[2:37]

Melody Marcus Luke Sean Steven Sarah Kelly Jules Jacobs Theo Tom Councillor Student 1 Student 2 Student 3

Girl: (Knocks on door) Hello? Is anyone in there? Hello? Please, open the door! (Calling offstage) Hey, theres someone hurt! Hurry up! Jacobs: Yes, yes. Relax, get out of the way. Girl: Open the door! Jacobs: Is there somebody in there? Open up. Girl: Hello? (Seeing blood on floor) Somebodys bleeding in there! Jacobs: Open the door! (Kicks down door) Girl: (runs offstage) Help! {Earlier that day on the screen} (Marcus enter) Marcus: (Calling off) Mel! Im leaving, Melody! Next year, when schools over Id really like to be like my dad. You just gotta admire him. He works really, really hard, hes successful, and hes a partner in this major firm. Six figure salary. They have these huge beautiful offices. (Exits) (Melody enters crying) Melody: I remember when I was little, I was probably about 8 or 9, and I saved up all my money for those dollar a day commercials. You know the ones with the kids with the flies all over their face. Anyway, I sponsored this little girl, Jamina. She was so cute. Anyway, my brother Marcus found out who then told my dad. God, he got so angry, he said I was wasting money. She could have died... I love kids. I think I could be a primary school teacher, it would be fun. Oh and animals too! Theyre just so gorgeous. We werent allowed pets though. (Exits) (Luke enters) Luke: Yeah Ive got a good body but its not about being vain, you know. Its about being a top class athlete. I love scoring goals and winning, you know, making good time. But then I hate school, I sit there and I listen to stuff that has no relevance to me. Fair enough for someone else whos gonna go off and be a lawyer or something like that but for me its just useless. Who actually gives a damn about some dead poet from 200 years ago? Premier League soccer players dont need maths or Shakespeare of Tutan-freaking- khamun. (Exits) (Sean enters and calls Luke) Sean: Luke! ...I love boobs. I just love everything about women. I guess saying that stuff makes me normal, huh? People can just look at me and think Oh hes just a normal kid. You want to know the truth though? I love men. I love strong arms and a nice butt. Say that and people just look at me like Im some sick twisted perverted outcast. (Exits) (Sarah enters wiping mouth)

Sarah: After next year all my friends want to be these big independent women with great careers, I think marriage is a nice thought. Now I know theres probably a million feminist chicks out these whod kill me for saying that but Im not talking about one of those fat housewives who goes shopping in their trackies. I just like the idea of being in love. I mean, just because youre married doesnt mean you have to let yourself go. (Exits) Steven: (Enters) Back home in England, my family, we always lived on the same street so all the neighbours and friends knew about my medical problems. Ive got one leg longer than the other one and that gives me a limp. I was also born with two urethras, one of them I can control and one of them just does its own thing. I wet myself and its really embarrassing. I started school here 3 months ago. I used to have this saying It would hit the fan but it would never hit me. Well recently its really, really started to stink. (Exits) (Luke onstage. Marcus and Melody enter) Marcus: Hey Mel? Mel? Listen, are you gonna be ok? (Melody walks away) Melody! (Marcus exits) Kelly: Hey Mel. (Melody walks to Luke) Melody: Hey. Luke: Whats up? Melody: Not much Luke: Your mum still away? Melody: Yeah, I havent really spoken to her for a little while. Luke: Whens she getting back? Melody: I dunno, 3 weeks or so. Luke: Youre home alone? Melody: Its just me and Marcus. (Sarah enters, Luke crosses to her and Melody exits) Sarah: (Hugs) Hey how are you? Luke: Not bad. (They exit holding hands, Marcus enters reading something, and Kelly walks to him) Kelly: Hey Marcus: Hey Kelly: I heard your story in English did really well.

