Contacting Laura

8/8/2019 Contacting Laura

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C o n t a c t i n g L a u r a

Final Draft 1

ContactingLaura

A one act play

bySteve Carley

Steve Carley44 Norwood StreetScarboroughNorth YorkshireYO12 7EQ

01723 381665


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Final Draft 2

Steven Carley 1998

CAST OF CHARACTERS

ALEC A writer

JILL An old friend

(Ages can be anywhere between 25 and 45)

The Place

A deserted country house.

The Time

The present.

A room in a country house.


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Final Draft 3

The structure of the room is not visible. Only the floor

itself can be seen, lit from one or two unseen windows.

The stage is bare, save for a tea-chest protruding from

the shadows.

It is almost sunset.

JILL enters.

JILL: Hello? Is there anyone there?

No answer. She takes a general look around the room.A small figurine protruding from the tea-chest catches

her eye. She takes it out and looks at it.

ALEC enters from behind her. A reserved, learned

man, he has an air of melancholy and coldness about

him. He betrays no emotion as he watches her for a

few seconds.

ALEC: Having fun?

She lets out a shriek.

JILL: Alec! Alec, you frightened the life out of me!

ALEC: Jill? Im sorry, I didnt realise... I didnt recognise you. What... what on

earth are you doing here?

JILL: Just let me catch my breath... my heart is pounding... do you often creep

up on people like that?

ALEC: Not often. Youre looking well.

JILL: You mean apart from being as white as a sheet and my hair standing on

end?

ALEC: Sorry. How long have you been here?

JILL: Ive just got here. Dont worry, I havent moved here permanently. Im

just... visiting my mother.

ALEC: Oh.


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Final Draft 4

JILL: She said that your house had been sold. Ive never seen it, so I thought Id

pop in and have a look before the new owners moved in. I hope you dont

mind.

ALEC: Not at all. Im here for the same reason. Sorry if I gave you a fright.

JILL: Thats all right.

A pause.

ALEC: Its good to see you.

JILL: You too. How have you been?

ALEC: Fine, fine.

JILL: Really?

ALEC: Well, surviving anyway. How about you?

JILL: Oh, you know, plodding along.

ALEC: Hows life in the big city?

JILL: Oh, its all right, I suppose. It just takes time to get used to it.

ALEC: Youve been there years, havent you?

JILL: Yes, I know. I think I just miss all the old faces.

ALEC: I know what you mean.

A pause.

Hows business?

JILL: Not too bad. I get the odd bits of work here and there. Its not much, but it

keeps the wolf from the door.

A pause. JILL realises she is still holding the figurine.

Oh, Im sorry.

She places it back in the tea-chest.

ALEC: Calliope.

JILL: Pardon?


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Final Draft 5

ALEC: The figurine. (taking it back out) Well, its a paperweight, actually. Its

Calliope, the muse of poetry and poetic inspiration. Laura bought it for me

when I was stuck for ideas on a book I was working on.

JILL: Its very nice. Did it work?

ALEC: It did, as a matter of fact...

He stares at it for a few seconds, then replaces it in

the tea-chest.

JILL: Its a beautiful house. I can see why you and Laura chose it.

ALEC: Yes. It wont seem to let me go. I just keep coming back.

JILL: What was this room?

ALEC: This was my study. I did all my work here.

JILL: Yes, it does have an artistic air to it.

She goes and looks out of the window.

Just look at that sunset. Its beautiful. So colourful. Its lovely out here inthe back of beyond. And so quiet. Theres always noise where I am. Even

in the middle of the night. Cars going by, or something. Not out here,

though. Here, the silence is almost... I dont know... you can almost feel it.

Do you know what I mean?ALEC: Yes.

JILL: Sorry, was I talking too much? Well, its your fault. My nerves are still

jangling.

ALEC: Sorry.

A pause.

JILL: Why do you keep coming back?

ALEC: What?

JILL: You said that you just keep coming back. Why?


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Final Draft 6

ALEC: At the risk of sounding overly romantic, this house is full of memories for

me. A large part of my life was spent here. Laura called it our dream

house. We fell in love with it the first time we saw it. Even before the

estate agent opened the front door, we knew it was right. We felt it. Didnt

even have to ask each other. Just a look did it. In fact, I dont think we

listened to a word he said. We didnt have to. We knew it was right. We

knew it was home.

He looks out of the window.

JILL: Alec...

ALEC: That tyre needs re-hanging.

JILL: Sorry?

ALEC: The tyre. It was hung from that tree. I used to watch Emily swinging on it

for hours.

A pause.

Where has the time gone? It seems like it was just yesterday that Emily

was four years old, running round the house, slamming doors. She loved

doing that, slamming doors... drove me up the wall.

JILL: I can imagine.

ALEC: I remember sometimes working in here, late at night, and slipping into her

room, just to make sure she was all right. Id sit and watch her sleep. And

Id think to myself that no matter what, I wasnt going to let anything bad

happen to this child, that Id always be there to protect her.

