- 96 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
Unknown Rivers
About this book
'I have to draw a new map. I have to be seen. For her. For all of us!'
Since her ordeal five years ago, nineteen-year-old Nene rarely leaves home. Secure within her mum's embrace, Nene now keeps the outside world securely on the other side of her bedroom window.
But weekly visits from her best friend start to fill the void and on one unexpected day, when Nene is finally beyond the walls of her sanctuary, a long-forgotten spark is powerfully reignited in her, one which will change her direction foreverā¦
A poignant and life-affirming play, Chinonyerem Odimba's Unknown Rivers is a testament to the extraordinary powers of female friendship ā where there's turmoil, trauma and hardship, there's also love, bravery and hope, making it possible to go with the flowā¦ and live.
Unknown Rivers premiered at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, London, in October 2019.
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Yes, you can access Unknown Rivers by Chinonyerem Odimba in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Literature & British Drama. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
ACT ONE
1.
Two young women enter. NENE and LEA stand close together. They both stare ahead for a long beat.
There is something uncomfortable in the silence.
NENE starts rummaging in her bag.
LEA takes one step forward.
NENE. Wait please / please wait.
LEA. Yes.
NENE. Iā¦
LEA. Are you counting and breathing?
NENE. Yes. I think so.
LEA moves towards NENE.
LEA. This is it / Nene.
NENE. Iām not sure / aboutā¦
LEA. What?
NENE. Itās just / hardā¦
LEA. What?
NENE. To get back past five /
LEA. Okay but five is good Nene. If youāre feeling a five then /
NENE. Iām / tryingā¦
LEA. Youāre doing it / really!
Beat.
You need another minute?
LEA moves back to her position next to NENE.
NENE. Yeah thatās all. A minute / to justā¦
Beat.
LEA. We are here now / Nene.
Outside!
NENE. I knowā¦
But the feelingā¦
Creeps up on meā¦
Drips into my mind yāknow.
And Iām likeā¦
LEA. I know!
NENE. Look I want to yeah. Move faster. Yeah. Want to not let you down. Yeah. Like you made this happen / for me.
The thing is that Iām getting that feelingā¦
And I want to say no butā¦
No.
But Iām getting that feeling. That everything is too open. Too much spaceā¦
And I think Iāve forgotten something.
LEA. Whatās real?
NENE. Even put my outfit out last night so I wouldnāt have to stress this morning.
LEA. You look nice Nene.
Beat.
Are you still counting? What number are you feeling now Nene? Are you feeling more than five? Six maybe?ā¦
NENE. ā
LEA. What do you think youāve forgotten?
NENE. I donāt know. I wonāt know until I check again will I?
The thing is I donāt think I can really go any further unless I check. You get that donāt you? You get what Iām saying Lea.
But out hereā¦ I mean people are moving so fastā¦
And I need to have a good look yāknow just in case. I canāt just go out for the day without being sure I have everything. Yāknow. You get it donāt you / Lea?
LEA. Course babes!
We can move over there.
There.
I can hold your bag whilst you check. Itās cool. Cos then youāll know and that feeling will go and we can count and five is good.
NENE. On the edge / of it.
LEA. I got that extra bit of commission at work dinned I? Been saving it. Going to treat you Nene. I want to buy you something exotic like spaghetti alle vongole.
NENE. What? That sounds wrong!
LEA. Itāsā¦
It does doesnāt itā¦
But look the twinnies are back.
LEA breaks into a dance. A familiar routine. NENE joins in for a beat.
They laugh.
NENE. Six.
LEA. Really?
NENE. Yeah I think so.
LEA. Yes!
LEA takes a step forward/away from NENE.
Letās go over thereā¦
Beat.
LEA stands in front of NENE as she rummages through her bag.
NENE. Sorry / Lea.
LEA. Itās cool / Nene.
Fine.
Honestlyā¦
Long beat.
NENE. Okay.
Everything is here. Nothing missing. Everything is there.
Purse.
Cards.
Tissues.
And more tissues.
Chewing gum.
Nail file.
Concealer.
Phone.
Charger.
Coconut oil.
Headphones.
Anti-bac forā¦
LEA. Weāre going to have so much fun / today Nene.
NENE. Just for a few hours you said.
LEA. Yes. Proper grown-up lunch at the place I showed you on the map.
Iāve been savingā¦
I mean who has to save for a meal out when they work full time? I might as well be working a shoe shop for the amount I get paid!
Itās not far Nene. Ten minutes / that way.
NENE. Two hundred metres turn left. Four hundred metres turn left. Half a mile down that one road, and it should be on the right. Il Forte Italiano. Good rating on TripAdvisor.
ā Slow service but no reports of food poisoning in 2019.
LEA. Thatās it.
Then maybeā¦
Beat.
We can stop when you need to Nene.
LEA is a little distracted looking at her phone during the following speech.
NENE. Lea. This is the furthest Iāve been in forever.
Itāll be alright wonāt it?
I mean itās just going to be a nice day isnāt it?
Beat.
But if you donāt mind I could just hold on to your topā¦
By the elbowā¦
LEA. Iām here.
NENE. Iām going to hold on to you tight yeah when we walk in. Just in caseā¦
LEA. Course!
NENE. Itās only in caseā¦
In case it all flows too fast and everything washes away.
LEA looks up and hard at NENE.
LEA. ā No reported food poisoning for a whole 2019.
They can take all my monies!
NENE. We canāt be the first though so no seafood yeah just in case.
LEA. But spaghetti alle vongole is good you knowā¦
NENE. It still sounds weird!
NENE takes a step forward. They link arms.
They exeunt.
2.
The front garden. DEE stands amongst an array of soft toys, and half-played games, and thrown-around dolls. She slowly lifts herself up.
DEE. If anyone ever tells you that having children is easy, donāt listen.
Really. Block your ears. Hold them shut. Donāt even pretend to listen. Donāt even pretend to hear them. Work your way out of the vicinity of that conversation, and be glad that you nevar heard anything past the words ā
ā No, itās easy! They give you joy.
It is a lie. It is a lie...
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title page
- Contents
- Original Production
- Dedication
- Characters
- Spaces
- Unknown Rivers
- About the Author
- Copyright and Performing Rights Information