I Can Tell You This

*AN ORIGINAL SCRIPT THAT WON A SILVER MEDAL FOR SOLO ACTING IN SEA FORENSICS 2016*

David     : I'm just really happy to see all of you here. Not everybody has the courage to come speak out in such a large social circle. I'm really proud of all of you. I really am. That's all for today. Thank you. (Notices someone walking by) Timothy : “Reaching out for Alcoholics and Problematic Adults”, 8-10pm. And you must be the leader, David. David     : That's right! We were actually going to end the session, but we wouldn't mind just one more story right? Timothy  : Nah, it's okay. I'll just leave. David      : Oh come on, don't be shy now! (Grabs Timothy gently by the shoulder) Do have a seat! Timothy  : Um, how do I start? (Tics) David      : Anyway you like! We're all ears. Timothy  : (Tics multiply) When I was small, my mother told me that I was born with a special gift. I always thought it was my adorable looks and amazing sense of humour, well, until one night. (Scene changes) Dad        : Just stop it already! He's sick! And I'm sick of it! I never should've let you give birth to this creature you call our “son”. Mother   : Honey, you're drunk. Please don't say all of that in front of him. And stop... (tries to grab bottle) Dad        : (slaps Mother) Don't you tell me what to do! I do what I want! (Hears Timothy's tics) And you better tell him to shut up! Or I'm going to leave! Mother   : Honey, please, you know he can't just “stop”. Please! Don't leave us! (Gets slapped) It's alright. We're going to be fine. We're going to be just fine. (Multiple tics occur)

(Scene changes back)|

Timothy  : He left when I was 8. All I knew about him was that he was a police officer. But even then, he took me as a joke. People think I do this for fun. People think it's a joke. People take ME as a joke. And when the joke gets too annoying, they say “just stop it”. “Shut up”. But my mother was the only one who didn’t mind. I bet all of you are thinking that I’m a joke. David      : Oh,no! We will never do that here. We all have problems here. And sharing that problem with others is better than keeping it in you. Timothy  : I bet you didn't have as many problems as I have. Often in school, I would  get teased and made fun of every single day. But that wasn't all. They, they, even beat me up for it.

(Scene changes)

Micheal   : Well hello there, weirdo! Timothy   : Hi Micheal. Bye Micheal. Micheal   : And where do you think you're going huh?

Timothy  : I’m going to your sister’s bedroom.

Micheal   : Trying to be funny are you huh, weirdo? You don't just walk away from me like that. Who do you think you are? Since you like to walk so much, (takes off shoe) go ahead, lick my shoe. Timothy   : Micheal, just leave me alone! Micheal   : I know you want it, Tim. Lick my shoe! You're not gonna do it are you? Trying to be a rebel are you? Hmm? Well if you don't want to lick it, I'll just shove it down your throat! (grabs Timothy and tries to shove shoe) Timothy   : You do it! (punches Micheal) AHAHAHA, I know you want it, Micheal! Do it! Do it! Ahahaha!

(Scene changes)

Timothy   : I didn't expect myself to burst. I didn't know I had it in me, honestly. But it felt good. It felt really, really good. For once, once in my entire life, I was laughing at him! He was the one bleeding, begging me, for mercy! It’s a killed or be killed world, and I had enough of being killed!    David       : Didn’t Michael complain? He was bleeding! Timothy   : Well, I got sent home really early that day. David       : And what did your mother thought about this? Timothy   : I didn’t mean to. It was an accident! (Scene changes) Mother     : Why are you back so early? And why is your shirt covered in blood? You got into a fight, didn’t you! Timothy Lawrence, look at me while I’m speaking! Why? Why did you get into a fight? I raised you up to become nothing like your father, but now you just made it clear that you’re exactly like your father!

Timothy   : Just stop it! (Hits Mother) No, mom. No! (Proceeds to take gun) Dad…. (scene changes) David       : You’re Timothy? You killed your mother? Timothy    : It was an accident! I can tell you this, David Lawrence or should I say Dad, you’re not going to be an accident! David        : Please, just let me go. I didn’t mean to leave. I'm sorry. I’m really am. (Gets shot and dies) Timothy    : It's too late for that now. (Police rushes in) The police? What? (Hides behind the table) Stop the shooting! Just stop it! ( Gets shot)

(final scene)

Reporter : Tonight's topic, 16-year old Timothy Lawrence was shot dead in a shootout after running away from killing his own parents and four counts of murder. The outrage of a high school student has become an epidemic, but instead of society searching for a way to fix this, everyone is looking for someone to blame. Timothy Lawrence, a victim of bullying and a broken home becomes one of those teens lost in the shuffle, making him another statistic. No one agrees with what Timothy did, but he is right. We cannot forget what he did. Because we cannot let that happen again. Goodbye and good luck. Until next time.

(THE END)