The Seat
This play was written for the stage by the Creative Writing Group at King Street, Drogheda.
Characters:
Adam, 34, just got out of prison, eccentric, innocent, honest, falsely imprisoned, perfectionist, a little bit OCD, estranged from his family.
Tracy, 35, acts brave but is actually terrified, full-time mother with three small children, works as a journalist, recently divorced, feeling anxious lately.
Joe, a new friend of Adam’s. A police informer. On probation. Adam doesn’t know his full story.
Robbie, a friend of Joes.
SCENE ONE
Drogheda train station. 12pm train. Enterprise express Belfast to Dublin. 2007. The beginning of the recession in Ireland.
Adam: Em excuse me . . . your sitting in my seat!
Tracy: Sorry what?
Adam: You’re sitting in my seat!
Tracy: I just heard you up in the other carriage saying the same thing to someone else.
Adam: Yes, but that was a mistake I made, that was actually their seat.
Tracy: I booked my ticket.
Adam: Me too. I booked a ticket too. Well, that’s my seat.
Tracy: Im not moving.
Awkward pause.
Tracy: Can I see your ticket?
Adam: Yes, you can.
Adam takes out his ticket. Tracy looks at the ticket.
Tracy: I don’t care what it says. I know I’m in the right seat, mine says 27 as well.
Adam: Can I see your ticket?
Tracy: No!
Beat.
Adam: Jesus Christ, what is the world coming to, I bought my ticket, what do I need to do?
Tracy: Look does it really matter where we sit?
Adam: It does to me, I always sit in that seat.
Tracy: Why?
Adam: That’s the whole point of booking a seat.
Tracy: Why is it so important to you?
Adam: I have OCD.
Beat.
Tracy: So does my brother . . . but he doesn’t get on the train asking for other people’s seats.
Adam: Well I’m not your brother!
Adam sits on the edge of the seat beside Tracy.
Tracy: I know what it’s like for someone to have OCD.
Adam sits back in the seat.
Tracy: Are you meeting someone in Dublin?
Adam: Yes, my probation officer.
Tracy: What for?
Adam: For something I didn’t do.
Tracy (with a smile): That’s what they all say.
Adam nervously grins.
Adam: That’s what they all say to me too.
Tracy: How long where you in for?
Adam: Three years. I got out on good behaviour.
Tracy: Which prison?
Adam: Mountjoy.
Tracy: When did you get out?
Adam: Friday.
Tracy: Are you Adam Bourke?
Adam: I am. How do you know?
Tracy: I heard it on the radio, actually, I’m a journalist and I’ve worked on your story for the Evening Herald.
Adam: Don’t believe everything that’s written in the paper. You probably think I done it.
Tracy: Actually I have my doubts.
Inspector: Tickets please . . .
SCENE TWO
2004. Clarkes Bar, Drogheda. Robbie and Joe are drinking and Adam is not drinking.
Joe: Are you not having drink?
Adam: No, I’m driving.
Joe: Your a dry shite, have a drink and don’t be so boring.
Robbie: Ah leave him alone.
Robbie gets a phone call then he whispers to Joe.
Joe: I have to drop Robbie home can I have your car keys?
Adam: What? Why is he going now?
Joe: He has something to do, he has to go now.
Adam: I could drive home?
Joe: You don’t trust me.
Adam: No, it’s not that, you’re not insured.
Joe: For God’s sake, it’s two minutes around the corner, what could happen?
Adam: Well if anything does happen it’s on me.
Joe: Relax man.
Adam reluctantly hands over the keys. They leave the bar. We see Adam waiting. Joe and Robbie go into the bathroom and they take cocaine. Joe calls Adam and asks him to come outside.
Adam: Why where you so long, what kept you?
Joe: We have to go right now!
Adam reluctantly gets into the passenger seat.
Adam: Where were you?
Joe: I had a bit of business to do.
Adam: What business?
Joe: Fucks sake a copper wouldn’t ask me that.
The lights go amber and then red and Joe speeds up.
Adam: Slow down, you’re driving like a lunatic. WATCH THE BIKE!!
We hear a car screech. The car hits a cyclist. Joe and Adam get out of the car and then Joe gets back into the passenger seat. Adam is in shock. The Garda arrive after a while. The woman is pronounced dead.
SCENE THREE
Back on the train Belfast-Dublin Enterprise Express train. Tracy gives her ticket to the inspector.
Inspector: This is 27D you’re in the wrong carriage this is for B.
Adam hands his ticket to the inspector
Adam: Look it’s okay it was seat but I’ll sit here.
Inspector: That’s okay so. Enjoy your trip.
Beat.
Adam: Sorry what do you mean, you have your doubts?
Tracy: Something didn’t sit right with me about your case.
Adam: What do you mean?
Tracy: I covered you case for the Herald.
Adam: Oh your Tracy Rankin, that covered the case from court.
Tracy: I spoke to Robbie.
Adam: Robbie Ryan?
Tracy: Yes.
Adam: What did he say?
Tracy: That he has his doubts. You said you didn’t drive the car.
Adam: That’s right.
Tracy: We both now who was.
Adam: You can say it but I can’t.
Tracy: So you done time for him. Would he do time for you?
Adam: No. I know that now.
Tracy: The Gardaí knew who was driving.
Adam: How could they know?
