STAY AWHILE by Ann Sheehy #TinyPlayChallenge

Keep your creativity flowing with Fishamble's #TinyPlayChallenge
In these challenging times, Fishamble - along with many of our colleagues in the wider Irish artistic community - is working hard to keep imaginations lively, communities engaged - and most of all offer people the opportunity of creative expression. We asked our audiences: Would you welcome the challenge of exploring your thoughts and feelings through drama? Do you have a dramatic story that you feel the urge to work out for yourself, and maybe share with your fellow citizens?
​Below is one of the chosen plays from our weekly submissions.

Stay Awhile by Ann Sheehy

(Lights up on Room 220 at Our Lady’s Hospice.
Maurice is sitting in a chair next to his hospital bed, looking through binoculars out the window.
Julie has just arrived and is disinfecting her hands by the sink.)

Maurice:  I do believe I see a thrush! Lovely song this time of year.
                 (He regards Julie.)
                 Julie.
                 How is my Sally?
 
Julie:  She sends her love, as usual.
 
Maurice:  She is the love of my life. Do you think they will let her visit?
 
Julie:  Maybe. In a couple of weeks, Maurice, that would probably be best.
 
Maurice: A couple of weeks.
 
Julie:  You feeling ok? The pain managed?
 
Maurice:  Yes, yes, pretty much so.
 
Julie:  (Holding up a bag.) I got those yogurts you like – I’ll put them in the fridge.
           And look what I found – a dark mint chocolate Easter Egg!
 
Maurice:  But it’s not Easter.
 
Julie:    Well I didn’t want to chance it… that they’d run out of your favourite.
             Oh jeez, you still like chocolate, don’t you?
 
Maurice:  Sure, sure. You got any of those banana muffins in that bag?
 
Julie:  Absolutely.
 
Julie and Maurice:  No nuts!!
 
Maurice:  It’s not that I don’t like them, it’s my damned teeth!
                 Why don’t you take off your coat, stay for a while.
                 Tell me about Sally, does she miss me?
 
Julie:  (Stays standing on the opposite side of the bed.) Well, she really is something else – so beautiful and of                  course she misses you.
                 Maurice:  Are you brushing her hair every day?
 
Julie: Yes, yes, a hundred strokes.
                 We go out three times a day.
                 This morning we went to the park and she rolled in a worm.
 
Maurice: Cheeky girl. Sure she loves a good roll.
                 My sweet Sally.
                 Oh, I wish you would bring her – say she’s my therapy dog … something. How’s she getting along with Clarice?
 
Julie:  I found them snuggled up together on the bed.
 
Maurice:  No!
 
Julie:        Companionship.
                 They miss you, Maurice, but they are being well looked after, I promise.
                 Everyone on the road asks for you and send their love. 
                 Winnie still wants that cup of tea.
 
Maurice:  I know. I know. 
            I think they must be short-staffed, my breakfast and shower were later than usual and it is past twelve and they haven’t served lunch.
 
Julie:  Well then, how about that muffin?
            Then I will have to go.
 
Maurice:  Julie… They told me this morning…
 
Julie: I know. 
            You know I will come see you as soon as I can.
 
Maurice:  Yes.
                  Thank you, Julie, thank you for all of it.
 
(Lights fade.)
 
 
 
Ann Sheehy is a once and future actor, also a mother, currently teaching Pilates and other body-awareness classes. She took Fishamble's Intensive Weekend Playwriting course last year and has been working on that among other things creative. She is on Facebook as ann.sheehy.58.
 
 

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