Note for reader: Along with the many scraps of details, horror prose and poetry left behind in my mother's box, there are a few plays. As long as I knew her, she never expressed any sort of intense love of theatre so I don't understand why she would create these. Then again, I never knew anything about the 'Beatrice Record' (and still am no closer to understanding why it's called that). Here is one such play. It has the title "Probably for the Best" Viewer discretion: there's a lot of swears23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Q6QGZpMtr
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Probably for the Best23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7codSnAZb
Characters: 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yQKJ8hj2u
4 (Eve), 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPQWPpgSHi
3.5 (Adam), 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jbmeUqC2w
1a (Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh), 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpvxYrZYku
1b (Hallelujah), 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHig6pRgTRp
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Time and Place:23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8i3Ly4mnZ
Many years into the future. A shelter or room deep underground. Dimly-lit enclosed space. All characters sit on floor despite two benches upstage center. Light from phone screens must be able to illuminate faces. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp26jDRqHrR
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SCENE ONE 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvQdPmz7Pq
Dim fluorescent lights illuminate a shelter. There are two dirty benches upstage center, which remain empty, but for an old rotary telephone – between 1b and 1a. Also, a window with only darkness outside it. Four people sit huddled around on the floor. From left to right, there is 3.5, 4, 1b and 1a. The numbers correspond to the person’s rank, but also their title. All are dressed in combat boots and dark, stained overalls. Messy hair, especially 1a and 1b, whose mannerisms and actions are like young children. All are engrossed in their phone screen, except 4, who stares straight out. 3.5 also sometimes breaks their gaze away from the screen to stare at 4. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhpQZiCRmZ
For a moment all simply sit in this space, before 4 starts to speak. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkw43YEFHx
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4 Listen to the ghosts. Listen for the Word. Listen. No. Don’t stop speaking yet. You think you’re high and mighty now that you’re above them, pissfuck? Excuse me.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fT2y718OC
Music* Begins. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaeLEEG6pG
3.5 I’m right here if you want to fight me, you pathetic fuckcupboard-head. Say it to my face. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDgLx3sduE
4 I can’t look at you. I won’t think about the violent acts I want to enlist on you. Excuse me. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLYpX2CAtp
3.5 Through all of these endless tribulations, I’m glad it’s ending. There! I said it. I said it because it’s true. You’d say the same if you had balls! Fuck-cunt! 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvbA85Cs4o
4 Excuse her. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89zW6BDACa
3.5 What are we waiting for? Let’s end it now! 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF5gYQuM9I
1b We’re waiting for the Word! 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgpNd1ASbk
1a Woohoo! 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghTPy3sCVp
Pause. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEy8vvpoPlO
4 Oh, someone fill the fucking silence! Excuse me. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t4AiDtVi8
1a Excuse me? 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnEsFAxAdV
3.5 What would you have us do, pissbitch? 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCVgq2xB0k
4 Our time is precious. So, fill-fucking-fill it! Excuse me. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm51BClWq0D
1a (as if they’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to speak) Well, I would like to take this moment to say that I have enjoyed every moment of our time here, and through and through, all of the days and years and how long, the black days, the fighting nights, all of the on-and-ons – all of it. So, yeah. / Thanks guys. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAiggAnGgW
4 (to 3.5) I’ve been thinking it over in my head. Excuse me. Thinking over each and every way I could break your neck and get away with it unseen, so to speak, excuse me! 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BEXr9pyAk
3.5 I’m right here, whorehouse. I wish you’d done it before you went and betrayed me. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIlMiuf5lu
4 I never / betrayed you. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06Rt44ebfe
1b And so, we wait. Not a word, nor the Word. From outside. I miss the sun. It’s been some time now since it was visible. I miss the rain. Even the burning one. I miss it all. Now just a memory, and even that ... I think I can hear a ghost ... 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuSOGyKZ2q
Pause. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7WB6odEYx
4 Fill the space!23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoDTGzyCxC
3.5 You betrayed me. You betrayed me. / And now you blame me? 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3RKYRCI50
4 Fucker, I never betrayed you (excuse me), I ‘teached’ to you, and you listened, gaping and glistening for all of the wisdom in the world. Let us pray! 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQa8qPlJQvU
1a (innocently) Who will we pray to today?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64NF5TmxIk
1b I thought that I saw an illusion in the blackness. I think it was my dashing husband. Can we pray to that?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jwGlNIdrS
1a Can we pray to that?
3.5 Can we? 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJaxdIZwdR
4 Can we what? 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZPIYhvm7E
3.5 Pray to his- / sorry, her illusion? 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvmk7BeLig
1b Her 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5h88Vo6Qs
4 You ridiculous fucking children! Excuse me. No, you cannot pray to that, you won’t have arses when I’m done lashing you. Now. Pray! 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHIEoIXjS4
Pause. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8t0XjZ3Ef
Mumbling prayers. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oRRTvOVBW
Not quite. Fill the space! 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZutuCzEts
Pause. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhFM2DLxOl
Rest of party unsure whether they should continue praying or speak. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGCWVKctNN
1a I heard a ghost! 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2O5ryANQBT
4 (frightened) What did it say? 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHUQ7t8pk6
1b I hear it too. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEogrrfNeg
4 What is it saying? 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqx8kqonPn
1a Just... 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV6YEeZm7c
1b Whispering. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVlu5WdXxU
4 (to 3.5) What do you hear? 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiiXVi8j11
3.5 An annoying fuck-sucker running their mouth fucking dry. I doubt any of this carry on is even worth it. What when the time comes, will we really draw this moment back? 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7iBjkPuSy
4 Wait for the Word. It will not be the last-23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7USTGl3HY
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SCENE TWO23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ve0Lvq6u7
Suddenly, the overhead lights shut off. All are plunged into fear and darkness. 1a and 1b open their eyes wide, taking a heaving inhale, staring at something unseen in wonderment for a moment, collapsing into limp piles. They do not move from this point on. 4 stands up. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirpwfAS7fo
4 What happened? 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0oY8OIntg
3.5 (realisation setting in) The Word... 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12RltkfOmg
4 That wasn’t the fucking Word, did that sound like a fucking Word to you? Excuse me. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGX8zthdii
3.5 There can be no Other. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSDWRGr9sN
4 (calling up) Hey! You forgot us. Forgot me. I’m still here. You forgot about me. I have a reservation! / Come back for me! 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yrZyEypzx
3.5 Would you shut up? No-one's coming to rescue us. There will be no others. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf4nCfRTCr
4 Have some fucking faith. (cradles telephone) It will come. Must come. Soon to come. Will come. Has to come. Please come. Listen to the ghosts. No. Not yet. (whispering) Not yet. Not yet. Listen. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZyVBQfkaL
3.5 Is crying allowed? 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsG3TxyNcx
Pause. Music cuts. End.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85JA8ABCqU
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Notes for performers23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVqlf4wBy3
> When a / mark occurs, indicates that the next line of dialogue begins. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBzDybntQT
> While the four characters are somewhat familiar with each other, there should be no allusion to familial or relationship ties. They are a set of strangers, brought together by unknown circumstances.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCFVIOhENo
> Love you forever B <3
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