The last second counts

A play in one Act

By Suzette Drake

I've recently decided to write a few more scenes for this play. They are not posted yet, but I'll make note when they have been. Enjoy! The characters:

Hotaru……..a girl, about 19 years old, stylish. She is the popular girl that everyone wants to have as a friend. She is also very put outside of the group (in her own mind) by an event that happened in the past. Though she has always been outgoing she has also always kept to herself.

Bryan……….a boy, about the same age as Hataru or older, they are friends. He is the nice, but “just part of the gang” type of friend. His personality is that of a happy, drunken teddy-bear.

A.J. …………a boy, another friend of Hataru, and of Bryan, about the same age or older. He is a closer friend of Hataru’s. He is kind and serious. He often worries about Hataru. A.J. has always understood the way in which Hataru has always kept to herself. He is sometimes the only person Hataru will chance sharing something personal with.

Group.………a goup of ten to twenty boys and girls, very energetic and excited. Party people.



“Hotaru: here’s another year past.”

1

The scene opens with Hataru in bed, reluctant to get out. It is day.

(the phone rings next to her bed)

Hotaru: Hello? Hey, how are you? Really? No kidding. No. Well, oh, wow it’s already quarter after one. Oh, yeah, that’s tonight isn’t it. Well no, I hadn’t made any plans yet, well nothing concrete. I did promises a few different people that I’d spend midnight with them. I’m not overly worried no. Thing is I haven’t even decided which party I’m going to. I don’t know who’s having the party anyway. Maybe I should just- well since you put it that way- yes, well- I. Tell you what. Let me think it over and I’ll call you back in a few, ok? Great. (She hangs up the phone) sigh.

She moves out of bed, leaving the room in her housecoat.

The lights dim, symbolizing the passage of time.

Hotaru Renters the room with a towel on her head, wearing the housecoat. She looks in her mirror, then turn on her stereo low. She then walks over to her closet door and gazes at her clothes, trying to decide what to wear. She passes her hand over several outfits. She takes a moment to consider. She decides to grab several outfits, and lay them out on her bed. Baffled, she can’t seem to decide.
(the phone rings again)

Hotaru: Hello? Well, actually- it’s just that I- no. No plans yet. (she puts her undergarments on while still keeping the housecoat and maintaining the conversation). Last night was fun, yes. Tonight? Like I said- well it’s just that- well someone already- No I don’t mean it that way. No. you know I- well- Tell you what, I’m just getting dressed right now- I know it’s almost five, but I’m- Could I- I mean- I’ll just have to call you back. No. I didn’t mean- (the caller has hung up on her). Some people. See if I ever get you a Christmas present again. (She hangs up the phone).

She looks again at the clothes that she’s pulled out of her wardrobe.

Hotaru: Now then, what do I want to wear tonight. Can’t wear what I wore last week, no matter how nice it is. (She puts aside one of the outfits) And I need to wear something that would be comfortable all night long. (She puts into the pile aside two more of the outfits) But I do want something that would be easily enough removed. (goes back to the discard pile to pull out one of the outfits for a second chance at consideration). And I want something that is good looking., on me. Hmmm. They all do. This one is tough. I don’t even know where I’m going tonight, I just know that I’ll be going somewhere with lots of people, potential guys. Then again, could get caught at a party where I just end up watching my friends make out, leaving me in the recliner by my lonesome.

Frustrated Hotaru pulls the towel from her head, throwing it across the room into yet another pile of clothes and towels. With this movement she also throws herself on her bed, looking up at the ceiling as if it will give her all the answers.

