NARRATOR
The following week.
(Jo and Mark are in the centre of the stage, facing each other. Jo does not seem as confident as she was before. Mark has picked up on this and is using emotional blackmail to sway her decisions.)
MARK
You don’t owe them anything –
those people from your church.
I’ve checked it out.
I’ve done my research.
(Jo is looking down, playing with her fingernails.)
They just want your money
and to tell you what to do.
Tell them not to interfere –
you have your own life too!
Come off all those rotas –
it’s wearing you out.
What’s in it for you?
(He laughs sarcastically.)
Enjoyment? I doubt!
JO
(Looks up)
Well, I’m only doing two things.
It’s good to get involved.
MARK
Well, you’re involved with me!
That’s your problem solved.
(Non-rhyming bit)
(Mark pulls away from Jo and turns his back on her)
You’re not going to that church anymore.
JO
But…
MARK
No ‘Buts’. It’s Lee’s party on Sunday, remember?
(He turns back round to face her)
Besides…they’re weird.
JO
Well… I guess one week won’t hurt,
but I’m on library duty.
MARK
(Mark pulls her towards him and touches her nose with his.)
Get someone else to do it.
you sexy little beauty.
(Alternative: “you pretty little beauty.”)
(He starts to walk around the stage, pulling Jo by the hand.)
Aren’t my mates more fun
than your little churchey crowd?
Let’s go to the night-club.
JO
I can’t, I’m not allowed.
Those places that you go to,
are often full of thugs
and girls pretending to be nice,
but trying to sell me drugs.
The last time you had a party,
there were loads of drunken streakers
and my ears were ringing loudly,
from standing near the speakers.
(Mark stops, lets go of her hand and faces her. He is clearly annoyed.)
MARK
What is this excuse
you are trying to contrive?
You’re acting like a baby!
How old are you – five?
Your parents are old fashioned.
You’re young, live life! Be free!
(He waggles the fingers of both hands (palms facing her) in front of her face.)
Nothing spooky happens there.
Don’t you want to go out with me?
JO
Well… on Saturday nights,
I get home so late…
and my parents worry.
They get a bit irate.
I end up so tired
on a Sunday morning,
all through worship,
I am just yawning.
I’ve no time for breakfast,
I stuff toast down and choke.
I’ve no time to wash my hair,
but it smells of ciggy smoke.
MARK
If you really loved me,
you wouldn’t agonize.
You’ll want to be cool like me,
you’ll want to socialize.
(non-rhyming bit)
You’re my girlfriend remember.
Prove to me you’re not boring by agreeing to do the fun things I do.
That’s why I chose you…not Rachel, not Kate, or Becky,
or Amanda. You!
JO
It’s just that I feel…
MARK
What? Your matey-mate Lisa, been going on at you again, has she?
She’s the weirdest one out of the lot of them!
All this stuff about obeying his word.
The word! Why does she call it that?
It’s the Bible. The boring, old-fashioned bible that’s been
around way before your Grandad’s Grandad’s, Grandad’s, Grand…
JO
Okay, okay!
(pause)
I’ll come to Lee’s party with you this Sunday,
and I’ll…er…come to the er…night club.
(Shrugs weakly)
It’s just that I haven’t been to one…before.
MARK
Well then, you’re in for a treat!
(He grabs her by the hand and drags her off stage.)
