A Trip to the City
By Niamh O, Coláiste Cholm, Cork, Written in Autumn 2020
Characters:
ANN: Female, Main Character, 16, friendly and caring, first aid experience
JANE: Female, ANN’s friend, 17, loves shopping and Christmas
CATHERINE: Female, ANN’s mother, 51, kind and caring
DENNIS: Male, ANN’s father, 53, thoughtful
MARY and DANIEL: Paramedics
BARISTA: Works in Starbucks in shopping centre
JERRY: Male, old college friend of DENNIS, 55, in danger of heart attack
Scene is set in the city centre in the evening.
JANE: I just love the buzz in town today. It’s so nice and festive isn’t it!
ANN: I know, this time of year is so magical. Back to business though, how many gifts do we have left on the list?
JANE: You have the list, not me!
ANN: Oh yes, that’s right. Let me pop it out of my handbag now. Here we go, we have my Auntie Joan left, along with ourselves!
JANE: Fab! Let’s go to Brown Thomas for your auntie and then maybe we can grab a hot chocolate!
ANN: Ooh yes!
Goes into Brown Thomas and purchases perfume. Emerges from the shop with a bag.
JANE: Now, that’s her sorted. Why don’t we go to the shopping centre to go to Starbucks.
ANN: Great idea. We can have a think about what shops we want to roam around for ourselves after.
JANE: It’s so nice and crisp in the air this afternoon. I love walking around the city at this time of day.
Arrives into the shopping centre after walking across the city.
ANN: I know! Now, that hot air is nice when you step into the centre.
JANE: It’s so busy, isn’t it? I’m ordering a mint hot chocolate. What about you?
ANN: Yeah, same. It’s the best. (to BARISTA) Excuse me, can we get two mint hot chocolates for here please?
BARISTA: Perfect. That will be €5.70, please.
JANE: I’ll get it today Ann, as a treat!
BARISTA: Here ye go!
JANE: Thank you and Happy Christmas!
Beat
ANN: Thank you so much Jane, that is delish. Let’s sit down here.
JANE: So nice and warming!
ANN: Oh look! My mum and dad are over there.
JANE: I see them too! They must have nearly finished their shopping by now.
ANN: Yeah, we’ll leave them be while we enjoy our hot chocolate, then we can call them. Beat
JANE: Oh my god! Look over there.
ANN: What?!
JANE: A man has collapsed outside Easons!
ANN: Oh my goodness! I must help.
JANE: No! Don’t get involved. We should probably go now as an ambulance will need to get in here.
ANN: Absolutely not! I can help. Do you remember that first aid course I did! Well, I will see you in a bit if you wait here for me.
ANN rushes over to where the man has collapsed.
JANE: Oh no! What am I supposed to do now?
ANN: Can he breathe?
BARISTA: I don’t know! I just saw him clutch his chest and fall back so I ran over.
ANN: Let me check his pulse. Okay, I need to work fast.
BARISTA: Is that CPR you are giving him?
ANN: Yep, but it will only last a few minutes. I need you to call the ambulance.
BARISTA: I’ll do that right away. (Leaves and arrives back shortly)
BARISTA: I just called 999. There are two paramedics on their way while we wait for an ambulance.
ANN: Great stuff. Thank you so much.
Beat
CATHERINE: Ann! Ann!
ANN: That sounds like my mum.
CATHERINE: There you are, my darling. Jane just called me. Can I do anything for you? ANN: No, it’s just a waiting game now. I think I have saved him from the worst. CATHERINE: Okay. I am going to ring your dad and ask him to come right back here. CATHERINE leaves to find DENNIS and paramedics soon arrive.
DANIEL: We came as fast as we could. Myself and Mary are paramedics. ANN: Good stuff. Take a look at him. I think my CPR is starting to revive him. MARY: He is in a bad way but thankfully you were here.
DANIEL: Mary, can you get the defibrillator?
MARY: I have it here.
DANIEL: Help me place it on him.
ANN: Can I do anything for you?
DANIEL: Hold this down.
MARY: I think it’s working!
DANIEL: I agree. We need another minute to know for sure.
ANN: He is opening his eyes!
MARY: Thank god.
DANIEL: Slow it down, team.
ANN: I think we can stop now.
MARY: Yes I’ll turn it off now.
JERRY: Ummp (grunts)
ANN: That’s it. You’re alright. We’ll get you sorted in a minute.
Beat
CATHERINE: We’re back. What has happened?
ANN: Thankfully these paramedics came and he is starting to become conscious again. DENNIS: Oh wow. That is Jerry!
CATHERINE: Do you know him?
DENNIS: He was in my year in college. I can’t believe it. I haven’t seen him all year. Will he be okay?
DANIEL: Yes, all down to your daughter.
MARY: You should be very proud.
DENNIS: I certainly am. Jerry is such a lovely man. He was always the class joker. ANN: Well, this has certainly been no joke. I need to sit down.
MARY: Of course, you must be shocked.
ANN: I was never expecting this.
CATHERINE: Come on love, let’s go and sit down with Jane.
DANIEL: Do that and thank you for everything Ann.
MARY: Yes, you have just saved a life. Not many people have that to claim. ANN: I know. Thank you and God bless.
They go back to where JANE was sitting.
JANE: I am beyond proud of you Ann. You are amazing.
ANN: Thank you. Can you get me a glass of water please?
JANE: Certainly.
Beat
DENNIS: The ambulance has just arrived so I am going to go with him if that’s alright. I know his family would be very grateful if there was a familiar face with him at this difficult time. It will probably be late the time his wife and children arrive into the hospital.
CATHERINE: Yes, darling, that would be nice of you.
DENNIS: I’ll give you a ring later with an update.
CATHERINE: Do that. Everything will be all right now.
ANN: Well, that was some twist to our festive shopping day!
JANE: I know! Thanks to your bravery that man will have a Christmas to spend with his family and friends.
CATHERINE: I love you, Ann. You are the best girl in the world.
ANN: Thanks, guys. I can’t wait to go to bed tonight!
End Scene
