[ - ]
Table of Contents [Report This]
Printer Chapter or Story Microsoft Word Chapter or Story
- Text Size +
Story Notes:
Worthington University Campus is the part of the setting.The university is located in Boston/ USA. Professor Jason Brings lives in one of the university lodgings with his wife, Michelle, who is an executive at a stock market company.Alexander is one of the junior class students. He stays in the dormitory. The professor’s interest in Alexander disturbs the relation with his wife, Michelle .She can’t understand why her husband suddenly changes but she has no idea about Alexander. So the Professor and his wife’s relationship weakens gradually.
Alexander spends most of his time in the university library.Actually he can be described as a bookworm. Because of being compared to his elder brother, Jonathan, who is a successful academic at another university, he has become the victim of his parents’ constant criticism. That is why he has given himself to the abstract world of philosophy and psychology; studying and reading Freud, Rogers, Aristo and the other masters in this field, who are his only friends. Under the effect of such studies, he can be sometimes unwittingly cruel like a psycopath.
Being different from other students in this way, Alexander attracks the attention of Professor Brings, who tries to help Alexander. But in this struggle, as it is mentioned above, the professor is deeply affected and he is confused with own emotions.His mind is mixed up and falls into endless abyss.Mean while Alexander has some feelings for Joey Harris but his love is not answered and his inevitable end is a suicide so Joey’s desperate efforts are useless and helpless.Apart from being the narrator Joey is another student of the professor at the campus.She stays at the dormitory like Alexander. She is the most outstanding student at the Psychology Department. She becomes the apple eye of the professor with her extra ordinary power of imagination, creativity, with the help of her increadible power. Her involvement in mental disorders draws Alexander attention.
One day Alex and Joey go to a concert where they meet Alex’s brother, Jonathan who turns out to be Joey’s unattinable love, and outstanding successful student, a star at St. Louis and spoiled by girls in those years..But Jonathan fails to notice Joey in those years. So years later when Joey and Jonathan meet just by coincidence they both fall in love with each other. However, Alexander’s growing feelings for Joey cause a dilemma in her but when she examines her own feelings for him, she finds out that this relationship cannot be described as an emotional affair which can’t be compared to her feelings for Jonathan, her real love..When Alex learns about their affair, he is defeated, frustrated and shocked. İnevitably this shock leads him to his suicide. In the end Joey becomes the victim of her uncontrollable feelings and she is left behind in agony and desperation and her memories of her unforgettable friend Alexander. ***This is actually my first english story and it was my term homework .lol.I wrote it in 2002, I inspired by AJ and Joey from the Dawsons Creek so hopefully you guys will like it.***
ACT I:
SCENE ONE
At the rise of the curtain the audience is faced with Worthington University Campus, sophomore class, lecture room B students. Some of them are strolling and chatting with new faces and some of them are are standing alone and seem to be awkward.Alexander is one of the students sitting at the back row.The walls are decorated with portraits of Aristo, Platon, Sokrates and the the other masters in this field.
Dressed in casual clothes, Joey enters the stage, holding books of philosophy and walks across the front of the stage.. There she stops and addresses the audience.

Joey(with agonising expression on her face):The play is memory. I'm the narrator of the play. I'm also a character in it. The other characters are Professor Brings, who gave us the first lesson at the university, his wife Michelle, who was an executive at a stock market company. Alexander, a sophomore that year. Yes, it was 1999, that was four years ago. I remember those days as if it was yesterday. I think the rest of the play will explain itself.

(Joey goes to her seat and gets ready for the first class on the first day of the school year. The professor comes into the lecture room)

Professor:Good morning class.(He turns back and writes his name on the board which reads "Jason Brings" and turns back to the students. Wordlessly he puts a chair on his table, turns his back and writes on the board" Prove to me that this chair doesn't exist!"
The students in the lecture room look at each other’s, faces with blank eyes. Some of them start scribbling. Alexander collects his books, stands up and leaves the lecture room groaning. Professor looks puzzled but doesn't have time to respond to Alexander's reaction. Joey writes two words on her paper in two minutes and gives her paper to the Professor, grinning with one thousand watt while the others are trying to find the answer. Professor takes the paper on which it reads" which chair?". He looks at Joey's face with great appreciation.