Marcus: You know, its been said that exposure to classical kinds of music as a child triggers these neural pathways in the brain that create this spatial temporal reasoning ability. It Increases your intellect. Kelly: Your story... was it about somebody in particular? Was it... personal? Marcus: Of course it was personal. Kelly: Oh, who was it about? Marcus: (Snaps book shut) Look, I gotta go. (Exits) Kelly: Marcus, come on. I didnt- (Exits) (Luke and friends enter) Tom: Sean-y! Hows it going buddy? Theo: Do you like taking it or giving it? I could give it to you Sean (starts making gestures) Oh yeah you like that Sean? Tom: Oh come on, give us a kiss. Sean: Leave me alone. Theo: Oh what? Were not good enough for you Sean-y? Sean: Youre pathetic. (Exits) (Sarah enters with Jules) Sarah: Shes always looking at him. Jules: Who? Melody? Sarah: She is! Jules: Anyway, did you hear about Mr Griggs having cancer? Sarah: Oh my god, is it bad? Jules: I dunno, I think so. Sarah: Thats sad. (Both exits, Melody enters talking on the phone) Melody: Yeah, I am at school mum. Im on my phone... So hows your holiday? ... Yeah. Dads ok, havent really seen him. Hes interstate at the moment...No, please dont tell him. I wasnt supposed to tell you... Marcus drove me here... I just rang to say that I miss you... Yeah, Im fine... Love you too... (Goes to put phone away but then bring it up again) Yeah? ... Yeah, Ill take care of Marcus. (Hangs up)

Melody: My parents really pushed my brother into things, school, music, everything. Its just so different with me though, anytime I started getting good at something, piano or dance or basically anything art-y, Dad would just stop paying for lessons. Its like he hated me being good at things. Hell, he would even let me listen to music! Hes weird. I know that sounds stupid, I know that but its just the way it seems. (As she was talking, all characters gather upstage and sit down, Jacobs stands with them) Jacobs: Good, thats good. Youve shown great understanding of the legal side of same sex marriage and adoption but what about the kids in this whole issue? How are they going to be affected? Student 1: Well I dont really think it matters, if you have parents of the same sex or male and female. The kids still gonna get the same amount of love. The kids gonna be brought up fine. I can kind of see that other people might look at him differently though. Jacobs: Why would they look at him differently? Student 2: Well obviously people are going to find out that his parents are gay. So hes gonna get harassed at school, its just rude. Its unfair. Student 3: Yeah, that kid would have to put up with all of the torment because his parents made the selfish decision to have that relationship and then bring him into it. Sean: You think its selfish for two people to have a child? For two loving people to bring a kid into a loving environment? Is that what youre saying? Student 3: No, but its not natural for two dudes to have a kid. Sean: Its got nothing to do with natural, if two people love each other they should be able to bring a child into the world and raise it. Student 3: Its not about love. Theyve never been able to adopt a kid before, God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. Sean: Thats bull! Thats a Bible reference, its a myth! Student 3: If two dudes are bringing up a kid, of course the kids gonna be a fag in the end! Sean: Youre so ignorant. My parents are straight as an arrow. Student 3: Look at you, youre a fag and youre just trying to inflict it on the rest of us! Jacobs: Hey guys! This is not a personal discussion. Its a discussion about issues, ok? Whats the issue? Keep your personal stuff out of it. Ok, Ill see you next week. (All students exit, Marcus stays behind) Jacobs: Hey mate, I heard you playing piano before. I didnt know you were musical. Marcus: Yeah Ive been playing since I was a kid. Jacobs: Well it shows. Listen, I read your story. Yeah, I liked it.

Marcus: Thanks Jacobs: So youre in love huh? (Marcus laughs) Hey listen about that, your story, this is just a formality Marcus: Formality? Jacobs: I was thinking about it last night andMarcus: I havent copied it, its my piece. Jacobs: No its not about that, its the content. Marcus: What do you mean? Jacobs: Well Im sure youll agree its not a story every Tom, Dick and Harry would write. And it touched upon some very sensitive and erotic issues. Marcus: Right, but you understand that its just a story? Jacobs: Yeah I know, but look if a student came in here and wrote a story about shooting up the place, Id have to check it out. Marcus: I understand that but this story isnt about shooting up the whole school, its a love story! Jacobs: Did you write it about anyone in particular? Marcus: No and everybodys been asking me that. It wasnt about anyone, it wasnt written for anyone. Its a story, thats all it is. Jacobs: So if I were to show it to your father...? Marcus: No, why would you show it to him? It has nothing to do with him! Look, I wrote the story, I wanted to be controversial so I could win and I did win. Thats all its about. Jacobs: Forget I said anything, ok? (Exits) (Luke and Theo enter) Theo: Hey what do you reckon of that Claire chick over there? Luke: The fat one? Theo: Shes not fat. Luke: Shes huge! Theo: Got big boobs though. Luke: My girl has twice the boobs and half the frame. Theo: Thats Sarah though, shes like a twig. Oh check it out!

