A Romantic Drama, By Amy Renee

For My Love, Rayella


(SCENE1, Rayella, a girl of the age of 18, enters the scene. She is carrying letters with her. The stage is dimly lit and there is an archway. She begins to look around for a boy, Joseph, 19, who is supposed to be meeting her. She paces back and forth, going through the letters)


RAYELLA: (mumbling as she reads parts of the letters) Dear, Rayella. I can’t wait to finally meet you. (She folds up the letter, puts in her pocket and begins reading another letter) Dear, Rayella. It’s only a few more days… (She begins reading the letter to herself, pauses, and looks around) Well, Joseph, I’m here.

(Rayella sits downstage and begins to organize the letters into a pile. Joseph enters the scene from upstage. Rayella is unaware of his presence. Joseph kneels down beside her and taps her on the shoulder)

RAYELLA: (startled) You’re here!

(Joseph smiles and looks at her pile of letters)

JOSEPH: So, I see you have received the letters I sent you.

(Joseph sits next to Rayella. Rayella shifts away from him slightly, feeling uneasy. Joseph gives her a charming smile)

RAYELLA: (Shyly) Yes, I have read every one. I’ve been so excited to meet you.

(Joseph reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box)

JOSEPH: (handing her the box) I brought you something.

(Rayella opens the box and looks inside. She takes a necklace with a large jewel on it out of the box)

RAYELLA: (happily) It’s so beautiful! Oh, I can’t accept this, Joseph. I’ve only just met you and (pause) I just don’t-

JOSEPH: No, no. I insist. Here, why don’t you try it on?

(Joseph takes the necklace and puts it around Rayella’s neck.)

JOSEPH: (smiling) Just what I thought, perfect.

(Blackout. Red lights. Rayella looks around the stage. Joseph puts his hand on her shoulder)

RAYELLA: (confused) What… what just happened? Where is everything? What happened to the forest?

JOSEPH: Don’t worry, the forest didn’t go anywhere. We just can’t see it.

RAYELLA: (worried)What do you mean? Why can’t we see anything?

JOSEPH: It's the necklace. It's giving you a different perspective on the world. It allows you to see things how you want to see them.

RAYELLA: Why did the forest disappear then?

JOSEPH: Because it scared you, so you took it out of your mind.

RAYELLA: (uneasy) But, but... how did you know it scared me? This is just too strange. I think I want things back to the way they were...

(Rayella begins to unhook the necklace. Joseph reaches out to stop her.)

JOSEPH: (Grabbing the necklace) No, Rayella, please don’t. Don’t you want to know what you can do with a world all of your own?

(Rayella looks at Joseph.)

RAYELLA: (curiously) Can it really be anything I want?

JOSEPH: Anything.

(Blackout)

(SCENE 2, Rayella is lying in a hospital bed. She is in a coma. Doctor is standing beside the bed. Rayella’s mother and father enter the scene.)

DOCTOR: It’s been three months now. I’m sorry, but, things don’t seem to be progressing positively with Rayella. Every now and then we can get a slight response from her, but it’s nothing more than a movement in her sleep. Unfortunately, there will probably be only a few more days that she will be with us.

(Rayella’s mother begins to weep into her fathers shoulder. He holds her delicately as he rubs his brow.)

HAROLD: (sighs) So, there are really no other options but to wait?

(Rayella’s mother begins to weep harder)

DOCTOR: I’m afraid not sir. Her concussions are far too serious. It was incredible that she was still alive when paramedics found her at the scene.

(Rayella’s mother looks up at the doctor and stops from her weeping.)

BETH: (holding back tears) Will you please let us know if anything changes?

DOCTOR: Certainly, ma’am.

(Blackout)

(SCENE 3, Blue wash over the stage. Rayella and Joseph enter the scene holding hands.)

RAYELLA: (happily) I can’t believe how incredible this place is. One minute we’re in the deepest part of the forest, and the next we’re in an open field under the stars. There’s just no limit to anything anymore! I could stay here forever!

