Exodus

Rachael Boulton

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781786826961
• eBook ISBN: 9781786826954
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

"Settlers wanted for alternative living community in South America, all welcome to apply, unless you're a prick." The world premiere production of acclaimed new Welsh theatre company Motherlode in their London debut following a Welsh tour, Exodus is set in South Wales. On the eve of the last factory in town closing, four neighbours hatch a plan that is literally pie in the sky… Mary, Ray, Mike and Timmy gather in an allotment, decide to build a plane, and take off down the high street. Past the butchers, past the curry house and above the Chapel in search of a life free from politics and the grind. Blisteringly funny, this heart-warming new drama is accompanied by a live original score by David Grubb with choreography from Emma Vickery culminating in a new adventure that makes anything seem possible. Motherlode's last production, The Good Earth, created and directed by Rachael Boulton, told the story of a Valleys community torn apart by their council and big business and, following a successful tour of Wales, it transferred to the Flea Theatre in New York City for an acclaimed run. Exodus will tour to twelve venues across Wales this October from Milford Haven in the west to Newport in the east and Mold in the North. Tickets are on sale now for performances at The Coliseum Aberdare (5 and 6 October), Theatr Clwyd (9 and 10 October), Llandinam Village Hall (11 October), Redhouse Cymru Merthyr Tydfil (12 October), Taliesin Swansea (13 October), Chapter Cardiff (17–20 October), Riverfront Newport (23 October), Gwynfe Village Hall (24 October), Torch Theatre Milford Haven (25 October), Blackwood Miners' Institute (26 October), Theatr Brycheiniog Brecon (27 October) and Cwmavon Village Hall (30 October) prior to the Finborough Theatre run.

Act Two

SCENE 8

TIMMY sits centre stage on a factory crate. When ready, he lifts his bow and plays, as if lead violin in a large orchestra. His song sounds like pain.

VIOLIN #5.

RAY is laying under Karen, working.

RAY: (Pulling himself out from under the plane.) Sounding bloody beautiful Timmy boy. I tell you what Tim, I’m blessed to be able to listen to you butt. Right, time for a can?

(Stopped by the sky.) Good god, look at all them stars. There’s the North Star look Tim. You can always find the North Star by looking at the Plough. That’s the one that do look a bit like a saucepan.

(Beat.) I learned that in the army. Ai (beat) you do get taught a lot in the army. Not all bad mind. (Going to fetch a can.) Ey…don’t go saying anything to the others now, but… I fell in love in the army I did.

On one of my last tours in the Middle East. We got sent in to this village to support the locals, that’s what we were told like. They were scared of us at first, the locals. Well you would be wouldn’t you? Bloody blokes dressed in camouflage wearing helmets and carrying big bloody guns. We’d leave base every day and walk around the village. The market days were wonderful. I’d never seen such colours, tastes or smells in my life. It was nothing like Aberdare market.

Then, one day, we’re walking back from the market and I sees her. Bloody stunning she was. She was perched outside the compound, this absolutely beautiful…bird. She was big, regal like, with long white feathers and big blue eyes. I don’t know what she was. I don’t know the makes. Her wing was broken so I took her in and strapped it up. She healed pretty quickly but she wouldn’t bugger off.

Sergeant noticed she was good for morale and allowed us to keep her. I had to name her of course, something fitting, so, I decided to call her… Deborah. Deb for short. She would perch on the end of my bunk at night and on the tip of my rifle in the day… She followed me everywhere she did.

One day we were walking home from the market and there was a gunshot. We fell to the ground and got in position. The villagers were screaming. Children were running. Then, I noticed that Deb was lying on the ground. She’d been shot in the wing. Before I could do anything… She was shot in the other wing. I ran and jumped on top of her, scooped her into my arms like a newborn, staring into those big blue eyes. And (beat) she couldn’t understand see Timmy. She couldn’t understand why she was in such enormous pain… She couldn’t understand why she couldn’t just spread her wings, and fly away from it all. Broke my bloody heart that did.

Worse than that, after she passed, I wasn’t quite right, my head was in the shed, I was upset like. And the boys, and girls, big bloody girls un all mind, they went to town on me. Gave me a real hard time. Bird Fucker Ray they called me. Bird Fucker Ray!… I’d go to get dressed in the morning and there’d be little chicks, dead, stuffed in my boots. Before long they convinced the whole compound I’d gone twp in the head, had me thinking I’d gone twp un all. In the end, I was discharged. Good god I was angry at first. How people could be so damn hard. The army does that to people I told myself, but, I realised, these boys and girls were hard well before they joined the army. They hadn’t had many cards to play with see Tim. No time to be soft. That’s why I chose you three see. Despite everyone who applied. Two hundred and eighty odd in the end, from as far afield as Penrhiwceiber. Despite everything you’ve been through, you’ve still got hope.

Right, enough of this daftness. Now would not be a good time for you to start talking. Otherwise those two will be calling me Bird Fucker Ray un all.

GARETH bursts in full of energy with an Asda shopping trolly.

GARETH: Ray ay ay!

RAY: Ray ay ay!

GARETH: (Calling out.) Anything from the trolley sir?

RAY: Well done Gareth! What have we got here butt?

GARETH: Cereals. All Bran. Coco Pops. Sugar Puffs. Three for a pound in Home Bargains.

RAY: Excellent.

GARETH: Coffee – guess how much it was? One pound twenty down B&Ms.

RAY: Duw.

GARETH: It’s t...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Characters
• Prologue
• Act One
• Act Two