Foxfinder

Dawn King

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2013
• eBook ISBN: 9781780012124
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

England is in crisis. Fields are flooded, food is scarce and fear grips the land.

William Bloor, a foxfinder, arrives at Judith and Samuel Covey's farm to investigate a suspected fox infestation. The Coveys' harvest has failed to meet their target and the government wants to know why. Trained from childhood, William is fixated on his mission to unearth the animals that must be to blame for the Coveys' woes. But as the hunt progresses, William finds more questions than answers…

A darkly comic, spell-binding dystopian drama, Dawn King's Foxfinder won the 2011 Papatango New Writing Prize and premiered at the Finborough Theatre, London.

Foxfinder had its West End premiere at the Ambassadors Theatre, London, in 2018, in a production directed by Rachel O'Riordan.

1

A farmhouse kitchen. Minimal decoration, scrupulously clean. SAMUEL and JUDITH are sitting at the table. Both are in their Sunday best – neat, plain clothes of timeless appearance. It is raining heavily outside.

SAMUEL. Went up the top this morning. I reckon half that wheat has had it.

JUDITH. It might recover.

SAMUEL. Not if this weather keeps on.

Pause.

And east-gate field... waste of seed that was. It’s like a bog.

JUDITH. We might get something from it. Better than nothing.

SAMUEL. I planted it too early. You can say that.

JUDITH. We don’t know yet, do we? The rain could stop tomorrow.

Pause.

There’s a good crop of leeks coming.

SAMUEL. Huh. I wouldn’t call it good.

Pause. The rain batters against the windows.

Listen to it. It’s stupid travelling on a day like this.

JUDITH. He’ll be soaked. And frozen.

SAMUEL. Aye.

Pause.

Show me the letter again.

JUDITH holds out a letter. SAMUEL takes it. Looks at it.

Fancy hand he’s got. Very nice.

JUDITH. It’s an honour having one of them stay. Everyone says that.

SAMUEL. Huh. ‘Investigating the area.’ What does that mean?

JUDITH. I don’t know.

Pause.

SAMUEL. I don’t see why it has to be us.

JUDITH. It doesn’t say.

SAMUEL. There are plenty others as has more room. In ‘the area’.

JUDITH. Yes, but he –

SAMUEL. He should be staying at the big house.

JUDITH. He asked to stay here.

SAMUEL. Aye. He did.

Pause.

If there was something going on, on our land, I’d know. Don’t I know my own land? I’m out there all times of day and night and I’ve seen nothing. You’ve seen nothing. The men have seen nothing. There is nothing.

JUDITH. They’re clever. They hide, that’s what people say.

SAMUEL. I’d know.

JUDITH nods. Pause.

He’s heard something. Must have.

JUDITH. What?

SAMUEL. Someone’s been telling tall tales, I bet.

JUDITH. Don’t say that. Who’d do that?

SAMUEL. Could be anyone.

JUDITH looks worried.

JUDITH. No. That can’t be it.

SAMUEL. I’ll ask him when he gets here.

JUDITH. Don’t you dare! If someone’s said something, you’ll just make it worse!

Pause.

SAMUEL. Fine. Let him waste his time chasing rumours. I’ll say nothing.

Pause.

JUDITH. What time is it?

SAMUEL. Twenty past. He’s late.

JUDITH. He’ll be here soon.

SAMUEL. You said that an hour ago.

JUDITH. Maybe the roads are flooded.

SAMUEL. Aye, I reckon. And the bridge will be out before long.

JUDITH. It’s no good, Sam, you’ll have to go out looking for him.

SAMUEL. I’ll not. I’ve got animals need feeding. They won’t wait.

JUDITH. What if he’s lost?

SAMUEL. Then he won’t come. So I can get on.

He gets up.

JUDITH. No, you’re not leaving me to meet him alone!

SAMUEL. All right.

SAMUEL sits back down.

JUDITH. When he comes, you can’t be rude to him. Be polite. Promise me.

SAMUEL. He’ll have to take us as he finds us, won’t he?

JUDITH. Sam!

A knock at the door. JUDITH jumps up.

It’s him.

She hesitates.

SAMUEL. Open it then.

JUDITH. I can’t.

SAMUEL opens the door. WILLIAM stands there. He wears a black greatcoat and wide-brimmed hat. He carries several heavy bags.

SAMUEL. William Bloor, is it?

WILLIAM. Yes.

SAMUEL. I’m Sam Covey. Come in.

WILLIAM smiles apologetically.

WILLIAM. Not yet.

SAMUEL. Oh.

WILLIAM. Is the lady of the house present?

SAMUEL. Judith!

JUDITH goes to the door.

WILLIAM. Are you Judith Covey, Mrs?

JUDITH. Yes, that’s right.

She puts out her hand.

Come in. You must be freezing!

WILLIAM. And you’re Samuel Covey, Mr.

SAMUEL. I am. I said that.

WILLIAM. Do you have any identification?

SAMUEL. Excuse me?

WILLIAM. I need to see some identification. For both of you. Please.

JUDITH’s hand droops.

JUDITH. Uhm.

JUDITH goes over to a chest of drawers and starts rummaging. WILLIAM stands in the rain, holding his bags.

SAMUEL. A funny way of greeting people.

WILLIAM. I’m sorry, but you could be anyone.

SAMUEL. You think we’ve chucked the real Coveys down the well or something?

WILLIAM. I don’t know. Have you?

JUDITH shows him some papers. He nods. Finally he comes inside and puts the bags down.

You’ll have to excuse me for seeming rude. Judith.

He offers his hand. She shakes it. He smiles.

Samuel.

SAMUEL shakes his offered hand.

Thank you for letting me stay. We appreciate your help in this matter.

Pause.

JUDITH. It’s no trouble. We’re glad to have you. We don’t get many visitors. I’ll put the kettle on.

WILLIAM. If you don’t mind, I’ll put my bags away first.

JUDITH. Oh. Yes. The room’s quite small, I’m afraid.

WILLIAM. I’m sure it will be more than adequate.

SAMUEL bends to pick up his bags.

No, I’ll take those, if you don’t mind.

SAMUEL steps back.

JUDITH. It’s this way.

JUDITH goes out. WILLIAM picks up the bags, nods to SAMUEL, and follows her.

2

WILLIAM, now dressed in a plain shirt, black waistcoat and trousers, sits with JUDITH and SAMUEL at the table. The remains of a meal of soup and bread are in front of him.

WILLIAM. Thank you. That was delicious.

JUDITH. Will you have a cider to finish off? Or we’ve got beer?

WILLIAM. No –...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Original Production
• Characters
• Foxfinder
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information