The Mono Box presents Playstart 2

Short plays from new voices

Kiran Benawra, maatin, Grace Tarr, Vivian Xie, Maatin Patel, The Monobox Ltd, The Mono Box Ltd

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781786829207
• eBook ISBN: 9781786829214
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Four short plays by brand new writers each of whom has been mentored by an experienced playwright and supported by the Mono Box team. Including Cold Feet and Bacon Sandwiches by Kiran Benawra, Meatballs by Maatin
Patel, When the Leaves Fall by Grace Tarr and One of the Good Ones by Vivian Xie.

WHEN THE LEAVES FALL
BY GRACE TARR

Character List

SHAY. (FEMALE, 23-25) Mixed-race Very chatty, would rather talk than have silence. Nervous. Shay hates letting people down and cares a lot about what others think. Only child and looks after her mother. Politically and environmentally conscious. New environmental activist.

BILLIE. (FEMALE, 23-25) No specific ethnicity Quiet, thoughtful and compassionate. Picks words carefully and is aware of how her actions affect others. Environmental activist.

MAX. (MALE, 27-29) No specific ethnicity Billie’s elder sibling. Sharp, task focused and doesn’t react well to situations he is not in control of. Strong political and environmental beliefs.

Note on Text

… indicates a slight break in the dialogue.

/ indicates when one person interrupts another.

There are times when both characters will be speaking at the same time, this is indicated.

Setting

A forest. Near a large city.

Night.

A clearing in a forest. It’s autumn. There are leaves on the floor. There are two bikes, a large duffle bag and two smaller backpacks.

Two people are sat on the floor of the forest, they’re young. 20’s. BILLIE, is on her back reading from a note book with a pen in her mouth and staring at the sky. SHAY, is smoking and holding her phone. It’s quiet.

SHAY: What can you see?

BILLIE: Orion’s belt, I think.

SHAY: Where?

BILLIE: There.

SHAY: I can’t. Oh, yeah… It’s bigger than I thought. Didn’t think I’d see this many stars so close to home.

BILLIE: They’re there, you just gotta be in the right place.

Pause.

SHAY: My Mum… she loves the cranes at night. From our old flat you could see all the red dots that mark the top of them and, and she’d say they were her stars.

SHAY puts out the cigarette and lies down next to BILLIE.

BILLIE: You cold?

SHAY: Yeaaah. (Pause.) When, when’s your brother getting here?

BILLIE: Max‘ll be here at 11, maybe later.

SHAY: Okay.

BILLIE: Do you have another coat or something?

SHAY: No. I’ll be alright.

BILLIE: You didn’t bring a lot with you. I can get him to bring you another coat, or a scarf, just something else to keep you warm?

SHAY: I’ll be alright.

BILLIE: You can always use my sleeping bag as a blanket/

SHAY: I’m fine… Thanks.

Pause.

Ah, ah. A shooting star?

BILLIE: Where?

SHAY: There, there. Look.

BILLIE: Where?

SHAY: There.

BILLIE: No. It can’t be.

SHAY: What is it?

BILLIE: It’s a plane.

SHAY laughs.

SHAY: Oh, I was gonna make a wish.

SHAY’s stomach rumbles. She laughs.

SHAY: Sorry. I did eat.

BILLIE: Stomach sounds hungry.

SHAY laughs.

Oh, and I think I have Oreos, if you want some?

SHAY: Uh, yeah. Please.

BILLIE gets an Oreo packet out. SHAY eats quickly.

SHAY: Do you eat the cream or the biscuit first?

BILLIE: Biscuit.

SHAY: I’m cream.

BILLIE: Otherwise it’s too dry… I’m writing, have written something. Something new. (Pause.) It’s short. But it’s called ‘Flying her home’ I think.

SHAY: You want me to read it?

BILLIE: Yeah. I might change the title.

BILLIE gives SHAY her note book.

BILLIE: Yeah. Here. It’s not finished.

SHAY: You gonna perform it tomorrow?

BILLIE: Haven’t decided yet.

SHAY: (Reading.) ‘I saw through’

BILLIE: No! Don’t. Read it in your head.

SHAY: Right.

Shay reads as BILLIE watches intently.

SHAY: It’s good. I get what you mean about the title… but I like it.

BILLIE: Thanks.

SHAY: It’s really, really good. They all are. (Starts flicking though BILLIE’s note book.) You know we should really start filming these. When you perform them. Put them up. They’d get loads of views.

BILLIE: I like that they’re one-offs. You know, only the people who are there really get it.

SHAY: I know. I just think you could do more with them, reach more people. Like the people who don’t come to protests. You know?

BILLIE lies back watching the stars again. SHAY watches her. Silence.

SHAY: Billie.

BILLIE: Hm.

SHAY: How d’you get people to listen… to you?

BILLIE...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Creative Thoughts
• Creative Thoughts
• The Plays
• Writer biographies
• Cold Feet and Bacon Sandwiches
• Meatballs
• When the Leaves Fall
• One Of The Good Ones