by Ben Musgrave
They lived miles away, in Dorset.
I hoped that they might look after me.
I knew I was going home to die.
I got on the train. It was hot, and movement made me feel sick.
And I started vomiting.
And everyone knew.
People wanted me off the train. So I got off, somewhere near Basingstoke
It was a small stop, in the middle of nowhere.
And already quite late.
I did not know where I was but I decided I would just walk.
I was in a lot of pain.
Then night came.
It became dark and cold.
I could not sleep because it was so cold.
And if I had gone to sleep I think I might have died on the road.
In the middle of the night I realised a car was coming.
An old car, a Morris Minor Traveller, you know, with the wooden frame at the back.
But its lights were bright.
I raised my head.
The car began to stop and I was washed with white light.
The car was driven by a beautiful old woman with white hair.
‘Where do you want to go?’
‘I want to go home’ I said.
We drove for two hours and by the time we got to my parents’ town the sun was rising.
The woman knocked on the old green door and woke my mother.
Pause.
My mother was bad-tempered, said they couldn’t take me – ‘How can we have her here?’ She said.
‘I can’t look after her, how can I?’
I heard the old woman walk slowly back to the car and open the door and say ‘Well then, we better go’.
And I said ‘Where are you taking me?’
And she said ‘I’m taking you home.’
As we drove out again she asked me if I wanted to be reborn and I said ‘Yes’.
And she said, ‘We can give you some things which will keep you alive, but to be reborn you must first reject the loathing inside you…
You are not alone,’ she said. And she put her hands on me. And I felt something changing, inside me.
Pause.
SARAH produces some plums, and gives them to DEREK and LYDIA.
These plums are from the garden.
They’re rather sour I’m afraid.
I want you to take all the flesh off the fruit, and then feel the stone in your mouth.
And put everything you want to get rid of.
All of that inside you. Put it in the stone.
Pause. They do.
All of it.
Now spit it into your hand.
And throw it out to sea. As far as you can.
There. That’s done.
Pause.
(To DEREK.) Can you stay tonight?
Pause.
DEREK
Yes.
SARAH
It’s going to be a difficult few days, I’m afraid.
Pause.
Further down the estuary there have been disturbances.
There are people in danger, I need to go.
I don’t know how long I’ll be.
If I’m not back.
You will be collected.
No one knows about this place.
You’re quite safe.
And you have each other.
Something’s been happening, hasn’t it?
Pause.
I think you’re very strong.
Pause. She goes to LYDIA.
She gives LYDIA a hug.
Whatever happens now, just remember that you can live.
Pause.
Look after each other.
Look after her, Derek.
Until She comes.
Pause.
DEREK
I will.
SARAH exits.
Scene Five
She Will Come One Day
SARAH’s cottage, a few days later. Late afternoon. Another hot day.
DEREK walks up the path with a shopping bag.
Pause. He throws her a packet of cigarettes. Puts a carton of milk on the table.
LYDIA
Thank you.
Pause. She takes out a cigarette and lights it.
(Of the cigarette.) Tell me not to.
DEREK
No, I won’t.
I’m glad you’re feeling up to it.
LYDIA
Yes, I’m feeling up to it.
I think I’m going to need them, today.
DEREK
Why?
LYDIA
It doesn’t matter.
Pause.
There’ll be swimming, where I’m going.
There’ll be a big house
A big house in the country.
And green hills
And limestone.
Pause.
I’m feeling so much stronger now.
DEREK
I can’t believe you’re going.
Pause. She smiles. They come close.
You were up in the night.
Are you okay?
LYDIA
Yeah.
Shall we go down to the sea?
DEREK
Yeah.
Pause.
LYDIA
I got you a towel out.
DEREK
Thanks.
LYDIA
And chocolate.
DEREK
Okay.
I can’t believe you’ll be going.
Pause.
They make contact.
She kisses him on the forehead.
They look at each other. They might kiss.
Would it be different, if I had it?
Pause.
LYDIA reaches out to him. He reaches back. Pause.
LYDIA
In any case, you can’t get it from kissing.
Pause. They might.
Pause. They do. Slowly and carefully.
They kiss again.
(Of the kiss.) I don’t know what this is.
DEREK
No.
LYDIA
This can’t last.
DEREK
Why not?
LYDIA
It can’t last.
DEREK
I would, you know.
I’d get it.
If it would make a difference.
LYDIA breaks away.
LYDIA
Don’t say that.
DEREK
Why not?
LYDIA
It’s death.
DEREK
It’s not.
LYDIA
I could die tomorrow.
DEREK
You won’t.
DEREK kisses LYDIA.
Then VINCENT enters.
VINCENT
Whoa!
They break apart.
What are you doing?
DEREK
(Confused, moving towards him.) Vince.
VINCENT
What were you doing, Derek?
Pause.
Oh my god that is
He recoils.
