David Hare Plays 2

by David Hare

  He stands, nodding again.

  It was a factor. Will you have a cigarette?

  Barbara No. No thanks.

  He stands a moment, holding the pack out.

  Chesneau Hey, I was right. Terrific. CIA! Intelligence, huh?

  20. INT. APARTMENT. NIGHT

  The bed seen from the living room. They are lying together, still. He has his back against the pillows, she is stretched out across him. Her face is on his chest. A single sheet covers the rest of them. We move in as they talk very quietly.

  Barbara And are you there?

  Chesneau No, it’s done without me.

  Barbara What, they’re …

  Chesneau They’re beaten, then put back in their cells. Today I went crazy, my best prisoner had been beaten to hell. His shirt fell open, he had scars … welts, right across here … (He gestures across his own chest.)

  Barbara It’s wrong.

  Chesneau Yeah. But it’s also just stupid. He’s an important enemy source.

  There is a pause.

  For ten days I’ve been sitting there. Patiently. A small wooden table. Just leading him on. I get in today, someone’s got restless, no point in waiting for Chesneau any more … It’s stupid. The agents you capture, they’re your life-blood. You don’t go and hit them in the mouth. Hit people in the mouth, they just go stubborn, or they just tell you what you most want to hear. (He shakes his head.) Get the facts first, get things sorted, be sure you’ve really got hold of the facts. Then later … hell, throw him out of a helicopter. But afterwards.

  Barbara Does that happen?

  He turns and looks at her.

  Chesneau (quietly) Of course.

  21. INT. BATHROOM. NIGHT

  Later. Barbara is sitting on a small wooden stool, her back against the wall, with her feet out in front of her on a chair. She is in her dressing-gown. Chesneau’s face is below her; he is stretched out in the bath smoking a Marlboro. The only other sound is the occasional ripple of the water.

  Barbara The men at the bank, oh, they’re quite easygoing. We’ve all been here for so long. The Scots are always bankers. Or else engineers. (She smiles.) The funniest is … do you know the British Council?

  Chesneau No.

  Barbara You don’t know, but they still have a library here. To encourage the spread of English culture. Good idea, yes? Here in Saigon?

  They smile.

  I went there. There’s now just one girl running it. She’s Vietnamese. She sits at a desk. I went up to her. She doesn’t speak English.

  They look at each other. They laugh.

  Chesneau Oh yes. Well, sure.

  22. INT. APARTMENT. DAWN

  Light beginning to hit the blinds. Barbara sitting on the sofa, with Chesneau’s head on her lap, curled up like a child pressed against her breasts. The room held.

  23. INT. BANK. DAY

  Morning. Barbara in close-up standing waiting at Haliwell’s office door as Haliwell arrives for work. A well-defined routine. She is smiling slightly as he goes past her.

  Haliwell Good morning, Barbara. How are you?

  Barbara Fine, Mr Haliwell. Thanks.

  She starts to unload the pile of ledgers from her arms. He picks up The Times from his side of the desk and casually throws it to her.

  Haliwell Look at this. Strikes. Industrial chaos. The whole country seems to be going to hell.

  She unfolds it with one hand, less than curious.

  Barbara Good Lord.

  Haliwell I mean, it’s national insanity. The unions seem to want to run the whole show. I must say, though, one can count one’s blessings. (He is hanging up his coat and now turns, smiling.) We can all be grateful we’re living out here.

  24. EXT. OCKHAM’S HOUSE. DAY

  The lawn behind Ockham’s detached clapboard house. The whole scene gleaming in the sun. There is a party for about fifty people, a mixture of races, all casually dressed. Children are jumping into the portable pool which is next to the house. At the centre a tall, intense man in his early fifties, with sunglasses. He is wearing a shirt and slacks, greeting guests as they arrive. He is Jack Ockham.

  Ockham Hi … how are you? Nice to see you.

  Chesneau appears, Barbara a pace behind.

  Bob, how are you?

  Chesneau This is Barbara Dean. Jack Ockham.

