Georgina Burns

• 2012-04-10

  

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  ABOUT

  Georgina Burns is from North London and works in NHS mental health. Prior to this she worked in the editorial departments of both fiction and non-fiction publishers. She started writing for theatre seriously three years ago and has had work on at Hampstead Theatre (Start Night), Theatre 503 (Rapid Write Response, Rapid Write Rewind) and Riverside Studios (OffCut). Her work has been shortlisted for the International Student Playscript Competition 2010 and longlisted for the Papatango new writing competition in 2011.

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  WRITING

  SHONA whispers into TONI’s ear.

   

  Shona: I’m preparing myself for the big one.

   

  Toni looks towards the television.

   

  Toni: No, please no.

   

  Shona: Look at you. Anyone would think I was going to stab a baby, a real flesh and blood baby.

  Toni: We can’t afford another one. You know we can’t.

   

  Shona: You don’t think I’d go to all the trouble of doing this just so you can go out and buy another one?

  Toni: Please Shona, no, please.

  SHONA stands in-between her mother and the television.

   

  Shona: And yet you still don’t get out of that chair. Amazing.

  TONI is pulling at SHONA’s clothes, but remains seated, unable or unwilling to get up..

   

  Toni: I won’t survive. I won’t, not without it. You know I won’t.

  Shona: I know. What else have you got?

  Toni: You’ll kill me. You will.

  Shona: What else could you possibly have?

  Toni: Please Shona, no.

  SHONA bends down in front of her mother, close to her face.

   

  Shona: You’ve got me Mum. You won’t die, ‘cause you’ve got me.

  Toni: Please, please. I need it. I won’t survive. You know I won’t.

  SHONA repeatedly and violently stabs the television set as Toni collapses in a heap.