’ God I’d rather flick my arm with an elastic band than see another bloody therapist any day. Now, if they let you flick a therapist with an elastic band it’d be worth the trip, eh?

No, it’s good.

This is good.

That’s bugging me now. That film you wouldn’t shut up about, what is it again? C’mon. Sunglasses were involved. What was it called?

I got you the DVD one of my Sundays, remember? When we couldn’t get into the pool. You were delighted. I remember it. Very clearly.

It’s not important.

Oh hey, I got that album. The one you were playing last time you were over. Murder of Crows. Strong stuff. Pretty intense. But good. Powerful. That last track. Very good. Yeah, I think I’ll definitely be checking them out again. Excellent. Reminded me a bit of a band I used to listen to. You won’t have heard of them. The Clash? No. Before your time. I had all the gear. Good band. Maybe I’ll look you out one of their tapes. I think it’s… I think I’ve still a couple. Somewhere.

I suppose as well, coming here, they weed out the ones that are just pretending. Know what I mean? The ones that are just copying some idiot from TV or from some band or something. The kiddy-on ones would never come all the way out here. Two buses. No way.

I mean, if it’s just pretend, that’s just…

Final-straw stuff.

My old man died in this hospital. You know that? Yeah. Grandpa Jim. Somewhere here. I don’t think it was this room. Could’ve been, I suppose. They’ve done it all up since.

I was late. I missed it. Mind you, I was right in the middle of all that… stuff. I wouldn’t’ve been much good to anyone. You were there, though. You were a wee baby.

Mum grabbed you right out of my arms. She thought I was going to drop you. But I would...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Original Production
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information