Searching for Hope

                        A Collection of Monologues About Darfur

                                    By Marley Grey Utzig

Character list (In order of appearance):

Young Fatima Terab

Thomas James

Amina Terab

Samir Wek

Dr. Simon

Older Fatima Terab

 

 

 

                                                Act 1 Scene 1

 Fatima Terab

Small Child's view of how life was before the Janjaweeds.

 So this is for a doc-o-men-a-try? (Pause small smile) Sure I will tell you about my life in my village. I run and get water for my family in the morning I am up the earliest and my mom likes to say it is an easy way to get me out of the way (small chuckle) Then mommy has me come home and boil the water for clothes. She lets me play with my two brothers Samir and Bakit. We play hide and seek with the other kids and tag but my brothers are always able to catch me because I am younger then them but I am also smaller so I can hide much better, so when we play hide and seek, I have my favorite spot its under a tree. I see my eldest sister Amina near the tree most days when I am hiding there. She picks the twigs that are good for the fire off the ground. When I was younger and confused as to why you did not take the wood from the branches of the tree my mommy explained that it was a sin to hurt the tree. So they would go in the forest and pick up twigs and stuffs. Hmmm where was I? Umm oh yeah! My day. So I play with my brothers and the other kids in the village. Mid-Afternoon we go back home for a bit I help mom with boiling clothes and sweeping. Mom keeps me in the house for the rest of the day to help with more chores and making dinner. My daddy comes home later he is one of the leaders of our village. We sit down to dinner … umm yeah that’s about it of my day. Bye Miss! (Hops up from position and goes to run off stage looks back like interviewer asked question) Yes umm... (Looks in camera with a stern face) My name is Fatima Terab I live in the Kass village of Darfur, Sudan. I am 7 years old. (Pause squints face then big smile) Sure I will do your introduction. This is a film by Tiffany Strauser this interview was filmed in 2002. (Pause) Okay bye miss.

 

 

 

Act 1 Scene 2

Thomas James

(On the street near a street corner with a white binder his NGO is labeled on the front and he is trying to get people to donate)

Hello sir, spare a moment to talk about the genocide in Darfur? (Pause) Miss, do you know about the genocide going on right now? (Pause) Excuse me Sir, (Pause) Yes, hi. Do you know about the Genocide in Darfur? (Pause) No? Okay well basically the Sudan government has hired a group of men called the Janjaweed whom are killing people in Darfur. (Pause) You have a good day sir. (Pause *SIGH*) Ms! Hi would you spare a moment to hear about the genocide in Darfur? (Pause) Cool, so the Sudan government has hired a group of men called the Janjaweed who are killing villages in Darfur. The U.N. estimated 200,000 dead and around 2.5 million displaced. If you make a donation it will help us put more political pressure so that we can help Darfur. (Pause) Yes thank you Ms, have a nice day. (Pause) Hello, do you know about the crisis in Darfur? (Pause) Currently genocide is underway there. See most people don’t care what’s going on in Darfur … or anywhere in Africa for that matter. As far as most people are concerned Africa is a country always at war with itself so why should we care? BUT that’s the point! We should care in 1994 there was a mass genocide of at least 800,000 people but no one cared! There is a movie on this horrible event as there are with most horrible events movies that barley brushes the surface of the media while movies about Facebook make millions in the box office and make already rice people richer. People are DYING but no one cares as long as it does not bother him or her. Makes you wonder if the US really even cared about the genocide in WW2 (Pause *Horror stricken expression*) Oh goodness I am so sorry that I went off like that, please sir have a good day. (*Turns around* Talking to himself*) In the words of H. Jackson Brown, Jr. “The greatest ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about” (Sigh again Turn around look shocked) Hello, again sir I am so sorry (Pause) Oh! Ah thank you so much for your donation. Good afternoon sir.

                                                Act 1 Scene 3

Amina Terab
(Dirty girl around 18 dirty dress and sitting in her hut she shares with several other women)

Yes hello, I understand you are interviewing me for a project. (Pause) My name is Amina Terab and I am telling you my story from a displacement camp in Darfur. I am going to tell you of how my village was attacked. (Pause) (Deep breath)
It was a massacre, one that we should of expected. (Pause) The Janjaweed had already attacked the Shatia. Who, who were we to think that Kass was safe? That our homes, and farms would be left alone? (Pause) I was not at the village when it first happened I was gathering water, I heard the machine guns (shakes as saying this next bit each bang is a body jerk) bang bang bang bang. Then came the screaming. I could see the glow of fire as it ignited a building. My friend and I ran into the forest trying to hide. The Janjaweed were there they grabbed my friend and ...and began to strip her of her clothes (pause) I feel terrible to say this, but I ran, again, I left my friend and ran back to the village. The houses were on fire. Little kids were running around scared, confused, and crying. The Janjaweed had gotten off their camels and were beating men in the street; the women were getting it worse. I kept running I did not stop running. No one noticed me and if they did I did not notice them I just kept running. I was able to make it to this displacement camp. Two days later, some other people who had escaped from my camp and I walked back to our village.
It was (Pause) horrible... I … I can hardly describe what I saw. I looked for my little brothers and sister … I found my brother Samir … well I found his head cut off from his body. (Swallow) I … I am sorry this is hard to talk about. (Deep breath) My family we owned a small house with some land behind it where we grew Karkadeh, the plants were ripped from the ground. Our water supply was nothing, people were dead buildings were burned down … anything with any worth was gone. I … I could not stand to look at it … I am sorry that is all of my story I do not want to scare you but that is just a small bit of what we go through everyday, no one … no one can ever say they know what I am going through. Because we, we have no hope. We must fight for ourselves.

