Blood Guilt
Trying to start over after a recent tragic loss, Nicholas has just moved to a new school. He is socially awkward and just needs a friend, so he reaches out to the girl in the corner, who silently writes in her journal. Slowly, they begin to build a friendship. Though it takes time to open up about it, a school shooting has taken the lives of each of their siblings. But when the girl, Ali, reveals her last name, Nicholas realizes her brother was the shooter. This play does not have easy answers but explores the anger and loss in the aftermath of a shooting and how to start a conversation toward forgiveness.
Productions
Behind The Scenes
With Playwrights Jane and Jim Jeffries
What inspired you to write this play?
As teachers, we are deeply concerned with school shootings, but were shaken at the media description of the shooters as “animals” or “monsters.” What about the families of the shooters? Also, Ann and Lou Recine’s Forgiveness Project made us wonder if there ever could be healing after a school shooting.
What's your favorite part or line in the play? Why?
NICHOLAS: I don’t know what to do with everything I’m feeling. I know I still hate John, but I want to forgive him. As much for me as for you. Maybe the feelings will come later.
This is our favorite line because it shows that forgiveness isn’t easy. Forgiveness isn’t a feeling. Forgiveness is a choice.
Where did the characters come from? Are they based on people you know?
Ali and Nicholas are based on a wide range of students that we knew. Jim taught at-risk students in high school and in the county jail. It gets more and more difficult to judge someone once you know their story. One audience member asked if Nicholas were “on the spectrum.” Well, we all are somewhere on the spectrum. But Nicholas (and Ali) are both victims of severe trauma that is very damaging.
What did you try to achieve with this play?
We’ve had so many school shootings in the United States that we have become calloused toward it. It is so horrendous that we turn aside just to keep our mental health. But the purpose of drama is to tear away that hard shell so that we can empathize again, so that we can feel again.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
The play starts out slowly and humorously because the audience needs to get to know Ali and Nicholas in some context other than their tragedy. We wanted the audience to connect with them before they found out Ali and Nicholas’ full story.