Tomcat E-Book

James Rushbrooke

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

Seitenzahl: 83

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

In the not-too-distant future, the world is better than ever. Diseases and disorders have been wiped out. But Jess doesn't belong. She slipped through the net and there's something dangerous in her DNA, something that must be 'cured'. Charlie is watching Jess. He'll do whatever it takes to keep society safe. As debate over genetic screening rages, Tomcat asks how far will we go to keep humanity healthy? When you can learn everything about a person from a computer screen, is there anything left to discover? Tomcat by James Rushbrooke was the winner of the 2015 Papatango New Writing Prize in association with Southwark Playhouse, London, where it premiered in October 2015.

Leseprobe

James Rushbrooke

TOMCAT

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Title Page

Original Production

Characters

Tomcat

About the Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

Tomcat was first produced by Papatango and performed at the Southwark Playhouse, London, on 28 October 2015, with the following cast:

JESSIE

Eleanor Worthington-Cox

TOM

Brian Doherty

CAROLINE

Diana Kent

CHARLIE

Edward Harrison

RACHEL

Susan Stanley

Director

Kate Hewitt

Designer

Lily Arnold

Lighting Designer

Johanna Town

Sound Designer

Richard Hammarton

Dramaturg

George Turvey

Producer

Chris Foxon

Associate Lighting Designer

Matt Leventhall

Associate Sound Designer

Daffyd Gough

Fight Director

Tim Klotz

Tomcat won the 2015 Papatango New Writing Prize.

Characters

JESSIE, twelve years old

TOM

CAROLINE

CHARLIE

RACHEL

The action takes place in Britain, in the near future.

A forward slash (/) indicates interrupted speech.

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

Scene One

JESSIE is sitting cross-legged in the centre of the stage. She is drawing with wax crayons. She is a tiny twelve-year-old girl with long dark hair. She is expressive, playful and seemingly much younger than a normal girl of her age. She wears baggy clothes.

TOM enters. He is her key worker. A giant bear of a man; his giant frame entirely offset by a soft disposition and gentle voice.

JESSIE registers that TOM has arrived; she picks up one of her pictures and rips it into tiny pieces.

TOM. That one not good enough?

JESSIE. No. (Suddenly brightening.) Hello, Tom.

She crosses to him and kisses him on the cheek.

TOM. None of that.

JESSIE. What?

TOM. You know exactly what.

JESSIE laughs.

JESSIE. Am I allowed pencils yet?

TOM. I don’t think so.

JESSIE. I want pencils.

TOM. I know you do.

JESSIE. Please? Look at this…

JESSIE begins to move all the pieces from the floor back into a picture.

I can’t really draw with wax crayons. They don’t work.

TOM. What did you draw?

JESSIE. I drew them. (Points out towards the audience.)

TOM. Them?

JESSIE. The people that watch.

TOM. What people?

JESSIE. The people behind the mirror.

TOM. I don’t think there are people behind the mirror.

JESSIE. Shhhhh. Listen.

TOM. …

JESSIE. …

TOM. I’m…

JESSIE. Shhh.

TOM. …

JESSIE. There! If you listen carefully you can hear them breathing.

TOM. I think that might’ve been me.

JESSIE. It wasn’t you. You breathe heavy like a dog.

TOM. Charming.

JESSIE. Wait…

TOM. …

JESSIE. They’ve gone now. They always go just after I hear them. Can I show you my drawings from last night before you take them away?

TOM. Sure.

JESSIE. I did one for you.

TOM. You know I’m not allowed to keep your pictures.

JESSIE reaches into her pocket and extracts a tiny piece of paper.

JESSIE. It’s really small. You can keep it, can’t you, Tom? Because if you can’t I will rip it up. This is just for you.

TOM. I’ll ask.

Lights come up to reveal CHARLIE and CAROLINE standing the other side of the glass.

CAROLINE. She’s all yours from Monday. Think you can handle her?

CHARLIE. I’m nervous; to actually be in the room with her, I mean.

CAROLINE. Being a bit nervous is a good thing, hold on to that, don’t let her get the upper hand; certainly not in the early stages at least.

CHARLIE. I still can’t believe it’s going to happen. I’ve read pretty much everything that’s been written about her… but it’s still, to talk to her… to interact.

CAROLINE (laughing). There she is.

CHARLIE. How has she been since your goodbye session?

CAROLINE. Unsettled. I’ve avoided talking about you with her. She knows someone is taking over but I wanted you to go in as a blank slate; so she can’t project her anger at me leaving onto you. Tom has marked some behavioural changes in the notes. (Pause.) Don’t watch her for too long, it gets addictive.

CHARLIE. Another half-hour max. I feel like I should get to know her, study some of the idiosyncrasies you’ve outlined.

CAROLINE. What time are you in on Monday?

CHARLIE. Early.

CAROLINE. Enjoy your weekend off; and try not to get too nervous. And it’s not like I’m going anywhere for a few months, you’ve got my support.

CHARLIE. I know. Thank you.

CAROLINE. I’m sure you’ll be fine.

CAROLINE exits. CHARLIE continues to stare at JESSIE.

Scene Two

TOM has helped JESSIE get ready for bed. He is brushing her hair. JESSIE sits and thinks for a while. She takes a breath.

JESSIE. Can I…

TOM. No.

JESSIE. You don’t know what I was going to say.

TOM. You were going to say ‘can I have a dog’.

JESSIE. No I wasn’t.