Professor: What is your name, brilliant girl?
Joey: (Being under the effect of an unusual answer...)Joey Harris, nice to meet you Professor.
Professor: You must be interested in Philosophy..I didn't expect such an answer from any of you.
Joey( looking embarressed): A little bit, Sir.
Professor: Where are you from, Joey?
Joey: From the south, St. Louis High School , I'm staying at the dormitory. This is my first year here. I've always been interested in philosopy and psyhology and dreamed of understanding abstrack world of the masters in this field..(Professor's and Joey's voices lower as the curtain comes down)








SCENE TWO
The curtain rises. Joey comes across the stage in her same casual clothes, holding notebooks in her hands, stops at the front and addresses the audience.Behind her, there is the scene of library , which is enlighted. Alexander is sitting at one of the tables with the piles of books of psyhology in front of him. There are a few couples of students busy with their work.

Joey: Professor and I were introduced to each other like that. He had found my answer as an outstanding one. Our relationship as a student and a teacher had become very close after that incident.
Actually , this incident had brought a great popularity to me. All of the boys were hanging around me, trying to impress me. My intelligence had attracted the attention of all the new comers, even Alexander secretly. I was too spoiled to see his interest in me. Several days later when I went to the library to do some research on a subject which the Professor had given us, I saw Alexander. Alexander was an introverted boy. He was always quiet and shy, seemed to be more interested in his own thoughts than the things outside himself. You would never see him amoung groups as I have mentioned I wasn't aware of his interest in me which I found out many many years later.Telling the truth too late!

Joey turns her back to the audience and goes towards the shelves and looks at the books with scrunity.Alexander leaves his chair, goes behind the same shelf in front of which Joey streches her hand to take one of the books which Alexander wants to take. Not being aware of each other, they pull the same book titled as " The study of Human Soul"from the opposite sides of the shelf . They pull with force but nothing happens. Then they become aware of each other with great surprise. They look at each other not knowing what to say for a few seconds...

Joey:Oh I'm sorry I didn't know you were here.
Alexander (ackwardly): Oh, yeah. (He looks down shyly)
Joey (with sincere smile on her face): Alexander! Your name is Alexander, right? For godness sakes! You know , this sure is funny. What a coincidence that we are looking at the same book in this huge library. You must be researching for the topic which Professor Brings has given to us.

Alexander (timidly) : Yes.-Aristoteles is my favourite. Especially this book of him "Study of Human Soul." You know,- he was the philosoph who didn't count the interpretations made on human soul ,- took them aside, focused on human soul which he thought was the function of life...
(Joey interrups with him)

Joey: Oh very impressive. Yes, this is the book in which he made a lot of assesments that soul should be handled with human body. According to Aristoteles it cannot be claimed that soul is an indepedent existence. You know,- soul is function of body.

Alexander( clearing his throat) : Why don't you take the book? I can work on it later. What is more - I have got another paper to do.

Joey:Oh really that's very kind of you. You know what? Why don't we study together?

Alexander (he looks down again, doesn't have the courage to look into her beautiful blue eyes then, hastily, out of embarrassment) : Oh, no you had better take it...


Joey ( insistingly) :Don't be silly, come on! If I take it, I will feel uncomfortable. (with a big smile on her face) and the argument is over I won't discuss this with you any further.
(she laughs heartily and Alexander laughs shyly)

Joey: Where shall we sit, Alex?

Alexander: Oh- oh, anywhere...

Joey: How about there at that table over there? Any objections?

Alexander:No...

Their voices lower as Alexander's shyness gradually fades away, he seems to be enjoying her company. The lights are off. The scene is dark.



SCENE THREE
Joey comes forward facing the audience.
Behind her, the scene is university campus garden, a few couples of students are strolling among the flower beds. Some of the couples hugging each other from their hips are sitting on the benches, some eating sandwiches, drinking coffee in a different corner, chatting among themselves loudly giggling, teasing themselves.
Alexander is lying under a tree in an isolated corner away from the noisy groups and romantic couples. This is the setting of scene three.

Joey: Our friendship with Alexander developed gradually right after our unexpected encourter in the library. Alexander, who would play a great role in my life was an unusual boy, completely different from other boys. Our relation grew stronger as close friends. Unfortunately he had already grown feelings for me which I wasn't aware of. Without my company you would never see him with other fellows from the school. He would play the lonely boy. I was the only girl at the campus with whom he was on friendly terms.
The other students regarded him with suspicious hostility. I had a humorous attitude toward him. Gradually my attitude affected him and I realized that his strangeness wore off.

