THE IRONY OF TORMENTED LOVE By Sky Cast JD Veronica Det Lacey Dr. Meraou Jackson George Betty Finn Peter Heather Duke Heather Chandler Heather Macnamara PC 1 PC 2 PC 3 PC 4 Doctor PC brown Ambulance officer 1 Reporter 1 Reporter 2 Reporter 3 Reporter 4 Reporter 5 Jennifer [Scenery involves a campus library which has many rows of computers, the streets of Perth, Australia, the Mounts Bay Road Bus Port, outside the law court, Perth train station.] [Scene one. Veronica is sitting in the campus library next to JD.] Veronica: What course are you doing? JD: I.T. Veronica: What does I.T stand for? JD: Info Tech, computer programming. Veronica: What's your name? Mines Veronica. JD: Jason Dean, or JD whichever you prefer. I'm changing it to Canvas though. Veronica: What? JD: Canvas, as in the Mona Lisa. Canvas Saunders because it's hard to say. Veronica: How old are you? JD: 22. Veronica: I'm 17, JD: How do you send emails? He he I'm in I.T and I can't send emails. Veronica: Just click on compose. JD: There's no point anyway, I've got nobody to email. Veronica: Why don't you use the chat room? There are plenty of people in there to email! JD: No, I don't like the chatroom. Veronica: What is your email anyway? JD: I don't give it out. Veronica: Why not? JD: Security reasons. Veronica: Oh, well why do you have an email address then? JD: Why are you so nosey then? Veronica: I'm not. JD: I'm gonna go home now, I've got nothing better to do. [JD leaves, and Veronica watches him leave.] [Scene two. Another day, JD is sitting at a computer in the library and Veronica comes in and sits with him.] Veronica: What ya doing? JD: Work, you? [JD raises his eyebrows in a flirtatious manner at Veronica.] Veronica: Just browsing the net. [Veronica goes to print something, then comes back to her seat.] Veronica: How odd, my yahoo is red. Jennifer, did you make my page red? It was white a minute ago. Jennifer: That guy did it. [whispering and pointing at JD.] [Veronica raises her eyebrows in a wey hey hey manner.] JD: Hey do you know what this word means? [He thrusts his text book in Veronica's face.] Veronica: No, I don't. Why don't you use a dictionary? JD: The dictionary!!! More reading!?! All they want us to do is read. Veronica: Well why don't you try to see if there is are any dictionaries online? JD: Hey, look at all this stuff about people on Pluto! [He puts Veronica's computer onto a weird web listing] JD: Do you play tennis? Veronica: Yeah JD: I'm thinking of taking it up. Veronica: How many days a week are you here? JD: Everyday that I can be bothered coming. I have to go home now. [JD gets up and leaves, and once he has gone, Veronica realizes that he has left his disk.] Veronica: Hey, he left his disk! Jennifer: Run after him and give it to him! Veronica: No way, this way I get an excuse to talk to him next time he's here. [Veronica gets up to leave, and takes the disk.] [Scene three. Veronica is in the library and JD comes in. She runs up to him.] Veronica: Hey JD, I found this disk, I thought it might be yours. JD: Hey thanks, I've been looking everywhere for this. I don't think you found it, I think you stole it. [Grinning.] Veronica: What? No I didn't! [JD sits down, and Veronica sits next to him. JD looks Veronica up and down. He observes what she is doing; she is writing her homework. She notices him noticing her.] Veronica: How are you? JD: Not too bad. You? Veronica: Oh, I'm great, I've got a bit too much study to do though. JD: Don't talk to me now. [Veronica looks puzzled. She shuts up.] JD: I have to go to class now. [He gets up and leaves.] [Scene four. Veronica tries once again to talk to JD in the library. JD is sitting in the library, and Veronica goes to sit next to him.] Veronica: G'day JD: Hi. [mumbled] [Veronica sits down.] JD: English eh? [Looking at her English homework.] Veronica: Yeah, it's not much, but it's still homework. JD: Are you one of those people who just writes a lot? Veronica: Well I write notes, no more than the next man does. I had to leave one of my classes because this girl had knits. Can you believe that? I wasn't gonna stay in class with her, but I've transferred now JD: Nits? I'm itching just thinking about it. [He squints his nose, and scratches the back of his neck.] [Veronica rolls her eyes thinking about how stupid she is talking to her crush about lice. She puts her hand over her eyes and shakes her head.] JD: Algebra, eh? Veronica: Well, yeah. It's not that exciting. [Heather Chandler, Heather Macnamara and Heather Duke come in, laughing at Veronica as they can see what she is thinking.] Heather Chandler: Hey Veronica, get over 'ere. Veronica: What do you want? [Moving over to the girls.] Heather Duke: Well, are you gonna ask him out? Veronica: WHAT? WHO!?? Heather Duke: Oh come off it! Heather Macnamara: Don't play dumb, it's not half-obvious who you like. Veronica: Well I don't like him, not that I know whom you mean, and even if I did. It's the bloke's job to ask the sheila out. Heather Macnamara: Just go for it, isn't it better that you get it over with, find out what he thinks? Veronica: He's been flirting like mad!! ..........But I don't know who you're talking about. Heather Duke: Ha ha, just admitted it! Heather Macnamara: Kissy kissy, just ask him out! Veronica: Get a life. I'm not that type. Heather Chandler: Well then. Veronica: you're not gonna say anything are you? Heather Chandler: No ... we won't. Heather Duke: Na, got better things to do. Heather Macnamara: Well, we'll let you go then, half the campus knows though. Veronica: Knows what? Heather Macnamara: That you're in love with that guy, I mean, ya don't have to be a genius to notice your constant gawking and drooling. Veronica: Well, he doesn't know. Heather Macnamara: Wanna have lunch? Veronica: Okay. Heather Duke: We'd better go now then, or the cafeteria will stop baking fresh pies. [Heather Chandler lets go. The four girls leave.] [Scene five. In this scene Veronica comes out of class, into the library, and sits next to JD who begins talking to her.] JD: Math's homework eh? Veronica: No, this is stuff I've just done in class. JD: It's