The phone rings yet again

Hataru: (annoyed) Hello? (A pause. The tone of the scene becomes heavier during the following conversation.) It’s been a long time. Well, I hadn’t thought about him in a while. (Another pause) Why should I be the one? (Pause) It’s just that I don’t think that… It’s been a rough while for a lot of us. Maybe I’ll ask him to the party I’m going to. Well I haven’t decided on which one. (A pause) You’re right. Listen, are you sure that you couldn’t possibly- yeah... I understand but it’s just that… Krissy, where did we all go wrong? (Hataru pulls on a pair of leggings while she pays close attention to the following. She gives out a sigh and bites down on her lip.) I’ll give him a call. Well it will have to be- you’re right. You’re right. It’s the only way to really help about the whole thing. I really need a coffee, that or a shot of whisky. Mind-you that is probably why I’m feeling like this. (She laughs, but without mirth.) I’ll stop by and see him. I will. I promise.

Hataru hangs up the phone.

Hataru: Why tonight?

(The music of the stereo fades up, to the music of a party. The lights fade out.)


2

(Lights are brought up, the music is the same, but through the scene will fade low so dialogue will be heard.)

Hotaru is in a crowd of people at what seems to be a party. She is wearing an outfit that was not even in the pile she had pulled from her closet in the previous scene. It is conservative compared to all those that were previously shown. She’s alone in the crowd, moving as if looking for someone.

Bryan: Rue!!! (He gives Horaru a bear’s hug, lifting her right up off of the ground and spins her around). How are you doing?

Hotaru: Hey Bryan! I’m good, I’m good. I haven’t seen you in so long. (She gives him another hug).

Bryan: Are you here with anyone?

Hotaru: Well, I-

A.J.: (Punches Bryan in the side playfully). Hey little one! (Hugs Hotaru)

Hotaru: A.J. how are things in the world of darkness? I don’t know if I’ve missed any games these past couple of weeks.

A.J.: Well the Juju Zombies are sill coming with force last I remember, we’d just infiltrated the Ed. Centre, and your character was asleep. No, I don’t think you missed any games. You had started screaming and waling about, even though you were still asleep, and you put your six-inch into the computer that Paris was hacking, taking two damage points.

Bryan takes this opportunity to go and mingle off somewhere.

Hotaru: Ok, that’s the last thing that I remember too. You know I don’t get any trauma points for sleep anymore because of that.

A.J.: Yeah, that would suck. How long you been here?

Hotaru: Not long. I just got here actually.

A.J.: I’ve been worried about you Rue. You’ve been gone too long.

Hotaru: I’d hardly call a week a long time. I’ve been away from you guys for longer than that before.

A.J.: Yeah, but that was a long time ago. Is everything all right these days? You haven’t disappeared that way since-

Hotaru: I’d rather not talk about that right now, if that’s alright with you? I’m here tonight to have a good time.

A.J.: Yeah, sure, no problem Rue.

Bryan: Hey guys. Hotaru did you want something to drink? (He hands her a glass of punch).

Hotaru: Thanks Bryan. Say you wouldn’t have seen Lauren around here anywhere?

Bryan: Over that way.

Hotaru: Thanks.

A.J.: I’ll talk with you later, ok? Rue? Hotaru? Ok?

Hotaru: Yeah, we’ll talk later, I promise.

Hotaru went towards the bar instead of looking for her friend some more. Music is played to show the passage of time. A few hours has gone by, and the majority of the party is quite inebriated, especially Hotaru. Hotaru stands centre stage, the music is dulled, made to be muffled, and there is only light on Hotaru. She looks downstage; Lights come up on a young man that only Hotaru sees. The rest of those on stage are frozen. He is holding a gun, and is passing, always downstage, left to right, etc.
The young man stops down centre. His back is to the audience. There is silence as he and Hotaru look at each other. He slumps down, holding his head in his hands. The audience sees the hand holding the gun move from holding his head. It is understood, yet not shown to the audience that the barrel of the gun is in his mouth. The stage lights go out. The lights and the music return, the young man is gone, the party continues as though nothing has happened.

Hotaru: NO! (She drops a glass that she was holding, it breaks. Hotaru slumps down sobbing).

A.J.: Hotaru! (He runs over to cradle her. They are both cut by the broken glass) Hotaru. Hotaru calm down. Hotaru what’s wrong?

