#15: MAKE IT STOP

Written by
Joseph Frost
Draft
8/20/16
written for the 2016 31 Plays in 31 Days project

Joseph Frost, 2016

4550 Normandy Dr
Jackson, MS 39206
FrostJosephD@gmail.com
* member, Dramatists Guild of America

IRIE sits in a chair, her hands on her lap. Her hair is up,
and she wears a loose linen outfit.
PENNY stands at a window.
IRIE
If I could have stopped it, I certainly would have.
PENNY
You say that now.
IRIE
I do. Because it is true.
PENNY
You know now you could have.
IRIE
Stopped it? Yes. I do. I could have. I know that now.
PENNY
But what do we do now?
IRIE
Its my fault.
PENNY
Yes.
IRIE
Punish me.
PENNY
I dont want to punish you.
IRIE
But I should be punished. I let it happen. I did. I did know better. And I should have done
something.
PENNY
And what would you have done?
IRIE
Told someone, I suppose.

2.
PENNY
Who would that be?
IRIE
You.
PENNY
Me?
IRIE
Yes.
PENNY
What would I have done? Honestly. What do you think I would have done?
IRIE
Im sure I dont know. But you are the experienced one. You are the one I trust. I would
have told you. I should have told you.
PENNY
But you didnt.
IRIE
No.
PENNY
And now, its done.
IRIE
It is.
PENNY
And theres nothing you can do.
IRIE
No.
PENNY
Theres nothing I can do.
IRIE
No.

3.
PENNY
Do you regret?
IRIE
Of course.
Penny crosses to her.
PENNY
Im sorry.
IRIE
How could you?
PENNY
I didnt mean to.
IRIE
But you did.
PENNY
I wasnt thinking.
IRIE
I do not accept.
PENNY
You dont?
IRIE
I cant.
PENNY
No.
IRIE
I wish I could.
PENNY
Of course you can.
IRIE
I can not.
PENNY
Why.

4.
IRIE
The wounds. They are too deep.
PENNY
They are.
IRIE
They are.
PENNY
Im sorry.
IRIE
I know. But the wounds.
Irie stands and goes to the window.
PENNY
I am hurt nonetheless.
IRIE
It has nothing to do with me.
PENNY
But this is me.
IRIE
And I am me.
PENNY
You feel nothing for me.
IRIE
No.
PENNY
How can you say that?
IRIE
Because I feel nothing for you.
PENNY
After all weve--

5.
IRIE
After nothing. Weve nothing. There is nothing. All this memory you have of you and I,
it is false.
PENNY
But we have been together for so long.
IRIE
We have not.
PENNY
We have.
IRIE
No. We are not. There is no we. Either I am not me or you are not you. But there is not a
we to be spoken of.
PENNY
It hurts me to hear this from you.
IRIE
I feel nothing to say it.
A moment.
Penny stands on the chair.
PENNY
I can make this stop.
IRIE
I dont want that.
PENNY
I can make it all stop.
IRIE
It wont stop. Youll just have checked out. It will stop nothing.
PENNY
I will stop.
IRIE
Will you?
A moment.

6.
Irie goes to Penny, and embraces her legs.
PENNY
Make it stop.
IRIE
I wish I could.
A long moment.
Lights down.
End.