KSUSHYA

SCENE 1

MAY 2013 ENGLISH SCHOOL, SOMEWHERE ON THE PLANET

NEAL : HI WENDY, DID YOU HAVE A GOOD CLASS TODAY?

WENDY: YES, PRETTY GOOD. IT’S THE LAST ONE FOR THE TERM AND

SOME ARE NOT COMING BACK IN SEPTEMBER. I GOT A FEW

PRESENT FROM THE GIRLS.

NEAL :YES, I GOT A FEW PRESENTS AS WELL.

WENDY: I HEARD YOU’RE HAVING ANOTHER OF YOUR PARTIES FOR THE

TEENAGERS, TOMORROW. WHAT’S IT CALLED AGAIN? P.P.P.

NEAL :YES, PIZZA, PING PONG AND POPCORN. THEY BRING EVERYTHING

AND THERE’S ALWAYS LOTS OF FOOD LEFT OVER. ARE YOU

COMING?

WENDY: EM… I AM RATHER BUSY… WHY DO YOU BOTHER?

NEAL : WELL, AS YOU KNOW THE SCHOOL DIRECTOR LIKES IT AS IT

FORGES A BOND BETWEEN ALL THE TEENAGERS AND THEY’RE

MORE LIKELY TO SIGN UP FOR MORE LESSONS THE PALLIER THEY

ARE.

WENDY: WELL, I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT. IT’S GOOD YOU HAVE THAT

HUGE EMPTY ROOM WITH THE TABLE TENNIS TABLE. IT GIVES A

FOCUS FOR THE PARTY. WELL, ALL THE BEST. RATHER YOU THAN

ME.

NEAL : WELL, WHO KNOWS, MAYBE SOMETHING GOOD WILL COME OUT

OF IT.

WENDY: WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WE CAN’T WITNESS TO THEM, THEY’RE

UNDERAGE. REMEMBER TO HIDE YOUR BIBLE AND LITERATURE

SO THE NOSIER KIDS DON’T FIND IT, LIKE YOU DID LAST YEAR.

NEAL : AND THE YEAR BEFORE. DON’T WORRY, I’LL HIDE IT UNDER A
 HUGE BLANKET. IT WON’T BE DISCOVERED. OK, BYE, SEE YOU AT

THE FIELD MEETING TOMORROW MORNING.

SCENE 2

[NOISE OF A PARTY IN THE BACKGROUND]

TEENAGER: GREAT PARTY AS USUAL NEAL. PIZZAS ARE GREAT, HAWAIIAN, MY

FAVOURITE.

NEAL : YES, YOU WANT A RETURN MATCH, TABLE TENNIS.

TEENAGER: NO, NO THANKS, YOU’RE NOT BAD… FOR YOUR AGE!

NEAL : CHEEKY MONKEY! EXTRA HOMEWORK FOR YOU.

TEENAGER: YOU’RE NOT MY TEACHER ANY MORE, NOT TILL SEPTEMBER!

NEAL :FAIR ENOUGH. THERE’S THE DOORBELL AGAIN… [SOUND OF A

DOORBELL] HELLO, I DON’T THINK I KNOW YOU, I’VE SEEN YOU

AROUND THE SCHOOL. [ENTER KSUSHYA]

KSUSHYA: YES, I’M KSUSHYA, ONE OF WENDY’S STUDENTS. IS SHE HERE?

NEAL : SADLY NO, SHE IS BUSY.

KSUSHYA: PITY WE ALL REALLY LIKE HER. [DOORBELL GOES]

NEAL :SORRY, MUST ANSWER THAT. MORE THAN 20 PEOPLE HERE NOW I THINK.

HI ARTYOM. WELCOME TO THE MAD HOUSE. WHY HAVE YOU GOT SUCH

A HEAVY JACKET? IT’S HOT TODAY.

ARTYOM: I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO RAIN. I’LL JUST PUT IT ON HERE. ON TOP

OF THIS WOOLLY BLANKET.

