It Begins

"A living room, in which the entire action takes place. The time is around midnight during a summer heat wave. STUART is seated in an armchair, sleeping, downstage left, beside a small table with books on it. He is in his early to mid-thirties, wearing a plain black t-shirt and khaki knee-length shorts. A sofa is placed centre stage, and there is a window upstage centre, facing out onto the street. The window does not have to be physically present, but it is important the actors have a defined space with which to consider its presence. A few moments pass in silence. Then there is the sound of a telephone ringing. It continues to ring for a short while, but is suddenly cut off. After a few moments, MELANIE calls from offstage."

Stalemate, my new play. The idea has been seeded and grown; the meticulous planning is over; and all that remains is to finish what I have started. The first draft is due to be sent out on the 31st of this month. It needs redrafting at least once by the 15th of November, ready for a rehearsed reading on the 24th, two days before my birthday. November is going to be a busy month.