set out really badly. Veronica: I know. If you could be anyone in any movie, who would you be, in what movie. JD: Probably a blue movie or something literature with Gweneth Paltrow. Veronica: I'd be Ripley in Aliens. JD: I'd like to be The Jackal. Veronica: WHAT? JD: Have you seen that movie? Veronica: Yeah, but do you mean you wanna be a hit man? JD: That's why I'm gonna change my name, I don't wanna be found. I'm gonna be like The Jackal. [JD begins shutting his computer down, and Veronica copies. They get up to leave and leave campus together. They wait outside the lift.] JD: Whereabouts do you live? Veronica: Claremont, where do you live? JD: Around the city [They enter the lift, and then one floor later, get out. They continue walking together.] Veronica: Were you born in 1977 then? JD: Around then. I wish I had been born in 1980. Veronica: Why? JD: It was just a good time to be born. Do you live at home? Veronica: Yeah JD: I can't remember the last time I lived at home. Do you have a computer at home? Veronica: No, I don't unfortunately. [They continue walking together. JD looking full of himself, and Veronica looking full of JD.] Veronica: What star sign are you? JD: Beyond the stars and the moon............. [Throwing his hands around, using romantic tone.] JD: Na, I'm kidding, I'm Aquarius. Veronica: I shouldn't talk about star signs anyway, they are just wrong. People aren't meant to know what happens to them tomorrow. [Veronica doesn't even believe in star signs. She just wants to talk about something with JD, and the romantic response she got was a big bonus. They reach a fork in the road, where he goes left and she goes right. JD is about to turn his way, but then delays, and decides to walk with Veronica.] JD: You go down this way don't you? Veronica: Yeah JD: You're always using the net, aren't you? Veronica: Well not as much as you; you're never off the computers. [They get to another section, where Veronica goes right, and JD goes left.] JD: [pointing] You can go this way can't you? Veronica: Yeah [They walk together an extra 20 seconds. JD crosses the road, and goes his own Way.] Veronica: Seeya JD: Bye. [Non expressive.] [JD crosses the road mysteriously into the distance. Veronica watches.] [Scene six. Veronica invites her friend Betty Finn to come to campus to see JD They are walking to campus.] Betty Finn: I can't believe I'm actually coming to see your crush! Veronica: He's more than a crush, he's Mr. Right. Betty Finn: Well, I hope you didn't drag me all this way for nothing. I'm expecting Tom Cruise! Veronica: I don't know if he likes me or not, I need an outsider to evaluate his reactions to me. Betty Finn: How weird can you get? Veronica: I'm not weird, I just wanna know how he thinks, and what he thinks about me. [Betty Finn and Veronica enter campus, and sit at the only available computers, which are next to JD. JD is using Microsoft Access, and Betty Finn's phone rings.] Betty Finn: Hey Kath, oh you've found my other leather boot? What about the whip? [Veronica makes eye gestures at Betty Finn.] Betty Finn: OH, I've GOTTA GO Veronica is having a spack attack. [Betty Finn puts her phone away.] Veronica: [whispering] How could you embarrass me like that?! Betty Finn: Well it serves him right for eavesdropping. Can't you tell, he's not listening to his music, even though he has headphones on. He's clearly eavesdropping. [JD gets up, and goes to another table briefly, then returns.] JD: Have you seen my bag? It was here a minute ago? Veronica: No, I haven't JD. [He sits down, and scratches his head.] Betty Finn: Do you two know each other? JD: sort of. Oh here it is. [He leans down to the floor, and picks up his bag. He looks at Veronica, then he looks at Betty Finn. He looks at Veronica again, and winks.] Betty Finn: Lets go now, I'm meeting George in a while. Veronica: No you're not, not for an hour. Betty Finn: [whispering] Lets go, before he gets sick of us. Veronica: Lets go now right now. We aren't gonna leave George waiting there are we? We've got to be early. [The girls get up, and JD looks back and watches them walk out.] Betty Finn: Bye JD. JD: Bye. Betty Finn: He didn't say goodbye, how rude! Veronica: Yeah he did, that shocked me. Betty Finn: Did he? Oh I didn't hear him. Veronica: Do you think he likes me? Betty Finn: It's not exactly easy to tell, I mean he didn't say much. [The girls walk down the street, and wait at the train station for George. George comes along.] Betty Finn: I'm gonna go now, okay. Do you wanna come have dinner with us? Veronica: Okay. [They walk along, to the Carillon arcade and sit down.] Veronica: I have to let him know how I feel, and I have to let him know now. George: Who's this about? Veronica: JD, he's the best looking guy on campus. Betty Finn: It's too early to tell if he likes you, but I think if he did, he would have asked you out by now. Veronica: No, he may be shy. George: He may be shy. Betty Finn: Just tell him how you feel, ask him out. Veronica: I'm not asking a bloke out, what if he says no? George: Then you know how he feels. Betty Finn: And if you never tell him, you could regret it for the rest of your life! Veronica: I know, I'll write him a poem. Betty Finn: That could work. Veronica: I know - "you're cool, you're sweet, you're cute, you're neat." Betty Finn: That's just sad. Veronica: I don't know what to write! George: How about "roses are red, violets are blue, Veronica is in love and doesn't know what to do?" Veronica: Very funny. Betty Finn: Well it's better than the corny rubbish you were gonna write. Veronica: I'll think of something, I'm gonna go home and write right now. [Veronica gets up and runs out happily.] [Scene seven: Another night. Veronica goes to the library, and JD is there. She sits down next to him.] Veronica: Hey there JD! JD: Hey there Veronica, how are you any--what? Veronica: What's going on? JD: Great! All my data has gone! Thanks a lot Veronica. [He gets up with an angry look on his face, rips his disk out of the computer and leaves. He leaves his diary.] Veronica: Oh, he left his homework, it's another sign. Oh, if only he loved