DRAGGED

BY ANDY AISBETT

CHARACTERS
6 MALE. 3 FEMALE.
STELLA: Age 28.
BOY: Age 18.
MOTHER: Age 40.
FATHER: Age 40.
SIMON: Age 18.
MANAGER (same actor as MOTHER): Age 50.
CHORUS: Four Actors. 2 Male. 2 Female. Any Age.

ALCOHOLISM. IDENTIDY. DISTANCE.

Stella, a drag queen, stumbles against a cold wall down a dark alley outside her
workplace. A nightclub. She reeks of booze and tastes like cocaine. As her manager
leaves her alone in the night, she travels back to the beginning of her adult-hood
through drug induced hallucinations and memory flashbacks. She tells the story of
how she transformed from a boy to man and a man to a woman. Its the honeymoon
period of turning 18, so that means experimentation, but not with just drugs and
alcohol. A newcomer to the world of thrills finds himself losing himself in a vortex of
confusion, distance and drug/alcohol abuse. Meantime, the support of his mother and
father is lacking, as their relationship is spiralling out of control through uncomfortable
silence, unspoken words and broken promises.
This play deals with the themes of Alcoholism, Identity and Distance and how they all
can influence and damage relationships and cause serious psychological harm and
confusion. We see MOTHER lose control with her abuse of alcohol, which causes her
relationships with FATHER and BOY to crumble. We see FATHER distance himself from
MOTHER, as he is silent and confused about having an affair and concerned for her
well-being. FATHER also distances himself from BOY as he is suspicious of his secret
sexuality and does not approve. We see BOY, who has newly turned 18, experiment
with alcohol and drugs and his own sexuality, causing himself to create a distance
between everyone he is close to which leads to serious consequences involving his
best friend, SIMON.
= A line being interrupted by the following line, or a sudden change in
thought.
/

= a line continuing on with the following line as regular speech.

Character names are nameless to establish a lack of relationship or connection to other

characters. If an obvious relationship was to be created, FATHER would be HUSBAND or
MOTHER would be WIFE, to establish that the character belonged to the other whilst also
belonging to BOY. If an obvious relationship were to be created with MOTHER and FATHER for
BOY, he would be named SON. Naming him BOY creates a disconnection and distance between
the characters. SIMON would have been called FRIEND to establish their relationship; instead
he is the only character with an actual name making him disconnected from everyone, which
he is seen to feel within the story. I advise that something happens within scene transitions, as
they may be long due to constant change of scenery. If I were to direct this piece, I would use a
large chorus of young people to dance across the stage during transitions, to represent that
they are in the club that Stella exited and each transition will have 1 less person to establish a
timeline and show the audience how late the night is getting for STELLA.

SCENE ONE: STELLA #1

(Its dark, limited lighting from backstage illuminates a small portion of the stage. We
hear club music in the distance. STELLA stumbles on, collapses against a wall.
MANAGER follows after her. Shes giggling.)
MANAGER: Stella, come back inside!
STELLA: (Slurring) youll have to pay me.
MANAGER: Look just come back inside.
STELLA: You come back inside.
MANAGER: Fine. Stay out here. Be alone.
STELLA: Alone? I have Mr. Daniels (she holds up a bottle of Jack Daniels)
MANAGER: Ill see you tomorrow for rehearsals. Dont be late. (She starts to walk
away)
STELLA: My dress from Act 1. (She snorts a line of cocaine)
MANGER: What about it?
STELLA: It needs a clean. Mysterious stains. Mumma Felatio really knows what shes
doing.
MANAGER: Do it yourself, clean up and go home.
STELLA: (Begging) Please! I never had a mother to show me how?
MANAGER: Im sure she would have loved hearing that.
(She exits.)
STELLA: What? (She starts to hallucinate and throws her body around. Voices start
playing in her head. Music fades. A spotlight appears on her.)
You have to be one or the other. You cant be both. Weird. Just weird. Its not how we
raised you. Where did we go wrong? Just as confused as you are. Just as confused. As
you are.
We shouldntve stopped footy or cricket. Wouldve made him normal. Nothing about
him is right. Nothing about him is straight. What could we have done? Sent him to
boarding school? He wouldve sucked off everyone in the school by the end of the first
day. But this is our son, darling. We need to support him even if he didnt turn out the
way we wanted. The dresses. The makeup. The fake tits. They need to stop.
But youve had girlfriends. Are you sure its not just a phase youre going through?
(Pause, she snaps out of the replay) Didnt you like hearing that? Are you ashamed?
Are you so disappointed from hearing that your son is a girl that you had to convince

yourself that its just a phase hes going through? What a fucking role model. Its just
going to take us some time to get used to. Why? Why will It take some time to get
used to the person youve always been used to? Whats changed? Im still the human
you gave birth to. Im still the human you raised and woke up every morning before
school. I like makeup. I like dresses and high heels. Its weird, I know its fucking weird,
but I like it. So cheers to you.
(Spotlight weakens. Another comes up on a bed.)

SCENE TWO: EXPERIMENTATION

(BOYS bed. He and SIMON are fooling around under the sheets. We hear STEVIE
WONDER They climax and rest. STELLA watches on.)
BOY: How was that?
SIMON: What?
BOY: That.
SIMON: That?
BOY: Yes. That.
SIMON: Good?
BOY: So you liked it?
(Silence)
I liked it, too.
(SIMON smiles. A pause)
SIMON: So we just had sex.
BOY: We just had sex.
SIMON: We just had gay sex.
BOY: Just sex.
SIMON: No, but itBOY: Simon. It was good sex, we both enjoyed it. Its done.
SIMON: But we dont do this.
BOY: Well now we do.
SIMON: But isnt that weird?
BOY: Nope.

