WRITING | Mysite

Danny is currently working on a number of different film, TV & theatre scripts which are at various stages of completion.

Here is an excerpt from his most recent play 'Miss Farrah Shows Concern'

DALE

You must have had a terrible headache after that experience, did you take a paracetamol...Or two?

MRS MOSS

I wouldn't touch the stuff-

DALE

Let the headache last.

MRS MOSS

Work my way through it-

DALE

I take them the instant I get one, want it over in a flash...

Never cry at funerals, know that?-

MRS MOSS

No-

DALE

No, never do. Always after, later. Walkin' up the street, lookin' at the trees, then it gets me, you?-

MRS MOSS

What?-

DALE

When do you cry? (Two beats) Do you think I’ve changed much? (Beat) Since he ran away do you think I’ve changed?

MRS MOSS

No, you’ve stayed the same-

DALE

Has my appearance changed?

MRS MOSS

You’ve got older

DALE

Do you recognise me?

MRS MOSS

I know you killed. (Two beats)

DALE

I just don’t want people to think that I’ve changed much since he ran away

MRS MOSS

I know you killed him

DALE

I’m t-total. (The landline rings, then after a short while the answerphone switches on and Mrs Moss’ perky voice says “hello, we’re not in right now, but please do leave a message and we’ll get back to you” then the caller’s faint breath can be heard for three beats, they put the phone down).

MRS MOSS

I know you killed him-

DALE

Had a quiet one-

MRS MOSS

I know you killed

DALE

(Dale slumps on the couch and begins to fake cry)

Mother…what am I supposed to do? Help me mother! (He falls into a foetus position) Hug me, just-one-hug

MRS MOSS

You know what he said

DALE

What did he say? I can’t remember

MRS MOSS

He said that I shouldn’t

DALE

How could a man like that, die?

MRS MOSS

I know y-

DALE

No, no… I didn’t do much over the weekend, was a boring one, you?

MRS MOSS

I know you killed him

DALE

When I contact the Missing Persons Helpline I will tell them that Pete has brain damage, they’ll know who he is straightaway, that will help them. I mean, who has brain damage these days? No one, it’s near enough extinct.

MRS MOSS

I know you-

DALE

No, not on a school night. Will you get your people to, sort it? (Short pause)

MRS MOSS

I-

DALE

That’s my problem with drink, I black out-

MRS MOSS

I know you killed-

DALE

What happened last night? Can you tell me…did I embarrass myself in front of all of those people?

MRS MOSS

I-

DALE

I’d just hate to say the wrong thing, to the wrong person. I’ve been rolling round the bedroom all morning, screaming at walls.

MRS MOSS

I know you killed him-

DALE

Please! I can’t talk about this anymore! I do wish that you would stop bringing it up…I’ve got hangover depression, I can’t deal with very much right now. (Three beats) Are you in a better place?

MRS MOSS

I-

DALE:

Stop talking. (Two beats) I want you to be in a better place. (Two beats) Are you trying to diagnose me? (Beat)

Stop trying to diagnose me. (Two beats) Don’t you tell your friends about me now will you?

MRS MOSS

I…

DALE

I’m cultivating a personality here. (Three beats) It’s not that I don’t say it (beat) well, I don’t mention it. If they ask me then I will tell them. I won’t lie, but they never ask.

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