Lovesong

Abi Morgan

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9781350265981
• eBook ISBN: 9781849432634
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Performance Art
• Index: Literature

'That is the story of our beginning. And this is the story of…the end' Lovesong is the story of one couple, told from two different points in their lives – as young lovers in their 20s and as worldly companions looking back on their relationship. Their past and present selves collide in this haunting and beautiful tale of togetherness. All relationships have their ups and downs; the optimism of youth becomes the wisdom of experience. Love is a leap of faith.

SCENE THREE

Dusk.

The turn of the water sprinkler.

BILLY sits alone doing his crossword on the porch.

MAGGIE fixes a drink inside. The chink of ice, vodka poured in one glass, lemon and soda fizz poured in both. BILLY looks up, listens. BILLY resumes his crossword. MAGGIE exits out to the porch. She hands BILLY one of the drinks. They chink. She sinks down on a chair.

MAGGIE: Soda?

BILLY: Thanks.

MAGGIE stands looking beyond.

MAGGIE: Are you going to turn that sprinkler off or shall I?

BILLY does not answer, lost in his crossword. MAGGIE goes over to a tap on the side of the house. She turns it. The sprinkler goes quiet.

BILLY: You want a clue?

MAGGIE shrugs, sits on the front step.

Blue flower. Six letters. Something I –

MAGGIE: Violet.

BILLY shakes his head.

BILLY: Something I. Something N.

MAGGIE stands considering until –

MAGGIE: Zinnia.

BILLY looks up impressed. They chink.

BILLY: This soda’s flat.

MAGGIE: There’s another bottle back of the –

The swing of the door, BILLY gone.

...fridge.

BILLY enters the kitchen, goes over to the fridge, and opens it. He pulls out another bottle of soda, refills his glass, and adds ice. Drinks. He looks at the vodka bottle still resting on the table.

BILLY: I saw that boy today.

MAGGIE sits on the porch.

MAGGIE: Huh?

BILLY: While I was waiting for you to finish up at the doctors.

MAGGIE: (Calling back.) What boy?

BILLY: The kid who used to live next door.

MAGGIE: (Beat.) Adam?

BILLY: Adam

MAGGIE: Really?

MAGGIE: Wow.

Silence.

How old must he be now?

BILLY: He had his son with him and he looked... He must be forty at least now.

MAGGIE: (Calling back.) No he can’t be that old.

BILLY: Yes... He must be forty-five, forty-six I swear.

He said I looked just the same.

BILLY closes the fridge door.

MAGGIE: He was lying. The young always say that to old people. I hope you told him –

MAGGIE enters the kitchen –

BILLY: Huh – ?

MAGGIE: ...you knew he was lying.

Silence.

MAGGIE: Adam.

BILLY: They’re looking to rent. I don’t think they’ve got a whole lot of money. His kid looked maybe nine.

MAGGIE: Wow.

BILLY: And two little girls.

MAGGIE: Girls.

BILLY: Yep.

Silence.

He remembered you.

MAGGIE: Really? That’s nice...

BILLY: How did that happen? How did that happen that Josie’s boy got so old?

Silence –

Huh?

Silence –

Looked like he was losing his hair.

MAGGIE: You hungry? What happened to the time?

BILLY shakes his head, eyes watching WILLIAM –

There’s some cold meat in the fridge. I could make a sandwich. Do you want a sandwich?

MAGGIE disappears through a door into a larder.

BILLY: I might just go up.

MAGGIE coming out of the larder, carrying a plate of cold meat, and a loaf of bread.

MAGGIE: You always like a snack before you go up.

BILLY already gone, heading up the stairs.

BILLY: I’m fine. I’m good. I’m fine.

MAGGIE sinks a little.

MARGARET: (Calling out.) So are you going to say something?

MAGGIE spies the vodka bottle on the table. She picks it up, putting it back into the fridge. She reaches for butter and starts to make a sandwich, seemingly oblivious to –

(Entering.) Are you mad with me?

MARGARET enters but WILLIAM does not look up from his drink. She stands dressed up for the night, holding a clutch bag,

You’ve not spoke a word all the way home.

Silence –

OK, OK...

MARGARET sits down in the seat opposite WILLIAM.

You’re mad.

WILLIAM does not speak. He eats the sandwich.

It was just a dance. I was being nice to him.

MAGGIE sits down, finishes her vodka, placing the glass on the table. She reads the paper, seemingly oblivious as she eats the other half of sandwich.

He’s your boss for Christ sake.

MARGARET picks up the empty glass, goes over to the fridge, and refills the glass, drinks.

WILLIAM: You were all over him.

MARGARET: You’re jealous.

WILLIAM: Please –

MARGARET: Yes, you are. You’re jealous.

MA...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Dedication page
• Epigraph page
• Characters
• Contents
• SCENE ONE
• SCENE TWO
• SCENE THREE
• SCENE FOUR
• SCENE FIVE
• SCENE SIX
• SCENE SEVEN
• SCENE EIGHT
• SCENE NINE
• SCENE TEN
• SCENE ELEVEN
• SCENE TWELVE