David Hare Plays 3

by David Hare

  Wilde Please put my bags on the bed. Thank you.

  Ross Oscar, remember, you do not have long.

  Ross tips Moffatt, who puts the three bags together on the bed.

  Bosie Robbie is desperate that nothing should detain you.

  Ross Bosie …

  Bosie He’s given me a lecture on how I am to behave.

  Wilde Oh Robbie, that was superfluous. Bosie at all times behaves impeccably.

  Ross I have not said otherwise. Oscar, just tell us, what is your news?

  Wilde My news?

  Ross Yes.

  Wilde My news? I have none. Everyone hourly awaits my arrest. They seem astonished that I am still at liberty. But, my friends, all I can say is: by a miracle, I have achieved the Cadogan.

  Moffatt Indeed, sir.

  Wilde In spite of everything, I am finally here. And surrounded by friends, I would say, Mr Moffatt …

  Moffatt I would hope, sir …

  Wilde And Arthur. Good Arthur. The excellent Arthur as well. Oh Lord …

  He grips Arthur’s hand tightly.

  Moffatt Come, you must sit, sir …

  Wilde No, no, I am steady. I am here but I cannot yet say for how long.

  He moves to hide his tears, then animates himself to keep cheerful.

  It appears that the whole of London is fleeing. I looked from my coach. Every invert in the metropolitan area is now packing his bags and heading for France.

  Ross looks nervously to the staff.

  It is a veritable mass migration. I’d never imagined diaspora could be on this scale.

  Ross Well …

  Wilde The takings at certain fashionable restaurants will tonight be counted in pennies. Within twenty-four hours the opera will be stone dead.

  Ross (nervously) Yes.

  He turns and sees his bags on the bed.

  Wilde What remain of my worldly possessions. You had them sent over?

  Ross Yes. As we agreed, I went to your house.

  Wilde Thank you. Thank you, dear Robbie.

  He moves over and hugs Ross, then looks into his eyes. Ross speaks quietly.

  Ross Please bear in mind, Oscar, you do not have long.

  Moffatt Excuse me, do you also want coffee, sir? Have you eaten?

  Wilde Have I eaten? Oh Lord, let me think.

  Ross Oscar, I’m afraid it’s out of the question. You simply do not have time.

  Wilde Do I not?

  Ross You are here to say your goodbyes to Bosie.

  Wilde Yes, of course. But a small drink, please, Robbie, you must not deny me. And then of course I shall get going. I shall go on the instant.

  Arthur Do you want to taste, sir?

  Wilde Pour away. Hock tastes like hock, and seltzer like seltzer. Taste is not in the bottle. It resides in one’s mood. So today no doubt hock will taste like burnt ashes. Today I will drink my own death.

  He lights the first of many cigarettes. Ross has turned to Moffatt.

  Ross Mr Moffatt, on my orders a cab is waiting downstairs …

  Moffatt Yes, sir.

  Phoebe has appeared at the door by chance, bringing towels.

  Ah Phoebe, will you please tell the driver outside that Mr Wilde …

  Ross His passenger, do not call him Mr Wilde …

  Moffatt His passenger is here and will be down very soon.

  Phoebe Yes, I see, sir.

  Ross You have that message?

  Phoebe Yes, of course. The passenger who is not Mr Wilde is coming and the message is he will not be long.

  She glares at him resentfully, then goes. Arthur hands Wilde the wine.

  Wilde Thank you, Arthur.

  Bosie looks up, quietly confident.

  Bosie I would like to talk to you, Oscar.

  Wilde Talk to me? Bosie, truly! You hardly need ask.

  Bosie No?

  Wilde Of course not. Come talk.

  Bosie I had an impression from Robbie …

  Wilde What impression?

  Wilde looks between them.

  Bosie Robbie implied that your wish was that I should step back.

  Wilde I would never wish that.

  Bosie Why, thank you.

  Ross is momentarily discomforted by their contact.

  Ross I was saying … I was saying only that you yourself need to make haste.

  Bosie Oscar, even now my cousin is having meetings at the Houses of Parliament to make sure this prosecution need never take place.

