MICK is in his early to mid-twenties.  He and his wife Pippa have a baby daughter.  He is a compulsive gambler.  He is smartly dressed but looks deeply distressed.

The FERRY MAN is an older man in his forties or fifties.  He wears ragged clothes from a bygone era, looking like an elderly Huck Finn.  He carries a pole to “punt” his ferry across the water.

 

EXT. RIVERBANK

The stage is in darkness.

Mick enters from upstage and moves downstage right into a pale pool of light.  He is shivering as he looks all around him.  He is clearly bewildered. 

A matching pale pool of light downstage left reveals the Ferry Man sitting on the front of the stage, dangling his feet over the edge.  He balances a long pole on one shoulder and whistles in a carefree fashion.

Mick glances at him, looks startled and quickly looks away again.  However, with nothing else to do and nowhere else to go, he clearly has no choice but to approach the stranger.

The lights come up fully as the characters speak.

 

MICK

Hi.

FERRY MAN

Hi, yourself.

A beat

MICK

Haltingly

Um ... where am I?

FERRY MAN

You’re here.

MICK

“Here”?

FERRY MAN

Yep.

MICK

Where’s “here”?

FERRY MAN

Where do you want it to be?

MICK

What?

FERRY MAN

Turning to look at him for the first time

I said, where do you want it to be?

MICK

I … I don’t know …

FERRY MAN

Yeah.  Like most people.

MICK

What?

FERRY MAN

You got problems with your hearing, son?

MICK

What?

FERRY MAN

You keep saying “What?” all the time.  What’s wrong with you?

MICK

There’s nothing wrong with me!

FERRY MAN

Then why do you keep saying “What?”

MICK

Raising his voice       

Why are you being a pain in the arse?

FERRY MAN turns towards the audience and resumes whistling

MICK turns away from FERRY MAN and punches himself silently in frustration 

He looks all around, but has no choice but to resume the conversation

Look, I’m sorry.  I’m just … I need to know where I am.  Can you tell me?

A beat

Please?

A beat.

FERRY MAN addresses MICK as though nothing has happened

FERRY MAN

Gently

Where did you think you’d be, son?

MICK

I … I really don’t know …

FERRY MAN

You were expecting fluffy clouds?  Cherubs with harps?  Pearly gates?

MICK

No …

FERRY MAN

Then what?

MICK

I don’t know, all right?  I never thought about it!  I didn’t give a damn where I was going!  I just wanted to …

A beat

MICK buries his face in his hands

FERRY MAN

Siddown, son.

MICK

Looking up

What?

FERRY MAN

Siddown.  Take a load off.  Dangle your feet in the water.

MICK looks at him

After a moment’s hesitation, he sits down and dangles his feet over the edge of the stage – FERRY MAN smiles

Better?

MICK

Yeah.  A little.

FERRY MAN

Makes you feel like a kid again, doesn’t it?

MICK

Smiles a little

Yeah, I guess so.

A beat

So … what do I call you?

FERRY MAN

I’m the Ferry Man.

MICK

Looking startled

What?

FERRY MAN

Oh, don’t start saying “What” again, son.  We’ll be here all night.

MICK

No, I mean … I thought you were …

FERRY MAN

The Big Enchilada? 

Laughing uproariously

No way, son!  I’m just the guy who gets you there.

MICK

So you’re … ?

FERRY MAN

The Ferry Man, like I said.  It’s my job to punt you over the river.

MICK

Looking startled 

You’re gonna kick me?

FERRY MAN

No, no, not that sort of punt.  Good grief, son, your brains have turned to butter.  I’m here to punt you over the river on the ferry. 

Using his pole, he does the actions to show Mick what he means 

Understand?

MICK

Oh.  Right. 

FERRY MAN

That’s if you want to go.

MICK

Huh?

FERRY MAN

We’ll get to that.  First, would you like to tell me why you’re here?

A beat – MICK looks troubled and shakes his head

Come on, son.  I’m not trying to pry.  It’s just that we need to find the best option for you.  Don’t be concerned that I’ll judge you.  I’ve been here a long time.  I’ve heard all kinds of stories.  Nothing you say could surprise me.

A beat

MICK

How do I know I can trust you? 

FERRY MAN

You don’t.  You’ll have to “take a punt”, as they say in the classics.

MICK rolls his eyes – FERRY MAN laughs

Pardon the pun, son.