NEAL : NO, NO IN HERE. OH TOO LATE. THE BLANKETS FALLEN OFF…

ARTYOM : I’M SORRY THE BLANKETS SLIPPED OFF. WHAT’S ALL THIS ON THE

FLOOR?

NEAL : OH, NO…

KSUSHYA: ALL THESE BOOKLETS AND MAGAZINES ARE ON THE FLOOR LIKE A

RAINBOW DISPLAY. VERY ARTISTIC. WHERE HAVE I SEEN THESE

 MAGAZINES BEFORE?

NEAL : ARTYOM, THE PARTY’S WAITING FOR YOU, GO THROUGH TO PLAY

TABLE TENNIS.

KSUSHYA: [PICKING UP AND LOOKING THROUGH SOME MAGAZINES] I KNOW

WHERE I’VE SEEN THEM BEFORE. MY MUM USED TO READ THEM BUT

THEN STOPPED. I READ THEM TOO. THEY’RE GOOD. SO YOU’RE

CONNECTED TO JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES?

NEAL : WELL, YES SORT OF, YOU KNOW…

KSUSHYA: DON’T WORRY I KNOW THE WITNESSES ARE NOT POPULAR AND

THAT YOU CAN’T CONVERT ME OWING TO MY AGE, SO DON’T

WORRY. HM… I WONDER… IS WENDY ALSO A WITNESS?

NEAL : WELL, YES SHE IS.

KSUSHYA: AHA. THAT HAS SOLVED THE MYSTERY… WELL NOT EXACTLY A

MYSTERY, I MEAN, THE KIDS IN OUR CLASS SOMETIMES WONDERED

WHAT IS WAS THAT MADE HER SO NICE, SO SPECIAL. NOW I

UNDERSTAND. DIMA, WHO YOU TEACH, SAID THE SAME THING

ABOUT YOU. DON’T WORRY, HE WON’T TELL HIS PARENTS IF I TELL

HIM. HE’S A PRETTY SMART GUY. [PAUSE AS SHE LOOKS AT THE

MAGAZINES] WOULD IT BE ALRIGHT IF I TOOK SOME OF THESE HOME

WITH ME? I WON’T TELL MY PARENTS.

NEAL : WELL OK. [A LITTLE NERVOUSLY] ACTUALLY THERE IS A WEBSITE

CALLED JW.ORG SO YOU CAN DELVE INTO THAT AS WELL. IT’S GOT AN

AMAZING AMOUNT OF STUFF FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ALL THAT.

KSUSHYA: THANK YOU, I’LL HIDE THEM IN MY BAG. AND NOT TELL MY

PARENTS. ACTUALLY I DON’T LIVE WITH THEM. I LIVE WITH MY

GRANNY. LONG STORY. I SUPPOSE NOW THAT I AM HERE I SHOULD

MINGLE A BIT. I’M NOT REALLY INTO THAT. PIZZA SMELLS NICE. PITY

WENDY ISN’T HERE. I ONLY REALLY CAME I SUPPOSE TO SAY

 FAREWELL TO HER. I’M FINISHED AT THE SCHOOL SO WILL NEVER SEE

HER AGAIN MOST LIKELY.

SCENE 3

NEAL : WENDY IT WAS AMAZING, ALL THE LITERATURE FELL TO THE FLOOR

AND SHE SAW IT. IT WAS LIKE A RAINBOW ARRAY AND SHE SPOTTED IT

AT ONCE. SHE TOOK SOME MAGAZINES HOME WITH HER. BUT NOT

ANYTHING ON THE BANNED LIST.

WENDY : IT’S GREAT BUT, AS YOU SAID SHE’S NOT COMING BACK SO HOW CAN

WE FIND HER AGAIN? ALSO SHE’S NOT OF AGE. I DON’T KNOW WHAT

WE CAN DO.

NEAL : PRAY YOU BUMP INTO HER ON THE STREET?