  Ross Bosie, it’s simply impractical. I have no doubt your cousin is doing his best.

  Bosie He is.

  Ross But there is a train.

  Bosie What do you want? That he wakes up tomorrow in some foreign country? And the real possibility he will never get back?

  Both of them have begun to raise their voices. Wilde smiles, calm.

  Wilde Please, the two of you, I must impose myself.

  Robbie, what time is it?

  Ross It is just past two-thirty.

  Wilde And, tell me, what time is the train?

  Ross hesitates a second.

  Tell me the time the actual train leaves.

  Ross The train leaves at four.

  Wilde Ah, well then …

  Ross It connects with the boat.

  Wilde The Cadogan to Victoria, let us be realistic. In the name of our common humanity, let us get our priorities straight. Let us pause, let us make the seminal decision: it seems that I still have time for my lunch.

  Satisfied, he turns to Moffatt. Ross shifts, furious.

  Moffatt Sir.

  Wilde Be fair to me, Robbie. I face a long journey. I dread mal de mer. I shall need to travel with some ballast inside.

  He turns again to Moffatt.

  Mr Moffatt, I need something suitable. Perhaps a small lobster. Seafood, certainly. A l’Americaine. With some kind of rice.

  Moffatt Chef does a rice which is perfumed.

  Wilde Or a timbale. Exquisite. Perfect for crossing the Channel.

  He turns to Bosie.

  Bosie, be quick now. What would you like?

  Bosie Nothing. I couldn’t. When even now my father is gloating, standing like some mad animal on the steps of the court, screaming that if ever I am seen in your company, then he will have you shot like a dog.

  Wilde smiles absently at him and turns back to Moffatt.

  Wilde And langoustines I suppose are quite simply unavailable?

  Moffatt My regrets. But the season.

  Wilde Don’t worry. I quite understand.

  Ross is still tense.

  Ross Very well. It is your decision. I would only remind you the press now know where you are.

  Wilde That is clear.

  Ross If you stay in this room, I do have to warn you, at any moment the police may appear.

  Wilde That will give my lunch an added spice of excitement.

  He turns back to Moffatt who is about to leave. Phoebe has returned with towels.

  Oh Mr Moffatt, I wonder, with lobster do I really want rice?

  Ross Oscar …

  Moffatt We offer excellent dauphinoise potatoes.

  Wilde Do you recall if I have eaten those before?

  Moffatt Yes, sir.

  Wilde And were they not heavy? Are they not more suitably a dinnertime dish?

  Ross All right, eat all you like. Just as long as you are quick. But there are things I must tell you. I have to remind you I have been to your house.

  The atmosphere is changed at once. Wilde looks thoughtfully at Ross. Moffatt, alert to the mood, bows tactfully.

  Moffatt We shall go, sir. I shall bring you both dishes. The rice and the potatoes. Then you can choose.

  Wilde Excellent, Mr Moffatt. And thank you, Arthur, as well.

  Arthur Not at all, sir.

  Wilde Phoebe. Is it Phoebe?

  Phoebe It is.

  The three find themselves lined up opposite him for an oddly formal moment.

  Wilde Throughout this time of trial I’ve had
excellent service. Whenever I’ve visited, I have been made to feel welcome. It’s something which means a great deal to me. No, truly. Thank you. I’m moved by it.

  Moffatt Our pleasure, sir.

  Wilde is once more on the edge of tears.

  Wilde Robbie, a cue for more money.

  Ross Oscar, that is not what this money is for!

  Wilde You know I can’t abide meanness.

  Ross Very well. I shall give them some of my own.

  Wilde This is in character. Robbie is a true Christian.

  Ross Here.

  He reaches into his pocket for coins.

  Moffatt, Phoebe and Arthur Thank you. Thank you very much, sir. Greatly appreciated.

  Ross Now I’m sorry, but we really do need to be on our own.

  Moffatt, Phoebe and Arthur go out. Wilde has gone across to put a glass in Bosie’s hand.

  Wilde Will you have some wine with me, Bosie? Here. Please. Stay close to me, Bosie. I need you. You and I still have a long way to go.

