Diving For Pearls by Katherine Thomson

Author:Katherine Thomson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Currency Press
Published: 2011-12-25T16:00:00+00:00

Mines… and small lives…

BARBARA enters with a pad and pen, and marches straight to DEN. She thrusts them in his hands, as if for the umpteenth time, sits him in the chair and stands with her back to him. Her frustration, not to mention her high heels, is killing her. She is paying even more attention to her grooming, perhaps having taken on yet another style of dressing. The purpose of the exercise is for her to explain, with patience, an object for drawing, with her back to the person sketching. It is intended to place emphasis on verbal skills.

BARBARA: Well, open your ear holes. Listen. For God’s sake. Draw two squashed circles sort of away from the whole thing and draw two lines from both the circles—

DEN: Upwards or downwards?

BARBARA: No! No! [She marches back to DEN and grabs the paper.] Downwards. Downwards. A ship’s two funnels. It was meant to be a ship. A ship. That’s not a ship. That’s not anything like I said. Is it Den?

DEN: You’re supposed to be a bit clearer. Poised.

BARBARA: Well, excuse me. How can I help it if you can’t draw?

DEN: You’re supposed to explain it calmly. That seems to be the exercise. Not whether I draw the boat right or not.

BARBARA: Look, I had this all day thank you very much. You see how you like it—in a state of siege the entire day. They were the same as you. All out to sabotage me. Brainless pack of sheilas. In the end she says, ‘We have to move onto self-esteem, but Barbara…’, ‘Ye-es, Cassandra’, ‘Perhaps you’d like another go tomorrow. When we’ve got the video so you can have a little look at yourself.’

DEN: This is very good for you.

BARBARA: [as she turns, ready to start again] Tell me something I don’t know. Right. [She turns around.] Now, draw a line across the top of the page, but it doesn’t really reach the ends. Now draw—[She turns.] Why didn’t you start a new page! I mean—oh for God’s sake, fuck me dead with a rissole, I shouldn’t have to tell you to start a new page! Turn the page! Turn the page!

VERGE has entered. She carries one bag. BARBARA stands stock still.

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