 

 

Act 1 Scene 4

 

Samir Wek

(Sitting at a table a bunch of microphones in front of him with the occasional “camera” flash.)

Hello I am Samir Wek. I am with the government of Sudan; we have decided to set up this press conference to talk about the rumors going on about the Sudanese government working with the Janjaweed. Please ask away. (Pause) No of course the government has nothing to do with this group the Janjaweed, this is a complete and utter lie. Another question please. (Pause) No, that is a common misconception, the Janjaweed are not killing because of racism we believe it is over land. Yes you, what is your question? (Pause) Well no it is not labeled genocide. (Pause) Yes the United States has labeled it genocide but they are the only ones. (Pause) 200,000 people killed? No the number is not nearly that high. The U.N. likes to exaggerate things. (Pause) Well yes displacement is common but 2.5 million is much too high. (Pause) No we really don’t have anything to do with this group of people. (Pause, looks worried?) Harun would never associate with this group of people! (Pause) I highly doubt he was seen with the Janjaweed. (Pause) No the government would never give these people money or guns. (Pause) The Sudan government has nothing to do the group Janjaweed. That is the end of this conference!


Act 1 Scene 5

Dr. Simon

(Standing behind a podium with a microphone on it waiting to present his speech to the hall.)

We had to… we had to go in with no fear. No negativity. We had been prepped I worked in a hospital for 8 years. I was not a partier in College and I never had any of my friend’s die or horrors in my family. When you get thrown into the hospital it’s … all rushed. You cant panic you cant have a moment to breath because every moment a life is on the line. You never get a chance to think about what could happen you just do. When I decided to volunteer for the program Doctors Without Borders ... I will be honest it was to impress are girl who worked with the program Save the Children. I know, I know stupid thing to do but I figured I would go to a few meetings donate some money from … lets face it my fortune. I would be done with DWB and get with this girl. I was wrong, I ended up getting really into this program and a bit later I was sent to Darfur. They prepared us for what we were facing. (Pause) And like I said you just get so rushed, you have to do this and that without thinking you have to save this person you don't get a chance to breath its all so fast. It was also … so worth it. I did not even get with the girl whom worked with Save the Children I still talk to her she had to quit when the economy got rough. But yeah these displacement camps are terrible we were taking care of people with bullet wounds and many girls whom were raped. I remember one young girl who was pregnant, she told me how old she was … 15 she was 15 and was pregnant it was terrible how she got like that but many told me worse stories of their villages being attacked. Anyway this girl was in her second trimester, she didn't know whom the father was, I was able to give her things that would help her though carrying her child that she would not of been able to get given the lack of medicine in her village. That was in calm conditions where she would of been able to relax with her family, a family that she tells me now she has not seen since she was 7. I just wanted to tell you these stories and how amazing this program is, Doctors Without Borders changed my life. Thank you.




                                               Act 2 Scene 2
Fatima Terab

(Much more scuffed up and dirty now not as many smiles and looking very sullen older girl with a tummy (pregnant)

Are you with the same lady who was here last time? (Pause) Yeah she came to my village a year back she was doing a documentary on African villages but I suppose this is not any where near my village. (Pause) My name is Fatima Terab. I am 15 now. Living in a displacement camp my cause to be here … is the same reason I am pregnant. My village was attacked about 8 years ago. I was a young girl … I didn't know what was going on mom was dragged from the house by her hair daddy was inside being beaten with the Janjaweeds guns … though at the time I did not know that they were called the Janjaweed. I just knew that they were scary and they were hurting my parents. Samir ran into the house and caught eyes with me he shouted hide... Had he not shouted I would not be here now … but I would never be guilty of the nightmare that happened.. one of the men took a large knife and (Get choked up) his head flew off … my body took over I did not cry I did not scream I just ran. I ran and ran and ran to my tree. There was fire everywhere and so many men on horses. It was so long ago but I remember being curled up under the tree trying not to cry too loud not knowing what would happen to me. I waited until it got quite and even then until dark. I crawled out of my hole under the tree and walked to the village my face hard with tears and dirt. I walked through my village at the age of seven I had seen my brother murdered had no idea where my parents, sister, or my other brother Bakit were. I was alone at the age of 7, I walked for two nights when I stumbled into another village, and a woman there took me in. A month later the village was attacked. The women and I were able to run she took me to a displacement camp with her. I lived there for (thinks for a second) about 7 years. It was hard but the UN fed up grains for the most part. Then a group attacked our camp. I was not lucky enough this time to get away. I was gang raped. And now I am with child. (Pause) A lot has changed from when I was a 7 year old and now I must take care of this child that was forced upon me a child who I do not know the father of. I should have hope for my future. But I don’t, the UN helps us, Doctors Without Borders help us … but we must help our selves … and I must try and find a place I see as safe.

