Miscarriage of Justice

A Play by Terrence C. Stewart

Characters

IAN EDWARDS:

A thirty-seven year old man, kind hearted, caring, and rational.

CHRISTINE EDWARDS:

IAN's eighteen-year old daughter he never had. Bitter at her parents for not having her.

BRISBY:

IAN's post-mortem lawyer. Acts as a kind-hearted interpreter for IAN.

SUSAN:

IAN's girlfriend who became his wife. Unsure of herself.

VOICE:

Someone. Must decide if IAN is a murderer. Heard only as a booming offstage voice.

Original Cast and Crew:

(As performed for Bayridge Secondary School's entry in the 1994 South-Eastern Ontario Sears Drama Festival in Perth, Ontario)

Ian Edwards:

Dan Wright

Christine:

Kristina Llewellyn

Brisby:

Darren Coffin

Susan:

Angie Thompson

Voice:

Jason Murduck

Directors:

Terry Stewart and Jason Murduck

Lighting and Sound:

Jason Murduck

Stage Manager:

Terry Stewart

BRISBY:

Psst! Over here! [pause as nothing happens] Ian, wake up! [pause] Wake up, Ian!

[IAN's eyes flicker open]

IAN:

W-What? [looks around] Where am I?

BRISBY:

[impatiently] Come on over here.

[IAN stands up slowly, and seems very unsure of what is happening. He slowly walks towards BRISBY, looking around every now and then.]

IAN:

W-W-What ha-happened? Who are you?

BRISBY:

[smiling to himself] I love the newly dead. They're so naive. [to IAN] I'm Brisby, and I'll be representing you. [motions for IAN to sit down, sits down himself, opens the briefcase, and leafs through the papers for the rest of the scene.]

IAN:

[confused] This place. . . it's so dark. [he shakes his head]

BRISBY:

It is kind of morbid, but then again, you're dead.

IAN:

Dead?!?

BRISBY:

You heard me. . . don't you remember the hospital?

IAN:

What is this place? Where am I?

BRISBY:

[hesitantly] Well Ian, you're in the middle.

IAN:

The middle of what?

BRISBY:

Well. . . nowhere.

IAN:

Is this heaven?

BRISBY:

[chuckling to himself] Does this look like heaven?

IAN:

Well, um, I suppose not. . . [realizing where he may be] You mean I'm in -- [drifts off]

BRISBY:

[still laughing a little] Do you see fire or brimstone? No. . . we're not down there either.

IAN:

But. . . why am I here? Why haven't I been sent Up or Down. . . like normal?

BRISBY:

Well, it's not that simple, Ian. You see, in some cases, we really aren't all that sure which way to send people. You know how it is; record keeping is such a bother. It's hard enough with ordinary cases, and sometimes. . . there are other cases where we really have to take a close look at the situation and, um, interview you in order to make a decision. Your situation is one of those. Now, my job is to get you prepared for the process. Unfortunately, we're running a little bit late and --

VOICE:

[booming officiously from offstage] BRISBY! Is the client ready!

BRISBY:

[in a mild panic] Yes, your Honour, of course he's ready, but -- Stand up, Ian!

VOICE:

Good. Ian Rigel Edwards, you are hereby charged that you did, on the twentieth day of November, in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy Six, commit the act of murder and are thus unsuitable for permanent residence in the districts above. How do you plead?

IAN:

[very confused] Wh-What? I never --

BRISBY:

Not Guilty, your Honour.

VOICE:

Then you shall be required to prove so in a court of ethics. You may call your first witness.

BRISBY:

Um, my client has not yet had the opportunity to select his first witness. I request a recess so that this oversight may be repaired.

VOICE:

A recess is granted. Court shall reconvene one hour hence. Court is adjourned. [crack of a gavel]

IAN:

Murder? What was that all about? I never killed anyone, I don't think I ever even hurt anyone. What was he talking about?

BRISBY:

You tell me, Ian. What happened almost nineteen years ago?

IAN:

What do you mean, what happened? I was. . . eighteen and. . . going to high school. . . Susan and I were going out. . . [a scared look of realization comes over his face] Oh my God. . .

CHRISTINE:

[from offstage, and very venomously] I suppose it's too much to ask for you to remember?

IAN:

[scared] Brisby, who was that?

CHRISTINE:

[wearing white and black, entering out of the darkness behind IAN, staring directly at him, and with as much hatred and sarcasm as possible] Hello Daddy.

IAN:

[turns to see CHRISTINE, and steps back away from her] No. No, there must be some mistake. You. . . you were never born!

CHRISTINE:

You got that right. [to BRISBY] See? He admits it. What more can you need?

BRISBY:

I was hoping we could hear his side of the story.

