Not Like You

Characters:

Daniel: 20, Male. The lead vocalist and lyricist for local goth rock band ‘Shadow Angel’, Daniel studies music at the conservatorium and works part time at a coffee shop in The Valley. He seldom sleeps.

Rebecca: 22, Female. Daniel’s partner Rebecca runs a successful small business selling home made corsets and modified clothing on EBay. She’s thinking of expanding into her own store in the city.

Alex: 19, Male. Alex is Daniel’s best friend. A talented business studies student, he manages several local alternative bands, including ‘Shadow Angel’.

Tom: 19, Male. Tom is Alex’s partner. An avid club-goer and aspiring DJ, he works full time at an office in South Brisbane. Understandably perhaps, he lives for the weekends.

Five Drunk Men: 19-26. Typical young men



Scene 1 – The Hospital

(The stage is dark. The voice of DANIEL is heard.)

(Voiceover) Daniel: Rebecca and I were supposed to go to Melbourne today. Tomorrow is our two year anniversary, so we’d hoped to spend the day together in the city where we met. In a perfect world, we’d probably be there by now…

(Stage is slowly lit. A room in a hospital. DANIEL is lying in bed attached to a drip and a heart rate monitor, the sound of which should play softly throughout the remainder of the scene. His girlfriend REBECCA is sitting by his side, carefully watching over him for any sign of movement. She obviously hasn’t slept for quite some time.)

(Voiceover) Daniel: Unfortunately, this isn’t a perfect world.

(Enter ALEX holding two cups of coffee. He hands one to REBECCA, who nods in
thanks.)

They call Queensland the ‘smart state’. The truth is that people here are no better than they are anywhere else in this country.
Is it smart to treat people as somehow less than human because they dress or act in a way that you don’t understand?
Is it smart to look down on people who follow another religion or are attracted to the ‘wrong’ sex?
Is it smart to get your friends together and beat a promising young musician into a coma just because he’s different to you?
The doctors say I’ll probably never wake up again.
I’m trying to be optimistic, but deep down inside I think I know they’re right. They’ve recommended turning off my life support… It’s just a matter of time now, I guess…

Alex: How’s the coffee?

Rebecca: It’s good, thank you.

Alex: That’s alright; you looked like you needed it. (A beat) How’s he holding up?

Rebecca: Still no change.

Alex: I see... (A beat) I’m so sorry, Rebecca. If I hadn’t of left him at the station…

Rebecca: Then I’d be visiting you both at the hospital. It wasn’t your fault, Alex. Even if you had of been there, there was nothing you could do.

Alex: I still shouldn’t have left him alone.

Rebecca: I for one am thankful that you did, and I’m sure that Daniel feels the same. There was nothing you could have done: even if you had of known they were coming. There were five of them, Alex! You have to stop blaming yourself. The rest of us don’t.

Alex: Do you think he’ll pull through okay?

Rebecca: I don’t know. The hospital’s doing all they can but….I don’t know. It doesn’t sound so good...
(They sit in silence for a long while. Neither is sure what to say.)

Alex: It’s getting late…

Rebecca: You’re going so soon?

Alex: I have to. I promised Jason I’d call him tonight with a new band for Wednesday night’s gig.

Rebecca: Business as usual, huh?

Alex: Well, you know what they say; ‘the show must go on’…

Rebecca: Take care, Alex.

Alex: Call me if there’s any change?

Rebecca: I will. I promise.

Blackout.

Scene 2 – The Station

(Voiceover) Daniel: It’s amazing how quickly your life can change for the worst. The night of the accident, I was on top of the world. Alex, Tom and I had been out to have a couple of drinks in the city… Reminiscing about old times. I was on my way home
when it happened…

Lights on: A train station: A staircase, a train line and several benches. DANIEL, ALEX and TOM are descending the staircase, chatting excitedly amongst themselves.)

Daniel: So, when’s your next night at club?

Tom: Next week, actually.

Daniel: Really? That’s great, man!

Tom: Thanks. I was pretty surprised they wanted me back so soon.

Alex: You shouldn’t of been. It was a great night.

Tom: You’re just saying that ‘cause you want in my pants.

Alex and Tom kiss

Alex: Seriously, though. You’ve got a real knack for it.

Daniel: Yeah. You were heaps better than that regular DJ.. What was his name again?

Alex: Jackson?

Daniel: Laughs Oh yeah, Jackson… Let’s play metal on a goth night! Hey, where did everybody go? All laugh

(A train arrives)

Tom: That’s our train… Do you want us to wait with you, Daniel?

Daniel: No, I’m alright.

Alex: You sure?

Daniel: Yeah, you guys go ahead. I’ve got my music.

Alex: It was good to see you again.

Daniel: You too. It’s been too long since we’ve had a good night out together
(FIVE DRUNK MEN stagger down the staircase, talking loudly amongst themselves.. One of them gestures towards DANIEL. They laugh)

Alex: Take care.

Daniel: Bye.

Exit – Tom & Alex

(DANIEL walks over to one of the benches and sits down, listening to music.)

Drunk Man #1: Emo!

Drunk Man #2: Hey, freak!

(The drunk men approach, surrounding DANIEL)

Drunk Man #1: Hey! We’re talking to you!

Daniel: (Takes off his headphones) What do you want?

Drunk Man #1: Got a smoke?

Daniel: Sorry. I don’t smoke.

Drunk Man #2: How about some money then?

Daniel: No. (Puts back on his headphones)

Drunk Man #1: Hey! (Kicks DANIEL in the stomach)

DANIEL winces

What are you going to do?

DANIEL gets up. DRUNK MAN #1 knocks him to the ground.

DANIEL shouts in pain

The DRUNK MEN laugh, closing in around him…

Drunk Man #1: Freak!

Blackout.

Scene 3 – The Hospital

The steady sound of a heart rate monitor.

DANIEL is wearing a hospital gown, standing centre stage

Daniel: All around the world, people are being persecuted for their backgrounds and beliefs. It could be something small… A hateful glance or a hurtful generalisation. It could be something larger: like murder, death threats or assault.
Whatever the act, discrimination has no place in the modern world. There are no ‘different grades’ of discrimination. Nobody deserves it and nobody ‘brings it on themselves’.
Discrimination is always unfair and unjust, and it is an issue that affects every part of society in every corner of the world.

Why is it that when we see people who are different to us, we immediately have to respond with hatred and fear? Can’t we see it as a chance to learn? A chance to see the world through different eyes?

Until we can, we cannot see ourselves as a civilized culture.

My only crime was being myself, and my story isn’t even unusual.

In some ways, even if I could wake up, I’m not sure that I want to.

DANIEL glances back at the hospital bed, then returns his gaze to the audience.

My life could be over and my friends lives will never be the same. It shouldn’t have to end like this. Not for me. Not for anyone.

DANIEL takes a final look at the hospital bed, then exits.

Blackout.