(Steven enters with a mark on the front of his pants) Theo: Hey, how you going Uneven Steven? Have you had a little accident? Luke: Youve peed yourself? That sucks man. (Steven walks away, Luke and Theo exit) Steven: I didnt mean to do it, its not like I can control it. Before I knew it my trousers were wet, its like a routine now. My parents used to send me with this perfume stuff to cover the smell but that was hopeless. Then we tried these pad things and they were supposed to absorb the wee but that was a stupid idea. So now the only thing I can do is pack the same pair of trousers that Im wearing that day and underwear. Take them to school and yeah. I suppose that works but some days I gowet myself more than once. Its frustrating, its embarrassing. (Exits) (Melody enters with pack of pregnancy tests) Melody: Sure, we think we have family and friends but when stuff happens, when really serious stuff happens, you just feel so alone. And you cant tell people. I mean, theyll probably listen but they dont know everything. In fact they dont know anything. Theres just some stuff that you cant share. So what do you do then? (Kelly enters looking offstage) Kelly: He is really beautiful. Melody: Who? Kelly: Luke. I know you think he is. Melody: Yeah he is. Kelly: So umm would you do him? Im sorry; would you give him your virginity? Melody: ...So you hear Michaels back in hospital? Kelly: Yeah I heard... I gotta go, see you after school? Melody: Yeah. (Both exit different ways) (Sarah enters wiping mouth and feels her stomach, checking how thin she is. Melody enters holding pregnancy test, Sarah looks at her, and Melody runs away. Jules enters) Jules: Was that aSarah: Yep, she was just there with it. Jules: What was it? Sarah: It was positive. Jules: So shes pregnant? Sarah, tell me exactly what happened. Sarah: She just walked in and I saw it, what was I supposed to do?

Jules: Whos the father then? (Sarah gives her a look) No dont do this to yourself! Sarah: You dont understand, shes with him more than I am! Jules: He loves you, you know that. Sarah: Its Lukes! I know it. (Jules exits) Sarah: God, they were all so jealous of me and Luke. He had his pick of every girl in the school and he chose me. Its not like I tried to trick him, I didnt. I can trust him, I know I can. But girls can be so bitchy and frankly, theyll do anything to get what they want. Its not always the guys fault. (Exits) (Steven enters) Steven: At home Ive got this list of all the soccer greats like Beckham and Ronaldo and Zidane and all of them. One day Im gonna be on that list. (Exits) (Marcus enters) Marcus: I was watching one of those courtroom dramas and theres that moment when the jury come out of deliberation and theyre about to tell the judge whether or not the guy is guilty. The tension is so thick; you actually could cut it with a knife. I mean, thats what it was like when we got a test or an assignment back. You just avoid all the scribble on the pages and go straight to the verdict. I usually do pretty well. But you know, those few times I heard that guilty verdict, my dad, he really tore me up. Hes always like Yeah its good. But is it good enough? Everything has to be so freaking perfect with him. Hes usually right though. (Jacobs enters, Marcus walks to her) Jacobs: Marcus? Marcus: I just saw my mark for the test. Jacobs: Yeah, 87. Not bad. Marcus: Yeah I know but I need 3 more percent Jacobs: Theres no negotiating of marks. Marcus: Look I understand that in any other circumstanceJacobs: No in all circumstances theres no changing of marks. Marcus: Please, you dont understand. If you could check over the paper once, Im sure you could find 3 more percent. Jacobs: Im not checking anything. Marcus: Please, I just need 3%

Jacobs: Look Marcus, if you want to continue like this we can talk about lowering your overall mark by 5% Marcus: You dont understand! Jacobs: Goodbye Marcus. (Exits) Marcus: Please! (Kelly enters) Kelly: Hey, I got the music you were after. (Marcus snatches it) Kelly: Whats up with you? Marcus: He wouldnt even listen to me! Kelly: Who? Marcus: Jacobs. I need a 90. Kelly: What did you get? (Sees grade) 87s awesome! What are you talking about? (Marcus walks away) Kelly: Marcus! (Sits down with Melody) Marcus: I think most people see me as a geek or a nerd. They never really give me much trouble though. The times when they do give me a bit of grief though, I just look at them and think to myself that in 5 years youll be on welfare and serving me at McDonalds. Yeah, thats a comforting thought. (Exits) (Luke and friends enter) Theo: Look whos checking you out man! Luke: Who? Theo: That one! Whats her name? Tom: Mel... Theo: Melody! Tom: Melody! (Provocative movements) Luke: Ive known her since I was like 6. Theo: Whatever man. Tom: Tell me with a straight face that you wouldnt want a piece of that!

