Zadow In the Moss

1. Auflage 2021
ISBN: 978-1-913724-59-7
Verlag: Renard Press
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 96 Seiten

Exponentially increasing levels of unemployment and simmering racial tension in Moss Side, inner Manchester, exploded into mass riots on the 8th of July 1981, following the siege of a police station. In the Moss frames the events from the perspectives of Janet, a student nurse working in A&E, and Nav, a Sikh police officer on the streets. Both crave a return to normality and just want to fit in, but when violence breaks out and a teenage boy is stabbed, they are thrust together and forced to confront questions that arise about what really happened in the Moss.

Emma Zadow is an actor, playwright and screenwriter from Norfolk. She trained at Rose Bruford College as an actor, and her plays have been performed at the Arcola, the Old Red Lion Theatre, Camden Fringe Festival, Norwich Arts Centre and Pleasance Theatre. Emma is a BBC New Creative and alumni playwright from the Soho Theatre Writers Lab, and she was shortlisted for the ETPEP Award and Tony Craze Award. Her screenplays include the hit short film The Cromer Special. Emma now lives in London.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Zadow, Emma

Leseproben

ACT ONE

Shapes and figures run through the flashing lights. janet and nav appear. She rummages for keys to the door in front of them. It’s a struggle. He towers over her from behind. janet breathes faster.

janet: It’s just… normally I’m… I’m more… What always helps is a curry on the way home, a couple of Pils – beers – I’m classy for my age. Two for one at the corner shop. Does me a deal. But that, out there… All those… people.

(Pause.)

nav: Which key is it again, love?

janet: I don’t… don’t know.

nav: Yes, you do. Now. Let’s look at the lock. Is it gold or silver?

janet: Um… I dunno.

nav: Yes, you do. Answer me.

janet: Um… gold, I think.

nav: Now, is it this one?

janet: No. I’m trying my best. I can’t see properly.

nav: This one?

janet: Maybe. It’s so dark!

nav: Let’s give that a go, shall we? And if not, we’ll just try again.

(There is an explosion behind them. nav and janet throw themselves through the door. They slam it shut behind them. He leans his shoulder against it. janet runs to the centre of the room.)

Get back!

(nav looks at her from the door, his shoulder still firm against it.)

I need you to stay there!

janet: Why? What have we done?

(She goes to the middle of the room. The explosions subside. Silence.)

nav: I… I need to check the area. Make sure you’re not—

janet: There’s blood on your…

(nav opens and slams the door again, hard, locks it and throws her the key. She catches it. He moves, checking as he goes.)

Shouldn’t we call… I dunno, backup or something?

nav: Please, just—

janet: I shouldn’t have… I should have been—

nav: We need to be smart.

(They jump as another crash sounds; nav grabs janet and pulls them both down on to their stomachs on the floor. Silence. He calculates their next move.)

janet: Afraid of a little petrol bomb after the riot shields?

nav: I didn’t exactly see any nurses on the scene.

janet: What happened out there?

nav: You got an idea from what was going on in A&E, I’m sure.

janet (whispering): Saalem aleiku… um… aleika-hum, erm… yeah. Oh. Sorry. I’m no good at this.

(nav stares at her hard.)

What? Our Sheila on Hulme Way went with—

nav: Is there a back door out of here?

janet: No. Look, I’m sorry. I’ve already had a shit day, might as well make it a bit unshitter… shittier-less… (She frowns).

nav: Whatever it is, it wasn’t your fault.

(They look at each other.)

janet: Thanks.

nav: These things happen in A&E. I’m sure you did all you could and—

janet: OK, I get it.

nav: OK. (Hurt:) Glad you got the message. (Pause.) Are you sure you’re OK?

janet: I’m fine.

nav: Get up.

(They get up slowly, cautiously.)

janet: Do you want me to take a look at the wound?

nav: What?

janet: The blood. There must be a wound under your uniform?

nav: Oh, no, it’s not mine.

(Slight pause.)

janet: Do you mind if I… (She indicates the next room.) It’s just, I’m a bit desperate…

nav: No, sure. Go for it.

janet: It’s only, do you want to… (she indicates the bathroom again) check first? That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?

nav: Oh! Right, yeah.

(He goes into the bathroom and looks around.)

janet (joking): Anything dangerous in there?

nav (from the bathroom): No. Unless you count me!

(He returns.)

janet: Look, it’s not a big flat. It’s just me.

nav: I wanted to. After today. After—

janet: I’m fine.

nav: So you keep saying.

janet: Is this going to take long?

nav: Listen, there’s been reports of nurses being targeted.

janet: So. You thought you’d be the hero and take me home tonight with no backup. Brilliant. Just brilliant!

(Pause.)

nav: I’m sick of this, this—

janet: You were there – was it as bad as it seemed from where we were?

nav: Hot.

On fire.

Fuming cars.

I’d rather—

janet: Can I get you a drink?

(Pause.)

nav: Are you serious?

(janet nods.)

I think we should stay here. Don’t aggravate things with our appearance. I’m not leaving. Not now.

janet: What about backup? Have you tried the radio or something?

nav: Faulty. But seeing as I was heading back—

janet: So we’re stuck.

nav: You got a phone?

(She laughs.)

Sh! Shut it, yeah? You got one or not?

janet: Have you got one?

nav: No.

janet: Well, then. We’re stuck.

nav: I can’t leave until it’s safe.

(There is another crash beyond them. An ambulance siren screeches in and out of earshot.)

janet: Talk to me about something.

nav: Erm… Well…

janet: Just anything! Please!

nav: I’m not… good at that stuff.

(He picks up a small antique china lion from a shelf.)

janet: Now!

nav: All right!

(Pause.)

Well, um, d’ya like the Reno, yeah? Well, one at the station said he saw Richard Dunn and Muhammad Ali, right? In the Reno. Ali. ’76. Right there in front of him. Right after they were like… (He enacts a left hook and double jab.)

janet: Watch it! That’s… very delicate.

nav: Sorry.

(He gives it back to her.)

janet: It was… from a school trip.

nav: What weird trips did your school do?

janet: I pretend he lets out a little roar every time I walk past him.

nav: Bit weird, that.

janet: Maybe it helps when I’m scared.

(She...