Drama extract:

"A Stranger in the House - Jade's Story"

Commissioned by Gwent Theatre and Childnet International July 2001. Revised November 2001. © November 2001 Erica Eirian.

THE BEGINNING:

THE PLACE: THE SCHOOL HALL.
THE TIME: THE HERE AND NOW.

ROWS OF EMPTY CHAIRS ARE ARRANGED IN A SEMI CIRCLE.
A LARGE SCREEN IS PLACED USC DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF WHICH IS A SMALL, LOW TABLE.
ON THE TABLE IS A CD/MD PLAYER. 2 SPEAKERS ARE PLACED USR AND USL.
A CHAIR IS SET SL OF THE TABLE AND TWO MORE CHAIRS ARE PLACED ON 2 SMALL RUGS - ONE USL, ONE DSR.
THE USL CHAIR IS PLACED BEHIND A LARGE TABLE ON WHICH THERE IS A LAPTOP AND A PROJECTOR.
A TOOLBOX AND A FEW CDs ARE PLACED BESIDE THE DSR CHAIR.

MUSIC CUE 1: MUSIC PLAYS (EDDY GRANT: "ELECTRIC AVENUE") AS THE AUDIENCE ENTER AND ARE SEATED BY THE THREE ACTORS WHO ARE IN CHARACTER - STUART AND HIS DAUGHTER JADE AND THEIR FRIEND ALEX.

MUSIC CUE 2: WHEN EVERYONE IS SEATED ALEX SWITCHES OFF THE MUSIC AND ADDRESSES THE AUDIENCE. HE AND JADE ARE COMPLETELY AT EASE WITH THE AUDIENCE. HOWEVER, STUART IS UNACCUSTOMED TO SPEAKING TO SO MANY CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND SMILES FREQUENTLY AS HE SPEAKS, HIS WORDS PUNCTUATED EVERY SO OFTEN WITH A NERVOUS LITTLE LAUGH. THE THREE STAND DSC

STUART:	(SMILING ENTHUSIASTICALLY AT THE AUDIENCE - REFERRING TO THE SILENCE AFTER ALEX HAS SWITCHED OFF THE MUSIC) That's better! What a racket eh? Can hear myself think now. (HE PLACES A PROTECTIVE ARM AROUND HIS DAUGHTER AS MUCH TO COMFORT HIMSELF AS HER AND CONTINUES TO SMILE NERVOUSLY)
ALEX:	(TAKING CHARGE OF THE SITUATION) Good morning. My name's Alex and this is Stuart -
STUART:	Good morning.
ALEX:	- and Jade.
JADE:	(SMILING) Hia.
ALEX:	Stuart is Jade's Dad -
STUART:	I'm Jade's Dad - my name's Stuart.
	JADE AND ALEX BOTH LOOK AT HIM.
STUART:	What?
JADE:	(KINDLY)They know that Dad.
STUART:	So they do so they do.
ALEX:	Think of me as a friend of the family.
JADE:	Here to help.
STUART:	Alex is here to help.
ALEX:	Jade's 14
JADE:	Almost 15.
STUART:	Almost 15 - but not quite.
JADE:	Guess how old my Dad is?
STUART:	Jade! (TO AUDIENCE) I'm 39 actually.
JADE:	Almost 40!
STUART:	Almost 40 - but not quite. In fact - most people think I'm a lot younger. (HE BEAMS AT THE AUDIENCE AND WAITS EXPECTANTLY FOR A RESPONSE)
ALEX:	Anyway - we haven't got a lot of time so we better get on.
STUART:	It must be something to do with our genes - looking young runs in the family.
ALEX:	We've come here this morning because Stuart and Jade have a story to tell you.
JADE:	About something that happened to me.
ALEX:	About something that happened to Jade.
STUART:	Something we hope never happens to any of you.
ALEX:	Now - every story has a beginning. (TO STUART) Where does Jade's story begin?
STUART:	With a word. For me it begins with hearing a single word.
	JADE MOVES US TO SIT BESIDE THE CD/MD PLAYER. ALEX REMAINS WITH STUART.
STUART:	It's almost 5 o'clock.
ALEX:	When?
STUART:	One Saturday afternoon.
ALEX:	What are you doing?
STUART:	Working - doing a spot of overtime and -
ALEX:	And?
STUART:	- my boss, my new boss, says there's a phone call for me.
ALEX:	"A call for you Stuart - you better take it - it's the police".
STUART:	"Police". For me Jade's story begins with hearing a single word. "Police".
SCENE ONE	SOUND CUE 1 (VO) - JADE SWITCHES ON THE SOUND.STUART SITS ON THE DSR CHAIR AND REPLAYS IN HIS MIND SNATCHES OF A REMEMBERED PHONE CONVERSATION. ALEX WATCHES.
POLICEMAN:	Mr Sweet?
STUART:	(IN RESPONSE TO THE VOICE) Speaking.
POLICEMAN:	Mr Sweet this is Sergeant Fenn. We have your daughter here - Jade Sweet.
STUART:	Jade? Why? I don't understand.
POLICEMAN:	She's unharmed Mr Sweet. She's not in trouble, she's done nothing wrong but she is very distressed."
	SOUND CUE 2 (END VO) - JADE SWITCHES OFF THE SOUND
STUART:	(STUART BECOMES INCREASINGLY DISTRESSED HIMSELF AS HE TRIES TO MAKE SENSE OF THE POLICEMAN'S WORDS) "We have your daughter here - Jade Sweet. She's unharmed Mr Sweet. She's not in trouble, she's done nothing wrong but she is very distressed." My daughter? My daughter?
ALEX:	Your daughter. Jade Sweet.
STUART:	She's very distressed.
JADE:	(COMING FORWARD AND PLACING A COMFORTING ARM AROUND HER FATHER) But unharmed Dad - "she's unharmed Mr Sweet". Remember Dad? Unharmed. Remember?
STUART:	(SMILING WITH RELIEF HE TAKES HER HAND) Unharmed.
ALEX:	(TO JADE) And where does the story begin for you?
JADE:	With two words. For me it begins with two words. It's about 4.30.
ALEX:	About 4.30?
JADE:	After school anyway.
ALEX:	Where are you?
JADE:	At home - our old home - with Dee.
STUART:	(TO ALEX) You have to be Dee.
	STUART FETCHES A CARDIGAN AND HAT FROM THE USL CHAIR.
ALEX:	I know. (TO AUDIENCE) I have to be Dee. Dee is Jade's friend. Dee is also 14.
JADE:	Almost 15 -
	JADE FETCHES THE USL CHAIR AND PLACES IT NEXT TO THE DRS CHAIR
ALEX:	(TO AUDIENCE) But not quite and you should also know -
STUART:	(TO AUDIENCE AS HE HELPS ALEX INTO A CARDIGAN AND HAT) That Dee is a girl! Now - try not to laugh - it has to be done if you're to get the full story.
	STUART SITS ON THE USC CHAIR. "DEE" AND JADE SIT SIDE BY SIDE DSR.