I have been inspired to try a drama script of my own. I have written more but thought i'd put this up to start with.
I have no idea i'm doing so i'd really appreciate any advice! I think maybe the scenes could be padded out a bit? I don't know if the 'stage' directions are written properly (i had a tv drama in mind when i wrote this though).
I read the article on the homepage which said it's best to draw from you own experiences, so i tried to here (kind of). I didn't want to try and be too clever, so it may seem a little timid.
If you think it's any good i'll put the next part up. If not, i'll start from scratch and try again!
Tear it to bits of you must!

p.s- i can't think of a good title. This will do for now.

[RACHEL is walking along a fairly busy street in Edinburgh, towards a bar. Music is coming out of nearly every door she passes and she waves at people she knows on the way. Walking through the front door of the bar she makes eye contact with a guy, in the bar’s uniform, smoking. He gives her a dirty look. She frowns slightly then heads inside, making her way towards the bar which is still fairly empty as it is only eight in the evening.]

[The bar has an eclectic feel with wide screen televisions and fish tanks. All the tables are mahogany and chairs/couches of dark leather. Indie music is playing softly over the chatter. RACHEL spots LEAH, and props herself up on a barstool.]

RACHEL: Hey (hands her a key) here you go, please don’t loose it, I don’t want to have to come downstairs and let you in at two in the morning.

LEAH: Ta. I won’t! I didnae mean to drop it down the plughole did I? When are you heading to Dan’s? (she leans on the counter with her elbows).

RACHEL: In a minute or two, could I have a coffee please?

LEAH: Yep.

RACHEL: We’ve been working on it all day, I can’t believe it’s not finished yet.
Bloody statistics drive me round the bend. I hate maths.

LEAH: (by the coffee machine) It’s not maths. Not really.

RACHEL: Whatever I still don’t like it. Have you done yours?

LEAH: Em, yeah. Well almost.

RACHEL: How ‘almost’?

LEAH: Just have the analysis to do.

RACHEL: Leah! That’s the hardest part! Come on this is what you’re good at, you should’ve had it done ages ago. Please don’t hand it in late again. You’re going to fail if you keep getting points taken off.

LEAH: Keep yer pants on Mum I’ll get up early an do it. It’s Wednesday so shouldn’t be out of here too late tonight.

RACHEL: (sighs) Ok, ok. What about the lit essay, that’s due Friday, have you started it?

LEAH: Jesus Rach, leave me alone will you (puts the coffee down in front of her).

RACHEL: No I won’t because you know what your like. I’m not covering for you again, get it written and get it in!

LEAH: Well have you done yours?

RACHEL: Handed it in yesterday.

LEAH: (mutters under her breath) Typical, you jammy…

RACHEL: Watch it you. Oh before I forget Mum wanted to know if you’re coming for Christmas this year? I told her I’d ask, but that you probably would be?

LEAH: I’d love to! Isn’t it a little early to be planning?

RACHEL: Not for Mum. She’s baking mince pies already and freezing them.

LEAH: Oooh, oooh! Look who’s coming in, that new guy I was telling you about? That’s him. How gorgeous is he?

[RACHEL swivels round on her stool and looks over her coffee mug to the place LEAH is staring. The guy from outside is swaggering towards the bar.]

RACHEL: (turning back to Leah) I walked past him outside. Looked a bit moody to me.

LEAH: Have you gone doolally or something? He is not! And even if he was who the hell cares, look at him! Hey Pablo, this is my friend Rachel.

PABLO: Hola.

RACHEL: Hi.

PABLO: So goregeous, what do you need me for? (He puts his arm round Leah. She smiles up at him then winks at Rachel)

RACHEL: Ok well I’m going to head off. Nice to meet you Pablo (turning to Leah) see you tomorrow, remember to set your alarm, it’s to be in by twelve. Don’t work too hard!

LEAH: See ya.

[RACHEL waves and heads out the door, hearing LEAH’S giggles floating behind her as she empties the dishwasher with PABLO].

[RACHEL arrives at DANTE’S flat and rings the bell. DANTE answers].

DANTE: You’re late.

RACHEL: You said anytime after eight.

DANTE: No I said about eight.

RACHEL: Oh, sorry. I was at the bar.

[The two friends walk into the living room. RACHEL settles herself on the battered old sofa and puts her back pack on the floor and her phone on the coffee table. DANTE sits in a chair on the other side of the table. The flat looks like a page from an old Ikea catalogue].

DANTE: How is the whore du jour?

RACHEL: Dan! Don’t call her that.