me like I love him! Jennifer: You thinking about your teddy bears again? Veronica: Oh, I'm really gonna love a teddy bear. I was rehearsing lines Jennifer: What for, geeks parade? Veronica: Get a job I gotta motor. [Veronica gets up and leaves.] [Scene eight: Veronica hands in JD's homework, and then she sits next to him, when she notices him in the library.] Veronica: Hey there man. [She puts a pile of psychology text books on the table, and sits down. She notices JD observing her books.] JD: I hope that's just a phase. Veronica: Actually these books help me understand people. [Veronica loads a computer onto the web, and uses a chat room.] JD: Who's in there? Veronica: In the chat room? I thought you wouldn't use the chat room? JD: Look, can you never question me, okay? Veronica: You're not perfect you know JD. JD: No, but you think you're pretty close. Veronica: I don't think anything like that. JD: I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. Veronica: Well, do you even know any of these folks? [JD leans over and looks at her screen Then he pulls back, and turns his body to face her.] JD: You remind me of Madonna Veronica: How? JD: You look like her. Veronica: You must need glasses JD: Well, I don't think I do. Veronica: What were you doing last year? JD: I was at Albany campus. Veronica: Where are you from? JD: Australia. Veronica: What about your parents? Some of my friends think you look Russian. JD: I suppose I could pass for a Russian, my parents are from Australia. [He pauses.] Why am I even telling you all this anyway? Veronica: I'm sorry. JD: Why don't you just leave me alone? I don't like anyone under 25, just leave. [Veronica looks down, upset.] Veronica: You don't need to be so rude JD! [JD gets up, and turns his computer off, Veronica copies They leave campus, and walk together.] Veronica: I've just taken up another class, it's a computer class and it's so basic it's not funny. It's like showing you the basics of how to use Word and all that. JD: With the time on email you spend, you don't need any basic classes. Most of your friends are males. Well, the people I have seen you talking to are anyway. Veronica: Well I think that males are better than females, I mean they don't argue as much. JD: Why do you read all those psychology books anyway? People spend 3 years at Uni. studying psychology. I don't think it's good for you to read those. Veronica: I think everyone should read psychology books. [They arrive at the top of the train station, and JD goes his own way.] JD: I'm going this way tonight. [Scene nine: Next day, JD comes and sits next to Veronica in the library.] JD: Hey there. Veronica: Hey. JD: What are you gonna do when you finish here? Veronica: I'm gonna join the police force. JD: I always had a thing about women who wanted to be cops. [Veronica just looks at her computer screen in girlish glee.] JD: Do you have a sister? My last girlfriend was 28. Veronica: No I don't. Hey, more grids? JD: yeah Veronica: I thought only business students used them. JD: No, I.T use them as well. I really have to do this now. Veronica: Okay, I won't talk. JD: You have nice eyes. Veronica: I have to go. JD: Okay, well I might talk to you later. [Flirtatious manner.] [She gets up, and begins to leave the library. Peter comes rushing up to Veronica.] Peter: Veronica!! How are you gorgeous? Veronica: I'm fine, hey guess what? Peter: Aliens have landed and are going to take over the world, and we are the only people left and we have to multiply fast? Veronica: No, that's not it at all, JD said I have nice eyes! Peter: I don't want you to get hurt by him, even though you do have nice eyes, he is not a nice person. Veronica: I've written this letter to him. [Veronica gets a letter out of her pocket.] Veronica: Here is what it says-- "I try to show I like you, you seem so unaware, sometimes when I smile you don't seem to care, you sometimes overlook me as if I'm not around, then go confusing me, by doing just the opposite. Fearing you mightn't reciprocate a friendly act I do. I only wish you'd notice me the way I notice you." Peter: That is so sweet, did you really write that? Veronica: Yeah, but I'm scared to give it to him. Peter: I'll give it to him. Veronica: Will you? Peter: Yeah, give it here. Veronica: Okay, but do you promise you will give it to JD? Peter: Yeah, I will. [Peter rushes over to JD and gives him the letter.] Peter: This is for you. JD: Is it from Veronica? Peter: Yeah. JD: Yawn, ill read it later. [Peter comes back to Veronica.] Veronica: Did you give it to him? Peter: Yeah, I gave it to him. [They leave.] [Scene ten: Next day, Veronica notices JD leaving and runs up to him, pretending that she was leaving at the same time.] Veronica: JD, can I ask you a question? JD: [grinning] Okay. Veronica: Do you consider me a friend? JD: No I don't. I don't really have friends. Veronica: Why not? JD: Because I don't really know you. Veronica: No, I mean why don't you really have friends? JD: It's just easier to go through life without them. It's nothing personal against you. Veronica: Why? JD: You wouldn't understand Veronica: Hey, I've been through the worse possible times you can think of, I think I would understand. JD: Nothing personal against you or anything, I just don't have friends. [Veronica looks at him curiously.] JD: Have you seen the Truman Show? Veronica: No, I haven't. JD: Have you seen Scrooge? Veronica: I've seen that. JD: It's kind of like that. Veronica: Isn't that like "a life lived in fear is a life half lived"? JD: No, not really. I'm just one of those people who wants to keep climbing the ladder. [They get to the bus port where JD goes right, and Veronica goes left. JD goes right and watches her to make sure she's okay. When they arrive where Veronica gets her bus JD turns to go down the escalator.] Veronica: JD why do you ignore me sometimes when I say hi? JD: Just busy. Veronica: Hello doesn't hurt. [JD turns and goes his own way.] [Scene eleven: Another day, JD is in the library and Veronica wants to find out what he thought. Kim and Alison come in.] Kim: Hey Veronica, what's up? Veronica: Hey