#24: NORAH'S WALL

Written by
Joseph Frost
Draft
8/26/16
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

A wall.
A half wall made of stone and stretching across the stage.
JONAS COLBY walks along the downstage part of the
wall.
He looks around, grabs the top of the wall as if to climb.
NATHANIAL HAMBLIN pops up from behind the wall.
NATHANIAL
I see you, Jonas Colby.
JONAS
Nathanial.
NATHANIAL
Get your hands off that wall.
JONAS
Im here to see-NATHANIAL
I know what youre here for, Jonas. Im no fool. Now get away from the wall. Get!
JONAS
You cant stop me from seeing her.
NATHANIAL
I can. I have. I do, and I will.
JONAS
Norah loves me.
NATHANIAL
So she says. But I dont.
JONAS
Beg your pardon, its not you Im offering to marry.
NATHANIAL
And thats a wise thing to keep from doing. Keep that wisdom going and get lost.

2.
JONAS
Sir.
NATHANIAL
Son, I dont need to tell you that I built this very wall with my very hands and for a very
very good reason.
JONAS
Why?
NATHANIAL
Because my Norah wont be going away from me anytime soon.
JONAS
But-NATHANIAL
The very day her mother says she was with a child, I laid that very stone right there. And
then that one, and then the one beside. For I knew. I knew the day would come.
JONAS
You wanted to keep dangerous people away.
NATHANIAL
Theres not a one of you thats not dangerous. Dangers in every one of your dark eyes
and black hearts.
JONAS
What about me?
NATHANIAL
You?
JONAS
Im not dangerous.
NATHANIAL
You think youre not?
JONAS
Im not. I love Norah. With all my heart.
NATHANIAL
With all your heart...

3.
JONAS
Yes sir.
NATHANIAL
I love her with all my heart.
JONAS
Sir...
NATHANIAL
I built this wall for her. Thats love, son. That is love.
JONAS
The wall is love.
NATHANIAL
It is. My love for my little Norah.
JONAS
Locking her in is love?
NATHANIAL
Protecting her, saving her. Thats love. What have you done for her? With what will you
protect her? Where is your wall, Jonas? Where is your wall?
Norah comes around the corner, on Jonas side of the
wall.
JONAS
Norah.
NORAH
Jonas.
They embrace.
NATHANIAL
Norah?
NORAH
Papa. Im going with Jonas. I love him, and he loves me.
NATHANIAL
But...

4.
NORAH
You asked Jonas where is his wall?
NATHANIAL
I did.
She pats the wall.
NORAH
This one. Right here. This wall will protect me.
Norah grabs Jonas hand.
They exit.
Nathaniel watches them go.
Lights down.
End.