(Joey finishes her speech and turns her back to the audience. After Joey says hello to her friends in the garden she starts to walk towards Alexander, who is listening Pink Floyd's " Another Brick in the Wall" song from his walkman. The music is played on the stage loudly from the loud speakers. Under the effect of the music, Alexander 's eyes are closed. He doesn't realize Joey's coming. Joey bends down and puts her hands on his closed eyes.)

Joey (with a big smile on her face): Who am I?

Alexander ( he smiles shyly): Joey, is that you! (he takes off the walkman headphones)

Joey: Lonely boy, what are you listening? I bet it's Pink Floyd

Alexander: How do you know?

Joey: What a silly question!! What other band can it be? You are always listening to them...-Do you mind if I sit next to you?

Alexander( shyly) : Oh sure…

Joey (immediately sits down next to him) : I'm comfortable as a cow.Will you have some gum?

Alexander: Oh- yes thank you...

Joey: You didn't show up in Professor Brings's class this morning. You know what, you and I got A on our projects. You rarely come to his class and you got an A, it's not fair.You must be very clever to get that high grade without entering his class most of the times.

Alexander: I can't stand his big mouth. He produces nothing- just transfers all the philosophs' thoughts but he tries to show himself as if he is one of them.. I'm sure I'm much better than him in this field, big idiot!!

Joey:Come on, don't say like that..He has a bad relationship with his wife, Mrs. Michelle Brings. They don't seem to have a happy marriage. Last week we had a chat with him at lunch time , he seems to have a lot of trouble as a husband. He is struggling a lot to deal with his marriage, I mean his private life.

Alexander: Is he the only one who has a trouble with his family?! Is he the only one who is fighting the problems?! (Looks into Joey's eyes) Do you think I lead a happy life-

Joey: Oh I'm sorry- I didn't mean-

Alexander: Oh I'm sorry Joey...I wouldn't like to bother you with my family problems-

Joey: Come on, I can be a good listener. I would be happy if you shared your problems with me.

Alexander: Oh, Joey. I don't know from where to start. Do you know what it means to be an eyesore in the family, -unwanted child -,to be constantly criticised,- to be compared to your successful brother all the time who sets a good example to you all your life.

Joey: Oh Alexander, I'm terribly sorry, I-

Alexander:Jonathan , Jonathan, Jonathan..This is what my parents keep saying all the time. (he mimics his parents) Why aren't you like Jonathan?? Why can't you be like him? You are embarresing us! My identity has always been in the shadow of my brother..God damn!! Joey, I hope you don't think I'm being too personal- do you?

Joey (puts her hand on his shoulder) : You are my best friend ,Alex. If we didn't share this, what would we share? If you don't mind I would sincerely say that I judge you to have a silly inferiority complex! You know what that is!! That's what people call it when somebody low-rates himself. This is your principal trouble you don't have faith in yourself as a person.You know what my strong advice to you is!! Think of yourself as SUPERIOR than your brother, Jonathan in some way.

Alexander: In what way would I think?

Joey:Why Alex, look around yourself a little.What do you see?A world full of ordinary, common people! Which of them has one- a hundredth of your great points!-Gosh! All you have to do is to discover your great points. You have an outstanding success in philosopy. Telling the truth this is between us, you are much better than the professor, believe me. You got the top grade although you rarely enter his classes .I happened to notice you had this inferiority complex that keeps you from feeling comfortable with people. You prefer loneliness all the time( she giggles) - except my company of course , which is an honour to me. Somebody should build your confidence up and make you proud instead of shy and turning away and -blushing- somebody should -kiss you (she kisses him on the cheek , Alexander sinks on the grass Joey starts laughing and slowly gets up streches her hand to him ) Come on!!! We are late for the professor's class, (giggling) your favourite one.

(They walk arm in arm to the campus building.)

SCENE FOUR

Professor is giving his lecture on Platon in philosophy class in front of the board, facing the students in room. The classroom is full of sophomore students. Joey is sitting at the front row, looking very enthusiastic whereas Alexander is sitting at the back, he doesn't seem to be interested in Professor's lecture as usual.