WENDY : WELL, THAT’S ALL WE CAN DO REALLY. IF THE PARENTS FIND OUT…

NEAL :YES, I KNOW. WELL, ANYWAY, WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

SCENE 4 -NOVEMBER 2013

NEAL : NO, ARTYOM, I ONLY HAVE THE P.P.P PARTIES IN MAY, AT THE END OF

THE SCHOOL YEAR. I NEVER HAVE THEM IN THE AUTUMN. I DON’T

HAVE THE TIME.

ARTYOM: PLEASE, ALL THE CLASS WANT IT AND YOUR OTHER TEENAGE CLASS

AND WENDY’S CLASSES TOO. WE’LL BRING ALL THE FOOD, THE

PIZZAS, THE POPCORN. WE’VE GOT A GUITAR AND WE CAN SING, IT’LL

BE SO COOL.

NEAL : NO, I’M TOO BUSY.

ARTYOM: WE’LL CLEAN UP AFTERWARDS, PROMISE.

NEAL : I DON’T KNOW…I’LL THINK ABOUT IT. NOW GET BACK INTO THE

CLASSROOM PLEASE WE’RE ABOUT TO START.

ARTYOM: OK
NEAL : [ENTERING THE CLASSROOM] [NOISE OF SEVERAL TEENAGE VOICES

SHOUTING ‘PARTY!’ SEVERAL TIMES] OK EVERYBODY. I GET THE

MESSAGE. I AGREE. STOP SHOUTING OR THE SCHOOL DIRECTOR WILL

GET ANNOYED.

SCENE 5

NEAL : HI ANVAR, HOW ARE YOU? DID YOU DO THE HOMEWORK?

ANVAR : YES, MORE OR LESS… LISTEN I HEARD YOU’RE HAVING A PARTY

ON SATURDAY. PINGPONG, POPCORN AND PIZZA. CAN I COME?

NEAL : WELL, OF COURSE YOU’RE ONE OF MY STUDENTS. I DON’T KNOW WHY.

I MUST BE A FOOL TO DO IT AGAIN.

ANVAR: ACTUALLY, I HAVE A REQUEST. CAN I INVITE A FRIEND?

NEAL : NO, NO, IT’S ONLY FOR STUDENTS OF THE SCHOOL, SORRY.

ANVAR : WHAT ABOUT EX-STUDENTS?

NEAL : NO, I CAN’T HAVE EVERY TOM, DICK AND HARRY COMING.

ANVAR : WELL, SHE WANTS TO COME.

NEAL : A GIRL? I’M NOT INVITING YOUR GIRLFRIEND…

ANVAR : SHE’S JUST A FRIEND. THAT’S ALL. ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW HER.

NEAL : DO I?

ANVAR: YES AND SHE SAYS SHE WON’T COME TO THE PARTY UNLESS WENDY

WILL DEFINITELY BE THERE.

NEAL : STOP TALKING IN RIDDLES . WHO IS IT?

ANVAR : IT’S KSUSHYA.

NEAL : KSUSHYA? HOW DO YOU KNOW HER?

ANVAR : WE ARE AT THE SAME SCHOOL. WE’RE JUST FRIENDS. IS WENDY

COMING TO THE PARTY FOR SURE?

NEAL : I’LL CERTAINLY TELL WENDY AND I AM SURE SHE’LL WANT TO COME IF

KSUSHYA IS COMING.
ANVAR : I THOUGHT SO.

NEAL : WHAT’S GOING ON? HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?

ANVAR : ENOUGH. [SMILING] YOU’RE VERY FUNNY WHEN YOU ARE INTRIGUED.

NEAL : I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON. I’LL SPEAK TO WENDY. NOW GET

INTO CLASS AND WE’LL START THE LESSON.

SCENE 6

NEAL : LOOK, WENDY, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.

WENDY : WHAT ABOUT? IF IT’S ABOUT THIS PARTY YOU’RE PLANNING…

YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THEM. HOW YOU HAVE TIME TO DO

THESE SORTS OF THINGS… YOU’RE THE ONLY ELDER IN THE

CONGREGATION …. HOW CAN YOU SPARE THE TIME?

