Deluge E-Book

Fiona Doyle

• Herausgeber: Nick Hern Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Serie: NHB Modern Plays
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 57

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

A deeply provocative thriller set in a blighted landscape where nature is fiercely taking its course, Deluge is a gripping drama from the Papatango Prize-winning author of Coolatully. There's something uncanny going on at Joe and Kitty's farm. Precious feed is mysteriously disappearing from the hay shed and prized livestock is being slaughtered at night whilst sinister shadows lurk in the darkness. With fodder running out and no money left, Joe and Kitty, like their desperate neighbours, will stop at nothing to protect themselves and their cherished land. But at what cost? Fiona Doyle's play Deluge won the 2014 Eamon Keane Full-Length Play Award, and was premiered at Hampstead Downstairs, London, in April 2015.

Leseprobe

Fiona Doyle

DELUGE

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Title Page

Original Production

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Characters

Deluge

About the Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

Deluge was first performed at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, London, on 16 April 2015. The cast was as follows:

KITTY

Elaine Cassidy

FLAN

Gary Lilburn

JOE

Edward MacLiam

INTERVIEWER

Charlotte Randle

Director

Anna Ledwich

Designer

Moi Tran

Lighting

Elliot Griggs

Sound

James Frewer

Acknowledgements

With huge thanks to Will Mortimer, Edward Hall, Greg Ripley-Duggan, Philippa Sutcliffe and all at Hampstead Theatre; Anna Ledwich, Moi Tran, James Frewer and Elliot Griggs; Camilla Young and John Burgess; Neil Flynn and Catriona Fallon; Billy Roche, Eilish Wren and the family of Eamon Keane; Nick Hern and all the team; Peggy Ramsay Foundation; Tom Hopkins, Amy Conroy, Judith Ryan, Declan Mills, Elaine Cassidy, Edward MacLiam, Gary Lilburn and Charlotte Randle.

And a very special thank you to Jocelyn Abbey for her faith in this play.

For John Burgess and Tom Hopkins

Characters

JOE, early forties

KITTY, late thirties

FLAN, late sixties

INTERVIEWER, late thirties

BARMAN

VOICE

Note on Text

Set somewhere in rural Ireland. Time period is ambiguous.

The actor playing Joe also doubles as Barman.

In Scene Eight, the man Kitty speaks to is unseen. We only hear a voice.

The song Kitty hums in Scene Eighteen should be the same one she hums in Scene Three and Scene Seven.

The card game played in Scene Thirteen is Rummy.

The sound in this play, like the sound of rain or the dogs barking outside somewhere, is particularly important.

A forward slash ( / ) marks the point where the immediately following dialogue or action interrupts.

This ebook was created before the end of rehearsals and so may differ slightly from the play as performed.

Scene One

Day three. Darkness. We hear rain. Lights fade up to reveal a drab interview room. There is one small window positioned high up. KITTY is waiting. A lock turns and the door opens. INTERVIEWER enters and sits. Her hair is a little wet and she carries a small red umbrella which she places on the ground near the table. Door is closed and locked behind her by an unseen person. As she speaks, she pulls a notepad, pen and little Dictaphone from her briefcase.

INTERVIEWER. Sorry I’m late. Hold-up at inspection. Well, not a… ‘hold-up’ in that sense. (Laughs.) Someone didn’t have their ID. (Pulls a deep voice.) ‘No ID, no entry.’ Pointless trying to… then there was a problem with the second set of electronic doors so…

She smiles at KITTY who remains expressionless.

Pause. INTERVIEWER ties back her wet hair.

Raining again. Weatherman says it’ll be on and off for the rest of the week. Can’t catch a break can we. (Pause.) How are you? (Pause.) You seem calmer today. (Pause.) Did you sleep last night? Warden says you don’t sleep. But… sure we have to sleep. We’d die otherwise. (Pause.) I’ll keep coming. Can’t get out of it see. It’s my job.

Silence. INTERVIEWER starts arranging her items on the table.

KITTY. How old are you?

INTERVIEWER. Thirty-four. (Beat.) I lie. Thirty-six. (Beat.) Okay, thirty-seven.

KITTY. You’ve lines on your forehead.

INTERVIEWER. Christ. Don’t hold back. But it’s good to finally hear your voice.

Pause.

KITTY. I’ve lines now too. Joe used say I look like Maureen O’Hara. First thing he ever said to me. ‘You look like Maureen O’Hara, like out’ve The Quiet Man.’

INTERVIEWER. Not seen it.

Pause.

KITTY. The sheets make me itch. I’ve a rash. (Pulls down the neck of her T-shirt.)

INTERVIEWER. Must be allergic to something.

KITTY. They use bleach.

INTERVIEWER. Right.

KITTY. Causes cancer. Pollutes the rivers and kills the animals. Not like it’s news.

INTERVIEWER. I’ll have a word with them. See what I can do. (Makes a note.)

KITTY. Sounds bad out there. Fields’ll be waterlogged again. Cows’ll have to stay in. There’s so much to do. I need to get back.

INTERVIEWER. It’s being taken care of.

KITTY. I need to get / back.

INTERVIEWER. It’s being taken care of.

INTERVIEWER makes another note.

KITTY. Can I see him?

INTERVIEWER. Not possible.

KITTY. I just want to see him. Just for a minute or two.

INTERVIEWER. They won’t let you.

Pause.

KITTY. Why are you here?

INTERVIEWER. Same reason I was here yesterday. And the day before that.

INTERVIEWER places Dictaphone in the centre of the table and presses play.

Day three. (Looks at wristwatch.) 11.30 a.m. Bad weather with risk of more flooding. But I’m not here to talk about the weather.

She looks at KITTY for a moment. Sudden darkness.

Scene Two

JOE is working in a hay shed, stacking some hay bales and sacks of feed. There is a large object covered in sheets in one part of the hay shed. KITTY enters with a mug of tea. She watches him for a while. A dog starts barking outside somewhere.

KITTY (calling out). Whist now would ya.

Dog keeps barking.

Be quiet!

Barking stops.

Fox I’d say. Saw one the last day. Out in the yard. Just stood there lookin’ at me calm as you like. (Pause.) Joe. Please. You need to eat somethin’. (Pause.) Ya shouldn’t be doin’ that now.

She goes to him. We hear the sound of a bird shrieking. Dog starts barking again.

Whist would ya!

Barking stops. JOE sips some tea.

What happened yer hands?

JOE. The rope. When we was… lowerin’ him in. (Pause.) D’you remember what he used say? ’Bout that? ’Bout buryin’ him? ‘Under the oak tree’ll do me grand. Under the oak tree down the back field so’s I can keep an eye on you all. Stand me up in the ground and turn me towards the enemies.’

KITTY. Ah stop, Joe.

JOE. Way they used bury the warriors. In the old times. Used do it that way then.

KITTY. Well we’re not livin’ in old times.

JOE. No.

KITTY. An’ he wasn’t no warrior. He was a farmer.

JOE. We’re livin’ in strange times now.

KITTY. I’m goin’ in. Please, Joe. We only buried him today.

JOE. I’ll be in in a bit.

KITTY. You said that two hour ago.

JOE strokes her face gently. He kisses her.

‘Who gave you leave to be kissin’ me.’

JOE. Don’t make ’em like that any more hah? John Wayne. Maureen O’Hara. (Studies her face.) The spit of Maureen O’Hara. Like out of The Quiet Man.

KITTY. Even now?

JOE. Even now (