TOM. Yes you were.

JESSIE. How do you know?

TOM. Because it’s almost bedtime and you always ask at bedtime.

JESSIE. Maybe I wasn’t.

TOM. You were, and I always say no.

JESSIE. Maybe I wanted a cat.

TOM. You’re not allowed pets.

JESSIE. I don’t want pets.

TOM. You /

JESSIE. A cat isn’t a pet.

TOM. Yes it is. Cats and dogs and /

JESSIE. Cats don’t do anything you tell them. Pets have to do what you tell them.

TOM. No. A pet is any animal that you keep.

JESSIE. But they don’t have to do what you say?

TOM. No.

JESSIE. But you have to give them food and make sure their house is all clean and stuff.

TOM. Yes. That’s part of being a responsible pet owner.

Pause.

JESSIE. Am I a pet?

TOM. What?

JESSIE. Am I a pet? Am I your pet?

TOM. Don’t be silly.

JESSIE. I’m not being silly, you have to keep me clean, and look after me and make sure that my room is nice. (Pause.) I’m your pet.

TOM. You are not my pet.

JESSIE. Miaow. ( Begins nudging TOM with her head. )

TOM. Stop being silly.

JESSIE. Stroke me.

TOM. No.

JESSIE. Stroke me.

TOM. No. Dr Caroline has talked to you about this. Move away, please.

JESSIE. I want you to stroke me. (Tries to climb on him.)

TOM. Off. Now.

JESSIE. You’re no fun. I was only playing. Isn’t that what people do with their pets?

TOM. You were being silly.

JESSIE. If I took down my trousers and pee’d here, you would have to clean it up, wouldn’t you?

TOM. No. (Pause.) Don’t you /

JESSIE. I’m not going to. But if I did you would have to clean it up, wouldn’t you? Because you’re my owner and… I’m. Your. Pet.

TOM. No. You’re. Not.

JESSIE. Give me three good reasons why I’m not a pet.

TOM. I’m not playing this game.

JESSIE. You can’t, can you? You can’t because I’m a pet.

TOM. You are not a pet.

JESSIE. Then give me three good reasons.

TOM. I’m not going to…

JESSIE (suddenly lunging). GIVE ME THREE REASONS.

TOM. You don’t scare me. You never have, and you never will, Jessica – that sort of behaviour might work on other staff but it doesn’t work on me. So be quiet and behave yourself. If you don’t behave then there’s very little chance that I will be able to get your pencils.

JESSIE stares at TOM intently, there is a moment. Then all malice vanishes and she returns to playful.

JESSIE. Fine, but I’m still a pet. (Takes his hand and runs it through her hair.) Prrrrrrrrrrr. Can I show you the rest of my drawings?

TOM. Sure.

JESSIE. This one is for you.

TOM. What is it?

JESSIE. Miaow. It’s a cat. This one is for you to keep.

TOM. I’m not…

JESSIE. You’re not allowed to have a drawing of a cat? Even though it’s my best drawing ever and I did it especially for you.

TOM. No, you know the rules.

JESSIE (suddenly upset). But, Tom, I worked really hard on it.

TOM. Don’t be silly.

JESSIE. I wanted you to keep it so that even when you’re not here, you still know I’m here.

TOM. I don’t think I’d forget you.

JESSIE. Because I’m nice.

TOM. Because you’re annoying.

JESSIE. Pets are annoying, aren’t they?

Scene Three

CHARLIE is getting ready for work. It is very early in the morning. RACHEL is infinitely more tired than he is. He is a morning person.

CHARLIE. Have you seen my blue tie… the clip-on?

RACHEL. No.

CHARLIE. I’m sure that it was / here somewhere.

RACHEL. Can’t you just wear a different one.

CHARLIE. No. I need the clip-on one.

RACHEL. Oh yeah.

CHARLIE. I’m already running late; it can’t have gone far, it’s a tie.

RACHEL. Shall I call you afterwards?

CHARLIE. I’m not sure what time I’ll be finishing.

RACHEL. I meant I’d call you after my scan.

CHARLIE. Darling, I’m sorry. I got caught up in the excitement. Are you okay?

RACHEL. I am… I just wasn’t expecting you to forget completely.

CHARLIE. I’m sorry, it’s just a routine scan, I’m sure it’ll all be fine.

RACHEL. It’s fine. I’m fine. (Pause.) I am. Really.

CHARLIE. If it were any other day, I would be there like a shot. I would. It’s just unfortunate that they moved it to today.

RACHEL. I know.

CHARLIE. Do you want me to try and move things around? I could still come with you /

RACHEL. No, it’s fine.

CHARLIE. Call me as soon as you get out.

RACHEL. I will.

CHARLIE. You’re still cross.

RACHEL. I’m not.

CHARLIE. I’ll make it up to you. (Looks at his watch.) I’m sorry. I want to stay, I do… but I’ve really got to go.

RACHEL (watching him). Do I get a kiss?

Scene Four

CHARLIE. I’m not late, am I? We did say nine?

CAROLINE. No, you’re not late. Not at all. I’m early. Bella Baker died.

CHARLIE. No!

CAROLINE. Yes. At her care home, last night.

CHARLIE. That’s it then, no more Down syndrome?

CAROLINE. They want an informal presentation as it is such a landmark event, I’ve got about an hour to put something together.

CHARLIE. Well… it’s a feather in the cap of the screening programme, they’ve been waiting for her to die for years. How old was she?