SIMON: Its pretty weird

BOY: Best mates do it all the time.
SIMON: Experiment, yeah. Experiment and like it? No.
BOY: So what if we liked it?
SIMON: Well, doesnt that mean wereBOY: Stop.
SIMON: But surely this is weird for you? We werent gay yesterday, and now
BOY: Now? Its fine, mate. Just dont think about it, it was nothing. Just sex.
SIMON: Alright.
(A few moments pass)
Can weBOY: Do it again?
SIMON: Yes!
(He pulls him down on to the bed, they kiss. Theres a sudden knock on his door)
MOTHER: Mate, Im coming in. Are you decent?
BOY: Hold up! (They panic and quickly put their clothes back on)
MOTHER: Youre taking forever, what are you doing in there?
(He opens the door, she enters with a washing basket)
I know its hot, but try to keep your pants on.
BOY: Sorry, didnt know you were backMOTHER: Simons here! How are you, dear?
SIMON: Good thanks, yourself?
MOTHER: Well, Ive just been to the beach all morning so theres more sand in my butt
than Libya, but apart from that, Im just fine, thank you.
BOY: Mum!
MOTHER: I know! I havent worn my bathers since you were this big, so of course they
dont fit me anymore.
BOY: I think more than age has changed your body (SIMON and BOY snicker)
MOTHER: What are you trying to say?
BOY: (Coughs) Grog. Too much grog.
MOTHER: (She gives him a stern look) I like a drink every now and then. Theres
nothing wrong with that.
BOY: More like seven every now and then. (He and SIMON snicker.)

MOTHER: (She pauses) reminds me. Now that youre eighteen doesnt mean you can
get away with raiding my alcohol to take to parties. Get a job and pay for your own
drinks.
BOY: But its hard, mum.
MOTHER: No its not!
BOY: You havent had a job in 19 years.
MOTHER: Because I would rather stay home and do washing and cook your dinner. Be
grateful. Simon has a job. Simon buys his own drinks. Dont you, Simon?
SIMON: Oh, getting my job was way easy, dad knows the manager you seeMOTHER: See?!
BOY: Youre telling me to be more like Simon?
MOTHER: Wouldnt hurt.
(She exits)
BOY: Be more like Simon. Be more like Simon and bottom?
SIMON: I dont know, maybe you should listen to her wisdom.
BOY: Maybe you should shut up and kiss me.
(They kiss)
SIMON: Maybe I should go home.
BOY: Serious?
SIMON: Weve even started using the terminology.
BOY: What?
SIMON: Top? Bottom?
BOY: Who the fuck cares?
SIMON: You do.
BOY: Right.
SIMON: And we kissed, outside of having experimenting.
BOY: Well um, yeah maybe you should go.
SIMON: Ill see you Saturday night.
BOY: Ill see you then.
(They linger, juggling up between a kiss, a hug or a fist bump. MOTHER storms in
again, shes forgotten something, starts scrounging around things)
MOTHER: I only have six pairs of underwear, wheres your(She spots a Mens Fitness Magazine)

Mens Fitness.
BOY: Getting fit.
MOTHER: These are some spicy looking men.
BOY: Are they?
MOTHER: Bloody oath. Probably all homos though. (She throws it down)
BOY: And Im wearing my seventh pair of undies. (He goes to strip)
MOTHER: No, no. Ill just get those ones next wash. Nobody needs to see that. Arent
you staying for dinner, Simon?
SIMON: Nah, mum needs me to do some stuff around the house.
MOTHER: Well youre a good son! If I asked this dope to do the dishes Id just get a
grunt.
BOY: Werent you leaving?
MOTHER: Fine.
BOY: Whats for dinner?
MOTHER: Not sure. Im about to ask your father. Wish me luck!
(She exits)
SIMON: Maybe you should cover those up with Playboy.
(They both share a look)
Ill see you later.
(SIMON exits. STELLA kisses the air. Lights down.)

SCENE THREE: DINNER.

(Lights up. A long silence.)
MOTHER: Did you have a good day at work today?
FATHER: Yeah, it was fine.
MOTHER: Good.
(Long silence)
FATHER: What did you do?
MOTHER: Housework. Beach. Laundry. Learnt how to speak Spanish. Watched Morgan
Freeman movies. Not much. (Pause) What are you reading?
FATHER: Oh, nothing. Just a book.
MOTHER: Well it has to be something.
(long silence)
MOTHER: What do you want for dinner?
FATHER: Not fussed.
MOTHER: Well, what do you feel like?
FATHER: Im not sure.
MOTHER: Makes it easy.
(Long silence)
FATHER: What do you feel like?
MOTHER: Im not sure. Be nice to go out for a change.
FATHER: Would you like to go out?

MOTHER: Its fine.