Luke: (Shakes head looks away) Theo: Did you see that look? Tom: Youve done her already, havent you? Theo: Youre with your boys, you can tell us. You took her home, you stroked her hair and you did her! (Luke pushes friends and walks away. Everyone else exit) Luke: Its all a game at school. I mean the stuff that goes on there. Yeah, Ill give someone grief and pay him out but I doubt hes gonna go home and cry himself to sleep over it. You gotta be tough otherwise people will stomp you down to the ground. Its a jungle and if you cant fake your way through school, how are you gonna make it in the real world? Tell me that. (Exits) (Steven enters with urine stains, sits down and starts crying/getting angry) Steven: I love my family, my mum, my dad, my brother and my sister. Through all of this theyve been sitting at my bedside in hospital or waiting in waiting rooms when Ive been in the operating room. Its been brilliant though all of this, theyve been amazing, their support. Now when I have trouble at school I just dont think I can complain to them. They deserve to have better than that now. (Sean enters and sits down with Councillor) Sean: (Starts laughing quietly) Councillor: Whats that? Sean: My folks, they got me this dog the other day. Councillor: Oh cool, what sort? Sean: Oh its like this husky. He looks sort of like a wolf. Councillor: Hows he settling in? Sean: ...... I cut its throat. Councillor: You killed it? Sean: ..... (Laughing) Nah, Im just joking. Its going good. I like him. Councillor: Ok and why do you think your parents got you the dog? Sean: I dunno. Its just lately, since I came out, theyre badgering me to bring people home constantly. I guess they want me to have companionship. It just pisses me off because my dad especially, always in my ear constantly, he thinks this is a phase. He thinks Im just a teenager. That this whole gay thing is just gonna disappear! He knows Im gay; he has to deal with it. Councillor: Its really hard for fathers to understand.

Sean: Yeah but Im his kid. Im his son, how hard is it to accept your kid? Councillor: Parents want their kids to grow up like they did. Sean: Big deal. Did you grow up like your parents did? Councillor: No, I didnt but its a natural parental instinct and parents want their kids to be happy. Sean: Ive been as subtle as I can with this whole thing and its blown up in my face. Councillor: How are thing with your mum? Sean: I hate her. I dont even go out with my parents anymore; I dont even go to the places they go because everybody knows Imgay. They dont even ask me to come anymore. Councillor: Do you talk to your brother at all? Sean: I dont talk to him. Hes the complete opposite of me. Hes got this career, hes gone to uni, hes done it all, hes got this woman, hes probably gonna get married in a couple of years. Everythings going really well and then heres me Councillor: So hes the Golden Boy? Sean: Of course hes the Golden Boy. I mean, what are they gonna get out of me? Theyre gonna get grandkids out of him. Im just their dirty little secret. Councillor: So theyre ganging up on you? Sean: Theyre not ganging up on me; theyre just both against me. (Marcus walks in reading, sits down. Others exit. ) Jules: Hey, Marcus. How you going? Marcus: Fine. Thanks. Jules: Hey um, I heard about your sister. Marcus: Melody? Jules: Yeah Marcus: What about her? What are you talking about? Jules: Its ok, I know. Marcus: Know what? What are you talking about? Jules: Marcus you can talk to me about it, its alright. Marcus: What are you talking about? Jules: You mean you didnt hear?

