Mushroom Clouds

8/14/2019 Mushroom Clouds

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"Mushroom Clouds"(Working title)

Theatre Play

(Scene 1)

By Laila Ruiz Castillo

DEP. LEGAL:M-003035/2013


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SCENE 1

1. KELLYS HOUSE. KITCHEN. INT. MORNING.

At rise, a cozy kitchen in the suburbs of London. Highmiddle class style. "Picture this", by Blondie, plays froma small radio on one of the shelves. Matching-coloredappliances, matching-colored curtains. A few plantsdecorate the table and the corners of the room. Two glasswindows lead into a tidy garden, and the front door islocated in the stage right corner. Everything seems toindicate its going to be a perfect Saturday morning. Thetable is set for breakfast.

KELLY is leaning against the stove top texting with her cellphone. Shes 17, too dressed up for a saturday morning. She takes a few more moments to continue texting.Her mobile beeps every now and then.

AMANDA, around 80 years old, enters wearing a pink robeand matching slippers. She carries a spray can in her hand, and uses the other to lean against her kane. Shewalks at a very slow pace, trembling. As soon as shenotices KELLY, she smiles. KELLY doesnt look up from her mobile.

AMANDAGood morning, Mandy.

KELLY(Uninterested)

Im Kelly, Gran. Youre Mandy.

AMANDAIm going to water the plants.

KELLYSure.

AMANDA walks up to the plants. She shakes the canvigourously and sprays it on the leaves.

AMANDA

You have to cool off the leavesfirst, with warm water. Thatsthe trick to plants. I alwaystold your father that, but henever listened. He loved plants,but not the right way. Yourfather was like that.

KELLYYou mean Granddad.

AMANDAHe loved everything around him,he just didnt love it the right


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2.

AMANDAway, you understand? They needthe humidity if you want to seethem green. Lime green, you know.That really fresh, vivid color.

KELLY sniffs the air around her.

KELLYWait...whats that smell? Ohfor...! Fuck, Granny! What thehell are you doing?

KELLY reaches out towards AMANDA and takes the spray outof her hands. She reads the label.

KELLYThis is paint varnish, Gran.

AMANDAOh...

KELLY looks at AMANDA as if she was a lost case. She putsher arm around her shoulder and gently leads her outsidethe room.

KELLYIll do it this afternoon, allright? Why dont you go upstairsand get some sleep, its stillearly.

AMANDAYes. Yes, perhaps I should.

KELLYIm expecting a friend over forbreakfast.

AMANDAIs it that nice boy again?

KELLY

(Blushing)It might be.

AMANDA chuckles like a little girl whos just heard anexciting secret.

AMANDAAhh! All right, Ill take a smallnap. Just dont let her find out.Mandy doesnt approve of youdating so young.


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3.

KELLYYoure Mandy, Gran.

AMANDAGoodnight, Mandy!

AMANDA finally exits the room and KELLY sighs. She checkseverything in the table is in order. The doorbell ringsalmost instantly and she scampers toward the front door.

DEREK walks in. Hes 19, wears a suit and sunglasses, and has a splitting headache. He forces himself inside with agroan and sits down at the table. KELLY speaks to himwhile she eyes her cellphone once in a while and keepsanswering texts.

KELLY:Youre half an hour late, you

know. But thank God you didntshow up before or you wouldveseen her go nuts again.

(She smells him)Did you come straight from theclub?

DEREK:Turn that shit off, will you.

KELLY:Sure.

KELLY obeys and turns off the radio. She then sitsopposite him and watches him intently.

DEREK:Your mum home?

KELLY:No, I told you! Shes gone outfor the day.

(Smiling coyly)We have the whole house toourselves.

DEREK says nothing and stares into oblivion.

KELLY:I made toast and coffee. Andgrapefruit juice. I really dontknow why the hell you like tohave grapefruit juice in themorning. Dont you go like this?

KELLY makes a face as if shrinking away from thebitterness of it. She takes a few moments to do this withvery exaggerated gestures.


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4.

DEREK:Yes.

KELLY:So why do you drink it?

DEREK:Just give me a beer.

KELLY:Why would you drink a beer whenyou have a hangover?

DEREK:It goes away gradually if youdrink more.

KELLY:

That doesnt make any sense.DEREK:

Just give me the fucking beer,please.