FATHER: You just said you want to, where do you want to go?
MOTHER: I dont know.
FATHER: (Under breath) Fuck sake.
MOTHER: I beg your pardon?
(No response)
Why is it so hard?
FATHER: What?
MOTHER: Deciding what to do for dinner?
FATHER: Its simple.
MOTHER: Well its clearly not!
FATHER: Just decide somewhere to go!
MOTHER: Why is it up to me? Its always up to me! I have to cook it so I ask a simple
question and I get no options. I get no ideas. I get nothing. Why?
FATHER: Why what?
MOTHER: Why do I get nothing?
FATHER: What?
MOTHER: Never mind.
FATHER: What?
MOTHER: (Mocking) What? What? Thats what I get. I get What?
(FATHER Goes to leave)
MOTHER: What are you doing?
(He gathers his things)
Where do you think your going?
FATHER: Somewhere peaceful!
(Hes gone. MOTHER grabs a bottle of Vodka. BOY enters)
BOY: Whats for dinner?
MOTHER: (She sneaks it away) Oh my fucking god, I dont know.
BOY: Wheres dad?
MOTHER: Your guess is as good as mine!
BOY: He left again.
MOTHER: Yes. Had a bit of a disagreement. What do you want for dinner?
BOY: Are you alright?
MOTHER; Yes. Yes. Yes. What do you want for dinner?

BOY: Steak.
MOTHER: You had steak last night. I forgot I have a meeting tonight!
BOY: Ill cook it. Its fine.
MOTHER: Well, I was actually hoping you would come with me?
BOY: What? Why? What kind of meeting?
MOTHER: Youve just turned eighteen, and I know alcohol is fun and drugs are wicked
and your friends do them all the time. But I just want you to see what they can do to
you.
BOY: You attend AA meetings?
MOTHER: I know, I just want to warn you about the dangers! You might think youre
invincible and a mighty eighteen year old, but youre not.
BOY: Mum, I just turned eighteen. Im not an addict.
MOTHER: Well, youre acting like one.
BOY: Because you would know.
MOTHER: Ive been eighteen before, believe it or not.
BOY: That wasnt sarcasm. I know you used to abuse the shit out of alcohol and drugs.
You still do.
(She shoots him a look)
Im going to Simons anyway, and were drinking.
MOTHER: Fine. Go to Simons. Get so drunk you shit your pants and vomit down each
others throats, singing the theme song from fucking Friends. See if I care.
BOY: Your jobs a joke, youre broke and your love lifes D.O.A.
MOTHER: Youre not funny.
BOY: Do you even have a job? (Shes silent) Money? (Stays silent) A love life?
(He exits, a pause. She takes a swig of vodka, exits.)

10

SCENE FOUR: STELLA #2

(Loud music. Party lights and moshing CHORUS as the scene changes. Music and
Lights fade. A spotlight appears on a single chair, sits MOTHER amongst a semi-circle
of chairs and on STELLA.)
MOTHER: I see a glamorous nighclub/
STELLA: I am a glamourous nightclub/
STELLA/MOTHER: New. A new nightclub. The floor is shiny and black but dirty. Vomit.
Alcohol. Piss. The toilets smell of red bull and cigarettes/
MOTHER: My lippy is smudged/
STELLA: My lipstick, perfect/
MOTHER: My mascara melted down my face/
STELLA: Outfit, flawless/
STELLA/MOTHER: Bodies against me. Bodies with not much on, not much care, not
much value. Happiness. Cologne. Perfume. Me. Me on me. Him on me/
MOTHER: Her on me/
STELLA/MOTHER: Calves are sore, feet are tired. Home time. Youre coming with me/
STELLA: Boyfriend?/
MOTHER: Girlfriend?/
STELLA/MOTHER: Who cares? Shes/Hes not here, Im here. Thin sheets, heavy doona.
Soft skin, harsh stubble. In. Out. In. Out. Finished. Shower. Hes gone. Im gone.

11

Repeat.
STELLA: My name is Stella and that is what I do on a nightly basis. Drink. Get stoned.
Rave. Fuck. Repeat. I laugh. Cry. Fall. Cry. Smile. Cry. Dance. Cry. Sing. Cry. Scream and
cry. Cry, cry, cry, cry, cry! Just like my mother and what she used to be. Nothing like
my father. Haha! Look at me! How can I be anything like my father? (She smashes a
bottle)
I drink to forget. To feel like I didnt exist until now. To feel like the family I grew up with
were never alive, and my fetus dropped out of the sky into a dumpster full of sperm
and glitter. People used to know where I went back to every day. What street I walked
down. What shows I watched every Saturday morning. Now Im looked at with curious
eyes. I wonder if that fabulous drag queen has a family, or a home, or a family with a
home. Or a partner at least? No. (Giggles) Not me. Not Stella.

SCENE FIVE: AA
(An AA meeting)
MOTHER: My name is Stella and that was me before I had a kid. You can probably
guess why Im so excited about admitting that. My life was filled with rhymes and guys
buying me shots. Now Im buying my lipstick from the local IGA and touching myself to
David Letterman because my husband never looks at me. Never touches me. Im a
mother. A mother to a child who doesnt care if I come home or not. A wife to a man
who can barely make eye contact with me. Doesnt even greet me with a kiss on the
forehead when he comes home. Its just silence. So I drink. Alcohol has always been in
my life. My grandfather was an alcoholic. My father an alcoholic. My son soon to be an
alcoholic. And me, alcoholic.
I drink to feel something. To feel touched like I used to be touched. To feel warm like
the honeymoon cuddling, or like the safety of skin touching skin and sparks flying as
lips touch lips. Im alive and I feel dead. Thats me. Thats Stella.
BOY enters, tipsy.
BOY: (Sarcastically) Im here!
MOTHER: I thought you were at Simons?
BOY: I didnt go.

