One Act Play

This is a one-act-play that I wrote in college. As a special treat, you're getting to read it in it's entirety.
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PLACE: London, England.

ELIZABETH weeps in an armchair. Her son, ANDY kneels beside her and tries to console her.

DETECTIVE SMITH and BRAD arrive at Elizabeth’s door.

Detective Smith knocks on the door. Elizabeth answers it.

ELIZABETH
Detective Smith, thank goodness you’re here.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Good evening, Elizabeth. We came as soon as we could. This is my partner, Brad. I’m training him to be a detective. This is his first case.

BRAD
Good evening, ma’am.

ELIZABETH
Please come in, gentlemen. This is my second son, Andy. The only son I have left.

Detective Smith and Brad enter the room and shake Andy’s hand.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Good evening, Andy.

ANDY
Hello, Detectives.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Sorry to hear about your loss.

Elizabeth wipes her eyes with a tissue.

ELIZABETH
Thank you, Detective Smith. Yes, it came as a shock to us as well. When Andy told me that my husband Herbert killed my Terrance, I couldn’t believe it.



DETECTIVE SMITH
Write this down, Brad.

Brad takes out a notepad and pen.

DETECTIVE SMITH (cont)
You didn’t witness the murder?

ELIZABETH
No, I was in the kitchen making dinner. It was almost finished, when Andy came bursting in. I’ll never forget the look in his eyes. Once he caught his breath, he said that he saw Herbert stab his half-brother Terrance to death.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Is Herbert the real father of Terrance?

ELIZABETH
No, Andy’s his son. But he’s always gotten along with Terrance. I just don’t understand it.

DETECTIVE SMITH
You witnessed the murder, Andy?

ANDY
Yes, I saw the whole thing.

DETECTIVE SMITH
What caused Herbert to kill Terrance?

ANDY
I heard Terrance and father arguing in father’s room. I was in the bathroom across from them. I was getting washed up for dinner.

DETECTIVE SMITH
What were they arguing about?

ANDY
I didn’t get close enough to hear what it was about. Father sounded furious at Terrance. I never heard my father scream at anyone like that before. Anyway, I was minding my own business when I heard Terrance scream “Herb, put the knife down!”

DETECTIVE SMITH
What did you do then?



ANDY
I ran into the room. Father had Terrance cornered. Then, before I could stop him, he stabbed Terrance in the chest. Before I could run for it, he spotted me.

DETECTIVE SMITH
What did Herbert do then?

ANDY
Father tried to escape through the window. I came to my senses and tried to stop him. I reached for him and he swung his knife at me. It cut my arm.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Then you ran downstairs to tell your mother what had happened.

ANDY
Yes, I nearly broke my neck to get to her.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Did any of the neighbors see or hear any of this?

ANDY
No, the window was closed and the blinds were down.

Brad stops writing and stares hard at Andy.

BRAD
How could Herbert escape if the window was shut and the blinds were down?

ANDY (annoyed)
He opened it, obviously.

BRAD
If you were trying to prevent him from escaping, how did he have enough time to open the window and fight you off at the same time?

ANDY
I was frozen in shock until I heard him open the window.

BRAD
Well if Herbert was escaping, why didn’t you shout for help?

ANDY (angrily)
What good would it have done?


BRAD
Someone could’ve stopped him before he got too far.

ANDY
It is your job to chase down murderers. If not, then why are we paying you?

ELIZABETH
Please, everyone just calm down. Andy, why don’t you show Detective Smith where the murder took place?

ANDY
As you wish, mother.

EXIT: Andy leads Detective Smith offstage.

ELIZABETH
I’m terribly sorry, Officer. Andy has a dreadful temper at times.

BRAD
No harm done. What is Andy’s relationship like with Herbert?

ELIZABETH
They weren’t really close, but they weren’t always fighting with each other. Herbert spent more time with Terrance than with Andy. Terrance wasn’t his son, but Herb didn’t want Terrence to feel that way.

BRAD
How did Andy get along with Terrance?

ELIZABETH
Andy always seemed jealous of Terrance.

BRAD
Did Herbert ever yell or hit Andy?

ELIZABETH
Oh, heavens no. Herbert was a peaceful soul. He and Terrance did everything together, but Andy was always left behind. All that Andy really wanted was to spend one day with Herbert without Terrance around.

