Running Scene - The Script I Wrote

Running Scene –

Mario, James, Tenda, Cass, Lucy, Christina, Ruth, Liza, Nemo.

First Round.

Mario:              Are you chasing something or leaving something?

James:              Leaving

Tenda:              Where are you going?

Cass:                Away. I’m going away

Lucy:                Where are you coming from?

Christina:          I’m not sure. I don’t know where I’m going either.

Ruth:                What are you looking for?

Liza:                 Freedom.

Nemo then wakes up from the blocks which interrupts the runners and the questioners. She runs to the frame and the scene then continues.

Second Round

Mario:              What are you tying to leave?

James:              My dreams.

Mario:              Why? Who are in these dreams!?

James:              My parents.

Tenda: What are you going away from?

Cass:                All these lies. I’m trying to get away from these lies.

Tenda: What lies!? Who has lied to you?

Cass:                No one.

Tenda: Well then, what lies?

Cass:                The lies! The lies I’ve told. All these lies.

Lucy:                Are you hoping this journey will lead you to somewhere?

Christina:          Yes. I hope so!

Lucy:                Where?

Christina:          To a purpose. A meaning!

Lucy:                What kind of purpose?

Christina:          Just a reason. A reason to feel needed.

Ruth:                What are you looking for?

Liza:                 Freedom.

Ruth:                From what?

Liza:                 From life. I just want to feel free and gain some independence.

Ruth:                Why?

Liza:                 Because I had asking people for help. I hate relying on people. And worst of all being let down.

Mario:              So if your parents are in these dreams, why are you trying to leave them?

James:              [Silence]

Mario:              WHY!? Don’t you love them?

James:              What? Of course I do. I love them so much. I’m just scared for them

Mario:              What happens in these dreams?

James:              Death! They die!

Tenda:              Who have you lied to? Is it someone important? Someone you love?

Cass:                Yes… 

Tenda:              WHO!?

Cass:                My boyfriend!

Tenda:              Why? What did he do to deserve this?

Cass:                Nothing. He didn’t do anything.

Lucy:                Why aim for that purpose? Why do you want to feel needed?

Christina:          Because I feel worthless. Like I don’t exist! Incompetent!

Lucy:                Does this affect your self-esteem?

Christina:          Yes. It makes me feel like I don’t belong.

Lucy:                Well maybe you don’t belong!

Christina:          What? What do you mean?

Lucy:                Maybe if you believed in yourself a bit more you’d feel important.

Christina:          No! Because whenever I do try and try I fail. I always manage to fail!

Lucy:                Well what if you’re not trying hard enough!?

Christina:          I am! But I just fail. I always try my hardest but just… I just fail.

Ruth:                How often do you strive for independence?

Liza:                 A lot. I just don’t like depending on other people anymore. I want to make my own decisions and think about myself!

Ruth:                So are you trying to say you’re going to start putting your needs above others?

Liza:                 Well… yeah I guess so.

Ruth:                And you think that’s being independent?

Liza:                 Yes I do!

Third Round

Mario:              How do they die?

James:              They have an accident!

Mario:              What kind of accident   ?

James:              Car! A car accident! Fire everywhere! They have a car accident.

Mario:              Why are you thinking like that!?

James:              I don’t know! I don’t know… I just love them so much.

Mario:              Surely if you loved them you wouldn’t have these thoughts.

James:              No. No! NO! I love them! I just think too much! You don’t understand. These thoughts. These dreams! I’d do anything for my parents!

Tenda:              Then why did you lie to him!?

Cass:                I don’t know! I don’t want to talk about it.

Tenda:              Why did you lie to him!?

Cass:                I don’t want to talk about it!

Tenda:              Do you think a liar like you deserves to have him?

Cass:                A liar!? I’m not a liar! I said I didn’t want to talk about it! I love him, okay!?

Tenda:              Obviously not if you’ve lied to him. Does he know you’ve lied to him?

Cass:                I don’t want to talk about it!

Lucy:                Does feeling worthless also prevent you from voicing your opinion?

Christina:          Yes. Because I’m afraid of what people are going to say. Or even think of me.

Lucy:                I think you’re a pessimist.

Christina:          No! I’m not a pessimist! I just want to feel a sense of need! Feel wanted! Appreciated!

Lucy:                Well you’re not trying hard enough! Maybe you’re just being a coward.

Christina:          Like I said I do try! I just feel defeated in the end and give up. I always end up failing and give up!

Ruth:                So you think putting yourself above others is being independent?

Liza:                 Well… no. Looking after yourself before others is what I want to do! I want the best for myself!

Ruth:                That still sounds egotistical.

Liza:                 Well my main priority is myself! I want to be able to provide for myself and have the best life possible! Is that so bad!?

Fourth Round

                        During this round the questioners will throw statements at the runners to provoke them. This will cause the runners to feel irritated and infuriated. This will be shown through their facial expression and the speed they’re running in as they will be running faster and with more conviction.

Mario:              I don’t think you love your parents, James.

James:              I do!

Mario:              No you don’t! You don’t love them. Otherwise you wouldn’t have these thoughts in your head and in your nightmares! The truth is the way you’re thinking doesn’t reflect on your “love” for you parents!

                        [James starts running faster. Facial expression would show pain and angst]

Tenda:              Do you trust yourself!?

Cass:                I don’t know! I said I don’t want to talk about it!

Tenda:              Answer me!

Cass:                NO! I don’t trust myself.

Tenda:              I don’t either. And I don’t think he should trust you too! Because you’re a liar. Your boyfriend deserves better than you. If you loved him you wouldn’t d this to him.

                        [Cass joins James and starts running faster with painful facial expression]

Lucy:                You keep saying you feel like you’re not being heard. Why do you push yourself to be heard and fight for it!

Christina:          Because I said I always fail to do so!

Lucy:                No. I don’t think that’s the reason. I believe you’re just weak. And you just settle with being unnoticed and worthless because you’re scared. Scared of what people will think of you!

                        [Christina starts pushing herself by running faster]

Ruth:                You know what. I don’t think the freedom you want is independence.

Liza:                 Yes it is. What are you trying to say!?

Ruth:                I think this “Independence” act is just your way to cover up the fact that you’re self-centred. You don’t want to be independent. You want a better life, correct? Well I bet you’d snatch that bit of happiness of someone elses life to bring some success into yours!

                        [Liza beings to sprint on the spot with the others. Everyone carries on running for a few more seconds until they collapse, breathless on the floor.]