NEAL : LISTEN, ONE MY STUDENTS, ANVAR, YOU DON’T KNOW HIM. HE TOLD

ME THAT KSUSHYA IS A FRIEND OF HIS AND THAT SHE WANTS TO COME

TO THE PARTY ON SATURDAY.

WENDY: WELL, SO WHAT, MAYBE SHE JUST WANTS TO CATCH UP WITH HER OLD

FRIENDS FROM THE SCHOOL.

NEAL : LISTEN, ANVAR SAID SHE ONLY WANTS TO COME IF YOU WILL

DEFINITELY BE THERE.

WENDY: REALLY? [PAUSE] I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT… DO YOU?

NEAL : WELL, IT’S ALL VERY STRANGE.

WENDY : IT CERTAINLY IS.

NEAL : ANVAR HAD A GRIN WHICH IS NOT LIKE HIM. HE SEEMS TO KNOW

SOMETHING ABOUT WHY SHE WANTS TO COME AND SEE YOU. ARE YOU

THINKING WHAT I AM THINKING?

WENDY: I DON’T KNOW. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

NEAL : I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M THINKING. ANYWAY, ROLL ON SATURDAY.

I TAKE IT YOU ARE COMING?

WENDY : WELL, YES…YES.

SCENE 7

NEAL : [NOISES OF A PARTY IN THE BACKGROUND. TEENS PASSING IN

CORRIDOR] WELL, SHE’S A BIT LATE, MOST OF THE YOUNGSTERS ARE

HERE. [TO A TEEN] OK ARTYOM, NICELY MADE POPCORN.

WENDY: I THINK SHE’S RELIABLE, SHE’LL COME FOR SURE.

NEAL :YES, I THINK SO TOO. [DOORBELL RINGS. WENDY AND NEAL LOOK AT

EACH OTHER] WELL, HERE GOES. ITS NOW OR NEVER… OR SOMETHING

LIKE THAT… HI KSUSHYA, GREAT TO SEE YOU. OH THANK YOU FOR

THE CAKE, CHOCOLATE CAKE, WOW!

KSUSHYA: HELLO NEAL, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME. WENDY

HELLO. NEAL DO YOU MIND IF… IS YOUR SPARE ROOM FREE AT THE

MOMENT?

NEAL : WELL… WELL… YES.

KSUSHYA: I’M NOT REALLY HERE FOR THIS… PARTY, YOU KNOW. WENDY YOU

AND I NEED TO SOEND SOME QUALITY TIME TOGETHER. I HAVE SO

MANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU. I THINK YOU CAN GUESS ABOUT WHAT.

WENDY : YES, I THINK SO.

KSUSHYA: DO YOU MIND NEAL IF WE JUST GO IN TO YOUR SPARE ROOM?

NEAL : NOT AT ALL…

KSUSHYA: COULD YOU TRY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT DISTURBED?

NEAL : YES CERTAINLY…

KSUSHYA: SO, WENDY, WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT. [TAKES HER BY THE

SHOULDER AND LEADS HER OFF TO THE SPARE ROOM]

NEAL : [LOOKING AT THEM GO] LEAD ON MACDUFF…

[NOISES OF THE PARTY CONTINUE. A CLOCK SHOWS 15 MINUTES, THEN

30 THEN 45 MINUTES] OH HELLO ANVAR.

ANVAR : ARE THEY STILL IN THE SPARE ROOM TALKING?

NEAL : YES, IT’S INTERESTING ISN’T IT? DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT?

ANVAR : PRETTY MUCH YES. SHE TOLD ME ABOUT IT. I THINK IT’S INTERESTING.

[WENDY AND KSUSHYA ENTER. SHE HAS A BIBLE TEACH CLUTHES TO

HER BREAST AND OTHER LITERATURE.WENDY LOOKS RADIANT]

KSUSHYA: THANK YOU NEAL.

NEAL : WOULD YOU LIKE SOMETHING TO EAT? DRINK?

KSUSHYA: WELL MAYBE A CUP OF TEA.

