SCENE ONE

(PRESENT) (Prison) Narrator: Life is a journey. Everyone has their own story. The difference is, the time and moments. What if you were just about to die, and in that very moment, everything you once do keep coming back to haunt you. What if, you are in Adams place? Should you run away or stand there and face your biggest fear: Your own past. Would Adam do that? Or would he just run away? Head Police Officer: Mr. Adam Taylor, The Federal Court has found you guilty in the charge of murder with intention. Your petition to the state clemency board has been rejected. We have received a warrant from the high court to carry out the death sentence tomorrow morning. Police Officer Tom: We have tried contacting your family since last week but Adam: II dont have any family. (A short pause) Adam: Is this your first experience? Police Officer John: No. Adam: No? I mean is this your first time meeting a final cell prisoner like me? Police Officer John: No. Adam: How many cases have you handled? (Police Officer John ignores Adam, continues to scribble something down) Police Officer John: Mr. Adam, I am Officer John. For your final hours, I will be here. If there's anything you may address it to me. Adam: How many hours do I have left? Police Officer John: (Looks at his watch) You have exactly 8 hours left. Adam: Do you believe in love, sir? Police Officer John: Yes.

Adam: Do you believe that our partner is from God? Police Officer John: Yes I do. Adam: Then why cant we be together? Police Officer John: Adam, youre here because of her. Adam: Youre just like the others. Youre just interested in knowing why I actually killed her. Police Officer John: No I dont. But Im willing to hear if you wanted to share your story. Adam: Once upon a time, I killed her, shes dead, end of story. Why are people so eager to know? (Pause, stare) But, she deserved to die. Or maybe she didnt. Shes the only friend Ive had. Shes the only person thats nice to me, when everyone else is against me. Police Officer John: Mr. Adam, I would like you to meet Inspector Fred. Hell be here to talk with you and you can tell him anything. Adam: Obviously, Im a murderer, so yes, I killed her. But why do I still feel like Im not guilty, Inspector Fred? Inspector Fred: Maybe youre not ready yet, to forgive yourself. Adam: So even you think Im guilty? What about the person wholl execute me? Theyre guilty as well, right? Police Officer John: If you cant control yourself, Im going to ask inspector Fred to leave. Inspector Fred: Well, if you have nothing to say then let me just share a story with you. (Pauses) A teachers experience. Adam: Im not here to listen to bedtime stories. Inspector Fred: (Ignoring Adam) There was once a teacher, a very wise teacher indeed. All the things he taught his students are the things that are full of meanings. One day, the teacher

asked the students, whats the farthest thing in this world? There are a lot of answers given; the land of China, stars, sky, the sun. Finally, the teacher said Adam: The past. No matter how no matter what, we can never go back to the past. Maybe thats why I never feel guilty until today. Because I cant go back to the past, to change anything. The teacher also asked what the nearest thing to us is. The answer is death, right? Inspector Fred: Adam, if you already know of that, then Im sure you are aware of what youve done. You already know that what you do in the past, will affect your future. Adam: I am aware. But shes the one who is never aware that shes leaving me.

SCENE TWO
(FLASHBACK) (Adams home) Sal: Hey! Stop it! Why are you beating my son? Market Seller: Is this your son? Sal: Yes, he is. Market Seller: If so, you should teach him properly. He stole my food. Sal: You beat my son up because of food? Market Seller: It is not just food. He has been doing this for so many times. He deserved his lessons. (Adams mom is furious, pulls Adam up, beating him) Sal: Get up, get up! Why are you stealing? Why Adam? Tell me! Adam: (crying) Im hungry. Sal: I didnt teach you to steal, Adam! I never teach you this! Why are you stealing? You want to eat so much? (Takes the food that he steals, shove it in his face) Eat this! Sal: (Turns to the guy) Im sorry. Ill pay you back, how many he has stolen. Market Seller: Never mind. Just dont let him do that again. If I caught him stealing next time, hell be a dead meat. (The guy leaves)

Sal: Get inside! (Adam is screaming in pain. His mom is still beating him up)