CHRISTINE:

We've been over this before. What does his side of the story matter? There is no good reason for murder.

BRISBY:

I told you, we've got to do this according to the Law. He's entitled to a fair trial, and for a fair trial we have to hear both sides.

CHRISTINE:

We both know he's guilty, and for that he deserves to be punished.

BRISBY:

And he will be punished, if he's found guilty. . . but only if the court finds him guilty. It's the way the system works.

CHRISTINE:

Damn the system! I've seen you slip people through loopholes before, but not this time. Why do you defend people whom you know are guilty?

BRISBY:

But I never know, not for certain. All I have to go on is your word.

CHRISTINE:

[sharply] You think I'm lying!?

BRISBY:

No, I'm not saying that. What I mean is. . . well, maybe your emotions are getting in the way. Maybe they're clouding your judgement, making you overreact.

CHRISTINE:

Overreact? Do you realize what he's done to me? The pain he's caused? You're damn right I'm being emotional. How can you defend someone like him?

BRISBY:

It's my job.

CHRISTINE:

You're putting your job before your ethics? I thought this court was based on ethics.

BRISBY:

I'm not putting it before my ethics. My job is my ethics. That's why I've got it. I believe in forgiveness. I believe that everyone deserves a second chance.

CHRISTINE:

Even murderers? How can you forgive so easily?

BRISBY:

As long as they truly wish to reform, I can. Maybe in time you'll learn to forgive.

CHRISTINE:

What right do you have to decide who deserves a second chance and who doesn't?

BRISBY:

I could ask you the same of your right to decide on the guilt of your father.

CHRISTINE:

I have every right!

IAN:

[in a panic] STOP! Stop this! What are you talking about? I. . . I don't believe this is happening. This isn't real. [pointing to BRISBY] You're not real. [pointing to CHRISTINE] And you. . . you are not real!

CHRISTINE:

Oh, I am very real.

IAN:

No this has to be a nightmare. That's it, a nightmare. I'm lying in bed. . . beside Susan. . . I have to get up in the morning and go to work. . . my alarm will ring any second now. . . I'll wake up and this will all be over. . . [starts pinching himself to wake himself up] Wake up, Ian, wake up Ian, WAKE UP! [clenches his eyes shut, tenses his body, then slowly opens them] This is impossible. I have to be dreaming. You're not ALIVE!!!

CHRISTINE:

That's because you killed me. You killed me you... bastard.

IAN:

[VERY defensive] That's not true! [calming] I just. . . Susan and I. . . we were just too young. [BRISBY starts walking slowly off stage] We made a mistake, and we didn't know what to do. [pause as IAN is lost in memory] I remember the night she told me, she looked so. . . vulnerable. [SUSAN enters stage right, dressed in a light coloured dress, and sits on the couch.] I was just sitting there, [IAN joins SUSAN on the couch and puts his arm around her] and she turns to me and says --

SUSAN:

[timidly as CHRISTINE steps away from the scene] Ian? There's something I have to tell you...

IAN:

What's wrong?

SUSAN:

[hesitantly] I'm. . . that is, we're. . .

IAN:

Susan, it's okay, you can tell me anything.

SUSAN:

We're. . . pregnant.

IAN:

[stunned pause] What?

SUSAN:

[looking a little scared] I'm pregnant, Ian.

IAN:

Pregnant? [pause] How did you find out?

SUSAN:

I. . . I went to the doctor's a couple of days ago, and. . . had some tests. . . I got them back today, and --

IAN:

A couple of days ago? But, but, Susan, why didn't you tell me sooner?

SUSAN:

I didn't want to tell you until I was sure. . .

IAN:

[still stunned] Pregnant?

SUSAN:

I know it's unexpected, but you said you loved me and --

IAN:

Susan, I do love you, but this is so. . . sudden. Susan, I'm not prepared for this.

SUSAN:

I'm not prepared for this either, but it happened and there's nothing we can do about it.

[short pause]

IAN:

[looking at her torso] How far are you?

SUSAN:

Only three weeks.

IAN:

[in a mild panic] Only three weeks? Good, then. . . then it's not too late. . . we don't have to panic. . . there's nothing to worry about. . . We could go to the doctor's, or. . . or see a specialist --

SUSAN:

[horrified] Ian! What are you talking about?

IAN:

I just meant that. . . that we should talk about it a little and explore our options.

SUSAN:

[unsure and a little scared] Options?

IAN:

Susan, this is. . . it's a big step. You know, do we keep it, or adoption, or. . .

SUSAN:

[in realization] Abortion. . .

IAN:

[matter of factly] Abortion. Think how much a baby will change things.

SUSAN:

[defensively] Change what?

