Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Written by
Joseph Frost
Draft
8/19/15
written for the 2015 31 Plays in 31 Days project
HANFIELD
But there was a place in the road, the long road through the forest of sorrow, where the
path divides between the road to the sea and the road to the hills. At that place stood a
small house, thatched roof and almost always a puff of smoke from the chimney. It was at
such a distance that almost every traveller stopped there, to take a moments rest - not
always to disturb the couple that lived there, but often they would bring out some kind of
modest food, bread, some water, something. Dazzled by the humble generosity, travellers
on this road never suspected.
A modest cabin.
A woman, CHARLOTTE, stirs a pot over a fire.
A man, RICHARD, whittles as he sits in a rocking chair
by the window.
CHARLOTTE
Its almost ready.
RICHARD
No ones come.
CHARLOTTE
They will.
RICHARD
I know they will.
CHARLOTTE
We will need to be ready.
RICHARD
I know we do.
CHARLOTTE
You arent ready.
RICHARD
You arent ready.
CHARLOTTE
But Im almost ready.
2.
RICHARD
And so am I.
She stirs and he whittles.
CHARLOTTE
I dont want to repeat what happ-RICHARD
It wont happen again.
CHARLOTTE
It wont. I wont let it.
RICHARD
Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE
I will not be disappointed. I am not upset.
He whittles.
A sound outside.
RICHARD
What is that?
CHARLOTTE
What is what?
RICHARD
Didnt you hear?
CHARLOTTE
Hear what?
RICHARD
That sound. I heard something.
CHARLOTTE
I didnt hear anything. They arent come yet.
RICHARD
No. Cant be.
Rises. Looks out window.
3.
CHARLOTTE
Are they?
RICHARD
Cant see anyone.
CHARLOTTE
Then what did you hear?
RICHARD
Probably nothing.
CHARLOTTE
Go and see.
Richard goes to the door and opens it.
RICHARD
I dont...
CHARLOTTE
Go out.
He does. He comes back.
RICHARD
Nothing.
CHARLOTTE
I was afraid theyd come.
RICHARD
Not yet.
Richard goes to her and puts his arm around her waist.
CHARLOTTE
Im sorry. I just-RICHARD
Shh...
They nuzzle for a moment.
CHARLOTTE
I do everything I can for you. For us.
4.
RICHARD
And I appreciate it.
She turns to him, puts her hand on his face.
CHARLOTTE
Richard. I came out here with you for one reason.
RICHARD
I know, dear.
CHARLOTTE
And that will always be...
He takes her hands.
RICHARD
You dont have to...
CHARLOTTE
But I do. And I should. More. Some days I see you in that chair sun up to down, and I
say nothing. I do nothing.
RICHARD
Dear. You dont have to.
They stand a moment.
He looks at the pot.
CHARLOTTE
It should be ready.
RICHARD
Its perfect.
A knock at the door.
CHARLOTTE
What...
RICHARD
There was no one, I tell you.
CHARLOTTE
Go to the door.
5.
He crosses to the door.
RICHARD
The road was clear. No sounds.
CHARLOTTE
Dont... Just...
RICHARD
Ready.
CHARLOTTE
Of course.
RICHARD
Then again. My love.
CHARLOTTE
Again. My heart.
Richard opens the door.
There stands a small child.
RICHARD
Hello there, child.
AUTUMN
Hello. My name is Autumn.
RICHARD
Autumn. What a pretty name. For a very pretty young lady.
(looks out)
What brings you so far to this place? Where are your parents?
AUTUMN
My parents, sir?
RICHARD
Yes.
AUTUMN
I have no parents, sir. I have been on this road for days and days. And I saw your house.
RICHARD
Days and days? Walking? No horse? Or carriage?
6.
AUTUMN
No sir.
(looks inside)
Please, sir. I can smell the food. May I have something to eat.
Richard and Charlotte look to each other.
RICHARD
Umm... we dont... have any...
Charlotte goes to the door.
CHARLOTTE
Oh, my dear. Come inside. We have plenty of-Richard grabs Charlotte by the arm. A glare.
Autumn skips inside.
AUTUMN
I am ever so hungry. I cant remember the last time I ate.
Charlotte pulls away.
CHARLOTTE
Well, we have plenty. A pot of stew is on, my dear. Have a-Autumn is already sitting at a small table.
AUTUMN
Thank you, maam. I love stew.
Charlotte goes to the pot. She grabs a bowl and scoops
out some stew.
CHARLOTTE
One moment, dearie.
AUTUMN
I like your cottage. It is so comfortable.
RICHARD
Well thank you, Autumn.
AUTUMN
Im glad I found you.
7.
RICHARD
Well... so are we...
(beat)
How did you come to this place? Why were you walking the road?
AUTUMN
Doesnt everyone walk the road?
RICHARD
But where did you come from? The town?
AUTUMN
The town?
RICHARD
Or the hills? Are you from the hills?
AUTUMN
The hills?
RICHARD
Then, the sea, maybe.
AUTUMN
Ive never seen the sea.
A moment.
Charlotte brings the bowl to the table and sets it down.
A moment.
AUTUMN (CONTD)
Do you have a spoon?
CHARLOTTE
A spoon? Yes. Richard. A spoon.
A moment.
AUTUMN
Please sir.
A moment.
8.
RICHARD
We dont... have...
AUTUMN
Whats that in your hand?
Richard looks at the object he has been whittling. It is a
spoon.
RICHARD
Oh. This. A spoon.
CHARLOTTE
I will give it to her.
Charlotte holds out her hand. Richard does not move.
AUTUMN
Sir?
CHARLOTTE
Give it to me. Richard.
Richard holds it out. Charlotte takes it and places it next to
the bowl.
Richard darts forward, grabs the bowl and throws it out
the window.
AUTUMN
Sir!
CHARLOTTE
Richard.
RICHARD
I cant. We cant, Charlotte. Look at her.
CHARLOTTE
I wont.
RICHARD
Look at her.
CHARLOTTE
No.
9.
Richard goes to Autumn.
RICHARD
Tell me where are your parents.
AUTUMN
I told you sir, I have no parents.
RICHARD
That cannot be true. You have parents. We all have parents.
AUTUMN
Even you?
RICHARD
Even I do, Autumn. Yes.
AUTUMN
Sir...
Richard grabs Autumn, picks her up and sets her on the
table.
RICHARD
How did you come to this place? Tell me. Where are you from? Where are you going?
Why have you come here?
AUTUMN
I dont know what to say, sir. I am from nowhere. I have no parents. I have come to this
place. I am here. With you. This is where I was going.
CHARLOTTE
You know why she is here. You know what we must do.
Richard turns to Charlotte.
RICHARD
I wont.
Richard goes to the stew. He picks up the pot.
Richard starts to drink the pot of stew, and pours it all over
himself.
Charlotte turns on him.
10.
CHARLOTTE
Richard! No!
Charlotte grabs the spoon from the table and rushes on
Richard.
A scuffle.
RICHARD
No!
Richard turns Charlotte, and she is stabbed with the
whittled spoon.
Charlotte collapses.
Richard begins to choke and grabs at his throat.
Charlotte and Richard die.
Autumn stands on the table.
AUTUMN
I have no parents. I have come from neither the town, nor the hills, nor the sea. I have
come to this place. And I have come for this.
Lights dim.
HANFIELD
There is a cabin in the forest of sorrow. And for many a day, travellers by that way would
often stop there. And never reach their destination. But when autumn came... when
autumn came, the forest itself became the destination.
End.