12

MOTHER: Great! I just finished. Take a seat next to mum.

(BOY sits down. A silence)
So, everyone, meet my son!
PAM: Why is your son here?
MOTHER: Pam, IBOY: She wants me to see how pathetic some lives have become from abusing alcohol
and drugs.
MOTHER: No, not quite like that! Well talk about it later. (She smells him)
PAM: I smell tequila.
PAM/ANNE/DARRYL: Terrible/ I smell it too/ I always smell it.
BOY: Yeah, had a few before I came.
MOTHER: A few?
BOY: A few.
MOTHER: Yeah, right.
BOY: I had a few, mum! Let me be eighteen.
PAM: Jesus, hes only eighteen!
MOTHER: Shut up, Pam! Lets not talk about this now. Anne, I think its your turn!
ANNE: Hi, Im AnneBOY: Well then lets talk about something else! I think everyone here has the right to
hear what you say about them behind their pathetic backs.
MOTHER: What are you doing?
BOY: Im so sick of you believing that my life is going to end up as shit as yours. You sit
around at these stupid things and then you come home and bitch about everyone over
several glasses of Savvy B. How is that setting a good example? Im just living my
eighteen year old life and you dump this depressing shit on me. Stop raining on my
parade!
MOTHER: Why are you doing this? Sit down!
BOY: Why do you want me here? Its dumb!
MOTHER: Go sit in the car.
BOY: No. Lets start with Anne! You know what my mother says about you, Anne? She
tells me you havent had a drink in 3 weeks, but theres still loads of grog in your bod
because your hair looks like you have a never ending hangover.
MOTHER: Get out!
BOY: Pam! Pommy Pam! Mum tells me she purposely sits as far away as possible from
you because your breath reeks of warm beer and you smell like you bathe in the
Queens piss. Oh! Have we offended you, Governor!?

13

MOTHER/STELLA: Thats enough!

BOY: Darryl! I almost left you out, buddy. Mum says alcohol has royally fucked you up
the most because of your erectile dysfunction! She accidentally let that one slip over a
bottle of red.
MOTHER: (She screams) STOP! Go home. (He doesnt move) Go home right now!
(Silence.)
BOY: As if you could call that place home.
MOTHER: What?
BOY: Its not a home. Its a silent dome of lies and hate and distance.
MOTHER: Whats made you think like this?
BOY/STELLA: I know.
MOTHER: Know what?
BOY: Where dad goes.
(He exits. Silence as the lights go down. The light stays on STELLA for a moment.)

SCENE SIX: LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

(Next morning. FATHER walks in on BOY masturbating to gay porn)
(FATHER enters.)
BOY: Jesus Christ!
FATHER: Oh, shit!
BOY: Knock! Fucking knock!
FATHER: Time and place, mate.
BOY: Im in my own room!
FATHER: Still.
BOY: What other time and place would suit better?
FATHER: Was that a man?
BOY: (Pauses) No?
FATHER: Sounded like a man

14

BOY: Well, a man on a woman.

FATHER: Sounded like a man on BOY: It was a guy screwing a chick, dad! Get out!
FATHER: No, no. We need to have a chat.
BOY: Cant you wait until its not unbearably awkward?
FATHER: No. I need to ask.
BOY: Ask what?
FATHER: I've been a bit suspicious lately, mate. I don't want you to flip out or anything,
I'm only asking. Your relationship with Simon.
BOY: Friendship with Simon.
FATHER: You two spend a lot of time together.
BOY: So?
FATHER: And Ive heard things from his parents.
BOY: What?!
FATHER: They said they hear things. Under music from his room.
BOY: I dont know what you mean?
FATHER: When he has you over, you always play that Stevie Wonder song, and when
you have him over I hear that song and we hear noises under it.
BOY: We talk?
FATHER: Not quite talking, mate.
(Silence)
Youve quit footy. Youve quit cricket. Youre listening to Stevie Wonder. Youve started
drinking and smoking and snorting whateverBOY: So?
FATHER: That shit makes you do weird things, mate. It really does. I'm just a little
concerned you're becoming someone else.
BOY: Would be for the better, I suppose?
FATHER: Your mother and I love you, we really do. It's just that Simon's parents have
told us they hear moaning.
BOY: Moaning?
FATHER: Moaning, yes.
BOY: Moaning?
FATHER; Yes, son, like moaning.
BOY: Right...
FATHER: Is there something youre not telling me?
BOY: No.

15

FATHER: I think you're lying to me.

BOY: Im not lying to you.
FATHER: Ive just walked in on you having a tug over two men kissing.
BOY: Theres nothing Im not telling you, Dad. Shit.
FATHER: We need to be honest in this house, mate. If you cant share your life and be
truthful with me then whats the point in me being here? I didnt have the best
upbringing in the world, I didnt get what you get from your mother and I so I expect a
little respect, alright? I expect you to talk to me about things. Or at least talk to me. So
talk to me! Just tell me something! Just talk!
BOY: Yes!
FATHER: Yes what?
BOY: Yes there is something Im not telling you and I dont want to talk about it.
FATHER: I'd like you to tell me right now.
BOY: I'm not going to do that.
FATHER: You will tell me right now.
BOY: No.
(Father punches him in the stomach. He falls to the ground)
FATHER: You tell me right now.
BOY: Get off me!
FATHER: Are you gay?
BOY: No! If I was, I would tell you when Im ready to tell you, you fucking jerk.
FATHER: (Slaps him across the face) Are you gay? Answer me! Yes or no!
BOY: I dont know! (He fights back, FATHER pins his arms down and backhands him,
spits in his face)
FATHER: You do fucking know/
BOY: Get off me/
FATHER: And I fucking know!
(MOTHER enters, running.)
MOTHER: What are you doing?! Get off him! (She runs at FATHER, shoves him off BOY)
FATHER: Our son is a faggot and he wont admit it. Even to his father. Raised him, fed
him, tucked him in at night and he still doesnt trust me. Or you!
(BOY escapes and exits)
MOTHER: I wonder why he doesnt trust you, you just beat him up! Even if he was,
hell tell us when he feels like it.
FATHER: Weve talked it about. Weve both been thinking it for too long. Its time we
knew. Besides, he needed it. Needed the gay booted out of him.
MOTHER: This is our son! /We need to support him!