Adam: Ma! Stop it! Please! Sal: Why are you doing this to me? Why are you stealing? Havent I provided you enough? You ungrateful child! (Sal continues to beat Adam. Their neighbour comes in, trying to stop Sal) Kin: Oh god. Sal, stop it! Enough Sal! Enough! (Adam runs; exits the stage. Sal is calming down) Kin: Ive told you. You should leave this place. This place is not good for you to raise your son. (Sal is still crying. Kin is calming her. They both exit stage )

SCENE THREE
(FLASHBACK) (Adams home) Narrator: Everybody said that experiences make us stronger by going through it. The question is, was Adam strong enough to go through this experience? (Adam is asleep, when suddenly Sal is rushing him to wake up) Sal: Adam, hey Adam! Wake up! We have got to hurry! Pack up all your things! (Sal takes his bag and clothes, throws it at Adam) Adam: (Still half asleep) Mom, where are we going? Sal: Dont talk too much. Just pack up. Hurry! (A gang suddenly enters stage, grabs Adam and Sal by their hands) Sal: Let me go! Gangster: Youre running away? Wheres the money? Tell me! Where. Is. The. Money!! Boss: Dont let her die you moron. Get up! (One of the gang is taking the money out of a bag) Boss: Give me the money. What did you said again? You need the money because your son needs surgery? You know who this is? (Pulls Adam) He seems real fine to me, isnt he? Isnt he?! (Throws Adam away) Adam: Mom! Boss: I hate it when people lie to me. You understand? But you know what I hate even more? It is when people dont pay back the things that they owe me! (Turns around and stabs Sal) Adam: (Shouting) NO! MOM, NO!

(Sals dead. The gang left. Adam kneels down, speechless)

SCENE FOUR
(FLASHBACK) (Orphanage) Narrator: And so, he was sent away to an orphanage. Adam hated it. He prefers to just stay there, the place where his mother was killed. But, he didnt have much choice. Hes still a kid after all Madam Lily: Adam, my name is Madam Lily. You will be staying her from now on. Well provide you food, shelter, and all your needs will be taken care of. You will go to school, like everybody else. Dont worry, your life never end. God took your mom away for a reason. Whatever it is, she will always be in your heart, no matter what. Adam: I dont want her in my heart; I want her to be here, with me. Madam Lily: Well Adam, you can take a walk around here. Theres your dorm. I will be in my room if you need anything. Stop worrying. Okay? (Adam walks around, when a senior approaches him) Daniel: So, youre the new kid? (Adam ignores him) Daniel: Answer me! Im your senior, alright! Do you think youre a gangster? (Daniel walks away. Adam turns around and pushes him) Daniel: Whats wrong with you? (Adams starts to beat Daniel up) Daniel: Get off me, you psycho! Madam Lily: Hey! Stop it, enough! What happened here? Daniel. He started it first! (Adams starting to throw a punch at Daniel again, when Madam Lily stops him)

Madam Lily: Enough! I am very disappointed with your attitude, Adam! Julia: Hey, are you okay? Adam: Why are you so nosy? (Everybody exits stage)

SCENE FIVE
(FLASHBACK) (ORPHANAGE) Julia: Hey. Adam: You again? Why are you talking to me? Julia: Well, I was just trying to be nice. And since youre new here, you could use a friend. Adam: Youre the only one who talks to me. The others, they treat me like rubbish because I came from the alley. Even Madam Lily didnt want to talk to me anymore. Julia: Well, dont say that. Im here, you could be my friend. I promise. Ill be your friend forever. (Adams stands up, holding out his hand) Adam: Im Adam Taylor. Julia: Im Julia walker. Adam: Nice meeting you. (They are talking, and enters the Narrator) Narrator: And the friendship begins. They have been friends ever since. Best friends, to be exact. (Pauses, Looks at Adam and Julia as they walk out of stage) Narrator: Everybody has their past, dont they? What if, someone from Julias past, come and take her away? Can Adam accept the fact that Julia might not be his friend forever?

