Nicholas Wright by Nicholas Wright

Author:Nicholas Wright
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nick Hern Books

Scene Five

HENRIETTA’s bedroom. Later that night. A large bed. HENRIETTA, in her nightdress, is sitting on the bed reading her family bible. Candles burning. There is a knock on the door.

HENRIETTA. Come in.

JUSTIN, the family butler-boy, comes in.

Is Master Willem not back yet?

JUSTIN. Not yet, madam.

HENRIETTA. I gave him my place at the President’s banquet. I wanted to come home and think about my life.

JUSTIN. Is that all, madam?

HENRIETTA. Justin, how long have you worked for me?

JUSTIN. Have I done a mistake?

HENRIETTA. You’re a good and faithful servant. When I die you will inherit fifteen shillings.

JUSTIN (tries not to sound patronising). It’s too much, madam. Shall I put out the candles?

HENRIETTA. I’ll do them myself. When Master Willem returns, tell him to come up and say good night.

JUSTIN goes. HENRIETTA reads from her bible:

‘And Jesus said: let he who is without sin cast the first stone.’

She puts the bible away, gets up, blows out the candles and gets into bed.

Darkness. A dog barks in the street below. Then:

A creak from the shutters. They open slowly and a figure creeps in. It’s ROGER. He moves quietly across the room.

HENRIETTA. Don’t move.

ROGER stops.

I mean it.

She comes out from the bed carrying a large antique shotgun.

It’s my father’s shotgun. I’m a frontier woman, I don’t play about. Drop your gun on the bed. Slowly.

He does.

Don’t move. All right, I’ve found it.

She does.

Who are you?

ROGER. An Englishman.

Pause.

I said . . .

HENRIETTA. I heard you. Where were you tonight?

ROGER. Does it matter?

HENRIETTA. It matters to me.

ROGER. At a hotel.

HENRIETTA. Light a match and hold it close to your face. I want to see the kind of man I’m dealing with.

He lights a match, holds it near his face. She recognises him, but he doesn’t recognise her.

Can you see me?

ROGER. No.

HENRIETTA. Good. Why did you come here?

ROGER. I needed a place to hide. They’re after me.

HENRIETTA. Why?

ROGER. I’ve shot a man.

HENRIETTA. Did you kill him?

ROGER. I think so.

HENRIETTA. I should call the police.

ROGER. They’ll hang me.

HENRIETTA. Very likely. Was it over a woman?

ROGER. Yes.

HENRIETTA. Another man touched her and you lost your rag. My God, you men are fools. Were you seen breaking in?

ROGER. I don’t know.

HENRIETTA. You’d better hide in here.

ROGER. Is there a cupboard?

HENRIETTA. Too small.

ROGER. A closet?

HENRIETTA. There is. But unfortunately the key has been mislaid. You can hide in the bed.

ROGER. Where will you sleep?

HENRIETTA. With you.

ROGER. I . . .

HENRIETTA. Would you rather I called the police?

ROGER. I’ll take my boots off.

HENRIETTA. Please.

Pause in the dark. Then a loud clunk.

Ssh! Put the second one down quietly.

He does.

All right, that’s enough. Get in. Which side do you like?

ROGER. I’m easy.

HENRIETTA. Move across then.

ROGER. Two pillows or one?

HENRIETTA. There is only one.

ROGER. I’m sorry.

HENRIETTA. You get used to it.

She gets into the bed. Pause.

I wonder how often you’ve done this before? Shared a bed with a woman you’ve just met?

ROGER. What makes you think I’ve done it even once?

HENRIETTA. Something about you. Something I’m not used to. In your face, in your voice.

ROGER.

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