BRAD
This makes no sense at all. Why would Herbert kill Terrence?

ELIZABETH
I’ve asked myself that same question.

BRAD
You said that Andy has a temper. When was the last time that Andy expressed anger?

ELIZABETH
Last Saturday. The circus was in town. Andy loves the circus and he wanted Herbert to take him. Herbert had made plans to spend the day with Terrance at the park.

BRAD
What did Andy do when Herbert wouldn’t take him?

ELIZABETH
He started screaming and shouting at Herbert. He called him every bad word he could think of.

BRAD
What did Herbert do in retaliation?

ELIZABETH
He stood up and told Andy to calm down or he wouldn’t be going anywhere for a long time.

BRAD
How did Andy respond to that?

ELIZABETH
Andy didn’t calm down. In fact, Andy threw a bigger tantrum. Andy threw a chair at Herbert. It hit his bad knee and he took a big fall. Andy yelled that both Terrance and Herbert would be very sorry.

BRAD
What did Herbert do after he got up?

ELIZABETH
Andy stormed out of the house before Herbert could do anything. He was gone for hours. I almost called the police to go look for him, but he turned up the next day. He wouldn’t say a word to Herbert or Terrance all day. He just shut himself up in his room.

BRAD
From what you told me and from what I heard today, it seems to me like Andy could be the real culprit behind this murder.

ELIZABETH
No, you must be mistaken, Officer. Andy has a bad temper, but he would never kill anyone. Herbert and I didn’t raise him like that.

BRAD
You also thought that Herbert wouldn’t kill anyone, but according to Andy, he murdered Terrance in cold blood.

ELIZABETH
Yes, it’s unbelievable. Still, Andy would never lie about something as serious as that. I believe him with all of my heart. Dear me, I forgot my manners. Would you care for some tea, Officer?

BRAD
I’d be delighted.

ELIZABETH
Wonderful, if you would follow me into the kitchen.

EXIT: Brad and Elizabeth walk offstage.

ENTER: Shortly after they leave, Detective Smith and Andy walk back onstage.

DETECTIVE SMITH
I’ll talk to the neighbors after I leave here. Maybe they saw Herbert escape after the murder.

ANDY
I doubt anyone would have seen him. They keep to themselves mostly.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Still, maybe they caught a glimpse of him as he was climbing down from the roof.

ANDY
Well, just as long as you’re questioning them. I don’t like your partner’s attitude.

DECTIVE SMITH
He did come up with some good points. Why didn’t you scream for help?

ANDY
It wouldn’t have done much good. Mother was downstairs and the neighbors wouldn’t have heard me.

DETECTIVE SMITH
If he spotted you after just murdering your brother, how come he didn’t kill you too?


ANDY
I wasn’t in father’s reach. I could’ve escaped in time before he could stab me.

DETECTIVE SMITH
If you were frozen in terror, he could’ve walked right up and stabbed you just like Terrance.

ANDY
I guess he didn’t want to chance it.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Did your father always have a knife on him?

ANDY
I didn’t even know he had one until I saw him use it on Terrance.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Did Herbert always have a bad temper?

ANDY
I’ve never seen anyone have a temper as bad as my father’s.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Did he always yell at you and Terrance?

ANDY
He only yelled at Terrance once and that was before he killed him. He was always yelling at me. Last Saturday, I asked him to take me to the circus. I love the circus and he always took Terrance everywhere. I felt that he should take me to the circus.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Did he ever hit you?
ANDY
On that same Saturday, he threw a chair at me. It hit my bad knee.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Did anyone else witness this?

ANDY
Terrance saw it.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Did Terrance try to stop Herbert from continuing the assault?




ANDY (bitterly)
No, he just sat in the armchair and laughed his head off.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Did he throw anything else at you?

ANDY
If he did, I wasn’t there for it. I got to my feet and ran out the back door. I didn’t come back until the next morning.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Where did you go?

ANDY
I went to my friend’s house a couple blocks down the road.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Did Herbert apologize when you came home?

ANDY
I didn’t give him the chance. I went up to my room and that’s where I stayed.

ENTER: Elizabeth arrives on stage.

ELIZABETH
There you are, Detective. Would you like some Tea?