MICK

I’ll try.

A beat 

FERRY MAN

Gently

So what’s your story?

A beat

MICK

Well … you’ll love the irony of this … I’m here because I like a punt.  Not like yours.  A bet.  A flutter.  I enjoy it a lot.  Too much.

Pokies music starts very quietly in the background. 

MICK

It was just a bit of fun at first.  A bet at the footy on the weekend or a flutter on the ponies.  It’s the Australian way of life.  Sportsbet.  TAB.  Ladbrokes.  William Hill.  Those ads were on the telly every night.  In prime time.  When I surfed the net, the pop-up ads were everywhere.  The apps were on my phone.  Weekend bets became daily bets.  Then hourly bets.  I started losing more than I was comfortable with.  So I started chasing my losses.  And then I lost more.  It wasn’t fun any more.  It wasn’t a voluntary act.  I felt compelled to do it. 

The pokies music is becoming louder

I started dipping into our savings.  I was spending more than I earned.  My wife got caught out at the supermarket.  She tried to use EFTPOS at the checkout only to be told there were insufficient funds.  She had to walk out without any groceries or supplies for our baby daughter.  She said the hardest part was seeing the looks on the checkout chicks’ faces.  She started crying as she told me the story.  I couldn’t stand seeing her cry.  I couldn’t stand knowing I was the one making her cry.

We started fighting after that.  Everything she said, every accusation she threw at me, I was already telling myself.  I hated myself more than she did.  Her bitter words mirrored my own self-loathing.  I was so weak.  I couldn’t stop. 

The pokies music is becoming even louder 

MICK raises his voice  

I was afraid.  If I lost my wife, I’d lose my baby daughter, too.  With the debts I’d incurred, we’d probably lose the house.  I was going to lose everything I’d ever cared about.  And I still couldn’t stop.

The pokies music is painfully loud now

MICK shouts to be heard

What kind of man does that to his own family?  I couldn’t call myself a man any more.  I couldn’t stay.  I had to leave. 

            Shouts louder

WHAT ELSE COULD I DO?

The pokies music stops instantly – the sudden silence is deafening

MICK buries his face in his hands once more – there is a long pause

FERRY MAN

Gently

Thank you for sharing that with me, son.

MICK

Haltingly as he looks up

So … what happens now?

FERRY MAN

You have to make a choice.

MICK

What kind of choice?

FERRY MAN

We’ll get to that.  First, why don’t you tell me about your wife?

MICK

Huh?

FERRY MAN

Your wife, Mick.

MICK does a double-take   

MICK

You know my name?  How do you know my name?

FERRY MAN

I know a lot about you.   

MICK

Angrily 

You know a lot about me?  What the hell is this?

MICK gets to his feet – FERRY MAN also rises 

They face each other – MICK’s body language is aggressive  

FERRY MAN

Calm down. 

MICK

I don’t want to calm down!  Would you be calm if you were me?

FERRY MAN

Come on, son.  Relax.  Tell me about your wife.

MICK

Sarcastically

What the hell for?  If you know all about me, you must know all about her, too.  Why bother asking?

A beat

FERRY MAN

Gently

Mick, I’m not the enemy.  I’m trying to help you.

MICK

Says who?  You ask me to trust you, but you won’t tell me how you know my name.  Why should I believe you?

A beat

FERRY MAN

I know things because I’ve existed in this realm for a long time.  I know things because it’s my job to know them.  I don’t pose any threat to you.  Quite the opposite.

A beat

Come on.  Sit down.

Long pause

MICK’s body language remains tense

Eventually, he relaxes and sits down in his previous spot on the front of the stage  FERRY MAN resumes his previous position as well

They both look out towards the audience

MICK

I’m sorry.

FERRY MAN

That’s all right.  I’ve seen worse.

MICK

I bet. 

FERRY MAN

Many others have reacted the same way.  No-one expects to find themselves here.  When they arrive, there’s plenty of confusion to deal with.

MICK nods

FERRY MAN

So tell me about your wife.  Her name’s Pippa, right?

MICK

You do know her name. 

FERRY MAN

Yes, but I’d like to understand how you feel about her.

MICK

She’s a great girl.  I don’t deserve her.  I’ve betrayed her so badly with my gambling. 

FERRY MAN

How did you meet?

MICK

We lived in the same halls of residence at university. 

