Elisabeth: Stage Play

ACT ONE.

Scene One: Office

The light is dim, SCOTT is sitting at his table, looking at paperwork before his phone started ringing, he did not answer. Then it stops ringing. He is frustrated and tired, placing his glasses down and leaning back on his chair, sighing. Slowly, STEPHEN walked into the room.

STEPHEN: Scott.

SCOTT says nothing.

STEPHEN: I have something to tell you.

Putting on his glasses, SCOTT looks at STEPHEN in disgust.

SCOTT: You’ve come back, eh? You took Elisabeth, you took the inheritance, and now you’re back? Face to face with your brother, whom you beat to it all.

STEPHEN: Not this again, I thought we dealt with it years ago! Be sensible, Scott!

SCOTT: Tell me how I’m supposed to be sensible when you came into my office uninvited, after a year I might add, and after you took my wife?

STEPHEN: I did not take your wife! And I’ve come for a reason, Scott! You’re as moronic as you are before, not answering the phone and allowing me to tell you about my coming!

SCOTT was shocked, STEPHEN was the one that called?

STEPHEN: Why did you not pick up?

SCOTT: I was too busy doing my job, debt is piling up.

STEPHEN: Have you seen Mother lately?

SCOTT was silent, before gulping and answering.

SCOTT: Earlier this month, her bills are expensive.

STEPHEN: So… how do I put this… how to put this… I’m sorry.

SCOTT: Pardon?

STEPHEN: I don’t know how to tell you this.

SCOTT: Just spit it out, Stephen!

STEPHEN: I don’t know how to… say it.

SCOTT: For once in your life, do something for me!

STEPHEN (now outraged): Fine! You truly want it out of me? Mother has passed, Scott! Are you happy now? Our Mother has passed! I have been mourning for hours, and have been decent enough to drop by you and tell you the news personally! Is that what you wanted?

SCOTT is shocked, speechless.

SCOTT: Mother… what?

STEPHEN: 11: 46 PM.

SCOTT: That can’t be.

STEPHEN: I’m sorry, Scott.

SCOTT, now slightly mad, knocks over his paper and stared at STEPHEN in anger. STEPHEN is horrified and shocked.

SCOTT: How did you know about it before I did? And when did you even come here? What else do you want to take from me?

STEPHEN: What is wrong with you? I came because you are my brother, adopted or not! I wanted to comfort you, bring you to my place!

SCOTT: You what?

Pausing for a moment and taking deep breaths, STEPHEN reclaimed himself and his consciousness.

STEPHEN: I had arrived earlier today, to bring you to my house. Your debt is piling up, borderline impressive that they have not yet been evicted you.

SCOTT: I’m not going with you.

STEPHEN: So you want to just be piled in debt, soon to be evicted, mourning for the rest of your life?

SCOTT: You took Elisabeth from me! We have known each other since the 1st Grade, and yet you took her from me! You make everything seem so easy, like a joke!

STEPHEN: So the alcohol warnings that I gave, was that also a joke? Wasn’t that why Elisabeth left you?

SCOTT: You stop talking about Elisabeth! You don’t know her like I do!

STEPHEN: I have loved her just as long as you, longer even! You came into our family when you were 5, I was here first! As the other brother, I gave everything up for you! Toys, books, everything! Family weren’t millionaires, Scott!

SCOTT: Then how come you are one?

STEPHEN: Entrepreneuring, Scott! Working!

SCOTT: Pish-posh!

STEPHEN: The inheritance that I was given were little, I used that to excel! Even if you know that I’m a scholar, what do you do all day?

SCOTT: I have been writing for years, and even you know that! Many articles and essays I have published!

STEPHEN: Where are those essays and articles now?

SCOTT: I’ve been busy!

STEPHEN: With what? Drugs and alcohol?

SCOTT: You shut up, Stephen! You have no idea how rough I have lived these past years! You have not realized how much debt and depression I have gone through once Mother became sick! And you, you’re the one to talk! You never helped! Always in Tennessee with your business and company!

