Scene 1 Flashcards
Martha: In a fine fettle as always then… Beth carries on like this every single time. But she warms up, don’t worry.
Lennox: Once we get into it.
Martha: We’ve told this tale many times before, the tale of Lennox/ landing
Lennox: /That’s me
Martha: Landing in our midst, unaware she would discover a secret and a magical place that / was
Lennox: /We need to explain/ about
Cooper: /Dad’s not here tonight.
Lennox: My Uncle
Dylan: So we’ll just fill his bits in.
Lennox: We’re very good
No story is complete with/out
Dylan: /An audience
Lennox: That’s you
Beth: She’ll be trampling everywhere and getting her nose into my garden.
Lennox: I wasn’t that bad
Lennox: Yeah, alright okay. [Takes a breath] I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! It’s the middle of nowhere with a bunch of (Lennox does exaggerated quotation marks) “family” I’ve never met. Is anyone going to actually tell me how long I’m going to be in this dump? I bet you don’t even have WiFi. There’s no phone signal, I tried. All you can see out of the window is green. There’s literally nothing here.
Martha: But boy did she shake things up around here!
I’ll take your bag, Lennox. Dylan will show you your room.
Lennox: You another cousin I don’t know about?
Martha: /We’re as good as family, just not actually related. We live in the cottage behind the fields. Your Uncle gets busy sometimes, so I help him out, look after Cooper, /the house.
Lennox: /Where is Cooper?
Martha: In bed.
Lennox: Already? What is she, like 5?
Martha: (To Lennox) Look, it’s lovely and sunny out. Why don’t you play outside for a bit, and I can get your stuff unpacked?
Lennox: Outside?
Lennox: Outside?
Martha: Yes.
Lennox: Do you know how old I am?
Lennox: Do you know how old I am?
Martha: Yes
Lennox: 12.
Lennox: 12.
Dylan: Same as me
Lennox: I don’t play outside. You make me sound like a child.
Martha: I’m definitely older than 12 and I still play.
Lennox: You what? Well I don’t.
Martha: I play with my Dylan all the time/
Dylan: /Not really, not like
Martha: /Making up stories, going on adventures, / and then
Lennox: /I don’t want to play. And I don’t want to go outside. And I don’t want to be here. I want to go home!
Martha: [To the audience] I told you she’d got a temper, didn’t I?
Lennox: Where’s Cooper?
Martha: In her room. Resting.
Lennox: So, what do you actually do around here? When you’re not playing?
Martha: Dylan can you check Cooper’s had her tablets? And if she wants any breakfast? Mr Craven’s left/ already
Dylan: /Yes Mum
Lennox: What’s he like?
Beth: Who?
Lennox: My uncle.
Beth: Well…
Lennox: My grandparents never talk about him.
Beth: There’s plenty round here no-one talks about.
Lennox: Like what?
Martha: Never mind her. He’s a good man, deep down. I think he’s just forgotten how to smile.
Lennox: Why doesn’t someone tell him to cheer up? I would.
Martha: But eventually people move on and he… well he didn’t, so he got left behind.
Lennox: Oh. Right.
Martha: Sometimes when people are sad, or lonely, it can seem like there’s a wall around them. Not many folks understand that.
Lennox: Well great. I mean this sounds like it’s going to be a brilliant holiday. What with all that death and everything. You all sound like a right barrel of laughs.
Beth: Stop talking rubbish! You’ll fill her head with ideas
Lennox: Is it true?
Martha: Their own special place, hidden away. So romantic. Imagine finding it after all that time, after it’s been locked up, forgotten and hidden away for years.
[To the audience] That’ll give her something to put her energy into, wouldn’t you say?
Lennox: That’s a stupid story.
Martha: Suit yourself. Look, if you’re not going outside, you can help me and Beth set up for band practice this afternoon. Get yourself ready for a proper Northumbrian welcome young lady.
Lennox: Here? Band practice here
Martha: Yes! Only…
Martha and Beth exchange a look
Lennox: What?
Martha: Don’t tell your Uncle
Lennox: Why?
Martha: There was a time when he’d be leading the whole thing, clapping and singing, he’s got the most beautiful voice [She pauses, remembering]. But since Mrs Craven passed away. Well, it’s too painful for him. And we’ve got to respect that
Lennox: Except you’re not are you? ‘Cause you’re still going to do it.
Martha: We probably shouldn’t Lennox. But it’s a part of us. You know, when you’ve been working hard all week, it doesn’t feel right just going home, the silence of the day hanging in the air like that. It’s in our blood.
Musicians begin noodling.
Lennox: You’re not going to… sing? Now?
Martha: We’ve got to get warmed up! It’s very catchy this one. You’ll soon pick it up. And Dylan will help, won’t you Dyl?
Dylan: It’s just a few/ repeat
Lennox: /I am NOT singing
And the sound it is glorious.
And we sing and we dance
Whene’er we get chance
Lennox: This is SO cringey
Dylan: We always sing
Lennox: With your Mum?
Dylan: Ye-, well with everyone. Not just Mum. Everyone sings or plays
Lennox: Well I don’t.
Dylan: You can borrow/ my
Lennox: /And I don’t want to. It’s so embarrassing.
Martha: You teaching her the words Dyl?
Dylan: (Unsure) //Yeah
Lennox: //No.
Lennox: And what about Cooper? What does she do?
Dylan: She can play too, and sing, she’s got a beautiful voice. She doesn’t just sing a song, she tells the story of it. But then she loves stories. I bet she’d love to join in but she’s…
Lennox: What?
Dylan: Sick
Lennox: I’m not surprised. I feel sick listening to this.
Dylan: It’s not like that, it’s… it doesn’t matter, you won’t/ under
Lennox: /Is there… something wrong with her?
Dylan: No. Forget it.
Lennox: I want to meet her.
Dylan: I don’t think that’s a /good idea
Martha: /Are you going to join in or not?
Lennox: Dylan was just saying she could give me a tour of the house.
Dylan: I- was I?
Lennox: She can teach me some of the words while we go. So I can join in. Next time.
Dylan: She doesn’t/ want
Martha: /It’ll do her good
Lennox: Of course, we will.
