Fury

Phoebe Eclair-Powell

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2016
• eBook ISBN: 9781780017976
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

A chilling and powerful modern Medea about motherhood and class, taking an unapologetic look at the single young mum, the one already judged before she's even opened her mouth.

This is Sam. Young, impulsive, single mum. Londoner born and bred and never ever left. Sam makes her mistakes, but who can blame her?

Tom rents the flat above, the one Sam cleans. If they can come to 'an arrangement' he won't call the Social on her. You might think Tom is a monster. You might think Sam's kids would be better off without her. Someone needs to make a decision.

Winner of the Soho Theatre Young Writer's Award, Phoebe Eclair-Powell's play Fury premiered at Soho Theatre, London, in July 2016.

CHORUS sing the first verse and refrain of ‘Get Free’ by Major Lazer, featuring Amber.

WSam is a single mother.

FShe is also a Londoner in the truest sense of the word –

MSouth of the river before you ask.

WAnd she lives in a flat that used to be for people like her, but now squeezes the rich and the confused of Peckham, as the bankers roll in.

MThe time is now, or really 2017, the moment when they decided that if two tipped into three they wouldn’t be able to sustain that figure. That child won’t exist – it will just have to do without.

FAnd thousands will have to pack up and leave because they’re just not worth it.

MBack to Sam

WWe have to introduce our hero, our woman of the hour.

FThe hour that you will spend here watching her.

WYou can imagine her how you will.

MWe imagined her like this –

WAnd we will tear her down together

FAs we all do

MAll day

WEvery day.

MThis is the bit where I tell you she stole a golden fleece, shagged a relative, murdered her father or made a pact with a god.

FBut our Sam didn’t do any of those things

Our Sam has lived a normal life,

Mas we all have.

WOur Sam was born, she went to school, she met a boy called Rob and they had two kids too soon

MBut now Rob is married to a vain young woman called Carly, though Carly would laugh and say she’s not a woman, not yet, she’s not ready.

FBut no one is really ready for anything.

WSam doesn’t know her mother.

MHer father is dead.

WThat makes her slightly more unusual

In the statistical sense.

The CHORUS start to hum.

MNow is the time to play music

Loud music.

CHORUS sing the first and second refrain of ‘Get Free’ – loud.

TOMSorry about the noise.

SAMAlright.

I’d love to play loud music trust me, but they need –

They have small ears you know – wake up all the time.

You need to –

Just be mindful.

Not being like your mum an’ all.

TOMNo.

SAMHave you got anything to smoke?

Just I smelt it before.

TOMI’m not the one who –

SAMOh right.

He coming back later or…

TOMProbably not.

It’s a Saturday night.

SAMOh yeah.

Yeah it is.

You not out then?

TOMGot a paper / part of my degree course.

SAMYou got that anxiety disorder, don’t like going out, being around people –

Too many people make you think you gunna wet yourself or do a shit or something –

TOMNo, no it’s fine, I’m fine actually.

So if you don’t –

SAMYeah, yeah.

Oh wow you guys have a big telly.

Got any sort of Netflix on there?

TOMSky.

Dave’s dad works for – so we…

SAMCan we come and watch cartoons sometimes?

Could you do that?

Let us in on Saturday mornings?

For a treat.

I could make you all breakfast or something.

TOMAre you okay?

SAMFine, why you ask?

Sure he’s not coming back?

TOMI could have a drink if you wanted a drink?

SAMNo thanks, drank enough last night.

TOMRight.

SAMRight.

Could I have a slice of toast?

TOMUm okay yeah.

Yeah sure, um, I mean, it’s not, well it’s actually Becca’s so, um, I might –

SAMWhat’s yours then?

TOMCan of Stella, and some Frosties.

She indicates the Frosties. He hands over the box.

But I haven’t got any um… milk.

SAM is already shovelling the dry cereal into her mouth.

SAMHow come you guys living in council accommodation?

TOMUm we rent it – I don’t really know.

They got it off Zoopla, or one of them… websites.

SAMRight.

So you work then?

TOMNo I’m still on my MA so…

Dave and Becca are doing BAs though.

SAMBecca your girlfriend, or just the one you want to shag a bit?

TOMOne I want to shag to be honest.

SAMShe’s not that good looking really though is she.

…

Can I watch telly with my Frosties?

TOMUm, I sort of need to –

SAMI can just watch like ten minutes.

Telly bit fuckin’ slow if you / ask

TOMSorry I can’t um… maybe you should, I think I hear crying.

CHORUS start to hum.

SAMI don’t.

TOMNo I think, maybe one of your boys...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Original Production
• Acknowledgements
• Note on Play
• Characters
• Fury
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information