A beginning

by neko

[A small stage shows a dimly lit alley in a poor neighbourhood. At the mouth of the alley, the only entrance, is a streetlight, flickering occasionally. The other end of the alley, stage right, is fenced and dark. It is late, with no cars or people on the street.

Offstage can be heard running footsteps: Matthew followed by four others. All are breathing heavily, audibly.]

James [offstage]: Over here!

Mark [offstage]: You can't get away, fag!

Luke [offstage]: You may as well make it easy on yourself!

John [offstage]: You're gonna suffer enough!

[Matthew's breathing and footsteps grow louder and closer before he stumbles in upstage left and presses back against the wall to catch his breath.]

James [offstage]: Here!

[Matthew tenses for flight again, but before he can move James enters at a run and catches him.]

Matthew: [struggling] Let go of me! Get away!

James: Oh, no, I don't think so. [He calls out.] In here! I've got him!

[Mark, Luke and John enter, running.]

Mark: Well, what have we here?

John: Are you lost, little boy?

James: Maybe we can help him find his way. [He pushes Matthew to John.]

John: [catches Matthew, then addresses him] What do you say? Would you like a hand? [He pushes Matthew to Mark.]

Mark: [catches Matthew] Maybe he's a stray. We could take care of him. [He pushes Matthew to Luke.]

Luke: [catches Matthew] All lost puppies need to be taken home. [He pushes Matthew to James.]

James: [catches Matthew] We'll return him to his owner later, but I want to play with him first. [He pets Matthew condescendingly.] Isn't he pretty? Such fur . . . [He grabs Matthew's hair and pulls his head up.] And look! There's no collar!

Matthew: [struggling] Let me go! [He lashes out and scratches James's cheek.]

James: [pushes Matthew away and to the ground] You bitch! [He puts a hand to his bleeding cheek, pulls it away and looks at it. He grins.] Playtime's over, sweetheart.

[Matthew gets up quickly and runs to the alley mouth. Mark and John catch him.]

Mark: You can't leave now. The fun's only just started.

Matthew: Let go of me! Why are you doing this?

James: [slaps Matthew] Because, you little shit, you and your brother have caused enough problems for me already. It's time you freaks learned your place.

Matthew: And what's that - on my knees? You'd like that.

James: Shut up! [He punches him.]

Matthew: Coward. [He spits blood at him.]

James: What did you say? [He grabs Matthew's shirt collar.]

Matthew: You're a coward. You know you can't beat my brother, so you pick on me. Four on one, even -

John: Hey.

Mark: We're just here.

Matthew: Cowards!

James: Shut up! [He begins to hit Matthew who attempts to block and hit back. Taking hold of Matthew's wrists, he tears off Matthew's shirt and uses it to bind them.]

Matthew: Coward!

James: Shut up!

[James throws Matthew to the ground stage right. Matthew lands on his back and skids painfully through rocks and broken glass. James kneels over his legs and takes out a knife.]

Luke: Wait -

John: [sharply] Shut up, Luke.

James: I think we should leave something for dear Michael.

Luke: This isn't right.

Mark: Would you prefer it be you?

[Luke subsides.]

James: You wanted to talk, pretty boy? Then cry for me. Go on. Scream for help, little Lucifer. Scream for your angel to save you.

[He cuts a four-line grid into Matthew's stomach. Matthew tries and fails to remain quiet.]

Matthew: [crying] Stop, stop! Please -

James: [dips his finger in the blood] You want to play, Mark? [He carefully draws a red X in a corner square of his tic-tac-toe board.]

Mark: Sure.

[Mark kneels next to Matthew and draws an O in the centre square. They play. John watches. Matthew flinches at each touch, crying still. Luke turns away, looking nauseated. At the end of the game, James wipes a hand across Matthew's stomach to clear it, making him scream in new pain. At this, running footsteps are heard offstage before Michael enters.]

Michael: Matthew! [He sees his brother and leaps at James and Mark, punching and kicking.] Get off of him! What have you done to my brother?

[With the element of surprise, Michael quickly overwhelms and knocks out James and Mark. He does the same to John and then to Luke, who does not defend himself. Near-crazed, he returns to James, still striking, until Matthew speaks.]

Matthew: Michael, stop. Enough.

Michael: [kneels beside him, looking from Matthew's stomach to his face] I'm sorry - [He carefully unties Matthew's wrists.]

Matthew: [shaking his head] It's over. Take me home.

[Michael helps Matthew to stand, then takes off his own shirt and puts it on his brother, blood soaking through. They exit.]

[The streetlight and stage lights go out.]

End