Incognito
Page 7
Henry We haven’t met before have we?
Martha We’ve not, no.
Henry I wasn’t sure. I have trouble remembering things, you see.
Martha I see.
Henry I’m waiting for an operation. Once that’s all done and dusted, Margaret and I will be able to take our honeymoon.
Martha Do you know where?
Henry Brighton. Margaret wants to visit the West Pier. She wants to see the starlings. The formations. I don’t suppose I might be able to trouble you for a cigarette?
Martha Is that allowed?
Henry I think so.
Martha lights a cigarette for Henry; lights a cigarette for herself.
(Beat.) Hello. Martha?
Jon He’s, um. Henry, I’d like to introduce you to someone: this is Martha.
Henry Hello Martha.
Martha Hello Henry.
Henry I’m waiting for Margaret.
Martha Yes.
Henry Margaret and I are newlyweds.
Martha Congratulations.
Henry Thank you. We’re going to London.
Martha Yes.
Henry We haven’t met before have we?
Martha Um, we have. Actually we have.
Henry I’m sorry. I have trouble remembering things, you see.
Martha Yes.
Henry I’m waiting for an operation. Once that’s all done and dusted, Margaret and I will be able to take our honeymoon.
Martha Do you know where?
Henry Brighton. Margaret wants to visit the West Pier. She wants to see the starlings. The formations.
Martha Henry, um. There’s something I wanted to speak to you about, if that’s alright.
Henry Please.
Martha Okay.
Beat. Martha can’t quite manage to say it, to explain why she’s here to see Henry. She grows upset.
Henry Hello.
Martha (beginning to pull herself together, as it were) Hello Henry.
Henry Here –
He offers Martha his handkerchief.
Martha Thank you, Henry.
Henry We haven’t met before have we?
Martha We have. But don’t worry.
Henry I have trouble remembering things, you see.
Martha Don’t worry. Henry?
Henry Yes.
Martha Jon tells me you’re a bit of a pianist?
Henry I don’t know.
Martha My son’s a musician. I’d love to hear you play. If you didn’t mind.
Henry Alright.
He moves to the piano and takes a seat. Beat.
What do you want me to play?
Martha I don’t mind. Whatever you want.
Beat. Henry plays the melody taught to him by Margaret. He plays with great confidence and fluidity; it’s fucking brilliant.
About the Author
Nick Payne’s If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet was staged at the Bush Theatre in 2009 and went on to receive that year’s George Devine Award. His next play, Wanderlust, opened at the Royal Court in 2010. One Day When We Were Young, in a Paines Plough and Sheffield Theatres co-production, was staged at the Crucible Studio Theatre, Sheffield, in 2011, and later transferred to Shoreditch Town Hall. Constellations, which opened at the Royal Court in 2012 and transferred to the Duke of York’s Theatre, won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Play. The Same Deep Water As Me was staged at the Donmar Warehouse in 2013 and received an Olivier Award nomination for Best New Comedy.
By the Same Author
also by Nick Payne from Faber
IF THERE IS I HAVEN’T FOUND IT YET
WANDERLUST
ONE DAY WHEN WE WERE YOUNG
CONSTELLATIONS
THE SAME DEEP WATER AS ME
Copyright
First published in 2014
by Faber and Faber Ltd
Bloomsbury House
74–77 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DA
This ebook edition first published in 2014
All rights reserved
© Nick Payne, 2014
The right of Nick Payne to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
All rights whatsoever in this work are strictly reserved. Applications for permission for any use whatsoever, including performance rights, must be made in advance, prior to any such proposed use, to Curtis Brown Group Ltd, 5th Floor, Haymarket House, 28–29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4SP. No performance may be given unless a licence has first been obtained
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly
ISBN 978–0–571–31708–0
nabokov
Live Theatre
HighTide Festival Theatre
in association with The North Wall
present the world premiere of
INCOGNITO
by Nick Payne
Incognito had its world premiere
on 12 April 2014 at the HighTide Festival, Suffolk,
with original cast Paul Hickey, Amelia Lowdell,
Alison O’Donnell and Sargon Yelda.
Incognito was originally commissioned
by Live Theatre and nabokov.
This production was supported by Arts Council England.