A pause.

JILL: Have you ever tried to contact them... find out how they are?

ALEC: No.

JILL: Why not?

ALEC: I just havent.

A pause. JILL goes to the tea-chest.

JILL: Whats in here?

ALEC: Just things from my desk.


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Final Draft 7

JILL: Do you mind if I have a look?

ALEC: Its not very interesting.

JILL: Im just nosy.

She begins to empty some of its contents onto the

floor.

ALEC: Told you.

JILL: Whats this?

She takes out an old Winnie the Pooh book. It still

has a bookmark in it.

And I always thought you were the academic type. Winnie the Pooh?

She places it on the floor and continues to take out

more items, including a framed photograph, from the

tea-chest. ALEC picks up the book.

ALEC: This was Emilys favourite book. I used to read her bed-time stories from

it.

JILL: Oh, Im sorry. Whats it doing in here?

ALEC: When I was working late I used to lose track of time. Laura would send

her in here. Shed sit on my knee as I read to her.

JILL: Thats nice.

ALEC: Yes... yes, it was...

A pause.

JILL: Alec...

A pause.

ALEC: What else is in there?

After a second, JILL continues to empty the tea-chest.

JILL: Er... sellotape... stapler... letters... shoes... shoes?


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Final Draft 8

She takes out a shoe box.

You kept your shoes in your desk?

ALEC: No, not quite.

JILL gives the box a slight shake. It clinks.

JILL: Ahh. (removing the lid) Calliope wasnt your only inspiration, I see.

She removes a near-empty bottle of cognac and a

glass.

ALEC: In vino veritas.

JILL: I beg your pardon?

ALEC: In wine is truth.

JILL: Does this mean all your books were written in a drunken stupor?

ALEC: No, of course not. Well, perhaps once or twice. Whenever I finished a

chapter I used to reward myself with a glass. As an incentive.

JILL: Oh, of course.

ALEC: It became a tradition that whenever I started a new book, Laura would buy

me a fresh bottle of Cognac, for good luck.

A pause.

JILL: Theres not much left. Your last book must have had very short chapters.

Or did you actually finish it and get completely smashed?

ALEC: (placing the book into the tea-chest) I never finished my last book.

JILL: Why not?

A pause.

Oh, of course, Im sorry.

ALEC: As a matter of fact, it was the book that caused the argument.

JILL: Argument?

ALEC: The argument.


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Final Draft 9

JILL: Oh.

ALEC: Of course, youd moved away by then, hadnt you?

JILL: Yes. What happened?

ALEC: It doesnt matter now. Ancient history.

JILL: Im sorry, I didnt mean to pry. I can see its still painful.

ALEC: No, its all right.

A pause.

Laura Laura accused me of caring more about the book than I did about

my own family.

JILL: And did you?

ALEC: No, no, of course not. But but when I write when I usedto write I

tended to get self-absorbed, almost to the point of obsession, putting

everything else out of my mind.

JILL: So she was right.

ALEC: No... well yes, but not in that way. It was the only way I could work.

JILL: She must have understood that.

ALEC: Well, I thought she did. But this time this time I had pushed my family

to one side once too often. I was working on the last chapter. Id been

struggling with it for weeks, and couldnt crack it. Nothing I came up with

was any good. Then, in a last desperate attempt, I tried spinning the whole

story on its head, twisting it round on itself. And it worked. Better than I

could have hoped. After that I was on a roll. Working like fury. The

problem was that we were due at my parents in Cambridge that evening,

for their anniversary.

JILL: Ah.

ALEC: It was a big event. The whole family was going to be there. Laura began

poking her head round the door saying it was time to go, and I kept saying

yes, yes. Ill be out in a minute. Ill just finish this.

JILL: Couldnt you finish it when you got back?


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Final Draft 10

ALEC: No. I had to finish it there and then. If I had stopped and gone away for the

weekend, Id never have got back into it. Thats happened too many times

before. When you come back to it, its not the same. You cant get back

into the same frame of mind, the same flow, the same rhythm.

JILL: So what happened?

ALEC: Well, I kept working away, getting more and more absorbed, and getting

more and more irritated whenever Laura interrupted me. And she was

getting just as angry with me for making us late. At about six she stormed

in here and announced that we were now four hours late. We had to leave

now. I said I would only be another five minutes. She wouldnt listen. We

started to argue. It wasnt long before it was a full-blown row. By the time

we were in the car it had reached biblical proportions. I was in a completerage... said a lot of things I didnt mean... lost control...

JILL: Anyone can lose control, Alec. Anyone. It happens. Its not something you

can blame yourself for.

ALEC: Yes, it is... I lost control, Jill. That fact, and that fact alone, is the reason

we are no longer together.

JILL: Alec, listen to me. Laura wants to...

