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- 96 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
Foxfinder
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About This Book
A gripping and unsettling parable, Foxfinder is a darkly comic exploration of belief, desire and responsibility, set in a world both strange and familiar.
William Bloor, a 'foxfinder', arrives at Sam and Judith Covey's farm to investigate a suspected contamination. He is driven by his education and beliefs to unearth and destroy an animal that threatens man's civilisation, and to remain free from its influence himself. As his investigations proceed, the events that follow change the course of all their lives - for ever.
Winner of the 2011 Papatango New Writing Competition.
'Dawn King's play shines out like a beacon... the most compelling new work I have seen this year' Guardian
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Information
1
A farmhouse kitchen. Minimal decoration, scrupulously clean. SAMUEL and JUDITH are sitting at the table. Both are in their Sunday best ā 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. Itās 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 donāt know yet, do we? The rain could stop tomorrow.
Pause.
Thereās a good crop of leeks coming.
SAMUEL. Huh. I wouldnāt call it good.
Pause. The rain batters against the windows.
Listen to it. Itās stupid travelling on a day like this.
JUDITH. Heāll 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 heās got. Very nice.
JUDITH. Itās an honour having one of them stay. Everyone says that.
SAMUEL. Huh. āInvestigating the area.ā What does that mean?
JUDITH. I donāt know.
Pause.
SAMUEL. I donāt see why it has to be us.
JUDITH. It doesnāt say.
SAMUEL. There are plenty others as has more room. In āthe areaā.
JUDITH. Yes, but he ā
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, Iād know. Donāt I know my own land? Iām out there all times of day and night and Iāve seen nothing. Youāve seen nothing. The men have seen nothing. There is nothing.
JUDITH. Theyāre clever. They hide, thatās what people say.
SAMUEL. Iād know.
JUDITH nods. Pause.
Heās heard something. Must have.
JUDITH. What?
SAMUEL. Someoneās been telling tall tales, I bet.
JUDITH. Donāt say that. Whoād do that?
SAMUEL. Could be anyone.
JUDITH looks worried.
JUDITH. No. That canāt be it.
SAMUEL. Iāll ask him when he gets here.
JUDITH. Donāt you dare! If someoneās said something, youāll just make it worse!
Pause.
SAMUEL. Fine. Let him waste his time chasing rumours. Iāll say nothing.
Pause.
JUDITH. What time is it?
SAMUEL. Twenty past. Heās late.
JUDITH. Heāll 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. Itās no good, Sam, youāll have to go out looking for him.
SAMUEL. Iāll not. Iāve got animals need feeding. They wonāt wait.
JUDITH. What if heās lost?
SAMUEL. Then he wonāt come. So I can get on.
He gets up.
JUDITH. No, youāre not leaving me to meet him alone!
SAMUEL. All right.
SAMUEL sits back down.
JUDITH. When he comes, you canāt be rude to him. Be polite. Promise me.
SAMUEL. Heāll have to take us as he finds us, wonāt he?
JUDITH. Sam!
A knock at the door. JUDITH jumps up.
Itās him.
She hesitates.
SAMUEL. Open it then.
JUDITH. I canāt.
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. Iām 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, thatās right.
She puts out her hand.
Come in. You must be freezing!
WILLIAM. And youāre 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.
JUDITHās 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. Iām sorry, but you could be anyone.
SAMUEL. You think weāve chucked the real Coveys down the well or something?
WILLIAM. I donāt know. Have you?
JUDITH shows him some papers. He nods. Finally he comes inside and puts the bags down.
Youāll 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. Itās no trouble. Weāre glad to have you. We donāt get many visitors. Iāll put the kettle on.
WILLIAM. If you donāt mind, Iāll put my bags away first.
JUDITH. Oh. Yes. The roomās quite small, Iām afraid.
WILLIAM. Iām sure it will be more than adequate.
SAMUEL bends to pick up his bags.
No, Iāll take those, if you donāt mind.
SAMUEL steps back.
JUDITH. Itās 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 weāve got beer?
WILLIAM. No ā...
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Original Production
- Characters
- Foxfinder
- About the Author
- Copyright and Performing Rights Information