16

FATHER: What did we do so wrong for him to be thinking this way?

MOTHER: Well, you forced sport upon him. You pushed and pushed and now he's finally
realised it wasn't his choice in the first place and he'd rather be doing things he wants
to do.
FATHER; Taking drugs and fucking boys?
MOTHER: Stop being like this. Stop pushing him away. /Stop pushing me away.
FATHER: Im leaving.
MOTHER: And where are you going this time? (He doesnt respond) To your girlfriends
house?
FATHER: What?
(A silence)
What?
MOTHER: Is there someone else?
(Silence)
MOTHER: (Screaming) is there someone else?!
FATHER: Yes.
MOTHER: How long?
FATHER: What do you mean?
MOTHER: How long have you been seeing her behind my back?
FATHER: Three years..
MOTHER: Three years.
(MOTHER breaks down)
FATHER: Im sorry.
MOTHER: You are not sorry! You made a vow when you put this ring on my finger! And
as soon as you start questioning why our son is moaning with his best mate, you go
and find some other woman! What have I done? Nothing! Ive done nothing but love
you. You bitch on about trust and being honest and you've been doing the polar
opposites for three fucking years? Thats why youve been so quiet lately, hasnt it?
Because youre ashamed. Youre a fucking coward! (She shoves him and begins to
walk off)
FATHER: Who told you?
MOTHER: You really want to know?
FATHER: Yes.
MOTHER: Your son told me. Your fucking son told me you were having an affair. No
wonder hes spiralling downhill at the moment! He has to see his father for what he
really is and drinks and prays the fuck to god he doesnt end up just like him.
FATHER: Thats rich.
MOTHER: Whatever. I hope she has a fabulous fucking family and a beautiful fucking

17

face for you to make a fresh fucking start with. (She begins to walk away) I was the
best thing that ever happened to you. You said that. Youve obviously forgotten, but
when you remember, I wont be here and youll be alone. Go on, have fun. You little
cunt.
(She exits, lights down)

SCENE SEVEN: BOYFRIEND (CHORUS enters, moshing with STELLA. MOTHER &
FATHER enter and positioned at opposite sides of stage)
SIMON: (On the phone) Well, Ive been seeingsomeone. Wellwhat? I dont knowI
cant say. Because I just cant. Theyre a bit troubled Like, you know. Going through a
tough time at the moment, and I want to be the thing that turns all of that around.
How long? A while. Actually, Im heading to a party at the moment, can I talk to you
another time? Yeah, I need to talk to you too. About something. Well about this,
actually. What weve just been talking about. Because nows not the time. (BOY and
CHORUS enter) Okay. Bye.
SIMON: What do you think of her? Red shoes.
BOY: What do you think of him?

18

SIMON: Him?
BOY: Yeah, with the downstairs luggage flopping about.
SIMON: Come off it.
BOY: Who was on the phone?
SIMON: JustBOY: Mum? Dad? Sister. Brother. Cousin. Second cousin. Daughter?
(He begins tearing up)
SIMON: Are you okay?
BOY: Never better.
SIMON: Then why are you crying?
BOY: (Wipes his eyes) Not.
SIMON: Youre crying.
BOY: What about him?
SIMON: Who?
BOY: With the black top and blue jeans.
SIMON: Me?
BOY: Yeah you. (BOY grabs SIMON and kisses his neck)
SIMON: Youve had enough for tonight.
BOY: Then you have more!
SIMON: No!
BOY: Pussy.
SIMON: Put it away, cmon.
BOY: Fuck off. Stop acting like you own me!
SIMON: Well somebody has to! Youre not exactly stable enough to look after yourself.
BOY: Stop it and suck me off.
SIMON: Fuck off. Come on, Ill take you home.
BOY: Taking me home like yourSIMON: Shut up.
BOY: Like Im your littleSIMON: Shut up!
BOY: Stop acting like this!
SIMON: Like what? Your boyfriend?
(The lights and music fade, CHORUS, MOTHER, FATHER exit. SIMON and BOY are
alone. STELLA stays on the dancefloor and watches on)

19

BOY: You are not my boyfriend.

