Deposit (NHB Modern Plays)

Matt Hartley

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781780015767
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Drama
• Index: Literature

A bittersweet and vital play that throws a spotlight on 'Generation Rent' and the lengths they will go to in order to get that first step on the property ladder.

Rachel and Ben want to buy a flat in London. And so do their friends, Melanie and Sam. But what with rent, tax, student loans and bills, it's impossible to save for a deposit.

So the foursome come up with a fast-track solution to the problem: live together. Sneakily split the rent and bills on a tiny one-bedroom flat for a year. But with paper-thin walls and space growing sparser by the day, which will they sacrifice first – the friendship, the relationship, or the dream of buying their own property?

Matt Hartley's Deposit premiered at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs in 2015, and was revived there in 2017.

November

The sun rises on BEN and RACHEL. They are happy, content, in a space that is their own.

Suddenly this ends as… RACHEL welcomes MELANIE into the flat.

MELANIE is carrying a bottle of Prosecco and breathing heavily. BEN waits in the ‘living room’, four glasses of Prosecco at the ready.

MELANIE. Hello!!!

RACHEL. Hiya! Welcome! Oh god, are you alright, Mel?

MELANIE. I need to get my breath back, all those stairs. I won’t be needing my gym membership any more!

MELANIE hugs RACHEL.

Hello!

RACHEL. Hi. Where’s Sam?

MELANIE. He’s just bringing a few things up.

RACHEL. Does he need a hand?

MELANIE. No, no, it’s good for him. Needs building up. Oh my god, I can’t believe this!

RACHEL. I know.

MELANIE. Me and you, back under one roof, living together. So exciting!!

RACHEL. We’re assembled in your room.

MELANIE. ‘Your’ room. Ahhhh! Sounds just like halls.

They enter the room.

There he is. Roomie Number Two!

BEN. Indeed. Hi, Mel.

They share a welcome embrace.

A welcome drink?

He passes MELANIE a glass and takes the bottle from her.

MELANIE. Uh-oh. My poor liver. Is this what the year ahead looks like?!

RACHEL. Imagine!

MELANIE surveys the scene.

MELANIE. So this is it: Home.

BEN. It is, yeah.

Loud crashing from the corridor. SAM has entered. He is overloaded with bags.

MELANIE. Sam?

SAM. Nothing’s broken.

MELANIE. Might as well bring everything through here.

BEN steps out into the corridor.

BEN. Jeez, is this everything you own?

SAM. Virtually.

MELANIE. I thought it was best to do it all in one go.

SAM. Can I put them down?

MELANIE. Well yes, this is where we live now, silly.

He dumps them down.

RACHEL. Hi, Sam.

SAM. Hi.

RACHEL. Are you okay?

SAM. Yes. You?

RACHEL. Yes.

BEN. Mate.

SAM. Ben.

BEN. Welcome.

SAM. Thanks. This is it then?

BEN. Yes.

SAM. This is our room?

MELANIE. Yes!

BEN. It’s not Buckingham Palace.

SAM. No. No, it’s not.

MELANIE. It’s great. Nice view.

RACHEL. Oh yes. If you bend, peer out, you can see The Shard.

MELANIE. Oh wow. Hear that, Sam?

SAM. Yes.

MELANIE. The Shard!

SAM. Yes.

MELANIE tries to look for it.

MELANIE. Hmmm… I can’t…

RACHEL. Bit more to the right…

MELANIE. Not…

RACHEL. If you lean a bit further. That flashing, see the flashing light?

MELANIE. Yes. Yes. I see it, I can see the point! The little light at the top. Amazing! Sam, Sam, come and look! The Shard! Sam?

SAM. There’s no bed.

RACHEL. No, sorry, it’s a sofa bed. Very comfy though. Folds down. Takes no time at all.

B...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Original Production
• Acknowledgements
• Dedication
• Characters
• Deposit
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information