DETECTIVE SMITH
No, but I would like to ask you a few questions about Herbert’s outbursts.

ELIZABETH
Herbert rarely had any outbursts. He was a gentle soul.

EXIT: Andy sneaks offstage before Detective Smith can question him any further.

DETECTIVE SMITH
I just heard about an interesting incident that occurred last Saturday.

ENTER: Brad appears onstage and heads over to Detective Smith and Elizabeth.


ELIZABETH
Oh, yes there was an incident here on that day.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Where were you when it happened?

ELIZABETH
I was right here when it happened.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Why didn’t you protect Andy from the abuse that Herbert was inflicting?

ELIZABETH
I beg your pardon?

DETECTIVE SMITH
Why did you let Herbert throw a chair at Andy?

ELIZABETH
You have it all wrong, Detective Smith. Andy threw the chair. (She looks around for him) Where did he run off? I’ll go get him and we’ll clear up the confusion. I don’t know why he’d lie about something like that.

EXIT: Elizabeth walks offstage hurriedly to get Andy.

BRAD
I’m starting to suspect, Andy. Elizabeth told me that he has a temper on him. He was jealous of Terrance and he didn’t get along with Herbert too well.

DETECTIVE SMITH
It sounds like Andy and Herbert didn’t have a healthy relationship. I don’t think Andy’s being completely honest with us.

BRAD
If that’s the case, where is Herbert now?

DETECTIVE SMITH
That could be the real mystery. I fear the worst in that case.

BRAD
Do you think Herbert was killed too?

DETECTIVE SMITH
It’s a possibility. Whoever killed Terrance, knew what they were doing. No witnesses and no evidence.

BRAD
I still suspect Andy. He had plenty of motives for getting rid of the two of them.

DETECTIVE SMITH
He did get jumpy when you were questioning him. Still, we can’t prove it. Unless he confesses and we hear it, there’s nothing we can do.

ENTER: Elizabeth returns to where Detective Smith and Brad are.

ELIZABETH
I can’t find him anywhere. He must have run off again.

DETECTIVE SMITH
I think I know where I can find him. He mentioned a friend’s house a couple blocks from here. He might have gone back there.

ELIZABETH
I think I know which house he meant. I’ll come with you. I know the friend’s mother really well.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Brad, stay here in case he comes back.

BRAD
If he does come back, I’ll hold him here until you get back.

EXIT: Detective Smith and Elizabeth leave the stage. Brad sits down in the armchair and becomes trapped in deep thought.

ENTER: TERRANCE walks on stage covered in blood and playing with a ball.

TERRANCE
Hello, who are you and what are you doing in my house?

Brad jumps out of the armchair in shock.

BRAD
My God, you’re injured! I’ll call an ambulance immediately.

TERRANCE
It won’t do you much good.

BRAD
Just calm down and think positive! They’ll be here in no time.

TERRANCE
They’re already too late.

BRAD
Don’t talk like that. You’re going to be just fine.

TERRANCE
You don’t understand. I’m already dead.

BRAD
No, you’ll be fine. You’re not going to die.

TERRANCE
Here, check my pulse. You’ll see that I’m already dead.

Terrance holds out one arm. Brad hesitates, and then checks his pulse.

BRAD (surprised)
You don’t have a pulse!

TERRANCE
I told you so.
Brad jumps back and stares at Terrance in fear.

TERRANCE (cont)
I’m a ghost. I was killed yesterday evening.

BRAD
Stay away from me!

TERRANCE
Take it easy, sir. I won’t harm you.

Terrance steps towards Brad. Brad backs away out of his reach.

BRAD
My partner will be back any minute now. You’ll never escape in time after you kill me.

TERRANCE
I don’t want to kill you. Relax, sir I’m not going to do anything to you.

Terrance takes another step towards Brad. This time, Brad doesn’t move.

BRAD
Why are you here? What do you want with me?

Terrance extends his hand as a peace offering.

TERRANCE
Calm down, sir. I’m not here to hurt you. My name is Terrance, what’s your name?

Brad slowly approaches Terrance. His hand is still extended. Brad hesitates, and then shakes his hand.

BRAD
My name is Brad. Actually, it’s Detective Brad now. This is my first case.

