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ACT I –       SCENE 1

The room is set for a caberet. Tables fill the floor leading to a traditonal stage area. Traditional theatre seating fills the back part of the theatre. The feeling is one of seats, then special tables for guests close to the stage and then the stage area itself.

the lights dim leaving a low illuminated stage visible. The backdrop fades into view – A graveyard. It is cold here.

Helena VO:    Come on. Keep up

Helena Rushes onto the stage. She is 16 – 17, young and full of life. Normal. A teenager enjoying life. She is Happy, almost laughing with joy. Clearly being chased and loving the simple fun of a childish game. She is bundled up against the cold.

Dave VO:      Helena? Stop messing around. Grow up.

Helena glances around, looking for a hiding place.

Helena:       Come on. You’re supposed to catch me. Remember? We used to play at school. Catch me

She rushes to the centre of the stage back to the audience and slowly, almost dreamlike, she turns to face them. This is a turning point, a moment between the gaps of reality when the boundries between stage and audience blur. She appears to directly address the audience now. Solemly, as near to a whisper as the theatre will allow she speaks.

Helena:       Catch me.

She holds out her arms like an actor taking part in a trust exercise and falls backwards into the darkness. In a single movement she is gone. THe stage is empty for a moment.

Dave rushes onto the stage. He is also wearing a winter coat.

Dave:         Helena? Come on, I’m cold. Let’s go. Helena?

He looks around the stage for her. No sign. Dave is frustrated and getting angry now.

Dave:         Come on, babe. Pack it in now. (beat) Come out. Seriously that’s enough. It’s too cold out here.

Dave stops and considers. He is lost in thought for moment. Consdering. Then he turns and addresses the audience. Nervous, timid and intimidated by speaking to so many people.

Dave:         I think that was it. Yes, that was the last thing I said to her. Well, I think anyway. Not that I haven’t spoken to her since. I have. It’s just that, well that was the last time she was there, if you see what I mean. Responding, you know. Awake.

Illumination stage right reveals a hospital setting and a bed. Helena lies asleep. Her head is bandaged. Dave continues to address the audience directly.

They found her the next morning. She fell or something. Don’t really know what. Anyway whatever happed she hurt her head. Right on the back. Knocked something, or bruised something and it caused something intercran… Intercamian… hemosomething

He looks embarrased and lost for a moment then From out of the audience the doctor shouts.

Doctor:       Intercranial haematoma?

Dave looks for the interruption and spots the Doctor amongst the tables.

Dave:         Yeah. That’s it. Intercranial hema… er.

Doctor:       Haematoma.

dave:         That’s the one. You a doctor then?

Doctor:       Yes. Surgeon actually, well neurosurgical specialist, in fact.

Dave whistles, impressed.

Dave:         Could you look at her?

Doctor:       Oh, well I shouldn’t really. She’s not my patient you see. I’m not responsible for her.    

Dave:         No, ‘suppose not. Still, please. Eh? Just a once over. Just give us your opinion.

Doctor:       No, really, I can’t.

Dave:         Come on. This isn’t real after all. It’s just a play.

Doctor:       Sorry?

Doctor:       A play. The edge is here

Dave indicates the edge of the stage area. A change is coming over dave. He begins his transformation into game show host Dave (GH Dave)As he makes the following speech he takes on the persona of a daytime gameshow host. Bob Monkhouse crossed with an american TV evangelist.

Look. This is where reality ends and fantasy begins. Right here. So your opinion is only that. An opinion expressed in a fictional, made-up, unreal, fantastical arena and fantasy environment.

Dave throws off his winter coat to reveal a sequinned jacket underneath.

              The stuff of dreams my friend, a topography of tales and fables, a world where we can jump backwards and forwards through time and space.

Aside to the audience

              But, without the budget for special effects you will need to use your imaginations a little.

BACK to doctor     

              So, would you, mysterious Doctor from the audience care to be our first contestant on…

Stage lighting goes into a frenzy of swirling colour and the backdrop changes to a wheel of fortune style gameshow set. A cane is thrown on stage and Dave catches it. With a twirl of his cane he indicates the name appearing over the game show set.

The game of Hiding Helena. Doctor from table 5, COME! ON! OVER!

Thunderous applause through the sound system. The bemused doctor stands and stumbles to the stage. He trips and hurts himself in some minor way.

              Whoops, is there a doctor in the house ladies and gentlemen?

Canned and obvioulsy looped laughter bellows.

              Give him a big round of applause ladies and gentlemen. Now, Doctor. You have taken the challenge of our first round. All we need you to do is take look at her and tell us what is wrong with Helena?

DOCTOR:       What? I couldn’t possibly.

GH Dave:      Of course not, not without knowing the prize. So, let’s ask our super-duper game computer what the prize is. Computer?

COMPUTER:     On-line.

GH DAVE:      Computer, please tell us tonight’s star prize.

computer:     Tonight Dave our contestants will be playing for Helena’s life.

doctor:       What?

gh dave:      Oh, not literally, my good doctor. No we will be playing to find out who is responsible for Helena being here in the first place. More making sure the correct person gets the right prize. So Doctor lets play… Hiiiiiiding Heelllena.

Dave pushes the doctor towards the table.