SIR

SIR

Act 1

Scene 1

Emma

Sir

         EMMA and SIR are sitting at the kitchen table. Coffee is being made. Sir is reading a newspaper while Emma is staring at her thumbs.

SIR:

         (Sighs and sets down his paper, staring at Emma)

Are you going to school today?

EMMA:

         (Looks up at him)

No.

SIR:

Why not?

EMMA:

         (Looks down)

I am not smart enough.

SIR:

         (Tilts his head)

What makes you say that?

EMMA:

         (Closes eyes)

The girls.

SIR:

         (Clears throat and leans into the table)

Emma. Are you getting bullied again?

EMMA:

No!

         (Shakes her head)

SIR:

         (Sighs and leans back, unfolding the newspaper again)

Are you going to eat breakfast?

EMMA:

         (Gets up quickly and grabs a bowl and the cereal from the cupboard and makes herself a bowl. She returns to the table eating)

SIR:

         (Looks at her over the top of his newspaper)

Did you get your homework done?

EMMA:

         (Nods)

SIR:

How did you do on your last test?

EMMA:

         (Swallows and doesn't make eye-contact with him. Shifts nervously.)

Y-Yes.

SIR:

Emma. Did you get your homework done?

EMMA:

No, Sir.

SIR:

(Puts down newspaper roughly and sips out of coffee mug)

Why not?

EMMA:

Maria called me last night.

SIR:

What did you and Maria talk about?

EMMA:

School, Sir.

SIR:

So. You were talking about school, instead of doing homework?

EMMA:

         (Nervously nods her head)

SIR:

I see.

EMMA:

I need to go. The bus will be here soon.

         EMMA stands to leave but is stopped by SIR who clears his throat and points back to the chair. EMMA sits quietly and twiddles her thumbs

SIR:

What's the big rush? I will give you a ride to school.

EMMA:

No rush, Sir.

SIR:

Okay then. Did you talk to that boy yesterday?

EMMA:

         (Shakes her head no)

SIR:

Good girl. Boys are trouble.

EMMA:

I understand, Sir.

         The two of them sit in silence for a while. Papers rustle slightly as SIR flips through the once again opened newspaper.

EMMA:

I talked to Mrs. Redbird last night. I am going to help with the sermon tomorrow.

SIR:

Good, good. I was hoping that they'd get you in.

EMMA:

         (Nods with a sigh)

SIR:

Is that a problem?

EMMA:

         (Shakes her head)

No, sir.

SIR:

Go get your things.

         EMMA gets up and heads to her room. SIR sits at the table, the paper dropping to the floor. He picks up his coffee mug and stares out towards the audience.

SIR:

Such a foolish child. She thinks I am stupid. I can see right through her wicked lies. She is just like her mother. BAD. FOOLISH. A HOMEWRECKER.

         (He stands, walking out to the audience)

YOU may think she's innocent. But I can see it in her eyes. She's going to leave me.  Just you wa-

EMMA:

Sir? Who are you talking to?

SIR:

         (Whips around suddenly)

No one child. Sit.

EMMA:

We need to go.

SIR:

I said sit! I must talk to you.

EMMA:

         (Sits abruptly at the table, looking at him.)

SIR:

         Something was brought to my attention the other day. Something I don't like.

EMMA:

What is it, Sir?

SIR:

You're grades.

EMMA:

M-my grades? I thought I was doing just fine, Sir. All A's.

SIR:

That is not what I was told.

EMMA:

Who told you this? Was it the girls?

SIR:

         (Eye twitches)

Yes. They called.

EMMA:

How did they get my number?

SIR:

They said you gave it to them.

EMMA:

I swear, Sir. I did no such thing.

SIR:

So, you are lying about your grades AND this?

EMMA:

N-no, Sir. I am not lying! I am doing just fine in school. I can bring home a copy of my grades if you'd like.

SIR:

         (Nods his head)

Yes.

EMMA:

We really need to go now, Sir.

SIR:

         (Eye twitches again)

Yes. We must go.

EMMA:

Sir, are you okay?

SIR:

         (Nods)

Yes, of course. Did you talk to Mrs. Redbird?

EMMA:

Yes. I told you this.

SIR:

         (Shakes head and sits back down)

Something was brought to my attention.

EMMA:

Sir, did you take your medicine?

SIR:

Did you?

EMMA:

Sir. I think you need to lie down.

