This play was written by women who are part of the WAS group at Barnardos, Ballyogan, during five creative writing workshops over the summer and autumn of 2024.
Please note that this play contains scenes of domestic violence. If you are someone who needs support with any of the issues raised you can contact Sonas Domestic Violence Service on 1800 222 223.
Characters
Emma (29), Irish, has four kids and is proud, kind and caring. She likes to help people. Dark sense of humour. Not fragile. Uses humour to survive. Had a wonderful upbringing. Emma likes to dress well and have her kids dressed well. She has her own style. Her individuality is gone; motherhood is all consuming but was all she ever wanted. Her family hasn’t turned out as she expected.
Paul (31), charmer, funny, people like him, extrovert, gets on with everyone, has anger bubbling under the surface. His dad has another family. He works hard, sometimes. Building work. A lot of money and then no money. Feast or famine.
Dara (36), supportive, present, gentle but firm, challenging. She has been through it herself and is now a professional key worker. She gives Emma the guidance that she needs.
Setting
Dublin, 2024.
Scene one
Dublin Zoo. Family day out.
Paul: Will you get your kids?
Emma: Will you watch him for a minute, and I’ll sort the others?
Paul: I’m trying to have a smoke and work out what we’re doing.
Emma: Get your priorities straight! We’re at the playground.
Paul: No, we’re not here for the f**king playground. We’re here for the zoo, what you wanted to do.
Emma: You had your time last night.
Paul: I was only out with the lads.
Emma: And we’re late because you wouldn’t get out of bed.
Paul: You’re always so f**king resentful.
Emma (under her breath): Ar**hole.
Paul: Don’t start with me. Do you want to cause a scene here?
Emma: No, I don’t. We’re here for the kids, not for me and you.
Paul: You better shut the f**k up or we’re leaving.
Paul grabs Emma’s arm.
Emma: Get your hands off me.
Coffee spills over Emma’s dress.
Emma: Look what you’re after doing to me, I’m a mess. I have to go to the bathroom.
Scene two
Bathroom up the hill. At the mirror cleaning herself up. We hear Emma’s heartbeat getting faster.
Emma (Soliloquy): Where are the kids? I better hurry up!
I can’t keep doing this ... I’ve nowhere to go ... he’s not always that bad ... he’s the kids’ father ... how can I make him happy ... maybe I could make him a nice dinner later ... it’s just me, I’m exhausted, I’m a mess ... maybe if we had sex more ... is it my fault he’s like that?
Another woman enters the bathroom.
... Give your head a wobble ... get yourself out of there.
Concerned Stranger: Are you okay?
Emma coming back to senses. Emma takes a deep breath.
Emma: I’ll be fine.
Concerned Stranger: You know that’s not okay?
Emma is shocked but she just feigns a smile and walks out.
Scene three
Back home. Emma puts the kids down to sleep and changes into something nice.
Emma (Trying to resolve things): Dinner is ready in five.
Paul: I don’t want your f**king dinner!
Emma: I just thought it would be nice ...
Paul: There’s nothing nice about you ... and after the stunt you pulled today you think I’m over it. Making a show of me.
We hear a baby starting to cry in the background.
Emma: I just wanted to have a nice day.
Paul: Get the f**king baby!
Emma comes back with the baby. Paul throws his dinner towards them.
Emma (Shrieks): AAAHHHHH!!!!
Paul: Oh, don’t be so f**king dramatic. You’re acting as if I hit you in the face.
Emma (Mimicking the concerned stranger): You know that’s not okay?
Paul: What are you going to do?
Paul takes her phone from the table and walks out the door.
Paul: I’m out of here!
He slams the door and drives away. Emma is left with no money and no phone.
Emma (to her eldest): We’re leaving.
Emma gets the kids and leaves. She walks down the street.
Scene four
At the refuge. Emma and the kids eating a meal. Shared area.
Dara: Are you okay? How are you settling in?
Emma: I’m all right. One of the kids left their blanket.
Dara: We have teddies and blankets here.
Emma: Okay ... the kids just want to go home.
Dara: Do you want to talk about your options?
Emma: I’m just overwhelmed.
Dara: Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s a marathon not a race. These things take time.
Emma: How much time?
Dara: Well, that depends, if you get a barring order your partner will be removed from the house and yourself and the kids can return to the house, or you could get a safety order and he is allowed to remain in the house. The first step is to write a statement. I’m here to help you.
Emma picks up a pen and says in her head, ‘How did I get here?’
Scene five
Court.
Court Clerk: All rise for the judge.
Judge: What do we have before the court today?
Emma’s Solicitor: Judge, we have a barring order before you today. The applicant is here, and the respondent is representing himself.
Emma gets sworn in. Total silence. It’s all action from Paul, the judge and solicitor talking but in silence. Actors acting out what happens in court.
Judge: I hereby grant Emma Smith a three-year barring order.
Scene six
Emma is back in her home. Dara comes to visit the house and brings flowers.
Dara: I’m so proud of you.
Emma: Yeah, I can’t believe he’s gone.
Dara: The kids look so happy playing outside. How are they?
Emma: They’ve asked where their dad is and I don’t know what to tell them.
Dara: You will just need to be honest with them.
Emma: What happens now? Will I ever have to see him again?
Dara: That depends. If Paul wants to have access, he can look for that through the courts. Let’s wait and see and go from there.
Emma: Where will I go from here?
Dara: There’s a group of other women that are in a similar situation that you could join?
Emma: Okay, I’ll think about it.
Dara: I’m still here to support you. You are not alone.
Narrator: A survivor’s journey is never over. Closure is often never found. Resolution is not found in the court system alone. Women find strength and resolve within themselves to keep on going, sometimes day by day or even second by second.
