Bang Bang Bang

by Stella Feehily

STEPHEN gets up and gets a glass of water. He drinks a little.

  He takes off his jacket and opens the top buttons on his shirt.

  He runs his hand across the back of his neck – the heat starting to get to him.

  SADHBH. What’s your start date?

  STEPHEN. Six weeks’ time.

  SADHBH gets up and moves away. She experiences a wave of nausea.

  She gets a glass of water.

  Dicky tummy still?

  SADHBH. I need to eat – but I can’t face food.

  SADHBH breaks down and cries.

  STEPHEN. Hey.

  He moves to SADHBH and puts his arms around her.

  Darling – you’re just tired.

  He holds her tightly.

  I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.

  Pressure, pressure, eh?

  SADHBH. Obviously I wouldn’t be able to come for the first month –

  I could probably get a leave of absence for the rest of the time. Of course I could.

  STEPHEN. I could live with that.

  SADHBH. Are you absolutely serious?

  Yes.

  STEPHEN. Why was that easier than I / thought it would be?

  He puts his arms around her.

  SADHBH. Just shut up.

  Oh, you smelt so sweet when you arrived.

  STEPHEN. I smell of vomit?

  SADHBH. Maybe – a little splash.

  INNOCENT enters with tea. He stops for a moment, not knowing whether to turn and leave the room or deliver the tea.

  STEPHEN. Come in, Innocent.

  INNOCENT. Of course, Papa.

  INNOCENT puts the tea things in front of SADHBH.

  Désirez-vous du thé, Papa?

  STEPHEN. Plus tard, peut-être, Innocent. Thank you.

  (To SADHBH) I need to freshen up. Two minutes.

  He leaves the room.

  INNOCENT. Madame?

  SADHBH. Thank you, Innocent.

  INNOCENT. Madame est fatiguée. Madame doit aller se coucher.

  SADHBH. Thank you. C’est une bonne idée.

  INNOCENT. C’est la chaleur. Il fait très lourd. En tout cas – it will rain tonight.

  INNOCENT pours SADHBH some tea. INNOCENT hands her the cup. He starts to tidy up.

  Please, madame.

  SADHBH sips some tea and lies back on the sofa. INNOCENT cleans.

  Three

  That night. Same space.

  MATHILDE enters. SADHBH is resting.

  MATHILDE. You’re in the dark too.

  SADHBH. Power cut.

  I can give you some candles to take to your room.

  SADHBH lights a lamp.

  MATHILDE. I’m wondering if –

  SADBH. Yeah?

  MATHILDE. Someone can? A friend –

  SADHBH. The guy you were giving mouth-to-mouth last night?

  MATHILDE. It’s my fault Vin missed his trip.

  SADHBH. You tied him up? Forced him to drink a bottle of whiskey?

  MATHILDE. Ah, okay. And we’re going to Masisi and he needs to go –

  SADHBH. Tell him to meet here at 7:45 tomorrow morning. Janvier is arriving at 8.

  MATHILDE. Oh, thank you.

  SADHBH. Are you still hanging?

  MATHILDE. What is ‘hanging’?

  SADHBH. Do you still feel shite?

  MATHILDE. Very, very shite. Yes.

  You?

  SADHBH. Sick as a dog.

  Terrible nausea. All day.

  MATHILDE. Poor you.

  And Stephen? He caught his flight.

  SADHBH. Yeah. He’s gone.

  MATHILDE. Ah – I’m sorry for that.

  SADHBH shrugs.

  SADHBH. This is not a good job for relationships.

  MATHILDE. I have noticed in our programme – no one has kids. Most women are single.

  SADHBH. Not everyone wants ‘la vie bourgeoise’!

  MATHILDE. But – for me –

  Take Bibi –

  SADHBH. What about Bibi?

  MATHILDE. I don’t want to be like her.

  No home, no children and now she’s ill and old.

  SADHBH. She’s thirty-seven.

  MATHILDE looks at her uncomprehendingly.

  MATHILDE. Pourquoi tu est triste?

  SADHBH. Because I am.

  MATHILDE. I think it’s wonderful you go to China together. An adventure, ah?

  SADHBH. Yeah – to Beijing – that well-known haven for human rights activists.

  MATHILDE does not know what to say for a moment.

  SADHBH fans herself with her hat. She groans.

  MATHILDE. You are unwell a lot.

