BETTY: I hope you’re not going to be getting under our feet today, Miss Briony, we’ve got a dinner for ten to prepare.. ROBBIE: I’m not sure that would be quite.... BRIONY: I’m worried a
Trang 1BRIONY: I’ve finished my play!
GRACE: Well done, dear
BRIONY: Have you seen Mummy?
GRACE: I expect she’ll be in the drawing room
BETTY: I hope you’re not going to be getting under our feet today, Miss Briony, we’ve got a dinner for ten to prepare
ROBBIE: Hello pal I hear you’re putting on a play
BRIONY: Who told you?
ROBBIE: Jungle drums
BRIONY: Will you come and see it?
ROBBIE: I’m not sure that would be quite
ROBBIE: Why don’t you let me read it? You used to make me beautiful bound
copies of all your stories
BRIONY: I still want you to come
ROBBIE: Let’s see
BRIONY: Mummy, I need you!
EMILY: Stupendous! It’s stupendous, darling! Your first play!
BRIONY: Do you think Leon will like it?
EMILY: Well of course he will ‘The Trials of Arabella’ by Briony Tallis
BRIONY: Cee?
CECILIA: Yes
BRIONY: What do you think it would feel like to be someone else?
CECILIA: Cooler, I should hope
BRIONY: I’m worried about the play
CECILIA: I’m sure it’s a masterpiece
BRIONY: But we only have the afternoon to rehearse What if the twins can’t act? CECILIA: You have to be nice to them Think how you’d feel if your mother had run off with Mr What’s-His-Name who reads the news on the wireless
BRIONY: Perhaps I should have written Leon a story If you write a story, you only have to say the word ‘castle’ and you can see the towers and the woods and the village below But in a play it’s it all depends on other people
CECILIA: Mm
BRIONY: Cee?
CECILIA: Yes
BRIONY: Why don’t you talk to Robbie any more?
CECILIA: I do We just move in different circles, that’s all
JACKSON: Do we have to do a play?
PIERROT: Why do we have to?
Trang 2BRIONY: It’s to celebrate my brother Leon’s visit
PIERROT: I hate plays
JACKSON: So do I
BRIONY: How can you hate plays?
PIERROT: It’s just showing off
LOLA: You’ll be in this play or you’ll get a clout and I’ll tell the Parents
JACKSON: You’re not allowed to clout us
LOLA: We’re guests in this house and what did the Parents say we were to make ourselves? Well? Pierrot?
PIERROT: Amenable
LOLA: Jackson?
JACKSON: Amenable
LOLA: Amenable, that’s right
LOLA: Now, Briony, what’s your play about?
BRIONY: It’s about how love is all very well, but you have to be sensible
LOLA: I suppose you’re going to be Arabella
BRIONY: Well Not necessarily
LOLA: In that case, do you mind if I play her?
JACKSON: Lola was in the school play
LOLA: Do say yes, it’d be the first decent thing to happen to me in months
BRIONY: Well all right
LOLA: I suppose we should start by reading it
BRIONY: If you’re going to be Arabella, then I’ll be the director, thank you very much
LOLA: Sorr-ee!
BRIONY: I’m going to do the prologue
Prologue
This is the tale of spontaneous Arabella who ran away with an extrinsic fellow It grieved her parents to see their first born
Evanesce from her home to go to Eastbourne
BRIONY: Yes?
DANNY: Nothing Just thought I’d watch
BRIONY: Rehearsals are private, I’m afraid You can see the play this evening DANNY: I’ll have to work then
BRIONY: Well, I’m sorry, Danny
JACKSON: Can we have a swim now?
PIERROT: Yes, yes, yes!
BRIONY: No, I don´t really think there´s time
Trang 3PIERROT: Cecilia will let us
LOLA: I’m sure a half-hour break would do us all good
JACKSON: Please, can we go for a swim, Cecilia?
CECILIA: I don’t see why not, as long as you don’t go near the deep end
CECILIA: Can you do me one of your Bolshevik roll-ups?
CECILIA: Beautiful day
ROBBIE: I suppose so Too hot for me
ROBBIE: How are you enjoying your book?
CECILIA: Not at all
ROBBIE: It gets better
CECILIA: I’d rather read Fielding any day Much more passionate
CECILIA: Leon’s coming down today, did you know?
ROBBIE: I’d heard a rumour
CECILIA: He’s bringing a friend with him This Paul Marshall The chocolate
millionaire
ROBBIE: Are the flowers for him?
CECILIA: Why shouldn’t they be? Leon says he’s very charming
CECILIA: The Old Man telephoned last night He says you’re planning to be a doctor
ROBBIE: I’m thinking about it, yes
CECILIA: Another six years of student life?
ROBBIE: How else do you become a doctor?
CECILIA: You could get a Fellowship now, couldn’t you? With your First
ROBBIE: But I don’t want to teach
ROBBIE: I said I’d pay your father back
CECILIA: That’s not what I meant at all
ROBBIE: Let me help with that
CECILIA: I’m all right, thanks
ROBBIE: You take the flowers
CECILIA: I’m all right!
CECILIA: You idiot! You realise this is probably the most valuable thing we own ROBBIE: Not any more, it isn’t
ROBBIE: Careful!