TERRANCE
You’re a detective? Wow, I’ve always wanted to be a detective. What is it like?

BRAD
It isn’t easy. Right now, my partner and I are investigating a murder. It happened yesterday evening. (Brad stares at Terrance suspiciously). What did you say your name was?

TERRANCE
I’m Terrance, but you can call me Terry if you’d like.

Brad points at Terrance excitedly.

BRAD
You’re…you’re…you’re…you were…it was you!

TERRANCE
No, it wasn’t me.

Brad lowers his head in disappointment.

BRAD
Oh, sorry. I just thought that…

TERRANCE
No, I never killed anybody in my life.

BRAD
You’re the one that was murdered!

TERRANCE
Yes, it was just before dinner. Pity, we were having my favorite that night.

BRAD
I need your help, Terrance. Andy says that Herbert killed you. However, Elizabeth told me about Andy. From what I’ve heard, he was extremely jealous of you. I’m starting to suspect Andy, but I can’t prove it. Just tell me, who was it that murdered you?

TERRANCE
It wasn’t Herb. He gave this ball to me. Do you want to see how high it bounces?

Terrance bounces the ball and catches it.

BRAD
Terrance, did you see the one who killed you?

ENTER: Andy slowly creeps on stage. He’s walking backwards and is crouched down. He is unaware that Brad and Terrance are behind him.

TERRANCE
Certainly, he did it.

Terrance points behind him without looking. Andy bumps into Terrance and freezes. He has his back to Terrance and Brad.

TERRANCE (cont.)
Hi, Andy.

Andy turns around. At the sight of Terrance, he jumps back and screams like a girl.

ENTER: Detective Smith and Elizabeth rush onstage.

ELIZABETH
Andy, we’ve been looking all over for you. Where have you been and why did you lie to Detective Smith?

EXIT: Andy doesn’t answer. He continues to stare in horror at Terrance, and then he storms offstage.

ELIZABETH (cont.)
Andy, come back here this minute.

TERRANCE
Hi, mom.

EXIT: Elizabeth doesn’t answer. She rushes offstage without even looking at Terrance.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Brad, this man is hurt! Is the ambulance on its way?

BRAD
You can see him too?

DETECTIVE SMITH
Of course, I can see him! How can anyone not see him?

Detective Smith stares hard at Terrance.

TERRANCE
I’m a ghost.

Detective Smith jumps back and pulls Brad in front of him like a shield.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Keep him away from me, Brad!



BRAD
Relax, he’s not going to harm you.

DETECTIVE SMITH
How can you be sure? He’s dead, but he still walks and talks like he was alive! He could be evil for all we know!

TERRANCE
No, Detective Brad is right. I mean you no harm. Do you want to see how high my ball bounces?

DETECTIVE SMITH
How high…what?

Terrance bounces his ball. Detective Smith drops down and crouches like he expected a bomb to go off.

TERRANCE
Herb gave it to me. Do you know where he is? I wanted to thank him for giving it to me. I didn’t get a chance to thank him last night.

BRAD
I’m telling you that Terrance is harmless. He’s here to help us solve this case. He told me who murdered him.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Isn’t Terrance the name of the man that was murdered last night in this house?

BRAD
Yes, the very same one. Now, will you please relax?

DETECTIVE SMITH
He told you that Herbert killed him?

BRAD
No, it wasn’t Herbert. He told me that it was Andy.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Then, where the devil is Herbert?

BRAD
I don’t know.

DETECTIVE SMITH
How do we prove that Andy is the murderer?

Brad looks at Terrance, then back at Detective Smith.

BRAD
Terrance, will you help us make Andy confess to killing you?

TERRANCE
Ok, I’m getting kind of bored anyway.

ENTER: Elizabeth drags Andy back on stage.

ELIZABETH
Now, tell the detectives the truth, Andy. You really shouldn’t lie about things like that.

TERRANCE
Hey, Andy do you want to see how high my ball bounces?

Andy cowers in terror as Terrance bounces his ball again.

BRAD
Andy, why don’t you tell us the truth? Where is Herbert?

ANDY
I’m not telling you, anything.

BRAD
Fine, we’ll find him ourselves.


TERRANCE
Yeah, Brad and I will go look. I need to thank Herb for the ball anyway.