ALEC: (interrupting) She tried to tell me once, that I was taking them forgranted. It was ages ago. Id been writing through the night. The whole

night. In the morning I heard the post come through the door, and I

shouted to Laura that it was here. There was no answer. I shouted again.

Nothing. So, I went and got it myself, came back in here, looked through

it, and found a letter... actually its probably here somewhere.

He begins to search through the pile of letters.

I used to keep it in my desk, as a potent reminder... (he finds it) Here it

is... Cambridge postmark. (opening it and reading) Dear Alec... Ive

left you!...

JILL: What?

ALEC: I was stunned!

JILL: Im not surprised.

ALEC: In a state of utter panic, I ran into the hall, shouting her name. And there

they were, on the stairs. Just sitting there with their innocent expressions. I

just stared at them, open-mouthed. Then, Millie couldnt hold it any

longer, burst out laughing.


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Final Draft 11

JILL laughs.

It turned out that Laura had written to my parents and asked if they would

post the letter for her.

JILL: She always knew how to get a point across. Ill give her that. Is that all it

said?

ALEC: No, it gets worse. (reading) I got so fed up with never seeing you, that

Ive taken Emily and were staying in a seedy bed-sit in Cambridge. But

dont worry, well survive somehow. I might be able to sell my body to

get enough money for scraps of food. Have a nice life. Yours sincerely,

Laura... your... your ex-wife...

A pause.

JILL: She wants to talk to you.

A pause.

Laura. Ive seen her.

A pause.

ALEC: What?

JILL: She wants talk to you.

A pause.

ALEC: (icily) I see.

JILL: Thats the real reason Im here. To find you. To tell you that she...

ALEC: So youre not here visiting your mother?

JILL: No, I...

ALEC: You didnt just happen to pop in because you were in the area?

JILL: I came here to...

ALEC: Youre incredible, Jill, you really are. Why didnt you just tell me this

when you came in, instead of letting me go on and on? Why lie?

JILL: I didnt lie. At least, I didnt mean to. I just...

ALEC: Oh, you accidentally lied to me?


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Final Draft 12

JILL: No, I was just thrown when you scared me... and I was so pleased to see

you, and well I needed to know if if you well...

ALEC: If Id got over it? Moved on?

JILL: Yes.

ALEC: Well, now you know.

JILL: Yes. Im sorry, I handled it badly.

ALEC: Yes. You did.

A pause.

JILL: Well?

ALEC: Well, what?

JILL: Will you contact her?

ALEC: No.

JILL: Why not?

ALEC: I dont have to give you a reason.

JILL: No, but if Laura is...

ALEC: (simmering) I advise you to listen closely, for I will not say this again. I

came here to see my old house, nothing more. I will not get into a debate

about whether or not I should contact Laura. Do I make myself clear?

JILL: Alec, I think that you should...

ALEC: I dont care what you think!

JILL: She wouldnt try to contact you after all this time if it wasnt important.

ALEC: Its finished, Jill! It finished two years ago! We finished two years ago!

JILL: But, if you just tried to talk to...

ALEC: I am not going to try to do anything! Its too late! Theres no going

back! Its something Ive learned to accept!


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Final Draft 13

JILL: If youve learned to accept it, why are you here?

Silence.

Why do you keep coming here?

Silence.

Alec, you have to talk to her. Its important. I know these are painful

memories for you, but the only way...

ALEC: No, you dont understand. The memories arent painful. Theyre good

memories. Thats why I come here. Why I keep coming here. To

remember... to remember the life I had... the life I took for granted. Thepain comes from being without her... without Emily... and knowing its

my fault... they were everything to me... my life ended that day, Jill... its

been... its been like a bad dream ever since... a nightmare... I... I miss

her...

JILL: I know.

ALEC: I miss her so much.

JILL: She misses you.

A pause.

She wants to talk to you.

ALEC: What about? What on earth could she want to talk about?

JILL: Ask her.

ALEC: I cant, Jill. Not after what I did.

JILL: Dont you even want to know how she is?

ALEC: Yes, of course I do, but I cant just...

JILL: And what about Emily?

ALEC: Youre being unfair.

JILL: Am I? Dont you think she deserves to know how her father is? Do it for

her sake, if not for yours. Do it for Emily.

A pause.


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Final Draft 14

ALEC: All right. Ill... Ill think about it.

JILL: Shes waiting.

ALEC: No. I cant do it now.

JILL: It has to be now.

ALEC: No. Not yet.

JILL: Why not?

ALEC: I... I dont know what to say to her.

JILL: Youll know when the time comes. You have to do this, Alec, you know

you do.

He doesnt answer.

Alec?

ALEC: All right... all right... Ill talk to her.

JILL: Now?

ALEC: Now.

JILL: Good. Youre doing the right thing.

ALEC: I hope so.

A pause. JILL thinks for a moment. She then runs her

hand across the floor, considers it, then takes the

year-planner to the centre of what is left of the dying

light.

