SOULMATES: The first three scenes of a 45 minute radio Play
SCENE 1.
F/X: BUSY Hospital ward then Door shuts into noiseless interior two pairs of Feet pad softly on carpet then stop
TONY: That’s not her
RUTH: What do you mean?
TONY: It’s a skeleton with skin on
RUTH: She hasn’t eaten for a week
TONY: Hadn’t
RUTH: Couldn’t keep anything down at the end
Tony: Her vomit was like black treacle
RUTH: I don’t want to think about it
TONY: Only not so sweet tasting…I imagine
RUTH: I said I don’t want to think about it
TONY: .She looks anorexic
RUTH: Shut up Tony
TONY: It’s not her it’s just a body…a body that’s been dead a hundred years
RUTH: Four hours actually
TONY: I should have got here before
RUTH: Before what?
TONY: Before….you know…to say goodbye
RUTH: You are saying goodbye
TONY: No I’m not…..was Dad with her when she died?
RUTH: As far as I know
TONY: Did she say anything?
RUTH: How do I know?
TONY: Weren’t you there?
RUTH: I popped out for a hot chocolate
TONY: Good timing
RUTH: You can talk
TONY: I just want to know how she went….did she struggle or what?
RUTH: She was barely conscious for twenty four hours…it was like watching paint dry….just a bit more poignant…why do you have to make everything so dramatic?
TONY: Ruth your mum just died of cancer you weren’t doing the decorating
RUTH: Tony your mum was dying of cancer for six weeks and you only just got here
TONY: I was working
RUTH: I was working
Tony: Yeah but it doesn’t matter if you take time off
RUTH: What’s that supposed to mean?
TONY: Can we not row over mum’s dead body please?
RUTH: There you go again
TONY: What?
RUTH: Making everything into a drama
TONY: Can you just go now Ruth and let me have a moment with mum on my own thanks
RUTH: She’s not just your mum Tony
F/X: DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS
ANDY: Sorry everyone lost you for a minute
RUTH: Where’ve you been?
ANDY: Toilet
TONY: Number one or number two?
ANDY: What?
RUTH: Ignore him Andy he’s attention seeking
TONY: Whose he? the cat’s father?
ANDY: Listen chaps we’ve got to go now they want to move the body
TONY: Can I have a minute on my own then?
RUTH: We have to go now Tony
TONY: I wasn’t asking you
RUTH: Don’t be pathetic
ANDY: Leave it both of you we can argue in the car
TONY: Do I get to say goodbye or what?
RUTH: No
ANDY: Let him have a minute
RUTH: Why should we always do exactly what he wants?
ANDY: It’s not worth it Ruth….we need to fetch Dad anyway (beat) Come out in five minutes Tone okay?
F/X: Door opens and shuts
TONY: I’m sorry I was late mum – I tried to get away but Dad said you’d be okay for a few more days yet – are you okay? I mean I know you aren’t but I can imagine can’t I? I wish I could have talked to you….when you were here…I wish I could have told you stuff, I never told you anything – I used to tell you everything…remember when I couldn’t sleep and I came down to tell you I’d nicked that packet of refreshers from Sean’s dad’s shop and you were marking and when I said sorry you forgave me I could sleep…and when I had nightmares and the sweats and wet the bed you looked after me….I used to scream ”it’s too smooth mum the blankets are too smooth they’re all too smooth” …and I’d be sweating and you’d hold my hand and say “it’s alright now mummy’s here….all gone now” and you’d put a cold flannel on my forehead and I’d go back to sleep…well, I’m still having them mum, the sweats and the nightmares ….I still can’t sleep….it’s not going well mum….she had a miscarriage….and she sort of blames me….I know you wanted us to have a family….but I don’t think it’s going to happen ….I don’t think we’re going to last….I’m sorry mum…..you don’t mind do you?
SCENE 2.
F/X: Exterior of Tooting bec lido on a crowded hot summer late morning mairead is swimming tony is sunbathing at the pool edge
:
SCENE 3.
F/X: BEER GARDEN of a busy gastro pub
Wendy: You’re emails were quite full on Tony do you always move this fast?
TONY: I’ve had quite a lot happening – my mum died then I split up with my partner then we got back together then we split up again so I joined “soulmates” and here we are
WENDY: How many dates have you had so far?
TONY: You’re my first
WENDY: Liar
TONY: How many have you had?
WENDY: Four
TONY: I’ve had twenty two
WENDY: What?
TONY: In one week
WENDY: You’re joking
TONY: I sat in a coffee place on the South Bank every day and saw one after another…kept pretending to go to the tube, hid until they’d gone, sat back down again and waited for the next one
Wendy: You are wierd
Tony: Like I said I’ve had a lot going on and my last relationship was a nightmare, we split up about five times actually
WENDY: Only five?
Tony: I couldn’t stop going back, it was never going to work but the sex was amazing
WENDY: Thanks for sharing that
TONY: My pleasure…actually I find you really easy to talk to
Wendy: Thanks for the compliment but I’m not your therapist
Tony: No you’re my rebound date
Wendy: That’s romantic
Tony: Well it’s true and you’re the first one I’ve actually liked…you know, since Mairead. my partner
Wendy: Do you have to say partner?
TONY: What’s wrong with that?
Wendy: It sounds sorted and grown up and you’re mental…anyhow first rule of dating don’t go on about your ex
Tony: Okay but I went round to her flat today with a bunch of flowers and she wouldn’t let me in so I kept buzzing then she said she’d met someone else and it was “pure love” and I said that’s what you said about us and she said she’d been deluded then I cycled past her house and looked in through the window to see if there was his photo where mine used to be and I saw him all tall and hunky with loads of curly hair and she was there and they looked happy and uncomplicated and I hope to god she didn’t see me she’ll think I’m a stalking her or something .…do you want another drink?
Wendy: I don’t think you’re ready for another relationship yet
Tony: What about just sex?
Wendy: I’m not into one night stands
Tony: Yeah right
Wendy: Anyhow I don’t fancy you
TONY: Why not?
Wendy: You’ve got desperate stamped across your forehead
Tony: I know
F/X: WENDY GETS UP TO LEAVE
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