IAN:

Susan, we're both still in high school, there's college to think about, and our parents. . . [pause] do they know?

SUSAN:

No. I wanted to tell you first.

IAN:

[decisively] What would it matter if they did? We're old enough, so it doesn't matter. We can make our own decisions. Everything's going to be fine. . . It's all going to work out.

SUSAN:

Oh Ian, we're going to spend the rest of our lives together!

IAN:

[unsure] Yes, I know, but. . . Susan, let's. . . let's take this one step at a time. [pause] I'm scared Susan, I don't know what we should do.

[IAN and SUSAN slowly hold each other]

SUSAN:

[slowly] Ian, do you want this baby?

[pause for a moment, and lights dim. SUSAN slips behind the couch and IAN does not move. Lights brighten to original intensity.]

CHRISTINE:

[stepping back towards the couch] Do you want me to remind you of what you said?

IAN:

That's not necessary. [IAN gets up to face CHRISTINE.] Susan and I. . . we just weren't ready.

CHRISTINE:

Not ready? Well you should have thought of that before you called me into the world. You just didn't care about me at all, did you?

IAN:

Of course I did, I. . . I. . . For God's sake, I didn't even know you existed!

CHRISTINE:

So you're claiming ignorance? After selfishly killing me? After convincing Susan to have herself pried open for something you didn't want? You're not getting off that easy. Do you have any idea what I went through while you were out there living? [IAN seems flustered and at a loss for words] I'll tell you then. [very angrily while slowly walking towards IAN, who slowly backs up] I'll tell you what happens to people who die before they're born, whose parents have completely rejected them. I grew up here, father, right here, in the literal middle of nowhere. I had no friends, no family, no nothing. They couldn't send me anywhere because I hadn't done anything. All I could do was stay here and watch as you and Susan lived out your life without a second thought to me. I watched you get married and have more kids, my brothers and sisters. [breaking down] You taunted me with that, you threw in my face the fact that you could have had me, it wouldn't have made any difference, you could have had me and I could have been with you and I could have lived! [CHRISTINE is nearing tears, and suddenly turns around, facing away from IAN. IAN pauses, then moves slowly towards her and reaches for her to comfort her.]

CHRISTINE:

[before he touches her] Go away.

IAN:

[stops and withdraws his hand] I can't. [long pause] All I can say is. . . I'm truly sorry.

CHRISTINE:

[depressed and sarcastic] Oh great, now everything's all better.

IAN:

[pause] If I only knew. . .

CHRISTINE:

[turning around] Well what did you think I was, just some mindless. . . thing?

IAN:

No. I just. . . I guess I just didn't think about it.

CHRISTINE:

But why? Why didn't you even try?

IAN:

Why? Because I was scared. I was so scared I couldn't move. The moment Susan told me I was paralysed with fear. Not just fear for myself and not just for Susan. . . but for you. . .for that baby, that little helpless human being growing inside of my girlfriend. It wasn't fair and it was cruel. [pause] Tell me, what kind of father could I have been for you? In high school I couldn't take care of myself and then the next thing I know I'm being told I have to take care of a baby, and that the girl I love will have to give up her studies and dreams to care for that baby. [pause] We couldn't do that, we couldn't handle the responsibility. I've seen it so many times. . . Young families, they just don't work. And don't. . . don't think for one second we didn't love you. A part of me wanted to keep you more than anything else in the world, but. . . we didn't want to force you into a miserable life. [pause] It was just too complicated. We were too young. We had dreams. . . you know what that's like!

CHRISTINE:

No. I've never had dreams.

IAN:

Never?

[pause]

CHRISTINE:

Never.

IAN:

[hurt and defensive and losing his temper] Well maybe I wasn't ready. Maybe I didn't know what was best, maybe I. . . maybe I did the only thing I could. If I had known, then maybe things would be different, but. . . I didn't know!

[silence]

IAN:

I'm. . . I'm sorry. I know it doesn't mean anything to you, but I am.

[silence]

IAN:

[carefully] I know now. I'm here now. I know I can't change everything, but. . . can I try? I. . . I'd like to get to know you. I didn't think about you often, but every now and then I'd wonder. I'd look down on your brothers and sisters and wonder what you would have been like. I. . . I never thought I'd get the chance. [pause] I'm glad I did, if that means anything.

[silence]

IAN:

You're a lot like your mother, you know. You're holding a lot inside. Most people would probably be trying to kill me right now.

CHRISTINE:

I would, but that wouldn't do any good here.

IAN:

True.

[pause]

IAN:

You never did tell me your name.

CHRISTINE:

I don't have one.

[slight pause]

VOICE:

[calling loudly and suddenly from offstage] The recess in now over. Defense will now call its first witness.