What are you doing?

JILL: Just a minute.

She places the year-planner face-up on the floor and

runs her hand over the surface.

(to herself) Yes, I think this will do. Now then

She goes to the tea-chest and roots through it. She

takes out a message pad (the sticky type) and a felt-tippen.


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Final Draft 15

(to ALEC) Now, I want you to find four items that are of personal value to

you.

ALEC: What for?

JILL: Youll see. But be as quick as you can.

ALEC begins to look through the tea-chest. JILL

writes the word YES on the message pad, peels off

the page and sticks it on the year-planner.

(During the following pages, JILL does the same withthe words NO and GOOD-BYE, and then

proceeds to write each letter of the alphabet on a page

of the message pad, and to place them in a large circle

on the year- planner.)

ALEC: What do you mean by personal?

JILL: Sentimental. Things that have a strong emotional connection between you

and Laura.

ALEC picks up the figurine.

ALEC: How about Calliope?

JILL: Perfect.

ALEC places it to one side, and picks up the bottle of

Cognac.

ALEC: What about this?

JILL: Is it of personal value?

ALEC: Yes yes, it is.

JILL: Then it will be fine. Two more.

ALEC puts it with the figurine, and resumes his

search.

ALEC: (after a few moments) It isnt easy.

JILL: What about that photograph? The one of Laura and Emily. It always helpsto include an image of those you wish to contact. It focuses the link.


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Final Draft 16

ALEC: Okay.

He finds the photograph and looks at it fondly.

I remember the day I took this. It was our first Christmas here. Wed spent

all our money on the house, didnt have much left for presents. Didnt

matter, though.

JILL: No?

ALEC: No. Made it even more special. We talked, played games we had a

snowball fight in the garden. All innocent stuff at first. Then they ganged

up on me. A co-ordinated assault, Laura called it. They turned and startedto walk towards me. I pretended to be scared and backed away. Then

Laura shouted Now, and they launched a huge volley of snowballs.

Showed no mercy. I had to beg them to stop. Millie was giggling so

hard that giggle she couldnt stop she was holding her stomach

said she was going to die

He pauses. JILL stops and looks at him.

JILL: Alec

ALEC: (quickly) Thats the day I made Emilys swing. But Laura and I were on itmore than her that day

He looks at the picture in silence for a moment.

(putting it with the others) Right, one more.

He looks through his belongings again and picks up

the Winnie the Pooh book. He opens it, looks at it

warmly, then closes it.

JILL: Oh, Ill need the glass that was with the Cognac.

ALEC: Ok.

He finds the glass and takes it to her. He watches her

putting the letters down for a moment.

(suddenly suspicious) This isnt what I think it is, is it?

JILL: It depends on what you think it is.


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Final Draft 17

ALEC: (looking at the glass in his hand) It is, isnt it? Jill, you have got to be

joking. There has to be another way to do this.

JILL: No, Alec, there isnt.

ALEC: I thought we were going to just... I dont know... contact her. I didnt think

wed have to to do this sort of thing.

JILL: I know it seems a bit medieval, but it is a tried and tested method.

ALEC: But a Ouija-board.

JILL: I know, I know. Its got a bad reputation. And Id prefer it if you didnt

call it a Ouija-board. Thats the American name for it. Technically itscalled a psychograph. But we just call it a Board.

ALEC: Yes, but isnt it a bit unconventional?

JILL: This whole situation is unconventional, Alec. The fact is, its much easier

for spirits, especially new spirits, to communicate through the Board, than

to manifest themselves in a plane that is totally foreign to them.

ALEC: Well, thank you. Its all much clearer, now.

JILL: Its nothing to worry about. If it helps, just think of it as Scrabble withattitude.

ALEC: It doesnt.

JILL: Sorry, Im just trying to put you at your ease.

ALEC: Well, youre not.

JILL has finished putting the letters down.

JILL: We need one more item. (seeing the book in his hand) Is that it?

ALEC: I dont know. Its more to do with Emily than Laura.

JILL: It will be fine. Are you ready?

ALEC: (handing her the glass) As Ill ever be.

JILL: Good. Now, can you place the four objects on the Board, one on each

corner?


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Final Draft 18

He does so. JILL puts the glass in the centre of the

Board.

Now. Sit down opposite me.

ALEC: (sitting) What do I have to do?

JILL: Okay, the patter. The Board is used as a sort of host, a link between

planes. Now, I will be channelling that link.

ALEC: Channelling?

JILL: Acting as intermediary between the two dimensions, like a go-between.

ALEC: So you will be in a trance.

JILL: No, not as such. As a medium I am able to form a psychic connection

between the two sides. I shall just be concentrating on emitting a receptive

aura, sort of a meditation. Now, in a moment we will place our fingers

lightly but firmly, upon the glass so as to allow it to move easily and

freely.

ALEC: Right.