  Ockham smiles slightly and takes her hand.

  Ockham I’m very glad you could make it.

  Chesneau Barbara works in the bank.

  Ockham Good.

  He nods slightly. Chesneau unsure of how to introduce her.

  Well, Merry Christmas.

  Barbara Thank you. And Merry Christmas to you.

  Behind them servants are carrying three huge steaming-hot turkeys to the white tables which are laid out on the lawn. Ockham passes on to greet the next guests, a short Vietnamese General and his taller Wife. They are heard in the background as we follow Barbara and Chesneau, walking into the mass of the party.

  Are we a couple?

  Chesneau What?

  Barbara In public?

  Chesneau I don’t know. Do you know?

  Barbara No.

  They both smile.

  I enjoy the uncertainty.

  Chesneau Yes. Let’s not be. For the moment let’s stay good friends.

  25. EXT. LAWN. DAY

  Later. A burst of noise and laughter from a table just behind our group who are Chesneau, Barbara, Fiedler, Judd and Ockham who sits slightly apart. Fiedler has a paper hat. There are streamers and the debris of a good meal. The atmosphere is easy and slightly drunk.

  Ockham Bob’s never understood the aid allocation. You’ve never understood it.

  Chesneau No, well, that’s true.

  Fiedler explains, for Barbara’s benefit.

  Fiedler We want Congress to vote three hundred million dollars to prove they support Thieu’s regime.

  Ockham Yeah.

  Fiedler Now in fact … three hundred million, well it’s not nearly enough, with the economy as bad as it is. We need more than that. But at least it would be symbolic – a symbol of the American intention to help.

  Barbara looks across at Chesneau. He looks down at his hands.

  Now back home there’s a lot of opposition …

  Ockham Left-wing elements …

  Fiedler Liberals, yeah. People who never liked the war in the first place, who are now saying we should just get out, go home, forget about it. Abandon our friends. (He shrugs slightly, as if suppressing the strong feeling he has.) Well, I don’t think that’s a viable option. I don’t think that’s what Americans should do.

  Barbara frowns slightly.

  Barbara But isn’t the problem … (She pauses.)

  Chesneau What?

  Barbara No, I shouldn’t say.

  There is a pause. Fiedler is looking at Chesneau.

  Chesneau Go on.

  Barbara No, I really … I don’t know much about it. (She smiles and looks away.)

  Ockham (with characteristic quiet) Barbara, you must say what you think.

  She turns and looks at them.

  Barbara I would have thought the problem you have here is the money will go to a particular regime. A regime whose reputation is for corruption. And there are political prisoners as well …

  Fiedler easy at the familiarity of this charge.

  Fiedler Oh well, sure, but …

  Barbara Please, I’m not saying … for all I know Thieu is the best man. It’s just that if he goes … you will go with him. You may be sitting on a branch that’s withered. That’s all.

  A pause. Chesneau is looking at her.

  Fiedler Well, I don’t think …

  Barbara It’s …

  Fiedler There’s no sign of that. The regime is hardly threatened from within.

  Barbara No?

  He is staring at her, frowning.

  Fiedler Barbara, there’s only one enemy. That’s the enemy that’s waiting out there.

  26. EXT. LAWN. NIGH
T

  At once, the whole scene seen from the bushes, far away and at night. There is now a barbecue around which people are gathered and others are jumping into the darkened pool. Raised voices and laughter. It is eerie. The shot held.

  27. EXT. HOUSE. NIGHT

  Barbara and Chesneau left sitting alone on the now deserted lawn, as the party continues indoors. Distant whooping around a lit tree indoors.

  Chesneau I decided … while you were talking, watching you arguing it out … I thought tomorrow I’m going to go in there. It’s time I told everyone what I really think.

  Barbara is watching him closely.

  We’re so obsessed with this aid allocation that we pretend that things are much worse than they are. We think that only by exaggerating are we going to get all the money we need. (He shakes his head.) All the time we’re saying, it’s coming, it’s coming, quick, give us money, give us aid. But that battle back there in Washington has become more real to us than anything here.

