Tumulus (NHB Modern Plays)

Christopher Adams

• Editorial: Nick Hern Books
• Año: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781788500173
• Categoría: Literature
• Categoría: British Drama

Young men are dying and everyone assumes they're just casualties of London's chemsex scene. Everyone, that is, but Anthony, who is determined to investigate.

Christopher Adams' play Tumulus is a chilling, queer play-noir set amongst the shadowy hills of Hampstead Heath.

It was first performed as part of the 2018 VAULT Festival, London.

Also available in the collection Plays from VAULT 3.

ACT TWO

Scene One

A police station.

ANTHONY

On Friday afternoon

On a half-day from work

I am standing in a police station

I am wearing a trenchcoat and fedora

Looking the part helps focus the mind

CALLUM

Can I help you?

ANTHONY

I’d like to report a crime

CALLUM

Is it currently in progress?

ANTHONY

No

CALLUM

Then have you called 101?

ANTHONY

No I –

CALLUM

Then I suggest you use the phone in the lobby

ANTHONY

But I

ANTHONY’s phone rings.

CALLUM

Sir the sign outside

Clearly states that all mobile phones

Are to be turned off before entering

And if you don’t mind my saying

It’s difficult to see you

With that hat on

ANTHONY

Yes I am aware that –

It’s Jack

This is the third time he’s called

I made the mistake of letting him spend the night

Seeing as it was so late

By the time we were finished

CALLUM

Sir if you could put your phone on silent

ANTHONY silences his phone.

ANTHONY

The officer looks at me smugly

Like he’s taken a very satisfying shit

Now as I was saying

I’d like to report a crime

CALLUM

It’s best to route all information through 101

ANTHONY

I don’t mean to be rude

But a boy is dead

A young man

Not much younger than I am

(I am not yet thirty-three)

CALLUM

I don’t care what his age is

The information needs to go through 101

ANTHONY

He died on the Heath

On the tumulus

I’m his boyfriend

I assume a small lie won’t hurt

There’s a certain moral authority

That comes with saying boyfriend

CALLUM

Martin

MARTIN (offstage)

What is it Callum?

CALLUM

A man wants to report a crime

MARTIN (offstage)

Has he phoned 101?

CALLUM

It’s about the guy

On the tumulus

This man claims to be

His boyfriend

Enter MARTIN.

MARTIN

Nice hat

MARTIN gives CALLUM a look.

I am the LGBTQIA-plus liaison officer

We were unaware the victim had a partner

May I take your name?

ANTHONY

Anthony

Anthony Guest

MARTIN

And you are the victim’s boyfriend?

ANTHONY

That is correct

MARTIN

And what was your boyfriend’s name?

ANTHONY

George

MARTIN

And his surname?

ANTHONY

Oh

Um

MARTIN

Sir?

ANTHONY

Carney

MARTIN

Excuse me?

ANTHONY

Carnick

George Carnick

MARTIN indicates...