Cast List
Lewis Scenes 1, 2 and 3
Aurelia Scenes 2 and 3
Stevens Scenes 1, 2 and 3
Foster Scenes 1, 2 and 3
Renaud Scenes 1, 2 and 3
Scene 1 Meeting Point, The two teams of Agents
The backdrop is of a bleak grey apartment block, bins over filled with rubbish are around the stage. The light is dim, sky is dark with light coming from some windows and streetlamps.
Three men enter from SL, two are wearing tactical uniform and carrying rifles (Stevens and Foster) and the other is dressed in denim and a leather jacket (Main Character Lewis). Another man enters from the SR wearing a raincoat (Renaud). They meet in CS.
Lewis and Renaud shake hands
Renaud: (French accent)
Bonjour, I’m Agent Renaud, you must be Agent Lewis.
Lewis: (American accent)
Bonjour Renaud, yes I am. Thank you for assisting us. I take it the target is still inside.
Renaud: Yes, but I don’t want any involvement from here if possible. This is your pursuit and not entirely legal, but we are parked around the corner if anything happens.
Lewis: I appreciate it. We’ll keep this clean and you out of it.
Lewis turns to his two men and indicates they proceed to the building.
Lewis: Second apartment on the right, go easy and quick. Don’t give her time to react and restrain her if you have to. Bring her down here.
Stevens: Yes boss.
Foster: Yes sir.
They run off to exit US with their rifles in position to fire Renaud and Lewis watch until they are out of sight. Both men face each other in a relaxed pose, hands in pockets. Good eye contact.
Renaud: I was surprised to hear from you. You are a legend now. How many Nazis have you hunted?
Lewis: (Sighs and pinches his nose)
Too many, all of them, I think. (He gives a sarcastic laugh) It took 10 years of my life, and we haven’t any new leads.
Renaud: That’s because you got them all
(Renaud punches Lewis’ arm gently)
D’accord! Now, it’s the Russians? (He raises his eyebrows)
Lewis: With the cold war ending last year (he shrugs), there is a whole new era of war criminals to be found and brought to justice.
Renaud: By justice you mean?
Lewis: Justice for families, long prison sentences or death for the criminals. Sometimes it’s a straight execution. You know how it is.
Renaud: I do Lewis. Paris was overrun by the Nazi’s and my job in old crimes has never been easy. However, you get the cases no one wants to touch, you have my respect. Now it’s the Russians.
Lewis: Ah it’s mostly spies and assassins (pause) I don’t have full detail on the horror, the death count or torture they were responsible for yet.
Renaud: Have you seen her? The target?
Lewis: Only in pictures. None that were helpful.
Renaud: Ah yes, the ballerina. She is very beautiful, in real life too.
Lewis: What do you know of the ballerina?
Renaud: Come now, Lewis. There isn’t an intelligence officer in the world who isn’t chasing the ballerina. Don’t tell me a man of your stature has been caught up in this mythical legend of the ballerina slash assassin. She doesn’t exist.
Lewis: Yeah, well we can dream. Anyway, this target has information I need, she just happens to be a ballerina, I think.
Renaud: She is, and an excellent dancer, I followed her to the dance studio earlier. She was exquisite. World class. Gorgeous. No idea why she’s living here in this squalor.
Renaud waves his arm around the stage while Lewis follows with his eyes
Renaud: Merde, there are rats everywhere and the stench from that rubbish. It’s no place for a girl to live
Lewis: I would guess she’s hiding, and I suspect this is no worse than Russia, possibly an improvement.
Scene 2 Aurelia, The Ballerina enters
A loud steel door slams from US and both men turn to look in the direction. Renaud claps Lewis’s shoulder and walks off SR silently. Stevens and Foster throw a young woman to the floor and don’t help her up.
She wraps her arms around her knees and her long white blonde hair covers her. Stevens kicks her to get on her feet which she does with upmost grace then Foster shoves her in the direction of Lewis. The men stay as they are with their hands on their weapons.
she carefully moves across the stage elegantly until she arrives in front of him.
Lewis watches her the whole time sweeping his eyes from her head to toes and back again. Aurelia pulls her cardigan around her tightly as if to protect herself.
They stand in silence looking at each other. Lewis is bright eyed and excited with his capture. Aurelia is nervous and scared.
Lewis: Do you know who I am?
Aurelia: (Perfect English accent)
I know you are an American.
Lewis: Do you know why I am here?
Aurelia: (Small shake of head then pause)
Are you here to kill me?
Lewis: Why would you think that?
Aurelia: Your men have guns!
Aurelia looks to the men at the back of the stage with fear. Lewis also looks and waves at them to move out of sight, they exit UL.
Aurelia: So, you’re not here to kill me?
Lewis: I haven’t decided.
Aurelia gasps and steps back, wide eyed (Pause while he looks her up and down again)
Lewis: I have questions, Aurelia.