 

Explanations

Setting: A boy about the age of 16 or 17, is sitting on a barrel outside of the fields of his hut in his village, contemplating work, while other people work behind him. The sounds of laughter fill the air along with grunts of hard work. The people in the background are having fun while doing the chores that need to be done.

I don’t know
     [looks back to the fields]
... I mean, it’s awesome!
     [huge grin on his face.]
There’s these new movies, I can totally relate to them. Like there’s action, and suspense and there’s shooting... everything that a teenage boy would want I think.
     [face goes from excited and he’s moving his hand to gesture shooting, then as soon as he says “i think” his face forms an enigma... trying to think what other boys would want to be doing.]
I mean I do scrounge up as much money as I could to go see them.
     [it would seem that his facial expressions would match this sentence by saying hes compensating for his words, since hes said that he doesn’t know what other “normal” teenage boys think of, hes compensating by saying that he can get the money if he needed it.]
I wouldn’t really know what another boy my age would think of those movies... this is the first time I’m really out on my own.
     [chuckles]
Finally,
     [looks to the sky, then back down again]
I get to escape Ladakh,
     [grins to himself and shakes his head in astonishment.]
and experience the world on my own.
     [Holds hands out palms facing up.]
This
     [points to the ground]
is something that a lot of kids my age would want to do back on the farms and village, but its like a dream
     [puts his hands on his head and grabs his hair in a swift, but excitedly shaky motion]
that I
     [points to himself]
get to go out and live it!
     [Expression goes from excited to uneasy, but tries to hold a smile, and twitches a smile instead.] My family isn’t the richest family in the village.
     [slowly shakes his head.]
     [scoffs.]
All I used to do was help my family in the fields,
     [voice gets a little higher.]
but now, I’m allowed to go out more and see the world. Even though my clothes
     [nods his head in acknowledgement of the fact that his clothes are beat up.]
are a little tattered, its not like they won’t let me into the theater
     [thinks about if they didnt allow him in, but then shakes off the thought, and smiles],
but hey, every one's clothes are worn... we ALL used to do hard work. Thank
     [emphasizes god]
GOD for these movies and all these other activities to do in town now, that way I don’t have to do all this work with my family anymore, and then maybe I won’t be judged when I go into town...
     [thinks about the popular life for a few seconds.]
     [stutters on I’ll]
I- I’l- I’ll -I’LL have the good clothes, and I’LL be popular, then, I’LL have a phone...
     [points to himself when he says I’LL]
Yeah...
     [nods.]
I think that I’ll be on my way to get that phone now... MOM?!
     [gets ready to go...]
Yeah, I’ll be back later! Yeah, yeah, 10:00, I know. Bye. Uh-huh yeah, sure, I will. Love you too...
     [says whatever under his breath]
Whatever. I- I gotta go.

Setting: A man is walking up to a kiosk-like stand made of wood in the middle of a crowded city village that is on a slanted hill in a particularly muddy area, where the owner is yelling out about his new merchandise. There are villagers milling around. The man looks uneasy and his looking around frantically and paranoid like. He reaches the man, sticks his hands in his pockets and starts to rock back and forth on both his feet. He takes his right hand and scratches his hair. He begins to speak as he holds out his hand towards the man palm up. The owner stops yelling as the man neared and puts on his “business face” to sell his merchandise. He puts his elbow to the table and puts his fist to his chin. The owner plasters a sly smile on his face and raises his eyebrows welcoming the new customer, which makes the man rattled.

