Meek

Penelope Skinner

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781786826145
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Theatre

In a society where private lives become political and freedom of expression is not an option, Irene finds herself imprisoned. As tales of her incarceration spread overseas and her growing exposure becomes a threat, she is forced to make a brutal decision. Penelope Skinner's (Linda/The Village Bike) new play is a haunting vision of ruthless state control, tense friendships and one woman's determination not to be broken. Directed by Amy Hodge, Meek is a tale which reflects on our own fraught times.

1.

Cell 1. Large. A table and two chairs. A window. Sunlight. A heavy looking door. IRENE sits at the table. Her head in her hands. For a long time nothing happens. She puts her head up:

IRE God is dead!

She waits. Trembling.

Nothing happens.

2.

Cell 1. IRENE stands in the corner of the room. ANNA is here.

ANN Why didn’t you call me?

IRE They didn’t let me.

ANN You’re allowed a phone call.

IRE They said not.

Beat.

How did you know I was here?

ANNA looks around in a paranoid way.

They can’t hear you.

ANN Stevan’s wife? What’s her name?

IRE Elin.

ANN She found me on Facebook. I called your Auntie

she said you’d been taken in and she hadn’t heard

from you so

Beat.

It’s a mistake, right? I mean

IRE They seem to know a lot about me.

ANN What happened? Can I sit down?

IRE Sit. Yes.

ANN Are you going to sit?

IRE I don’t want to sit.

ANN Sit.

IRE I don’t want to!

Beat.

ANN Sorry. I don’t know what I’m doing I’m just

I don’t understand what’s happening. What’s happening?

IRE I’ve been reported.

ANN Do you know what for?

IRE No.

ANN Do you know

who?

IRE They didn’t say.

Beat.

ANN I don’t understand.

Beat.

Should we pray for answers?

IRE Anna. I said they can’t hear you.

ANN How do you know?

IRE Because I tested it.

ANN How?

IRENE goes to answer –

Actually. Don’t tell me.

IRENE grins.

Did they come to your house?

IRE Yeah.

Beat.

ANN What did they say?

IRE They said I’m under arrest and being detained.

ANN Why?

IRE Because they’re pigs!

ANN Irene!

IRE They didn’t say why.

ANN Is it the website?

IRE I don’t know.

ANN Jon said it must be the website.

IRE You told Jon?

ANN I needed permission to come.

IRE Right.

Beat.

I haven’t uploaded anything for ages.

ANN Maybe they’re just trying to scare you.

IRE Yeah.

Beat.

I’m meant to be singing tonight. I can’t even let Stevan know.

ANN They’ll probably let you out in a few hours.

IRE Do you think?

ANN When Björn Erlun’s brother got caught writing on the college wall? They kept him for twenty-three hours

put his feet in a bucket of ice water

made him recite a hundred Glory Be’s

and then let him go. They said it was just to teach him a lesson. So

I reckon you’ll be out in time to sing.

Beat.

Definitely.

3.

Cell 1. IRENE and ANNA sit at the table.

ANN Her name is Gudrun Sigarsdottir. She’s one of Jon’s cousins. And she seems great. Well. To be honest I didn’t warm to her but her qualifications are very impressive.

IRE Okay.

ANN She was involved with the Lukas Gunarsson case.

IRE Really?

ANN So that’s good.

IRE She was his lawyer?

ANN She was on the team.

IRE Who’s paying her?

ANN She says down the line there could be money to be made. But until then.

IRE I don’t understand.

ANN She’s pro-…

you know.

IRE Bono?

ANN No!

IRE Secularist?

ANN Shhhh.

IRE How many times do I have to tell you?

ANN It could be a trick.

IRE And even if it is. What more can they do?

ANN You haven’t been charged yet.

IRENE doesn’t say anything. ANNA looks around.

You should explain to them that you love Jesus and all the saints.

IRENE doesn’t say anything.

You should say it Irene because it’s the truth. And because there’s no point being stubborn.

IRE Wouldn’t it be better to pray to God to get me out of here?

AN...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Acknowledgements
• Contents
• Chapter 1