STEPHEN: I…

STEPHEN was speechless because what SCOTT said was true. His business and company is in Tennessee, so it’s seldom that he ever comes to his mother and brother, leaving them for the whole of the previous year. Indeed he was guilty.

SCOTT: Heh? Cat got your tongue? What else do you want from me, now?

STEPHEN: Please… Scott. Come with me.

SCOTT: Why should I trust you after all this time? You abandoned us and took everything from me!

STEPHEN: Because Elisabeth wanted you to come with me. That’s the only reason that I came, other than to meet my brother and mother.

SCOTT (stuttering): Elisabeth? How can that be? She left me for you!

STEPHEN: She never forgot you.

SCOTT: But she… she left me.

STEPHEN: Just answer me, Scott. Will you come with me? Please, I can help you.

SCOTT (under his breath): I’ll come with you.

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Scene Two: Childhood

The curtain then closes for a short intermission, before opening up with three little kids running across the stage (from the right to left).

STEPHEN: Guys, look at this place! I can’t believe that none of us went behind the school before!

ELISABETH: Hey, um… Stephen?

STEPHEN: Yes, Elisabeth?

ELISABETH: Whos’ he, going with us?

ELISABETH then points to SCOTT.

STEPHEN: Oh, yeah! I forgot to introduce you to the newest member of the Serch family, Scott!

ELISABETH: He doesn’t look like a baby…

SCOTT (blushing, responded): Oh no! He doesn’t mean it like that! I had my own family, but moved into his family.

STEPHEN: Yes! I know he’s new, but you’ll love Scott. Smartest and most talented kid around!

SCOTT: Well, not as talented as you, per se.

SCOTT stood there awkwardly, blushing as ELISABETH went over to hug him.

ELISABETH: Lovely to meet you, Scott! I’m Elisabeth!

SCOTT: I’m… I’m Scott. Nice to meet you!

ELISABETH: You silly, I know that already!

STEPHEN: Guys, what’s that behind those tall grass?

Then the younglings rushed off the stage (to the right), but just as they disappeared from the stage, two older kids, SCOTT and ELISABETH, rushed out from the left to right.

SCOTT: This is where we first met, still looks the same, does it not?

ELISABETH: Truly, it does look the same!

As ELISABETH turned to look at SCOTT, she was unexpectedly greeted with a peck on the lips, but smiled afterwards.

SCOTT: Now, my Juliet, shall we practice the play rehearsal?

ELISABETH: Yes, my dear Romeo!

SCOTT: After you, m’lady.

ELISABETH: Ah, very gallant indeed, my dear lad. I want our garden to be just like this when we have our own home, like the Heaven itself is in our home!

Together they danced on the stage, but unknown to them, STEPHEN walked on stage and watched them bitterly, clenching his fists before leaving. Soon afterwards, they both left the stage. A moment after that, they all came back into the stage, but many others followed. Getting the middle, an audience kneeled before them, watching as a priest announced them man and wife, though STEPHEN did not kneel. He stood the furthest back, in one hand clutching a book, and on the other he dropped down some paper. Finally, they, again, exit the stage. Then, the light turns darker as SCOTT was seen looking at a long list of bills, until throwing all of it down and chugging on some liquid. At last, they all came back onto the stage. SCOTT looked as if he was dropping to the floor, with ELISABETH in tears. On the far left was STEPHEN, whose face was in a book.

SCOTT: Please! Elisabeth! Stay with me, I will be better!

ELISABETH: I’m sorry… Scott. I’m so sorry.

SCOTT: Please, don’t leave me! I’ll stop the drugs, the alcohol, I’ll stop all of it! We’ll pay off the debt together!

ELISABETH: I can’t live like this! You’re on the brink of dying every month, our debt is enough to pop a blood vessel! I can’ live with all of this mess anymore, I can’t live with you almost striking me every other day! I can’t live with an emotionally unstable partner, and one that can also bring me down! I’m sorry, Scott.

SCOTT: Please… my Juliet… don’t leave me like this.

ELISABETH: I’m so sorry… but like Romeo and Juliet… we can’t stay together.

Then with STEPHEN, she exits the stage. SCOTT dropped to the floor, covering his face as he started sobbing. The curtain then closes.