Bond Plays, 9 by Edward Bond

Author:Edward Bond
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2011-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Two

The room. The crisp packet is where it was. Viv is alone. She sits huddled under the blanket. She has made a hole in it. Her eye stares through the hole at the spot. She moves her head. The blanket swivels like a periscope to survey the room. Then it swivels back to focus on the spot.

Silence.

Nelson (off – he doesn’t knock) Viv. (No response.) Viv open the door. I know yer’re there. They’re knockin the street down Viv.

Silence. Nelson rattles the door. Viv’s arm comes through another hole she has made in the blanket. She makes the calming gesture towards the spot.

Nelson I brought yer some crisps. Ain yer favourites. Sorry – they’re out again. ’S three days. ’Ow yer think I feel knowin yer starvin? Open the door Viv.

Viv uncovers her head. She stands slowly, still holding the blanket round her. She is terrified her movements will set off vibrations. She edges along the wall with her back to it. She makes for the door but stares at the spot – forcing her eyes to stop blinking. Her blanket catches on a nail. She freezes in panic. She tugs at the blanket as carefully as a bomb-disposal expert removing a fuse.

Nelson (off) I’m off. No point in stayin if yer aint co-operate. (Further off.) The workmen’ll drag yer out.

Viv tugs at the blanket. It comes loose with a jerk. She collapses in terror against the wall. She stares at the spot. She slowly recovers. She edges closer to the door.

Nelson (very close) Viv. Dont take my word for it. The foreman’ll tell yer. I asked ’im t’ come up. They got a great iron ball on a chain. Weighs tons. Swing it t’ knock the wall down. Give yer a ’eadache Viv.

Viv reaches the door. Silently she takes the key from the lock.

Nelson Yer need proper ’elp Viv. We’ll see a doctor. If yer’re right but they dont believe yer – so what? Believe what yer like so long’s it makes yer ’appy eh?

Viv takes off the blanket. She folds it neatly and carefully places it on the floor.

Nelson Viv this is the foreman.

Foreman (off, to Nelson) She in there? ’Ello young lady. Can you ’elp me dear? Dont know whether this lad’s havin me on. Is ’e your boyfriend? If you’ve had a fallin-out there’s no reason to be’ave like the princess in the tower. I can see he’s contrite up to ’is eyeballs.

Nelson Tell ’er yer’re demolishin the place.

Foreman Dont be impatient. Ladies ’ave to be handled with finesse.

As Nelson and the Foreman talk Viv carefully lifts up some floorboards – she has already loosened them. She climbs into the gap out of sight and pulls the floorboards back into place over her head.

Nelson It’s an emergency!

Foreman All the more reason to stay calm. Women are obstinate. (Calls.) We’re demolishin the street dear. Everythin’s comin down. They’ll put up some really nice residential properties instead. Sort of place that ’as window boxes. Now open this door and stop interruptin the march of progress.

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