Note for reader: Along with the many scraps of details, horror prose and poetry left behind in my mother's box, there are a few plays. As long as I knew her, she never expressed any sort of intense love of theatre so I don't understand why she would create these. Then again, I never knew anything about the 'Beatrice Record' (and still am no closer to understanding why it's called that). Here is one such play. It has the title "Probably for the Best" Viewer discretion: there's a lot of swears385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQd5lPQyQH
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Probably for the Best385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVUudMrWBC
Characters: 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SEjHFEVES
4 (Eve), 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrX6VKtMKk
3.5 (Adam), 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWNXcHCl1C
1a (Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh), 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjT0TbWTdRN
1b (Hallelujah), 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevgJwLSY7G
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Time and Place:385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoiYssN1Fj
Many years into the future. A shelter or room deep underground. Dimly-lit enclosed space. All characters sit on floor despite two benches upstage center. Light from phone screens must be able to illuminate faces. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrIJxZw5NP
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SCENE ONE 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7Y8dKSHI9
Dim fluorescent lights illuminate a shelter. There are two dirty benches upstage center, which remain empty, but for an old rotary telephone – between 1b and 1a. Also, a window with only darkness outside it. Four people sit huddled around on the floor. From left to right, there is 3.5, 4, 1b and 1a. The numbers correspond to the person’s rank, but also their title. All are dressed in combat boots and dark, stained overalls. Messy hair, especially 1a and 1b, whose mannerisms and actions are like young children. All are engrossed in their phone screen, except 4, who stares straight out. 3.5 also sometimes breaks their gaze away from the screen to stare at 4. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTsYxgGA3y
For a moment all simply sit in this space, before 4 starts to speak. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YHokMdGn8
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4 Listen to the ghosts. Listen for the Word. Listen. No. Don’t stop speaking yet. You think you’re high and mighty now that you’re above them, pissfuck? Excuse me.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6UQuFzIvT
Music* Begins. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkTXuSdqYN
3.5 I’m right here if you want to fight me, you pathetic fuckcupboard-head. Say it to my face. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIrUzKYsi9
4 I can’t look at you. I won’t think about the violent acts I want to enlist on you. Excuse me. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3ZtMAO9T5
3.5 Through all of these endless tribulations, I’m glad it’s ending. There! I said it. I said it because it’s true. You’d say the same if you had balls! Fuck-cunt! 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf1t9sCl1b
4 Excuse her. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGRJElrpyP
3.5 What are we waiting for? Let’s end it now! 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmV0e8QroTJ
1b We’re waiting for the Word! 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufB4biTjOq
1a Woohoo! 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3gnfC9NAP
Pause. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvbFIephS9
4 Oh, someone fill the fucking silence! Excuse me. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wZRQrFF5z
1a Excuse me? 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJR8C0h0qU
3.5 What would you have us do, pissbitch? 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAld2eHmR2
4 Our time is precious. So, fill-fucking-fill it! Excuse me. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PR0xdeyym
1a (as if they’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to speak) Well, I would like to take this moment to say that I have enjoyed every moment of our time here, and through and through, all of the days and years and how long, the black days, the fighting nights, all of the on-and-ons – all of it. So, yeah. / Thanks guys. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs9eRdWlGG
4 (to 3.5) I’ve been thinking it over in my head. Excuse me. Thinking over each and every way I could break your neck and get away with it unseen, so to speak, excuse me! 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNtZ9ykl40
3.5 I’m right here, whorehouse. I wish you’d done it before you went and betrayed me. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcxyeaxYDd
4 I never / betrayed you. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYR7GIsIiu
1b And so, we wait. Not a word, nor the Word. From outside. I miss the sun. It’s been some time now since it was visible. I miss the rain. Even the burning one. I miss it all. Now just a memory, and even that ... I think I can hear a ghost ... 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GxYqbgl1k
Pause. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULdw1c3VV4
4 Fill the space!385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWID9ZHlwQ
3.5 You betrayed me. You betrayed me. / And now you blame me? 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJVRKnZiYQ
4 Fucker, I never betrayed you (excuse me), I ‘teached’ to you, and you listened, gaping and glistening for all of the wisdom in the world. Let us pray! 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrTr5nNeaJ
1a (innocently) Who will we pray to today?385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OlNMsIP1n
1b I thought that I saw an illusion in the blackness. I think it was my dashing husband. Can we pray to that?385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4jnOdVC8a
1a Can we pray to that?
3.5 Can we? 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC8RwiOJK6
4 Can we what? 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡechmvYvaw2
3.5 Pray to his- / sorry, her illusion? 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq7EFDf7If
1b Her 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIMuhrxeZ8
4 You ridiculous fucking children! Excuse me. No, you cannot pray to that, you won’t have arses when I’m done lashing you. Now. Pray! 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pSzTkR1Yz
Pause. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaolKkkOhj
Mumbling prayers. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDotAp1vdf
Not quite. Fill the space! 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6YflxufyT
Pause. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Fqy2x3caK
Rest of party unsure whether they should continue praying or speak. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TjOWtWPpm
1a I heard a ghost! 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4JJB5woQP
4 (frightened) What did it say? 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuGjAniL6z
1b I hear it too. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkM83PUD1V
4 What is it saying? 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08ygZvdNVt
1a Just... 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uvwNyaa19
1b Whispering. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHyskVQeR9
4 (to 3.5) What do you hear? 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLk20cvsuQw
3.5 An annoying fuck-sucker running their mouth fucking dry. I doubt any of this carry on is even worth it. What when the time comes, will we really draw this moment back? 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDVOf7kmyj
4 Wait for the Word. It will not be the last-385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrcw5qPhqI
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SCENE TWO385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKdeiMs1pn
Suddenly, the overhead lights shut off. All are plunged into fear and darkness. 1a and 1b open their eyes wide, taking a heaving inhale, staring at something unseen in wonderment for a moment, collapsing into limp piles. They do not move from this point on. 4 stands up. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGf5obRx61
4 What happened? 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5xbHmkQov
3.5 (realisation setting in) The Word... 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQTrpuAx2U
4 That wasn’t the fucking Word, did that sound like a fucking Word to you? Excuse me. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmVHr916My
3.5 There can be no Other. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCr5WJs7307
4 (calling up) Hey! You forgot us. Forgot me. I’m still here. You forgot about me. I have a reservation! / Come back for me! 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnorzKjSQf
3.5 Would you shut up? No-one's coming to rescue us. There will be no others. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8JIjrVAYf
4 Have some fucking faith. (cradles telephone) It will come. Must come. Soon to come. Will come. Has to come. Please come. Listen to the ghosts. No. Not yet. (whispering) Not yet. Not yet. Listen. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4YlFpLnui
3.5 Is crying allowed? 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOFFny19LO
Pause. Music cuts. End.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemtCKf6ecQ
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Notes for performers385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmaJmGfLKW
> When a / mark occurs, indicates that the next line of dialogue begins. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5ifuQNhxd
> While the four characters are somewhat familiar with each other, there should be no allusion to familial or relationship ties. They are a set of strangers, brought together by unknown circumstances.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5a7nrZ1Qq
> Love you forever B <3
ns216.73.216.38da2
and then Add to home screen.