1. 1.
ACT I
Scene 1
Centre stage - chair facing the audience.
City sounds.
Actor in all black, stood in neutral in front of
chair. NOTIFICATION SOUND, actor becomes business
woman on phone and efficiently walks across the
stage, comes back to centre on ’This is my
campaign!’ NOTIFICATION SOUND, same actor becomes
a woman in her twenties, scrolling through her
phone but also looking up at world around her,
moving more slowly. When they get back to centre
front: NOTIFICATION SOUND. Next we see a more
hunched person, shuffling across the space, phone
clutched in hand like a weapon, looking out from
dropped head at world around, clearly unhappy,
almost knocked over by business person that hasn’t
seen them, returns to centre front: NOTIFICATION
SOUND. Changes into an older woman, covers phone
with hands, stood still, taking in world around
her, from facial expression, can tell it is a nice
sunny day: NOTIFICATION SOUND. Final
transformation into a teenager, this time the
phone is glued to their hand and close to face,
taking selfie snapchats, texting away, whole world
centred around phone, almost walks into someone,
not looking up, instead using phone map to see
where they’re going.
When Teen finally turns and sees the chair, music
fades, sound completed faded by the time they’re
sat down.
ROSIE:
Hi... Oh So I’m Rosie, well, I’m going to start trying
out Rose soon as I think Rosie kind of makes me seem a
bit young and babyish. But for now just call me Rosie,
it’s probably easiest. Oh, erm 15. 16 in just under 2
months.
How often do I go on social media sites?
Errmmm...Everyday. Probably a few times a day, ok,
maybe more than a few, if I’m walking somewhere, or I’m
at home in my room or on the sofa, or the teacher isn’t
looking. It’s just sort of there, waiting. Mum tells me
I’m addicted but she just doesn’t really understand
people my age, she doesn’t get technology. We only got
her to upgrade her old Nokia brick two years ago...

2. 2.
NOTIFICATION SOUND. Actor physically changes into
position of an older woman. Woman in her her
fifties, sat upright but relaxed.
LYNN:
Hello, how are you? Lovely day isn’t it. I’m Lynn
Johnston, and I’m 57. It sounds old when you say it out
loud.
How often? Well, to be perfectly honest, I don’t at all
really. My youngest daughter set up a Facebook account
for me in a bid to help me enter the 21st century, but
last time I checked, and that was 6 months ago, I had a
grand total of five friends. My younger sister is far
more up to date than me, she’s almost twenty years my
junior, my father remarried when I was 16. So she
actually understands all these mod con apps and sites
that go straight over my head.
NOTIFICATION SOUND. Actor physically changes into
a business woman into thirty-nine year old
business woman, poised, legs crossed, on the ball.
FIONA:
Hello, yes, yes, so let’s start shall we? I’m Fiona and
I’m 39, I work as an advertising exec, a job that I’m
currently absent from for this, but, of course that’s
besides the point. Anyway, your next question?
I check my accounts, four or five times a day, to make
sure I’ve not missed anyone trying to contact me. And
of course, when we’re working on more social media led
ad accounts, the amount I’m on sky rockets. Otherwise,
I split my usage between personal and business online
activity. I’m nothing like my oldest niece who seems
to go on purely for social reasons but excuses it as
’networking’.
NOTIFICATION SOUND. Actor physically changes into
a twenty-something year old girl, looks relaxed
but energetic, smiley and engaged.
EMMA:
Hi there, you doing ok? Good. Oh, of course, yes, let
me introduce myself... I’m Emma, I’m 24, living in
London, following the dream of being a musician.
Hopefully. One day.
Errm how often do I go on social media? Well,
definitely every day, I’d say I check it in the morning
when I get up, half way through the day, and before I
go to bed. But if it’s a special day, say my birthday,
or I’ve posted an ’important’ status or tweet then I’d

