Real Boy - Scene 10

"Our play Real Boy, is written by a trans-man, Finn Evans, and a black woman, Ramonah N.J. Gibson, Real Boy is a love letter to queer and trans youth and their loved ones. It’s a story about navigating a world that does not accept you and the dangers of not accepting and loving yourself. We wrote this story knowing it would reflect exact scenarios for some while hoping it would shed enough light to change the future path of others. We wrote this story to heal and comfort queer and trans youth and to show cis folk the multiple factors that contribute to trans lives."

Finn Evans (@awakenkids) is an American-born, Bulgarian-raised writer and director who holds both a BA in Media Studies and an MA in Theatre Directing from the University of East Anglia. His focus is on creating stories - through film, radio drama, and the stage - which explore misrepresented demographics and rarely discussed topics.

Ramonah N. J. Gibson (@ramonah_nj_gibson) is a Liberian & American scriptwriter, and holds a MA in Creative Writing: Scriptwriting from the University of East Anglia. Growing up a third-culture kid living her childhood predominantly abroad, her main connection to Western culture was through entertainment. This is where her understanding of entertainment’s power stems from. Through her screenwriting, Ramonah works to close the gap between the reality of everyday minority lives and their portrayal on screens and stages. In this way she hopes to normalize and raise awareness for their experiences.

Real Boy - Scene 10

A grassy park, at dusk. TRUMAN and REAL BOY hang out below the Milky Way: stars twinkle and streetlights are a fuzzy amber.

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TRUMAN The other day you said it feels hard for you to stand your ground. I could see that when we first met. The most important thing is to believe in yourself. You need to believe what you already know. Be confident. When you want to prove your point, talk slower, calmer. Also, this calmness should reflect in the way you walk too. Come on, let me see you walk.

TRUMAN pushes REAL BOY forward, as encouragement. With a moment’s consideration, REAL BOY walks in a stiff, wooden way. TRUMAN observes, laughs, then stops him. He fixes REAL BOY’s stance.

TRUMAN Okay, you shouldn’t be so stiff. It should come naturally. They try again. It’s not much better.

TRUMAN huffs and demonstrates the way REAL BOY is moving - arms and legs all wrong! - verses the way TRUMAN wants him to move.

REAL BOY tries again, with more confidence, until TRUMAN is happy with the result.

They sit and observe the stars. TRUMAN looks towards REAL BOY. REAL BOY has crossed his legs.

TRUMAN Not to be a perfectionist but-

TRUMAN slaps REAL BOY’s knees apart, having REAL BOY man-spread.

TRUMAN There we go.

REAL BOY is confused, then laughs. They look up in peaceful silence. TRUMAN pulls out a joint. REAL BOY tries not to stare.

REAL BOY Do you often do that?

TRUMAN Do what?

REAL BOY changes the subject.

REAL BOY This. Star gaze.

​

TRUMAN I like to remind myself at the end of it all, there are things bigger than all of this. The world is bigger than you and me. Than school…than home. This helps to see the bigger things, the bigger picture.

TRUMAN motions towards the joint.

REAL BOY Really?

TRUMAN You want to try it? It doesn’t bite. I promise.

REAL BOY takes a drag. He coughs. TRUMAN laughs. TRUMAN shows him how it’s done. REAL BOY attempts again. He succeeds. They sit in silence.

REAL BOY Yeah…that’s nice.

REAL BOY leans towards TRUMAN’s shoulder.

REAL BOY You don’t mind, do you?

TRUMAN Nah, bigger things, remember?

REAL BOY Bigger things…