Note for reader: Along with the many scraps of details, horror prose and poetry left behind in my mother's box, there are a few plays. As long as I knew her, she never expressed any sort of intense love of theatre so I don't understand why she would create these. Then again, I never knew anything about the 'Beatrice Record' (and still am no closer to understanding why it's called that). Here is one such play. It has the title "Probably for the Best" Viewer discretion: there's a lot of swears24Please respect copyright.PENANAcjKEA45jVM
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Probably for the Best24Please respect copyright.PENANAPp95ygZj0i
Characters: 24Please respect copyright.PENANAslRg8jOjM0
4 (Eve), 24Please respect copyright.PENANA4Dl7kxdj0w
3.5 (Adam), 24Please respect copyright.PENANARrYgzKtlY8
1a (Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh), 24Please respect copyright.PENANAFgdLNuyYJp
1b (Hallelujah), 24Please respect copyright.PENANA4zmdO5dz9g
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Time and Place:24Please respect copyright.PENANANv2en6XmtJ
Many years into the future. A shelter or room deep underground. Dimly-lit enclosed space. All characters sit on floor despite two benches upstage center. Light from phone screens must be able to illuminate faces. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAhmgJqxO2Nf
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SCENE ONE 24Please respect copyright.PENANAXcQ22SGAzn
Dim fluorescent lights illuminate a shelter. There are two dirty benches upstage center, which remain empty, but for an old rotary telephone – between 1b and 1a. Also, a window with only darkness outside it. Four people sit huddled around on the floor. From left to right, there is 3.5, 4, 1b and 1a. The numbers correspond to the person’s rank, but also their title. All are dressed in combat boots and dark, stained overalls. Messy hair, especially 1a and 1b, whose mannerisms and actions are like young children. All are engrossed in their phone screen, except 4, who stares straight out. 3.5 also sometimes breaks their gaze away from the screen to stare at 4. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAjfFyKJPJNS
For a moment all simply sit in this space, before 4 starts to speak. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAyIKvARyFqu
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4 Listen to the ghosts. Listen for the Word. Listen. No. Don’t stop speaking yet. You think you’re high and mighty now that you’re above them, pissfuck? Excuse me.24Please respect copyright.PENANATdMNp6vrYe
Music* Begins. 24Please respect copyright.PENANArl7nXB6Dw9
3.5 I’m right here if you want to fight me, you pathetic fuckcupboard-head. Say it to my face. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAoFCMES6LIX
4 I can’t look at you. I won’t think about the violent acts I want to enlist on you. Excuse me. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAIjsxcA2BmA
3.5 Through all of these endless tribulations, I’m glad it’s ending. There! I said it. I said it because it’s true. You’d say the same if you had balls! Fuck-cunt! 24Please respect copyright.PENANA6CH0R12RjC
4 Excuse her. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAiY9iqRjaqQ
3.5 What are we waiting for? Let’s end it now! 24Please respect copyright.PENANAx365GVDwj7
1b We’re waiting for the Word! 24Please respect copyright.PENANACO3spzAxo2
1a Woohoo! 24Please respect copyright.PENANAeVsq3w89qZ
Pause. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAmnCBAxYDqE
4 Oh, someone fill the fucking silence! Excuse me. 24Please respect copyright.PENANA0fhGkHH17Z
1a Excuse me? 24Please respect copyright.PENANAVCnqGXawU1
3.5 What would you have us do, pissbitch? 24Please respect copyright.PENANAKjaufPqInY
4 Our time is precious. So, fill-fucking-fill it! Excuse me. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAYz4Hdboasa
1a (as if they’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to speak) Well, I would like to take this moment to say that I have enjoyed every moment of our time here, and through and through, all of the days and years and how long, the black days, the fighting nights, all of the on-and-ons – all of it. So, yeah. / Thanks guys. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAWEIEM4oqnY
4 (to 3.5) I’ve been thinking it over in my head. Excuse me. Thinking over each and every way I could break your neck and get away with it unseen, so to speak, excuse me! 24Please respect copyright.PENANAxiSZD3e8mn
3.5 I’m right here, whorehouse. I wish you’d done it before you went and betrayed me. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAIJ9Ble7tFA
4 I never / betrayed you. 24Please respect copyright.PENANADagoSKPtBb
1b And so, we wait. Not a word, nor the Word. From outside. I miss the sun. It’s been some time now since it was visible. I miss the rain. Even the burning one. I miss it all. Now just a memory, and even that ... I think I can hear a ghost ... 24Please respect copyright.PENANAX3fND5vIn1
Pause. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAqZ7tdTWKoR
4 Fill the space!24Please respect copyright.PENANAjrQhVjEJIs
3.5 You betrayed me. You betrayed me. / And now you blame me? 24Please respect copyright.PENANAd4rtQcEGZs
4 Fucker, I never betrayed you (excuse me), I ‘teached’ to you, and you listened, gaping and glistening for all of the wisdom in the world. Let us pray! 24Please respect copyright.PENANAWFcNWctXCS
1a (innocently) Who will we pray to today?24Please respect copyright.PENANAW2zXjN8MLm
1b I thought that I saw an illusion in the blackness. I think it was my dashing husband. Can we pray to that?24Please respect copyright.PENANAPpOnu0W7Zr
1a Can we pray to that?