3. 3.
EMMA:
check my accounts more to see what people are saying.
I’m not like my sister Rosie, I swear, if we tried to
take her phone off her she’d turn into some wild animal
or something, attacking us to get it back.
NOTIFICATION SOUND. Actor transforms into final,
fifth character, no specific age. Hunched
forwards, bound body language, barely looking at
the audience.
TROLL:
I don’t need to tell you my name and age, what’s the
point, you’ve already got it written down in front of
you.
(shrugs) I’m trying to cut down. I’ve been told I’ve
got to stop. Before, I’d probably go on every few hours
during the day, and then be on most of the evening and
night. (Shrugs) Not much else to do.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
ROSIE:
Errm so I use Facebook and twitter and instagram... Oh
and I love snapchat right now, you get the funniest
pictures from people. And you can take the worst photos
of yourself looking like a human thumb or something and
then they’ve disappeared seconds later...unless someone
tries to do a screenshot which is so annoying.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
LYNN:
Which do I use? I don’t really know which there are. Of
course I have Facebook, but as we’ve already
established, that doesn’t mean I use it... I know
there’s that one with bird... Twitter,
thank you. That’s the one. Well, I don’t use that
either.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
FIONA:
I primarily use Twitter and LinkedIn as they’re the
best for business connections, networking with past,
and future, clients. Keeping up to date with what’s
going on in the world.
I have a Facebook account which I used to use more but
I’ve grown out of it, my newsfeed is inundated now with
friends my age bragging about the millionth offspring
they’ve brought into the world, or the diamond rock

4. 4.
FIONA:
that is now permanently glued to their fingers. It
seems that Facebook’s sole purpose is to make women my
age feel bad about ourselves for putting our careers
first! (Pause - gathers self) But yes, I do
occasionally use Facebook too.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
EMMA:
Errm I have Facebook and Twitter... oh and Instagram,
though I’m more of Facebook girl as that’s what most of
my friends have. I’m trying to get into the whole
Twitter thing more, Auntie Fiona’s told me off for only
using it to stalk celebrites, and said I should get
tweeting other artists and record companies. But I err
I just keep forgetting to tweet anything.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
TROLL:
Why do you need to know? (pause) Fine. Yeah. I use
twitter and instagram the most, well I used them.
They’re more open. Facebook you can only talk to
friends and see what they’re up to, it feels
claustrophobic. On Twitter and Instagram you can speak
to... comment on whatever you want.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
ROSIE:
Errrm not going on for a day ermmm [seems
uncomfortable] It wouldn’t be great... I could, I could
do it. But I wouldn’t like it [embarrassed]
[pause] For a week? Probably itching to see my
notifications. See what my friends are saying. I don’t
want to miss out on what’s going on... and the people I
speak to might think I’m being rude or something was
wrong. Yeah, I, I, just wouldn’t like it.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
LYNN:
It wouldn’t bother me. No. A week? No. That still
wouldn’t bother me.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
FIONA:
With my personal accounts, I wouldn’t care, sometimes
it’s a relief to have a break away from Facebook. But
business wise, if we’ve got a high profile client with

5. 5.
FIONA:
a deadline looming, that would be a major issue. A
week. We would probably lose the client due to
professional negligence. I could lose my job.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
EMMA:
I could manage without checking them for a day. That’d
be fine.
[pause] Yeah, errrm, for a week, I’d rather not. Err
probably would be a little anxious in case anyone’s got
in touch with me about something. I’d start to feel on
edge, which is really bad because if you want to talk
to someone you should just be able to pick up the
phone or see them.
TROLL:
I wouldn’t like it. A week? I wouldn’t like that even
more. But I guess I’m going to have to get used to that
[mildly hostile] Aren’t I?!
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
ROSIE:
I don’t, hmmm, I don’t think it’s necessary to update
my accounts with everything going on in my life. But
just like, the best bits. I upload pictures more than
statuses. That’s what Instagram is great for. Filters
make everything look that little bit better... I really
prefer it if other people tag me in statuses
or pictures. People can see what I’m up to but I don’t
look too try hard.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
LYNN:
No. I don’t. I know others do, both my daughters are
avid posters, photos, tweets, checkins. They’ve taught
me some of the lingo. It’s not for me though. No.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
FIONA:
I mainly update about work events on twitter and
LinkedIn, so I’m updating about my professional life
more than anything. But yes, sometimes I do social
posts on Facebook too. Fighting back against the sea of
friends and their happy families. Showing the events
they’re missing in their smug marital-baby bliss.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.