JOSEPH: Then why don’t you? I’m sure your family wouldn’t mind. Look at how happy you are with me. They wouldn’t want to deprive you of your happiness would they?

RAYELLA: (uncertain) I guess not. I don’t really know. I actually can’t remember who my family is. The last thing I remember is… coming to meet you and… this necklace. I can’t believe how beautiful this necklace is!

JOSEPH: So where would you like to go?

RAYELLA: Somewhere… beautiful. It would have to have lots of colors and people. Oh! And dancing, it would have to have dancing!

(Joseph smiles and puts his hand on Rayella’s shoulder.)

JOSEPH: Anything you want, darling.

(Rayella closes her eyes and holds her necklace in her hand. Black out. The stage lights up with vibrant colors and classical music plays in the background. Joseph is holding two masks in his hand. Couples begin to slowly dance onto the stage.)

JOSEPH: Would you care to dance, Rayella?

(Joseph puts on his mask and hands the other one to Rayella. Rayella takes the mask and puts it over her face. Joseph then bows, holding out his hand for Rayella. She takes his hand and they begin dancing amongst the other couples. Rayella puts her head down on Joseph’s shoulder and continues to slowly dance to the music.)

RAYELLA: I think I know this song. I remember hearing it somewhere. Do you recognize it?

JOSEPH: Well remember, this is your place that made up. Of course you would know the song.

RAYELLA: I suppose you’re right, if only I could remember where I heard this.

JOSEPH: Well, don’t worry about it now. Just continue dancing to the melody.

(Rayella glances up at Joseph. Joseph smiles at her. Joseph then lifts his mask off of his face and then removes Rayella’s mask slowly. Rayella smiles at Joseph and puts her head on Joseph shoulder.)

RAYELLA: I feel like I’ve known you for a long time. I just, I feel so comfortable with you, as if I have met you somewhere.

JOSEPH: Well, maybe we have met before.

RAYELLA: It’s so peaceful right now, I could stay here forever.

JOSEPH: Wouldn’t it be better if it was just us here? Not everyone else?

RAYELLA: I suppose it would be.

(The other couples slowly dance off the stage, leaving Rayella and Joseph dancing together. The lights slowly fade out but the music stays on.)

(SCENE 4, Rayella’s mother is sitting next to Rayella, who is lying in her hospital bed. Her mother has a CD playing the classical music that Rayella had been dancing to at the ball.)

BETH: Oh Rayella, my dear Rayella. Please, please wake up! I’m playing your favourite song for you. Please…

(Rayella’s mother begins to weep. Her Father enters the scene. The music volume lowers.)

HAROLD: There is nothing we can do now honey, we just have to wait.

BETH: (stops weeping) Why does that have to be the option? Why does it have to be like this? None of this would have happened if I hadn’t had let her go out. The one night… the one time…

HAROLD: Now Beth, it isn’t anyone’s fault. This is just what happened. We can’t do anything about it now.

BETH: Harold, you don’t understand. It was the first time I let her be independent. It was the first time I thought that she would be okay on her own. Look at what happened. My mistake has taken her life.

HAROLD: Honey, she was ready to go out on her own, the rest of the world just had other plans. When we got that phone call, we knew that something wasn’t right.

BETH: Why… why do they let those people loose? I just can’t believe it. That stupid driver was too drunk to even know he hit her, but he gets to live to tell the tale. I can’t stand this.

HAROLD: I know… I know… But there is nothing that we can do now. I think I will just leave you alone for a while. Okay?

BETH: Okay…

(Harold leaves the stage and Beth puts her head in her hands. The scene fades to black)

(SCENE 5, Rayella is sitting with Joseph. They are holding hands. Joseph looks into Rayella’s eyes and smiles.)

JOSEPH: Where do you want to go next Rayella?

RAYELLA: I'm not sure. Where would you like to go?

JOSEPH: Wherever you want.

RAYELLA: That's not very helpful, now is it?

