20051110 Gossip

Title:-   20051110 Gossip     Author:-    Paul Clarke    

Subject:-   A play about what happens to those who gossip  

Location:-   Sharpenho Clappers     Date:-    10 November 2005    Time:-    N/A  

 Media:-   MiniDV, DVD      Duration:-   5 Mins  

A play about what happens to those who gossip

Gossip
By Paul Clarke

The play is set in a wood in Bali
"Caring" is a young man
"Gossip" is his mother

Caring
	(Is walking in the woods and is downcast. He talks to himself)
	My Name is Caring
	I am very sad
	My girlfriend has committed suicide
	I don't understand it
	We were so close
	We were in love
	She left a note
	It said that someone had told her
	That I had been unfaithful
	Who could say such wicked things?
	When I was always true
	I am very sad
	(Fade out)
Gossip
	(Is also walking in the woods. She talks to herself)
	My name is Gossip
	I am cunning and malicious
	I maim without killing
	I break hearts and ruin lives
	I have no regard for truth
	I gain admiration by telling vicious stories for others to repeat
	If I hear bad news, I am bursting to tell it to others
	My stories gather strength with age
	The more I am quoted, the more I am believed
	My victims are helpless
	They cannot protect themselves against me,
	Because I cannot be traced
	The harder people try to track me down
	The more elusive I become
	Nobody admits to passing my rumours on
	I am nobody's friend
	Once I tarnish a reputation, it's never the same again
	I topple governments and wreck marriages
	I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartaches and indigestion
	I make innocent people cry in their pillows
	(Fade out)

	(Caring and Gossip meet in a clearing in the woods. They stop and talk.)
	Hello my son Caring
	How tall and handsome you are
	What a fine young man you have become
	But why are you sad?
Caring
	Hello my mother Gossip
	Your eyes are full of glee
	Why are you so gratified?
Gossip
	I have a new job
	Working for the newspaper
	Millions of people read my stories
	Everyone is talking about me
	My article is called Gossip's column
	Life is one big fun game

	Have you heard my latest story?
	(Caring shakes his head)

	To tell it will cheer you
	Old Missis Rumour told it to me
	So I swear by the gods
	That it's true as can be

	It relates to two lovers
	Named Daring and Sweet
	Who were true to each other
	Really true, I repeat

	'Till down from the hill
	Came Cherry Elation
	And it's said that Daring
	Gave way to temptation

	And the gods were so angry
	That they sought their revenge
	With thunder and lightning
	And rain and wind

	But Daring defied them
	In the dark of the night
	While Sweet was asleep
	He broke rules, left and right

	So I whispered the truth
	Into little sweets ear
	Betray filled her heart
	With anger and fear

	She vowed that never
	Would she see Daring again
	So she poisoned herself
	Such was her pain

	And it's said that Daring
	Lives in grief and despair
	So justice is done
	And all ended fair
Caring
	Mother dear mother
	Cannot you see
	That Daring is Caring
	Your story names me?

	It is I that lives
	In grief and despair
	For the Sweet that I loved
	Is no longer there

	There's no truth in the story
	Of Cherry Elation
	She only exists
	In imagination

	So the rumour you spread
	Left little Sweet dead
	I, your son caring
	Will mourn it forever

	Mother dear mother
	Stop gossiping forthwith
	Or with harm that you make
	You'll have to live
Gossip
	Oh, horror. Oh, horror
	I never checked, to see if 'twas true
	I just repeated
	Causing grief to you

	From now on
	I'll check what I say
	To heal your sorrow
	I will pray

	From now on
	I'll change my friends
	I love you son
	And I'll make amends

	(They cuddle each other)
	(Fade out)

7 Nov 05