Sylvia Terry

By Mark Barkley

“His head was beaten on the side of a toilet. And I would shake the man’s hand who gripped the filth. ‘Cause there’s more justice in that man’s hand, than all the court rooms of the country.”
Sylvia and her mother Heather’s world is upended as Sylvia’s brother Neil’s has been involved in a particularly heinous crime. There is severe public reaction and disgust, and even though Heather, who as a much loved teacher, was a pillar of the community, it shows that even respected innocent bystanders can be burnt by the fire of public scandal.
Sylvia Terry enjoyed an enthusiastic reading within the 1998 Australian National Playwrights Conference in Canberra.

Interview with the Author

Q - Why should I read a stage play?
A – I think a good story is a good story. I try to reach out on an emotional level. Most people find it engaging and easy to read. And a play is just a movie in your mind.

Q – What inspired you to write Sylvia Terry?
A – Like my other plays, Goodbye Melaleuca, The Captains and The Kings, A Kind of Belgium and even Spades, I am fascinated by the dynamics within the family. This work is primarily about a mother descending into a mental breakdown and her relationship with her daughter. It involves drama, humour, conflict, betrayal, guilt and ultimately love.
It’s often written about people who commit crimes but rarely do you see a perspective of the family of the criminal who are thrust into the harsh light of public opinion. They are often good and upright pillars of the community who suffer a brick through the window as a result of what a family member has done. At the heart of this play is the story about a mother’s love for her son and a daughter’s love for her mother. The son is never seen during the work. The story is told through the eyes of four women.
The play had a number or rewrites and name changes, I think one of them being “A View within Sylvia’s Prison.” With it finished, I took an adventure down to Canberra to the 1998 Australian National Playwright’s Conference and it enjoyed a well-received reading.

Q – So, why should readers give this book a try?
A – The subject matter is a lot more serious than the stuff I’ve done before. But once again I’m trying to get an emotional connection with the reader. If you like that then I think you should give it a try.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Barkley
• Release date: Jan 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370904204

Book preview

CAST LIST

Sylvia Terry — (27 years old)

Heather Terry — (Her mother; 65 years old (48 years old in flashback))

Ruth Johns — (Her neighbour; 66 years old (49 years old in flashback))

Sarah Prince — (A police officer; 31 years old (14 years old in flashback))

SEQUENCE OF SCENES

All scenes take place in the house and yard of the Terry residence.

ACT I

Scene I — Day 5: Late morning.

Scene II — Day 3: Morning.

Scene III — Day 3: Late morning.

ACT II

Scene I — Day 3: Early afternoon.

Scene II — Day 3: Evening.

ACT III

Scene I — Day 4: Morning.

Scene II — Day 4: Late morning.

Scene III — Day 4: Evening.

Scene IV — Day 5: Late morning.

Scene V — Day 1: Evening.

Interspersed within the above actions are Sylvia’s reminiscing of events which occurred seventeen years previous.

ACT ONE

Scene One

(SYLVIA stands in a spotlight on a dimly lit living room. She contemplates a half-brick in her hand. This Scene is repeated at the end of Act Three, Scene Four.)

SYLVIA

There was a promise made here. If it’s to be .. It’s up to me .. It’s up to me.

Scene Two

(HEATHER bounds into the front yard from the house She holds a bucket of oranges and starts throwing them over the front fence.)

HEATHER

AAAH! C’mon you old bitch! You won’t be saying that! Take this! (Throws orange) You won’t be saying that, you old slut! Hah hah! (Fires orange away)

SYLVIA

(Rushing from the house) Mum Mum Mum!

HEATHER

Bitch! (Fires orange away) Bitch! (Fires orange) Slut! (Fires orange)

SYLVIA

(Grabs hold of HEATHER) Mum Mum! Stop! Stop it, will ya?

HEATHER

You slut! Call your dogs off!

SYLVIA

Mum! (Restraining her)

HEATHER

You won’t be saying that, y’ old bitch!

SYLVIA

MUM! (Gets her attention) That’s enough. Come inside. (Pulling her towards the living room)

HEATHER

What?

SYLVIA

Get inside! (Pulls her inside) Just get inside!

HEATHER

What?

SYLVIA

Sit down! .. Sit! What’s got into you?

HEATHER

What?

SYLVIA

What’d you do that for? The oranges .. The oranges.

HEATHER

(Suddenly realizing) Oh no. (Depressed) Oh no.

SYLVIA

Oh, come on.

HEATHER

Oh no, I’m sorry.

SYLVIA

Mum.

HEATHER

I’m sorry.

SYLVIA

Sh sh sh , c’mon. (Massages HEATHER’s shoulders) C’mon relax.

HEATHER

(Reacting to massage) Mm .. Sylvie?

SYLVIA

Yeah?

HEATHER

My feet.

SYLVIA

Are they aching again? (HEATHER lies back as SYLVIA removes one slipper.) You’re a silly girl.. You will go walking through broken glass.

HEATHER

Sylvie, could you look at my feet with your mouth closed, dear?

SYLVIA

If I look at your feet, you take me as I am.

HEATHER

I won’t see a doctor.

SYLVIA

You won’t have to. Not if you look after yourself.

HEATHER

I won’t see a doctor.

SYLVIA

It’s OK.

HEATHER

Mm.. D’ you think there’ll ever be one for us, Sylvie? Poor Midnight. He’s so cold, Neil. (Becomes agitated)

It wasn’t me. (In a sudden burst of energy she grabs the bucket of oranges) Bitch! (Rushes to the front yard) Have a nice day!

(Fires an orange over the front fence) Have a nice day! (Fires orange) Have a nice day! (Fires orange)

SYLVIA

(Following haplessly) Mum!

(RUTH appears at the front fence.)

RUTH

ENOUGH! (She enters the yard)

SYLVIA

Just stay away, Ruth!

HEATHER

Come in, Bitch. Come in.

RUTH

This is the last straw, Heather.

HEATHER

You tell your dogs this. February.

SYLVIA

He’s here. Near the tibouchina.

HEATHER

It’s cold, Ruth. This royal purple shroud marks your hot work.

RUTH

I’ve told you I have nothing to do with this.

SYLVIA

A twelve year old dog, Ruth.

HEATHER

Let them dance in rings in hot February. It’s cold.

RUTH

Sylvia, (Holds up an orange) is this to be a new feature in your war with the neighbours?

SYLVIA

How many did it take to hold him down?

RUTH

Sylvia..

SYLVIA