I DON'T WANNA LIVE ANYMORE
a short play in five scenes and an epilogue
(c) by Josef Kocanda 2001
THE CHARACTERS:
(A) Chris
(B) Lisa, his girl friend - they're together for a long time
(C) Charles, his best friend
all are Teenagers
TIME: the Present
NOTES:
This play is written for teenagers. This text is only a basic text. The
scenes can be expanded, if the producer wishes it to. The text can be
changed, but the meaning must be the same.
THE STAGE:
The stage is mostly empty only a few props are needed.
PROPS:
A bed, chairs, tables and a gun
CHARACTERS:
The characters must be natural. When there's a pause in the text it
also must be on the stage.
COSTUMES:
The actors were normal clothes.
SCENE 1 - CHRIS' ROOM
AT RISE:
Chris and Lisa are sitting on a bed. Both are silent.
LISA
Hey, what's up with you? You're so different the last days! What's up?
CHRIS
The whole thing! It's like that ... I can't stand it! It doesn't work!
I don't want and I can't anymore!
LISA
What do you don't want anymore? Tell me!
CHRIS
Live ... I'm going to kill myself!
LISA
Don't say such things! It's running cold down my back, when you say
such things!
CHRIS
But I can't change it - it doesn't work anymore!
LISA
But why? I always thought ...
CHRIS
I was never lucky! The luck was always with the other people! I didn't
have luck - neither in school nor private! I don't get along with my
parents. Only with you I had luck! You ... (He gives her a kiss.)
You're the only person which loves me!
LISA
I love you! (she gives him also a kiss.) Really!
CHRIS
But I'm going to commit suicide!
LISA
But what about us? I live for you!
CHRIS
You're gonna find another guy ... but my life doesn't mean anything to
me anymore!
LISA
Please don't do it! - Please ...
CHRIS
Everything's planned now. Next week, on sunday at 3 p.m. Then I'm going
to hang myself! And if that doesn't work I have also got a gun - that's
save!
LISA
Chris ... I can't stand it! When you kill yourself, I'm also going to
do it! Without you! What shall I do then?
CHRIS
Continue living, the way you're doing it now! I will be gone of your
memory soon!
LISA
No, not you! You'll always be there - in my memory! I'll always think
of you!
CHRIS
In a few years you wont know, that I lived once!
LISA
Oh yes ... always!
(She kisses him. Both kiss very long. Blackout.)
SCENE 2 - AT A CAF…
AT RISE:
Charles sits at one of the tables and he's drinking a Cappuchino. Lisa
enters the stage and sits next to Charles.
CHARLES
Hello, Lisa! Why do you want to talk with me?
LISA
It's about Chris. He wants to kill himself - suicide!
CHARLES
What? Why?
LISA
He has enough of his life! He wants to do it next Sunday at 3 p.m. -
hanging or shooting himself down!
CHARLES
That's terrible!
LISA: I also said this. We must interfere -
CHARLES
I don't know if this works! I don't think so! He's going to do it
anyway!
LISA
Try? That's the thing we have to do!
CHARLES
I can't believe it! My best friend wants to commit suicide!
LISA
I'm together with him! I don't want to loose him - I love him!
CHARLES
He loves you too!
LISA
I don't know what to do! (She begins to cry.) I don't know!
CHARLES
Calm down! We're going to help him!
LISA
Yes, that's what we're going to do!
(Blackout.)
SCENE 3 - CHRIS' ROOM
AT RISE:
Lisa sits on Chris' bed. Charles and Chris enter.
CHRIS
Here he is!
LISA
Chris, we want to talk with you!
CHRIS
I know why. You can't persuade me! - not now! It's too late - much to
late! Every question is set and every phrase is practised ...
Everything's planned now. I'm going to do it!
LISA
Chris, don't you think of me? I'll suffer without you.
CHARLES
Do think of her! What is she going to do without you?
CHRIS
I think of you, Lisa - every day, every hour, every minute. But I can't
stand it anymore!
LISA
It'll be better - really...
CHRIS
In this particular situation, certainly not!
CHARLES
Don't say such nonsense ( to yourself).
CHRIS
But it is like that! (Pause.) no - no life!
LISA
Don't do it - because you love me...
(Blackout.)
SCENE 4 - LISA'S ROOM
AT RISE:
Lisa and Charles are sitting together.
LISA
It's so difficult for me. I know I'm going to loose a friend and I
can't do anything about it!
CHARLES
Do you think it's easy for me? It's the same thing!
LISA
Do you think, we can still help him?
CHARLES
I don't think so ... there's no way out in this situation - for him and
for us!
LISA
What shall we do! I can't see him dying!
CHARLES
Nothing, nothing. Really nothing. It's his decision and this we should
respect.
LISA
I don't want to loose him!
CHARLES
Who wants that? We've talked to him! It didn't work1
LISA
That's all ... shit!
CHARLES
That's it - shit!
LISA
It is ...
CHARLES
Look, we've tried to help him. It is his decision. We must cope with
it! Certainly, it's difficult, but it's his wish!
LISA
It's his desire!
CHARLES
It is! Yeah...
(Blackout.)
SCENE 5 - CHRIS' ROOM
AT RISE:
Chris and Lisa are lying on the bed and they kiss. Romantic music can
be heard in the background.
LISA
It's so beautiful with you!
CHRIS
Today, it's the last time! Then it's over!
LISA
We're having such a beautiful time together. Do you want to destroy all
that?
CHRIS
I must ... I must.
LISA
Think about it!
CHRIS
I did think about it, day and night. And I say ... (He takes a gun out
of his pocket.) Today is a beautiful day for dying!
LISA
Are you really going to do it?
CHRIS
Yes ...
LISA
Then I'm also going to commit suicide! Without you I don't want to live
anymore!
CHRIS
Live! You have something to live for!
LISA
Without you - not!
(She snatches the gun from him an holds it against her head (temple.).
After a while she shoots. A shot can be heard, Lisa, slumps on the
floor, she's dead.)
CHRIS
What did I do? I killed my girlfriend. I'm a murderer! Then there's
only one thing to do ...
(He takes the gun, and holds it, like Lisa against his head (temple)
and he shoots. He also slumps on the floor.
Blackout.)
EPILOGUE
AT RISE:
The stage is empty. A mourning march can be heard in the background.
Charles, dressed in black, enters. He has a bunch of flowers with him.
Charles goes to the front stage. He puts the flowers on a "grave" and
he stares at the grave. Silence.
CHARLES
It's difficult for me to speak, Lisa and Chris. Why did you do that? I
can't believe it, that you're dead now - both... You were so happy
together. Why did you destroy all that? Chris, why did you want to
commit suicide? I know, you had problems, but you also had friend who
could have helped you. We would have made it. Lisa loved you so much,
she gave everything for you - even her life. (Pause.) Lisa... I can't
understand you... I can't... (Pause.) I can't cry... You were both my
friends... and your both gone. You were the only friends I had - and
you're both dead now. What shall I do without you both? (Pause.) I miss
you... I miss you... I miss you...
Blackout
The End.
10:06 PM
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