Pink

Sam Holcroft

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2015
• eBook ISBN: 9781780015996
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Two careers hang in the balance. Self-made millionaire Kim Keen is one of the most successful businesswomen in the country. As she prepares to launch her latest range on national television an unexpected visitor arrives in her dressing room with a different set of priorities to promote.

Sam Holcroft's short play Pink was first performed at the Tricycle Theatre, London, as part of the Women, Power and Politics season in June 2010.

PINK

Sam Holcroft

Characters

KIM, thirty-four years, female

AMY, twenty-four years, female

DAN, thirty-one years, male

BRIDGET, fifty-five years, female

All action takes place in the dressing room of a London television studio.

KIM finalises her look in one of the mirrors. She is beautifully coiffed and made up.

There is a knock at the door.

KIM. Come in.

The door opens and AMY enters carrying cue cards.

AMY. Hi, sorry to bother you, Ms Keen.

KIM. That’s okay. Call me Kim.

AMY. I’m Amy. I’ve been asked to make sure you have everything you need, Kim?

KIM. I think so.

AMY. Okay, just ask.

AMY forces a polite smile.

KIM returns it and then goes back to the mirror.

Is it all right if we go through some information?

KIM. Sure.

AMY. Tony will introduce you and I just need to check that the details are correct.

KIM. Okay.

AMY. And he’s only going to ask you what you’re comfortable being asked.

KIM. I know, he said.

AMY. Okay.

AMY checks her cue cards.

So you were born –

KIM cuts in –

KIM. They don’t need to know when I was born.

AMY smiles politely.

AMY. Sure.

AMY strikes it from the list.

And you started in the industry when you were just eighteen?

KIM. Yes. Just.

AMY. And now you’re five times Best Picture winner, is that right?

KIM. That is right.

AMY. Congratulations.

KIM. Thank you.

Beat.

AMY. And you now have four production companies.

KIM. That’s right, four. It was always my aim to produce and direct and I’ve been doing that for two years now.

AMY. So you won’t ever star in a movie again?

KIM. No, I much prefer my role as producer–director.

AMY makes a note on the card.

AMY. He wants to use the word ‘entrepreneurial’.

KIM. Sure.

AMY. Because you created your own brand name very early on.

KIM. I did.

AMY. K Play.

KIM. That’s right.

AMY. Did you do that on your own?

KIM. Well, who else d’you think did it?

Beat.

AMY. I’m just checking.

KIM. Sure.

Beat.

AMY. Is it true that you have the highest working-women’s salary in the industry today?

KIM. I won’t comment on that.

AMY. We have it here that you earn an estimated –

KIM. I won’t comment on what I earn.

AMY. Can Tony?

KIM. No. We spoke about this previously: he’s going to talk about my new product range.

AMY. I have that here.

KIM. That’s what we discussed.

AMY. I have it here.

KIM. Good, because that’s what I want to talk about, the full range: perfume, clothes, speciality jewellery, sportswear, recipes.

AMY. Recipes?

KIM. Yes.

AMY nods and makes a note.

Towels, bed sheets. All with a fifteen per cent discount if you subscribe to the website.

AMY. So you have to be a member?

KIM. Most people are.

AMY. I’m not.

KIM. You’re not my demographic.

AMY. No. I’m not.

Beat.

KIM. This is very important, write this down: it launches tomorrow, and our advance orders go out in tomorrow’s post. Can you write that down please?

AMY. I don’t need to.

KIM. This is very important information, I want you to –

AMY. I have it here already.

AMY holds up the cue card.

KIM. Okay. Thank you.

KIM turns back to the mirror.

AMY continues tentatively –

AMY. As far as Tony’s questions about… can you tell us if it’s true?

KIM. All our advance orders are confidential so I can’t disclose any name or purchase information.

AMY. Can’t you even –

KIM. I can’t talk about an order specifically, no.

AMY. But would you be happy for us to discuss the possibility of the order?

KIM. Yes, I would.

AMY smiles politely and makes a note on the cue card.

AMY. And describe the product and what a person would want to do with it if they had ordered it?

KIM. Yes, I have it with me.

AMY. Okay, good, you’ll get a close-up and fantastic coverage. Half the nation is going to be watching the programme tonight; we’ve never had a story this big. This is a lucky break for you.

KIM. I don’t consider myself lucky.

Beat.

AMY. Okay, that’s everything, thanks. I’ll come back for you in about twenty minutes. Is there anything else you need? KIM turns to her.

KIM. Yeah, do I look okay?

AMY. Sure. You look the part.

Beat.

AMY turns and exits the room.

KIM stands in silence.

After a moment KIM shrugs off the comment and turns back to the mirror.

There is another knock at the door.

KIM. Just come in, Amy.

The door opens and DAN, a security guard, steps into the room.

Hey –

He looks around the room, checking in the corners and cupboards.

Excuse me? Excuse me? Hello? What are you doing?

Content that the room is safe, he turns to look at KIM, there is a flicker of recognition in his face.

Who are you?

DAN turns and opens the door for BRIDGET to enter. KIM recognises her immediately, and catches her breath.

BRIDGET steps into the room.

BRIDGET. Hello. I’m sorry to arrive unannounced. But this was something of an emergency.

BRIDGET extends her hand.

Bridget Howard. Nice to meet you.

KIM looks at her, astonished. BRIDGET waits with her arm outstretched. Eventually, KIM takes her hand.

KIM. Kim Keen.

They shake hands. They look at one another.

BRIDGET turns to DAN.

BRI...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Original Production
• Pink
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information