JILL: We must concentrate our minds to form the link. Soon the glass will beginto move, slowly at first, picking up speed as it goes. The other side will

spell out its message by touching the words and letters with the glass.

Now, to avoid confusion, only one person should speak. So, once we have

established the connection you will be doing all the talking. I will be

reading the Board. Questions should be put plainly and accurately. Have

you got all that?

ALEC: Yes, I think so.

JILL: Good. Are you ready to begin?

ALEC: Yes.

JILL: Okay. Place your finger lightly on the glass...

They both do this.

Now, close your eyes...

They both do this.


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Final Draft 19

Clear your mind of everything... I want you to try and picture in your mind

the essence of pure... white... light... create white light... in your mind...

picture it... coming down into the top of your head... picture it...

completely surrounding your body... you are completely enveloped in

white light... this white light... is called your crown chakrah... it will act

as a veil... a veil of protective spiritual energy... Yes?

ALEC: Yes.

JILL: Now, we shall begin by slowly moving the glass in a clockwise circle

around the centre of the Board. After a brief period it should be taken over

by the other side, and begin to move on its own. Ready?

ALEC: Yes.

They slowly move the glass in a clockwise circle

around the middle of the Board for a few seconds.

JILL: Now, without taking your fingers off the glass, slowly ease the pressure

moving it...

The glass gradually glides to a halt.

Okay, lets try again. This time I want you to concentrate on Laura. Empty

your mind of everything else. Okay, and again...

They slowly move the glass in a circle for another few

seconds.

And slowly ease the pressure again...

Once more the glass gradually glides to a halt.

Its not working. I think it may be this room. Normally, whenever Im

going to conduct a session in a house for the first time, I purify the room.

ALEC: What with?

JILL: Incense, usually.

ALEC: Oh. (an idea) What about candles? Would they work?

JILL: I think so.

ALEC searches the tea-chest.


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Final Draft 20

ALEC: We were fairly susceptible to power cuts out here. (finding some) Here

they are. How many do you need?

JILL: How many have you got?

ALEC: Three no, four.

He produces four assorted, free-standing white

candles.

JILL: Good.

She takes them and puts one at each corner of the

Board.

ALEC: (searching) There should be some matches somewhere. (finding them)

Yes, here we are.

JILL: Fine. Can you light them?

ALEC begins to light the candles.

These should make all the difference.

She glances at the window. The sun is setting.

(Over the next few pages the light from the window

slowly fades to black, leaving just a pool of candle-

light over the Board.)

Were beginning to lose the light anyway. Right, lets try again.

They resume their positions, with fingers on the glass,

eyes closed.

Clear your mind... picture the essence of pure white light... create white

light... in your mind... picture it... coming down into the top of your head...

surrounding your body... you are completely enveloped in white

light...Yes?

ALEC: Yes.

JILL: Now, concentrate on Laura... picture her... call her name in your mind...

concentrate as hard as you can... and start to move the glass...

They slowly move the glass in a circle.


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Final Draft 21

... keep thinking of Laura... picture her... call her name... keep thinking of

Laura...

The glass speeds up slightly.

... yes... thats it... I can feel it... concentrate, Alec... call her...

The glass builds up more speed.

... good... good... its working... keep concentrating... keep thinking of

Laura... keep calling her name... shout her name... shout her name, Alec, in

your mind... keep call-

Suddenly the glass stops dead in the centre. ALEClooks at it. A pause. JILL suddenly takes a sharp

intake of breath.

ALEC: Whats wrong?

JILL: I I just got a sense of strong very strong emotion.

ALEC: What sort of emotion?

JILL: Intense anger.

ALEC: Oh my God. Its Laura! (to the Board) Laura? Laura, is that you?

A pause. Then the glass moves slowly to the letter

D.

Its moving! D.

The glass moves back to the centre, then to the letter

A.

A.

Again, the glass moves back to the centre, then to the

letter R.

R.

Again, the glass moves back to the centre, then to the

letter K.

K.

The glass moves back to the centre. A pause.


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Final Draft 22

Dark? What does she-

Suddenly, the glass moves to the letter R.

R.

The glass moves to the letter A.

A.

The glass moves to the letter I.

I.

The glass moves to the letter N.

N.

The glass moves to the centre. A pause.

Rain... dark rain ... where is she? (to the Board) Laura? Its Alec.

Nothing.

Where are you?

Nothing.

(to JILL) Whats happening?

JILL: I I dont know yet. It sometimes takes time for the Board to settle down,

for the connection to...

ALEC: (to the Board) Laura, listen to me

Suddenly, the glass moves to the letter C.

JILL: I think we should

ALEC: C.

The glass moves to the letter A.

A.

The glass moves to the letter N.


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Final Draft 23

N.

Suddenly, the glass moves to the letter T, and back

to the centre.

T Cant.

The glass moves to the letter C, and back to the

centre.

C

A pause.