KELLY walks up to the fridge, takes out a beer and handsit to him. She sits down and continues texting.

KELLY:I bet its a real manly thing todo, huh. Cure a hangover with abeer.

(Imitating a man)Im no faggot. I dont need anyfruit juice. Give me a beer andIll take the pain like a man.

KELLY smiles to herself and DEREK wants to die of misery.

KELLY:You know, the hangover is justthe bodys reaction to a lack ofalcohol. Like withdrawal symptom.If you drink more, it will go

away, and then come back again,and then if you drink more itwill again go away, only to comeback again, and it will lead toan infinite loop...

DEREK:Jesus christ, will you just shutthe fuck up!

KELLY:I just dont want you to becomean alcoholic.


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5.

Silence. DEREK just looks at her. KELLY is now totallyaware that something is wrong and sets her cellphone downon the table.

KELLY:What is it?

DEREK:We gotta talk.

KELLY:We are talking.

DEREK:You know what I mean.

KELLY:Ok, so lets talk.

DEREK:Not now, I need to sleep a coupleof hours.

DEREK stands up from the table ready to leave the room.

KELLY:Whats wrong?

DEREK:Well talk about it later. Oh,you left this outside the club,on the sidewalk.

DEREK takes out an ID card and hands it to her.

DEREK:Your sisters old ID. You droppedit when we were arguing.

DEREK begins to walk towards the stage left exit oncemore, but stops as soon as KELLY speaks.

KELLY:

Ok, ok, wait. Sit down. Letstalk now.

DEREK:Not now, Kelly, please.

KELLY:Yes, now! Whats wrong?

DEREK:Just shut the fuck up. Shut thefuck up, thats all Im asking.


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6.

KELLY:Did you do it?

DEREK freezes and turns toward her. KELLY goes pale.

KELLY:You did, didnt you? (Pause.)Whyd you do it?

DEREK:Kelly...

KELLY:Whyd you do it?

DEREK:Im going to sleep for a fewhours, and then Ill come backand well sort it all out, ok?

DEREK exits through the stage left door. KELLY watches hermobile beeping continously. Tears spring to her eyes. Sheyells out to him towards the stage left exit.

KELLYYou know how many fucking timesIve had that opportunity?Fucking millions! And I dontmean Jake, or Michael, or thatfat friend of yours at yourcousins wedding, I mean millions

of times you dont know about!Im standing there with a fuckinggin tonic, which by the way Ihate, but I force myself to takeit just to impress your friends,and someone comes up to me andasks what Im drinking, and fromthen on, its just what do Istudy, what do I do for a living,do I like this music, do I likethis club, do I want to gooutside for a fag, do I want togo outside for a shag? Do youknow how many fucking times thathappened, and how many times Isaid no? Do you have any idea howeasy it is to say "no" when youlove someone?

KELLY leans back on her chair and cries. This goes on fora few moments. Suddenly, a dark figure appears at thewindow, MANDY, about twenty six years old, shatters thewindow with a broken beer bottle and steps inside theroom. KELLY jumps up from her seat and steps back. MANDYis wearing black stockings filled with runs, military

boots, a black leather jacket, and heavy goth-stylemake-up.)


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7.

KELLYMandy?? What the hell are youdoing here?!

MANDYIs mum home?

KELLYNo, she isnt, but what are youdoing here? Are you fucking mad,breaking through the window likea rapist? You scared me! Whydont you use the front door? Ohfuck, theres glass everywhere...

MANDY starts walking up and down the room looking aroundlike a frightened animal.

MANDYOk, listen to me, just dont askquestions, only listen to me,allright? I need 15 grand. Dontask what its for, Ill explainlater, just give it to me andIll tell you everything tonight.

KELLYWhat?! Why on earth would youthink Id have 15 grand? Wheredid you come from? Are you introuble?

MANDY opens a cabinet and finds a piggybank. She smashesit into pieces and counts a few coins.

MANDYDo you know if mom keepsanything? Like under themattresses or something?

KELLYMoms gonna kill you if she findsout youre here. She told me to

call the police if you ever cameby again.

MANDY finishes counting the coins and sighs. She is verystill, looking around at the mess she made and trying tomake sense of where she is. She finally looks at KELLY.

MANDYHave you been crying?

KELLYNo. Ive got allergy.


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8.

MANDYYou have been crying. Whatswrong? Mind if I sit down?