DANTE: (chuckles) Sorry.

RACHEL: She’s fine. The usual. She hasn’t finished this report though or the essay for Friday. Oh and there’s a new love interest. Some guy called ‘Pablo’.

DANTE: Pablo?

RACHEL: Hm. I’ve decided I don’t like him. He’s an arrogant arsehole.

DANTE: Well don’t hold back or anything (he gets up to get drinks).

RACHEL: Look you know me, I don’t judge except when it comes to Leah she has the worst taste in men and he’s no different. I mean, I only said Hi to him, but there was just something creepy about him.

DANTE: You think that about every bloke Leah fancies.

RACHEL: Yeah, and I’m usually right.

DANTE: Water ok? (puts two glasses down on the table)

RACHEL: That’s fine thanks. Oh I hope she doesn’t go home with him. He was all over her it was….

DANTE: Of course he will! If not tonight then he will another. She’ll be apples.

RACHEL: She’s not a slapper!

DANTE: She’s bedded all my mates, some of them twice over. Rach she’s easy, everyone knows that, and she doesn’t exactly try to hide it. You should hear how some of them big note about her.

RACHEL: Well I hope you stand up for her!

DANTE: Like hell I do! I love the sheila but she’s made her bed…so to speak (a cheeky grin crosses his face).

RACHEL: (throwing her arms up in despair) Dan you know why she is the way she is, I don’t think she realises! She doesn’t realise how pretty and smart she is, her family have fucked her up.

DANTE: Rach don’t throw a wobbly about it ok. I come from a broken home and you don’t see me drinking myself into the emergency room every other month, trying any pill that comes my way and sleeping about do you? Dam, I wish I was as loose as her.

RACHEL: Haha. Look it’s just…

DANTE: Rach!

RACHEL: Ok. Fine. Right where were we?

(Both start rifling through their books).

DANTE: Descriptives.

(Both sit and stare at their books in silence)

RACHEL: I want to die.

DANTE: (gets up and heads for the kitchen) I’ll get something stronger.

[It’s well into the morning and Rachel and Dante are only just finishing their reports. The living looks as though a paper bomb has hit it. The two friends look fairly dishevelled].

DANTE: Ok, I think that’s us! Ok, let’s swap and run through the check list once more.

(They swap their respective reports and silently tick off each section on the checklist. Rachel finishes first.)

RACHEL: Yours looks fine. How’s mine?

DANTE: Hang on.

RACHEL: (muttering) Please let it be over, please let it be over, please let it….

DANTE: Bonzer! We’re done!

RACHEL: Yes!!!!

DANTE: How about some early brekkie to celebrate?

RACHEL: What’s the time anyway?

DANTE: (checks his watch) Almost 2am. Pancakes?

RACHEL: Oh go on. Can I crash here? No point in me heading home now.

DANTE: Aye lassie!

[The two get up and head to the kitchen and the front door opens].

EUAN: Hey guys. What the hell you doing up? Hope there’s been no hanky panky now?

DANTE: Yeah mate been at it all night.

RACHEL: (hits him on the arm) Don’t be gross.

DANTE: (laughs) No worries, you’re not my cup of rice.
 

EUAN: (sits down on the couch) Oi if you’re making food swing some this way would ye? Bloody starving.

RACHEL: Where’ve you been?

EUAN: All over, did a pub crawl. Saw Leah on the way home. She was on the arm of a right tosser.

RACHEL: Awesome.

EUAN: Foreign twat. What was his name, Saddo or something?

RACHEL: Pablo. He works with her.

EUAN: Haha Pablo the saddo.

RACHEL: Euan, that doesn’t even rhyme you nob.

EUAN: Does.

RACHEL: What way was she headed? Back to ours or…?

EUAN: Nah towards the bridge.

RACHEL: Great.

DANTE: You want syrup Rach? Euan?

RACHEL: Yeah thanks.

EUAN: Aye I do mate! Come here lovely and sit by me.

RACHEL: You know what, I’m ok here.

EUAN: Oh come on!

RACHEL: Piss off and get off my bed, I’m sleeping here tonight and you’re all wet.

EUAN: Yeah it’s raining.

RACHEL: I gathered genius.

EUAN: Oh come here!

RACHEL: No!

[EUAN reaches out and grabs her and throws her down on the couch. DANTE comes in with the pancakes and they sit, eat and chat about their evenings.]

