The Authorised Kate Bane

Ella Hickson

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2012
• eBook ISBN: 9781780011844
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

A painfully comic excavation of a familyhistory that asks if there is an authorised version of the past - or justthe one we can live with.

Kate Bane returns home to her parents for a winterweekend to introduce her new boyfriend. As the snow falls, Kate findsherself searching with increasing desperation for the truth about her family's past. Are her memories fact, or are they continually shifting acts of imagination?

Unable topin down the truth, can she write a version of the family mythology that will ensure her own happiness?

Ella Hickson's play The Authorised Kate Bane first performed at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, in October 2012 in a production by Grid Iron Theatre Company. It then transferred to the Tron Theatre, Glasgow.

One

LONDON

KATE enters her bedroom. She is dressed from an evening out. She walks into the bedroom, closes the door behind her and leans against it.

ALBIN (from downstairs – barely audible). How was it?

KATE ignores the question. KATE gets changed into her pyjamas. She walks a circle around her room; she’s deep in thought, frustrated. KATE lies on the floor, she pushes her limbs out to make a starfish shape.

ALBIN knocks on the door quietly.

(Through the door.) How did it go?

KATE. I’ll be down in a second, just give me a second – I’ll come down.

No response.

ALBIN (through the door). How did it go?

Beat.

KATE. I left.

ALBIN. Before the end?

KATE. There was no point in staying.

ALBIN. That seems a bit defeatist. (Beat.) Can I come in?

KATE. I’ll come down. I’ll come down and – I’ll /

ALBIN. / Okay. Your mum rang.

KATE. Did you speak to her?

ALBIN. I introduced myself.

KATE. And?

ALBIN. And?

KATE. And?

ALBIN. She just asked if they should bring anything tomorrow.

KATE. What did you say?

ALBIN. Maybe wine.

KATE. Oh.

ALBIN. That okay?

KATE. Course. (Beat.) I’ll come down and – do supper in a tick.

ALBIN. Okay.

KATE. Okay.

ALBIN leaves the other side of the door.

KATE is left alone in the room.

KATE’s head won’t keep quiet.

KATE walks, with some purpose – towards her computer, she is going to write – she has to write, to get it down.

As she walks, her pyjamas come off and a smart outfit comes on.

The sound of her footsteps shifts from slippers on a bedroom floor to feet on gravel.

KELSO

A country cottage in Kelso, Scotland. It hasn’t changed in twenty years. Family photos, souvenirs, certificates are still about the place – but the house has been perfectly maintained. It is spotless, comfortable, homely. The house is some distance from the closest train station and there is nothing but fields in walking distance. It is mid-January, the weather is bitter – it snows – and snows.

Evening, pitch black outside – the snow has been falling hard for several hours.

Inside, soft lamplight, an open fire. Three champagne glasses are set out on a tray.

IKE arranges and rearranges a plate of canapés.

IKE moves several objects around on the coffee table – he stands back, looks – readjusts them for aesthetic ease, and moves away.

IKE pours himself a glass of champagne, knocks it back – dries the glass and places it back on the side.

IKE stands still. The silence of the house is palpable. A long time passes.

A car can be heard coming down the drive – the headlights swing in through the windows.

IKE checks things once more and then waits – by the door.

We can hear the slamming of car doors – footsteps on gravel, on snow – the doorbell rings.

IKE stares at the door.

The front doorbell rings.

Pause.

The front doorbell rings.

IKE opens the front door to KATE and ALBIN. IKE is talking on the telephone. He apologises profusely in mime, rolls his eyes – suggests the person is yapping. He mimes a ‘Lovely to meet you – come in’ – to ALBIN, who nods.

KATE. Hi, Dad.

IKE. If they need me there then they should have rung earlier, I just can’t do it – I don’t care how urgent it is, Roy – I said that this weekend was out and I mean it – emergency or no emergency –

KATE. Hi.

KATE stares at IKE.

IKE. I’m sorry, Roy – I’m really going to have to go – I’m really going – my daughter’s here – with her boyfrie...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Author’s Note
• Acknowledgements
• Original Production
• Epigraph
• Dedication
• Characters
• The Authorised Kate Bane
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information