FERRY MAN

What was the first thing you noticed about her?

MICK

She had this great music collection.  I lived just down the corridor from her.  I’d hear the most awesome music pouring out of her room at all hours. 

FERRY MAN

Anything else?

MICK

She had this … smile.

FERRY MAN

Yeah?

MICK

It lit up the room.  When she spoke, there was this energy, this zest for life, that was really contagious.

FERRY MAN

Sounds like you fell pretty hard.

MICK

We both did.  I’m not sure why she fell for me.  I just know I’m grateful she did.

A beat

MICK’s face reflects his fluctuating emotions as he thinks about his wife

FERRY MAN

Seems like you left some unfinished business.

MICK

Maybe.

FERRY MAN

Do you remember the last time you saw her?

A beat

MICK

Haltingly

I was … floating …

FERRY MAN

Floating?  You were in a pool?

MICK

No … this is so strange … I was floating in mid-air.  I was looking down at my bed and I could see myself lying there, very still.  Two paramedics were hovering over me and there were little empty bottles scattered everywhere …

FERRY MAN

Where was Pippa?

MICK

It’s okay … I’m sure she’ll be relieved …

FERRY MAN

Was she in the room with you, Mick?

MICK looks startled – it’s like he’s witnessing the scene for the first time

MICK

Yes.  I can see her.  She’s there in the room.  She’s … she’s crying. 

FERRY MAN

With evident relief

That’s right.   

MICK

She’s sobbing.  She looks hysterical.  She’s … she’s collapsed on the floor.  The paramedics are trying to pick her up.

FERRY MAN

Gently

She doesn’t look relieved. 

A beat 

MICK slowly shakes his head

You should have seen her at the funeral.  She’s a strong girl, but she wasn’t coping, Mick.  Makes you wonder how she’ll manage when she’s trying to raise your baby daughter alone …

A beat

MICK is clearly engaged in deep thought

MICK

You told me I have a choice.

FERRY MAN

Yes.  You can go on.  Or you can go back.

A beat

MICK

What happens if I go on?

FERRY MAN

I’ll punt you across the river.

MICK

But where would I go after that?

FERRY MAN

“On”.

MICK

“On”?  Where?  What does that mean?

A beat

FERRY MAN looks at him, smiles, and doesn’t answer

Okay.  Fine. What happens if I go back?  How would that work? 

FERRY MAN

You’d travel back in time.  You’d arrive just after the moment you overdosed.  This time, though, you’d recover. 

MICK

So there wouldn’t be any funeral?

FERRY MAN

No need.  You’d survive the overdose, and you’d go from there.

MICK

So Pippa wouldn’t have to bury me?

FERRY MAN

Not unless we’ve started burying the living.

MICK

So it would be like I never died?

FERRY MAN

That’s right.  The shock of almost losing you suggests that Pippa will probably stay with you and help you rebuild your life.  There are no guarantees, though.

A beat

MICK

You think I’m strong enough to turn things around?

FERRY MAN

Only you can answer that, Mick.   

A beat

MICK

I escaped because I was weak.  I bailed out.  I couldn’t see any other way.

FERRY MAN

But were you right? 

A beat – the men look at each other

Sometimes, when people are in pain, like you were, they can’t see the consequences of their actions.  Or they don’t want to see.  But there are always consequences, Mick.   

A beat

MICK

What do you think I should do?  Go on or go back?

FERRY MAN

That’s not for me to decide.  I’m only here to provide the transport.

MICK sits quietly for some time, thinking

Eventually he gets to his feet – FERRY MAN does the same

They face each other

MICK

It’s time for me to move on, Mr Ferry Man.

FERRY MAN

Which way?  Do you need me to punt you across the river?

MICK

How often do we get a second chance?  I’m going back.  I don’t know if I’m strong enough to make amends, but I’m going to try.

The men shake hands slowly, then pull each other into a hug

Upon releasing, they grin at each other

FERRY MAN

I’ll see you again, my friend, but not for many years.  Stay strong.

MICK

I’ll do my best.

FERRY MAN

Farewell, Mick.  Au revoir.  Until we meet again.

 

Mick moves upstage and exits.  The light fades out on his side of the stage. 

The Ferry Man returns to his initial position, dangling his feet over the edge.  He balances his pole on his shoulder, grins, and starts whistling.

Fade to black.