Aurelia: Aurelia? You called me Aurelia? How do you know my name? (pause) What do you want with me? (Lengthy pause then a sigh of relief)
Lewis: You are a dancer.
Aurelia: I was the world’s best prima ballerina for six years. (She holds her head high).
Lewis: How old were you when you joined the Russian Ballet?
Aurelia: I grew up dancing with them, I started when I was 4.
Lewis: What age were you went you went on tour, abroad?
Aurelia: I was 17. Are you here to kill me for being a ballerina? It isn’t a crime. Who are you? You don’t look or act like a crazed fan.
Lewis: The ballerina I’m looking for has been connected to crimes. Many horrific crimes that took place all across the world.
Aurelia turns to walk away but Lewis grabs her arm and pulls her back.
Lewis: Do not run from me Amelia. I found you here and I will find you wherever you go next. Unless you want me to take you to America where you will be held for the rest of your life in a maximum-security prison.
Aurelia: I haven’t done anything wrong!
Lewis: Then answer my questions.
Aurelia relaxes and Lewis let’s go of her arm. He then hooks his thumbs into his belt loops and adopts a more casual stand.
Lewis: Aurelia, you were 17 when you began touring and by looking at you, (his gaze goes over her body again) I doubt you could overcome a windy day never mind a man.
Aurelia: What do you mean?
Lewis: You are too skinny and petite to have the strength to kill a man, not to mention you are a bag of nerves.
Aurelia: Oh (she looks down at herself, drawing her cardigan tighter but then lifts her chin in defence) I could if I had a gun.
Lewis: These men weren’t shot with a gun, they were skilfully killed with knives and by hand. Guns can make too much noise, they can be a distraction. It was professional.
Aurelia: You… you can’t seriously think it was me
Lewis: Not now, not from meeting you in person. I have a talent for knowing these things.
(Pause while he looks away then back at her with sympathy)
I do think you know who did though. Someone close to you. Someone who was with you on every trip you took oversees with the ballet.
Aurelia: I don’t know. I don’t know anyone who could do such a thing.
Lewis: Was there anyone in your entourage? Who did you meet after a show? Who else were you introduced to? What about staff?
Aurelia: I met everyone. Royalty, politician’s presidents, rich people, ones of importance. I was kept away from everyone else like hotel staff in case they wanted to harm me.
Lewis: So, you met the main targets then?
Aurelia: (gasps) No everyone was so nice. Did some of the people I meet die? (Her face is full of horror)
Lewis: (puts his hands on her shoulders) Yes, they did. I’m sorry.
Aurelia: No! I can’t believe it and that’s why you are here? You think I did it and you want to put me in prison?
Lewis: I want to find the person responsible for these crimes and I need your help to do it.
Aurelia: I don’t remember much. I was always so focussed on my performance then there were interviews and meeting important people. Then I would go to my room, it was exhausting.
Lewis: Take your time and think.
Aurelia looks down, chewing on her fingernail while shaking her head. Then throws her hands in the air.
Aurelia: Maybe you should ask my bodyguard, he might have seen someone.
Lewis: Your bodyguard!
Aurelia: Yes, he went everywhere I did, he might know something.
Lewis: Who is he?
Aurelia: Boris. He was ex KGB, fully trained to protect me.
Lewis: Second name?
Aurelia: I don’t know. I only called him Boris but you’ll find him in Pishchevik, Moscow. He still lives there.
Lewis whistles and beckons Stevens over
Lewis: I need you to call our contact in Moscow. I have a lead on a guy called Boris, he’s ex KGB and living in Pishchevik. This could be him. This could be who we’re looking for.
Stevens: Right away boss.
Stevens nods and jogs off CL. Lewis looks upwards puffing up his cheeks with relief then around at his surroundings.
Aurelia: Will I be ok now?
Lewis: I might need you for more questions. When you go back to your apartment, I want you to stay there until I come to you. Don’t open the door for anyone else, ok?
Aurelia: Am I in danger?
Lewis: No, I’ll protect you
Aurelia: Really? (She gives him a huge smile)
Lewis: You are so beautiful when you smile.
Aurelia looks down and pushes her toe around in the dirt
Aurelia: Thank you, I don’t think a man has ever told me that, at least not without stage makeup.
Lewis: You are quite possibly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.
(Pause as he looks around)
How did you end up here? In Paris?
Aurelia: An Italian man who came to my shows persuaded me to leave with him. It was just before everything fell apart at home. I went with him to Italy and… it wasn’t good, he was a bad man. I ran from him and came here.
Lewis: And you couldn’t go to the police because they’d send you back to Moscow?
Aurelia: Yes.
Lewis: How do you survive?
Aurelia: I work in a café and in a club at night. It’s not much but I have my freedom.
Lewis goes in his pocket and brings out a card, handing it to Aurelia.