Kim, hey Alison. Alison: How are you? Veronica: Can you do me a favor? Alison and Kim: What? Veronica: Go up to JD, he's the one in the white shirt and jeans find out what he thinks of me? Alison: Okay. Kim: This should be fun. [The two girls go up to JD, while Veronica hides behind some shelves.] Alison: Do you know Veronica? JD: Yeah. Kim: What do you think of her? JD: She's bizarre. Alison: Do you want us to pass her a message or anything? Kim: Like to leave you alone or something? JD: Okay. [The two girls come back to Veronica.] Veronica: What did he say? Kim: He thinks you're bizarre and doesn't like you. Alison: Yeah, he told us to tell you to keep away from him. Veronica: Well that's just great, what a creep! [The two girls leave.] [Scene twelve: Another day. Veronica goes to campus and tries to walk with JD. It is late evening around 8pm Tuesday night, no one is around. They begin walking together from the campus. They don't talk about anything, until they get as far as Central Park.] JD: Ya know that guy in the library who works there? Veronica: Yeah. JD: I went off on him coz he was annoying me, and he pulled me into the back office and lectured me. Veronica: Oh, well I've been busy studying. JD: Yeah, I've noticed you've been in the books a lot lately. Veronica: Nice to know you've noticed something other than how bizarre I am. JD: What? Veronica: Don't act stupid! [She goes to run off, he grabs her arm.] Veronica: Back off JD, I get the picture! JD: What picture? [She rips her arm away aggressively.] Veronica: You could have just made everything clear from the start! JD: Hey, I didn't lead any impressions of any kind. You made your own conclusions. Veronica: I don't believe you! No wonder you've got no friends, you've got no character! JD: Do you mind minding your own business? Your problem is that you try to find a reason for everything. Veronica: Well one plus one doesn't equal two for no reason! [She goes to run away.] JD: Wait, don't go. The only reason why I'm so ambiguous is because I love you. [Veronica pauses on the spot, her back to JD.] JD: I'm in love with you, I have been since the minute I saw you. [She swings around.] Veronica: How creepy can you get?! Don't play with my emotions JD! I think we both know you've been doing a lot of toying. JD: You don't understand, that's only half of it. Veronica: What's the other half? I'm on candid camera? JD: Please don't leave me, don't go. I couldn't bear to lose you! Veronica: Are you insane? JD: Please don't use that word. Veronica: What? Does the truth hurt? JD: Well yes actually. Veronica: I haven't got time for this. I can't believe you could sink this low! [JD drops to the floor his knees on the ground; his head and face are in his hands. He lifts his head in tears, and reaches his arms out.] Veronica: What are you doing? JD: Don't go. Just don't go. I don't care if you never speak to me again, but just don't leave me like this. [Veronica goes over to him, and kneels down.] JD: I have voices in my head, they scare me. Veronica: You're scaring me now, I think this is enough of this charade. JD: You really think I'm joking don't you?! [Hysterically sad. Sobbing.] Veronica: What else am I meant to think, I mean one minute you're liking me, the next you're hating me. JD: It's the voices, they've never let me care about anyone before, they reckon that there are people coming to kill me. They scare me, and make me do irrational things! Veronica: Well, that doesn't change why you called me bizarre or anything else. JD: I'm in love with you. Doesn't that count for something?! Veronica: This is really a joke isn't it? [She gets up to leave.] JD: Please don't go. Veronica: I can't turn my back on a crying man. [She pulls him up.] Veronica: Is there somewhere we can go? JD: we can go to the bus port, or my place? Veronica: Who's at your place, a camera crew? JD: Lets just go to the bus port then. [They cross St George's terrace, and go to the bus port They sit down; everywhere is dark except for the orange lights at every seat. She sits him down. His hands are still covering his lowered face. He is sobbing.] Veronica: I really cared about you, but I don't know how I could have, I mean how could you pull a stunt like this? JD: Please don't say that. I really do love you, I knew it the day I met you, I thought that you were the most beautiful girl that I had ever met, I thought your smile could light a continent. I thought you had a great personality. Veronica: Do you really mean that? JD: of course I mean it Veronica: I love you too, I knew it from the second time I saw you. [A strange noise is heard.] Veronica: What was that? JD: [sob sob]. Veronica: shhhhhhh [They sit there silently.] Uuuurgh! JD: [gaaaasp!] [Veronica has been stabbed in the side. She is breathing lightly. Her body falls to the ground. JD picks her up, and hugs her body. She's limp, and the wound is deep. He sits there crying like a child.] JD: Heeeeeeeeeelp!! Somebody help me!! [A woman comes along, with a man. They are PCs] PC 1: What seems to be the problem? [They shine their torch down. The woman radios for backup and calls an ambulance.] PC 1: We have a possible homicide here. PC 2: What went on here? JD: No. I can't believe this is actually happening! PC 2: Sir, Sir, can you please answer the questions? JD: Just a child, 17, just a child. PC 1: Let's take him down to the station. JD: NO! I'm not leaving her! PC 2: Let him go to the hospital with her, but keep an eye on him, have him guarded. JD: Can't you help me?! Somebody help!!!!!!! PC 2: Sir!! Sir!! JD: [To Veronica.] Come on, wake up. Please wake up and forgive me, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you! PC 2: Then you stabbed her Sir? JD: No, can't you see she needs your help?! Can't you help her, help her!! PC 2: An ambulance is on the way Sir, can you give us some information? JD: [To Veronica.] Please, I love you. I love you. PC 1: What was your relation with the girl Sir? JD: What do you mean 'was'? She's gonna be all right isn't she? PC 1: We don't know Sir, the paramedics are on their way. [The ambulance arrives, along with another