SIMON: Really?
BOY: Youre my mate.
SIMON: I think Im more than that and I think you think that too.
BOY: We experimented, Simon. Fuck.
SIMON: It wasnt just experimenting. You know that. If it was just experimenting
then why do you keep wanting to do it again with me?
BOY: Because its good!
SIMON: You cant just use people like that. We connected.
BOY: (Laughs) Connected? Are you expecting an I love you, as well?
SIMON: Well, no. Im just sick of you choosing to ignore this.
BOY: Youre fucking drunk.
SIMON: Youre a fucking liar.
BOY: Oh, really? Who am I lying to?
SIMON: To me! And yourself.
BOY: What?
SIMON: Theres a reason why you even avoided saying the word.
BOY: What word?
SIMON: Gay.
BOY: Youre fucked.
SIMON: Why are you such a fucking loser? Why cant you just fucking talk to me about
this like a normal person? I have been your best mate for over a fucking decade and
now all of a sudden Ive just become this random fuck. You only want me when you
want sex. Do you know how shit that makes a person feel? Or do you not know what
feelings are? Do I need to remind you about emotions? Do I need to fucking explain to
you how to be a fucking friend? It hurts me so much to see you going on like this.
Pushing everyone away. I cant stand being nothing but sex to you because I want to
be so much more. So much fucking more. Im gay. There you go. Im fucking gay and
thats fucked. Just like you.
BOY/STELLA: Fuck you!
(BOY lunges at SIMON. They fight. STELLA slowly sinks to the floor. They break.)
SIMON: Youre still denying who you are. I want to help you because I want help to. Im
so confused. Im confused about so much and I know you are too. Please listen to me.
Im trying really hard.
BOY: Just leave.
SIMON: I have nowhere to go. Dad kicked me out. I have nothing keeping me up, mate.
BOY: What?
(Theres no response)

20

What does that mean?

SIMON: I dont want to be alive. I dont want to be alive anymore. If being happy with
who I am means I have to go through this then I want out. My dad forced it out of me
and he didnt like it. I tried with you and you didnt like it. I just want to be comfortable
and happy without the bullshit. Ive never been this honest with anyone, mate. Please
help me. We can help eachtoher. We can get through this together. I want to be more
than mates. So bad. Please help me. (BOY kisses him, abruptly. They stare at each
other. SIMON kisses him back)
BOY: Cant. (He walks off, drops his bottle of vodka, STELLA does the same)
SIMON: Please! (Hes gone. Lights go down. Light on STELLA lingers.)
STELLA: Please.

SCENE EIGHT: STELLA #3

STELLA: When I was in eighth grade I came home with a ciggerette in my pocket. I
walked through the front door, said hello to mum and dad. I felt like they could smell
it. The tabacco. The guilt. I went to my room, found some matches, placed the
ciggerette between my lips, lit the match and enhaled. As soon as I did, mother
walked in. Without knocking, I might add. I didnt turn around. I kept my head to the
wall and remained in my desk chair and felt her watching the smoke rise above my

21

head. She yelled and screamed and stormed up to me, snatched the cigarette out of
my hand and slapped me across the face. Without any hesitation, he hit me. It was
the first time she ever hit me. It was the first time I knew she was serious. She warned
me about these things called cigarettes because she knew the crowd I associated with
were into that. She told me she was disappointed in me, like a regular mum would.
Dad said nothing to me, just gave me the ugly face he always gave me.
I didnt like that. I didnt like that they didnt like that. Growing up I had nothing the
other boys had. In high school I never went to parties all of my friends were going to
because my parents didnt like that. They didnt like the idea of me growing up and
being exposed to dangerous things like tobacco and tequila and being popular and
cool. Hmph. If only they knew what I was like now. What I was doing now. Im cool, and
Im popular too, when my face is pushed into a pillow, that is. (She takes another pill
and another swig.)
When I was sixteen I started getting bad skin and my mother didnt want to waste
money on Proactive Solution or Garnier Charcoal Scrub or maybe nice soap instead of
the outrageously pathetic home brand excuse of a product. Anyway, so one night I
snuck into the bathroom and somehow found my hand in my mothers makeup bag
and then somehow started using my mothers foundation to cover up my plague
infested skin. After the foundation, I tried some eyeliner. After the eyeliner, I tried
some mascara. After the mascara I- well, you get it. Once I was done applying all of
my mothers basic supermarket brand make-up, poorly, I might add, my father walks
in. Without knocking. Apparently knocking wasnt a thing in my household. You can
probably guess what he did. Without a singular blink, he grabbed me by the shoulder
and smacked me as hard as he could across the face. And, because the makeup was
so cheap, he smudged all of it right off. With just one slap. He yelled. He called me
names. He threw me in my bedroom. I cried. The usual. Growing up wasnt the easiest
thing to do. Being myself was even harder. (She takes another pill and another swig.)

22

SCENE NINE: THE DESTRUCTION OF A FAMILY

(BOYs room. He is sleeping. Dim lighting. We hear him dreaming. Theres a knock at
the door)
BOY: (Waking up) Go away.
(MOTHER enters.)
Is your hearing aid turned off?
MOTHER: Simon called. He said you two had a fight last night.
BOY: Yeah.
MOTHER: I want you to apologize to him.
BOY: He fucken started it.
MOTHER: He has no one.
BOY: How do you know that?
MOTHER: He told me.
BOY: He told you?
MOTHER: He told me everything.
BOY: Stupid homo.
(Silence)
MOTHER: Are you?
BOY: What?
MOTHER: Are you gay?
BOY: What do you think? (He takes a swig of vodka.)
MOTHER: From what Simon tells me. Yes.
BOY: Hes fucked. (He takes another swig)
MOTHER: Look, just apologize to him.
BOY: Fuck that. (He goes to take another swig but MOTHER snatches the bottle.) What
the fuck?
MOTHER: Stop. Stop. Stop! Youre changing and I dont like it. I regret a lot of things
and Ive made a lot of mistakes, lost a lot of people. You dont want to lose friends,
mate. You need all you can get right now.
BOY: I need a mother.
MOTHER: You have a mother and she cares about you so much. Why else would she be
in here drilling you? Youre breaking her heart.
BOY: I dont want to be but I think I am.
MOTHER: What?
BOY: What do you think?

