Purgatory
By Konrad Exposito, Sean
Walsh & Erick Jupp
(School
corridor, Cameron, Jerome, Elliott, and Josh stand
outside a classroom, Mr Judge
approaches and opens the door. The boys sit, and Mr Judge stands at the front of the classroom)
Mr
Judge: You four are men
of sin. I don’t want to hear a word out of this room – if you can’t do the
time, don’t do the crime.
(Mr Judge exits, Cameron turns to the group)
Cameron: (To
the group) What are you in for?
Josh: (Quickly)
Well I was just talking to Mr Judge about how it’s essentially to find
contextual links between three different texts from alternative time periods.
He didn’t like it when I called the standard of teaching at this school
lacklustre, I shouldn’t really be here-
Cameron: Whoa Josh, calm down (Josh
slumps) . (Turns back to others) What
about you guys?
Elliott: Listening to music too loudly.
Cameron: What, some screamo shit?
Elliott: Nah man (Offers Cameron one of his
headphones, who nods along in approval)
Cameron: Hey, this is isn’t bad gangster rap.
Jerome: (Kissing
teeth) Nah cuz, what do you mans know about gangster rap.
(Elliott offers him the headphone)
Yo this is my ringtone! To think I used to
bully you back in the day, you’re alright you know.
Elliott: (To
Jerome) So what are you in for?
Jerome: Knocked out bare mans, you know me, this
school can’t keep Jerome down.
(The
group look at him, unconvinced)
Jerome: Overdue library book.
Josh: You used the library?
Jerome: Looking up the history of gangs, kinda
like self-improvement, you get me?
(The
group look at him, again unconvinced)
Jerome: Of
Mice and Men.
Cameron: You’re still reading that?
Jerome: It’s hard to get man, it’s ruining my
life!
Josh:
What’s hard to get
about two brother-like characters showing that companionship meant nothing
following the 1929 stock market collapse that left the United States of America
in a great depression?
(The
group stare at Josh)
Josh: I went too far again, didn’t I?
Cameron: Yep.
(Elliott pats Josh’s shoulder)
Josh: How far in are you?
Jerome: Lenny is talking to Curley’s wife or
something.
(The
group “ooh” and “ah” in awkwardness)
Jerome: Why? Why? Does something happen to her?
Josh: Well nothing apart from how he (begins to make a yanking motion)-
Cameron: (Assertively)
Moving on!
Elliott: So Cameron, why you here?
Cameron: Oh, urm, (Coughs awkwardly) Punched that mouthy year 10 kid.
Elliott: You don’t seem convinced, Cameron.
Cameron: Yeah, well, it happened.
(Josh and Jerome look at each other unconvinced and shake their heads)
Elliott: Are you still upset about-
Cameron: Don’t go there Elliott.
(Pause)
Cameron: Kinda.
Josh: Who?
Cameron: (Pause)
My ex.
Jerome: Do you mean-
Cameron: Yeah.
(Pause)
Elliott: How long was it?
Cameron: A year and a month.
Josh: That’s a long time.
Cameron: Feels longer in a relationship. But then
again it feels like no time at all.
Josh: You don’t need to tell me that.
Cameron: What.
Elliott: What.
Jerome. Fuck sake, the nerd’s getting more
action than me.
Josh: What? You don’t think the ADHD boffin
can go out of his way and get a girlfriend.
(Pause)
ALL: No.
Josh: Well I did. (Under
breath) Natalie.
Cameron: How long, man?
Josh: About nine months.
Cameron: I had no idea.
Jerome: Me neither.
(Elliott shakes his head)
Josh: No one asked. No one cared. You all
think I’m some quick-speaking freak anyway.
Cameron: Well, I don’t anymore.
Jerome: Or me.
Elliott: Well, I never did, you helped me with
French.
Jerome: You needed help with French?
Elliott: Si senorita.
Josh: No…no Elliott that’s not-
Jerome: Hang on Josh. Elliott, how do you say
‘school’ in French?