Hi err, do... do you have any, uh... cellphones in stock..? Oh? Oh, you don’t?
     [puzzled look on his face]
Any, uh... any at all?
Hmm. Well,
     [speaks slowly but loudly, likes he’s talking to a slower person]
DO you
     [points to his head and continues to do that for a few seconds]
know of any other place that would carry them?
     [pauses to hear the man’s response]
Great!
     [his smile reaches across his face]
So, do you know where its at? Well, can you tell me?...
     [his expression goes blank]
What? Really? That far?
     [starts to mutter to himself...]
Okay, well I have my family, and I need to give them water. But, I really want this phone... errr. They need my support. I need to be there. Is having a phone really this important? My brain says yes, but my heart says no. I’m torn between my wants and my needs. I want a phone, but I need to be with my family. This is so frustrating ! I see all these people with phones... It’s not fair. I want one too. What do you mean by that? What do you mean ‘by what’, you just said to me that life wasn’t fair... what did you mean by that? Nothing? I beg to differ! All I wanted to do was to get a phone. Oh, I need to calm down? Really, hmm, whatever happened to the customer is always right?... You don’t know!? Even this TEENAGER has one! Ugh, I’m sorry, things haven’t been good on the farm... Can you...? Just let me know when the next shipment comes in... You will? Thanks... What else do you have? Really? Well for what movies? Okay, I’ll take one... 2,000 rupees? That’s steep! How about 1,500, thats about as much as I can afford. Okay, 1,750. Thats good. Thanks, have a nice day.

Setting: Stirring a pot in her hut with her left hand on her hip... She’s looking out of her window at the boy sitting on a barrel.

It never used to be like this.
     [shakes her head at the boy]
In my day, this
     [points to the boy who is getting up and shouts to his mother]
would have never happened...
     [the mother in the next room responds]
I have never seen today’s children acting like such... such... ANIMALS in my life!

They’re shunning their responsibilities, disrespecting parents!!! ...They’re becoming... Westerners.
     [says westerners with a hiss.]
I was brought up in a time where children respected their parents, and listened to them, they never didn’t listen.
     [counts these on her fingers]
They did their chores, tended to the animals, and never went out to town. But now,
     [points to the ground]
that’s all out the window
     [moves her arm around her ].
All they want to do these days is they all want to go to town, and gallivant around
     [does a silly dance],
doing stupid and dangerous things that can. Get. Them. HURT.

It never used to be like this

I tell them. I do. I always do. But do they listen? No, they don’t. Now, I have no idea what my kids kids are doing. My poor babies, all alone. Granted, they are in their teens, but they have no idea. NO idea... They have absolutely no ideas of the dangers out there in the real world. They might think its all fun and games at first, but wait until they’re hungry, or tired, and want a place to sleep, or need money. Where are they going to go? Home. Here. Back with their family.

Home is safe... It’s safe here. Nothing happens. We keep to ourselves, and we’re quiet. We don’t bother anyone... its a safe place to be. But... it’s their choice. And we’ll take them back.

It never used to be like this.

All they do now is talk on their phones. They snub their responsibilities to talk to their “friends”.
   
Do you want to know who their friends are? Me, us, the people here...
   
I’m telling you, its different now.
   
It never used to be like this.

The Price of Northern Ireland 
by Heather Campbell

Setting: Starts out a a day before July 21st of 1972, in Belfast in Northern Ireland.  Some of the locations of the monologues are in a British Army Base, an Protestant Family’s house, a Police Station, a Catholic pub, Sinn Fein Government Headquarters, and Outside near a graveyard. The monologues end in 2002 in Ireland. 

Characters:

Jack Maxwell, a young British Army member.  Has a family back home and is eager to help stop the troubles.

Lewis Ward, a 14 year old protestant boy.  Doesn’t really consider the troubles and danger.

Ruairi Flynn, a old Catholic police officer.  Wants an independent Ireland, but is tired of all the violence.

Stephen Kelly, a middle aged Irish Republican Army member.  Wants an independent Ireland and will do anything for it.

Catherine Ward, Lewis’s mother.  A strong protestant and a busy mother, who is always working. 

Johnathan Moore, government worker for the the Nationalists.  Doesn’t like to be associated with the British.

Sophie Griffiths, a 16 year old catholic girl.  Middle child in a large poor family, whose mother was killed in the bombings and her sister was severely injured.

Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein member, ex-IRA member, and now holds a commons seat for Northern Ireland.

Act 1, Scene 1

JACK MAXWELL (Writing a letter to back home in some form of building, sitting on a bed/cot)