[BRISBY comes running on stage left.]

BRISBY:

What? That's not an hour already is it? [starts frantically shuffling through the papers his briefcase] Ian, [running over to him with paper in his hands, and grabbing him by the shirt] Ian, who are you going call for your first witness?

IAN:

[staring back at CHRISTINE] No one.

BRISBY:

[hurried] Okay. Defense calls. . . [realizing and dropping the papers] No one? Are you nuts? This isn't some parking ticket, you know.

IAN:

Shut up, Brisby.

BRISBY:

Look, I'll stall for some more time, we'll get a recess, and --

IAN:

Shut up, Brisby!

BRISBY:

Don't you understand? They're going to send you Down for the rest of eternity! You know, fire and brimstone, [starts acting out his words] and little demons with pitchforks and pointy horns and little beady eyes and --

VOICE:

BRISBY!!!

BRISBY:

[freezing in a silly crouched demon stance with his fingers pointing up as little horns, and turning to look up at the voice] What? [realizing how stupid he looks and lowering his fingers] Oh.

VOICE:

Does the Defense rest its case?

BRISBY:

I. . . guess so, your Honour. [goes back to his chair and sits down]

VOICE:

Then I can see no other alternative than to find you, Ian Edwards, guilty as charged, of the planned murder of a living being; unless the plaintiff withdraws the charges.

IAN:

[looking up suddenly] Plaintiff?

VOICE:

The victim.

[IAN turns around to look at CHRISTINE, who is staring away from him with a completely blank face.]

IAN:

[quietly, stunned] You. . . ?

[CHRISTINE starts to show signs of confusion, of a desperate struggle for words going on inside her head. She tenses up, and struggles to stay quiet. Spot light focuses on her.]

VOICE:

Do you wish to condemn Ian Edwards, your father, into Darkness forever?

[still struggling, CHRISTINE slowly turns to look at IAN.]

CHRISTINE:

[abruptly] No! [she puts her head on her hands] No.

VOICE:

Then there is nothing more for me to do. Ian Edwards, you are free to ascend to the upper rewards as soon as you are ready.

[BRISBY looks around in wonder, as if he doesn't believe what happened, and then leaves with his briefcase. IAN seems exhausted, but turns to look at CHRISTINE]

IAN:

Thank-you. [pause as IAN receives no response from CHRISTINE] Why did you do that?

CHRISTINE:

[after a lot of stumbling for words, slowly turns back to look at him] Because I can't pretend that you aren't my father and I can't ignore the fact that you seem to care. I. . . I really don't know what it means to care. . . I've never had anyone in my life. . . or death. For the last eighteen years, all I've thought about is revenge. I wanted to punish you. . . and now I don't think I can do it. I. . . I can't forgive you for what you did. . . but I can, in some way, understand it. A little. [pause] I. . . I'm not sure you know what I've been through. . . how I've felt, how I am feeling, how I want to feel. I know I'll never have an ordinary life, but all I want right now is to be. . . at peace. [pause, then CHRISTINE suddenly pulls herself together] You should go now. Go. Go! Get out of here. Don't let me keep you waiting. Just go! [IAN makes no move to leave]

IAN:

Will I see you again?

CHRISTINE:

I don't know. I have to wait for Susan now. They say they won't judge me until the two of you are dealt with. I'm stuck here. It doesn't matter. I'm used to it. [pause] Go. Go! Go, please!

IAN:

I'm. . . I'm sorry. [pause] I'll. . . I'll miss you.

[pause. IAN turns to go, and CHRISTINE sits down on the couch. IAN walks slowly away, then stops near the edge of the stage. He turns back to face CHRISTINE]

IAN:

It doesn't have to be like this. I don't have to go.

CHRISTINE:

[startledly hopeful] What?

IAN:

[while heading over to the couch and sitting down] They said I could go when I'm ready. Well, what if I'm not ready yet? What if I want to spend some time with the daughter I never had? For the last nineteen years I've wondered. . . what happened to that baby. I never thought I'd get a chance to. . . see you. Now I've got that chance and I'd like to. . . get to know you. I never dreamed I'd get a second chance. [slight pause] Could. . . could I stay. . . say, until your mother gets here?

CHRISTINE:

You'd. . . you'd do that?

IAN:

I think it's the least I could do. . . Christine.

[pause as CHRISTINE looks confused and maybe a little hopeful]

CHRISTINE:

[hesitantly] Christine?

IAN:

I. . . would have named you Christine. . . It's your mother's middle name. . .

[pause as they both look at each other.]

CHRISTINE:

Thank-you. . .

[slight pause, and IAN gently reaches out to touch her. CHRISTINE slowly looks down at his hand. Lights fade to black.]