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IF I SHOULD DIE BEFORE I WAKE
$5.40 – $15.00
The story of three women—a mother and her two adult daughters. Joan, at 75, has recently been diagnosed with cancer. She has always cared for Gillian, her intellectually disabled daughter, but now she and her other daughter, Isabelle, have to face the inevitable question of Gillian's long-term welfare.
"The writing is incredibly sparse where it needs to be, creating an enormous repressed emotionality, which accumulates to the very affecting end. At the same time it captures the natural ebb and flow of intimate conversation, using words not so much to convey meaning as to describe relationships."—Maude Davey, Artistic Director, Vitalstatistix
- naturalistic drama
- 90
- 3 total
- 3 female identifying
- 18+
- adult
- Australian Script Centre
- MONOLOGUES
- PRODUCTION HISTORY
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Isabelle
Female | 40s | under 3 minutes
Starts on page 26
EXTRACT: I keep saying to him, let's just let things sort themselves out, but he says that's irresponsible./And I couldn't do anything irresponsible could I? Not the dutiful wife or daughter!God forbid!/ I get so pissed off with my brother Martin. He's safely tucked away in America with his gorgeous wife and three sons. He knew. He bolted early./ The gate always felt locked for me. Or the horse had already bolted. One or the other./But this time I'm not going to miss out. Not on this.
Isabelle
Female | 40s | under 3 minutes
Starts on page 30
EXTRACT: I remember the first time I told her to shut up. I was fourteen. I'd been thinking about it for ages. In my head I'd always be saying, "Shut up, shut up, shut up!" But never out loud. I was too scared. And then one day I just thought, "Fuck it, Gillian says it all the time and nothing happens to her". So I said it and she slapped me across the face. (Pause) But it worked! She actually listened to me! (Pause) I've been thinking about what you said. About me being an over achiever.
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