In the Moss E-Book

Emma Zadow

• Herausgeber: Renard Press
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 74

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

Exponentially increasing levels of unemployment and simmering racial tension in Moss Side, inner Manchester, exploded into mass riots on the 8th of July 1981, following the siege of a police station. In the Moss frames the events from the perspectives of Janet, a student nurse working in A&E, and Nav, a Sikh police officer on the streets. Both crave a return to normality and just want to fit in, but when violence breaks out and a teenage boy is stabbed, they are thrust together and forced to confront questions that arise about what really happened in the Moss.

Leseprobe

in the moss

renard press—playscript ii

in the moss: Originally produced by mrs c’s collective online in 2020, directed by francesca goodridge. nav played by eric shango and janet played by katherine reynolds. first r&d performance at the hope mill Theatre, manchester in 2021, directed bygeorgi mckie.nav played by mudassar dar and janet played by shareesa valentine.

Special thanks to Charlotte Everest, Francis Grin and Jennie Eggleton at Mrs C’s Collective, to Georgi McKie and to my mum.

by the same author:

fridge

playscript I

9781913724238

in the moss

EMMA ZADOW

renard press

Renard Press Ltd

124 City RoadLondon EC1V 2NXUnited [email protected] 8050 2928

www.renardpress.com

In the Moss first published by Renard Press Ltd in 2021

Text © Emma Zadow, 2021Cover design by Will Dady

Emma Zadow asserts her right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Renard Press is proud to be a climate positive publisher, removing more carbon from the air than we emit and planting a small forest. For more information see renardpress.com/eco.

All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, used to train artificial intelligence systems or models, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without the prior permission of the publisher.

EU Authorised Representative: Easy Access System Europe – Mustamäe tee 50, 10621 Tallinn, Estonia, [email protected].

Permission for producing this play may be applied for via the publisher, using the contact details above, or by emailing [email protected].

Contents

In the Moss

Prologue

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Acknowledgements

in the moss

inspired by the moss side riots, which took place in manchester on the 8th of july, 1981

CHARACTERs

janet

Twenties, a student nurse. Mixed race, Manchester accent.

nav

Twenties, a police constable. A Sikh, originally from Uganda. Manchester accentwith a slight intonation.

scenery

It is not intended that the stage be demarcated into rooms or inside/outside – there are no walls on stage.

setting

The events occur during the night of the 8th of July, 1981, when the Moss Side riots hit Princess Road and the Moss Side Police Station, Manchester.

PROLOGUE

nav and janetexist in their own worlds of the police station and the hospital. Lights, dim and charged, criss-cross over time and space as they put on their uniforms in front of a mirror.

They continue to get dressed while, in the background, there is the sound of an ECG machine thumping, the sound of a window smashing, and the blue flashing lights of police cars criss-cross over them.

nav: He’s crying, screaming.

janet: He’s screaming for his mother.

nav: He’s screaming for his brother.

janet: He’s screaming…

nav: He’s saying, ‘Don’t let me die. I don’t want to die!’ I get information that just bleeps in my ear like an alarm clock that’s way too early for your ears but kind of all right for your eyes—

janet (to herself): …and I didn’t understand what the other nurse was saying, but I knew that her eyes were telling me to—

nav: Keep calm!

janet: Jan, you’ve never dealt with this much blood in your entire life.

nav: A boy, tonight, in those riots, because of you.

janet: Because of me.

nav: Because of me.

janet: They always say you’re going to kill someone some day.

(Pause.)

both: He wasn’t meant to be my first.

(A bell rings. The radio on nav’s belt crackles.)

radio voiceover: All constables report immediately to the station. Repeat. Under attack. Urgent backup required at…

hospital voiceover: Riot in Princess Road, Moss Side. All medical staff to A&E immediately.

(There is a faint sound of roaring in the distance. ECG thumps.)

ACT ONE

Shapes and figures run through the flashing lights. janet and nav appear. She rummages for keys to the door in front of them. It’s a struggle. He towers over her from behind. janetbreathes faster.

janet: It’s just… normally I’m… I’m more… What always helps is a curry on the way home, a couple of Pils – beers – I’m classy for my age. Two for one at the corner shop. Does me a deal. But that, out there… All those… people.