  There is a particularly loud whoop from the house, as of a violent party game.

  Barbara I must say, from the way they’re behaving … it doesn’t look as if they really think it’s the end.

  Chesneau No, of course not. Charades. (He pauses, then moves his glass away.) But meanwhile the facts get pushed out the way.

  28. INT. APARTMENT. NIGHT

  The apartment still at night. Barbara in bed. The sound of a very distant explosion, a rumble in the night. Chesneau is seen to be standing at the window, with a towel wrapped round his middle.

  Barbara What is it?

  Chesneau Oh it’s the gas dump. It’s always the gas dump when it’s that close. (He holds the blind apart, staring out absently.) They pretend. They send up rockets. But really the job is done from the inside.

  Barbara What d’you mean?

  Chesneau Well, they always put up the firecrackers … (He smiles and makes an arc with his arm.) Great lights in the night. So you think it’s being bombed. But in fact there’s always an employee working for the VC on the inside, all he’s done is slip a detonator in.

  He turns and looks at her. The noise has died.

  All the rest is show. They like to do it. I don’t know why.

  Barbara Perhaps because subversion’s too easy.

  He looks across at her.

  Chesneau Something like that.

  29. INT. APARTMENT. NIGHT

  Barbara in her white dressing-gown sitting directly across from Chesneau at a small table. He is still in his towel. They are sipping tea from small Chinese cups, in the middle of the night.

  Chesneau Can you give me an idea of England?

  Barbara Well … (She smiles.) The place is very wet. Which makes its greenness almost iridescent. It is almost indecently green.

  They smile.

  The people are – odd. They’re cruel to each other. Mostly in silent … in unexpected ways. It’s an emotional cruelty. You feel watched, disapproved of all the time.

  Chesneau That’s why you got away?

  Barbara There’s a terrible pressure, all these little hedgerows squeezing you in, tight little lines of upright houses. Everyone spying on everyone else. (She looks over at him and smiles.) I’m not even … an unconventional woman. I need only that amount of air. But I can’t get it in England.

  There’s a pause. Chesneau is looking at her.

  I know what you’re thinking. Will I ever go back?

  30. INT. BANK. DAY

  The hustle of the bank at lunchtime. Shafts of sunlight falling as in a cathedral across the back area, while at the front it is very busy before lunch. Barbara is at her desk, staring hopelessly at a sheaf of papers. Quoc comes over to wait for her verdict.

  Barbara Quoc, I’m afraid this isn’t possible. Really there’s no question of this. (She looks up at him regretfully.) It’s pointless investing money in transport now the Vietcong are blowing up roads.

  Quoc Shall I say this to him?

  Barbara Yes. If you want to. I mean … yes. It’s impossible. How can I possibly defend an investment when we’re approaching the worst time of year? I mean of course, yes, when the rains come, I’ll consider it again. But until the rains … there is uncertainty. Can you tell him?

  Quoc Yes. As you say.

  Henderson has appeared at the desk, hovering. His shirt is cleaner, his beard trimmer than ever. Quoc is putting more papers on Barbara’s desk.

  That. Just a signature.

  Barbara Hello, Donald.

  Henderson I wonder, could I have a word?

  Barbara Yes of course. What can I do for you?

  Quoc (discreetly) And another signature there.

  Henderson waits for Quoc to finish. Barbara speaks meanwhile.

  Barbara Tell Mr Haliwell about these decisions. If you want my judgement checked against his …

  Quoc No, it isn’t necessary.

  He takes the papers and goes. Barbara sighs.

  Barbara Oh Lord, do you think it’s a personal friend?

  Henderson shrugs slightly.

  Henderson My point is this. I need to ask you … (He pauses, uncomfortable.) Do you think I’ll ever be promoted in here?

  Barbara What are you saying? (She looks at him, levelly.) You mean you’re leaving?