 

RACHEL: (banging on Dante’s door)
Come on up and adam! We slept in it’s almost twelve!
(she rushes into the bathroom and a minute later she’s out, and Dante’s still not up) DAN!! Ok I’m coming in!
(She cover her eyes with her hands and mutters)
There had better not be anything in here I don’t want to see.
(she looks at Dan sleeping, half out of his bed, mouth open and snoring)
No such luck.
Dan? DAN! DAN GET UP!
(she whips the duvet off of him)

DANTE: Wh… what? What’s going on?

RACHEL: We slept in, come on hurry, gonna have to leg it.

DANTE: Alright alright I’m coming I’m coming (he slumps back down on his pillow)

RACHEL: Dan please, come on!! (she starts pulling him out of bed, once he’s on the floor she leaves him to get up and leaves the room).

[Ten minutes later DAN and RACHEL are speed walking towards the University through the busy streets.]

RACHEL: Whoever designed the streets of Edinburgh was a complete rural idiot. I feel like a cow being herded.

DANTE: Come on let’s go down here and start running.

RACHEL: What’s the time?

DANTE: Five to.

RACHEL: God dam it, ok yeah let’s run.

[They begin sprinting and dodging and eventually arrive on campus. They enter the building and leap up six flights of stairs. They arrive in the concourse which is bustling with other students in their year].

RACHEL: (breathlessly) Ok, pen. (hand him a pen from her backpack)

DANTE: Thanks.

[They scribble on the cover sheets, staple them to the reports and slip it in the box].

RACHEL: That was close! Here comes that essay collecting woman now.

DANTE: Ok I need coffee.

RACHEL: Hang on let me ring Leah (starts dialling, puts phone to her ear and listens). It’s ringing so at least it’s on which means she’s up…….Not answering though…….Gone to answer phone.

DANTE: Well miracles do happen. She’s probably handed it in already. Come on, caffine, please? I’ve got rugby in an hour and i can’t play in this state.

RACHEL: Hm…

DANTE: Just send her a bloody text will you!

RACHEL: Ok, ok.

DANTE: Come on the cafeteria is calling.

[They head back down the stairs and towards the café]

[A short while later they are sitting on some benches in the Uni grounds]

RACHEL: You are joking?

DANTE: I kid you not my cobber, the bone was sticking out of his shin.

RACHEL: That is disgusting. He won’t be playing today I take it?

DANTE: Nope and it also means that he can’t cover the Idlewild gig on Saturday and he’s asked me to stand in.

RACHEL: Seriously?! No way! I’ve been trying to get tickets for months!

DANTE: I know.

RACHEL: So?

DANTE: So?

RACHEL: Please don’t make me beg?

DANTE: You know, I think I just might.

RACHEL: How many tickets did you get?

DANTE: Three. Have already asked Nate.

RACHEL: What’s the problem then?!

DANTE: Problem is Euan wants the other.

RACHEL: He doesn’t even like them!

DANTE: Well neither does Clare but I’d still rather take her than you.

RACHEL: Well duh but she’s not in the country. Look, why even tell me if you’re not planning on inviting me?

DANTE: To wind you up.

RACHEL: Charming.

A VOICE INTERRUPTS: Rachel?

RACHEL: Yes? Oh hi Professor Bell.

DANTE: G’day Professor B!

P.BELL: Have you seen Leah today?

RACHEL: No sorry. Why?

P.BELL: Nothing to worry about it’s just she was supposed to meet me at twelve and she hasn’t turned up. I thought she might have forgotten so I rang her mobile and there’s no answer.

RACHEL: She was working last night so she might have slept in? Do you want me to give her a message?

P.BELL: Just tell her to e-mail me will you? Even pop in if she can, we need to discuss her options.

RACHEL: Her options?

P.BELL: For extra credit.
 

RACHEL: She hasn’t handed in her report has she?

P.BELL: I don’t know I haven’t checked yet but even so if she has it’s not going to make up the credits she needs to pass. Just tell her I was looking for her. Thank you dear. See you in class later.

RACHEL: Ok, bye Professor Bell. (she turns to Dante looking worried) She’s failing?

DANTE: Seems that way.

RACHEL: I’m gonna kill her.

DANTE: You are not her mother, it’s not your job to kill her. It’s her own fault leave her to it.

RACHEL: Not for that! For not telling me!

DANTE: That’s probably because you’d just yell at her.

RACHEL: Well there’s no-one else to yell at her is there?

DANTE: She has a family.

RACHEL: Yes mine! I am her family and so are you. Why don’t you care more about this?

DANTE: Because I’m tired of running after her Rach. I love her like a sister but it’s our final year and I want to enjoy myself. I’ve got my own stuff to worry about.

