WHAT REALLY HAPPENED BY ©2009 Benjamin R. Smith Submitted to the graduate degree program in English and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master’s of Fine Arts. Paul Stephen Lim__________________ Chairperson* Paul Stephen Lim__________________ James B. Carothers________________ Delores Ringer_____________________ November 23 rd , 2009_______________ Date Defended The Thesis Committee for Benjamin R. Smith certifies that this is the approved Version of the following thesis: WHAT REALLY HAPPENED Committee: Paul Stephen Lim__________________ Chairperson* Paul Stephen Lim__________________ James B. Carothers________________ Delores Ringer_____________________ Date approved:November 23 rd , 2009 ii What Really Happened A full-length play in one act Benjamin R. Smith Benjamin R. Smith 15710 SW 190th St. Rose Hill, KS 67133 316.258.7810 ©Nov. 2009
[email protected] 1 “Whatever happens to you has been waiting to happen since the beginning of time. The twining strands of fate wove both of them together: your own existence and the things that happen to you.” ~Marcus Aurelius , Meditations 2 Cast of Characters: Sarah Berkeley: (Mid to late teens) Youngest daughter of George Berkeley, by Jordan. Marcus Kirby: (Late forties) A writer in residence at the Berkeley home. African American. Tracy Madison: (Late thirties) A teacher turned book editor. Jordan J. Berkeley: (Forties) Wife of George Berkeley. Biological mother of Sarah. Stepmother to Emily. In later scenes she is married to Kirby. Cora Platz: (Mid sixties) The housekeeper. Emily Berkeley: (Mid twenties) Eldest daughter of George Berkeley, by his first wife. Set: Study in the Berkeley house/ Kitchen of the Berkeley house/ Tracy’s cell/ The Berkeley boathouse.