Foxes

Dexter Flanders

• Publisher: Methuen Drama
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781350183957
• eBook ISBN: 9781350183971
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: British Drama

Think how many others there are like me, hiding in the shadows, operating in the night like foxes, for fear of rejection and a life of ridicule. I've worked too hard to gain my respect only for it to be taken from me because of something I can't control. Foxes follows Daniel, a young black man trying to keep up with his life, which is moving fast. When his relationship with best friend Leon brings an unexpected change it creates turmoil, bringing a taboo into his family home that has the power to tear the closest and most loving relationships apart. Shortlisted for the 2018 Alfred Fagon Award, Dexter Flanders's debut play Foxes explores masculinity and identity within London's Caribbean community and Black street culture. This powerful play is published in Methuen Drama's Lost Plays series, celebrating new plays that had productions postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak and the global shutdown of theatre spaces.

Act Two

Scene One

Evening. Living room. Meera is tidying whilst singing. Daniel comes in with bags, he’s been clothes shopping for the baby.

DanielYo babes, you seen my mum?

Meera Food shopping.

DanielCool.

MeeraYou sure you got enough bags?

Daniel (excited) Look, look what I got.

Daniel goes through a sequence of showing Meera a selection of baby trainers, caps, clothes and blankets.

DanielLook at these Jordans, mad innit, and I got these cute hats and also look . . .

Reveals a designer baby jacket from the bag.

Won’t fit her straight away but she’ll grow –

MeeraYeah, it’s nice.

DanielWhat . . . just nice?

Meera Yeah, it’s cute.

DanielI hear you saying it’s cute, but your face is push up like to say – look I’ll take them back / if you –

MeeraWhere did you get the money to buy all that?

Daniel (beat) Student loan.

Meera Student loan, right!

DanielYeah, I been saving it / because I knew –

Meera reveals Daniel’s bank statement.

Meera Then what is this.

DanielWhat’s that?

Meera Your bank statement, you spent that months ago.

DanielWhy you going through my shit?

Daniel snatches bank statement.

Meera I didn’t have to go through your shit, I’m tidying up.

Look I’m grateful, I really am and it’s nice stuff but tell me you ain’t doing that shit again?

DanielI told you –

MeeraI know what you told me but tell me the truth.

DanielIt is the truth!

Meera Then why don’t I believe you? I told you I’m not bringing up no child here if you’re still on that.

DanielAnd I told you I’ve stopped! Anyway, you didn’t mind before . . . when I was spending P on you, and now you got a set of fucking morals you think you can tell man what to do . . . Look what I’ve done for you. You live here because of me. Your family didn’t want you and I made sure you were looked after, so before you start dishing out orders on man look at what the fuck I’m doing for you –

Patricia enters.

PatriciaOi, what is going on inside ’ere?

Pause.

PatriciaMeera, go downstairs . . .

MeeraI’m so sorry –

PatriciaI’m not going to repeat myself.

Meera goes.

PatriciaWhose house is this?

DanielLet me explain.

PatriciaMi never ask yuh fi explain nuttin, mi ask yuh a question.

Now, whose house is this?

DanielYours.

PatriciaDat’s right. Don’t let mi catch you tarkin dat rubbish about ‘why she live here’ and ‘what yuh done fi her’, because di last time I check, this house in my name.

DanielWhy you listening / to our conversation?

PatriciaNah boda ask mi why mi listening to anything in my own house and I don’t want to ’ear you raising yu voice to her like dat full stop.

Deena comes running up the stairs and bursts in with excitement dancing.

DeenaMum, Mum, Mum, guess who’s –

PatriciaNot right now Deena, I’m trying to sort out –

DeenaCool but –

PatriciaI said not right now! I can’t do two things at once and I’m trying fi sort out these two inside ’ere.

Deena is shocked.

DeenaDo you know what, forget it!

Deena storms off.

PatriciaExcuse me! What’s di matter wid everyone inside here. Mi have your sister upset every two second for God knows what and then yuh two are fighting whenever mi turn mi back. I just want some bloody peace and quiet inna mi house! Is that too much to ask for? Now what’s dis rubbish you tarkin to Meera?

DanielWe were just talking and then –

PatriciaThen talk! Now is not di time to be shouting at her, giving the gyal all kinds of stress. Listen, whatever yawl arguing about is none of my business, but I’m nobody’s fool, but yuh can’t do things for people outta the kindness of yuh heart and throw it back in their face when you na like what yuh hear, do I make myself clear?

DanielYes, Mum.

Meera and Patricia exit. Daniel takes a seat. Deep breath.

Scene Two

Leon’s flat. A rainy late evening. Leon is tidying, playing grime music. Door knocking. Leon turns the music off, looks through the peep hole and opens the door.

DanielCan I holla at you real quick?

Leon (hesitant) Yeah cool.

Daniel enters. Leon sits. Apart from the sound of the rain it’s silent.

DanielI been outside three hours trying to think what I was gonna say when I come here.

LeonListen bro –

DanielLet me talk . . . what the fuck, fam! Yo, real early man ain’t no eeddiat you know. Trust me, I’m telling you man ain’t no eediat! I thought to come back, lick off man’s door and do you suttin. But then I thought nah that’s Leon. My guy . . . Man vomited for hours. Just kept retching. Like I had something inside of me, inside...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Foxes
• Characters
• Act One
• Act Two
• Act Three
• eCopyright