Was Never My Fault

Written by: Coletia Williamson

Characters (In order of appearance):

PRIEST
JOY
THE MOTHER
 ACT I
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We appear in a sun lit church with glass stained windows. The pews are aligned into
three sections. The backs of the church pews are empty except for Joy in the last row.
In the front of it all below the podium is a casket. The casket that lays before the church
is wood shined to perfection. The lining of the casket is laced with gold thread. And
within the made up box lays a cold body; a heart no longer pumping.

The priest reads one more scripture before he concludes the service.
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PRIEST: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world
gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27. [The priest
lowers his hand to the casket below the podium.] Now will the family join us to the
burial site, where we will lay this child of God to rest?

Loud weeps from the first pew echoes from the front to the back of the church. Joy
leaps up from her seat in the back.

JOY: WAIT!

Everyone twists their neck to look back.

JOY: [She lowers her voice now that she has everyones attention.] I have something to
say to him before you all put him away for good.

The crowd looks in confusion unable to recognize the girl.

PRIEST: [He gestures his hands to the podium, not sure how to deal with the
situation.] Well. Speak your peace.

Joy stands and walks down the aisle, all eyes watch every step and breath she takes.
She approaches the steps of the pulpit and climbs the stairs. Joy grabs the podium mic.

JOY: [She takes a deep trilling breath before speaking] Most of you may not know who
I am.
The audience is now gawking at Joy as they try and figure out her purpose.

JOY: My name is Joy. Joy Masstill. I was a friend of Ryans. [She trails off, but her voice
is still audible.] I mean, we havent talked since Freshman year in high school bu--

THE MOTHER: YOU! [She shoots her finger toward Joy, rising from her chair,
sprouting an ominous figure.]

Joy stumbles back a bit startled by this now moving apparition like woman.

THE MOTHER: How dare you show your face here after you harassed him throughout
high school!

JOY: [She clenches her fists at her side, using her right foot for stability.] I would never
harass him. HE used to be my best friend, please if you let me speak my peace, Ill leave.
I promise!

The mother closes her mouth, looking around the church and sits back down still not
convinced, but not wanting to make a scene. The church itself creeks in the silence,
sitting and studying Joy as she gathers her words to speak.

JOY: [She clears the lump in her throat grabbing onto the sides of the glass podium.]
Ryan and I werent close throughout high school and it wasnt my fault. Every time I
tried to reach out he dismissed me.

THE MOTHER: [With a disgusted stare, no longer caring for her appearance to the
congregation] Then why did he tell me you were harassing him!

JOY: No! No. I [She stammers over her lost words] I never meant for it to go that far!
He...I.

THE MOTHER: Tell everyone what you did to him huh! [She now throwing her body
off the church pew standing herself up] What drove him to this!

JOY: [With frustration she grabs the small podium mic unable to stop her trembling
hands] Maybe it was you! Maybe it was your fault, you always made him do things he
didnt want to do! [ Right after she says this she regrets it, releasing her hands from the
mic. She was attacking a grieving mother.]
The mother was now traveling up the stairs of the pulpit, reaching for Joy.

THE MOTHER: You have some nerve coming here! To my son's funeral, accusing me of
causing his death! [She is now furious at Joy and is ready to kick her out.]

The priest is now out of his seat trying to stop the madness. The pews are in chaos the
crowd is trying to decipher their own truths.

THE PRIEST: LADIES! [He quiets down, smoothing his hand over his pure white
robe.] Not in the house of the Lord! Maam please have some decency; you are putting
your son to rest.

THE MOTHER: [Her eyes rolled to below the podium to her sons casket, she was
burying him today;now was not the time for petty fights. She realizes now, in this
church that this is not what Ryan would want.] I just dont understand why he would
do this to himself, to everyone.

A plague of silence falls over the room as people watch Joys lips, for her next word.]

JOY: Im sorry. [She aims her voice towards the mother, who is now wailing in her
steps.] I hate myself for what happened. For what I did to him. I will always carry that
on my shoulders for as long as I live.

The priest now walks towards the mother reaching out for her, trying to help her back
to the first pew.

The mother makes eye contact with Joy.

Joy looks at the mother with a sincere nod.

Before the priest could turn her around the mother grabs Joys hand clasping them
together.

THE MOTHER: Its not fair. [She speaks to Joy in a soft trembling voice.] I am taking
my anger out on you and it is not fair. [Her eyes waver to the casket, as she lets out a
burdened sigh] I mean who am I to deny you the right to say your goodbyes.
Joy nods her head after taking in each word that left the mothers mouth. The mother
then leaves the pulpit with the priest and sits back in her seat.

JOY: [She takes a moment to gather herself. She peers up at the glass stained window,
above the 8th pew gazing at the green and blue sunlight. She takes one more moment
to herself breathing in, and breathing out.] Im sorry for the trouble Ive caused today.
[She walks to the podium and for the first time, she really looks at the casket.] I was
jealous of Ryan for finally being able to grow up; for finally being able put down the toys.
See I never could really do that, and I hated him for leaving me behind the way he did.
Joy grows confidence in her voice as she speaks of her beloved friend. The guilt the
swung on her shoulder was at a stand still. I did those things to him out of anger and I
hate myself for only realizing now that I was wrong. So Ryan. Ryans mother, will you
forgive me?