  Wilde kisses him on the cheek. There is a silence. Then Wilde moves away.

  Ross I have to report to you. I have seen Constance.

  Wilde You saw her?

  Ross Yes.

  Wilde And what did she say? Tell me, how were the children?

  Ross I did not see them. But she assured me the children were well.

  Wilde Go on.

  Ross She is in the most terrible turmoil. There is only one way to relieve it. She asked me to beg you: she implores you to flee.

  There is a moment’s silence. Bosie watches from the side.

  Look …

  Wilde You say you caught no sight of the children?

  Ross No. My impression was they were playing in the nursery.

  Wilde I see. And do they … do they yet have any knowledge of what has happened?

  Ross Constance says they know nothing at all.

  He waits a moment.

  For their sake, she says, you must choose exile. If you stay and battle it out at a trial, the prospect of what will be said, what will be repeated in London … well, their lives will not be worth living. She is sending them abroad.

  Wilde looks up.

  Tomorrow.

  Wilde She is sending the children?

  There is a silence. For the first time Wilde seems deeply hurt.

  I see.

  Ross Flight is imperative for the whole family. She was relieved when I gave her your news.

  Wilde My news?

  Ross Yes.

  Wilde You said I had already decided?

  Ross I described our meeting last night.

  Wilde Did you say who was there?

  Ross To be truthful, I mentioned the others. But I did not mention Lord Alfred. Understand, I did not think it was fair.

  He pauses a second, tactful.

  You must realise …

  Wilde Oh, I do …

  Ross She has conceived a most passionate resentment. To say at this point that … that you still meet with Bosie, that you take account of his views …

  Bosie interrupts, furious:

  Bosie Oh really, I cannot endure this!

  Ross Why not?

  Bosie This whole thing makes no sense at all!

  Ross Why?

  Bosie Because we did not decide! We have not decided! My recollection is quite firm on this point. Exile was only one choice among many.

  He looks to Wilde, who looks into his glass and takes another draught.

  This is what we must all decide upon now.

  Ross Oh Bosie, now really …

  Bosie I mean it. I thought that is what this meeting is for.

  Ross Look at the reality! Outside a cab will be waiting. It’s waiting! I ordered it.

  Bosie So?

  Ross It will take him to the station. He can do no other. This is the last boat tonight! Oscar?

  Wilde reaches again for the wine.

  Wilde Do not distress yourself. The hour is fixed in my memory. I know exactly how soon I must go.

  And Bosie is already continuing.

  Bosie Oscar cannot leave until he hears from my cousin.

  Ross Oh really!

  Bosie He will come here by three at the latest, he said. He will bring us firm news from Asquith.

  He turns angrily to Ross.

  Why are you always so scornful?

  Ross Because we all know it is going to be simply too late!

  Bosie George Wyndham is a man of considerable influence. He is a Member of Parliament. It is madness for Oscar to run headlong from the country until we know beyond any question that a prosecution cannot be stopped.

  Ross It cannot be stopped!

  Bosie smiles, confident.

  Bosie You know nothing. Robbie, forgive me, but the thinking of better-class people is hardly what one might call a strong point of yours. George is a friend of the Prime Minister.

  Ross So?

  Bosie Robbie, please trust me. I understand these things rather better than you. My name is good for something, I hope. There is not much point in being born with the name of Queensberry unless there are moments when it can be used.

  Wilde is quietly amused.

  Wilde I wish I shared your faith in the English. Nation to them is just as important as class. They have united at last in hatred of the foreigner. Yes, because I am Irish.

  Bosie That’s absurd.

  Wilde Is it? Yesterday I looked across the courtroom. It shocked me. I tell you their excitement was more than merely professional. Yes? Did you see that?

  Ross nods.

  This was a court which ached for a kill.

  Ross Yes.

  Wilde The whole nation is ready. I have been tolerated for too long a time. No one has rights in this country. One is granted only a temporary licence. And here comes the moment when mine is withdrawn.

  But he is already bored with his own theory and has got up to examine the open case on the bed. He takes out some books.

  What is this? Did you pack these for me?

  Ross Certainly.

