Bodies Unfinished

Lewis Hetherington

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781849433822
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literatura
• Subtopic: Arte dramático británico

Alan loves his work. He doesn't love his wife, his mother or his only child, so he aims to break free and live for himself. Alan's going to sort this mess out – this huge, horrific mess that is his life. He's got a plan. He's going to stop playing the husband, the father, the son and find himself. He's going to sort it out once and for all. Bodies Unfinished opened at The Brockley Jack Theatre on 12th July 2011.

I

1.

ALAN guides JOYCE into a room that is supposed to look cosy.

JOYCE is still. She responds minimally to ALAN’s physical guidance.

ALAN: Here we go mum.

This is your new room.

The woman is silent.

He guides her into a chair.

Oh, it is hot isn’t it?

Yes. We should take that coat off.

He takes her coat off.

That’s better isn’t it?

Pause.

Well you’ll be wanting to unpack straight away won’t you, get your things out, make the place your own.

And then I can get out of your way.

So I’ll just go and get your bags now and leave you with

well I’ll find someone

a nurse or

as I say I’ll just get your bags and I won’t be a second.

ALAN exits.

ALAN returns.

Phew! Heavy eh?

What’ve you got in here?

He puts the case down on the bed and begins to unpack, he takes a photo frame.

That’s a nice one isn’t it?

Me and Carol and Toby. Look at all that sun. What a beautiful day that was.

He puts it on the bedside table.

What do you reckon?

No I’m not sure either,

Let’s put it here.

He puts it on the window ledge.

Now you can see it from anywhere in the room.

He begins to unpack further, but stops.

I’m not sure where to, I mean I don’t know if there is a system or, maybe someone else should finish all this for you.

Pause.

Because I, er, looking at the time, I have to go I’m meeting someone a, a new friend, anyway. I’ll come back soon.

I mean I’ll probably be round all the time, you won’t be able to get rid of me!

This place is lovely isn’t it?

Fantastic view.

Like a forest, all those trees. Elm aren’t they?

I’m sure they are. It’s a shame then they’ll all have to get chopped down. They’ll get that Dutch Elm disease and they’ll all die. You can’t tell from the outside but, it’s little bugs crawling under the bark going from tree to tree and there’s no cure. They work their way right to the core of the trunk and kill it. You just have to cut them down, in their prime of life, just cut them anyway.

Bye mum. Love you.

ALAN exits, JOYCE is alone.

JOYCE: I hate trees.

They clutter up a view

That’s why I like Lewis. Not really many trees on the island. All those rocks.

Like the moon.

We would go every year until that last time when...

That last day. It plays endlessly

I sit heavy in this life and that day sits heavy in my head.

2.

STELLA and ALAN sit together drinking. STELLA has a glass of wine.

Silence.

ALAN: I’ve not really done anything like this before.

I mean, of course I have done things like this, but not like this

I don’t have to pay people to talk to, to

STELLA: it’s ok Alan.

We’re just getting to know each other, that’s all.

ALAN: I know but I wanted to say that I’m not

STELLA: it’s ok.

I’m just enjoying spending time with you.

ALAN: Company

STELLA: yes. Company, conversation, whatever

ALAN: and just, it’s really nice to talk to someone who is...

It’s nice to meet someone different you know?

STELLA: absolutely

ALAN: that’s what I wanted, get to know a new person

STELLA: you’re interested in people

ALAN: yes.

STELLA: Meeting people, drinking, having a good time

ALAN: is your wine ok?

STELLA: yes, it’s lovely

ALAN: shall I get you another one then?

STELLA: I’d love one.

ALAN: Don’t feel you have to, because I can see you’ve still got most the glass left but I thought, I would have one so I should offer you

STELLA: I’d love another drink.

ALAN: Great.

ALAN starts to get up to the bar.

Or we could go somewh...