by Bethany Wood, Age 15, United Kingdom
Artwork by Lucy Zhang
The drama prompt for December is “the end.” NOTE: Bethany submitted a script for our January prompt which continues the story of these two characters. READ “The Beginning” by Bethany Wood.
THE END
NICO, a prisoner, is having an arranged visit with his girlfriend, LARK, who is trying to prove his innocence. They are sitting opposite each other at a table in the bland visitors’ room. The atmosphere is cold and tense.
NICO: Lark, we need to talk. (LARK crosses her arms and turns her head away) This isn’t the time to be stubborn.
LARK: But I know what you’re going to say Nico, and I don’t like it. Please, don’t tell me to go.
NICO: My sweet, delicate, precious Lark. It’s for the best. Let me set you free.
LARK: But I shall never be free. Never. Ever. I’ve told you I don’t mind! (NICO gives her a disagreeing look) I’m not lying! I can’t lie to you, Nico. It doesn’t worry me. It doesn’t change us.
NICO: But it worries me. You are vulnerable. You are young. Live, Lark! For goodness sake, don’t wait for me.
LARK: But don’t you see, Nico? I want to live with you! (takes his hand and speaks gently suddenly) You want me to be happy, don’t you?
NICO: But I can’t make you happy. (looks down shamefully) Not with what has happened.
LARK: But it wasn’t you! You didn’t do it! Why should you pay this price as well?
NICO: (slowly) Because I deserve it, and you don’t.
LARK: You don’t deserve it! (brings his chin up gently with her other hand to look him in the eye) Don’t let them make you think it’s your fault.
NICO: It is. I killed her.
(a beat)
LARK: No you didn’t! You would never, ever… You are so gentle, Nico, too gentle…
NICO: Only because I’m scared I’ll do it again (swallows) to you. (takes hands away) (voice cracking) I don’t want to hurt you, Lark.
LARK: (shaking head) But we don’t lie. We never lie to each other. We can’t!
NICO: (looks up) You can’t, Lark. I could. (takes a deep breath) But not anymore, so find someone else and forget all about me. Goodness, I hope you will forget. Now go, and stop creating any more memories!
(a beat)
LARK: (tearfully) I knew you killed her. I didn’t want to believe it, so I told myself that. But I also lied because I knew. (bites her lip) So, is this really the end, Nico?
NICO: Yes, it’s the end.
LARK: The end. How final. How bitterly final that sounds.
NICO: It is bitter, but you must go. Remember me bitterly, Lark. I don’t deserve otherwise.
LARK: Okay, Nico. (gets up) But I shall never forget you. Not ever.
LARK leaves the room and NICO watches after her, waits a few moments to check she is gone and then buries his head in his hands.
*
Bethany says, “I enjoy immersing myself in the dialogue when writing a script, as every word must show the character’s personality, yet it is up to the actor to interpret how they would like to convey it uniquely to the audience.”
This is really good! Congrats!
Thank you very much!
-Bethany