  SADHBH. I’m not unwell. I’m pregnant.

  MATHILDE. What?

  SADHBH. Yeah.

  MATHILDE. How do you know?

  SADHBH. I’ve missed a period. My boobs are sore, I’m perpetually queasy. And I just did a test with Romy.

  MATHILDE. Oh my God – but that’s so –

  Congratulations. Oh, beautiful.

  SADHBH says nothing – but she allows herself a smile.

  So… You did not know this at the party?

  SADHBH. I had an idea. Romy confirmed it.

  MATHILDE. Because you had a lot of – the stuff that numbs the brain –

  SADHBH. Don’t. I know.

  MATHILDE. Is Stephen happy?

  SADHBH. Too many questions, Mathilde.

  MATHILDE. Sorry but –

  SADHBH. I’m just six weeks gone. It feels more like indigestion than a baby.

  MATHILDE. You didn’t tell him?

  SADHBH. He’d have made me go back with him.

  I didn’t want that. We have a job to do here.

  MATHILDE. It’s not very hygienic – where we go.

  And there is cholera in Lushabere.

  Perhaps it is better if you go –

  SADHBH. Mathilde! There is no one but us to finish this investigation.

  If we work our asses off and interview ten people a day we’ll be home in a month.

  MATHILDE. I’m happy for that.

  SADHBH. But we go when we’ve got enough to put the frighteners on Mburame and not before.

  MATHILDE. But you can’t ignore –

  SADHBH. Did you want something else?

  MATHILDE. No.

  SADHBH. Go on. Spend time with –

  MATHILDE. Vin. He is asleep now.

  He threw up all night.

  But we’ve had sex – so I’m happy…

  SADHBH. Good. Good for you.

  MATHILDE. It’s just been good to get a break – from the guilt.

  SADHBH. Go. Wake him up. Enjoy it.

  From now on you’ll never escape the feeling you’ve failed someone.

  And you will have.

  SADHBH throws her arm over MATHILDE’s shoulder.

  MATHILDE leans into SADHBH.

  Sounds of the city. After some moments the atmospheric sounds segue into the sounds from the compound.

  Four

  The compound.

  A cow lows loudly. VIN is taking photographs. MATHILDE is wearing a bikini top and cut-off shorts.

  MATHILDE. Hey, boy from Tring! You can’t just leave me alone in bed. What is that?

  VIN. It’s commonly known as a cow.

  MATHILDE. Of course I know this.

  But why is? Where does it come from?

  VIN. Democratic Republic of Congo?

  MATHILDE. Vin!

  VIN. It’s a gift – for Madame ‘Kavanagh’.

  From Colonel Mburame.

  A great compliment apparently.

  MATHILDE. No. This can’t be true.

  VIN. I think you’ll find it is true.

  The cow lows.

  Two scary blokes delivered it this morning.

  MATHILDE. Merde. Une vache.

  And I smell its shit.

  Regarde – there is cow poop everywhere.

  SADHBH enters.

  Disgusting.

  SADHBH. I think Mburame
is trying to make me feel at home.

  VIN. Sadhbh and Mburame up a / tree. K-I-S-S-I –

  SADHBH. Exactly how old / are you, Vin?

  MATHILDE. That is terrible. You / can’t accept it.

  It must go back.

  SADHBH. Strap her on the back of a motorcycle?

  Squeeze her / into the Jeep?

  MATHILDE. Why are you smiling?

  Mburame has given you a – cow.

  Does he think he can bribe you?

  SADHBH. Do I look like a woman who can be / bribed with a cow?

  The cow lows.

  SADHBH laughs.

  MATHILDE. Stop laughing. For me – this is terrible.

  He is a monster. /

  You have blood on your hands.

  SADHBH. Steady now. Steady.

  It’s very easy to categorise such people as evil. Mburame is an evil man who does evil things therefore he is less human. If faced with the things he’s faced, / let’s hope we would not become killers.

  MATHILDE. I can’t believe you can say this after Amala and all the women and –

  SADHBH. Just for a moment think like a grown-up.

  The cow lows.

  MATHILDE. What?

  VIN. I am so doing cow jokes all day.

  Sacré vache! Classic.

  La vache qui rit.

  He takes a photograph.

  SADHBH. Don’t.

  If I ever see a picture of me and that / cow in any publication –

  VIN. Don’t have a cow.