  Henderson Yes, well, possibly. I’m not really sure. (He looks down, embarrassed.) I mean, there’s you and above you there’s Haliwell. Neither of you seem as if you’re likely to retire. So the fact is … I got round to thinking … well, I’ve been offered a job in Hong Kong.

  Barbara Good. You must take it.

  Henderson Yes. I would like to. That’s right.

  They stare at each other.

  Barbara Well, that’s nice. We’ll arrange a party.

  He looks at her, then suddenly bursts, like an overflowing sink.

  Henderson You know, I am most terribly in love.

  She looks panic-stricken round the bank.

  Barbara Yes, well, I think this is …

  Henderson Honestly.

  Barbara Hardly the moment …

  Henderson Just the thought I might not see you again …

  Barbara turns relieved to Quoc who has returned with more papers.

  Barbara Yes?

  Henderson suddenly shouts at the top of his voice.

  Henderson Oh God, Quoc, will you never ever leave us? Can’t we have one moment on our own?

  There is a pause. All over the bank people stop work and look up. Quoc is shocked, but looks impassively at Henderson.

  Quoc I’m sorry.

  Barbara No … You must stay here. Mr Henderson is just a little upset. (She looks up at Henderson, quietly furious.)

  Henderson Yes. God, I’m sorry.

  Barbara He doesn’t mean it. He had no intention of being so rude.

  Henderson shakes his head weakly.

  Henderson Really, I’m sorry, it’s unforgivable …

  Quoc looks at them, nods.

  Quoc In a few moments, I shall return.

  31. INT. BANK. EVENING

  The bank, dark now. Among the empty desks Henderson sits with his head in his hands. Barbara is leaning against a desk nearby. Beyond them in the distance a young Vietnamese girl with a long pole closes the shutters on the high windows.

  Henderson Oh my God, Barbara, I can tell you despise me.

  Barbara Have I said anything?

  Henderson No. Not at all. It’s just … your general demeanour. You behave as if I’m doing something wrong.

  Barbara looks down at him, as if a little surprised.

  I do have to tell you, I’ve been going crazy …

  Barbara Well, in that case it’s best that you leave. Hong Kong is a good place to forget me. (She smiles slightly, amused at the ludicrousness of the remark.) So you’ll be much happier there. (She is looking at the floor.)

  Henderson I would like … I feel you disapprove of me.

  She does not answer.

  You feel I’m cowardly, that’s right?

&
nbsp; Barbara smiles, this time bitterly, at the inadequacy of what she will say.

  Barbara I think that we … who were not born here … should make sure we go with dignity.

  There is a pause.

  That’s all.

  32. INT. BANK. DAY

  Morning. The bank is busy again. Tellers moving back and forth. In the middle of the back area, Henderson, turned away from us, is clearing out his desk, like an expelled pupil, as the commerce of the bank goes on.

  Barbara (voice over) Donald did leave with comparative dignity. (She watches him, from behind her desk.) Compared with some of the rest of us, I mean.

  She turns. Her eye catches camera.

  Part Two

  33. INT. CAR. DAY

  Fade-up inside the car. Chesneau’s face as he drives through early-morning Saigon. There is a cigarette hanging from his mouth. The cool morning goes by outside. The image holds. Then after a few seconds …

  Barbara (voice over) I used to see Bob whenever it was possible. When we could we met, discreetly, in my room. As time went by it became much harder…

  34. EXT. EMBASSY. DAY

  The great white bulk of the American Embassy in Saigon, cut out against the morning sky. Palm trees and lawns in front of the huge square building. The gates open, the barrier goes up, Chesneau’s Pinto goes through, with a greeting from the guard.

  Barbara (voice over) He could only manage an occasional hour. Anyone who worked in that great white building seemed to vanish inside for the day …

  35. INT. EMBASSY LOBBY. DAY

  Chesneau crosses the guarded lobby of the Embassy, carrying a briefcase. He makes for the elevator, showing his pass as he goes.

  Barbara (voice over) It was a city inside a city. Always, it seemed, with a life of its own.

  The elevator doors close.

  36. INT. CORRIDOR. DAY