6. 6.
EMMA:
Yeah... I think I probably, for me, I don’t know
errmmm... uneasiness with how much I post, so I’ll be
tempted to post, and sometimes when I have posted, I’ve
been like, why did I post that?! I don’t want to post
all the time but I want people to know what I’m doing,
But I never put ’oooh, I’m eating a yoghurt’, I get
annoyed at that.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
TROLL:
Not really. I don’t post about what I’m doing. I use
sites to see what others are up to, not bore people
with trivial things. Like, ’just gone for a run’ aka
aren’t I fit. ’Ooh job promotion’ which is just another
way of saying, look at how well I’m doing, don’t you
wish your career was as good as mine?!
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
ROSIE:
Do I Judge others? Arghh I try not to but some people
post the most cringe things, you’re like, why would you
post that? But then, sometimes like a phone or a laptop
can feel like a sort of a diary and I think you can
forget that hundreds of people can see all the private
things in you’re life that you’re ranting or moaning
about... But some people just need to stop.
Do I think people judge me by my accounts? Definitely.
I feel so judged I don’t even like posting sometimes.
And like when someone unfriends you on facebook, I know
they’re probably on an unfriending spree but I cringe
thinking that they hated what I said so much that they
deleted me.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
LYNN:
I don’t judge other people in what they post as I don’t
see it. But. I suppose I do have a judgement on the
younger generations for what I see as an almost
addiction to social media. I think they can upload too
much, need to be on it too often, and once it’s out
there, who knows who could get there hands on it.
People need to think before they post. I tried to tell
Rosie this, but I’m old and out of the loop, so that
went unheeded...[sigh]
I don’t upload so people can’t judge that, maybe some
might think it odd that I’m not ’up-to-date’ enough to
use social media sites. Perhaps.

7. 7.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
FIONA:
Yes, I judge people by their online accounts, business
or personal. Business wise, I judge if they’re
regularly updating (too little or too much), who
they’re networking with, what they’re working on. And
this is the same when I’m looking at a friend’s
accounts. And sometimes the business and personal
overlap. I’ve fired an assistant because they phoned in
sick one Friday morning but were stupid enough to post
about their crazy Thurday night antics on Twitter and
Facebook.So we soon knew them to be a liar, and a
pretty bad one at that.
Yes, I think other people judge me in the exact same
way I judge them, seeing if I’m keeping up with the
social norms, or not. The whole world is up for
judgment, humans judge without even realising, but we
normally keep what we think in our own heads.
Unfortunately, some people don’t care what they say or
who they hurt. [meaningful pause]
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
EMMA:
[laughs] It seems like my last comment kind of answered
that one... yes. I judge others. Mean, I know, but I
do. But I keep it to myself.
Except when I use it for these answers...
Others judge me? Yeah, probably.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
TROLL:
Yeah. I judge others. We know that. Bit of a stupid
question. Oh sorry, was that me judging you there?
Yeah. I think others judge me too. But that’s no
surprise, I’ve been judged my whole life, why would it
be any different when I’m online? We all judge and
we’re all judged. Some people just need to accept that
and get a thicker skin.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
ROSIE:
Errmmm... have I ever had mean things said to me
online? Ha. You, you know the answer to that. It’s why
I’m here, talking to you.

8. 8.
ROSIE:
Yes, yes, I’ve had mean things said to me, really
horrible things. I... I used to post a lot of selfies
on Instagram and a few on twitter too, but everyone in
my year did, it was normal. We’re all trying to take
the best pictures of ourselves, try out new hairstyles
and make up. But this person they... they found one of
my pictures, and they just hated me. I don’t know why
but something about my face just seemed to really piss
them off. They called me ugly, disgusting, a fat pig, a
cheap slut and my nose was too big. I’d block them or
delete the picture but they kept creating new accounts
and finding more pictures or direct messaging me. I
told them to leave me alone but that just made them
worse. I just don’t, I don’t understand why they chose
me.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
LYNN:
No. I haven’t. But what happened to Rosie... when it’s
your child having those things said to them. You want
to protect them, but how can you, when you don’t even
understand the way in which they’re being attacked?
These trolls, they really are poisonous, hiding behind
their computer screens.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
FIONA:
Mean things online? A few times in terms of advertising
competitors or people who don’t like the products we’re
promoting. But you’ve just got to ignore it. Bitchiness
is the nature of the business I’m in.
But it’s not a personal attack like my niece had. When
it’s personal, well, I’m 39 and I’d still find it hard
to take such cruel comments about my appearance and
character. I’d be able to force myself to ignore them,
but she’s 15, bloody hell, being a teenager is tough
enough without having that abuse thrown at you.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
EMMA:
Back in the Beebo and Myspace days we were all a bit
bitchy to each other, but nothing too horrific. And
since then, it’s fine on Twitter or Facebook or
Instagram. But I am careful as I know how people can
be, I’ve seen what was said to Rosie.
She’d been getting these comments, this abuse online,
for almost two months. For two months she’d been