  SADHBH. Mathilde.

  You’re right to think it’s sinister.

  Radio trottoir will ensure everyone knows about Mburame’s gift of ‘friendship’.

  But while we are so cut off here – it’s a bad idea to spurn him.

  MATHILDE is visibly annoyed.

  MATHILDE. But of course I’m being stupid again.

  SADHBH. No need to call the righteous brigade every time something happens.

  You won’t cope here always living on your nerves.

  MATHILDE. So you say –

  but if we keep it – this looks like collaboration.

  Isn’t that a ‘bad idea’?

  SADHBH. Either way – there’s no winning.

  MATHILDE. Okay. Thank you. That’s clear.

  SADHBH makes to leave.

  Oh my God. It is pooping again.

  SADHBH. Forget about it.

  MATHILDE. Where are you going?

  SADHBH. To get a bucket.

  That cow needs to be milked.

  You want to get dressed? It’s not the Costa del Sol.

  We leave for the camp in an hour.

  SADHBH exits and calls back.

  R and R is officially over.

  MATHILDE sulks.

  The cow lows a number of times.

  VIN takes a photograph.

  Five

  The IDP camp.

  Tight spot of light.

  A small CHILD is screaming. VIN is taking a photograph of the CHILD. The CHILD tries to get away but seems pinned to the spot.

  VIN follows her face with his camera.

  CHILD. The Gun, The Gun, The Gun, The Gun, The Gun.

  VIN. Hey, little one. It’s a camera.

  Camera?

  I’m taking a photograph.

  Je prends ta photo?

  You want to have a look?

  Hey, don’t cry, kid.

  I’m sorry.

  I can show you.

  Hey. Shush. Shush.

  Kid? Can you stop crying please?

  You’ll get me in trouble.

  Kid? Please?

  He turns his camera around to view the images.

  See. I can show you.

  The CHILD runs away.

  Shit.

  He looks back at the images on his camera.

  SADHBH. What the fuck are you doing?

  VIN. Listen – sorry – I didn’t mean to –

  MATHILDE and MAMA CAROLINA enter.

  SADHBH. You are not allowed to photograph or talk to the children without Mama Carolina’s permission. The last time they had something pointed at them it was a gun. They’re traumatised. / You just can’t behave like that.

  MATHILDE. Hey, Sadhbh – he / didn’t mean to –

  MAMA CAROLINA. Why have you upset the children?

  VIN. Hey, Mama, / I didn’t mean to.

  MAMA CAROLINA. My name is not Mama. I am Mama Carolina.

  SADHBH. Ask permission if / you want pictures.

  MATHILDE. This is a misunderstanding –

  MAMA CAROLINA. Prends ton appareil et va-t-en. Va-t-en !

  MATHILDE. Sorry, Mama Carolina –

  VIN. Okay. I’ll just go then.

  SADHBH. Fuck off. / Go on. Fuck off.

  MATHILDE. Cool it, Sadhbh.

  VIN. Keep your hair on. I didn’t mean / to upset anyone.

  VIN gathers his equipment and moves away to pack up.

  MAMA CAROLINA. Pourquoi parles-tu comme ça, Sadhbh? On est devant les enfants, quand même?

  Now – please – we are waiting for you.

  She exits.

  SADHBH. Sorry, Mama Carolina. Pardonne-moi. En moment.

  SADHBH and MATHILDE are left alone together.

  He’s an idiot.

  MATHILDE. I’m sorry. It’s not my fault.

  SADHBH. It is your fault. You brought this guy. He’s sleeping in your bed. Suddenly we’re responsible for his security – Janvier is / not his chaffeur.

  MATHILDE. I’m sorry but no, Sadhbh.

  He is taking truthful pictures. / Powerful pictures.

  SADHBH. How can you say that? You know him for about five minutes! The guy only cares to makes a name for himself.

  MATHILDE. And so what if he can make people look?

  SADHBH. He asked Mama Carolina to show him the raped children? / It’s not on.

  MATHILDE. What do you want me to do?

  SADHBH. He can’t stay with us any longer.

  MATHILDE. What will he do?

  SADHBH. I don’t know. It’s not my problem.

  Why is that my problem?

  MATHILDE. It’s becoming unsettled just beyond Masisi.

  Outbreaks of violence in the hills. There are rumours / in the camp.