JOSEPH: Yeah, I guess not. Okay, here's an idea. Why don't we go to something like... the beach?

RAYELLA: Oh that sounds wonderful! I've always wanted to go to the beach. I just never got the chance.

JOSEPH: Well, this is your chance, Rayella.

(Rayella closes her eyes and the lights on the stage dim a bit. Rayella then opens her eyes. There is the sound of waves playing in the background.)

JOSEPH: Well, we're definitely on a beach, why is it night time?

RAYELLA: It's much more peaceful I think. It's not as hot and all you can hear is the sound of the waves, there's no seagulls or anything out at this time.

JOSEPH: Very nice.

(Rayella and Joseph sit together. Rayella puts her head on Joseph's shoulder.)

RAYELLA: I'm... I'm having trouble remembering things. Like I was talking about before. I don't remember who my family is. I've even forgotten how I met you. This is all just so strange. Why can't I remember anything?

JOSEPH: Maybe you just don't want to remember these things.

RAYELLA: I may not remember them,but I know that this isn't how the world is supposed to work. Since when does a necklace take someone wherever they want to go? How is any of this even possible?

(Joseph doesn't say anything. He looks away. Rayella looks up at him and touches his shoulder.)

RAYELLA: Joseph? Why don't I remember these things? Joseph?

JOSEPH: You... you just can't okay? I don't know why, but you can't remember them. There's nothing more that I can say.

(Rayella looks down.)

RAYELLA: I... I don't think I want to be here anymore. It's just... I don't know. I want my life back. I want to remember who I am.

(Rayella reaches to take off her necklace.)

JOSEPH: Rayella, wait!

(Joseph takes her hand and looks into her eyes.)

RAYELLA: Yes?

JOSEPH: If you want to remember something about your life... then all that I can tell you is that... I love you.

RAYELLA: You... you love-

(Joseph leans in and kisses her, unhooking her necklace and taking it off. Blackout. The lights come back up to show Rayella sitting by herself.)

RAYELLA: Joseph? Hello? Where are you? Where… where am I? (She stands up and paces around the stage. ) I didn’t want this! I don’t even know where I am now. What’s happening?

(Part of the stage lights up to show a body wrapped in a blanket. Beside the body there is a CD player. Rayella hesitates as she walks towards the body.)

RAYELLA: Who… who is this?

(Rayella kneels down beside the body, noticing the CD player. She picks it up.)

RAYELLA: Where did all of this come from? Who is this person?

(Rayella turns on the CD player. The song that was playing at the ball begins to play quietly. Rayella looks at the CD player.)

RAYELLA: This song… It’s the one from the ball. But… why is it playing? I don’t understand this.

(Rayella puts down the CD player and looks at the body. She reaches out to it and glances under the blanket.)

RAYELLA: What!? It’s me! How is this possible? How can I be right there when… I’m right here?

(Ambulance sirens begin to play in the background. Rayella looks around. Two Paramedics rush onto the stage with a stretcher. Rayella stands up. Joseph enters the stage with dirt on his face. He is holding back tears.)

JOSEPH: I… I don’t know if she is alive. I thought I would put that blanket around her. I don’t know what to do, I’m… uh… I’m…

PARAMEDIC 1: Don’t worry; everything is going to be okay. We’ll get you guys out of here.

(Rayella walks over to Joseph.)

RAYELLA: Joseph! I’m right here! I’m okay! That’s not me under the blanket! I’m right here!

(Joseph ignores her and gets escorted off the stage by Paramedic 1. Paramedic 2 begins to work on the body in the blanket.)

RAYELLA: Excuse me? Mister? Can you hear me?

(Paramedic 2 ignores her and continues to work on the body.)

RAYELLA: What… what happened to me?

(Blackout.)

(SCENE 6, Beth and Harold are standing together in the hospital room. Harold is holding a bunch of letters tied together. Rayella is sleeping. The doctor then enters the stage.)

