A Love that Leaves (2006)
A Play by Brianne
CHARACTERS:
Mistake: 5 years old, lives in Australia, doesn’t have any friends except for a gorilla names Peaches, she is deaf
Peaches: 3 years old, lives in Australia, rich, has lots of friends, has narcolepsy and terets
SETTING:
In Australia, in a forest, in Peaches’ mansion, in one of the guest bedrooms
TIME:
In the morning
AT RISE:
The purple sun has risen and Mistake is looking at all of the gold around the room. Peaches walks in.
Scene 1
(Peaches walks in the room sleepily. She sits on the bed and snaps Mistake out of her daydream)
Peaches
Good morning sleepyhead. Where were you last night? I was going to introduce you to some of the girls when you came back from the bathroom, but you never came back.
Mistake
Oh. Sorry. I came back here to think and I ended up falling asleep. But you were having fun with your other friends, so I didn’t think you would miss me. Obviously I was right because you didn’t come looking for me.
Peaches
Actually, I did. But I couldn’t find you, so I gave up. Why do you always do that.
Mistake
Do what?
Peaches
Run away from your problems. You don’t give the other girls a chance to get to know you. You are always telling me to take chance and do things different, but you don’t take your own advice.
Mistake
(gets up and walks to the window)
Whatever. You don’t understand.
Peaches
(she walks up to the window too and looks at Mistake)
Yes, I do. I understand where you’re coming from. I’ve felt like I needed to run away from my problems too but I learned how to stop running and face my problems. You taught me that. You need to take your own advice now. You’re beautiful, smart, and intelligent and you don’t give yourself enough credit for those qualities. You are just as good or better than the next person but you don’t realize it.
Mistake
No, I do try but I don’t get anywhere. It’s like nobody wants to get to know me. (She starts to cry) They treat me like I’m an outcast. They make me feel different because I can’t hear, because I’m not normal.
Peaches
But I have lots of friends and according to your definition of “normal” then I’m not normal either. But the difference between you and me is that I’m willing to take a chance and you’re not.
Mistake
Yes, I am but the more chance I take the more I get hurt. That’s why I’m about to take a big chance. I’m leaving tomorrow.
Peaches
What do you mean you’re leaving?
Mistake
I’m going to China. The ship leaves tomorrow at midnight.
Peaches
What do you mean you’re going to China??
Mistake
I can’t take it anymore here. I want a better life. I don’t like it here. I want to get out. I’ve thought about this for a long time. And this is what I’ve come up with.
Peaches
(starts laughing)
Stop joking around! Let’s go get some breakfast. You just too funny.
Mistake
I’m not playin. I’m really leavin.
Peaches
How can you leave? You have so much you’re leaving behind. What about me?
Mistake
I’ve thought about it and the last thing I want to do is leave you. That’s why I want you to come with me. I thought it all out.
Peaches
You can’t expect me to leave my family! You can’t expect me leave! I won’t leave. And you don’t have to go either.
Mistake
Why Peaches? Why can’t you leave? They don’t love you here. I’m the only one that cares about you. I have always been there for you – not them, me. Peaches please come with me. It would be a whole lot easier if you came with me. But even if you don’t, I’m still leaving.
Peaches
Why? Whatever it is I’m sure we can work it out. I mean if you leave, you’re not only leaving me, but, you are leaving your family too.
Mistake
They don’t care about me. Actually I think they would like the fact that I am leaving. I think they will be happier without me.
Peaches
But, that still doesn’t answer my question, what is wrong. Why do you have to leave? Isn’t there something else you can do?
Mistake
I’m not happy here. I’ve tried many different things, but nothing has worked. I need to leave. And nothing you say will stop me. I love you Peaches, but it’s time for me to leave.(exits stage)
