2401 Objects

Analogue, Lewis Hetherington, Hannah Barker, Liam Jarvis

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9781849431958
• eBook ISBN: 9781849433815
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

2011 Fringe First Award Winner

"Henry, are you awake?"

Henry lives each day like the last. Exactly like the last. Every day, he tries to make sense of the world around him; the girl sitting on the lawn outside his window, the pages of a book filled with the same sentence, the 80 year old man looking at him in the mirror.

In 2009 Patient H.M.'s brain is dissected live on the internet to a global audience of 400,000 people, cut into carefully preserved slices: manuscripts of tissue like the pages of a book.

In 1953 Henry Molaison emerges from experimental brain surgery without any recollection of the last two years of his life or the ability to form new memories.

In 1935 nine-year old Henry is knocked over by a bike, leaving him unconscious for five minutes.

Following Analogue's critically acclaimed Mile End and Beachy Head and inspired by the world's most important neuroscientific case-study, 2401 Objects tells the remarkable story of a man who could no longer remember, but who has proven impossible to forget.

1.

The stage is empty except for a microphone on a stand to one side. A recording made at the Brain Observatory in San Diego of DR JACOPO ANNESE is heard:

Ladies and Gentlemen. Hello, this is Dr Annese from San Diego.

I have been asked to say what do I do for a job and it is not a very easy answer at the moment because I thought I was an anatomist, and I think I became more of a storyteller, and I tell stories about patients who have something wrong with their brains.

And lately I've been telling stories about people who have nothing wrong with their brains but who wish to donate their brains to science and… I think I've confused you enough.

Well I apologise for not being there and, nonetheless I am making this recording for Analogue. And I was asked to welcome you the audience on account of the work I have done with Henry Molaison.

Now Henry is the reason why everyone is here. The performers, the audience, and my voice too, We're all here because of him. Because of what he did in his life. Because of what happened to him. Because of what they did to him. Me included.

And I would like to be there and speaking in person but I can't, so somebody is actually gonna speak on my behalf. I haven't met him but I trust that he will do a very good job.

The company enter stage with furniture to set up Bickford Health Centre. One actor takes their place at the microphone and puts on a jacket to play DR JACOPO ANNESE. The jacket is worn every time the actor plays this role during the show.

And I think now it's time for me to leave the stage to the real actors.

DRJACOPO ANNESE: Ladies and Gentlemen. Hello. For the next hour, I am Doctor Annese.

We decided it was important that I was here in some way and could tell you face to face something of the stories I have played a part in, like that of Henry Molaison.

A performer takes his place as HM, sitting on his chair at the Bickford Health Centre.

One of the most important brains in the world.

But I've been asked to just tell you about a flight I made. It was February 2009 and I remember I was sat on this plane, very normal plane, wings, aisles, overhead lockers. We were getting ready for take off. And as the engines were growling into life and we started along the runway, I was excited because it was a momentous flight really. Momentous – for me – because of the reason I was travelling.

And the reason was Henry.

A rush of sound as plane takes off.

2.

A NURSE is walking through a projected corridor of Bickford Care Centre. As she reaches the end she turns, we see her in a window waving at HM from the corridor.

HM sits alone in his room, as the light of the TV flickers on his face. Extracts from the film ‘To Have and Have Not’ are heard:

Extract 1:

FEMALE VOICE: I'm not gonna let you do it.

MALE VOICE: Why not? He's no different from anyone else just a little sicker that's all. It means he's not worth so much now let me – You can have another crack at me later on.

Extract 2:

FEMALE VOICE: Anybody got a match?

Sound of box of matches being thrown and a match being lit.

Thanks.

At the end of the corridor the NURSE turns and enters HM's room. He is 65. HM treats her as if he's not met her before: friendly but unsure. She has worked with him for a year.

HM: Hello.

NURSE: Hi Henry, how are you today?

HM: Very well thank you.

NURSE: Beautiful day.

HM: Yes.

NURSE: Do you want some breakfast?

HM: Orange juice and hot buttered toast please.

Train rushes by outside the window.

Oh, there goes a train.

NURSE: Yes, I wonder where it's going.

I brought the crossword.

HM: I'll tell you who likes a crossword. My Father.

NURSE: Did you ever do them together?

HM: Oh no. He would do them on his own before dinner. I can see him there. With a Bourbon. He would take a sip when he didn't know an answer.

NURSE: Really?

HM: Oh yes. I can see it very clearly. At the dinner table. Mother cooking something lovely in the kitchen. My Father at his end of the table doing the crossword.

NURSE: I have a crossword here for you Henry.

HM: Well how funny!

NURSE: Would you like it?

HM: Yes please!

NURSE: What does that first one say?

HM: 19th Century Russian novelist, Seven Letters.

Pause.

Tolstoy.

NURSE: I can never get the answers to these things. How do you do it?

HM: I don't know. Do you have a pen?

NURSE: No. I'll get you one.

NURSE turns to leave, puts her hand in her pocket, turns back to him.

Oh no I've got one here.

NURSE offers him the pen.

HM: What?

NURSE: A pen for your crossword.

HM takes a moment to process the situation.

HM: Right.

NURSE: I'll get your...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half-title page
• Directors’ Notes
• What would you lose if you lost the last two years of your life?
• Editor
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Characters
• A Word on the Set
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Chapter 17
• Chapter 18