Fault
Two-hander · Tragicomedy
Fault
Fault · Ann Cartwright
1 / 1
Fault
Published by scriptsandsketches.com
CAL and MAZ find themselves outside the Headteacher's office, grappling with guilt and blame after an accident involving a younger student. As they argue over responsibility, the weight of their actions becomes unbearable.
Duologue
Characters: CAL, MAZ
(Two pupils are outside the Headteacher's office, they’ve been caught smoking and involved in an unpredictable accident with a Year 7 student.)
CAL:
It's not my fault.
MAZ:
It’s not mine.
CAL:
I'm not taking the blame.
MAZ:
Neither am I.
CAL:
I'm bringing my dad up if she starts on me.
MAZ:
My nan’ll go beserk.
CAL:
Because it's not our fault?
MAZ:
Because I was smoking.
CAL:
Wimp.
MAZ:
Who is?
CAL:
You're frightened, aren't you?
MAZ:
Me? No.
CAL:
You are. You're shaking.
MAZ:
I'm cold.
CAL:
Look, it's not our fault. We're not to blame.
MAZ:
We were smoking. By the sports shed.
CAL:
So? I'll take the blame for that. But not the rest.
MAZ:
I can't help it.
CAL:
What?
MAZ:
Feeling guilty.
CAL:
Well, DON'T! That's what they're waiting to hear! Then they'll drop the lot on you!
MAZ:
I can't help it! That kid! Is he all right?
CAL:
I don’t know, do I?
MAZ:
He’s only Year 7!
CAL:
Just shut up, will you? Who asked him to be there?
MAZ:
What was he doing there? The shed's our place. The little kids shouldn't be there.
CAL:
They were playing some stupid game of Tracker or something - I don't know. He shouldn't have been there, should he?
MAZ:
You keep saying that, but he was - and now he's in hospital. Why were we messing about with lighters and cans?
CAL:
It wasn't my idea. It was Dag's. I'm not having that dumped on me.
MAZ:
We might have known something would happen.
CAL:
What's all this 'we' stuff? When you go in there, you're on your own. I've got my story ready. I was having a smoke. Dag brought the cans. She made me set light to the sprays for a laugh. It's her fault that the kid got hurt.
MAZ:
I never saw him come running round the corner of the shed. I was just aiming the flame at that dead tree. I never saw him I didn't!
CAL:
Just get your story straight, Maz. 'Cause they're not going to be listening to that.
MAZ:
Straight in his face. The flame went straight in his face.
CAL:
Are you blaming me?
MAZ:
No.
CAL:
'Cause I'm telling you now, if you blame me, I'll make sure you get the lot thrown at you.
MAZ:
He might lose his sight. His skin. We shouldn't have been smoking. Then it wouldn't have happened.
CAL:
It wasn't us! It was Dag. Dag brought the cans!
MAZ:
We joined in! The responsibility was ours!
CAL:
Responsibility?! You sound like a teacher. Listen - you go in there and tell the Head it was your fault. You were just having a smoke, but if you want to be a martyr —
MAZ:
I shouldn't have been ...
CAL:
I am NOT getting expelled for having a SMOKE! Do you hear me?
MAZ:
I can hear that kid screaming! Even now!
CAL:
It's not my fault!
I'm not taking the blame!
I'm not taking the blame!
MAZ:
I am. I have to.