(Pause.)

nav: Which key is it again, love?

janet: I don’t… don’t know.

nav: Yes, you do. Now. Let’s look at the lock. Is it gold or silver?

janet: Um… I dunno.

nav: Yes, you do. Answer me.

janet: Um… gold, I think.

nav: Now, is it this one?

janet: No. I’m trying my best. I can’t see properly.

nav: This one?

janet: Maybe. It’s so dark!

nav: Let’s give that a go, shall we? And if not, we’ll just try again.

(There is an explosion behind them. nav and janet throw themselves through the door. They slam it shut behind them. He leans his shoulder against it. janetruns to the centre of the room.)

Get back!

(navlooks at her from the door, his shoulder still firm against it.)

I need you to stay there!

janet: Why? What have we done?

(She goes to the middle of the room. The explosions subside. Silence.)

nav: I… I need to check the area. Make sure you’re not—

janet: There’s blood on your…

(navopens and slams the door again, hard, locks it and throws her the key. She catches it. He moves, checking as he goes.)

Shouldn’t we call… I dunno, backup or something?

nav: Please, just—

janet: I shouldn’t have… I should have been—

nav: We need to be smart.

(They jump as another crash sounds; nav grabs janet and pulls them both down on to their stomachs on the floor. Silence. He calculates their next move.)

janet: Afraid of a little petrol bomb after the riot shields?

nav: I didn’t exactly see any nurses on the scene.

janet: What happened out there?

nav: You got an idea from what was going on in A&E, I’m sure.

janet (whispering): Saalem aleiku… um… aleika-hum, erm… yeah. Oh. Sorry. I’m no good at this.

(navstares at her hard.)

What? Our Sheila on Hulme Way went with—

nav: Is there a back door out of here?

janet: No. Look, I’m sorry. I’ve already had a shit day, might as well make it a bit unshitter… shittier-less… (She frowns).

nav: Whatever it is, it wasn’t your fault.

(They look at each other.)

janet: Thanks.

nav: These things happen in A&E. I’m sure you did all you could and—

janet: OK, I get it.

nav: OK. (Hurt:) Glad you got the message. (Pause.) Are you sure you’re OK?

janet: I’m fine.

nav: Get up.

(They get up slowly, cautiously.)

janet: Do you want me to take a look at the wound?

nav: What?

janet: The blood. There must be a wound under your uniform?

nav: Oh, no, it’s not mine.

(Slight pause.)

janet: Do you mind if I… (She indicates the next room.) It’s just, I’m a bit desperate…

nav: No, sure. Go for it.

janet: It’s only, do you want to… (she indicates the bathroom again) check first? That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?

nav: Oh! Right, yeah.

(He goes into the bathroom and looks around.)

janet (joking): Anything dangerous in there?

nav (from the bathroom): No. Unless you count me!

(He returns.)

janet: Look, it’s not a big flat. It’s just me.

nav: I wanted to. After today. After—

janet: I’m fine.

nav: So you keep saying.

janet: Is this going to take long?

nav: Listen, there’s been reports of nurses being targeted.

janet: So. You thought you’d be the hero and take me home tonight with no backup. Brilliant. Just brilliant!

(Pause.)

nav: I’m sick of this, this—

janet: You were there – was it as bad as it seemed from where we were?

nav: Hot.

On fire.

Fuming cars.

I’d rather—

janet: Can I get you a drink?

(Pause.)

nav: Are you serious?

(janet nods.)

I think we should stay here. Don’t aggravate things with our appearance. I’m not leaving. Not now.

janet: What about backup? Have you tried the radio or something?

nav: Faulty. But seeing as I was heading back—

janet: So we’re stuck.

nav: You got a phone?

(She laughs.)

Sh! Shut it, yeah? You got one or not?

janet: Have you got one?

nav: No.

janet: Well, then. We’re stuck.

nav: I can’t leave until it’s safe.

(There is another crash beyond them. An ambulance siren screeches in and out of earshot.)

janet: Talk to me about something.

nav: Erm… Well…

janet: Just anything! Please!

nav: I’m not… good at that stuff.

(He picks up a small antique china lion from a shelf.)

janet: Now!

nav: All right!

(Pause.)