SCENE SIX
(FLASHBACK) (ORPHANAGE) Carrie: Hey you know what? Madam Lisa called Julia to her office just now. I was eavesdropping, and I heard her Aunt came. Kelly: Really? What for? (Carrie stares at here and give her a look) Oh my God! Shes going to leave, like, leave. Her aunt is going to take care of her now. You mean like, take her back as in bring her to live with them forever? Means, she will never come here again? Carrie: I guess. Plus their house is very far from here. So, I dont think Julia Matt: Yo peeps! I heard Julias name, whats up? Kelly: Julias leaving. You need to swear you would never tell Adam about this. Adam: Leaving where? Is she adopted? Hey Im asking you? Carrie: Julias aunt. They want to take her back. Adam: Back where? Sophie: Seriously Matt? Orphaned kids like us; where else would we go if our family takes us back? (Slightly annoyed) Matt: Adam needs to know this. (Adam enters; Matt pulled him to a corner) Adam: We need to talk! (To Julia) Kelly: Why did you do that for? Matt: Hes my bro, theres no way on earth that I wouldnt tell him about that. (Carrie and Kelly stared at them both) Kelly: She is so dead!

Carrie: Literally! (Carrie, Kelly and Matt exit. Adam and Julia enter) Adam: What was that for? Julia: What was what for? Adam: Youre leaving with your aunty? Julia: I have to; do I really have a choice? I have no other family. Adam: You want to know something .Other than my mother, I have never loved anyone else the way that I love you. Julia: At least, you have the chance to feel a mothers love. Ive never know what its like to be loved by parents. Thats why I want to follow her. Adam: Come with me, lets leave this place. Julia: No Adam, we cant survive out there. Adam: Yes we can! We can. Julia: No, I just cant. I dont want to leave you either, Adam. Adam: Alright then. Now, I want you to promise me youll be back. Julia: I promise. Adam: Ill wait for you.

SCENE ELEVEN
(FLASHBACK) (MARKET) Narrator: We have to accept reality in life. Adam accepts his reality. Julia never comes back. He left the orphanage to find her, but up to no avail. He stopped waiting. To him, life goes on. But, where? To the place where his mothers blood runs deep; the alley. Narrator: And what exactly happened to Julia?

SCENE TWELVE
(FLASHBACK) (Julias Home) Julia: No, I wont marry him! Aunt Stella: Julia, please, listen, it was just engagement. Im not forcing you to marry him this instance. Uncle Bill: Please, we are just doing the best for you. Julia: But you know I dont love him. I even barely know him. Aunt Stella: Youll get to know him once you guys are married. Julia: Are you crazy? Uncle Bill: Julia, why are you being so rude? Aunt Stella: Okay look my dear; we are just trying to do the best for you. Okay? Do this for us, please? We know you are a good girl. Ever since the day I take you from the orphanage Julia: But Im not a robot you can control. Yes, you picked me up. Thank you. But you cant just decide my fate or future like that. Not this way. You know I promised someone that Ill be back. Uncle Bill: Adam? That Adam? (Laughing) You must be insane. He has no future. Cant you think whats best for you? We are giving you an option to marry a doctor, yet you still want someone who came from the alleys. Julia: That someone is my friend. And he forever will be. You think I dont know what you did? You forced Madam Lily to never tell him our address, not even our numbers. Its all because you dont want him to contact me? Uncle Bill: We had to! You had your final exam that time, and we dont want you to get distracted. Julia: You liar. Save it for the person who would actually believe what you said.

Uncle: Julia, you just never listen! Julia: You dont too, do you? Aunt Stella: Where are you going? Julia, wait!

SCENE FOURTEEN
(FLASHBACK) (BUS STOP) (Adam is at the bus stop, a lady passes by, drops her wallet. Adam picks up the wallet) Adam: Hey miss, I believe this is yours. (Julia turns around. Adam is in shock) Julia: Oh well thank you, I must have dropped it Adam? (They sit down. Adams in rage) Julia: Hey, how have you been? Im sorry; I know I promised to come back, but Adam: You lied to me. Julia: Im so sorry. Back then, the situation Adam: I was waiting for you. (Hes cooling down, looking at Julias bag) Adam: You ran away from home? Why? And what happened to your aunty? Did they treat you badly? Julia: No, no, not that, its just that, well... Its nothing important. Its just, hmm... Adam: Its either not important or you dont want to tell me. So, where are you going to stay now? Julia: That I dont know yet. I think I have enough money for few days in hotel. Adam: Few days? Only? After that? Where are you going to stay? Okay, okay. You wont mind staying at my place right? But Ill charge you for rent.