  Wilde The Thoughts of St Ignatius. Robbie …

  He looks at him reproachfully.

  My God. What is this? This only gets worse. Dickens! Robbie, do you not know me?

  Ross I was rushed.

  Wilde You think I should gorge myself on sentimental morality?

  Ross Very well then, tell me, what would you prefer?

  Wilde Why, tales of suffering and murder. Injustice. The spilling of blood. Let my reading be only of ravaging, destruction and rape. That is what I want. Nothing else. And for these things the only book worth considering is the Bible. The essential companion to exile. I shall read it continually.

  Ross I shall get you a Bible.

  But Bosie is quietly furious.

  Bosie Oh Oscar, please, you do not convince.

  Wilde Not convince?

  Bosie You’re affecting indifference …

  Wilde Affecting it?

  Bosie You are standing there talking about the books you will take.

  Wilde A critical discussion of literature seems to me at all times worth having.

  Bosie Oh yes? I am not for one second fooled!

  Wilde No?

  Bosie Face it: if you flee, it’s like admitting you’re guilty …

  Wilde Oh yes …

  Bosie It’s an open confession of guilt. You hand your enemies their victory. What’s worse, my father gets everything he wants.

  Wilde I fear so.

  Bosie What, and that does not disturb you? The thought of it? The shame? Being taken for a coward?

  Wilde interrupts, smiling.

  Wilde Bosie, you say I’m acting indifference. I promise you, I have no need to simulate. My indifference is real.

  Bosie Oscar, please.

  Wilde Why? If I flee, as you say, it’s disastrous. But if I stay, my prospects are also not good. So why make a choice? What are you asking exactly? Why at this moment do anything at all?

  He
sits back, confident.

  I have always had a low opinion of what is called action. Action is something my mother brought me up to distrust. Why make a decision which does not yet need to be made? What’s more, think of this: I am where I wish to be. Consider. I find myself here with you in this room. Yes. With this wine. Where I have been happiest. These past five weeks. The three of us, planning our hopeless campaign.

  He smiles affectionately at Bosie. Both Ross and Bosie are silenced.

  Outside this room, I will find only suffering. The world is charged. It is poised. My destiny will all too quickly unfold. But while we are here – perhaps you think this short-sighted, but you cannot deny it – the fact is that things are not really too bad.

  This is no sooner out than Arthur has knocked on the door, wheeling in a trolley.

  Arthur Excuse me …

  Wilde Ah food, yes, delicious.

  Bosie I’m sorry …

  Wilde Ah yes, please enter …

  Bosie Oh Oscar, you’re not really planning to eat?

  Wilde Yes, I am.

  Bosie You are a goose. I mean, why? At this moment?

  Wilde Yes, Arthur, please do set the table down there.

  Wilde has faltered getting up. He has almost finished the bottle.

  Whoops …

  Ross Oh God, Oscar, you’re stumbling …

  Wilde No, no. I need a steadying drink. Dear Arthur, some more wine when you’re ready …

  Arthur Yes, sir.

  Arthur has pulled out a folding table and is laying it with a white tablecloth.

  I’m afraid to have to tell you, sir, there’s now quite a crowd in the street.

  Wilde A crowd?

  Arthur Yes. They look like a lynch mob.

  Wilde Indeed?

  Arthur They’re baying for blood.

  Wilde That is quite a coincidence. It has also been wildly exciting in here. The temperature’s rising. We live in a veritable cauldron of fear. More wine! And shall we nail up the entrance?

  He looks round rather grandly.

  This all confirms me in my decision to stay in this room.

  Ross shifts, uneasy.

  Ross Oscar …

  Wilde Robbie, please, desist for a second. Allow me this gap. This equipoise. Let me have that. I have perhaps half an hour. Allow me this one sweet moment of peace.

  Moffatt appears now at the door.

  Moffatt Excuse me, sir. A Mr George Wyndham …

  Bosie Ah George …

  Moffatt He asks if he may be allowed to come in.

  Bosie Tell him yes.

  Wilde If you don’t mind, Bosie, I would prefer it if you saw him outside. No, really.

  Bosie Why?