A short playscript written by Marcel and directed to the stage by Alejandra. This short play was performed on the night of the Nuit Blanche event in the Max Bell Auditorium. The characters Aiden and Felice were portrayed by Zen and Amy.
Characters:
Aiden (they/he): A student with short hair and nerdy clothes
Felice (she/her): A student with long hair and elegant clothes
Ticket Inspector: An adult in uniform
Synopsis:
Aiden and Felice haven't seen each other in a very long time, and since then, all hell has set loose in a worldwide outbreak of a mysterious disease. This fateful train ride makes them reflect on their past and reconsider their relationship.
SCENE 1
SETTING: Projector showing the window view of a train ride. A table in the middle of the stage with two seats on each side, facing each other.
(FELICE comes in with a suitcase in her hand, looks at the ticket in her other hand, and sits down on one of the seats. FELICE takes out a book and starts reading.)
(AIDEN walks in with a bag on their back, looking down at the ticket in their other hand, but stops in their tracks as they notice FELICE. AIDEN walks to the seat in front of FELICE and sits down. FELICE looks up and is shocked to see them.)
AIDEN: FELICE?
FELICE: AIDEN? What are you doing here?
AIDEN: It’s nice to see things haven’t changed...
(FELICE stands up to look around to see if anyone is watching them.)
AIDEN: How’s your mom?
(AIDEN starts smiling and puts their bag in their lap, looking for something inside it. FELICE puts her hands on the table and leans above AIDEN’S face. AIDEN looks up.)
FELICE: Did you follow me here?
(Beat. AIDEN looks serious.)
AIDEN: Are you joking right now?
(AIDEN and FELICE stare at each other for a few seconds. FELICE sighs and sits back down in her seat. AIDEN keeps staring at her as she avoids eye contact and leans on her hand to cover her face.)
AIDEN: I know we left things... in a weird place.
(FELICE looks up. A few seconds of silence as they stare at each other.)
AIDEN: Have you heard the news?
(FELICE nods.)
AIDEN: Is that why you’re here too?
(FELICE nods again.)
(AIDEN and FELICE sit in silence for a few seconds. FELICE opens her mouth to speak but the TICKET INSPECTOR walks on stage and she shuts her mouth.)
TICKET INSPECTOR: Afternoon.
(AIDEN and FELICE nod and mumble at the TICKET INSPECTOR who takes their tickets and their IDs and looks at them. The TICKET INSPECTOR gives those back.)
TICKET INSPECTOR: I would like to ask both of you to prepare for the routine examination.
(AIDEN and FELICE lift the sleeves of their shirts to reveal their arms, showing them to the TICKET INSPECTOR. The TICKET INSPECTOR writes something in their notebook.)
TICKET INSPECTOR: I would also like to inform both of you that our company is not responsible for the dishonesty of each passenger. We kindly ask all passengers to keep the cabin door locked from the inside during the night, just in case of...
(Beat.)
TICKET INSPECTOR: ...an emergency.
(AIDEN and FELICE both nod.)
TICKET INSPECTOR: Have a safe journey.
(The TICKET INSPECTOR walks away.)
BLACKOUT
SCENE 2
SETTING: The projector is showing the view of a field during sunset. The table and the seats are pushed to the back. There is a blanket with a basket in the middle of the stage.
(FELICE is standing to the left of the stage, reading a book, facing away. AIDEN walks up behind her and surprises her with a hug from the back. FELICE yelps, and sighs as she realizes it is AIDEN, and softly hits them in the head with the book.)
FELICE: Don’t do that again.
AIDEN: You know you’re so pretentious. Standing around, with your little book in your hand...
FELICE: Oh shut up. I was actually reading.
(AIDEN tries to hide a smile.)
AIDEN: Or maybe you were trying to impress someone. Maybe you saw me walking up-
(FELICE gasps, playfully offended.)
FELICE: How dare you insinuate-
(AIDEN smiles softly and reveals a flower and hands it to FELICE.)
FELICE: Oh, you sap.
(FELICE kisses them on the cheek and walks towards the blanket to sit down on. AIDEN follows.)
AIDEN: So what’s your book about?
(AIDEN takes out a bottle of juice and some food from the basket. FELICE takes a moment to admire the flower and the meal.)
FELICE: It’s about lovers.
AIDEN: Lovers?
(AIDEN and FELICE stare at each other for a few seconds. FELICE puts the book to her side.)
FELICE: You know what... it’s not so interesting.
(FELICE reaches to hold AIDEN’S hand and they smile at each other.)
BLACKOUT
SCENE 3
SETTING: Projector showing the window view of a train ride. A table in the middle of the stage with two seats on each side, facing each other. AIDEN and FELICE are sitting in the seats opposite each other (reference: SCENE 1).
AIDEN: Good to know you’re still a reader, after everything.