 I’ve been in Northern Ireland for three weeks now.  For the first few days I was stationed in Belfast, but then I was sent over to Londonderry.  The people of Londonderry were still distraught over Bloody Sunday. After a week in Londonderry I was sent back to Belfast.  You wouldn’t believe it, but when I arrived in Belfast, I got to our station and guess who was there!  Gavin Moore and Charlie Johnston, they haven’t changed a bit.  Gavin told me that during his first week of patrol in Belfast, some one pushed a washing machine out a top story flat as he was patrollin’ beneath, narrowly missing him.  He’s fine, but he admitted after that, he was a wee bit shakin’ up for a while.  In my first few days in Belfast, I was just patrollin’ around Belfast.  I would just make sure no problems started and occasionally “chat up” some of the lorry drivers for any intelligence that might be given away.  One time, Charlie and I were patrollin’ by the harbor where all the shippin’ were comin’ in, and we saw a car looking suspicious; hidden in the boot were a good three or four pounds of supplies for bomb making.  After we had confiscated the stuff, I had to admit, it felt really good knowing that I might have saved some innocent lives.  Shortly after that, Charlie and Gavin were sent to Dungannon. Occasionally we would see some Dickers.  Their what we call the lookouts of the IRA.  There have been many exchanges of fire between the IRA and us. On the surface you can tell that the Protestants are glad we are here, but underneath it all you can see that they’re still hesitant.  They lead such different daily lives then we do back home.  Imagine having to open up your handbag to check for bombs and weapons every time you go into a shop.  That’s their reality.  On the contrary, there are murals and graffiti painted onto the walls in the Catholic area of Belfast, promoting the IRA.  We’re tryin’ to make peace, but sometimes it feels very one sided.  It’s time for this IRA rubbish to end. 

Act 1, Scene 2

LEWIS WARD (Talking to his mum in the kitchen in the morning before school)

Mornin’ Mum... Aye, I know I have te pick up some sugar and eggs after school... I’m not going te stop by his house, I told ye, the oul fella’s batty... No, I still want the cake Mum... But the oul man’s batty and his caretaker’s just as mad, and they live all the way by Oxford Station, I’d have te take the bus... Aye, okay Mum, I’ll dander down te tha oul fella’s house after school... Aye, I’ll make sure te give him some eggs... Ack! Mum, I just wanta be with meh mates, do I have to do all these chores today?... No, I wont wander off this time... I just wanta go te Johnny Moore’s house for a wee bit... Ack!... I know... Aye, I know... He lives near Woodvale Park, just a wee bus ride from school... Ack! Please Mum!... I know... Ack, I’ll go te Johnny’s house another day then... No, Mum. I’m not trying to be a nuisance... I know Mum... Okay, okay. After school, I’ll go te the store, buy eggs and sugar, then go te oul Paddy’s house and give him some eggs... Aye, after that I will come straight home...Aye, Mum...Mum, can ye pass me a scone please...Cheers Mum...No butter?... Aye, I’ll get some butter as well... Cheers Mum. I ought’ te be gettin’ to school now...My glasses are on the table by the door, I’ll grab them on ma way out...Ack! I’ll fix my tie before I get to school Mum... Bloody hell... What?... No, I didn’t say anything Mum... Nothin’, I didn’ say anythin’...I just mumbled muddy shoe, thats all... Nye, its only a smidge, it’ll come off before school... I’m goin’... I’m not goin’ te be late... I know Mum. Eggs, sugar, and butter, oul Paddy, then straight home...Matches?... Aye, I’ll get some matches as well... Cheerio Mum. (Leaves)

Act 1, Scene 3

RAUIRI FLYNN (Reflecting about today’s event in police office)

Nightmare I tell you... It was thee definition of bloody hell...You could hear people screamin’, cryin’ and moanin’. The first thing that caught my eye was a torso of a human being in the middle of the street.... It all came very sudden. I was just makin’ meh rounds about town. It was around 2:17 when I got word that a bomb detonated on a footbridge over the rail line at Windsor Park. Luckily, there were no injuries at that location...But it was bloody scary...I was told te go down by the Oxford bus station, so I got in meh car and started te drive on down there...I reckon I was pretty lucky te have gottin’ there the time I did... I was drivin’ down Hamilton Street, when I heard the bang.  It was exactly 3:10 when it was detonated. There were smoke and debris everywhere I swerved down Mary Street, but when I got te Oxford Street, there were so much debris I had te get out of meh car. Just by looking at the scene, it was impossible for anyone te feel safe... I saw meh mate cowerin’ by the side of his car. I rushed over te him te see what was happen’.  It took him awhile before words would come te him... He told me...Him and some of the boys from the British army were trying to clear the area...He said that...they tried te get everyone safe...but there were too many people...and the bomb exploded. I helped meh mate get up, he had many minor injuries from all the debris. I looked around... There were blood, debris, and body parts scattered everywhere...It was chaos... The hospital personnels came soon after... I had te help them...gettin’ people te the hospital... and cleaning up the remains. There were so many casualties all with in two seconds...I’m a Catholic... I want an independent Ireland...Te be honest, I think these troubles would all go away if the Brits just left...I heard that the Brits got a warnin’ that the bombs where goin’ te go off today... I was talkin’ te some of meh mates in the pub yesterday...talkin’ bout the incident... They’re convinced that them Brits had deliberately disregarded those warnings, all for strategic policy reasons...I’m not sure whether I quite agree, but... I don’t disagree either... I mean, the British army were there, tryin’ te help evacuate people from the area... But I’m not sure whether I would be surprised if they delayed the evacuation, just so they seemed like they tried, and make the PIRA seem like the bad guys. Whats the PIRA?...Provisional Irish Republican Army...they want an Independent Ireland too...I just want it in a less violent way...(Pause) Later that day, a fella came down, te look for his wee boy... He identified him among the dead... The wee boy was so bloody and deformed, his father could only tell it was him ‘cus of the things he’d been carryin’, cracked eggs, spilt sugar, melted butter, crushed matches, bits of his glasses, and singed photo en his pocket...Two of the other policemen in meh unit escorted the fella back home te tell his wife...They said she broke down cryin’...was complete mess...The worst part of the day was that... that explosion on Oxford street was only one of twenty-two within’ an hour an’ a half... All these victims were just innocent people caught up in it. With Bloody Sunday, they were out on a march – a peaceful march, but still a march...I’ve been apart of the Police service since I turned eighteen...That’s thirteen years ago...I’ve seen a lot in those years...Dealt with a lot too...It’s rare te find people in the police service who get along civilized enough than me and some of the other policemen.  Most of the policemen are Protestants, most of them like being apart of the UK.  As much as I would like a Independent Ireland, I don’t like dealin’ with all the victims of brutal crimes and havin’ te tell their families...I’ve known too many people who have died and too many people charged with murder...Some days you canna help but wonder, when will it be over?...Is it worth it?

