Perseverance Drive

Robin Soans

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781783191215
• eBook ISBN: 9781783196203
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Reference

Against the rising Bajan sun, the Gillard family gathers to lay their mother Grace to rest. Eli, devout follower of the Church of God of Providence and father to three, reluctantly welcomes his wayward son, Josh, back into the fold. London, five years later. The table is set for another family reunion. Tiger Malt for the men, Juiceys for the women and lashings of Madeira cake are washed down with a familiar dose of holy water. But past shadows illuminate old passions and these fragile relationships are tested for the last time. From the vibrant colours of Barbados to the grey skies of Leytonstone, this bittersweet play follows one family's struggle to reconcile their faith in God with faith in one another.

Act Two

‘LEYTONSTONE’

SCENE 1

Four years later. ELI’s house in Leytonstone, East London. Rain.

The dining room.

Conservatory at the back where washing is hanging up to dry.

A table with chairs round it. ELI sits at the end chair. He is wrapped in a blanket.

Religious pictures on the walls. A door to the kitchen. A door to the hallway. There are various medicines on the table, and a pile of unopened mail.

ELI is listening to a tape on a cassette machine.

He is wearing slippers. He has had a fall recently and is very frail.

JOSH stands looking at him.

JOSH: Can’t you turn that off?

Silence.

JOSH: Then we can talk.

ELI: I don’t want to talk.

JOSH: What is it?

ELI: Bishop Theobald Woods from Alabama preaching at The Clarion Temple.

JOSH: Well?

ELI: If I must.

ELI turns off the tape, JOSH turns on a light.

JOSH: Cold in here.

ELI: I’m fine.

JOSH: That’s why you’re sitting in a blanket.

ELI: Whatever.

JOSH: Can’t believe you’ve still got that old thing.

ELI: It works fine.

JOSH: (Looks round.) This is so…

ELI: What are you saying?

JOSH: Nothing’s changed…still the same…

JOSH turns on a standing lamp. He goes to draw the curtains and sees the washing hanging up.

JOSH: (Going out the back.) How long’s this been here?

ELI: I don’t know.

JOSH: (Off…quietly.) Oh for fuck’s sake.

ELI: What?

JOSH: (Off…quietly.) Rank.

JOSH comes back on and looks at his father.

ELI: What’s up? You finding faults? I didn’t ask you to come.

Silence.

ELI: You still here?

JOSH: Wouldn’t you be more comfortable in the armchair?

ELI: If I sit down there, I have difficulty getting up.

Silence.

ELI: Where’s Nathan?

JOSH: Nathan is in Los Angeles. Ruth is taking some of the older members on a day trip to Southend and then has a prayer meeting. Zek and Joylene are on a national tour. It was Ruth who phoned and then got the hospital to contact me. I didn’t choose to be here; there was no one else.

Silence.

ELI: What?

JOSH: I had a ticket for the opera this evening.

ELI: Then go. I’ll manage.

JOSH: Oh yes? I spoke to the doctor…

ELI: Doctor…what did he tell you?

JOSH: He said I had to make sure you took both lots of pills, put the ointment on your ankle, helped you with your eye-drops, and put the heat pads on your back to ease the pain…I went and got some. Can you put them in on your own?

ELI: Yes.

JOSH: So you don’t need any help?

ELI: I want you to go.

JOSH: Fine. Tell Ruth I came…but I had to leave because you refused to speak to me and your behaviour was impossible.

ELI: Joshua?

JOSH: Yes?

ELI: Before you go, I need a glass of water from the kitchen… not tap…you’ll find a bottle of Evian.

JOSH: Please.

ELI: Please.

JOSH goes to the kitchen.

JOSH: (Off.) Is it time for your pills?

ELI: I take them with liquid before meals.

JOSH: (Off.) And the eye-drops?

ELI: First thing in the morning, last thing at night.

JOSH: (Off.) How do you manage that? I said, ‘How do you manage that?’ Dad? How do you manage to see to put them in?

JOSH comes on with a glass of water.

JOSH: Dad?

ELI: I don’t bother.

JOSH: No of course you don’t bother. Anything else?

ELI: No.

JOSH: Shall I put your heat pads on before I go?

ELI: Don’t you dare.

JOSH: Why on earth not?

ELI: I don’t know where you’ve been. I’ll put them on myself.

JOSH: Right. Here you are then. (Puts them in ELI’s lap.) I’ll come round another day and see how you’re getting on.

ELI: Joshua…

JOSH: Yes?

ELI: I can’t…they fall out.

JOSH: Ridiculous man.

ELI: You will not call your father ridiculous.

JOSH: I can think of plenty of worse things. Lean forward.

ELI: How much were they?

JO...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Perseverance Drive
• Cast (in order of appearance)
• Cast and Crew
• Bush Theatre
• Thank You to Our Supporters
• Robin Soans In Conversation
• Half-title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Dedication
• Acknowledgements
• Characters
• Act One: ‘Barbados’
• Act Two: ‘Leytonstone’