23

(He sits up) Gay.

(Silence.)
Say something.
MOTHER: Look, if you are, itll just take some time to get used to, but Ill still love you.
BOY: Why?
MOTHER: WellBOY: Why will it take some time? Im the same person I was last week. The same
person Ive been my whole life. Why should a change in who I sleep with change any
of that?
MOTHER: I've been trying really hard with you. You dont understand.
BOY: No, you dont understand. Youre not helping; youve never been capable of
helping me because youre too busy getting help from me. I turned eighteen. I started
partying and doing drugs and now youre angry because you know Im not always
going to be there to hold your hair back over the toilet bowl. You fucked up so bad that
you kept me away from everything that could fuck me up. All my friends were drinking
and trying cigarettes and marijuana in year 9 and I never got to. You punished me
every time I brought it up, you slapped me across the face because I had a cigarette in
my jean pockets and thats probably why Im like the way I am now! I grew up with my
eyes glued shut. I can do all these things and you no longer have any control over it.
But just because you fucked up doesnt mean I have to. (He starts gathering some
things) I heard that argument you and dad had the night he left. The night he caught
me with your make-up bag. Just as confused as I am? Where did you go wrong?
Probably when the condom broke and caused a fucking mistake. (He goes to leave)
MOTHER: Is that my make-up bag?
BOY: Yes.
MOTHER: Drop it! (He tips it upside down, empties the contents) Where are you going?
BOY: To visit someone.
MOTHER: Who?
BOY: That thing that is apparently my father.
MOTHER: Dont just walk away. I still love you.
BOY: Fuck off.
MOTHER: If you walk out that door, itll be the last time you do. (He stops) If you do,
the world might slap you some respect and some common sense. The world might
finally do something for me. (FATHER enters.)
MOTHER: What are you doing here?
FATHER: To be a father and make you feel not ugly.
BOY: (To MOTHER) whats he doing here?
FATHER: Nah, nah, nah. Im here to be a father and what Im gonna tell you is very
important and look, get paper, write this down!
MOTHER: Are you drunk?

24

FATHER: Its taken you this long to notice? Youve always been very observant.
BOY: Youre pathetic.
FATHER: Im your father!
BOY: No, youre not. Youre everything a father isnt.
(FATHER stumbles and falls over.)
MOTHER: Get out.
(Pause)
BOY: Im gay.
(FATHER advances. MOTHER stops him.)
MOTHER: Dont touch my boy.
FATHER: Our boy. (He grabs her and pushes her aside)
BOY: (Jumps on him and swings, throws him around. They fight.) GET OUT!
MOTHER: (Frantically) STOP! GET OFF HIM! (She runs at them and swings at them
both, FATHER stands up and grabs her by the wrists, hes crying.)
FATHER; Darling. (She knees him in the testicles. BOY stands up. MOTHER slaps him
across the face. Shocked at herself, she steps back, terrified.)
MOTHER: Im sorry. Im so sorry.
(BOY runs off)
FATHER: I know youve been doing it too.
MOTHER: Doing what?
FATHER: Your AA meetings. Darryl, is it? Well his wife gave me a call to tell me about
her husbands affair.
MOTHER: What does this have anything to do with us?
FATHER: You know what Im talking about. Youve been having drunken little AA hookups with Darryl behind my back.
MOTHER: You make me feel ugly.
FATHER: Oh, theres the truth.
MOTHER: You make me feel worthless and disgusting. You dont touch me, you dont
kiss me, and you barely even look at me. What happened to us?
FATHER: You drank yourself ugly. I didnt make you feel ugly. The grog did.
MOTHER: If I didnt go to those meetings and have drunken fucks I wouldnt have
found out about you! If you were loyal and honest and made me feel the way you used
to, we wouldnt be in this mess.
FATHER: This is just one big mess. Why dont we just kiss and make up and everything
will be good as gold. Everything will be the way it used to.
MOTHER: I dont have enough energy for your bullshit. Move on. (She exits)
FATHER/STELLA: Im sorry. Im so sorry.

25

(Lights down)

SCENE TEN: A LIGHTER NIGHT

(BOYs room. Nighttime. BOY is sitting up in his bed.)
MOTHER: (Knocking gently) Darling, can I come in?
(She enters)
Ill take that as a yes.
(Silence. She sits on the edge of his bed.)
Im okay with it.
BOY: With?
MOTHER; The gay thing. Youre no different to the little boy I carried in my womb.
Youre still my son. No matter who you
BOY: Fuck?
MOTHER: (She smiles) Yes. Fuck. And Im sorry I hit you before. It was just the heat of
the momentBOY: Its okay. We both lost our cool. I can understand why you would be as angry as
you are. With a guy like that floating around the last thing you needed was a shit cunt
like me.
MOTHER: Youre not a shit cunt. I was just on edge.
BOY: No, mum. Im a shit cunt.
MOTHER: (They laugh) Okay, youre a shit cunt.
BOY: The whole affair thing, sorry to bring it up, but you both cheated on each other.
MOTHER: Im aware.
BOY: Why?
MOTHER: Well, sometimes complicated people do complicated things for complicated
reasons.
BOY: Okay.
MOTHER: Its hard to explain. But, when you feel something, you have to treat that
feeling with something. With an action, like a punch, a curse word, a random fuck or
something like that. And when what youre feeling is too strange for even yourself to
figure out, you tend to lose control and start acting without thinking. Which, I guess, is
what your father and I both did.