Act 1, Scene 4

JACK MAXWELL(Taking medicine and talking to other army members in a “common room”)

(Enters room)

Hi

(Take some pills)

 I’m okay, which is more than most can say 

(Swallow the pills)

I was down at Oxford Street, tryin’ to clear the area.  Almost had the area cleared before the bomb went off...Nah, I didn’t even hear the bomb... I just saw everything cave in around me...Some debris must of hit me... I didn’t even realise it was broken at first...It was chaos...Bodies everywhere...I tried my best to help, but then they sent me to the stations doctor...It’s only broken...I have to go home to get it fixed properly...There wasn’t much to help there.  There were so many injured and and bodies everywhere.  There was no way for there to be any order.  No order, no control, it was horrible...Yeah, I go home in a few days...Pardon?... Oh, why do I have to go back home to get it fixed?  I guess there are too many people here in worse condition, so they straightened it out and just wrapped it up, and I’ll be home in a few days...They gave me medicine. 

(Shows the medicine)  

Keep the pain from being to unbearable...As soon as my arm heals, I’ll be back...I heard the first bomb was detonated at around 2:09 by the rail line at Windsor Park and last bomb went off at 3:30...There was another bomb set for after that?...oh, well, good thing the bomb squad got their first...Yeah, I’m looking forward to going home. See my family...I’ll be taking a ferry...Yeah; as soon as they fix it I’ll be on my way back here.

Act 1, Scene 5

STEPHEN KELLY (Reflecting on the IRA and Bloody Friday in a pub)

(Sits down) 

Before I begin, lets pay homage to a good oul’ Irish proverb “A drink precedes a story.” 

(Take a large sip out of a large beer mug)

Why?... Well, it’s quite obvious isn’t it? We want our independence. 

(Sip out of the mug)

Why am I apart of the PIRA? 

(Takes a sip)

It began when a group of nationalist was marching around the town. The numbers of the group kept escalatin’ and at one point it was up to around 3,000 people.

(Takes a sip)

British troops were brought in to disperse the crowd.  Roadblocks were set up to prevent the marchers from gettin’ te certain sections of the town.  Them Brits say that the crowd was becomin’ more and more lively and that the troops had te start makin’ arrests.  They said as they were arrestin’ people, they came under fire, all they were doin’ was defendin’ themselves. 

(Takes a sip) 

The results of this day led te the death of 13 at the hands of the First Battalion.  The IRA wants their revenge.  There were no peaceful arrests and et was nie the marches fault.  The only violent people there were them bloody Brits... That’s where it all started for me. 

(Takes a sip)

They, the British army and them protestants...They think they were shootin’ for self defense...No, self defense requires some thinkin’...There was no thinkin’ involved there. 

(Takes a sip)

As a Catholic, we have no say here...Them Brits and Protestants think they’re better than everyone else.  We have poor housin’, no benefits, no rights, and are always bein’ discriminated against...Why wouldn’t I be mad? 

(Takes a sip)

We’re second-class citizens in our own country! And when we try te get our messages across peacefully, we’re beat up and our houses set a blaze!  

(Takes a sip)

That’s why I joined the PIRA.... What’s the difference between the IRA and PIRA?...Irish Republican Army and Provisional Irish Republic Army.  The PIRA is branched off from the IRA.  We’re all fightin’ for the same freedom. 

(Takes a sip). 

And the Sinn Fein and the IRA and PIRA are going to get us that freedom...Sinn Fein? Well that’s our political party, for an Independent Ireland. No more bloody Brits and feckin’ protestants dictating our lives. 