Julia: (Starting to smile. Adam looks at her weirdly) I miss you, donkey! Adam: Come on, lets go.

SCENE FIFTEEN
(FLASHBACK) (ADAMS HOME) (Both Adam and Julia enters) (Julia spotted a picture frame, hold it up) Julia: You still keep our picture? Adam: Not one day passed that that I didnt look at them. I hold on to my promises Julia. I swear to god, I did wait for you (Julia puts down the picture, looking rather guilty and worried) Julia: Actually theres something that I wanted to tell you. Adam: What is it? Well, I kind of hungry now, Im going to go and see whats left in the fridge. (Julia puts down her bag at the chair. Suddenly, theres a knock on the door. Julia opens up) Peter: Hello! Hello! Julia! I know youre in there! Open up! Aunt: Julia, Im sorry that Im the reason you ran away. Well, I didnt mean to force you to be married to Peter. Its just that I think thats what the best for you. Uncle: Julia, youre engaged now. Its not nice for you to just run away and stay with someone else. Come home my dear. Peter: Julia, Im sorry. Please come back. We can work this out. The wedding can be postponed or something. Please. Aunt: Julia well wait for you here. We need to leave this instance, okay my darling? Well wait for you downstairs.

(Leaves the stage, Adam comes out. He has heard everything. Julias packing) Julia: Adam, Im sorry. Ive got to go Adam: Who was that? Julia: Dont act like this Adam, Ill come back here I promise. Adam: I really love you, Julia. Julia: I do too. I just need to go back, to settle some stuff. Adam: But why do you have to leave me. Julia: Im not leaving you. Ill come back once everything is settled. Adam please believe me. Adam: My whole time in the orphanage is spent believing you! I believe you would come back, but you didnt. Do you think Ill believe you again? Julia: Adam, no, this time its different, I Adam: YOU ARE A LIAR! (Grabs a knife, stabs Julia) If I dont deserve you, then no one does! Youre mine! (He cries, wailing over her dead body) (Exits stage)

SCENE SIXTEEN
(PRESENT) (PRISON) (Adams head is masked, his hands are cuffed, and Adam is crying. Hes dragged out of the stage) Inspector Fred: Mr. Adam, your time is up. Do you have any final words? (Adam shakes his head) Inspector Fred: Mr. Adam Taylor. I hereby sentence you hang to death. (Adam dies on the gallows) Adam Jr. And Adam Sr.: Do you know what makes me mad about time? It makes you experience something in the past, yet it still leaves marks on you today. I never wanted to kill her; I just dont want her to leave me again, just like everybody else who did. Regret? Yes I am, but theres no time left for me to change anything. My journey ends here. No more life, no more breath, just a story waiting to be told by those who are still alive. (Take a bow) (End of play)

LIST OF CAST Adam Taylor(Senior) : The adult Adam, waiting for his death sentence Adam (Junior) : The kid Adam, appears during flash backs Julia Walker(Senior) : Adult Julia, Adams friend and lover Julia ( Junior) : Kid version of Julia, Adams friend in the orphanage Sal: Adams mom Kin: Adams neighbour Boss: The head of the gangsters Gangster 1 Gangster 2 Police Officer John: The officer who will accompany Adam during his last hours Inspector Fred: A counselor who talks to Adam Carrie, Kelly, Matt: Orphaned kids Mdm Lily: Owner of the orphanage Uncle Bill :Julias uncle Aunt Stella : Julias aunt Peter: Julias fiance Narrator : Writer of the story

SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN SULTAN BADLISHAH, 09000 KULIM, KEDAH DKBB ENGLISH DRAMA COMPETITION 2013

DRAMA SCRIPT

8 HOURS