Whites of Their Eyes By Morgan Sproxton This play was commissioned as part of TEN and first performed in March 2019 by 55 members of Hull Truck Theatre’s Young Company. TEN featured 10 ten-minute plays, each based on a year in the decade since Hull Truck Theatre moved in to its Ferensway home. This play was inspired by news of a significant rise in classroom violence in 2014. Plot This play follows a school class on what they think is a normal day and is simultaneously set in the present, whilst looking back on events as if they were in the past. Notes: Recommended for 12+. This play contains some mild bad language and hints to violence. When a character speaks it says their name in bold on the left side of the page with their dialogue on the right. The chorus of young people in the play take on the voice of the classroom teacher. About the playwright: Morgan Sproxton is a playwright and dramatist from Hull. She began her writing career at Hull Truck Theatre and has since worked with the Royal Court Theatre, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Silent Uproar.
Whites of Their Eyes By Morgan Sproxton A classroom. Everyone (except BEE) enters and says hi to each other. From that point on they don’t interact at all. Only the CHORUS speaks directly to the class. CHORUS:
Hear the bell ring. Hear the bell ring. Here is what today will bring.
BEE rushes in. There is only one seat. It is next to JAKE. She looks perplexed. CHORUS:
Please everybody sit.
BEE:
Damn it. (she reluctantly sits next to JAKE)
CHORUS:
Morning everyone.
OLIVIA:
Morning Miss Heep. I could be in bed right now. I could be asleep.
CHORUS: Say the Hail Mary. Sign of the cross. Let’s not forget who’s the boss. Hand out the books with rips and stains. ANNA:
Hand out the books, the teacher ordains.
SUZIE:
Why isn’t he working with Harry? They used to be a pair. This doesn’t feel right.
HARRY:
He doesn’t reply to my texts anymore. He didn’t meet me at football last night.
SUZIE: Does he need help with that work? How come? He’s hardly dim. Just ask. I’m good at that stuff. I could help him. CHORUS: Easy one first: Wirst du dein Studium oder Schule beendet haben? Wirst du noch in dieser Stadt leben? Was meinst du? GEORGIE:
I’m gonna have a heart attack before this lesson is through.
BEE: I don’t want to sit next to him. There must be another chair. I don’t want to sit next to him. Come on, this isn’t fair. SUZIE: He just needs understanding. He just needs a mate. He’s the ultimate rebel. He’s got a lot on his plate. ANNA: I remember us at pre-school. We must have been 3. We did play-doh together and I hugged him when he skinned his knee. But not anymore. I don’t even know what he comes to school for. OLIVIA:
Everyone’s got stuff going on. Some days everything is wrong.
SUZIE:
Tell me about it. Forgot it was Tuesday, forgot my PE kit.
CHORUS: Just say.
Is everybody working? Everyone ok? If it’s hard or you don’t understand. Just say.
HARRY:
One of the better teachers I’d say. Not her fault we’re having a bad day.
OLIVIA: You never liked him. None of you did. Only Suzie but she’s that kind of kid. Always trying to see the best in everyone – well, the best in this classroom – the best is done and gone.
BEE: Great day to forget my pen. (she looks at JAKE) Oi, you got one I can borrow? Don’t look at me like I’m thieving it. You’ll get it back tomorrow. ANNA: He used to be good at all sports. Good at English and maths. Swimming every morning. Spent half his life at the baths. HARRY: I’m gonna have to tell him, we’re dropping him from the side. Even when he does turn up, he’s leaving the goal open wide. CHORUS: brewing.
I’ll come round the class to check how you’re doing. Not long until break. Cup of tea
ANNA:
Used to have him round for tea. That lad. My mam loved him. He wasn’t that bad.
CHORUS: Sometimes my job is tiring. Sometimes it’s a bore. I’m just trying to be supportive. I can’t do any more. GEORGIE: Well I’ve tried this year to stick by him but he’s proper doing my head in. He doesn’t answer when you talk to him, gives you that stupid grin. OLIVIA: Harry dun’t talk to Anna no more. Suzie dun’t talk to Bee. George and Harry had a fight last week. Year 11 getting on famously. HARRY: Can’t wait to get shot of you lot to be fair. Want to be playing football full time. Not sitting on this chair. BEE:
Apparently, these are the best days of your life. Beat. The. Best. Days. Of. Your Life.