9. 9.
EMMA:
getting quieter and more withdrawn, not eating, locking
us out. Kept saying everything was fine, until mum
found her that afternoon when she got back from work.
It wasn’t until she was in hospital that we actually
got onto her computer and phone and saw all the abuse.
That fucking troll. Rosie’s my baby sister, and some
spineless coward decided that she deserved to be
attacked like that. What had she done wrong?! Nothing.
What if mum hadn’t got back in time?
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
TROLL:
We’ve all had mean things said to us online; you just
have to ignore it. We live in a free world, people
should be able to say what they think online.
Anyway, I’ve had enough shit said to me in ’real life’,
that online is nothing. When someone says it to your
face, that’s when your insides crawl. People bitch
about online trolling but being bullied in school.
That’s so much worse. That’s where you can’t escape.
Every day. Every lesson...
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
ROSIE:
No. I would never say mean things online. Even when I
was 12/13. I don’t get why anyone would. Especially
now, never. Because I know how it feels, and I don’t
want to ever make anyone feel like that.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
LYNN:
No. Never.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
FIONA:
No, I’ve never said mean things on my private social
accounts. It’s unnecessary and cruel.
But, I have to admit, business wise I can respond
sharply to any out of line comments I’ve received from
colleagues or competitors. But that’s because you can’t
suffer fools or you become the fool.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.

10. 10.
EMMA:
Well, as I said, we were bitchy back in the day on
Beebo, but we were kids being immature. I’d never say
anything now.
Especially not now.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
TROLL:
What you class as ’mean’? Obviously, yes. I, I think...
what I’ve said online, I was just saying what I think.
Sometimes the truth hurts. These selfie teens, they do,
they make me sick... I just get so angry looking at
their pouting and posing. Maybe I went too far with
what I said, but she didn’t seem to want to listen,
argued back, and still kept posting those selfies and
inane tweets. Until I finally made her stop. I didn’t
know she’d take it that badly.
Is she ok now?
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
ROSIE:
How did the... How did the trolling make me feel? Hurt.
Lonely. Confused. I started to hate myself. I started
to think... if this person sees me like this, and hates
me so much because of it, then there must be something
wrong with me. Maybe I am fat. I am ugly... No one
would care if I was gone. I know, I know I have an
amazing family who love me. But that troll, that
person, they just got into my head. I’d look in the
mirror and and just see all the comments and tweets. I
didn’t want to be me any more. That’s why, that’s why I
did what I did. Hurt myself like that. And it was so
stupid, and I’m so glad it didn’t work. God. I don’t
know how I could have done that to my mum. To Emma. But
back then, I just felt so alone.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
LYNN:
Terrified. When she was in intensive care and we didn’t
know if she’d pull through. The waiting and not
knowing.
And I was angry. That some small, insignificant person
could make my beautiful, daughter hate herself so much
that she’d do that.
And I was angry at myself, that I couldn’t help her. I
don’t understand technology, so I know Rosie just felt

11. 11.
LYNN:
I couldn’t understand what she was going through. She
must’ve just kept reading these vicious words. Beating
herself up. No one should see their child tormented
like that.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
FIONA:
Shocked. I’m often busy with work so can go for a month
or two without seeing my sister and nieces, so the
first I knew of it was when Lynn called me from the
hospital.
I suppose I also felt guilty that I hadn’t know
anything was wrong before.
And I was angry more than anything, that that excuse
for a human being had found entertainment in tearing my
niece apart. A suspended jail sentence isn’t enough. If
Rosie had died, in my eyes, it would have been murder.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
EMMA:
I can’t even explain how bad it made me feel. She’s my
little sister. And she didn’t think she could speak to
me. I was so so. Angry. That someone could torment her
so much that she didn’t even think her own family loved
her any more. I’m angry. Still.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
TROLL:
The trolling incident make me feel? I’m not a troll.
I’m a person. I’m a person who speaks their mind, I’m
someone who fucked up. That’s all.
Yeah, I know I need to speak about it. That’s why I’m
here. At the time, when I was sending the messages? It
won’t make sense to you, but. It felt good for someone
else to hurt for once. She was everything I’m not.
Pretty, sweet, popular. I hate that. I wanted her to
feel small, feel like I did when I was at school. I
didn’t hate her. I hated what she represented. And it
was fun, I didn’t see her as a person, but a game I had
to win.
When I found out. When the police found out who I was
and told me what she’d done. I was scared. Scared she’d
die, I would have done that. I didn’t want that to
happen to her really. All I sent was words. And and, I
was scared for me. What would happen to me because of
it.

