Scandaltown (NHB Modern Plays) by Mike Bartlett

Author:Mike Bartlett [Bartlett, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788504973
Publisher: Nick Hern Books

Scene Two

Jack Virtue’s lodgings. Living room. East London.

In the living room there is an armchair, a sofa, a dressing screen, and a cupboard.

PHOEBE enters, smiling broadly, holding a bottle of wine, which she swigs out of occasionally. She stretches and sits on the sofa. Then picks up a spliff and tries to light it, but can’t get the lighter to work.

PHOEBE(Aside.) I feel reborn! Of course I had often thought of women, but never realised it could result in such unalloyed and sticky joy as this! I’d wanted everything in such straight lines, but now Jenny has relaxed me, in so many ways, and through our intercourse both verbal and sexual, I see many curves and subtle shades. We’re human! In the end. All of us. A unique mix, every one.

JENNY enters, and effortlessly lights PHOEBE’s spliff, which JENNY then smokes.

JENNYYou seem happy.

PHOEBEIndeed, ’twas one of the best nights of my life! I haven’t slept at all, but I don’t care! I’m full of possibility! I wish Jack was here. That I could speak to him…

JENNYI’m sure he’ll turn up. But I still don’t understand why you went to all this effort. Why didn’t you just call him?

PHOEBEI’ve tried to call him now, but he doesn’t answer. I want to tell him I get that our ethics are conditioned by the situation, and despite disagreeing perhaps we should… spend some time together.

Enter FREDDIE in pyjamas, eating a bowl of cereal.

FREDDIEMorning!

He’s followed by MATT, also in pyjamas. FREDDIE sits down. MATT goes to join him, then sees the women.

MATTWait!

He grabs a cushion and covers his face.

FREDDIESo this is my flatmate Jenny Hood. And this is – er – oh

JENNYPhoebe.

FREDDIEYou’ve changed?!

PHOEBESo much.

FREDDIEExcellent!

MATTFrederick, I believe I had most clearly explained I could not reveal our most pleasurable endeavours to the world.

FREDDIEThem? They have no care! Ladies if anyone should ask about my consort here your lips must be most superglued.

JENNYOkay.

PHOEBEYou have my word.

FREDDIE(To MATT.) See? Your secret’s safe.

MATT cautiously lowers his cushion, then puts his hand out.

MATTIn that case – Matt Eton, Secretary of State for Procurement.

PHOEBEOh yes! I remember you from the briefings. I watched every day.

MATTIndeed – it was I that steered our national ship safely through the stormy viral seas.

PHOEBESafely? Er – we had the highest death rate?

MATTWell I’m not sure international comparisons are –

PHOEBEAnd the greatest hit to our economy –

MATTIndeed these may be the facts, but our country moveth quickly on! And I think if we just talk about other things enough, we might all forget?

JENNYFreddie, I find this choice of partner… unusual for you.

PHOEBESir why are you so keen to hide?

MATTAh well, in truth I’m happily married, with four young children, and most keen not to upset them, as it would take up so much time, but beyond that trifling concern I have a political career that will not be served by public knowledge of my infidelity.

JENNYBut what if your wife found out?

MATTOh then she’d wield her pen like a sword and disembowel me across the Mail on Sunday.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.