New Plays for Young People (eBook)

MISSING

Missing, or ‘Looking for Grethel’ was jointly commissioned by Consol Theatre, Gelsenkirchen, Germany and Theatr Iolo, Cardiff, Wales. For ages 10 and over.

The play was written for a cast of four – two male and two female.

Part 1: Hansel and his Family

Part 2: Looking Back – Four Points of View

Part 3: Looking for Grethel

Part 4: Aftermath – Four Points of View

Notes

Missing is a piece of physical theatre with text. There are occasions when movement/action alone will be all that is needed to tell the story, and the text is an active ‘stage direction’. To indicate this I have underlined certain sections which are quite clearly not necessary as spoken text. These are examples only and the director/company may make other choices depending on the nature of the production.

The opening prologue is shared by all the cast, and the following sections are led by one character, as indicated by the larger numbered headings. However, these are not required to be monologues. Within each section I have indicated which lines would belong to characters other than the lead.

PART ONE

Hansel and his Family

1 CAST

The papers said he looked like something the devil cooked up for dinner

They didn’t like the way he hid his face with a hood

They didn’t like the way he clung to the shadows

To the side of the street – like a cat – up to no good.

His name is Hansel.

From his bedroom window Hansel can see the old mine

Where his grandfather used to work.

It’s a huge, red rotting thing

An iron shape cut out against a clear sky.

Sometimes Hansel climbs up the side of the air shaft through rusting iron hoops

On to a ledge that gives a good view of the field, the mine and the city beyond.

It’s forbidden of course but he likes it there – he sits and smokes – watching the city lights –

Up there no one can creep up from behind

It feels safe and gives him a chance to think.

What does Hansel think about?

His family.

His father – used to work the mine too before it closed down.

After that he became a driver delivering parcels all over Europe.

Until he lost the job.

He says he misses his friends from the old days and that’s why he drinks.

He says work gave his drinking shape – but now he can drink all day.

On those days he forgets to ask Hansel –

Where have you been?

Who were you with?

What were you doing?

Come home at a reasonable time.

The only thing Hansel does is look after his little sister –

Grethel.

His mother had asked him to do this – she trusted him –

And he does – he looks after her – protects her.

Sometimes he fights for her – with his bare fists in the field below.

Where’s their mother?

She’s dead.

She died when Hansel was ten.

When he was twelve his father married again.

Once he told Hansel that he loved alcohol more than he loved his new wife –

Their stepmother.

At first Grethel was pleased – she so wanted a mother – like the one Hansel spoke about –

A mother who loved you – who told you stories.

PART TWO

Looking Back – Four Points of View

1 HANSEL

Grethel was very young when mother died.

When Father told her she was going to have a new Mum, Grethel was happy. She smiled and smiled.

When stepmother didn’t turn out to be what she’d imagined Grethel smiled even more –

Like she was too scared to relax her cheeks.

I didn’t like our new mother from the start.

She was all smiles herself to begin with

But when she wasn’t looking at us directly the smile dropped from her face

And her face was mean and hard.

At first the battle between us was silent.

She took over the house, which was what Father wanted.

She did everything for him, lots of little things he could easily have done for himself

Like collecting Grethel’s child benefit money – or – paying the gas bill

And gradually he became – smaller and smaller – like he was shrinking.

He never asked me about anything – about why I didn’t go to school or anything.

I tried to get work, but I’m not good with people.

To work in a cafe you have to smile and talk about things that don’t mean anything.

I don’t like talking – I feel weak after. Silence is powerful and I like that.

I did get a job once but I got the sack because I took money from the till.

Father said –

You little thieving rat – you’re no son of mine – You’re a monster.

Which was good.

I don’t know where you bloody came from.

Which was odd.

His wife stood behind him smoking and smiling

I told you so – I told you he was no good. The sooner he leaves this house the better.

They seemed to want me to respond – maybe give them a good reason to chuck me out –

But what about Grethel–?

I took the money to buy her some school stuff.

It’s important that she keeps going to school –

And I don’t want her to look out of place – or feel bad about having old things –

So I bought her a new plastic dinner box, and some cheese strings.

I can’t leave her with them.

So I just stare at them – sullen, mean, angry

And in the end she gets scared –

Why are you staring at me – you little devil?

Result.

Stop staring.

But I don’t stop. One night – the night – I go over to the mine.

I climb up through the hoops and sit on the ledge

The city is moving. Lights – travelling – here – there – where?

I hear police sirens and an ambulance.

I see the lights of the stadium and hear the crowd chanting.

Perhaps they’ll get into the champion’s league – but who cares – I don’t.

In the field below I see a small figure walking. It looks like a girl. Grethel?

She’s calling out, shouting something but she is too far away and the wind takes her voice.

Then I see another shape, moving slowly through the kids play area.

It waits there for a moment before moving forward – towards Grethel.

It’s a man – I can tell that – even from here.

I call out

Grethel!

But she can’t hear me either.

Perhaps it’s a security guard – or someone she knows

Perhaps there’s nothing to be scared of, or worried about – but I know there is.

I can tell by the way the man moves – looking around to see if anyone’s watching.

I step back so my shape won’t be seen against the sky.

I’m probably no more than a thousand yards away – but the wrong side of the perimeter fence

So I freeze – I watch.

She turns to see him and then she starts to walk away

Good girl – but then he must say something and she turns back.

They talk – then he gives her something – I can’t tell what.

Then he turns and she follows him.

I yell her name into the wind – I scream –

GRETHEL!

But she doesn’t look back – she takes his hand and they walk into the shadows. She takes his hand.

She’s gone. Gone? No, no. It’s eleven at night – Grethel’s home asleep – where I left her. Why would she come out – this late? All I could see was a shape of a girl. It could have been anyone.

I climb down the ladder – almost fall – run home – and she is there.

Not Grethel – Stepmother.

What you running from?

I run upstairs – open Grethel’s door –

Grethel?

She isn’t there. I go down.

Where’s Grethel?

What do you mean, ‘Where’s Grethel?’

She’s not in her room.

A silence.

Have you looked in the bathroom?

I look in the bathroom – it’s empty. I go down.

She’s not there – where is she?

I don’t know – why should I?

You were here.

If you’re worried go and look for her – you’re her brother after all.

I stare at her – she says

I can’t go I’ve had a drink – nothing else to do.

She doesn’t look drunk – or sound it.

She’s probably staying over with friends.

Who?

How should I know? She’ll phone in the morning.

I go back to Grethel’s room – sit on the bed.

She’s probably right. Grethel’s with friends. It wasn’t her at...