MANDY sits down at the table without waiting for ananswer. She serves herself grapefruit juice, coffee and abagel.

KELLYMandy, you gotta leave. Momdoesnt want you here.

MANDY( With her mouth full )

Does it have to do with that guyI saw coming out of here? Helooked like a real jerk-off. AndI know a jerk-off when I see one.

He reeks of it. From head to toe.KELLY

Hes not. Now get up, youvegotta clean up this mess beforeMom gets home.

MANDYAre you in love with him? Is hein love with you?

KELLYFuck off.

MANDYCome on, Keekee. Tell me whathappened.

KELLYDont call me that! And its noneof your business what happened.

MANDYIm sure I can help. Ive hadfirst-hand experience with

jerk-offs.(Laughs at her little joke)Get it? First hand experiencewith jerk-offs?

KELLYJust get up, please, and cleanthis up. Or Ill call mom. I meanit.

MANDYOh, jesus! Im only trying tohelp!


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9.

KELLYSince when are you so interestedin my love life? You werentthere through half of it.

MANDYI called you.

KELLYThe last time you called wasthree years ago. From a payphonein Galway, because you had soldyour mobile to pay for hoppers.

MANDYPoppers.

KELLY

Whatever.MANDY

Well, I called you!

KELLYThree years ago!

MANDYOk, so about this guy...

KELLYShut up about this guy! Hes noneof your concern! The only goodadvice you could give me, as abig, wise sister, is on how to bea complete slut!

Silence. MANDY is a little hurt, KELLY wishes she hadntsaid that.

MANDYOk, lets not get nervous. Imhere on my best intentions.

KELLYRight, you break through thewindow asking for 15 grand. Whatthe hell happened to you, Mandy?

MANDY takes a while to answer. She is suddenly dizzy andfrightened.

KELLYAre you all right?

MANDYIm fine, Im just...I think Ihave to lie down.


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10.

MANDY stands up, but feels faint and almost falls dead tothe floor. KELLY helps her just in time.

MANDYI didnt sleep well. Im reallysorry. Im allright, now.

MANDY straightens up, tries to relax, and sits back downon her seat.

KELLYYou should sleep for a while. Momwont be home till thisafternoon.

MANDY takes a swig of grapefruit juice and makes a face.

MANDYGaaa! Grapefruit juice? Who on

earth drinks grapefruit juice inthe morning?

KELLY giggles.

KELLYI know.

MANDYOk, look. Last time I came Ifucked up really bad, I know. Iunderstand Mom doesnt want mehere anymore, but I do need themoney. Ive never asked you allfor anything, but it will save mylife.

KELLYUh-huh.

MANDYIm in huge trouble. Its verybad. If you guys give me themoney, Ill be safe and Illnever come back to this houseagain. I swear it.

KELLYChrist.

MANDYI just need a place to stay forone night. One night. And themoney.

KELLYWhat about your flat? And your

boyfriend?


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11.

MANDYThat was over long ago, Keekee.

KELLYOh. Well I guess were not madefor relationships.

MANDYNo one in this family is. Youknow all about Mom and Dad. AndGranny. How is she anyways? Ireally want to see her!

KELLYShes a little...gone.

MANDYWhat do you mean "gone"?

KELLYLike...mild alzheimers. Gettingworse pretty fast. She confusesme with you, I think. Maybe itsbecause you were named after her,or maybe its just because shemisses you.

MANDYOh. Thats really sad. Where isshe?

KELLYShes supposed to be sleeping,but shes probably watering theplants.

MANDYThats sweet.

KELLYShes spraying them with varnish.

MANDY

Oh.

KELLYYeah. It really went from bad toworse. At least last month sheused deodorant.

They look down at the floor helpless. MANDY feels sick,and runs to the sink. She vomits and KELLY rushes to helpher. MANDY makes a gesture as if saying "I can do this",and KELLY walks back to the table. She looks arounduncomfortably as MANDYs noises become more and moregruesome. When its finally over, MANDY collapses on thefloor.


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12.

KELLY runs toward her.

KELLYMandy? Mandy? Are you ok? Can youhear me?

MANDY just moans. KELLY grabs her by the feet and dragsher body across the floor, towards the stage left exit.MANDYs body drags along bits and pieces of broken glass.Lights fade out.

END OF SCENE 1

Mushroom Clouds

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