Elliott: Eh, taco.
(Jerome laughs to himself, Cameron and Josh stare on in disbelief)
Elliott: What’s funny, ‘gangster’?
Jerome: Hey, hey, I am gonna be a G one day.
Illegitimate business and that.
Cameron: Why?
Jerome: It’s what I live for!
(The
group look at him, unconvinced)
Jerome: Okay, you guys need to stop doing this. (Pause) I don’t really have any skills.
Elliott: Yeah you do, I always see you flogging
stuff to the youngers.
Jerome: That’s not really a skill, is it?
Josh: It’s a form of marketing and sales, good
standard experience if you want to do business.
(Jerome thinks about it)
Josh: In fact, (Reaches into pocket and pulls out a pound coin), got any more
Lucozades?
(Jerome smiles)
Cameron: Yeah go on, me too.
Elliott: And me.
Jerome: Ah, you guys are true dons. (Reaches into bad and pulls out three
Lucozades, takes the money)
Elliott: If only I had this much help.
Jerome: With what?
Elliott: Well…life. Like, what happens after
GCSE’s? Why are we made to determine what we work in for about fifty years when
we’re fairly underdeveloped?
Cameron: Look at you being an intellectual; I
thought that was Josh’s job.
Josh: (Finishing
sipping his Lucozade) ey, we don’t need to categorise ourselves.
Elliott: But isn’t that what we have to do?
Become certain things to live a certain lifestyle with a certain career?
Josh: I think you’re thinking about it too
much.
Cameron: Yeah man, don’t worry, things happen,
you’ll be fine.
(Elliott turns to Jerome who shows off the money he’s just made)
Elliott: Well, I guess you’re right. But what if-
Cameron: Elliott, I like you and everything but
you’re going on just a bit and it’s bringing up the bullying instinct in me.
Josh: That’s not a thing.
Cameron: What?
Josh: Well, bullies are usually the product of
either an unloved family life, poor grades or prior bullying experience.
(Pause)
Jerome: I think Josh hit the hail on the head,
yaknow.
Cameron: Damn right he did.
(Group
look at Cameron)
Cameron: My…my dad walked out on me and my mum
ten years ago. (Pause) Life’s tough. (Pause) Bastard.
Elliott: His loss.
Cameron: What?
Elliott: Well, bullying aside, you’re a good guy.
Jerome: Yeah man.
Josh: I agree.
Cameron: (Smiling
a little) Thanks guys.
(Outside
the classroom, Mr Judge can be seen
shouting at Dylan. The group stare)
Jerome: I think Dylan’s in trouble, yaknow.
Elliott: What do you reckon it’s about?
Josh: No idea.
(Dylan enters, stands at the front of
the classroom)
Cameron: You alright, Dylan? What was that about.
Dylan: Oh that? Just didn’t do my homework.
Josh: Mr Judge’s homework?
Dylan: Yeah.
Josh: Mr Judge’s homework that is essentially
regurgitated year 7 work?
Dylan: (Rolls
his eyes) I didn’t not know it, I
purposely didn’t do it.
Elliott: Why?
Dylan: Glad you asked, my emo friend. Late last
night I was fixing Amber’s phone-
Jerome: Ah, I forgot you do that.
Dylan: Yeah, well, I was trying to set up
everything again, and I saw her texting someone. A guy.
Cameron: What do you mean “talking”?
Dylan: At first it looked innocent, but then
there was a space where a picture was, and she was asking why he sent that
picture.
Josh: And that picture was…
Dylan: I believe I’m right in thinking it was a
pic downstairs. So, I’m thinking I can’t be having this guy trying to steal my
girl. I’m going to have to set things straight.
Elliott: Okay, so who was it?
Dylan: I had to reset her phone, so all of her
contacts were deleted. But, I do know one thing. One of the texts said he had a
detention in Mr Judge’s room today.