EXIT: Brad and Terrance walk offstage to find Herbert.

ELIZABETH
Detective Smith, aren’t you going to assist Officer Brad?

DETECTIVE SMITH
No, he’ll be fine. Terrance went with him.



ELIZABETH
Terrance is dead, Detective. (She looks at Detective Smith with concern) Are you feeling alright?

ANDY
Mother, Terrance isn’t dead! He was standing between Detective Smith and what’s-his-name!

ENTER: HERBERT storms on stage followed by Brad and Terrance.

HERBERT
Andy, just wait until I get my hands on you!

EXIT: Andy runs out the door and Herbert chases after them.

TERRANCE
Go get him, Herb!

DETECTIVE SMITH
Brad, wait here with Elizabeth.

EXIT: Detective Smith walks out the door hurriedly.

ELIZABETH
I hope Detective Smith gets to them, before Herbert kills Andy.

BRAD
I wouldn’t blame, Herbert if he did.

ELIZABETH (surprised)
I beg your pardon, Officer?

ENTER: Andy bursts through the door and hides behind Elizabeth.
Herbert and Detective Smith arrive shortly after.

HERBERT
You’re dead, boy!
Elizabeth points to Herbert.

ELIZABETH
Detective Smith, arrest that man!

DETECTIVE SMITH
Herbert is innocent, Elizabeth.

ANDY
No, he’s not! He killed Terrance and now he wants to kill me!

HERBERT
I did no such thing! You’re the one that killed Terrance. You hit me over the head, so I couldn’t be a witness. However, I managed to remain conscious just long enough to see you stab Terrance in the chest.

TERRANCE
That wasn’t very nice, Andy.

ANDY
He’s lying, I didn’t do anything!

ELIZABETH
I’m so confused. What is going on?

BRAD
I found Herbert tied up in the basement. There’s no way that he could have tied himself up like that unless he had an accomplice. I can prove that Herbert innocent.

DETECTIVE SMITH
Andy, all of the evidence points to you. We can either settle this the easy way or we can settle this the hard way. It’s your choice.

ANDY
They’re threatening me, mother!

HERBERT
I’ll do more than just threaten, boy!

TERRANCE
Take it easy, Herb. Remember your blood pressure.

Herbert doesn’t hear Terrance. Brad realizes this.

BRAD
Take it easy, Herbert. Don’t let you blood pressure get too high.

TERRANCE
Thank you, Detective Brad.

ANDY
Father killed Terrance! I’m a witness!

DETECTIVE SMITH
If you are innocent, then why did you lie about the incident that happened last Saturday?

ANDY
What does that have to do with father killing Terrance?

TERRANCE
Check the cut on his arm.

DETECTIVE SMITH
You said that you have a cut on your arm from where you tried to stop Herbert.

ANDY
Yes, I do have a cut on my arm from my father.

DETECTIVE SMITH
I would like to see that cut, Andy.
Andy rolls up his left arm and shows Detective Smith the cut.

DETECTIVE SMITH (cont)
It doesn’t look too deep, Andy. In fact it looks like it was carefully cut just enough for there to be a scratch. Are you right handed, Andy?

ANDY
Of course I’m right handed. What does that have to do with anything?

BRAD
It has to do with a lot, Andy. The cut is on your left arm. Normally, right-handed people don’t reach with their left hand. If Herbert wanted to escape badly enough, he wouldn’t be too careful to cut your arm and it would be on the right.

ANDY
Alright, I confess! I killed Terrance and tried to blame my father. He always liked Terrance better than me. All I wanted was to go to the circus! I hate you, father. (He glares at everyone around him) I hate all of you!

HERBERT
Detectives lock him up and throw away the key!

EXIT: Brad and Detective Smith arrest Andy and drag him off the stage.


ELIZABETH
Oh, Herbert. I’m so sorry. Andy had me convinced that you were a murderer.

HERBERT
It wasn’t your fault, Elizabeth. I’m going to miss Terrance, too. He was such a good boy.

Terrance puts his arm around Herbert. Elizabeth and Herbert look at Terrance in terror.

TERRANCE
I’ll miss you too, Herb. Thanks for the ball, it bounces really high. Do you want to see?

EXIT: Herbert and Elizabeth scream offstage. Terrance chases after them.

THE END