police car, and a Det. Car. They get the stretcher out and the paramedics rush over to Veronica.] Paramedic 1: Quick, one two three breathe..... one, two, three, breathe. [The second paramedic gets the stretcher and brings it over to Veronica. Pushing on her chest, doing mouth to mouth, the ambulance men get her into the Ambulance. The police put JD in the back of the police car, and the paramedics put Veronica in the ambulance.] PC 1: We'll let him go to the hospital with her, but we'll watch him like a hawk. [All vehicles arrive at the hospital.] [Scene thirteen: At the hospital. They get Veronica into the emergency room, JD wait's outside, crying, wailing. Screaming her name.] PC 1: Who is the girl Sir? JD: Veronica, her name is Veronica. I never believed in love at first sight until I met her. She is the most amazing thing I've ever known. PC 1: What was your relation to the girl Sir? How old was she? Who stabbed her? PC 2: Give him a break! Well ask the questions when we know if the girl is okay or not. JD: No, not if. Don't say if she's okay. She will be okay. Say when, not if. PC 2: What is your name Sir? JD: JD. Please help her. Get the best Doctors in the world. PC 1: Calm down Sir. [They sit JD down, and give him a drink of water. He drinks it, trembling.] JD: Maybe she loved me, I don't know. Oh I know she loved me. She wrote the letter saying she loved me. What am I to do? I shall never love again. I've never met anyone like her in my life. The day I met her was my 22nd birthday, and what a birthday present. Meeting her was like going into space, but I had to reject her, I had to play hard to get. Jimmy had to interfere. Just once I wish Jimmy and Jamie would leave me alone. [He puts his head in his hands crying. And then lifts his head, gets up, and walks away.] PC 1: Sir, stay where you are!! [JD continues heading towards the exit.] PC 2: Stay where you are Sir! [The PCs both draw their guns and aim it towards JD. Right in front of JD popped up the other two PCs.] PC 3: You're gonna have to stay here Sir. PC 2: What is your name? JD what? JD: JD's gone away, I'm Tyson. PC 2: Pardon me Sir? You just told us your name was JD. JD: JD's gone away. [In a very domineering voice.] JD: Now if you don't mind, I would like to go and meet my girlfriend Carla. PC 4: I'm afraid you're not going anywhere, Sir. JD: Afraid? Afraid of what? PC 4: [To PC 1.] Is this some kind of joke henry? PC 1: I don't know, hang on, I'll call Det. Lacey, he's in the waiting room. [Det. Lacey comes in, and observes the situation.] Det. Lacey: I think what we have here is a troublemaker. Hold him in custody until we get further information. JD: Look, I'm just about getting tired of this nonsense. Let me go now. PC 2: You're under arrest for the suspected attempted murder of Veronica. JD: Who is Veronica? This has to be a joke, I'm meant to be at the bar. PC 2: You have the right to remain silent, anything you say or do can and will be used against you in a court of law. [They put JD in the paddy wagon, and take him to the police station.] [Scene fourteen: At the police station the police have JD in custody and are questioning him.] JD: Look, I don't know what you think you're playing at, but I think I'm gonna keep shut up 'til I get me a lawyer. PC 3: Sir, you're not being reasonable. JD: That's ironic, 'coz I thought the same thing about you! [The PC leaves the room to get the Det, who has been watching through the two- way mirror. The door slams shut behind him JD gets a start from the sound, and all of a sudden feels dizzy. He shakes his head, and his eyes roll a little. He starts crying once again. Det Lacey enters the room.] Det. Lacey: Excuse me Sir. JD: Where am I? Is she okay? Det. Lacey: I would like to ask you some questions about Veronica. JD: Is she alright? Ask me anything, I don't know much though. She was like a bird. She was beautiful. Is she alright? I don't know what I shall do if she doesn't come around. Where am I? Who are you? How did I get here? I want to talk to the Doctor. Det. Lacey: The Doctor is at the hospital. JD: Well what do you mean? Where am I? Det. Lacey: Sir are you trying to tell me that you actually don't know where you are? JD: I don't know, I don't know and I don't care. Help her please help her! Det. Lacey: Well what happened at the bus station? JD: She was helping me, and someone stopped us. She just fell like she was dead in my lap. Det. Lacey: Tyson how did you get here? JD: who is Tyson? Det. Lacey: you told us you were Tyson JD: But that's ridiculous, I'm JD, and you've got to help her! [Det. Lacey leaves the room, and calls the hospital.] Det. Lacey: How is she?...... right, right. So she's coming through is she? What's that? Coma you say? Why? Oh the brain's blood supply was temporarily trapped? How long will the coma last?...........I understand. Thank you. And while your there, can I be put through to the psychiatric department?... I'll hold............ hello Doctor. I have a possible multiple personality disorder here. I was wondering if you could come and observe, and you may know if this young man is faking or not... 20 minutes will be fine. Thank you Doctor. Good bye. [He puts the phone down.] Det. Lacey: Officer brown, I've decided to get a Dr. to come and see if this guy is really as unbalanced as I suspect. PC Brown: Sir, what is it you suspect? Det. Lacey: Well, first he said his name was JD, then Tyson, then JD. And it isn't just that. His equilibrium has totally changed as well. I don't think he's faking. PC Brown: I'll let the other Officers know Det. Lacey: That would be a good idea, we can't have anybody making JD angry, it may cause him to go nutty. [Dr. Meraou arrives.] Dr. Meraou: Where is the client/patient? Det. Lacey: He's over there in the questioning room, you can watch him through the two way mirror. Dr. Meraou: Okay then. [He enters the room, and observes JD.] JD: Please can I go and see her? Is she okay? Det. Lacey: No I'm sorry she is in a coma. JD: NOOOO!!!! [He smashes his head to the table, and starts going hysterical All of a sudden, he passes out.] Det Lacey: Dr. Meraou, help me! [Dr. Meraou