(FELICE looks down at the book, smiling.)
FELICE: I really never change.
AIDEN: Don’t. You’re perfect.
(Beat. FELICE makes a serious face and turns in her seat to face the audience, avoiding AIDEN’S eyes.)
FELICE: Don’t do that again.
AIDEN: Oh, sorry. Old habits.
(AIDEN shifts awkwardly in their seat and faces away towards the projector/window. A few seconds pass as they sit in silence.)
FELICE: So. Mom died.
(AIDEN turns to look at FELICE with sadness and concern. FELICE is still facing the audience.)
AIDEN: Oh… My condolences.
(Beat.)
AIDEN: Was she..?
FELICE: Bitten?
(FELICE turns to look at them.)
FELICE: Yes. In the first wave. Before the numbers started to go up, so she was lucky to get priority treatment.
(FELICE scoffs.)
FELICE: She lay in that hospital bed for two days, before she lost her entire consciousness, while already fighting the urge to rip people apart. I sat there with her the entire time… well, as close as the doctors let me be to her. I sat there and saw how she stopped being herself and became this… creature with my mom’s face who…
(FELICE takes a deep breath and recovers her composure.)
FELICE: At least they kept her sane for longer than most people get to be. Even though it’s bullshit and completely incurable.
AIDEN: Hey. Don’t say that. It’s not incurable, it’s too early to tell.
FELICE: I hardly believe there is anything you can do against a virus that gives you sudden cannibalistic urges.
(Beat.)
BLACKOUT
SCENE 4
SETTING: A chair in the middle of the stage.
(FELICE is standing, holding herself in a hug. AIDEN is sitting on the chair covering their face with their palms.)
FELICE: Can you just let me explain? Please?
(AIDEN sighs and looks up.)
AIDEN: What is there to explain? What happened, happened. There’s nothing we can do to change that.
FELICE: But I-
(AIDEN stands up, walks up to her, and faces her.)
AIDEN: You broke my heart, FELICE.
(AIDEN and FELICE stare at each other for a few seconds.)
AIDEN: What happened to our love?
FELICE: You broke my heart first, AIDEN. You know that, you left me. You knew all the pain I had in me, and yet, you left me just the same.
AIDEN: I had my reasons, FELICE. I was given no choice.
FELICE: But you couldn’t trust me enough to tell me your reasons?
AIDEN: I guess not.
(Beat.)
AIDEN: I guess it’s best if we leave it at that.
(After a second of silence, AIDEN turns around and leaves.)
BLACKOUT
SCENE 5
SETTING: Projector showing the window view of a train ride. A table in the middle of the stage with two seats on each side, facing each other. AIDEN and FELICE are sitting in the seats opposite each other (reference: SCENE 1).
(AIDEN stands up and looks around to make sure that no one is watching or listening. AIDEN sits back down and leans on the table to talk to FELICE in a whisper.)
AIDEN: I have to tell you something. It will change your perception of this whole situation.
AIDEN: So, I met this boy. We shared only one class together last term but clicked immediately.
(FELICE scoffs.)
AIDEN: No, not like that. He trusted me with personal information, something that might even help me fight whatever is out there, hunting humanity. His father was very close to this man, who owns a private hospital. They host all the ugliest people, with all the ugliest money. So, obviously, the riches of the first wave resided there. Are you following?
FELICE: Yes, I think so.
AIDEN: Great, because it’s all going to make sense. So, of course, a lot of people have died in that hospital. Except for one person, who has caught the virus. The owner’s daughter.
FELICE: Wait. You mean to tell me that there was a case where someone survived?
AIDEN: Yes.
FELICE: I can hardly believe that. There just is no cure.
AIDEN: That’s what they want you to think.
FELICE: Is there even proof that she caught the virus in the first place?
(AIDEN lifts their bag up.)
AIDEN: I’m building a case. What they have, they can not keep to themselves. All the necessary information is here in my bag and on my laptop. I’m currently on my way to meet a lawyer.
(FELICE laughs in relief.)
FELICE: You didn’t change at all either. You are running somewhere, yet again.
AIDEN: You could join me. Help me, make sure I succeed.
FELICE: You want to run, and this time you’re asking me along? Are you joking? I’ve been waiting for this ever since I met you.
(AIDEN and FELICE hold each other’s hands on the table and laugh and smile at each other. A screech and multiple screams coming from the left side of the stage break the moment. AIDEN and FELICE both stand up abruptly and look at each other.)
FELICE: Tell me when it’s time to run, and I will follow you. I will follow you anywhere, as long as you trust me.
AIDEN: I trust you.
(Another screech is heard.)
AIDEN: I guess it’s time we run, darling.
(AIDEN and FELICE grab both of their bags, leaving the book on the table. AIDEN and FELICE take each other’s hands and run off the stage.)
BLACKOUT
THE END
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