26

BOY: Me too.
MOTHER: (Smiling) especially you!
BOY: So hes gone then.
MOTHER: Yes. Hes gone.
BOY: Are you okay?
MOTHER: I will be. You need to go see Simon. Patch things up. Ill give you a lift.
BOY: Okay, but before we go, wash your face. Didnt anyone ever tell you mascara is
meant to be on your eyelashes, not your cheeks. (He wipes the makeup tears off her
face.)
MOTHER: And foundation is meant to be on girls.
BOY: And fat is meant to be on bacon.
(They both smile and embrace)
MOTHER: Right. Lets go save your love life before it ends up like your mothers.
(They exit. Lights down)

27

SCENE ELEVEN: SOMEWHERE PEACEFUL

(SIMONs room. BOY enters)
BOY: Hey.
SIMON: You.
BOY: Me.
SIMON: Hey.
BOY: Hey!
SIMON: What do you want?
BOY: You.
SIMON: Me?
BOY: No, the other guy in the room.
SIMON: Oh.
BOY: Look, I fucked up.
SIMON: Please.
BOY: No, really. ISIMON: Dont try and patch things up, please.
BOY: Why?
(Theres no response)
Why?
SIMON: Im going away.
BOY: Where are you going?
SIMON: Somewhere peaceful.

28

BOY: Why?
SIMON: Please dont say anything. Just leave. Itll make everything easier.
BOY: Youre just going to forget ten years of friendship?
SIMON: Things change. Especially people.
BOY: Sometimes not for the better. You dont need to give up and leave. Im back, Im
here and Im not giving up. Im changing my ways.
SIMON: You see, you cant just come back. You shouldnt have a reason to say, Im
back. You never should have left. I know things got heated and things got weird but I
thought after everything, that shouldnt have changed everything.
BOY: It hasnt! I just had to think about it!
SIMON: You had to push me away to think about it?
(BOY falls silent)
STELLA: Yes.
SIMON: Why?
STELLA: Because I
SIMON: Because you?
STELLA: Because I love you.
SIMON: Excuse me?
BOY/STELLA: I always have loved you, Simon. I feel invincible with you. I feel
comfortable, I feel beautiful, and I feel right. I feel loved. I cant imagine a life without
you because youve always been there. All of my memories Ive kept over the years
have you in them. All the memories I want to make, you're already in them. (He kisses
him, passionately, and STELLA falls. They eventually fall back on to the bed.)
BOY: What is that?
SIMON: No dont- dont look under there!
(BOY finds a noose under his sheets. They stare. Silence.)
BOY: Somewhere peaceful?
SIMON/STELLA: Somewhere peaceful.
(Lights start to fade. Spotlight lingers on STELLA.)

29

SCENE TWELVE: STELLA #4

STELLA: I talked him out of it. I stayed with him for five hours, making sure he was
okay. I went home expecting to see him the next day. I woke up to a text. I love you
too. (She pauses and takes a swig) Simon passed away that day. Mum disappeared,
passed as well apparently. I dont know what happened to the father. I refuse to say
Died or Committed suicide because passing away is so much different to dying
or committing suicide. Theres something more peaceful about it.
I ran away. I escaped the memories that stained my walls and I started a new life. Ive
tried to forget my father. I almost forgot Simon. I was scared Id forget my mother so I
took her name. Yet, their words and everything they did still haunts me. Sometimes
their voices still ring in my ears. Their scent still lingers around me in a smoky haze.
Ive done a lot of difficult things in my life. Ive bled, Ive cried, Ive felt pain, just like
any normal person. Letting go was probably the hardest thing Ive ever done. People
might say I had nothing, but I had everything. I had me.
People come and go, some days I dont think about them, other days I do. Each and
every one of them was strong enough to bring me down. Each and every one of them
has made me strong enough to get back up again. I get out of bed every morning,
look at myself in the mirror and I see what I want to be. I see glamorous lights and
beauty, what my mother used to see. I see my own role model, the one my father
never was. I see normal, the normal that Simon never felt. Cheers.
(BOY walks into the space, wearing a similar dress to STELLA. Sits in front of a mirror
with a make-up bag. His mothers. Begins applying all sorts of make-up. Beginning to
look like a drag queen. A few moments pass. STELLA slowly moves closer and closer
to him.)
BOY: (Noticing her. They freeze) who are you?
STELLA: Im Stella.
BOY: Stella.
(BOY panics and smashes the mirror. He runs off. STELLA crawls up amongst the
broken mirror, MANAGER enters)
MANAGER: Stella! Stella, what are you doing?

30

(She looks up at MANAGER)

What?
STELLA: Where did he - She go?
MANAGER: Who?
STELLA: Nothing. No one. Never mind.
MANAGER: Come on, wash your face and go home. Mascara is meant to be on your
eyelashes not your cheeks.
(STELLA gives her a look. MANAGER wipes away STELLAS makeup tears, just as BOY
did previously to MOTHER. Lights down. End. )

31