(Takes a sip)

Now ‘bout last Friday...Te put it plainly, It required only one man with a loud hailer to clear each target area in no time.  All we were tryin’ te do was make daily life impossible.  Cause financial devastation from all the wrecked buildin’s.  That’s all we had te do.  And short after, all the Republicans were convinced that the British had deliberately disregarded the two warnings we sent out for strategic policy reasons.  The Brits had their warnin’s but they took to long to take action. 

(Takes a sip)

We had some casualties...But sometimes ye have te give before ye receive.  We gave lives up, and we expect te receive our freedom.  The PIRA is committed unequivocally to the search for freedom, justice and peace in Ireland.  We’ve done part of our job, for now.

(Takes a sip)

Act 1, Scene 6
JACK MAXWELL (Talking on the phone)

(Dials phone) 

Hello...Emm..Yeah, I’m okay. I made it through with only a broken arm...I’ll be home soon...They wrapped it up and gave me some medicine...Yeah, soon as I get off the ferry I’ll be on my way to the doctor’s to get it mended...How it at home?...Good...

(Chuckle)

How’s wee little Sophie?...Good...Well, I can’t tell you too much information, but apparently the British talks to the IRA failed and the IRA began its campaign again...Yeah...It was quite shocking...I didn’t know what to do...You got my letter?...Good..I have to go...I’ll be home soon..Give Sophie a hug for me...Bye. 

(Hangs up)

Act 1, Scene 7

CATHERINE WARD (In her living room, holding pictures of her son, his glasses, and remains of school bag.)

My wee little Lewis...

(Sniffle)

He dinneh even make it past his fifteenth birthday...And it’s all my fault...

(Sniffle)

Had I not told him te go te Oul Paddy and give him some eggs, he may still have been with me...

(Burst of tears)

It seems just like yesterday, I was donderin’ down te the cafe down by the train station with him in his wee pram for tea and biscuits... And now, he’s dead...

(Sniffle)

I knew somethin’ was wrong when meh husband came home with the Bobbies. I thought meh husband had gotten into some trouble with the IRA...Our family bein’ strong protestants...But then I saw the look on meh husbands face...He looked like he was in anguish, like somethin’ happened...  Somethin’ more than him just gettin’ into some trouble... Then one of the fellas, he told me I may want te sit down... At that moment, I knew somethin’ was wrong.  Meh eyes darted te the clock...

(Sniffle)

I was so busy tryin’ te get mey wee boy’s birthday supper sorted out for the next day, that I hadn’t realised that he should have been home by then...The bobbies told me that nineteen bombs had gone of just an hour and a half ago. Then... I collapsed...I had already known what had happened...Meh wee boy was just doin’ what I asked...

(Sniffle)

He was on his way to oul Paddy’s home at 3:10...About te get on the bus at Oxford Street...I should have had him come straight home after school. With all these bombings and officers and the likes...I knew it was too dangerous...I had a feellin’ bout today...I told him te be careful, he just kept replyin’ “I know”

(Sniffle)

The bobbies, both bein’ protestants, told me that them and the brits are tryin’ to get all this te come te an end...I’ll forever remain loyal te the queen...The British government, they’ve done so much for our country... And with their military here, these troubles are bound to stop some time soon...But thats not goin’ te bring my wee little Lewis back now. 

(Burst of tears)

Act 1, Scene 8

JONATHAN MOORE (Talking to a journalist in an office)

(Sitting down) 

When did this all start?... That was a long time ago.  I was twelve when Ireland split up.  It was in 1920 when the British government decided to split up Ireland, after they had ruled for centuries.  An Independent state was created in the south, mostly made up of Catholics.  The northern district, Ulster being mostly Protestant, remained part of the UK. That split up was caused by an uprising led by Michael Collins in 1916...There was a civil war in the south after the split.  Michael Collins among many others lost his life during that civil war.  The end result of was the Rise of a new and independent Republic of Ireland, led by Eamon DeValera.  In the North, the Catholics were a minority.  They were the republicans and nationalists.  They were being discriminated against in jobs, housing, and law.  The Protestants were the unionists and loyalists; they were given government jobs and privileges alike for being loyal to the British crown.  Northern Ireland played a large role in the British economy because of all the shipyards, and mills.  But as I said before, the Catholics found themselves the minority and excluded from Northern Ireland’s success.  The Troubles really started three years ago.  The Catholic unemployment rate spiked, their housing became poor, and the riots began.  The IRA is the nationalists who carried out most of the violence in their quest for independence.  My job is te try and get the Nationalist message across, without the violence; te get a united Ireland in a manor that appeals to both sides.  For a while we were making some progress.  We had a truce with the British government...a truce between the loyalists and the nationalists.  There were te be talks. Talks put in place in order te cease fire.  But the British failed at talking, so the IRA and PIRA begun their campaign again...

