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An abusive relationship

AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
An original radio drama
By Louise Kirby
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An abusive relationship

AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

CAST
REECE Middle aged man, the Father, works as a
Firefighter.
ROXY Middle ages wealthy women, the Mother, Works for
Thames Water
JUSTICE 15 year old Young teenage boy, Son to Reece and
Roxy
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An abusive relationship

AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

SCENE ONE: INT. KITCHEN – SUNSET

(Roxy, Reece)

ROXY: (SHOUTING) don’t touch me!!

REECE: Do as I say or you will see what happens.

SOUND: SOUND EFFECT OF A SLAP (2 SECONDS)

ROXY: You will never get away with this.

SOUND: ROXI BEING PUSHED INTO A CUPBOARD (5 SECONDS)

REECE: You need to learn how to behave like a proper

wife.

SOUND: SILENCE AS ROXY IS KNOCKED OUT (15 SECONDS)

REECE: (Slowly) Babe I’m sorry, are you okay?

ROXY: Leave me alone Reece.
REECE: Right you have 30 seconds to get up and start
Cooking dinner for us all.
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An abusive relationship

SCENE TWO: INT. KITCHEN – SUNSET

SOUND: DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING AND FOOTSTEPS OF

JUSTICE WALKING IN (10 SECONDS)

Justice: Mum what happened?

ROXY: I fell over it’s nothing
JUSTICE: Is Dad hurting you again?
ROXY: I will be fine Justice just go to your room.

Pause for (10 seconds)

SCENE THREE: INT. BEDROOMS – EVENING, SUN HAS SET

JUSTICE: Everyday Mum seems to have different cuts and

Bruises. This is not fair on her and I need to
Protect her. I have never seen dad physically
Hurt her but I know it’s him. I can always hear
Him shouting and then after this everything goes
Silent. After this I go downstairs and check on
Her. She always seems to have red marks all over
Her face and Dad has disappeared into the front
Room. This needs to end and I will be the one to
Stop it.

Pause – 10 seconds

REECE: I do it because I love her. I love her and I

Don’t want to lose her ever. She means the world
To me. I don’t know how to act when she isn’t
Doing what I want her to do. She needs to change
How she is and start doing things around the
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An abusive relationship
House. If I let her leave me then I won’t know
What to do. I need to show her I love her.
This is why I hurt her. I don’t mean to do it
That hard it is just how I react.

Pause – 10 seconds

ROXY: Every day I put up with this abuse from Reece. I

Have been with him for 20 years and I am too
Scared to leave. I do love him. I don’t want
Justice knowing it is this bad. That will
Break his heart knowing that his Dad is not
Perfect. In fact no one is perfect but no one
Should ever be controlled and abused. He is an
Abusive alcoholic. I want to escape. I want to
Leave. But most of all I want justice happy.

Pause – 15 seconds

SCENE FOUR: INT. DINNING ROOM – EVENING

REECE: Set the table right now and dish up dinner. Then
Go tell our lazy stupid little son to get
Downstairs and eat his food.
ROXY: (Mumbles) okay.
REECE: Quicker! I’m starving.

SOUND FOOTSTEPS RUNNING UP AND DOWNSTAIRS (10 SECONDS)

SCENE FIVE: INT. DINNING ROOM – EVENING

REECE: How son how was school?

JUSTICE: Don’t talk to me Dad.
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An abusive relationship
REECE: Do as I say boy or you are out of this house
Onto the streets.
ROXY: Leave him alone he didn’t do anything wrong.
REECE: Don’t get involved Roxy.
ROXY: He is my son as well I have a right to what he
Does and he doesn’t have to speak to someone
Like you.

SOUND REECE SLAPS ROXY AGAIN

JUSTICE: Okay that is enough.

SOUND JUSTICE TAKING A DEEP BREATH

JUSTICE: Dad I want you out now. I hate the way you have
Been treating my mum and I. This is not how
Families should be and if you don’t leave I am
Calling the police and showing them everything
That you have done.

REECE: (Slowly) But Justice, Roxy I’m sorry.

ROXY: Justice is right I think you should leave for a
Few nights.
REECE: You know I don’t have any family to go to.
ROXY: Stay in a hotel.
JUSTICE: I will pack your stuff Dad

SOUND FOOTSTEPS RUNNING UPSATIRS AND THEN DOWNSTAIRS (

20 SECONDS)

JUSTICE: Here you go Dad.

SOUND FRONTDOOR OPENING (3 SECONDS)

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An abusive relationship

REECE: (Slowly) But Roxy I love you.

SOUND FRONTDOOR SLAMS SHUT (2 SECONDS)