Land of New Beginnings

Land of New Beginnings…

[(The classroom is the stage, the door is the one on the actor’s left) Simon stands centre stage, looking sorrowful. Two chairs sit towards the door, one block near the support beam of the room. Simon, is standing on the coast, by a dock. He stands facing the sea, a wall is to his right. A single bench sits to his left and over near the wall, a flat topped rock sits by the ocean. It is early morning, no other people are in sight. A soft breeze is prevalent.]

Simon: (Sways softly) I feel the wind alight upon my cheeks, the soft spray of water from the ocean. I smell the scents of fish and smoke, of lingering decay and salt. I close my eyes and breathe (Closes eyes, breathes). In out, in out, again and again.(Opens eyes, says next sentence bitterly) ‘Tis funny that it is the simple things that cause so much sorrow- so much change. (Sighs deeply, walks towards the audience.) We used to be so happy, the world revolved around us- Mary and Simon, Simon and Mary, then Rebecca came, and it was Simon, Mary and… Rebecca. (Chuckles, smiles softly, shakes head) Work was hard, but we got by, we were happy… (Softly) and then the work stopped coming. We starved (Chokes softly). Rebecca of course was the one who suffered the most, she’s so young (Trails off)…
(Walks over to the pole, leans against it, chuckles bitterly).

Mary was worrying, she knew I had to leave… but neither of us…. (Next couple of lines spoken desperately) I couldn’t just leave them, in fact I tried so hard not to… but then I heard. (Punches pole, walks hurriedly towards centre-stage) A sickness… was prevalent (Shakily). No-one was safe from it (With dread). People were dying… we had to get out. (Sits on chair closest to Audience) But there was only enough for one (Gravely. Raises single finger). I took the first boat I could, with the hopes I would see them sooner.

(Looks towards the audience, looks quickly away, rises to feet.)
(Angrily) I spent weeks on that damn boat, months even, eating a meagre meal of mashed, no slopped, potatoes and salted fish, always salted fish (Shudders). I shared a small, dark space, with twenty other immigrants also travelling. Everywhere I walked, there was an elbow, or a knee (Paces back and forth across the stage). You could barely breathe. (Cries out) What I would have done for the feel of wind on my cheeks, the scent of Mary’s perfume, fresh foods… and all I could think, my prayer, my mantra… when I reach the mainland. (Clutches hair in hands) When I reach the mainland…

(Excitedly) When the boats docked, I propelled myself out. I was filled with a vigorous spirit. Australia this land was called, Australia the land of new beginnings (With awe). Even the sights of a dilapidated dock did nothing to stop me; Here I was unknown, and here I could become anyone (stresses last word).  Within hours my papers were being processed, when out of nowhere a voice called out, (loud voice) “Letter for Simon Nowell, Simon Nowell letter for you!”. I looked towards the source of the sound, called out to the grimy man that was calling me. I then took the envelope.
(Drops head, shakes head, bangs fist against wall)

I remember looking down at the note, filled with a sudden trepidation… (Spoken softly, harshly) opening it… finding handwriting unfamiliar to my eyes, yet brandished with a name that was. Sarah… (Frowns) Mary’s friend… I remember sitting down, (sits on block) reading it, smiling at some of the things she wrote (smiles), cringing at others (cringes)… and then I read something that chilled me to the bone, sent slimy black fingers of fear crawling up between my ribs, and clenching my heart with a rigid  grip of ice. (Says in a choked voice)  Mary is sick… Mary is Sick… I don’t know how badly… but she fainted just yesterday. This was from weeks ago, I wondered if she was well again… or if she was… (Breathes in sharply)

(Paces around, mimes hammering things and placing things)
I settled in quickly, there was plenty of work for a carpenter, and, to my relief, the letters kept coming (Mimes reading letters- use props?). She’s still ill, but getting better… She misses you… She’s improving even more… (With relief) Every time a letter came reassuring me, I felt my heart lighten, the fear reside. The money kept on coming too, within the first year I had made enough to get Rebecca across,(excitedly) and then almost enough for Mary, and through the days I always thought; soon, soon we will be together… Simon, Mary and Rebecca… Rebecca, Mary and Simon.
(Fall on block, back against it… leans, sighs heavily.)

(Wearily) I was so close. I almost had enough money, I could practically see Mary in front of me. Then the letter came. I remember the feeling of thin parchment, brittle in my hands, the scent of ink and salt, I saw the water stained paper and the ink that had run (Says in stuttering parts)… and the letters… that spelt… Mary is dead. (Silence, for a bit)

Mary’s health took a turn for the worst, she was pregnant… it was a miscarriage, the child... Rebecca wants her mommy.

(Softly) I feel the wind alight upon my cheeks, the soft spray of water from the ocean. I smell the scents of fish and smoke, of lingering decay and salt. I close my eyes and breathe. In out, in out, again and again. ‘Tis funny that it is the simple things that cause so much sorrow- so much change. (Sighs deeply, walks towards the audience.) We used to be so happy, the world revolved around us- Mary and Simon, Simon and Mary, then Rebecca came, and it was Simon, Mary and… Rebecca. (Smiles softly, shakes head) Work was hard, but we got by, we were happy…

(Sombrely) Now I wait here, for Rebecca. She’s turning seven soon. Two years… it’s been a while, I wonder if she will recognise me, if I will recognise her. I think I will, she is my baby, my darling girl…

(Silence)
(Quietly) We used to be so happy, the world revolved around us… Mary and Simon, Simon and Mary, then Rebecca came and it was Simon, Mary and Rebecca… But now, it’s Simon and Rebecca, Rebecca and Simon, and despite all this we will be happy again. (With resolution) Australia is the land of new beginnings.

~End Scene~