Professor: Platon is the source of happiness and a great zest for his readers...His dialogues are formed by the unity of unique depth of thoughts, ideas and invaluable shapes of perfection...These dialogues have protected their freshness and liveliness and have come to today’s world without aging-

Alexander(with a sarcastic expression on his face): Aristoteles is the one whose works are still efficient in todays world.

Professor( with a serious expression on his face): I would rather you had a turn… Just hold your hand up before you interrupt me.

Alexander: Sorry sir, but I don't agree with your ideas.

Professor( cleans his throat) :As the teacher of Aristoteles...(looking into Alexander's eyes) , Platon developed many ideas about art and beauty.Those thoughts of Platon have the metaphisical characteristics of ideas of beauty.According to him, as there is an idea of beauty, we can talk about the beauty of methexis, I mean objects, the pieces of art-

Alexander: Aristoteles's point of wiew on this topic, the beauty idea is much more common. (Professor looks at him helplessly, he opens his hands as if trying to say" what's going on?") In the area of art without master pieces, we can't except the idea of beauty according to Aristoteles and contrary to Platon, we can't talk about the idea of beauty as there are master pieces so master pieces and beautiful object don't gain value because of the existance of the idea of beauty!!!

(Joey looks puzzled, bewildered with Alexander's unexpected, challenging words. There is dead silence in the class. The tension is up)

Professor(with great anger): Do you claim to be better than me???!? You should respect my knowledge...I'm the professor here!!!

(Alexander collects his books, stands up furiously, walks down the steps and stands next to the Professor to his face...)

Alexander:Listen, you know what!! Knowledge is not the information of the sience of reasons. At the same time, it has to be the knowledge of universal reasons, because, naturaly, it is this knowledge which gives the best answer to the measures of learning. That learned information is the one which covers in the best way. It's the knowledge of the thing which is learned in the most difficult way...

(Alexander walks towards the door, opens it and the students hear the door slam loudly.)

Professor: You-you-you!!!!!!(turns back to the students)Okey, the lesson is over.

( Looking at the professor with puzzled eyes without saying anything, Joey leaves the lecture room immediately before the other students even move and the lights are off.)

SCENE FIVE

The audience faces the dormitory, fourth floor room number 405. This room belongs to Alexander ,it is a small room facing the school yard. The walls are covered with the posters of Pink Floyd and Eminem ..One of the posters on the left wall has a triangle through which a white beam comes out. In another poster on the opposite wall, there is Eminem standing in the center with a look of rebel in his eyes. There are two windows which overlook the school yard.There are no curtains but black stores pulled down completely..As it is day time, the room is dimly lighted because of the black stores.
There is a desk in the corner beside one of the windows ..There are many books of philosophy and psychology in a mess, and some notepapers on which there are doodles , words and scribbles ... Alexander is sitting at the desk listening to the song of 'Guilty Coincidence' by Eminem on the CD player. There is an expression of rage on his face.
He is doodling zigzag lines and circles
The audience hears a knocking at the door which is situated at the back of the stage on the left.

Alexander(As soon as he hears the knock, loudly and angrily): Get the hell out of! -

Joey:You get the hell out of here!!!

Alexander:Here(he catches Joey's voice. That’s why he even doesn't look up at her) Don't bother me , I want to be alone..

Joey:I think you are a baby, Alexander. You behave like a child. I knew where I would find you , in this cell-like room, darkened with the black stores, listening to gothic, melancholic music.(she bends down and turns off the music and stares at Alexander expecting a kind of respond putting both her hands on her hips)

Alexander: Can't I enjoy one piece of music??!?Has anyone asked you to interfere with my life ??Sickening- you and your genious professor -you both spoil my life!!!I'm tired of your constant intervention in my life...Get lost, leave me alone!!

Joey( with a cute smile on her face): Any preferences??

Alexander( looks up in a startled way) : What do you mean??

Joey: Where should I get lost, (she starts giggling.)??

Alexander: I hate this school and that idiot professor -

Joey: Our professor-

Alexander: Yes your professor not mine!!Yours !!!I'm sick of his high opinions of himself , his megalomania..He doesn't respect any alternatives.

Joey:Look, who says this?Don't you think you have done the same thing?

