© Jane Harrison

Fireworkswritten by

Jane Harrison

© Jane Harrison

KERRY is just in front of the stage (outside) – looking up at the sky. She's cold.

SARAH crosses the stage. Bag in hand. Mid-twenties. Looks tired and stressed.

She gets to Stage Right. About to step off into the wings.

KERRY steps up onto the stage, entering the house. She warms her hands.

KERRYYou’re up late.

SARAH Kerry!

KERRYD'ya want a drink? I was just watching the last of the display. There's too much smoke now though, it's -

KERRY notices the BAG.

KERRY (Contd)What are you doing?

SARAHKerry…

KERRYTell me you’re not.

SARAHWill you keep it down?

KERRYTell me you’re not going back to him. (BEAT) You are, aren’t you?

SARAH puts the bag down. Deep breaths.

KERRYWhat the hell? What are you thinking?

SARAHShh – it's almost midnight.

KERRY

© Jane Harrison

And you're sneaking out of the house. Easier to do if you don't have to face us, isn't it?

SARAHDon't be an idiot.

KERRYI'm an idiot? That's weird – I'm sure if we polled the general public, they'd say you were.

SARAHAnd you wonder why I was trying to leave before you got up.

KERRYLet's ask them shall we? The general public?

KERRY goes to exit. SARAH grabs her arm.

SARAHIf you wake them up...

KERRYMum and Dad deserve to have their say, don't they?

SARAHYou get them up, I'm out of here.

KERRY shakes free.

KERRYYou're actually doing it.

SARAHI have to.

KERRY(Pause) So when can I expect the next phone call?

SARAHThat was a...

KERRYAt four in the morning. With you crying your eyes out , scared for your life.

SARAH

© Jane Harrison

It won't happen again.

KERRYNot just scared for your life. Terrified.

SARAHI over-reacted.

KERRY (disbelieving)Over – Sarah, you've got fingerprints bruised into your arms! That's not an over-reaction, that's assault.

SARAHWhat do you want me to do? I can't stay here.

KERRYWhy not? The spare room's still made up. Do you want my room? Is that it? You can have it, if you're worried about leaving your stuff at the flat.

SARAHShut up. You love having the big room.

KERRYNot as much as I love - (Pause) Stay here.

SARAH relaxes a bit. Her sister's only looking out for her.

SARAHI can't.

KERRYSarah...

SARAHI love him. He loves me. Simple as that.

KERRYHe's manipulative, he's controlling...

SARAHHe got carried away, that's all. You should have heard the things I called him.

KERRYSo you deserved it? Is that you speaking or him?

© Jane Harrison

SARAHYou don't pack it all in because of one row...

KERRYA row is what happens when two people have a disagreement: about money, about the weekly shop, about whether to watch Corrie or Eastenders -

SARAH (indicating upstairs)Good luck to you if you're using them as a barometer for what's normal in a relationship.

KERRYAnd what's wrong with that?

SARAHI didn't say there was anything wrong with it.

KERRYTwenty-five years of marriage. They're still together.

SARAHYeah, yeah.

SARAH's phone rings. She pauses.

KERRYIt's him, isn't it?

SARAHShhh.

KERRYWhy don't you let me speak to him, eh?

SARAHShut up.

KERRYGive me the phone. Go on. I dare you.

Sarah answers.

SARAH (Contd.)

© Jane Harrison

Heya...Yeah, I'm just coming now...I said I would, didn't I?...No...I'll be about five minutes...Well, yes...Sorry...I'll be as quick as I can...Sorry.

KERRY (getting angrier)Let me speak to him! Let me talk to him.

KERRY goes to grab the phone. Sarah hangs up.

SARAHHe's waiting for me.

She picks up the bag again and heads towards the door.

KERRY has never been more frightened.

KERRYLet me guess – he doesn't like to be kept waiting.

SARAHHe's at the end of the street.

KERRYNot even man enough to come up the drive.

SARAHFor God's sake, will you stop it? You're not helping.

KERRYI've no intention of making this an easy decision for you.

SARAHYou know what? For once, I want you to be on my side.

KERRYI am on your side! I'm always on your side. It's you that's not. You're pathetic!

The last bit is shouted. And it's meant.

There's a pause. Sarah's hurt.

SARAH

© Jane Harrison

Well, thanks for that, Kerry. You have made it an easy decision after all. Don't worry – I won't be calling you again.

SARAH heads off stage quickly – out of sight.

KERRY's shocked. Her big gob.

KERRYSarah! Come back! Sarah -

She crouches down on the floor. Almost winded.

She's blown it.

Complete devastation.

But perhaps not...SARAH cautiously re-emerges.

She crosses the stage slowly, puts down her bag and crouches next to her sister – puts a hand on her shoulder.

KERRY turns and grabs hold of her. Tightly.

SARAHHey, come on. It's all right. It's all right. (BEAT) Do you remember what we used to do on Bonfire Night?

KERRY (Confused)What?

SARAH'Cos we were scared the ghost of Guy Fawkes was going to get us...

KERRY (sniffly)I didn't mean to shout at you.

SARAHWe used to build a fort out of our toys and hide under the bed.

KERRY...Teddy Brown was Minister for Defence.

SARAH

© Jane Harrison

God, Teddy Brown... That was an imaginative name, wasn't it?

KERRYWell, we did invent the evil ghost of Guy Fawkes. Names weren't as important.

Sarah smiles.

SARAHI suppose...

KERRYRemember the year Dad lost his eyebrows to that dud Rocket?

SARAHCouldn't tell if he was surprised or angry for weeks afterwards. (BEAT) You've probably woken them up...

They both listen for a second. Nothing.

KERRYAre you going to come home?

Sarah stands. Looks down at her sister.

SARAHY'know, I didn't see the big fireworks display from the castle until I was ten because of that bloody fort. I kept pretending I was scared to keep you company.

KERRYReally? (BEAT) I don't trust him.

SARAHI know you don't. But it's my decision.

KERRYI think you're making a mistake. I wish you wouldn't -

SARAHIt's my mistake to make, isn't it?

KERRY

© Jane Harrison

At least talk to Mum and Dad. What will they say if I let you leave? What if he...

SARAHYou're not letting me leave. I'm choosing to. There's a difference.

Kerry gets to her feet and picks up Sarah's bag.

SARAH (Contd.)Give me the bag.

Kerry hesitates. And then hands it over. She holds onto the handles as Sarah takes it.

KERRYPromise me. If he so much as lifts a finger...

Sarah pulls the bag away and heads off to the wings again.

SARAHI know. I'll call you.

KERRYYou'd better.

Sarah exits, leaving Kerry on stage alone.

She steps off the stage, and returns to her original position.

She stares up at the sky.

END.