Deadly Weapons
After-play Forum
by Laurie Brooks
At the end of the play the curtain call is held until the end of the forum. Instead, the facilitator introduces him/herself and invites the audience to participate in the Forum.
Agree and disagree Statements
As the facilitator reads each statement, the audience stands in support if they agree and remains seated in protest if they disagree.
- Serena was an innocent victim. None of this was her fault.
- Jessie, Moss and Serena are equally responsible for what happened.
- If you swear an oath you should never break it, no matter what.
- Violence causes violence.
- Moss deserved what he got at the end.
- Brain would have been proud of his little brother, Moss.
- When push comes to shove, most people care more about themselves than their friends.
- What happened to Jessie, Moss and Serena could happen to anyone of you.
Exploration: Crimes and Punishments
Facilitators call on a representative from the local District Attorney’s office or other law enforcement officer to read a statement on how Serena and Jessie might be charged and what punishment they might receive, according to the laws of the state.
Facilitator: We’re fortunate to have with us in the audience today a representative from ______(your city or state) District Attorney’s office. I’d lie to introduce_______(name of representative). Will you share with us what charges Serena and Jessie might face in this state?
Sample statement:
Good evening. These charges and punishments have been determined after an initial conference on the actions of Jessie and Serena. A full investigation and trial will be required to accurately determine the official charges and prosecution. _____(Your state’s) law states that alleged offenders under the age of seventeen will be prosecuted as juveniles. However, Jessie might be tried as an adult. Here are the potential charges:
Burglary of a habitation with intent to commit aggravated assault. (Jessie and Serena broke into Mr. Leisner’s house with a concealed weapon.)
Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. (Jessie used a wrench to hit Mr. Leisner, resulting in serious injury.
Manslaughter. (In the struggle for possession of the knife, Jessie fatally stabs Moss. Jessie’s purpose for obtaining the knife is to kill Mr. Leisner.
The punishments for these crimes could include:
5-99 years in the penitentiary for burglary of a habitation with intent to commit aggravated assault.
2-20 years for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
2–20 years for manslaughter.
Facilitator: Now we know something about how the state would view the actions of Jessie and Serena. Now it’s your turn. Jess and Serena have broken laws but they are also guilty of hurting each other and themselves. I’d like you to imagine that you are counselors who are here to help Jessie and Serena target their mistakes. If you have an idea, just raise your hand. Begin your comments with “I think…” or “I feel…” then tell us a wrong one of these characters has done to themselves or others.
Audience responds as counselors.
Facilitator: That’s great. I’d like to take this discussion a little deeper. What are some of the factors that you think contributed to the choices Jessie and Serena made? Why do you think they made these choices?
Audience responds.
Facilitator: Now there’s one character that won’t have an opportunity to learn from what happened or even think about it.
Audience responds.
Facilitator: That’s right. Moss. If he could talk to us, what do you think he might say? What do you think he would say to Jessie and Serena?
Audience responds.
Facilitator: Let’s listen to Moss.
Moss appears in silhouette.
Sample response.
Moss: I hope Serena’s okay. I wish I could have helped her, protected her from her dad. I wanted to be her bodyguard. I should have stopped Jessie, stopped all the hurting. You swore, Jessie, but you’re a liar. You would never take the fall for me. I got your back, you said, but you only looked out for number one. You’re the one who’s stupid, I think, and two-faced. I was your friend. Didn’t that mean anything to you? We just wanted to have some fun. Nobody was supposed to die. I know I made mistakes, but I never mean to hurt anyone. I’m so awful sorry. I guess I got what I deserved. It was my own fault. After all, I brought the knife, didn’t I?
Moss fades.
Facilitator: Was that what you expected?
Audience responds.
Facilitator: Now I’m going to ask you to imagine that you’re at a memorial service for Moss. If you’d like, you can stand a d offer a phrase or sentence to remember Moss. It might be words of comfort or advice or it might be an epitaph that’s written on his gravestone. Just stand when you’re ready and take turns.
Facilitator is silent during this phase of the forum to create mood, allowing the audience to negotiate this phase by themselves.
Facilitator: Thank you so much for those responses. I know Moss would appreciate that. Now I’d like you to give the cast of Deadly Weapons and your selves a big hand.
Actors take their curtain call.
End forum.
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