JILL: Cant see...

ALEC: God, where is she?

JILL: This isnt... its too erratic the connection is we need to focus. Call to

her again.

She concentrates.

ALEC: (to the Board) Laura? its me Alec

Suddenly the glass darts to the letter O, then back

to the centre.

O.

The glass darts to the letters G, O, and D, and

back to the centre.

God...

JILL: Oh God...

ALEC: Laura Laura please

The glass darts to the letters S, K, I, D,

D, I, N, and G.

JILL: Skidding

ALEC: (to JILL) Skidding? Jill, whats


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Final Draft 24

The glass is now moving with escalating speed and

intensity, punctuating words with abrupt halts in the

centre of the Board. JILLs voice begins to reflect the

emotion of the words as she reads them out.

JILL: Cant steer

ALEC: (softly) Oh, God

JILL: cant stop cant

ALEC: please no

ALEC takes his finger off the glass and slowly backsaway from the Board. The glass stops moving to the

letters and begins to slowly circle anticlockwise.

JILL: cant

ALEC: please...

JILL slowly lifts her head and stares out.

JILL: cant... control... cant...

ALEC: no

JILL: stop... cant...

The glass is now moving with extreme speed. JILL

stops reading the Board and slowly lifts her head up.

... no... no... spinning... going... to... to... crash... to hit... no... no...

please...

A pause.

Shit!... hit it!... hit it!... crashed!... screaming!... flying! upside!...

down!... please!... falling! God!... no!... no!... no... no... (screaming)

NNNOO!! hit road! upside! down! crushed! screeching!

forward!metal shearing! cant! move!cant! slowing

stopping stopping

A pause.

Silence silence


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Final Draft 25

A pause.

Blood

A pause.

Laura? Laura?! Emily?! no noplease, no (tearful) no

please what have I done? what have I done?

The glass slowly glides to a halt.

(softly) what have I done?

A long pause. JILL takes her finger from the glass.

ALEC: (to himself, tearfully) Laura Im sorry

JILL: (herself again) Sweet Jesus.

ALEC: Im so sorry

A long pause.

JILL: (looking up for Alec) Alec?

ALEC: Im so sorry...

JILL: (going to him) Alec

ALEC: So sorry

JILL: Im

ALEC: The crash

JILL: Im... Im sorry, Alec... that was that was my fault... I should have

realised... this situation is... oh, Im so stupid!...

ALEC: That was me

JILL: Yes... well, not you exactly, it was your subconscious. You have such

intense feelings of grief and and guilt about the crash bottled up. I must

have I must have tapped into them somehow, accidentally channelled

them through the Board. I should have realised. Im so sorry, Alec. Are

you all right?

ALEC: Yes yes, I think so the crash... its so vivid. Every time I think ofher... I think of the crash.


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Final Draft 26

JILL: Yes... yes, I understand... Do you think you are ready to try again?

ALEC: No no...

JILL: Please, Alec. Give it one more try.

ALEC: I cant.

JILL: I promise you it will be all right this time. I know what I did wrong. Please

come and try again.

ALEC: No, Im sorry, Jill. I cant do this. I cant talk to her yet.

JILL: Alec, you must. Shes waiting to talk to you.

ALEC: I cant. Im not ready.

JILL: Alec

ALEC: What am I going to say to her? Im really sorry, Laura? Im sorry I lost

control? Im sorry I crashed the car?!

JILL: It was an accident...

ALEC: It was not an accident! I crashed the car! Its as simple as that!

JILL: It wasnt your fault.

ALEC: If it wasnt my fault, why does she still blame me for it?

JILL: You dont know that.

ALEC: Yes, I do.

JILL: How?

A pause.

ALEC: I hear her voice sometimes.

JILL: What do you mean?

ALEC: I hear her, in this house, calling me, accusing me.

JILL: What does she say?


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Final Draft 27

ALEC: Just the same word, again and again. Why... why... why?

A pause.

And I have no answer for her. I keep asking myself the same question,

over and over again. Why? Why did I crash the car?. Why wasnt I

more careful? The conditions were so bad... dark, rain beating down, poor

visibility. The answer is I dont know. Why did I lose my temper? I

dont know. I had no reason. She was right. I was taking them for granted.

I was putting my work first.

A pause.

Wed never argued like that before. Not like that. It was vicious... Emilystarted crying in the back seat... I shouted at her to be quiet... I shoutedat

her... the last time I said anything to her and I shouted...

A pause.

JILL: Alec, you dont have to

ALEC: I do have to Its been eating away at me

A pause.