  SADHBH. Tell him to collect his stuff. I’ll arrange security back to Goma.

  MATHILDE. The room at the compound is my own, is it not?

  SADHBH. It is.

  MATHILDE. So – in fact – it’s not your business.

  SADHBH. You could say that.

  MATHILDE. I think your hormones are making you very aggressive.

  SADHBH. Fuck the hormones – I am aggressive.

  Pause.

  I’m sorry if I’m being harsh but we’re trying to build up the kids’ trust here. / That’s the most important thing.

  MATHILDE. I understand – of course I know this. Why do you always talk to me like I’m stupid?

  SADHBH. I don’t. / Mathilde?

  MATHILDE. Yes. Yes. Yes. We all can’t be like you! Without a life.

  You’ll have to start without me.

  Vin?

  SADHBH shakes her head and moves away.

  VIN approaches MATHILDE.

  VIN. Hey. Sorry. (Takes her hand.)

  MATHILDE. Not now.

  VIN. I’ve no way of getting back to the compound. What does she –

  MATHILDE. Don’t take pictures of the kids around here.

  This is her territory.

  VIN. I’ve taken / barely anything.

  MATHILDE. She’s being totally unreasonable.

  VIN. Bit of a boot.

  MATHILDE (giggles). Shush.

  VIN kisses MATHILDE.

  VIN. If I’m going to show stuff it’s got to be serious work.

  Hey – that letter you told me about.

  The invitation from Colonel Mburame.

  If I could get a portrait of him –

  MATHILDE. That sounds like a really bad idea.

  VIN
. He sent her a cow, didn’t he?

  And she said he was perfectly civilised.

  MATHILDE. No. She said he gave her tea.

  VIN. Exactly.

  And I know just how to do it.

  Him on a chair. Staring down the barrel of the lens.

  Bam.

  I’ll whack the picture off to Reuters as soon as.

  MATHILDE. Vin.

  VIN. Come on.

  I’ll borrow one of the cars and go early in the morning. In fact, Janvier can take me. He’ll know where to go. We’ll be there and back before anyone’s up.

  MATHILDE. Vin. There are nine hundred and seventy-eight men, women and children living in shit here. The serious work is in front of you.

  Now

  Do as she says. Fuck off. Take pictures.

  They kiss. The light fades.

  Six

  We hear gunfire and chaos as in the Prologue.

  As the light fades on the scene we hear the Prologue scene dialogue through a walkie-talkie radio.

  There are shouts of panic.

  The door is kicked. Once. Twice.

  SADHBH. Mon Dieu, pitié.

  SOLDIER. La ferme!

  SADHBH. Je m’appelle Sadhbh, et ça c’est Mathilde.

  Nous avons de l’argent. Beaucoup des dollars.

  Je vous en prie!

  MATHILDE. Nous avons des cigarettes.

  SADHBH. Je vous en prie. Prenez tout.

  SOLDIER. Mettez vous par terre. Tout de suite. Accroupies.

  SADHBH. Nous avons du whisky. Prenez-le. Prenez –le, buvez le avec vos enfants.

  SOLDIER. Déshabillez-vous.

  MATHILDE. Non, non, je vous en prie. Nous sommes mariées, nous sommes mères.

  SOLDIER. Déshabillez-vous.

  MATHILDE. Non, non, non.

  SADHBH. Je peux vous donner l’argent.

  Nous avons presque quatre mille dollars.

  Prenez-les. C’est pour vous.

  Dieu vous pardonnera, si vous partez maintenant.

  SOLDIER. Je prends l’argent.

  Je prends les téléphones.

  Je prends tout.

  Et, ensuite, je vais terminer le boulot.

  MATHILDE starts to cry.

  On ne vous entend pas.

  Personne ne vous écoute.

  The shadows close in.

  Seven

  A bar. Goma.

  Sweltering heat. Blinding sun and blue sky.

  RONAN is interviewing SADHBH. He has a recording device but also takes notes on his Mac.

  She fans herself with her hat. She is bruised and sore. RONAN is drinking a Primus beer. SADHBH is drinking a Coke.

  RONAN shows her the recording device.

  RONAN. Okay?

  SADHBH. If you must.

  RONAN. This attack on your compound must have been traumatic –

  SADHBH. I investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by some dangerous individuals and that inevitably means I step on a lot of toes.