SIR:

NO!

         SIR runs to the middle of the stage, clapping his hands

This was how it ended last time! You...no...SHE told me to lie down. Then she left! LEFT ME WITH YOU!

EMMA:      

         (Eyes widen)

You need to lay down, Sir.

SIR:

         (Laughs)

Setting fire to the goddamn place, huh?

EMMA:

There is no fire.

SIR:

Not yet! Oh, but I see one.

EMMA:

You see a fire?

SIR:

In your eyes.

EMMA:

A fire in my eyes?

SIR

         (Claps his hands)

EMMA:

Do you know where you are, Sir?

SIR:

In the fire!

EMMA:

No. Do you know where you are?

SIR:

MRS. Redbird is here! Are you going to go to sermon?

EMMA:

Sermon? What sermon?

SIR:

         (Eye twitches)

We need to go.

EMMA:

Go where, Sir?

SIR:

To the sermon!

EMMA:

         (Holds out a needle from her pocket.)

Please, come with me.

SIR:

Where are we going?

She leads him to the corner of the stage. The room gets dark and a spot light on them.

EMMA:

Do you remember what happened?

SIR:

What do you mean?

EMMA:

         (The sound of rain behind her)

It was a dark and lonely day for you. You were supposed to meet them at the grocery store.

SIR:

         (Closes his eyes, now visioning himself in a car with vehicle noises behind him.)

EMMA:

But you never did. Instead, you took a right turn.

SIR:

         (Makes movement of turning the car to the right. Car tire noises behind him)

EMMA:

You never could resist the liquor store, could you sir.

SIR:

No sir-e! Had to get my fair share of alcohol before the days up.

EMMA:

They waited for you.

         (Sound of child crying in the background)

SIR:

What's that!?

         (Jumps)

EMMA:

         Poor Mrs. Redbird. She sat with Maria all day. It was getting colder.

SIR:

Shut that baby up!

         (Yells to the audience.)

EMMA:

Oh, Sir. You already did that.

SIR:

It's still crying, Emma.

EMMA:

Why do you think that is, Sir? You never did meet them.

SIR:

That liquor store was closed! I remember.

EMMA:

Yes. That store was closed, Sir.

SIR:

Why did I go there then?

EMMA:

You drove your car into the building. You needed that liquor.

SIR:

Why would I do such a thing!?

EMMA:

Why do you think, Sir? You never did meet them.

SIR:

I get it. Stop saying that.

         (He furrows his brow. His eyes still closed.)

         The two of them still stood in the spotlight. The sound of rain and the baby crying constantly playing in the back.

EMMA:

The cops came, but you couldn't be found.

SIR:

Where did I go?

EMMA:

To meet them.  But you were not your self, Sir. Oh no. That liquor changed you.

SIR:

Liquor can't change anyone! It's a drink.

EMMA:

The drink of the Devil, Sir. It made you think nasty thoughts.

         Baby's crying gets louder. The sound of a gun being cocked.

SIR:

What is that noise?

EMMA:

Keep your eyes closed, sir.

SIR:

Is that a gun?

EMMA:

Yes. That is the gun of the devil himself.

SIR:

The devil!? Why is the devil's gun here?

EMMA:

You're holding it, Sir?

SIR:

Why in hell am I holding the devil's gun, Emma?

EMMA:

To kill someone.

         Baby's crying gets louder. Woman's crying joins in.

SIR:

Why is everyone crying?

EMMA:

You pointed that gun to them, Sir. You met them.

SIR:

Why would I do that? Who are these people?

EMMA:

(Starts singing in an echo-y voice)

For the Devil Tells me so.

Two souls' gold and one soul sold.

Tick tock goes the clock.

Boom bang goes the game.

SIR:

STOP SINGING!

EMMA:

         (Continues singing)

For the Devil Tells me so.

Two souls' gold and one soul sold.

Tick tock goes the clock.

Boom bang goes the game.

SIR:

MARIA! ASHLEY!

         (Starts crying)

         The sound of rain starts to come faster and harder. EMMA is still heard singing in the background. Thunder and lightning flashes, revealing that the stage has now changed. In the background, there is a dark room with a single window and a metal bed. SIR is now standing alone with his hands up. Handcuffs are on his hands and tears are coming down his face.

ASHLEY! MARIA

         EMMA's voice is still echoing as the curtain falls.