The carall of a sudden, the car was on the hard shoulder... Emily

screamed... the car was shaking... I tried to slow down... get us back on the

road... we started to skid... I couldnt control it... Emily was screaming

even louder... the car... twisting across the lanes... couldnt do a thing...

then... suddenly we slammed into the central reservation... the car flipped

over... took off... the engine screamed and screamed... and thenand then

everything seemed to slow down... slow motion... we just seemed to hang

there... upside down then... then such an almighty crash... the car, on its

roof, screeching down the motorway, sparks flying... the noise,

deafening... then... then everything went quiet... everything went black... I

could hear Lauras voice, faintly calling my name...I opened my eyes...

and... and... and there she was... covered with blood...looking into my

eyes... mumbling the words Why... why?... I tried to talk... Im sorry, I

said, but she didnt hear me... then it all went black again... the next thing I

remember was...was being helped from the wreckage... looking back at

what was left of the car... seeing them... the blood...

A pause.

JILL: Alec, Im so sorry... thats terrible...


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Final Draft 28

ALEC: Her voice... I still hear it... calling... blaming... accusing... why?...

why?... and I cant answer her... Jill, I cant... I... I... (breaking down) I

cant face... face talking to her... knowing that... that Ill never be with her

again... never hold her... never... never see Emily again... never read her

another story... I lost them, Jill... I lost them...

A pause.

JILL: Alec, listen to me. I know you grieve for them. I know its painful. But,

you have to do this. Not just for you, but for Laura as well. She

desperately needs to talk to you. You have to resolve this, for both of you.

Alec, those that have passed over can sometimes be held back against their

will, by their own grief, andthe intense grief of the person they have left

behind. Letting go of those you love is always hard. But it has to be done.And then, hopefully, those that are held back will be set free. The only

way to do this is by making contact. By talking to her. By knowing that

shes all right, and letting her know that youre all right. Its time to let go,

Alec. Its time to move on. Its time to say good-bye.

A pause.

All right?

ALEC nods.

Good.

She goes and sits back down. She looks at ALEC. He

slowly sits back down at the Board. They place their

fingers on the glass.

Close your eyes...

They both do this.

Clear your mind again... picture the essence of pure white light... white...

light... create white light... in your mind... picture it... coming down into

the top of your head... picture it... completely surrounding your

body...Yes?

ALEC: Yes.

JILL: Now, concentrate on Laura... concentrate as hard as you can call her

name in your mind... call her here picture her... picture her here, now

in this room and start to move the glass...

They move the glass slowly in the circle.


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Final Draft 29

... keep thinking of Laura... picture her in this room... call her name... call

her

The glass speeds up slightly.

... yes... thats it... I can feel it... concentrate, Alec... call her...

The glass builds up more speed.

... good!.. good!.. its working... keep concentrating... keep calling to her...

keep calling her name... shout her name... shout her name, Alec, in your

mind...

The glass suddenly stops dead in the centre. They open

their eyes. There is a long pause. Suddenly there is the

loud bang of the door to the study slamming shut.

ALEC: (leaping to his feet) Shit! who the hell?

A pause. He looks round the room.

Laura?... Laura?... is that you??

With only JILLs finger on it, the glass suddenly movesto the word YES, then back to the centre.

JILL: Yes.

A pause. ALEC talks to LAURA as if she is somewhere

in the room.

ALEC: Are you... are you really here?

Again, the glass moves to YES, then back to the

centre, as it does after each message.

JILL: Yes.

A pause.

ALEC: (to JILL) What shall I say? I dont...

The glass slowly spells out ALEC.

JILL: Alec.


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Final Draft 30

A pause.

(to ALEC) Answer her.

ALEC: Yes. Yes, Im here... oh, dear God... I cant believe it... is it really you?

The glass moves to the word YES.

JILL: Yes.

ALEC: Dear God...

The glass spells out HOW, R, and U.

JILL: How... are... you?

ALEC: Im... Im all right.

JILL: (to ALEC) No. Tell her the truth.

ALEC: I... I... miss you...

The glass spells out MISS and U.

JILL: I miss you.

ALEC: How are you?

The glass goes to the letters O and K.

JILL: Okay.

ALEC: Its... been a long time...


JILL: Yes.

ALEC: Its... its good to hear from you...


JILL: Yes.

ALEC: Laura... Laura... Ive got something to say Im... Im so sorry... Im

sorry for everything... I

The glass moves to the letter Y.


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Final Draft 31

JILL: Why?

A pause. Again,the glass moves to the letter Y.

Why? (to ALEC) You have to tell her, Alec. You have to tell her how

you feel.

ALEC: Because... because... the crash...I know it was all my fault... and I just want

you to know... needyou to know that Im sorry... I know I know theres

no reason for you to forgive me, but I just need you to

The glass moves rapidly to the word NO. By now

the glass moves with speed and ease.

JILL: No.

A pause.

ALEC: (getting tearful) I understand that

The glass spells out BLAME.

JILL: Blame no blame.

ALEC: (slight relief) Yes there is, Laura... if I hadnt...if I hadnt been so pre-occupied with the book

The glass rapidly moves to some letters.

if I didnt take you for granted, if I hadnt been so bloody selfish, if I

hadnt lost my temper... I wouldnt have lost control of the car!

