MARATHON (INTERMEDIATE)
Michele Lourie c 2016
Two girls enter, wearing running gear, both looking exhausted. One collapses to the floor.
ACTOR 1: I shouldn’t have let you talk me into this!
ACTOR 2: (running on spot) Oh come on! It’s only a half-marathon.
ACTOR 1: Only? I’ve never run further than my front door to the letterbox before. Look
just leave me here and I’ll walk slowly back after I get my strength back.
ACTOR 2: What? No, it will be less distance to keep going to the finishing line. Besides
my Dad is picking us up there.
ACTOR 1: Alright, I’ll walk to the finish line after I’ve had a rest. You keep going.
ACTOR 2: I’m not leaving you here. (sits down beside Actor 1) I’ll wait with you.
ACTOR 1: Please don’t do that. I know how much you’ve been looking forward to this
run and how much training you’ve done. You can’t stop now – even this
period you’ve spent here with me will spoil your final time.
ACTOR 2: It doesn’t matter, I’m not going on without you. I thought you were doing some
running in your lunch hour.
ACTOR 1: No, I never seemed to have time.
(a slight pause while Actor 1 thinks deeply)
ACTOR 1: OK then, let’s go. (she jumps up with feigned enthusiasm)
ACTOR 2: Really? (starts to rise) Ouch – my leg, my leg. (clutches leg as if in pain)
It’s cramping up. Ouch!
ACTOR 1: (tries to help) What can I do?
ACTOR 2: Nothing – I’ve had this before – just help me to walk to the finish line.
ACTOR 1: Here, lean on me! Wow, I feel like I’ve got new strength! Maybe I could
have finished the race if you hadn’t got leg cramps.
(Actor 2 looks astonished)