Alexander( he doesnt seem to be listening to Joey, he stands up turns his back to Joey looks out of the window):A professor that I know of is the one who tolerates other ideas, appreciates his student’s thoughts. Supports his students enthusiacticly and encourages the young ones to have the oppurtunity to improve and prove themselves and look at what that maniac is doing???He can't stand being interrupted ..Above all what I said can't be discussed..Even ignorant people know the diffence between Platon and Aristo on this issue.

Joey:Nobody denies your deep interest and knowledge on this issue..I guess the professor is aware of this too but the way you express yourself and the time you mentioned it by interrupting the professor's words repeatedly was wrong.Cannot be accepted...You know what I mean??

Alexander: I don't know Joey..May be you're right but I'm in the endless abyss...You are- you are-

Joey:I'm what Alexander?

Alexander:You are- you are a good - anyway I' m hungry.It's my treat.(The audience hears Alexander's low ,trembling voice from the loud speakers: 'You are my only light in the endless abyss.The sunshine in the darkness Joey...')

Joey: You fretful thing..Let's go I wouldn't miss this treat.By the way next Saturday-

Alexander: What's on next Saturday?

Joey:Ohhh..I'm always like this..It is stupid of me .Actually this was going to be a surprise

Alexander(looking at her questiningly, wondering what she is talking about): I know you are stupid(laughing loudly) but what surprise??

Joey:You know, there is a concert by Eminem.

Alexander:I know that everybody in Boston knows about the concert...

Joey:Idiot, of course everybody knows but nobody knows we have two tickets!!

Alexander(very excitedly and enthusiasticly shakes Joey holding her shoulders): You’ve said two tickets??

Joey: Calm down, calm down.. I knew this would excite you but this would be the only thing that would take you out of this mood.

Alexander(smiling timidly):Does this mean you are flirting with me??Oh god, the world has changed...

Joey:Don't speak nonsense..Come on I'm very hungry..Let's have our dinner.

Joey holds his hand, pushes him to the door.Lights are off ,the stage is dark.

SCENE SIX:

On the stage the audience faces the professor's lodging , the living room..It's dinner time..There is the atmosphere of upper middle-class style. There is little furniture in the room..The walls are covered with shelves on which hundreds of books can be seen.
The professor is seated in his armchair. He is smoking a pipe. A very thick book is in his hands.He seems to be concentrated on it. He seems not to be hearing Michelle's call:' Jason the dinner is ready..Jason-Jason!!!!' The professor's wife appears in the room finally she looks furious ..

Michelle:Don't you hear me??The dinner is ready!!!

Professor:Oh, sorry..I couldn't hear anything( he points at the book in his hands)I have been reading this-

Michelle(angrily, with lack of tolerance in her voice): This is the only thing you are always doing..Reading, reading, reading..Nothing else.

Professor(without looking at Michelle): What's for dinner??

Michelle: What can be for dinner?Frozen beef..

Professor: Awww, the ritual as usual..Can't we try anything else for a change??

Michelle:You should be grateful for this...You know how busy I am.I have made a slave of myself to you-..


Professor: I'm tired of your business,hectic work..If it goes on like this, you will be offered the ownership of the company.(sarcastically)Executive Mrs. Brings.Like the other guys, why don't I have a wife who meets her husband with a smiling face every evening, preapearing something different to eat???I'm tired of eating-


Michelle: Don't be selfish-...


Professor:Frozen beef, frozen chicken , frozen whatever-..

Michelle:It's me who is sick of your lack of interest in me , in our marriage.Even in your sleep you keep talking about your precious student..Who is that Joey and Alex you kept saying in your dream last night..A new girlfriend??

Professor:Did I say their names??

Michelle:As every night for a month.

Professor:Don't be silly ,they are my students, harmless ones.Stop this jeaolusy.

Michelle:Yes, I'm jealous of your constant interest in them...

Professor:I'm not going to discuss this with you any further(He stands up, puts the book on the coffee table and walks towards the door without saying anything)

Michelle:Where are you going??You will hear more you-

Professor(without turning his face):No, I won't hear anymore, I'm going to the moon where I can't hear your nagging.

Michelle:Jason, I'm at the end of my patience, come back here the dinner-(she hears the door slamming loudly)... Go to the hell!!!!!!

The curtains are drawn ..