JILL: Not your fault.

ALEC: Yes, it was, Laura!


It was my fault! All of it!! And Ill never be able to forgive myself!!!

JILL: Shut up.

ALEC: What?


JILL: Shut up.


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Final Draft 32

ALEC moves to the Board and watches the glass as it

moves. BRAKES FAILED is spelled out.

ALEC: Oh my dear God. It... it cant be... are you sure?


JILL: Yes.

ALEC: I cant believe it... the brakes failed... sweet Jesus... then... then it wasnt

me?

The glass moves to the word NO.

JILL: No.

ALEC: It... it was... an accident?


JILL: Yes.

ALEC: All this timeI... I dont know what to say.

The glass moves to some letters.

I really dont know what to say.

JILL: Thats a first.

ALEC smiles.

ALEC: Thank you, Laura... thank you for telling me. (to himself) Dear God...


JILL: No... guilt.

ALEC: No ... no guilt... no guilt

A pause. Then the glass moves to some letters.

JILL: Daddy.

ALEC: (looking around him) Emily?... Emily, is that you??


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Final Draft 33

The glass goes to YES.

JILL: Yes.

ALEC: (glancing towards the door) I had a feeling you were here, somehow.

How... how are you, Millie?

OK is spelled out.

JILL: Okay.

ALEC: Good... thats good...


JILL: Why... did... you... go... away?

ALEC: I... I had to...


JILL: Mummy... says... you...

A pause.

Mummy says you died.

A pause. ALEC squats to talk to her.

ALEC: Yes... yes, thats right.

The glass goes to the letter Y.

JILL: Why?

ALEC: Everyone must die sometime, Millie. That was my time.


JILL: Does it hurt?

ALEC: (smiling) No... not now...

A pause.

Are you... are you enjoying school?

The glass darts to the word NO.


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Final Draft 34

JILL: No.

ALEC: Well, you just stick with it. You will make loads of friends soon, and then

it will get better.

OK is spelled out.

JILL: Okay.


Miss you.

ALEC: I miss you, too... very much...

A pause.

I tell you what, how would it be if I came to visit you? Would you like

that?


JILL: Yes.

ALEC: Good.


JILL: When?

ALEC: Soon...


JILL: Promise?

ALEC: Yes, I promise... on one condition.


JILL: What?

ALEC: That you stop slamming doors. That was you, wasnt it?



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Final Draft 35

JILL: (with a giggle) Yes.

ALEC: I thought so. Is it a deal?


Good.


JILL: Got to go.

ALEC: I have to go as well... take care, Millie... I love you... good-bye...

The glass moves to the word GOOD-BYE.

JILL: Bye.

ALEC: Good-bye, Emily...

A pause. The glass moves to some letters.

JILL: Alec.

ALEC: Laura?


JILL: Yes.

The glass moves to the letter Y three times.

Why... why... why...


... did you have to die?

A pause. ALEC nods in understanding.

ALEC: I dont know, Laura. I suppose it was just meant to be... but Im fine now,

I promise... so you mustnt grieve for me anymore... I will always be

near... just around the corner... do you understand?


JILL: Yes.


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Final Draft 36

ALEC: Im glad we talked.


JILL: Yes.

ALEC: I... Im... I dont feel as bad anymore...

The glass moves to the word NO.

JILL: No.

ALEC: Time to move on.


JILL: I love you.

ALEC: I love you too... good-bye, Laura... have... have a good life...

The glass moves to GOOD-BYE, and stays there.

JILL: Good-bye.

ALEC: Good-bye, Laura.

A pause.

JILL: Shes gone.

ALEC: Yes.

JILL: Are you all right?

ALEC: I think so.

JILL: I have to go as well. Been here too long. Anyway, Emilys at school

tomorrow, so Laura will be wanting to get home. Its a long drive from

here.

She moves to leave.

ALEC: Jill.

She stops and turns.

Thanks for everything, Jill.


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JILL: My pleasure. Take care of yourself...

ALEC: You too. Good-bye, Jill.

JILL: Bye, Alec.

JILL fades from view.

ALEC takes a long look at his old room. He picks up

the photograph, looks at it warmly, and places it in the

tea-chest. He then blows the candle out and puts it in

the tea-chest. He does the same with the figurine and

then the bottle of Cognac, together with their adjacentcandles. The pool of light around ALEC decreases by

a degree every time a candle is blown out.

Then, with just his top half lit by the one remaining

candle, he picks up the Winnie the Pooh book, looks

at it tenderly, and puts it away with the rest. He is

about to blow the last candle out when he pauses, and

takes the book back out. He opens it to the book-mark,

takes it out, and looks at it warmly. He then replaces

the book-mark, closes the book, and puts it under his

arm.

Taking one last look at the room, he blows out the

candle.

Blackout.

End

Contacting Laura

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Transcript of Contacting Laura