Godber Plays by John Godber

Author:John Godber
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2009-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Act Four

7.25 a.m.

Franz has used the mime style to reconfigure the set, first the back wall of the A and E and then the fold-out parts of the actual Accident and Emergency department. He is helped in this by other backstage crew dressed in hospital fatigues. Gentle snow still falls, but stops as if it has been a flurry, as the lights come up. Keith is standing in exactly the same spot as he was in Act One as if nothing untoward has happened. We catch him slightly pursing his lips, with his eyes shut as if he is kissing someone. Holly enters. It is the end of her shift, she is clearly tired but excited about the possibility of going to Prague. As she enters she puts on her coat and adjusts her handbag. She checks her phone for messages.

Holly That’s it then, Keith, all done.

No response from Keith.

Holly Please yourself!

No response from Keith.

Holly It’s still cold out here this morning. Are you with us? Keith! (Louder.) Keith? Keith!

Keith is shocked into a response.

Keith Eh?

Holly There’s been a fire in there, you know?

Keith Where?

Holly And you were miles away.

Keith A fire?

Holly What if there had been and you’d wandered off?

Keith You finished then?

Holly That’s it for me.

Keith Flown this last half hour …

Holly checks her phone.

Holly No messages, Keith, nobody loves me!

Keith Don’t worry, nobody loves me either!

Holly I thought Darren might have come crawling back but … sod him, the spotty arse.

A beat.

Keith Prague then?

Holly I can’t believe it!

Keith Like a fairy tale, isn’t it?

Holly Four days off and one night in Prague, I can’t wait!

Keith You might find somebody out there.

Holly What, in one night, it doesn’t usually work like that, Keith.

Keith You never know your luck!

Holly We’ll just about have time for a bit of shopping and then we’ll have to come back.

Keith Loaded down with shoes!

Holly I wish.

Keith You want to be careful what you wish for.

Holly I know what I wish for!

Keith And me!

Holly What do you wish for then, Keith?

Keith Now that would be telling.

A beat.

Holly Have you got time off or will you be stuck here?

Keith There’s beauty here you know …

Holly Oh yes, where?

Keith You’ve just got to look for it.

Holly What are you doing for Christmas then, anything special?

Keith Well, I thought I might have a few days away.

Holly Oh that’d be good, anywhere nice?

Keith Well, I was thinking of Prague.

Holly Oh really?

Keith Yes, I thought I’d come and surprise!

Holly Oh Keith, you needn’t bother.

Keith You never know!

Holly You’ll be watching the Queen on ITV, won’t you?

Keith I might do.

Holly And then dealing with the domestics down here.

Keith Probably.

Holly That’ll be exciting!

She is now ready to depart.

Anyway Keith, I’m going. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!

Keith Like what?

Holly makes her way away from Keith and out towards the city through the auditorium.

Holly Like following us to Prague!

Keith Go on, you cheeky sod!

A beat, as Keith yawns against morning. As he stands on sentry Alan enters wearing a party hat and carrying a plastic cup of coffee, and the joke from his cracker.

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