(Cameron, Elliott, Jerome and Josh look at each other)
Cameron: You think one of us did this?
Dylan: I know
one of you did this. So, who wants to own up?
(Pause)
Dylan: No one? Okay then. Then we’ll do a careful screening process, shall we?
(Dylan approaches Jerome and takes his bag)
Jerome: Hey man, what are you doing?
Dylan: Why should I believe that you didn’t do it?
Jerome: Come on Dylan, you know I’ve been
without a chick since day.
Dylan: So you saw an opening?
Jerome: No man, what the fuck are you on!
Dylan: Well if it wasn’t you Jerome, who was
it?
(Jerome pauses)
Jerome: It was Josh!
Josh: What?!
Jerome: Yeah man, he was going on about how he
had a girl before but doesn’t now. Man may have grown some confidence to talk
to other girls!
(Dylan moves towards Josh)
Dylan: Is this true, Josh?
Josh: Well, yes, but-
Dylan: But what, Josh?
Josh: But that doesn’t mean I’d go after your
girl, why would I be stupid enough to do that?
Dylan: You do have a habit of overstepping the
mark pal, you’re gonna need a better excuse!
Josh: Okay then, why would I even try to take
a girl from a guy who’s physically superior?
Dylan: Are you suggesting someone stronger
would have done this?
Josh: Not per say-
Dylan: Who do you think did it Josh?!
Josh: (Pause)
Elliott!
Elliott: You snake!
Josh: H-he threw us off with what kind of
music he was listening to, he could have
also tried something audacious like this! And he doesn’t even know what he
wants to do with his future!
Dylan: Well, Elliott?
Elliott: Jerome didn’t either until you bought
out his fucking stock!
Jerome: Hey man, my name is cleared!
Elliott: You were lying to us about your reason
for detention, you could be lying about this!
Jerome: I didn’t send anyone any nudes!
Cameron: Alright lads, calm down.
(Pause,
group stares at Cameron)
Dylan: What about you, Cameron?
Cameron: Oh Dylan, don’t do this.
Dylan: Why not? Why should I trust you?
Cameron: These guys know why. I told them about
my relationship experience.
Josh: I had relationship experience.
Jerome: Hang on, you guys didn’t believe why I
got detention, why are you believing him?
Dylan: Why did you get a detention, Cameron?
Cameron: I punched that mouthy guy in year 10.
Josh: (To
Dylan) He didn’t sound
convincing.
Cameron: Josh!
Elliott: To be fair Cameron, you didn’t really.
Dylan: Why are you in detention, Cameron?
Jerome: Yeah, Cameron.
Dylan: Were you caught sending ‘inappropriate
content’ on your phone?
Cameron: I stole from the canteen because I didn’t
have any fucking food! (Pause) I usually only have two meals a
day. (Pause) I don’t have much money
to live. (Pause) And when…she…left, things got harder.
(Pause)
Jerome: Sorry, man.
Josh: Yeah, sorry.
Elliott: Sorry.
Dylan: That’s why, isn’t it.
Cameron: Oh, come on man.
Dylan: You felt so low that you needed a pick
me up. At first, an innocent pick me up, but when you grew the confidence back,
you thought you could step in and steal her. I see you’re the leader amongst
these losers. Why not own up?
Cameron: (Stands
up) You’re deluded. I have no intention in moving for anyone’s girl. I
wouldn’t even do that kind of thing.
And even if I did, what would you do to me? Beat me up? You know I’m stronger.
(Cameron brushes past Dylan and heads towards the door)
Dylan: You’re not going anywhere!
(Dylan pins up Cameron on the wall with his forearm, Elliott and Jerome try
and split them up)
Dylan: Why did you do it?
(Camera
is now looking at Josh)
Cameron: I didn’t do anything you loon!
Elliott: Alright lads, calm down.
Dylan: Calm down?!
(Josh is seen typing, the arguing is
still heard in the background, he deletes the contact ‘Amber’, and looks smugly
at the camera)
