3 2 1: Fighting Words Young Playwrights project

Each year the Young Playwrights project brings together eight writers aged 14 -18 to work with us to create their own short play. They meet every three weeks to work, write and learn. At the end of the writing process, the Abbey Theatre provides directors and actors who work with the writers to realise their vision on stage before a live audience.

This is the latest edition in an annual partnership with the Abbey that began in 2010. Many thanks to them for their ongoing support.

This is an excerpt from Laoise’s full piece, which is due to be staged this summer along with work from seven other young writers.

[ Read all Fighting Words contributions here ]

3 2 1

It is New Year’s Eve. BRIAN sits outside alone on a balcony avoiding the house party inside. His arms are crossed as he shivers from the cold. DAISY staggers outside, a drink in hand. She looks left and right and sees he is the only one outside.

Brianna Parkins: Here’s some of the best life advice I’ve ever received

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Bryan Dobson: ‘Retirement could be a terrible shock to the system – or not, who knows!’

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The Croke Park effect: ‘It was one of the very few times I cried during the opposition anthem’

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I spent my maternity leave in a chemo chair. Then I got a letter telling me to go back to work

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DAISY – Don’t go breaking my heart.

BRIAN – Excuse me?

DAISY – I need a duet partner for Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.

BRIAN – Do I know you?

DAISY – Excuse me?

BRIAN – Do I know you?

Pause

DAISY – Well, do I know you?

BRIAN – No, you don’t.

DAISY – Exactly.

Pause

But I feel like I’ve seen you before.

BRIAN – You probably haven’t.

DAISY – I most definitely have. I’m certain. You’ve just got one of those faces.

BRIAN – Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

DAISY – You’ve just got one of those faces.

BRIAN – Wow, thanks.

DAISY – You’re Roger’s friend.

BRIAN – (nods) Brian.

DAISY – See! I knew I’d seen you before. Ah, yes. Brian, yes, Brian.

DAISY has no idea who he is.

Pause

BRIAN – Brian O’Connor.

DAISY – Yes, Brian O’Connor.

Pause

BRIAN – Doesn’t ring a bell.

DAISY – Doesn’t ring a bell.

BRIAN – I don’t blame you. It’s not exactly the most memorable of names.

DAISY – Would your parents not have called you Connor?

BRIAN – Connor O’Connor?

DAISY – No one would ever forget a Connor O’Connor.

BRIAN – I suppose not.

DAISY – I mean, I can’t say anything.

BRIAN raises his eyebrows, waiting for her name.

Daisy.

BRIAN – I like the name Daisy. It’s nice.

DAISY – Exactly. It’s so sugary and sweet it makes me sick.

DAISY moves hand with drink suddenly and accidentally spills it all over BRIAN’s jeans.

DAISY – Oh, s**t.

BRIAN – (standing up) Oh, b****cks. S**t.

DAISY – I’m so, so sorry.

BRIAN – It’s fine.

DAISY – Let me help.

BRIAN – No really, it’s fine.

DAISY tries help wipe drink off BRIAN’s jeans but moves her hand dangerously close to his crotch. BRIAN moves away.

BRIAN – Woah, woah.

DAISY – Oh, my God! I didn’t mean it like that. I swear. S**t! I’m so, so sorry, Barry.

BRIAN – Brian!

DAISY – Yes, Brian, I am so, so sorry.

DAISY starts getting emotional.

Why am I like this? I’m such a mess.

DAISY puts her head in her hands. BRIAN stands awkwardly.

DAISY starts to sob.

BRIAN – Hey, don’t cry.

DAISY starts to sob uncontrollably.

DAISY – I’m sorry for ruining your night.

BRIAN – You didn’t ruin my night. You might have ruined my jeans but that was a mistake so don’t worry about it.

DAISY looks up from her hands.

DAISY – (through sobs) You’re ... you’re not angry?

BRIAN shakes his head.

BRIAN – Look, if there’s anything I can do to help ...

DAISY looks away.

DAISY – No, I don’t think there is.

DAISY abruptly stops crying.

Pause

DAISY slowly turns her head to face BRIAN.

Unless. Well, there is one thing.

DAISY gestures towards the party for karaoke.

BRIAN – Not a chance.

DAISY – You said anything.

BRIAN – Anything but that.

DAISY – Come on.

BRIAN – I don’t sing.

DAISY – One verse.

BRIAN – No.

DAISY – Please.

BRIAN – Why can’t you get one of your friends inside to do it with you?

DAISY – Those people ...

DAISY points at the door she came from and glares.

Those people aren’t my friends.

DAISY looks alert and covers her mouth.

Oh, s**t. I thought I said that in my head.

Pause

DAISY shrugs.

Oh, well, cat’s out of the bag. (Badly whispers) But shhhhh, you didn’t hear it from me.

BRIAN – In one ear out the other.

DAISY – Cause you’re probably aware that this type of thing spreads like wildfire.

BRIAN – Yes, I’m aware. My lips are sealed.

DAISY – Okay, good, cause if I do hear it from any one of them, I’ll know that it was you that squealed. So, you’ve been warned.

BRIAN – Good to know.

DAISY – Oh my God, I cannot believe I just told you that.

BRIAN – I said I wouldn’t say anything.

DAISY – Just pretend it wasn’t me who just told you that. Cause I’ve ... cause I’ve been possessed!

BRIAN – By what?

DAISY – Smirnoff.

BRIAN – I see.

DAISY – So naturally It’s kind of a free-for-all at the moment. You get it. Do you get it?

BRIAN – I get it.

DAISY – There’s no silent judgment going on?

BRIAN – None.