SPUR OF THE MOMENT

by Anya Reiss

This play was first performed at The Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, London, on 14 July 2010.

DANIEL is a twenty-one-year-old student and rents a room in the home of twelve-year-old Delilah. Delilah’s parents, Vicky and Nick, are too busy arguing to notice that their daughter has become infatuated with the lodger. DANIEL’s precarious emotional state, exacerbated by a visit from his girlfriend, leads him to returning Delilah’s affection. However, he hates himself and tries to put her off by confessing his faults.

DANIEL

I’m a pathetic loser. I’m a bad person. Really…you wouldn’t believe how bad I am. I…I’m a…I used to lose my temper at home and hit my dad not even for real reasons just self-indulgence. Once left the dog food can open and my dog got hold of it cut his face up with the edge of the can and got stuck in it, blood all over the kitchen my parents were out so I just left him overnight. Spat at my old girlfriend in the face to make her leave me because I just didn’t want to see her anymore, I’d just be mad at her whenever I saw her. No reason, she hadn’t done anything. I lie all the time. Haven’t done any of my essays for uni. I’ve cut myself before I don’t even know why I just… I just did and Leonie thinks it was because of her but it wasn’t and so she feels like she has to stay with me even though, even though she isn’t the problem. She’s the best person I’ve ever met and she loves me but I can’t love her, I’ve tried I really am trying but she, she just, she’s so fucking irritating….. I say I don’t believe in God but I think I actually do, I just say it to be different… Can’t afford your parent’s rent. I…I… (Running out of confessional steam.) And for some reason I can’t stop myself, just like your tourettes thing I keep thinking I don’t care anymore ‘so what’ so I kiss you even though I feel sick and it’s so wro…and… and… You don’t love me so much now do you?