Bullet Truth

The room looks like one from a small farmhouse. There is a small log fire up stage centre and down stage right there is a small table with a simple cloth over it and a fruit basket in the centre. There is also a brown box on the table. A teenage boy sits on the floor. Up stage right, a wounded man sits in a chair with his right arm and leg bandaged.

Farther: I’ve said it god knows how many times. Those bastards should be stood in a line and shot.

Shawn (quietly): You shouldn’t say things like that…

Farther: What did you say?

Shawn (a little louder): You shouldn’t say things like that, you don’t know they’re all like that. Some may not be so bad.

Farther: Are you thick? Don’t you see what it says in the papers and on the TV? I wouldn’t think you would understand anyway. You’re only a kid, that’s why you need people to tell you what’s right and wrong.

Shawn: But the papers aren’t always right. They can’t all be that bad.

Farther: Shawn, they’re all the same. You know what they do? They break into peoples houses and rape the women and children then they slowly torture and kill them, even babies!

Shawn: B-but…you don’t know that.

Farther: Don’t know! Look at me! Those bastards did this to me!

Shawn looks at his father over his shoulder then looks down again.

Father: Shawn, you see that box on the table? Open it.

Shawn looks between the box and his farther a few times then slowly gets up and opens the box. He is shocked at what’s inside.

Farther: Pick it up.

Shawn looks at his farther.

Farther: Pick-it-up.

Shawn slowly reaches into the box and pulls out a gun out.

Farther: If any of those bastards come through that door I want you to shoot them.

Shawn: Shoot them! B-but I can’t!

Farther: So what are you going to do sit there and let them have their way with every one in the house?

Shawn: No!

Farther: Then do as I say.

Shawn says nothing as he looks at his father. From centre stage left the Mother enters, she is caring some cloth in her hands.

Mother: I think it’s time I-

She notices Shawn has a gun she looks shocked at first but then sighs and continues what she was doing.

Mother (slightly upset): I think I better re-dress your leg.

She kneels before the farther and starts to remove the bandages.

Mother: Laura, Emma, bring some more wood for the fire.

Laura (off stage): Yes mum.

Mother continues to re-dress the Father’s leg as Shawn examines the gun. After a little while a young girl comes in carrying some small pieces of wood with an older girl behind her carrying more wood.

Mother: Thank you. Laura through these away while Emma helps me set the table for dinner.

Mother hands Laura the dirty bandages. Laura nods and leaves centre stage right.

Mother: And Shawn please…put that thing away.

Father: Don’t Shawn; you never know when one of those bastards will show up.

Mother: Don’t talk like that to the children. Come on Emma, let’s set the table.

Mother leaves and come back in with some knives and folks, she hands some to Emma as Laura comes back in. Suddenly a young man stumbles in from down stage left. Shawn instantly points the gun at him, shaking. The intruder starts desperately shouting.

Intruder: Don’t shoot! I need help! My daughter’s hurt! Please! Please help me!

Farther: Shawn! Shoot him! It’s their fault I’m like this! They’re all the same!

Shawn shakes his head franticly. The intruder becomes even more desperate and waves his hands in front of him.

Intruder: My daughter needs help! Please don’t shoot! Please!

Farther: Shawn! Shoot! These bastards are all monsters! He’ll kill me and then rape your mother and sisters! Again and again! And then after his had his fun he’ll kill ‘em slowly!

Shawn continues to shake his head. The introducer steps forward.

Intruder: Please! I’m not like that!

He falls to his knees in front of Shawn.

Intruder (Almost in tears): My daughter just needs help. please!

Shawn is pointing the gun; point blank at the intruder’s head they’re both shacking.

Farther: Shawn, do it! Shoot!

Intruder (Crying): Please don’t.

Farther: Shoot! Shoot the bastard now! SHAWN SHOOT!

[GUN SHOT] The intruder falls to the floor. Every one is silent looking at the intruder.

Lights black out and then a single spot light shines on Shawn. He is crouched on the floor holding his head with the gun still in his hands. [REI THEME PLAYS IN BACKGROUND]

Shawn: Why? … Why!

After a little while another spotlight appears behind him.

Mother (Over speaker): Because you wanted to do it.

Shawn: No I didn’t! Dad made me!

Then another spotlight comes on.

Laura (Over speaker): No he didn’t, you pulled the trigger.

Shawn: No he forced me!

After which another spotlight comes on.

Emma (Over speaker): How did he force you? You pulled the trigger.

Shawn: No! He forced me with those horrible things he said!

Laura (Over speaker): And you believed everything he said?

Shawn: No…but.

Emma (Over speaker): You believe all the little things people say.

Mother (Over speaker): All the lies.

Laura (Over speaker): The gossip.

Mother (Over speaker): All the lies that turn into gossip.

Laura (Over speaker): And the gossip that turns into lies.

Emma (Over speaker): Your pathetic.

Shawn: I didn’t believe them, it just scared me.

Mother (Over speaker): It scared you because you believed.

Laura (Over speaker): You believed all the hateful lies that people say about others.

Emma (Over speaker): And you don’t have a strong enough will to make your own choices.

Mother (Over speaker): You’re not strong enough to chose what you think is right and wrong.

Laura (Over speaker): That’s why you chose to pull the trigger.

Emma (Over speaker): Because you only believed other peoples false truths.

Shawn: No! I didn’t chose to! What he said! Those things! Farther forced me!

Mother (Over speaker): How did he force you? He didn’t physically make you pull the trigger…you chose to.

Shawn stands and runs to an empty spot light.

Shawn: I didn’t!

The spot light goes out.

Laura (Over speaker): You liked killing that pore man.

He runs to one of the other spotlights.

Shawn: I didn’t!

The spotlight goes out.

Emma (Over speaker): Yes you did. Because you like being in the security of other peoples false truths, because you aren’t strong enough to chose yourself.

He runs to the final spotlight.

Shawn: No I don’t!

Black out.

Farther (Over speaker): …Your pathetic.

Shawn: Farther, I hate you!

Lights come up and Mother hands some knives and folks to Emma as Laura comes back in. Suddenly a young man stumbles in from down stage left. Shawn instantly points the gun at him, shaking. The intruder starts desperately shouting.