DOCTOR: There isn’t much time left. I’m sorry but, you’re going to have to say your goodbyes now.

(The Doctor leaves as Beth and Harold hold each others hands and sit next to Rayella. Beth takes a CD out from her purse and places it on the end of the hospital bed. Harold puts the letters beside the CD)

HAROLD: I wish it didn't have to be this way.

BETH: (crying) We love you so much, sweetie.

(Harold puts his arm around Beth as she continues to cry. Joseph comes into the room, he is carrying a rose)

HAROLD: (turns around to see Joseph) Joseph, would you like a few minutes alone with Rayella?

JOSEPH: Yes, please.

(Harold and Beth stand up. Beth hugs Joseph and then leaves the room. Harold rubs Joseph's shoulder.)

HAROLD: I'm really sorry about this.

(Harold leaves the room and Joseph sits next to Rayella. He puts the rose in his lap and leans on the bed.)

JOSEPH: I just can't believe this happened. It's like it was only yesterday we were sitting together at home, laughing and watching a movie. I never thought things would end up like this.

(Joseph puts his head in his hands. Rayella doesn't move.)

JOSEPH: I'm going to miss you so much... I just... can't believe you're going to be gone... I just... I can't believe it.

(Rayella turns her head slightly towards him. Joseph doesn't notice. He takes her hand and holds it in his.)

JOSEPH: Please... Rayella... please... wake up...

(Joseph kisses her hand and Rayella coughs a little.)

RAYELLA: (whispering) Where... where am I?

JOSEPH: Rayella? You're awake!

RAYELLA: Joseph? Is that you? I was just having a dream about you... it... it was really strange.

JOSEPH: It's okay, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere.

RAYELLA: What... what did you do with that necklace you gave me?

JOSEPH: What? I don't know what you're talking about, sweetie.

RAYELLA: Never...nevermind. It doesn't matter.

JOSEPH: How are you feeling Rayella? Do you think you can sit up?

RAYELLA: I... I don't think so. I feel really weird. My head is killing me. I don't remember anything.

JOSEPH: You remember me though? I'm your boyfriend. We've been together for a little over a year.

RAYELLA: Really?

JOSEPH: Yes. We were going out for our anniversary when we got into an accident. A drunk driver had been going down the road the wrong way. He hit our car. He didn't have his headlights on... that's why you didn't see him. I can't remember much after the accident except for being on the side of the road with you.

RAYELLA: I... I think I kind of remember that.

JOSEPH: The doctor said you only have a little more time left.

RAYELLA: I'm... I'm sorry, Joseph.

JOSEPH: It's okay, I'll stay with you.

RAYELLA: In... in my dream... you said you... you love me.

JOSEPH: Of course I love you, sweetie. I've always loved you.

(Rayella turns her head more towards Joseph.)

RAYELLA: Is that rose for me?

JOSEPH: Yes, it's your favourite flower.

RAYELLA: I know that, silly. I haven't lost all of my memory.

JOSEPH: Haha, well that's good.

RAYELLA: How much time do you think I have?

JOSEPH: I'm not sure.

RAYELLA: Will... will you lay with me?

JOSEPH: Sure.

(Joseph sits on the bed and then lays beside Rayella, facing her.)

RAYELLA: Do... do you mind if I fall asleep again?

JOSEPH: If you want.

(Rayella closes her eyes and slowly falls asleep. Joseph closes his eyes and begins to fall asleep too. The heart monitor beside the bed beeps slowly.)

JOSEPH: I love you.

RAYELLA: (quietly) I love you too.

(The scene goes on for a little bit. The heart monitor then holds one of the beeps to show that Rayella has passed away. Joseph opens his eyes to see Rayella's still body. He begins to get tears in his eyes as he holds her in his arms. Time passes. Joseph gets off of the bed and turns towards Rayella. He takes the rose and places it beside Rayella. He then leans in and kisses Rayella on the forehead.)

JOSEPH: For my love, Rayella.

(The scene fades to black.)

The End.