enters the room. JD wakes up, rubbing his head.] Dr. Meraou: Can you hear me? JD: Who are you? Where am I? I want to go home. I need Jackson. Let me go I'm so scared. Who are you, and where is Jackson? Dr. Meraou: Where is Jackson? Who is Jackson? Det. Lacey: What's going on? Dr. Meraou: JD listen, this is important, who is Jackson? JD: I'm not JD, JD's gone away. Dr. Meraou: Is this Tyson then? JD: Tyson is going to take over soon. Tyson is taking JD as well. Please don't let Tyson get near me. [He starts crying and curls up hugging his knees in a child like way. His crying is a cry of fear.] Dr. Meraou: Who are you then? JD: I'm Jamie. Please let me go. Is that a police man? Maybe he can help me. Keep me safe from Tyson. JD and I are afraid of Tyson. He's bad. Tyson is mean. I love Jackson. Where is the policeman going. Who are you? I'm scared. [He locks his arms around his knees, in a whimpering manner, and cries and sobs.] Dr. Meraou: This is extraordinary. Det. I want to keep this man under close observation for a few days. Is that alright? You can send some guards with him if necessary, but it is crucial that I observe this boy. Det. Lacey: Alright, PC Brown, can you send two men with this man and the Doctor and make sure that JD doesn't get away. JD: Keep JD safe, don't let Tyson overtake him. [They call the psychiatric team, and have a straight jacket brought around immediately. They put the jacket on JD and restrain him with straps. They put him in the van, and drive him to the hospital.] [Scene fifteen: Later in the hospital. JD is in a padded cell, he is in a straight jacket, and he is still in the belief that he is Jamie. Terrified.] JD: I'm so scared, I hope Jackson doesn't see me like this. He would be so ashamed of me, he would disown me. Poor Jackson. I only wanted to make him happy. I'm just scared of Tyson. Tyson will hurt me. Tyson will kill me and JD. We don't want that. Now that I can't find JD, I'm the only one here. Poor me. Poor Jackson I made him ashamed. [There is a surveillance camera in the room, observing JD. Dr. Meraou is watching. JD starts whimpering for about 20 seconds. He curls up in a ball. Terrorized, and begins sucking his thumb rocking. After a minute, he falls asleep and wakes up a minute later, having a blank memory.] JD: Where am I? I'm supposed to be at the bar. How did I get in this jacket? I can't move. Who would dare do this to Tyson? I'm just going to have to get up, and let the people know that I have to go to the bar, and get me some chicks. I'm gonna be real good. I'm gonna overtake everyone. I'm gonna make me a killing. I'll be so famous; Ned Kelly will envy me. I'll rob the banks of west Australia, then I'll head over to New York. I'm gonna make sure that Jamie and JD don't stop me with their little morals. Hahaha [At this point the Doctor comes in.] Dr. Meraou: Hello JD, how are you? JD: Look man, I'm afraid you have the wrong person, JD was weak, and he is gone. He will be gone forever if I get my way. Hehe Dr. Meraou: Who is JD? How are you related to JD? Who are you? JD: I'm Tyson of course. I told those silly police men before that I was Tyson. Don't you know? JD was a little dork. All he did was get in the way of Jackson and I. As for Jamie. Well Jamie was just a baby. Lets not talk about Jamie. Dr. Meraou: Who is Jamie? How do you know these people? JD: Lets just say I know them. Okay Doctor? Jamie was a baby. And you're not getting anymore information from me. Dr. Meraou: I'm going to leave you alone now Tyson. Ill observe you overnight. Goodbye. JD: Goodnight Doctor. Ill let you go. Get a little shuteye. Go now Doctor. I have a lot to think about. Dr. Meraou: Were you there when Veronica was stabbed? JD: Who is Veronica? Dr. Meraou: Then was it JD? Or may it have been Jamie or Jackson? JD: Well it wasn't Jamie. He thinks girls have germs. Don't tell me JD has himself mixed up with a girl? He used to be so together. If only he had stayed alone. Alone with Jackson. This charade has gone a bit far it sounds. But I know nothing of this Veronica. Dr. Meraou: Well would JD have stabbed her? JD: I don't know. It's not the type of thing that JD would do. But I didn't really get along with him. I don't like JD, and I wouldn't know what he's done. Perhaps you should ask him. Dr. Meraou: Can JD come out to play then? JD: Come out to play? Come out to play!!!!!!! [Raged manner.] I thought you were asking about JD, it sounds like you're asking about Jamie now. Dr. Meraou: Well can JD come and talk? JD: JD isn't gonna be around for a lot longer. Dr. Meraou: What is going to happen to him? JD: I thought you were going to leave now Doctor. I'm not going to talk anymore. Why don't you go. Go and play. Dr. Meraou: Since you're not going to co-operate, I might just have to leave. [The Doctor leaves the room, and watches the camera. JD sits there laughing, then shuts his eyes for a little rest. He awakens minutes later holding his head.] JD: Where is she? Where is my Veronica? Where is my angel? How could I have treated her so badly? [Dr. Meraou runs in.] Dr. Meraou: You must be JD? JD: Who else am I gonna be? Why am I here? Please can you tell me why I'm here?! Is Veronica okay? Please can't you help me. I have to get to her. The poor thing. How I love her. Maybe she doesn't know. Dr. Meraou: JD are you JD? So far I've seen a Jamie and a Tyson. Are you JD? JD: I hate Tyson, he made me make Veronica feel so badly. I just love her so much. Oh please help me! Dr. Meraou: Did you stab Veronica? JD: Stab her? How could you even think that? I'm in love with her. She's the first and only person I've ever really loved Dr. Meraou: Then what were you doing with her? JD: I had just explained why I ignore her on campus, and she didn't believe me, I had told her that I loved her so much. I love her. She didn't believe me. I cried. She helped me. We went to the bus port. She was comforting me. Then she was in my arms. Bleeding. Don't let her die. I love her. I can't go on without her. Please help her. Dr. Meraou: Why were you just Jamie? Why were you Tyson? Tyson is nasty and rude. And Jamie is childlike. JD: I don't know. Please don't let her die. Tyson is a voice, he tells me to do things. Dr. Meraou: What things? JD: He doesn't like me being close to anyone. He always scares me into leaving what I get close to. Until I met Veronica, I'd never been close to anyone. I wasn't close to her. But she had feelings for me, she wrote them down. I loved her very much, I didn't know that this was gonna happen. I kept rejecting her. Then when I admitted my real feelings, she didn't know how to react. She thought I was lying. It's all Tyson's fault. I can't believe this happened. As soon as he knew I liked her, he started preventing me from being nice to her. Dr. Meraou: Who is Tyson JD: I'm not exactly sure, but he's a voice I hear. Dr. Meraou: Is that all? JD: Well I think so. What are you getting at Doctor? Dr. Meraou: I'm not sure, I'll keep you under further observation. I'll let you know what happens when I find out. [The Doctor leaves.] JD: Veronica, I love her. [He cries himself to sleep.] [Scene sixteen: In the meantime at the hospital Det. Lacey investigates JD's condition, to find out if JD was a victim of multiple personality disorder.] Det. Lacey: Is there any improvement? Doctor: No I'm sorry there isn't yet. Det. Lacey: I'm going to phone the hospital's psyche department and find out about our main suspect. [Det Lacey rings Dr. Meraou.] Det. Lacey: Right, so it is a real case of multiple personality disorder? Now you're sure of that? What if he's faking? I hope you know your job. I would like a second opinion Doctor. Oh you've called another Doctor? Who? Oh he's on his way is he? And what is his name? Doctor who? Oh okay then. Well I'll let you go then. Goodbye Doctor. [He puts the phone down.] [Scene seventeen: Back at the hospital, Doctor who arrives, Dr. Meraou is filling him in of the details, when they notice someone in the bushes.] Dr. Meraou: Police police!!! PC 4: What? Dr. Meraou: There is a man in those bushes, I think it's JD! [The PC rushes over to the bushes and the man runs away.] PC 4: Jennifer, no, come on mate, we've gotta catch this bloke! PC 3: I'm coming mate! [The other two PCs are in the car, and they drive around to where the suspect is running, and head him off. PC 3 and 4 catch him.] PC 3: Is this JD? PC 4: Well it looks like it. Hey Det.! [Det. Lacey comes running.] Det. Lacey: This is JD alright, but how did he get out of a padded cell and straight jacket? [The Doctor comes running.] Dr. Meraou: This is JD, I don't understand how he escaped, get him back right now! [The men escort the man back to the hospital and go down the corridor only to find JD in his cell.] Dr. Meraou: I don't believe this, he's in the cell. This must be his twin! Det. Lacey: Well now, we've got two suspects then! Dr. Meraou: I've filled Dr. Who in about the situation, and he has observed JD and believes that there is no way that he could be faking. This man needs help Det. Lacey: Open the door, I want to see his reaction to this twin character Dr. Meraou: I shall open the door, and this could be very interesting, Dr. Who, observe closely. [Dr. Meraou opens the door. The twin stands there.] Dr. Meraou: JD, someone is here to see you. [JD looks around in horror.] JD: Jackson, where have you been? Dr. Meraou: So there is a Jackson? Extraordinary! JD: I thought you were dead! Dr. Meraou: This is incredible! Jackson: Shut up JD, at least now we are together. JD: But, mother told me that you were dead. Jackson: Do you believe everything you hear dear brother? JD: We were 16, you had the accident, you fell off dads motorbike! Jackson: That's what mum wanted you to think. JD: What are you saying? I'm shocked. You're alive. This is great. I can't believe this. I'm so happy. Brother, my brother, alive. Wow! Jackson: I'm glad. JD: I can't believe that you're alive. How come I didn't know. Why did you tell me you were dead? Jackson: I didn't tell you I was dead! JD: No no, of course not. Well why did mother tell me that? Why did dad lie? Jackson: Mum and dad were sick of you getting all the attention JD: That's right, I remember now. You were always trying to hurt me. You thought they loved me more. I said you were crazy and you didn't believe me. Jackson: Who's the crazy one in the straight jacket! Ha! This is brilliant. You're right where I always wanted you. JD: You couldn't mean that! Jackson: Come off it, of course I love you being here. I hated you. You got all the attention, you were the one dad loved. You were the one mum loved. You got the better presents. You got all the attention. Then mum and dad said I shouldn't keep hurting you. I only wanted to deform you a little. I just wanted to at least be better looking than you, and that way, I would get more love. Mum and dad couldn't stand that though. They said I was bad, so they told you I'd died. They thought it was safer for you. Well I showed them. JD: What are you saying? Jackson: I'm saying that it's good to see you in a straight jacket. I just wanted to get people you cared for out of the way. Since I was a child I hated you. Mum and dad favored you, and I hated you. Then I got even less. I got shoved off to a boys' school until I was 18, and you were told I was dead. What a laugh. Since I was 18 I've been keeping a trail on you. JD: Does this mean I'm not crazy? Jackson: You're crazy. Just not totally crazy. A lot of it you don't remember because you shut it out. I hope you remember. Dr. Meraou: This is amazing. Everything is so obvious to me now. This man can be treated. Det. Lacey: Which one? Dr. Meraou: JD. I can understand his other faces now. Tyson represents built up anger. Tyson is also like a replacement brother. When JD was told that Jackson was dead, he slowly developed another personality which was Tyson. Tyson was cruel and nasty like his brother. Det. Lacey: What about when he was crying in a ball, calling himself Jamie? Doctor Meraou: JD, were you happy as a little child? JD: I was happy until I was about 12, then Jackson began getting jealous. He would always attack me. He would try to make me deformed. Once when I was taking driving lessons, he cut the brakes. Another