Marcus: No I didnt hear. What are you talking about? Jules: Oh god. Look I probably shouldnt have said anything. (Gets up to leave) Marcus: (Grabs her arm) Tell me! Jules: Let go of me. What is wrong with you? Marcus: Im sorry, Im sorry. Can you please just tell me what is going on? Jules: I heard she might be pregnant, alright. Marcus: ..... Who told you that? (Jules gets up and walks off quickly Marcus follows) (Sean enters smoking, sits down against wall. Clearly high) Sean: I cant stand the attitude at school, all that politically correct, self righteous stuff. Calling it my issues and calling me homosexual. Screw that. Just call it what it is. Im gay. Its as simple as that. Get over it. (Starts laughing and coughing) Sean: Oh I gotta go back to class. Got physics with Jacobs.... look at that pink stuff. Nah. Not good for the animals. (General weird stuff with mouth) (Luke and Sarah enter holding hands, very flirty) Sarah: So you ok now? Luke: Yeah. (Sarah exits, Lukes friends enter and go to him) Theo: Where you been? Luke: In the Science room.... Tom: Youre kidding me! Luke: I gotta go. (Walks away) (Friends exit) (Sean enters and sees Luke) Sean: Luke! Whats going on? Luke: Dude, just leave it. (Steven enters without them noticing) Sean: You cant avoid me forever.

Luke: Just get lost, alright. (Goes to leave) (Sean pulls Luke in and kisses him. Luke is into it but then pushes Sean away) Luke: Dont touch me! Sean: Oh youre pretty confident, harassing me in front of your mates! Macho man! Luke: Just leave me alone! Sean: Oh everyone knows youre gay! Get over yourself! (Luke sees Steven and chases him offstage) Sean: People think I cant fall in love. But I have. Who is it? Thats my business but it feels great. I know one day, Ill be able to bring him down to the house so he can meet mum and dad. Ill make sure he sits right next to my brother at the kitchen table. Hell freak. (Laughs) (Steven enters with blood nose or black eye) Steven: I dont think that people mean to be cruel. Mum says that their just kids and eventually things will get better. School finishes in 3 months. Thats 90 days. 90 days can sometimes be a really, really long time though. (Kelly enters) Kelly: Hey Steven, are you ok? Youre bleeding. I have a tissue if you want. (Steven starts to walk off) Kelly: Hey! Are you gonna be ok? Steven: Yeah, Ill be ok. (Both exit, Luke and Sarah enter from different sides) Sarah: Hey, Ive been looking for you. Baby, whats wrong? Luke: Just leave me alone! (Sarah runs off crying) Luke: There are some things you just dont talk about. I wont. And Im just not going to. (Sarah enters) Sarah: I just love him. I love everything about him. He knows more about me than my own parents do, how many people can say that at 17? They call us the prince and princess but they dont realize that its not a joke to me. This is serious. I could really see us getting married. What else can I say? I love him. (Melody enters crying)

{Rape scene plays on screen} Melody: Hes been touching me since I was 13. Marcus. But that... that was the first time that he actually... (Breaks down crying) (Marcus walks in and grabs Melody) Marcus: What did you do? Is it true?! (Melody nods) Marcus: (Walks away) (Melody wipes her tears) Melody: Im not too sure what I want to do when I leave here. I know I should have all that planned out by now, have my goals set. I know Marcus wants to be some hotshot lawyer. Good on him. But me? I cannot imagine sitting behind a desk all day long. I want to travel. Get as far away as possible. (Exits) (Kelly enters looking around) {Digital clock face, counting to 2:37} Kelly: My sister has this little baby boy. Well hes not really a baby anymore but hes just learning to talk and do animal noises. She sent me a video that shed taken on her camera the other day and hes got his face painted like a little tiger and shes saying Oscar, do the tiger noise and his little face goes meow (Giggling) and its so cute. The whole camera was shaking because she was laughing so hard. Hes just so sweet. (Walks upstage and sits down. Silently crying and breaking down. Gets out scissors, touches them hesitantly) Luke: (Enters) Sometimes you just get so wrapped up in your own problems that you just dont notice anybody else. Sean: (Enters) People talk about reincarnation and heaven and what happens when you die, and hell and all that stuff. None of it makes sense, its just people are scared of dying. Im not. Once youre dead, youre dead. Its as simple as that. Sarah: (Enters) I think the last time I had a real conversation with her was year 2 or something. That was 10 years ago. (Kelly cuts her wrist and collapses. Blood everywhere) Steven: (Enters) Yeah, well she was my friend and Im gonna miss her. Dont really have anything more to say about it than that. Melody: (Enters) She was in my brothers music class. I guess all I can really say is: shes lucky. Really, really lucky.

Marcus: (Enters) I knew her and she seemed like a happy enough person. Not once, not once did she ask for help! Or indicate that she was going to top herself. Maybe if she did, then I could have helped. I dunno. She just, I dunno. Jacobs: (From offstage) Open the door! Girl: (runs on) Help!