The Dead Eyed Boy By Angus MacLachlan

Shirley: You gonna give it to me?

Soren: If you want
Shirley: I want it. Let me see. (He gives her a folded-up piece of paper) Is it good? Will I like
it? Is it funny? (read) ‘Rough life, my story by Soren Horace Watts’(she glances at him,
slightly mocking) Ohhh. (He smiles. She smiles) ‘Once there was a kid named Soren Horace.
His mother was Shirley Diane Watts. She got raped at the age of fourteen by somebody,
who knows who?’ (She takes a small pause, but doesn’t look up, and keeps reading) ‘That’s
how she got pregnant with Soren. The kid blamed hisself ‘cause she would have forgotten if
he never was alive. When I look in the mirror I see the Dead Eyed Boy. The reason his eye is
like that is ‘cause his mum got raped and what happened in childbirth. That’s what looks
back at me when I see myself. What will happen to the Dead Eyes Boy I don’t know. But he
won’t be around for long that’s for sure. The end.’ (Shirley stares at the paper) It should be
himself. Hisself isn’t a word. (she looks at the councillor) right? (she waits) Is that what you
think? (Soren doesn’t say anything) Is it? (She waits) Is that, like, what you are telling me
here? (referring to him tearing up the notebook) Like, why you’re doing that there, (she
waits) When I told you all that I was messed up, I shouldn’t I didn’t mean for you… Listen,
what happened to me was my business and it doesn’t have anything to do with you. You
know—I think of it, like it happened to another person even. (He shrugs his shoulders) It’s
dead and buried and forgotten. So it’s nothing for you to worry about. (She pauses—fighting
away something deep. And managing to) And, if you wasn’t wanted. Well, hell—um – I
mean—you know about abortions? You know what they are. You’re smart. Do you think
that wasn’t an option? I could have. My mother—But, I didn’t. ‘Cause I thought… Or—god –
Don’t you know about adoption?... You know (He doesn’t speak) I kept you ‘cause I wanted
you ‘cause I loved you you were mine. You were somebody for me to have. You were mine
to keep. (she waits) I made a decision. At that time. (she turns out towards the councillor)
Trying to make something good to come out of something bad (pause) You know? I was
raped. I was fourteen. (pause) It was my choice. I thought. Back then… Then I forgot all
about it… That’s it. (She shakes her head) Anyway, he knows the truth.