Big Big Sky (NHB Modern Plays)

Tom Wells

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781839040184
• eBook ISBN: 9781788503921
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Kilnsea, East Yorkshire. Angie and Lauren are closing up the café for another winter; the birds have gone south and taken the tourists with them. The last visitor is Dennis, stopping by for his pasty and beans. But there's another arrival – one that's unforeseen and life-changing for them all.Big Big Sky is a beautifully tender play by Tom Wells, who was originally from Kilnsea. The play explores nature's influence on love, friendship and family – the belief that anyone who's lost can be found, even in the remotest of places. It was premiered at Hampstead Theatre in July 2021, directed by Tessa Walker.

Autumn

1.

Saturday. Dusk.

LAUREN drags the sign in from outside, a big sandwich board saying ‘Café Open’, and shuts the door. She leans the sign against the wall.

ANGIE comes out of the kitchen.

ANGIE. Are we done?

LAUREN. Fingers crossed.

LAUREN looks through the window.

Quite a big family in the car park – people carrier, two dogs – thought if we look closed when they get here, might let us off the hook a bit.

ANGIE. Did they look hungry?

LAUREN. Hard to tell, isn’t it, under all the fleeces. Need something we can just pass them Mars bars through the door.

ANGIE. Plan.

LAUREN. Reckon they got the hint anyway.

ANGIE. Did you glare?

LAUREN. Not much. A bit. It’s sort of just my face. Best crack on.

ANGIE. Have a rest for a minute.

LAUREN. It’s fine.

ANGIE. Hardly stopped since we opened.

LAUREN. Neither have you.

ANGIE. There’s oat slice left. If you fancied a bit of oat slice.

LAUREN. I’m honestly fine, Angie.

ANGIE. Got a long night still to –

LAUREN. Exactly. And to be honest, I’m shitting myself a bit, so I feel like the best thing to do is just get all cleared up here, grab my stuff, maybe we can set off a bit early if that’s okay? So I can run through a couple of the songs once we get to the actual, once we’re there.

ANGIE. We’ll get cleared up, get Neil picked up, get there soon as. Apparently he’s wearing a cowboy hat.

LAUREN. Course he is.

ANGIE spots something out the window.

ANGIE. And here’s your dad.

LAUREN. Oh for –

DENNIS enters.

DENNIS. Evening.

LAUREN. Every time.

ANGIE. Hello, Dennis.

LAUREN. Every. Flipping –

DENNIS. What you on about: ‘every time’?

LAUREN. Every time we shut up, Dad.

DENNIS. Don’t be daft.

LAUREN. It’s been literally two minutes since I dragged that bloody sign in, you’re here to hoover up the leftovers, for free.

DENNIS. Not true, but.

LAUREN. Right.

DENNIS. I’m actually here for two very particular reasons, neither of which involves hoovering up the leftovers.

ANGIE. You sure, Dennis? There’s still a pasty left, beans, if you fancy?

DENNIS. Well.

DENNIS thinks.

If there’s beans.

LAUREN and ANGIE share a look.

But just to be clear: that’s not why I’m here.

ANGIE. Here you are then.

ANGIE passes DENNIS a pasty and beans.

DENNIS. Cheers, Angie. Lovely.

He digs in.

You can take that face off you and all.

LAUREN. Can I?

DENNIS. Lot on my plate today.

LAUREN. Lot of beans.

They smile.

I’m sorry, Dad, but, bit of a rush, I’ll have to clear up round you.

LAUREN gets on.

DENNIS. What are you in a rush for?

LAUREN. Nowt. Life.

DENNIS. Well like I say, I’ve just got a couple of things to –

LAUREN. Dad, you’ve got your pasty, don’t have to pretend –

DENNIS. I do have a couple of things.

LAUREN. Like what?

DENNIS. Well, one: said I’d give you this, in case you can put it up somewhere.

DENNIS takes a poster out of his bag.

It’s a poster. It’s for, um –

LAUREN is still wiping tables.

LAUREN. Yep, course, just pop it on the board. It’s magnetic but there’s magnets.

DENNIS. And two: meant to be meeting this lad. Ed. Said he’d be here at five so he’s a bit late actually but.

LAUREN. Who’s Ed?

DENNIS. This lad I’m meeting.

LAUREN. Yeah but how come?

DENNIS. Oh. I’ve rented out your room.

LAUREN stops wiping tables.

LAUREN. Um. What?

DENNIS. Your old room.

Well you don’t need it any more, do you?

LAUREN. No but –

DENNIS. Exactly. And, bit of extra cash, always handy, isn’t it?

LAUREN. I haven’t finished emptying it though. All my stuff. Only moved out on Thursday.

DENNIS. Mentioned it down the pub, started telling me about this website: Airbnb. So I put it on, uploaded it to the website, your room – I mean, the room – thinking maybe someone’ll want it in the summer, plenty of time to get it sort of up to scratch, clear it out, maybe a lick of paint what have you.

LAUREN. What have you done with my stuff?

DENNIS. Your stuff’s fine, love. It’s in bin bags in the shed.

LAUREN. Dad.

DENNIS. Next thing I know this lad –

LAUREN. Ed.

DENNIS. He’s rented it out for the weekend. Just like that. I’ve had to sort it out, sharpish. That’s today.

LAUREN. No I mean –

DENNIS. More Febreze involved than I expected but.

LAUREN. Dad. Ed.

LAUREN nods at the door.

DENNIS. Oh.

ED is opening it slowly.

ED. Um, hiya, sorry to, to barge in I just, I know it says closed but, you’re all shut up but, looking for, um…

He looks at a scrap of paper.

Dennis?

Said to meet him here. So I am doing. Hopefully.

DENNIS. That’s me.

ED. Oh brilliant. Ed.

He smiles, shakes DENNIS’s hand.

DENNIS. Just finishing up here, then I’ll…

ED. Course, course, no rush.

DENNIS doesn’t rush.

ED looks to ANGIE and LAUREN.

Smiles.

Ed.

ANGIE. I’m Angie. This is Lauren.

LAUREN. Hey.

A moment.

ANGIE. D...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Contents
• Original Production Details
• Dedication
• Big Big Sky
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information