Hotaru: I- I just- just can’t stop, can’t stop remembering it. (A.J. holds her and she continues to cry on his shoulder.)

A.J.: It’s alright now Rue. Everything is all right now. It was a long time ago.

Hotaru: No. No, it wasn’t a long time ago. It was this time of year, it was music like this. And I just- it never goes away for long in me.

A.J.: No Hotaru, you have to slow down a bit. Let it go. Let it go. Breathe. Everything will be alright.

Bryan comes over

Bryan: A.J. What’s wrong with Hotaru? Is she sick from having too much to drink?

A.J.: No. She’s just upset.

Bryan: What about?

A.J.: Don’t worry about it. Everything will be fine. Hotaru I’m going to go get you a glass of water.

Horaru: No! (She holds on to him tightly.)

A.J.: Bryan, can you do me a favor? Go get her a glass of water. Ok?

Bryan goes.

Hotaru: I just, I just shouldn’t have come out tonight.
A.J.: Now don’t go saying that. You’re with friends, right?

Hotaru: Yeah but-

A.J.: You’re here with people that care about you, and care about what happens to you.

Hotaru: I cared about what happened to him, but… And I was right there with him!

A.J.: I know you were. I know you were there. But this isn’t there, and then isn’t now. You can’t hide in your room forever.

Hotaru: I know. I know. I’m out tonight aren’t I?

A.J.: That’s a start but it has no meaning if you’re ready to go hide in your own tears when there are so many people here who love you and want to spend time with you.

Bryan returns

Bryan: Here you go. (He hands the water to A.J.)

A.J. takes the water, offering it to Hotaru. She ignores it. A.J. takes a sip for himself and puts the water down.

Hotaru: I was invited to so many parties that night, I just didn’t know which one to go to. I stopped by his house first; to see- to see which party he was going to attend. He’d not returned any calls in so long. I wanted to make sure he wasn’t alone on new years. Oh God. I tried to be there for him A.J. I tried to listen- I tried to comfort him. But in the end... In the end I could not stop him. He thought he was so alone.

A.J.: And now you feel so alone in this grief and guilt. You have to stop. Stop it. End this suffering of his that you carry with you.

Group: Count down to the New Year!

Hotaru: I

Group: Ten!

A.J.: You have to let it go.

Hotaru: It’s just so hard

Group: Nine!

Hotaru: I loved him so much.

Group: Eight!

A.J.: Love him enough to let it go.

Group: Seven!

Hotaru: I could have stopped it!

Group: Six!

A.J.: No you couldn’t have.

Group: Five!

Hotaru: I tired-

A.J.: Your best.

Group: Four!

Hotaru: But it happened anyway.

Group: Three!

A.J.: It wasn’t in your power to stop it!

Group: Two!

Hataru: It was! I could STOP IT ALL!

Everything freezes again, like when Hotaru was seeing the young man shoot himself. The lights are off, except on Hotaru with A.J. The party is frozen. The light come up downstage. The body of the young man is lying there. Hotaru breaks away from A.J. who is holding his frozen pose. Hotaru walks to the body.

Hotaru: I’m sorry David. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop you. I’m so sorry that you felt that way about your life. But I couldn’t stop you in that moment. You were blind to see how much you’d hurt everyone else by this. I’m going to go now David. I’m going to go and leave you here. I’m going to stop thinking of you like this and just remember the joy that you brought instead of all this pain that I’ve been making myself endure because of the choice that you made. It was what you chose, not what I chose. And now I have to make another choice, a choice for me, and for my friends.

There is a black out. Hotaru returns to here pose with A.J. The lights return and the body of the young boy is gone. The scene unfreezes.

Group: One!

A.J. gives Hotaru a New Years kiss on the forehead.

Hotaru: Thank you. It means a lot to me, to have you. It means a lot to have you all as friends who care so much about me. (She returns the kiss)

They stand up and brush themselves off.

A.J.: (Looking at their cuts sustained by Hotaru’s broken glass) Come on. I think we’re done here.

They exit.
Curtain.


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