Catastrophe Practice by Nicholas Mosley Page B

papers
.
    The table and chairs, covered by the original CURTAIN, are in the structure of a nomad’s tent, left of centre
.
WALDORF
It’s the sun.
SMUDGER
It looks like the sun.
NORBERT
What does the sun look like?
WALDORF
Round. A sort of yellow.
    Norbert turns and makes patterns with his hands with the shadows that he casts from the window to the opposite wall
.
SMUDGER
Perhaps it’s the Aurora Borealis —
WALDORF
What is the Aurora Borealis?
SMUDGER
High speed particles, like, come down through the atmosphere, like —
    He looks up at the flies
.
    Norbert has been making shadows move to and fro across Bert’s face. Bert, with his back against the proscenium arch, left, appears to be asleep. Waldorf watches: then he makes a gesture for Smudger to get down. They get on to hands andknees. They begin to crawl past the plate-glass window towards the front of the stage — as if keeping out of sight, or out of the light. When they reach the front, right, they turn and look back
.
    Norbert has knelt down by Geordie, who appears to be ill
.
    At the bar, the Barman and the Char are poring over their papers
.
CHAR
You change —
BARMAN
If you like —
CHAR
There are connections —
BARMAN
In the fields. The factories —
CHAR
What specifications?
BARMAN
The lesser for the greater. Blood and bone.
    Norbert, helping Geordie, has begun to crawl past the plate-glass window to join Waldorf and Smudger at the front of the stage
.
CHAR
Efficiency. Economy —
BARMAN
Call them by different names —
CHAR
What —
BARMAN
Spot. Beauty.
    The Barman mimes tidying papers
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    Norbert and Geordie have managed to join Waldorf and Smudger by the footlights
.
    The Four sit with their backs to the audience. The Char has been watching where they have cast shadows to the left. She calls —
CHAR
I saw you!
    Norbert is forcing Geordie’s head down on his knees. Waldorf and Smudger are holding his arms and legs. It is uncertain if they are helping or hurting him
.
    The Char has her back to them
.
    Where did you find them?
BARMAN
Just down from the trees.
CHAR
— On a dark night —
BARMAN
— Can you tell the difference?
    The Barman comes from behind the bar and stands by the Char and puts an arm round her shoulders. They face where the shadows have been, left
.
CHAR
Come along then. Coop. Coop —
BARMAN
Wire floor. Netting. All amenities.
    They seem to be waiting for more shadows on the wall
.
CHAR
What do you feed them?
BARMAN
Waste from the factories. Jokes. Shit.
    Waldorf, Smudger and Norbert let go of Geordie. They recline, by the footlights, right, their backs to the audience
.
    They watch the Barman and the Char
.
    The Barman and the Char face the audience
.
CHAR
And where does it come in —
BARMAN
What —
CHAR
Gas. Electricity —
BARMAN
Little pipes. Like music.
    The Char looks up at the flies
.
CHAR
And it goes on all the time —
BARMAN
You don’t taste it, touch it, smell it —
CHAR
And if the head breaks off?
BARMAN
It stays inside.
    The Barman and the Char turn to the plate-glass window
.
    It is as if they have been uncertain, but have now decided, that this may be the front of the stage
.
CHAR
What do they see?
BARMAN
Coloured lights, shapes, music —
CHAR
— The plains where they were born —
BARMAN
—The rings round Salamanca —
    The Char looks at the Four by the footlights
.
CHAR
I thought it would be more —
BARMAN
What —
CHAR
You know. Two by two. In a sack.
BARMAN
That didn’t pay.
    The Char turns and looks at the shelter, left
.
CHAR
— Rubs them together —
BARMAN
— Keeps them white.
    Then the Char faces the audience
.
    The Barman stands watching the plate-glass. At the front of the stage, right, Norbert has turned and has stretched a hand out over the footlights. There seems to be no light on it. Norbert examines his hand. Then he looks up at the flies
.
    The Barman, watching the plate-glass, seems to