Ladies in Lavender by Shaun. McKenna

Author:Shaun. McKenna
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: OBERON BOOKS Ltd

Act Two

SCENE 1

Garden/Cottage. Night. A breeze, the distant sound of the sea. Then a less attractive sound – ANDREA singing.

ANDREA: Goink up Cambourne Hill comink down,

Goink up Cambourne Hill comink down,

ANDREA appears around the side of the house – very much the worse for wear. He cradles the violin as he heads for the house, singing quietly to himself.

Comink down

Comink down

Goink up Cambourne Hill…

He tries to let himself in to the house through the garden door. He can’t manage it. He stumbles, going down on one knee.

Comink down…

The other leg gives way. Still cradling the violin, he slumps to the ground and over on to his back. He is blocking the door. He doesn’t move. He snores.

And snores again.

Lights change as time passes and day breaks. JANET appears and starts laying the table, rather crossly. A moment later, URSULA appears.

URSULA: He isn’t in his room.

JANET: I don’t suppose he was.

She indicates the door to the garden. URSULA opens it only to find ANDREA’ s prone form blocking her egress.

URSULA: Oh dear.

JANET: I know it has been some years, Ursula, but I recall harvest festival as being more of a spiritual occasion than a bacchanal.

URSULA: The church service was very nice. You said so yourself.

JANET: I was thinking more of the party Mr Pellow held in his barn afterwards. (Of ANDREA .) And it’s evident consequences.

URSULA: Perhaps we should have gone.

JANET: I hardly think so.

URSULA: We were invited. Everyone was. Dorcas was looking forward to it.

JANET: We wouldn’t have enjoyed it.

URSULA: We might have. Andrea obviously did. Oh look.

The violin is still cradled in ANDREA’ s arms. URSULA rescues it gently.

JANET: One might expect more care to be taken of an expensive item like that, especially when Dr Mead has been so very good as to lend it to him.

URSULA: The young are sometimes thoughtless.

JANET: Manifestly.

URSULA: Why are you cross? We were young once. I still am, inside. I hope I am.

JANET sighs, and softens a little.

Do you think I should wake him? He’s not making a sound.

JANET: He made enough last night.

URSULA: Do you think he’s alright? (Panicking a little.) Janet, what if he’s…?

ANDREA stirs and belches deeply.

JANET: Does that answer your question?

URSULA: Oh dear.

DORCAS arrives and bustles in, taking off her coat.

DORCAS: Morning.

URSULA: Good morning, Dorcas.

DORCAS: Trevor Pellow’s in a right state this morning.

JANET: He’s not the only one.

DORCAS: His cows had got out – beasts all over the place. I had to step all round the cowpats, took me ten minutes longer’n usual. How’s the boy?

JANET: How should he be?

DORCAS: He got home alright, didn’t ee? I told Jan Pendered to bring him back.

JANET: (Indicating the door.) See for yourself.

DORCAS looks and sees. A wicked smile starts to play around her lips.

URSULA: Boys will be boys.

DORCAS: Mmm.

URSULA: We haven’t woken him yet.

DORCAS: Shall I?

JANET: Perhaps some strong tea?

DORCAS: I got a better idea.

With some ado, she lifts up her skirts and steps across ANDREA . Again, ANDREA stirs and grunts. Having got herself the other side of him, DORCAS bends over, putting her face very close to his.

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