3.5 Can we? 24Please respect copyright.PENANA76hNOuMFpr
4 Can we what? 24Please respect copyright.PENANAEK6tU7wdm2
3.5 Pray to his- / sorry, her illusion? 24Please respect copyright.PENANAI65xNljBrC
1b Her 24Please respect copyright.PENANACREB07HXAb
4 You ridiculous fucking children! Excuse me. No, you cannot pray to that, you won’t have arses when I’m done lashing you. Now. Pray! 24Please respect copyright.PENANAg7uwyza2up
Pause. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAXRmRvsyPGm
Mumbling prayers. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAkN5pk6L8HT
Not quite. Fill the space! 24Please respect copyright.PENANArBWbKscruJ
Pause. 24Please respect copyright.PENANABaSauS9B2Q
Rest of party unsure whether they should continue praying or speak. 24Please respect copyright.PENANABdSHXZK9MO
1a I heard a ghost! 24Please respect copyright.PENANAS8wZSFElcn
4 (frightened) What did it say? 24Please respect copyright.PENANAwq2KNdX3mO
1b I hear it too. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAlLehjFsEXh
4 What is it saying? 24Please respect copyright.PENANAK5Gf7A5udS
1a Just... 24Please respect copyright.PENANAvmypbPa085
1b Whispering. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAvkBZssB3Nt
4 (to 3.5) What do you hear? 24Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3jk300uwr
3.5 An annoying fuck-sucker running their mouth fucking dry. I doubt any of this carry on is even worth it. What when the time comes, will we really draw this moment back? 24Please respect copyright.PENANA2rEykH2vc0
4 Wait for the Word. It will not be the last-24Please respect copyright.PENANABkcprmFykM
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SCENE TWO24Please respect copyright.PENANAsCgDzpBccN
Suddenly, the overhead lights shut off. All are plunged into fear and darkness. 1a and 1b open their eyes wide, taking a heaving inhale, staring at something unseen in wonderment for a moment, collapsing into limp piles. They do not move from this point on. 4 stands up. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAzlBeiK0P1L
4 What happened? 24Please respect copyright.PENANAcmrj8daenr
3.5 (realisation setting in) The Word... 24Please respect copyright.PENANAFwZgJrRkJj
4 That wasn’t the fucking Word, did that sound like a fucking Word to you? Excuse me. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAgOzT2DNkoP
3.5 There can be no Other. 24Please respect copyright.PENANADqglGWZWAP
4 (calling up) Hey! You forgot us. Forgot me. I’m still here. You forgot about me. I have a reservation! / Come back for me! 24Please respect copyright.PENANA78m6lgey4z
3.5 Would you shut up? No-one's coming to rescue us. There will be no others. 24Please respect copyright.PENANAxvDFoB1OWY
4 Have some fucking faith. (cradles telephone) It will come. Must come. Soon to come. Will come. Has to come. Please come. Listen to the ghosts. No. Not yet. (whispering) Not yet. Not yet. Listen. 24Please respect copyright.PENANA4z6GxX9Bht
3.5 Is crying allowed? 24Please respect copyright.PENANAuLqetcnDPa
Pause. Music cuts. End.24Please respect copyright.PENANAKSlTGOeXWa
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Notes for performers24Please respect copyright.PENANAjzAFq5IlG6
> When a / mark occurs, indicates that the next line of dialogue begins. 24Please respect copyright.PENANA7C8E2OxfVl
> While the four characters are somewhat familiar with each other, there should be no allusion to familial or relationship ties. They are a set of strangers, brought together by unknown circumstances.24Please respect copyright.PENANAjbKdEK7Kev
> Love you forever B <3
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