Behud (Beyond Belief)

Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9781849430968
• eBook ISBN: 9781849435161
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Behud (Beyond Belief) is the latest play by controversial playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti.In December 2004, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti's play Behzti rocked the world of theatre when it was cancelled after protests in Birmingham. The closure of the play sparked a vehement debate about offence and freedom of speech, as well as death threats for the playwright forcing her to go into hiding. In Behud, a playwright attempts to make sense of the past by visiting the darkest corners of her imaginations. Set amidst the theatre establishment, politicians and protesters, Behud is an imaginative response, inspired by the events surrounding Behzti, and the compelling story of an artist struggling to be heard.

SCENE SIX

Afternoon. Boardroom. ANDREW, JOANNE, SIDHU and AMRIK sit around a huge table. Sounds of the demonstration can be heard outside. In particular there is a loud chant of ‘Bole So Nihal’.

AMRIK: No actors are getting through that lot. And if they do they might not feel like acting.

JOANNE: You assured us it would be a peaceful protest.

SIDHU: It is peaceful. They are happy, good boys.

AMRIK: We know the play isn’t finished.

ANDREW: A new piece of theatre is always being developed during rehearsals, that’s simply the creative process.

AMRIK: Don’t fob us off. What’s she got planned for the end?

ANDREW: I can’t inform you of every minute change to the script. You’ve already had unprecedented access to Tarlochan’s work.

SIDHU: You don’t care about our feelings Mr Fleming.

ANDREW: I do care Mr Sidhu. That’s why we’re here, trying to sort things out. This play is a piece of fiction. It’s not real, do you at least accept that?

AMRIK: Our taxes pay for your fictions.

ANDREW: Nothing in Gund breaks any law. Look, our theatre empowers artists to explore ideas.

AMRIK: And who decides which artists get to explore these ideas?

ANDREW: Someone’s got to do it.

AMRIK: Someone who looks like you, someone who thinks like you think.

ANDREW: There’s no need to be personal just because you don’t agree with my choices.

AMRIK: Everything you present about us is your take on who we are.

ANDREW: I don’t write the plays.

AMRIK: Do you accept that you don’t understand us?

ANDREW: No. Dramatic themes are universal. And good writing is good writing wherever it comes from.

SIDHU: I wish someone would write a nice play about a nice subject.

JOANNE: We can’t control what people write Mr Sidhu.

SIDHU: Is she keeping it set in the Gurdwara?

ANDREW: Yes.

SIDHU: Please, I’m begging you, ask her to change it to a community centre.

TARL: Wait…

The characters start speaking very quickly.

ANDREW: She is aware of your views but she will not compromise the setting.

AMRIK: So what are you going to do?

ANDREW: We hope to go ahead as planned.

AMRIK: Are you prepared to delay the opening?

ANDREW: No.

AMRIK: What’s the point of this meeting if you’re not going to listen?

TARL: Slow down…

ANDREW: You are being listened to.

JOANNE: I for one am listening.

SIDHU: You have to make some concessions.

ANDREW: We’re discussing those issues now.

AMRIK: Tarlochan should be here.

TARL: No, I don’t want to…

JOANNE: He does have a point.

ANDREW: It’s not appropriate.

TARL: I don’t have to be in it.

SIDHU: We can’t have this meeting without her!

The dialogue reaches a crescendo.

AMRIK: (Shouts.) This is rubbish.

TARL approaches.

AMRIK: All these words, they’re rubbish!

TARL: No they’re not.

AMRIK: War! This is war.

TARL: (Shouts.) No it’s not.

The characters stand up and look at TARL, she recoils in shock.

ANDREW: Tarlochan, what are you doing here?

TARL: What?

SIDHU: So this is the girl?

JOANNE: At last!

AMRIK: Long time no see.

TARL: This is wrong.

SIDHU: She’s much shabbier than I expected.

JOANNE: So you do exist!

TARL: No…I’m…I’m not in it.

ANDREW: In what?

TARL: I don’t know how to be.

ANDREW: Your being here isn’t a good idea.

TARL: I know, but this isn’t right, you’re not saying my words.

The characters look at each other, confused.

JOANNE: What’s she on about now?

ANDREW: Best if you come back later.

AMRIK: You look like shit. What happened to you?

TARL: I’m not sure what’s going on.

SIDHU: Brain damage.

ANDREW: This is a very stressful time for her.

Frozen to the spot, TARL stares at the characters.

TARL: (Urgent.) Stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down…

Nothing happens.

TARL: Stand up, sit down…

ANDREW: What are you saying Tarlochan?

TARL: Stop this now!

ANDREW: I’m sorry but you’re going to have to wait outside.

TARL: Outside? Where?

ANDREW: In the corridor.

SIDHU: Please I beg you change it to a community centre.

TARL: What?

SIDHU: Why are you torturing us?

TARL: I don’t understand.

AMRIK: She won’t talk...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half-title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Dedication
• BEHUD
• Characters
• Prologue
• SCENE ONE
• SCENE TWO
• SCENE THREE
• SCENE FOUR
• SCENE FIVE
• SCENE SIX
• SCENE SEVEN
• SCENE EIGHT
• SCENE NINE
• SCENE TEN
• SCENE ELEVEN
• SCENE TWELVE
• SCENE THIRTEEN
• SCENE FOURTEEN
• SCENE FIFTEEN
• SCENE SIXTEEN