WENDY : YES, WE’LL HELP OURSELVES IN THE KITCHEN. [THEY LEAVE]

[A CLOCK SHOWS 15 MINUTES]

[NOISES OF THE PARTY CONTINUE, QUIETER. WENDY AND KSUSHYA APPEAR]

WENDY : THANK YOU NEAL IT HAS BEEN NICE.

KSUSHYA: YES, THANK YOU TOO. [PUTTING BIBLE AND LITERATURE IN BAG]

WENDY : BYE SEE YOU ON MONDAY.. [KSUSHYA LEAVES]

NEAL : I’M DYING TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. LET’S FORGET THE PARTY AND

SIT IN THE KITCHEN. [THEY LEAVE TO THE KITCHEN]

WENDY : WELL, IT’S JUST AMAZING. ALL THOSE MONTHS AGO WHEN SHE READ
THE LATERATURE THAT HAD BEEN SCATTERED ON THE FLOOR, SHE DEVOURED
IT, CHECKED EVERYTHING ON JW.ORG. SHE SPENT THE SUMMER THINKING IT
OVER AND CAME TO SO MANY CONCLUSIONS. SHE KNEW IT WOULD BE HARD TO
STUDY AND COME TO MEETINGS OWING TO HER PARENTS BUT IS DETERMINED
TO MAKE A GO OF IT.

NEAL :MY GOOSE BUMPS HAVE GOT GOOSEBUMPS ON THEM. IT’S ALL TOO

MUCH TO TAKE IN… AND ALL BECAUSE A BOY PUT HIS HEAVY JACKET

ON THE BLANKET WHICH WAS HIDING THE LITERATURE.

WENDY : APART FROM THE PARENTS THERE ARE COMPLICATIONS…

NEAL : AH, YOU MEAN ANVAR…

WENDY :NO, THEY’RE NOT BOYFRIEND AND GIRLFRIEND ACTUALLY. NO, SHE

ASKED ME NOT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NEAL : ALRIGHT.
WENDY : ACTUALLY, ANVAR IS INTERESTED TOO, SO YOU COULD WORK ON

HIM. HE’S YOUR STUDENT STILL, ISN’T HE?

NEAL : I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED HIM, HE’S A DEEP, THOUGHTFUL PERSON.

WENDY : GOOD TIMES CERTAINLY LIE AHEAD FOR US, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

[NEAL LEAVES. WENDY FACES FORWARD AND NARRATES.]

I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE WORD ‘PRIVILEGE’ CERTAINLY COMES TO

MIND WHEN I THINK OF THE JOY I EXPERIENCED STUDYING WITH HER. SHE
STARTED COMING TO MEETINGS PRACTICALLY AT ONCE, GOT TERRIBLE
PARENTAL OPPOSITION. HER MOTHER HAULED HER UP BEFORE HER SCHOOL
DIRECTOR AND SHE THREATENED HER WITH LOW MARKS SO SHE WOULD
LEAVE SCHOOL WITH NOTHING. BUT SHE STOOD FIRM. OTHER GREAT TESTINGS
OF FAITH ASSAILED HER BUT SHE OVERCAME THEM WITH DETERMINATION AND
A DISPLAY OF GREAT FAITH. SHE WAS A PUBLISHER WITHIN MONTHS AND
BAPTISED A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER HER FIRST CONTACT. SHE AT ONCE
FOUND HER NICHE IN THE CONGREGATION HELPING AND SUPPORTING OTHER
YOUNG ONES, DESPITE HERSELF BEING A RELATIVE NEWCOMER. SHE
PIONEERED RIGHT AWAY AFTER BAPTISM AND HAS CONTINUED. TWO GIRLS
SHE STUDIED WITH ALSO BECAME PUBLISHERS AND ONE IS NOW BAPTISED. SHE
IS ALREADY A SPIRITUAL MOTHER TO THEM. DOES THAT MAKE ME A SPIRITUAL
GRANDMOTHER… MAYBE. BUT WHAT A CAUSE FOR JOY SHE IS TO ONE AND
ALL. JEHOVAH LET HER BE FOUND.