SUMMARY

Al and Nat are childhood sweethearts, still together in their late twenties. They should be happy with their lot, but feel that life has somehow passed them by. So they make a list of things to do before they die and systematically set about having an adventure. But things rapidly get out of hand... A heartbreaking comedy, with some strong language and the maiming of a pigeon.

Duration: 1 hour.

CHARACTERS:

• Al: A man aged twenty eight (Sussex)
• Nat: A woman aged twenty eight (Sussex)
• Eric: A man in his fifties (Essex)

SETTINGS:

All scenes happen near a small off-season seaside resort (Southwick). The present day.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

'Bored Reckless' was written for my friend David Mara to remind him that he likes acting, when we were both living in Worthing. It was staged at The Zap Club as part of The Brighton Festival in 1997, directed by David Prescott.

'BORED RECKLESS' SCRIPT SAMPLE

[Al has come home to find Nat has bought herself an air-rifle. They argue.]


NAT	-I never asked you to marry me. You didn’t have to marry me!
AL	-But I loved you.
NAT	-And you don’t any more. 

[Pause]


AL	-I do.
NAT	-No. You’ve said it now.
AL	-That’s not what I meant.
NAT	-You can’t just unsay it. You don’t love me. You don't fancy me. You don’t even like me. Admit it, its over.
AL	-Nat…
NAT	-Admit it! 

[She picks up the air-rifle]


AL	-No.
NAT	-Say it!
AL	-No, I won’t.
NAT	-Just fucking say it or I’ll blow your useless bollocks off.

[He pins her against the wall and pulls up her skirt.]

AL	-You want proof? Is that it? 
NAT	-No. Al. No!
AL	-I’ll give you proof! 

[He undoes his flies.]


NAT	-Get off me! 

[The gun goes off. Al screams.]

NAT	-Al? Are you all right? 

[He goes to the window, his trousers round his ankles.]

NAT	-Al…
AL	-Nat. You’ve shot a pigeon. It’s still alive. Look.
NAT	-Oh God.
AL	-You’d better finish it.
NAT	-We can maybe fix it…
AL	-You’ve blown off its wing! 
NAT	-Shit.
AL	-It's flapping around in circles.
NAT	-Shit. 

[She takes aim.]

NAT	-I can’t do it. I can’t kill something.
AL	-You have to.
NAT	-I can’t.
AL	-Finish it.
NAT	-I can’t. 

[He takes the gun. She can’t look. He shoots. He shoots again.]


NAT	-Is it…?
AL	-It’s dead. It’s all right. 

[He goes to put an arm around her. She flinches.]

AL	-I do love you. I tried. I really tried. But I can’t make you happy and it’s breaking my heart. 

PICTURES

The poster

A publicity photo (by Martin Parker)

The set at the Zap Club

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