(Pause)

That’s what yesterday was; the start of a new campaign. Why the violence?

(Pause)

I don’t think I can answer that question...I just communicate te people.  I’m behind the scene of these troubles...

(Pause)

Well, we want an Independent Ireland.  We want equal rights and equal opportunities. No, we want our own rights and opportunities.  The British government ruled Ireland like their ruled England, Scotland, and Wales...We’re not English, we’re not Scottish, and we’re not Welsh.  We are our own people...And it was time that we were treated that way.  That’s why the Republic of Ireland came to be...

(Pause)

Why the violence? Why bloody Friday? That’s a question for someone else...Yeah, I feel bad about the deaths...Quite a large number of them where Catholics...But think of the number of people killed by the British.  We’ve been oppressed and discriminated against...I know a lot of people died...I know...Violence delays peace...I know... Look, it isn’t my job te deal with the violence and deaths. My job is just te talk. 

(Gets up and leaves)

Act 1, Scene 9

SOPHIE GRIFFITHS (After her mother’s funeral)

We live in west Belfast; where most of the Catholics live...Et was me, meh dad, meh mum, meh four brothers, and meh two sisters all livin’ en a small house near Springfield road.  Meh dad is a fisherman; he works hard but we still struggle te live comfortably.  Meh mum taught at the primary school near our house, were meh littlest sisters, Amy and Eliza, and littlest brothers, Hugh and Jamie, go te school.  She always’d help meh with meh schoolwork.  Meh mum always wanted te be a writer.  If one of meh wee brothers or sister had a hard time goin’ te sleep she’d tell us all a story.  I liked her stories; they always had a nice ending.  She could make et seem like every ended happily. But she tolled a lie.

(Tearing up)

Meh mum was takin’ meh little sister, Amy, get a new dress...She’d been savin’ up money for Amys dress, and they went down te the store te pick et up.

(Sobbing)

That’s when the bomb went off...Meh mum and Amy were en the car...Meh sister was badly injured, but meh mum died...She worked so hard for our family, with seven children needin’ te be fed and educated...Meh eldest brother, Adam, hasn’t even gone back te school yet and he’s already gettin’ inte trouble...Meh brother, Sean, and I now have te do most of the chores and take care off wee brothers and sisters...Amy’s still en the hospital...and meh dad still has te fish te feed us all.  When he’s not workin’ he spends most of his time en the pub drinkin’ the black stuff.... Yeh canna blame him...Mum did everything

(More sobing)

She did everything...We need her...We’re good Catholics...We work hard...Go te church...Why us?... Why Amy?... Why meh mum?...We weren’t out causin’ trouble protestin’, and we weren’t out wavin’ the union flag...We want better lives just as much as the IRA do...Meh mum and dad work hard for meh family te have a better live...We didn’t do anythin’ wrong...So, why did they have te take meh mum away from meh family...But she’s in a better place now...away from the violence...Gone but never forgotten. 

Act 1, Scene 10

GERRY ADAMS (2002, conference, standing at a podium)

A month ago, I took office in the House of Commons, I had a press conference and I was asked a question...This woman, around 65 years old, she asked me for an apology. 

(Low spot light on woman watching a TV)  

She told me that thirty years ago, her son died.  He died when the IRA set off a series of bombs around Belfast.  She told me, he wasn’t protesting or causing a ruckus.  He was just dropping of some groceries like she had asked him to.  He was an innocent wee boy. Where’s the apology for her son’s death?  She said she’s been hearing about rights for the victims of Bloody Sunday.  But she wanted to know when it would be her son’s time to be remembered.  Before that I came across an article in the paper.  It was written in honor of the victims of Bloody Friday.  It was written by a woman whose mother had died during the bombings, and her sister severely injured. (Low spot light to woman writing in front of a TV) 

After her mother died, her family had to deal with countless of other struggles.  After thirty years her family is still hasn’t fully recovered from the death of their mother.  I have come here today, te make a public apology for those who died.  We offer our sincere apologies and condolences te their families. While it was not our intention to injure or kill non-combatants, the reality is that on this and on a number of other occasions that was the consequence of our actions. 

(Low spotlight to a few people huddled around a gravestone) In Belfast the IRA had set out to cause economic damage and had sought to avoid civilian casualties by providing at least 30 minutes’ warning in relation to each of the 21 bombs.  It is a moot point whether the IRA operations just stretched the British too far for them to be able to cope with the situation, or whether they deliberately failed to act in relation to two of the many bombs, but it is clear that the IRA made a mistake in putting out so many bombs, and civilians were killed who certainly should not have been killed. 

(Low spotlight on man with his family in front of a TV) 

This was the IRA’s responsibility and a matter of deep regret.  We hope that we can continue to push forward prospect of a peaceful Northern Ireland and Nation.  Thank you. 

(Leaves podium)