LYDIA
(Suddenly worried about DEREK.) How did you find us?
VINCENT
Never mind about that.
LYDIA
Tell me.
VINCENT
The smell of it.
LYDIA
How did you find us?
VINCENT
Satellite maps and hearsay.
Pause. VINCENT looks at her.
(Of LYDIA.) Look at you.
On the outside you’re just as fit as the first moment I saw you.
Pause.
(To LYDIA.) Take your shirt off?
LYDIA
No.
VINCENT
I just want to see
Will you take your shirt off, please?
Pause.
So I know it’s real.
(Of DEREK.) That he didn’t just make it all up.
Vince, stop it.
VINCENT
(To LYDIA.) Take it off or I’ll make you.
LYDIA
No.
VINCENT
Turn around.
DEREK
Stop it.
VINCENT
Yeah?
DEREK
Or I’ll stop you.
VINCENT
(To DEREK.) You’ve never stopped me.
In all your life, when have you ever?
(To LYDIA.) Turn around, against the window.
I want to see your face in the reflection.
LYDIA does nothing.
We had a thing going, didn’t we?
Why did you pull away?
At the last minute?
Beat.
What was wrong with me?
PETER enters.
PETER
Oh! Here she is!
DEREK
Peter.
LYDIA
You can’t be here.
PETER
You can’t be here.
Not on our land.
(To LYDIA.) We gave you the warning.
We told you to leave, and you didn’t leave.
PETER gets on his surgical gloves.
He gets out a knife. The sky is getting dark now.
Derek, mate, I’d like you to go now.
What’s about to happen isn’t for your eyes.
Just don’t worry about it.
You’re not part of this.
You’re a good boy.
Don’t worry about it, mate.
Go on, kid.
You don’t need to see this.
DEREK stares them out.
DEREK
I won’t let it happen.
PETER
She’s just a carcass.
I need to cut this at the root, mate.
I need to cut it out, I’m sorry.
Pause.
Don’t be soft, son.
You go fall in love with her and she’ll only go and die tomorrow.
DEREK
She will not.
PETER
She’ll only go and die.
DEREK
She will not.
LYDIA
I will live.
PETER
She’ll die a filthy death.
LYDIA
I will live.
PETER
You’ll shrink and waste.
Flies will crawl up your cunt and shit on our food chain.
You’ll pollute the earth.
God told me this, Derek.
God told me I must rid us of her.
What power does she have over you?
VINCENT
She was kissing him.
PETER
Oh my son!
VINCENT
She was sucking the life out of him, poor kid.
PETER
Why were you kissing him?
LYDIA
Because I love him.
PETER
What?
LYDIA
Because I love him.
PETER, furious turns against her, raises the knife.
PETER
Love him?
You don’t know love.
LYDIA
I do.
PETER approaches DEREK, with his knife.
DEREK stands in the way.
VINCENT
You love him?
LYDIA
(Conciliatory.) I’m sorry I turned you away, Vince.
PETER
(Making to get at her.) I’ve had enough of this.
LYDIA
It wasn’t about you.
PETER makes to get at her, but DEREK stands in the way.
PETER
Let me through.
DEREK
You won’t.
PETER
Get away.
DEREK pulls his machete out of his bag.
DEREK
You won’t get past me.
PETER halts.
PETER
Get out of the fucking way.
DEREK
(Of the machete.) I beat back Sinclair’s Way with this.
I cleared Harcourt’s field of ten-foot briars.
PETER
Fuck off or I’ll make you regret it.
DEREK
I chopped down a sycamore.
PETER
I’ll chop you down in shame.
DEREK
I’m not ashamed.
PETER
I’ll make an example of you.
He lunges but DEREK raises his blade. PETER goes no further.
DEREK and PETER, a stand-off.
(Gesturing to him to get DEREK.) Vincent
Get him.
VINCENT
What?
Pause.
PETER
(Angrily gesturing.) Get him.
VINCENT
No.
PETER
I said get him, boy.
VINCENT
It’s Derek.
It’s Derek, isn’t it?
I’ve known Derek since the dawn of time.
PETER
What’s wrong with you?
VINCENT
There’s nothing wrong with me.
PETER
Goodfernothing little / shit.
VINCENT
There’s nothing wrong with me, you fucker!
PETER tries to control his feelings. He might hit VINCENT.
PETER
(Praying.) Oh Father
VINCENT
Oh fuck off.
PETER
Guide me in your / will.
VINCENT
I can’t be bothered any / more.
PETER
Show me the way so I can purify this land.
VINCENT
You’re a fucking nutter, you are.
PETER hits VINCENT, sending him spinning off, then he approaches LYDIA.
VINCENT
Pete.
VINCENT tries to get in the way again.
LYDIA
(To VINCENT.) It’s okay.
VINCENT
(To PETER.) Just leave it.
But now there’s only DEREK in the way.
LYDIA
Let him come.