About this ebook
Brad Fraser
Brad Fraser won his first playwriting competition at the age of seventeen and has since written numerous plays, including Cold Meat Party, Love and Human Remains, True Love Lies, and Poor Super Man, among others. Brad is a five-time winner of the Alberta Culture Playwriting Competition, the London Evening Standard Award for Promising Playwright, London's Time Out Award for Best New Play, and the L.A. Critics Award. In addition to his work as a playwright and director, Brad writes for print media, radio, film, and television.
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Book preview
True Love Lies - Brad Fraser
True Love Lies was first produced by the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, England, on January 28, 2009, with the following cast and crew:
Directed by Braham Murray
Set and costume design by Johanna Bryant
Lighting design by Richard Owen
Sound design by Steve Brown
True Love Lies had its North American premiere at the Factory Theatre, Toronto, on October 1, 2009, with the following cast and crew:
Directed by Brad Fraser
Set and lighting design by Bretta Gerecke
Costume design by Ina Kerklaan
Sound design by Christopher Stanton
Stage managed by Sherry Roher
Apprentice stage management by Natalie Gisele
Assistant direction by Briana Brown
CHARACTERS
DAVID 50
KANE 45
CAROLYN 44
MADISON 20
ROYCE 17
SETTING
Various locales as specified. The set should not be naturalistic. Elements should be shared by all locations and all transitions should be made without blackouts.
PUNCTUATION NOTE
A period is used to indicate the end of vocalization, not necessarily the end of a thought, likewise with capital letters at the beginning of sentences. Commas and other punctuation have been intentionally omitted.
ACT ONE
Lights rise on the Sawatsky kitchen. CAROLYN is filling the dishwasher with items from the sink. MADISON enters.
MADISON
Hey.
CAROLYN
Back already?
MADISON
I need to change my top.
CAROLYN
Why?
MADISON
The last place was über casual. This one’s a little more classic.
CAROLYN
Who knew looking for a job was so complicated?
MADISON
Adulthood involves way too many different outfits.
MADISON exits. KANE enters.
KANE
Hello.
CAROLYN
You’re early.
KANE
We’re celebrating.
CAROLYN
What’s the occasion?
They kiss quickly. He gives her a squeeze.
KANE
The Liebowskis loved everything about our design and I was able to get a big fat cheque out of them. I think we can now replace the furnace.
CAROLYN
I told you that design was brilliant.
KANE
They loved the chenille. Perfect choice again.
They kiss again, more passionately.
When are the kids expected?
CAROLYN
Maddy’s upstairs right now.
KANE
So no time for a quick bit of.
CAROLYN
None.
KANE
Damn.
CAROLYN
Later.
KANE
Promise.
They kiss again. MADISON enters changed.
MADISON
Hey Pop.
KANE
How’s the job hunting?
MADISON
There’s not a lot out there.
CAROLYN
A job wouldn’t be an issue if you were in university.
MADISON
What’s the point of paying for an education if you don’t know what you want to do?
ROYCE enters.
ROYCE
Howdy.
KANE
Hey Royce. Anything cool happen today?
ROYCE
Yeah. High school’s just full of cool things that happen. When’s dinner?
CAROLYN
About an hour.
ROYCE
Call me.
ROYCE exits.
MADISON
I need the car.
CAROLYN
Why?
MADISON
There’s a new restaurant looking for servers and I’m already late.
CAROLYN
Do you really think working in a restaurant is going to be that much more interesting than working in a store?
MADISON
Are you kidding? Kara’s working at the Poplars and you should see the money she’s making. After five or six hours a night.
CAROLYN
But those late night shifts.
MADISON
Work for me.
KANE throws MADISON his keys.
KANE
Here you go.
CAROLYN
Don’t speed.
MADISON
Back in a flash.
MADISON exits.
CAROLYN
Let’s hope this one pans out.
KANE
It’s not easy getting a full-time job.
CAROLYN
Sweetie—she’s twenty-one years old. She can’t sell lip gloss at a kiosk three nights a week anymore.
KANE
It’s still very young.
CAROLYN
Are you forgetting some of the things you’d done at that age?
KANE
They’re our babies.
CAROLYN takes him in her arms.
CAROLYN
I like to think we didn’t raise the kind of kids who live at home until they’re thirty.
KANE
Would that be so bad?
CAROLYN
Yes it would.
A light on DAVID at the restaurant, seated at one of the tables doing paperwork. MADISON enters.
MADISON
Hi.
DAVID
Hello.
MADISON
You need waiters?
DAVID
Yes.
MADISON
I’m Madison.
DAVID
Hi Madison. David McMillan. Have we met before?
MADISON
I don’t think so.
DAVID
You seem familiar.
MADISON hands him her resumé.
MADISON
Okay. I brought my resumé.
DAVID
Do you have restaurant experience?
MADISON
No but I’ve got a lot of retail. Part-time.
DAVID
We’re really looking for experienced waiters. I’d have to start you as a bus-person or on the coat check.
MADISON
That’s fine.
DAVID
Sawatsky?
MADISON
Yes.
DAVID
You’re not related to Kane Sawatsky are you?
MADISON
He’s my dad. You know him?
DAVID
No not a bit a long time ago.
MADISON
Cool. Should I say hi for you?
DAVID
If you like. In all honesty Madison we are looking for people with experience in the business.
MADISON
I’m a very quick learner.
DAVID
I’m sure you are.
MADISON
I’m happy to bus or whatever.
DAVID
I’m afraid all the positions have been filled. Thanks for stopping by.
MADISON
Okay. Bye. Thanks.
MADISON exits. Lights rise on the Sawatsky kitchen. ROYCE is at the table. KANE and CAROLYN are making dinner.
KANE
Did you look at those fabric samples I left on your desk?
CAROLYN
The pumpkin’s too garish and that tweed stuff is an interesting colour but too itchy looking.
KANE
What about the aubergine?
CAROLYN
Loved the aubergine.
KANE
Whadaya wanna bet that Liebowski job leads to some big-time referrals?
CAROLYN
That’s what we’re hoping for.
ROYCE
Are those the west-end Liebowskis whose daughter joined that sperm cult?
KANE
I have no idea.
CAROLYN
Sperm cult?
ROYCE
Self-explanatory Ma.
MADISON enters.
KANE
Just in time.
MADISON
I’m not hungry.
CAROLYN
What’s wrong?