time, when we were younger, Jackson wanted me to have an accident in science class. Things were like that. Then I was traumatized when I thought that Jackson died when we were 16. Dr. Meraou: That's easily explained. JD developed Jamie's personality as a feedback type thing. It would make him remissness about how he was very small and happy. Det. Lacey: But did JD stab Veronica? Jackson: How weird can you get Det.? I don't respect your IQ. I stabbed her. I've been following JD since I was 18. I don't want anyone to care for him ever. And I don't care that I'm caught. Det. Lacey: But you can't release JD, he'll become his alter egos and go nuts. Dr. Meraou: No Det. Containing him here, could just make him worse. If he is not under stress, the other personalities will go, provided he undergoes therapy for a year. JD: Does this mean I'm released? Dr. Meraou: Well Ill release you from hospital, but I don't know if the police will keep you in custody or not? Det. Lacey: I don't see why. We have a confession. [They undo the straight jacket releasing JD. He immediately runs to the other end of the hospital to see Veronica. He goes into her room, and talks to her.] JD: Veronica are you okay? Doctor: She's in a coma, she can't hear you. But talk anyway. JD: Please come out of it. I meant what I said. I love you. Please. Come out of it. I love you more than words can say. I love you more than there are grains of sand in the earth. [He grabs her hand and holds it. She squeezes back. She opens her eyes.] Veronica: JD? JD: Veronica. Thank goodness you're alright! Veronica: Oh JD, I love you so much. Please don't go. Did you really mean what you said? Do you love me? JD: I love you more than anything! Veronica: I'm so happy. Doctor: I didn't think the wound was bad enough for a long coma. JD: Why did you worry me so much? Veronica: Are you okay? Who stabbed me? JD: My twin brother Veronica: WHAT! JD: I'll explain the details later. He didn't want me to care for anyone, and I thought I was crazy. I'm going to book into therapy though. Everything will be fine. Veronica: I'm so glad Scene eighteen: 6 months later, after the trial of Jackson. Outside the court house, reporters are everywhere, Jackson has been sentenced to 5 years in jail for attempted murder. Veronica and JD are outside. Watching. Reporter 1: How do you feel now that all of the trial is behind you? Jackson: Like the law is silly, I mean, she's not dead. What's the harm? I didn't do it. Reporter 2: They say you confessed in front of witnesses. Jackson: What would witnesses know? Reporter 1: Do you think that five years was too harsh? Jackson: Well what do you think? [Reporters run up to JD.] Reporter 1: How do you feel about the verdict? JD: I'm just glad it's over, and I hope my brother will turn over a new leaf. Reporter 3: Do you have any grudges? JD: No I don't, my brother is my brother, and if he is sorry, I forgive him. Reporter 4: What about you Veronica? How do you feel about the verdict? Veronica: Well, I don't know what to feel. I didn't like the feeling of my stab wound. But then, I'm not the judge. It was 6 months ago. I don't know if I could have died. I'm just glad JD and I are alright though. I didn't die. I'm just relieved it's over. Reporter 5: Is that all? Are you two going to get married? Veronica: Well, I think we'll just keep that to ourselves JD: One thing I will say, is that I'm very happy with Veronica, and there is nobody I would rather be with ever. I've grown a lot because of knowing her. Reporter 4: What do you have to say to your brother? JD: I forgive you, and I hope Veronica will too. Veronica: I forgive him. JD: I'm glad that this is behind us. I'm upset that it happened. But I'm glad it's over. My brother is still my brother. Jackson: Am I? JD: What do you mean? Jackson: I'm saying this you son of a motherless rodent!!! [He draws his gun and fires at JD.] Jackson: You're still getting all of the attention! [BANG BANG. JD goes down. The police fire at Jackson. Jackson goes down The reporters run, and continue filming. Veronica stands there in horror, then she drops to the ground, and grabs JD.] Veronica: aaaaaaaaaaah! [She cries out in a blood-curdling scream. She grabs JD and hugs him in her arms.] Veronica: Please come around! No! No! This can't be happening! I love you so much! [The crowd watches in horror.] [One of the PCs calls for backup, and an ambulance. Sirens are sounding everywhere.] [JD slowly opens his eyes. He looks into her eyes. And gets a piece of paper out of his pocket.] Veronica: What's this? JD: I never let go of it. He hands her the paper, and she looks at it. JD: Please read it to me, read it to me. It's the nicest thing, I've ever read. [Veronica looks at the paper, then looks at JD sobbing, he nods, and she begins to read.] Veronica: I try to show I like you, you seem unaware, JD: I'm aware, and I was then too. Veronica: Sometimes when I smile you don't seem to care, JD: I care more than you know. Veronica: You sometimes overlook me, as if I'm not around. JD: I always knew you were there though. Veronica: Then go confusing me by doing the opposite, JD: Well, that was me then, now I'm gonna let you know I loved you the whole time. Even though I might not have showed it. Veronica: Fearing you mightn't reciprocate a friendly act I do, JD: I'm reciprocating now as best I can Veronica: I only wish you'd notice me the way I notice you, JD: I noticed you the day I met you. I have always noticed you, perhaps more than you ever noticed me. Veronica: Don't say that, I love you. JD: I love you too. [His voice gets weaker, as he lies dying The police check Jackson's body. He is dead.] JD: These have been the best 6 months of my life. [Veronica hugs him sobbing.] JD: Don't cry, be happy knowing that I died happy because of you. [Veronica leans down and kisses him on the forehead.] JD: Such a sweet memory for a man to die with. [His head drops.] Veronica: Aaaaaah, no JD!!!!! [She sobs and sobs holding his body close to her. She screams out in pain.] [The reporters just look, filming. The ambulance arrives. It's too late. The two boys are dead.] [The end.]