12. 12.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
ROSIE:
How am I moving on from what happened? Well, I’ve
realised I’m not alone, my family were amazing through
what happened. Seriously, my mum was trying to get a
second bed put in my hospital room. And yeah, just talk
to my family. Talking not typing. It’s great that
they’ve sorted this for us, like I normally either
don’t talk at all or I start talking too much, but it’s
great just to say how I feel.
And the second thing, which I’m trying to do more, but
it’ll be weird. I need to stop going online as much,
not let it control my life like it used to. Like, I
still want to use it a bit because all my friends are
on there, but only to catch up if I haven’t seen them
or plan things coming up.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
LYNN:
So, whilst she was in the hospital, and since then,
we’ve made sure the whole family has been around Rosie.
Letting her know we’re there. And we’ve all just
started to talk more, sit down, and talk. I hadn’t
realised until Rosie’s accident how we’d all started
keeping things to ourselves and all being so...
separate.
I still have absolutely no desire to join the online
world, if anything, whereas I was previously ambivalent
towards social media sites, I now have a deep
resentment for the viciousness they can breed. And I’m
glad both my daughters want to use them less. It does
seem bizarre to me that social media has become a habit
that one has to wean oneself off, like smoking or
drinking.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
FIONA:
Me not knowing anything was wrong with Rosie until I
got Lynn’s call from the hospital made me realise that
I’ve... I’ve been putting my work life ahead of my
loved ones. So I’m trying to see far more of Lynn and
the girls. We’re going to start a Sunday dinner ritual.
In terms of social media, I still have to use it
regularly for business. But how it made Rosie hate
herself, I’m letting what I see on my newsfeed, the
babies and the rings, make me judge myself. My life is
mine and no one else’s, so it doesn’t have to be the

13. 13.
FIONA:
same. Of course, the next time I see an engagement
announcement on Facebook, it will be difficult not to
compare, but I am just going to log off and see friends
or family.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
EMMA:
Being there for my family more. I’ve been err wrapped
up in my music and my London life since I moved out so
I haven’t gone home as much or spoken to Rosie enough.
Hopefully talking here will help us all be more open
and chat.
And... I need to not care about my accounts and
notifications so much. Check it once a day rather than
every few hours like some kind of internet addict.
Rosie and I are joking about starting our own group,
IAA, Internet Addicts Anonymous. Start a 12 step plan.
Mum can be our counsellor. But yeah, when I go to see
Fireworks I want to be watching them, not focusing on
capturing them for my Instagram. It sounds wanky but...
I don’t want to miss out on my life because I’m trying
to upload it to my account for others to see.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
TROLL:
My life is pretty much controlled for the next year, so
I can’t choose how I move on.
I guess it’ll be good for me to get away from the
internet. I won’t get so angry. Or say things people
don’t like.
I.. I.. thought about writing to the girl who hurt
herself. But then I remembered I’m not allowed to
contact her.
I guess talking to you is my way of explaining myself.
Maybe... maybe one day you could tell her I’m sorry. I
understand if you don’t want to, but I want her to know
I’m not evil.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
ROSIE:
Thank you for letting me chatter away, it felt good.
See you next week.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.

14. 14.
LYNN:
Thank you for your time, I’ve spoken to reception about
coming back in a fortnight or so. To, (smiles to self)
check-in.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
FIONA:
Ahh time is up, I better get back to work. But, I will
come back next week. I think I need this hour to myself
to talk each week. Thank you.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
EMMA:
Thanks for this, for errm for listening. It’s been good
to talk. I’ll see you next Thursday.
NOTIFICATION SOUND.
TROLL:
Yeah, thanks for today. I don’t like talking to people
much, but this was ok. I’ve already booked next week
with the reception woman. So yeah, thanks. Bye.
CLICK SOUND. BLACK OUT.