CHORUS: Less chat 11S. Less noise, more concentration. This classroom is starting to resemble Paragon Station. ANNA: I don’t go round there anymore. Proper dirty his room. Empty cans of Monster everywhere, pervading sense of gloom. CHORUS:
And the squeak of the pen on the whiteboard. Again. And again. And again.
SUZIE: It’s raining out there. Didn’t notice before. Like an island, when you’re in here. The outside world feels far away when GCSEs are near. OLIVIA:
She comes round to check we’re all getting on. I hide my work in case it’s wrong.
BEE: She bobs down at my table. See the whites of her eyes. I’m fine. Yeah, I’m fine. Can she see through my lies? CHORUS:
Anyone with an answer can you raise your hand.
SUZIE raises her hand. Class groans. CHORUS:
Maybe someone else. Hope you understand.
BEE: let it be me.
Keeping my head down. Hoping she can’t see. Please don’t let it be me. Please don’t
ANNA: Haven’t even done the homework yet from last week. Have no clue. Might put my hand up. And pop to the loo.
SUZIE: If I don’t answer. No one will. Trying to help her, the cow, 5 minutes of silence. Let’s see what happens now. CHORUS: mistakes.
Anyone got an answer yet? 5 mins until break. I’ll write it on the board to avoid any
And the squeak of the pen on the whiteboard. Again and again and again. GEORGIE:
And we write it down but we still don’t get it. Too late to ask now, just forget it.
HARRY:
There’s so much to do this year. I can’t keep up.
ANNA:
Just wish they’d all leave me alone. Wish they’d all shut up.
BEE: this week.
On count down to break, get away from this geek. Bet he’s not written a sentence
CHORUS: Thank you class. Wait for the bell. I’ll be at the front waiting for you. Please come to me if you’re struggling. We’ll see what we can do. GEORGIE: When they ask you what you want to be when you get older. I’ll say not to be constantly looking over my shoulder. That’ll do. HARRY: When they ask you if you’re ok. Do you want to talk? But all you see is the football pitch and you just wanna walk. SUZIE: When they ask you if there were any signs and you can’t even think. When everyone has problems and you can’t see the link. BEE: When they ask you if you saw owt. Was there signs of tension? And everyone hates everyone so you don’t know what to mention. First. CHORUS:
Do you want to talk?
HARRY:
Eh?
SUZIE:
What?
BEE:
Me?
GEORGIE:
Erm…
OLIVIA:
Um…
ANNA:
Let me see…
CHORUS:
Right. 1 minute to go.
BEE:
Thank God. Free in a mo.
SUZIE:
Free. Break time drama club is calling me.
GEORGIE:
Free. And I really need a pee.
ANNA:
Free. Social area with news at one on TV.
BEE:
Glad to be gone. Don’t like any of these. Only 3 months left until GCSE s. Jeez.
The bell sounds
HARRY:
See you later losers. Enjoy your day. I’m out of here. Got football to play.
They get up and move about and then freeze. BEE:
In one moment everything changes.
OLIVIA:
In one moment the world rearranges.
GEORGIE:
In one moment you say: “But this can’t be…”
HARRY:
These things just don’t happen to me…
ANNA:
To us…
CHORUS:
To her.
Shift in time. OLIVIA:
And I’m crying and I’m shaking and I can’t believe what’s happening.
GEORGIE:
And I’m crying and I’m shaking and I can’t believe what’s happening.
SUZIE:
And I’m crying and I’m shaking and I can’t believe what’s happening.
ANNA: remember is:
When they ask you what you remember from that day. Back then. You’ll say all you
CHORUS:
The squeak of the pen on the whiteboard. Again and again and again.
Suddenly JAKE stands up, scraping his chair back. He holds a knife.
THE END