Lewis: If you need anything and I mean anything, you call me. Whether it’s for food, money, a lawyer, or if you want to live somewhere else…
Aurelia: You are very sweet
Aurelia goes up on her tiptoes and kisses Lewis on the lips. She turns and walks to UL. Lewis doesn’t take his eyes of her until she’s gone.
Lewis walks to CS, his hands in his pockets humming a tune. He takes a notepad from his pocket and begins to write in it.
Scene 3 The Explosive Finale
Stevens runs onto stage from CL, he’s out of breath from running
Stevens: Boss! Boss! We have a problem, a huge problem! (He looks around). Where is the girl?
Lewis: She’s gone. What is the problem?
Stevens: The girl, where did she go?
Lewis: Back to her apartment I told her to stay there. Are you ok?
Stevens: She’s not who you think she is. (Pause while he takes a deep breath). She’s very dangerous sir, you will never believe who she is.
Lewis: Who is she?
Stevens straightens and fumbles in his pocket before bringing out a photograph and handing it to Lewis.
Stevens: Look, who do you see?
Lewis: That’s Konstantin Volkov, he was head of the KGB until he was killed. Also known as the silent butcher, preferring knives to guns. Do you think he was involved?
Stevens: Look at who else is in the picture.
Lewis: That’s his daughter Yelena.
Stevens: Yes, look closer.
Lewis runs his hand through his hair while staring at the picture.
Lewis: It can’t be. (Pause) There is no way. (Pause) Aurelia, she is too lovely. (Pause) She can’t be Yelena. I would have seen this before now.
Stevens: You couldn’t have seen it boss. We only had pictures of her wearing stage makeup. You only just met her.
Lewis: So, Aurelia the ballerina is actually Yelena, the daughter of that monster Volkov!
Stevens: Yes sir.
Lewis: He trained her to be his assassin.
Stevens: Not many people got in and out of Russia in the past few decades.
Lewis: Which is why we suspected the ballerina in the first place. The ballet visited every country in the world.
Stevens: When you called her Aurelia, her reaction…
Lewis: She thought I was here to capture and kill Yelena. I made this so easy for her. Damn it!
Lewis takes his radio out of his jacket pocket and turns the dial. A crackling sound is heard then a man’s voice.
Foster: Sir?
Lewis: Take her into custody. Set up a perimeter around this block. Check her apartment first. All units respond. She is dangerous and likely armed. Bring her to me alive. Hurry!
Foster: Everyone, move now!
Lewis fiddles with the radio again.
Lewis: Renaud!
Renaud: Lewis.
Lewis: I need your backup. Set up a perimeter with my men around this block. I need to take her into custody.
Renaud: You don’t have her?
Lewis: No, I let her go, it was a mistake.
Renaud: (Makes a whistling sound) Okay, we already have this side covered.
Stevens: I’m going to the apartment.
Lewis nods and waves his hand to Stevens, he runs off and exits LR. Lewis then fiddles with the dial on his radio again.
Lewis: I’ve opened the comms channel. My men are on the radio with you Renaud. Does anyone have eyes on the girl?
A combination of voices reply with no. Then a gunshot is heard.
Lewis: Who fired?
(Long pause as no one answers)
Who fired goddammit?
Lewis begins to pace up and down DS. Another gunshot sounds and shouting comes from left of stage. Lewis turns his attention to that direction. He then speaks into his radio.
Lewis: What is going on? Who fired that shot? Do we have eyes on the girl?
Rapid gunfire breaks out from left of stage with more shouting. Smoke drifts onto the stage. The sound of two cars crashing then silence. Lewis runs a few steps to CL when an explosion occurs left to the stage.
Lewis: Stevens, Foster, anyone, report to me, what is happening?
(Long pause)
Lewis takes a few steps back to CS. A gunshot sounds to the right of stage now and he swivels around.
Lewis: Renaud! Are you still with me? Renaud!
(Long pause)
Only the noise of crackling comes through the radio
Lewis: Can anyone hear me? Report now and give me your positions.
(Long pause)
More gunshots sound from the right before a deafening silence takes over. There is no noise from the left either. Lewis looks to both exits and runs his hands through his hair.
The crackling on the radio stops, he tries many channels shouting for his men.
Lewis: Stevens!
(Pause)
Foster!
(Pause)
Team Blue!
(Pause)
Team Yellow!
(Pause)
Renaud!
There are no replies. Walking to FS he looks out to the audience helplessly.
Lewis: Is anyone left? Does anyone have eyes on the girl?
From behind him, the audience see Aurelia/Yelena creeping quickly behind Lewis. Just as she gets her hands on him the stage blacks out.
This stage play was part of my English Literature and Creative Writing BA degree coursework. I was awarded a 2:1 in 2023. I am now studying for an MA in Creative Writing. I think the stories should be read, rather than collecting dust in my Mac. So, for fun, I’ve posted them in their original form, unedited and imperfect. Please feel free to share your thoughts below.
Oh, and some are autobiographical, can you guess which ones?
Carolyne