RACHEL: Yeah you’re right sorry.

DANTE: S’ok. Look why don’t we pop back to the flat and see if she’s in before practice? I’ve got half an hour.

RACHEL: You sure?

DANTE: Sure. Just don’t say I’m not good to you.

RACHEL: I wouldn’t if you’d give me that extra ticket.

DANTE: Nice try bouncer.

[RACHEL and DANTE head towards the flat.]

[RACHEL and DANTE walk through the front door of a modern but small flat. They walk through a short narrow hallway into a large open plan living/kitchen area.]

RACHEL: Leah?! Leah are you here?!

DANTE: YO LEAH!

RACHEL: Hang on I’ll check her room.

[RACHEL goes through the room to a door on the other side and opens it.]

RACHEL: Nope not here.

DANTE: How is this place so clean? She’s a slob!

RACHEL: Cause I’m a neat freak. Hang on I’m gonna look and see if her report’s hanging about. I’ll hand it in.

DANTE: (sits on LEAH’S bed) Hey where’d that Buddha statue go?

RACHEL: What statue?

DANTE: The one that normally sits on that shelf?

RACHEL: Oh. I dunno. She’s probably just moved it, or it’s under the midden here. I don’t even know where to look.

DANTE: Try the wardrobe.

RACHEL: Oh yeah here we go. How’d you know her Uni stuff was in here?

DANTE: Cause I sat on the box she keeps her Uni stuff in a couple weeks ago and broke it. I bought her a new one and told her to keep it out the way in future.

RACHEL: Yeah cause it was her fault you broke it.

DANTE: It looked like a seat!

RACHEL: Where was I when this happened?

DANTE: Home. Was Becky’s birthday.

RACHEL: (nodding) Ok hang on… Hang on…. Wait a minute.

DANTE: I’m not saying anything.

RACHEL: Dan. Half her clothes are gone.

DANTE: Huh?

RACHEL: Half her clothes are missing, look?

DANTE: So? They’re probably in the washing machine or something.

RACHEL: No like shoes and everything. Her grey boots aren’t here, a couple of coats.

DANTE: They’ll be here somewhere. Flaming heck can you just look for the dam report, I want to get going.

RACHEL: Hang on. (starts rifling through drawers)

DANTE: Should you be doing that?

RACHEL: What do you mean?

DANTE: Well that’s her private stuff!

RACHEL: She’s been my best friend for eight years and we live together. Her case is my casa. She’s always going through my stuff.

DANTE: What are you doing anyway? Look I’m going to go look by the computer and see if it’s there, then I’m off
(he leaves the room and enters the living room. He finds an unfinished report by the keyboards)
Found it!
(he walks back into Leah’s bedroom and see’s Rachel looking very worried.)
What?

RACHEL: All her insulin has gone.

DANTE: At the risk of sounding like a broken record, so?

RACHEL: All of it Dan; viles of the stuff and dozens of needles. She only carries a couple around with her in an emergency pack.

DANTE: Rach I have no idea what you’re getting at and you’re starting to, quite frankly, piss me off.

RACHEL: I think she’s gone.

DANTE: Well duh! Clearly she is not here and is somewhere else. Have you been taking stupid pills? Look if we leave right now I’ll give you the dam gig tickets.

RACHEL: Dan! Try to hear me! I think she’s gone, as in up and left the city! She’s taken clothes, shoes, insulin (runs to the bathroom) and her toothbrush! (runs back in).

DANTE: That doesn’t make any sense.

RACHEL: Since when has anything Leah done ever made any sense? Dan I’m really worried!

DANTE: Well where would she have gone?

RACHEL: I have no idea but I bet that idiot Pablo has something to do with it. She’s been really stressed lately and working all hours at the bar, her Dad was arrested again last week i….

DANTE: Ok look you’re over reacting. Let’s not panic. She might just be skiving off and round at his. Let’s go to the bar and find out where he lives, try and get in contact with him ok?

RACHEL: (biting her nails) Yeah. Yeah okay. No actually you just go to training and I’ll go. I’ll see you in class later.

DANTE: Are you sure?

RACHEL: Yes, absolutely. You’re right I’m probably just over-reacting. She seemed fine last night.

DANTE: Ok, and try ringing her again. Send her some more texts.

RACHEL: Ok.

DANTE: Come on then you conch.

RACHEL: What does that mean?

DANTE: (laughing) Never mind.

[RACHEL and DANTE exit the flat.]




To be cont....................