Neaptide

Sarah Daniels

• Publisher: Methuen Drama
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781350184893
• eBook ISBN: 9781350184909
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Drama
• Index: Literature

"Neaptide races from domestic trauma to staff-room banter … it bursts with provocative ideas and disturbing questions about human relationships. Most important, it shows that the facade of liberalism and emancipation is merely a translucent gloss." Jewish Chronicle

Claire is a history teacher at a local school where two teenage girls have come out. Their principal, Bea Grimble, is none too impressed, and aims to have them expelled. Claire, who had been hiding the fact that she is homosexual, speaks up on behalf of the girls: this in spite of the fact that she is fighting her ex-husband Lawrence for custody of their daughter, the precocious and happy Poppy.

All around Claire hardened attitudes are challenged – and confirmed – as she must decide whether to try to maintain a position of honesty, and battle hypocrisy, from within the bounds of the law, or without.

A modern story of custody battles, sexual identity and gender politics, framed around the ancient myth of Demeter and her daughter Persephone.

Neaptide was the winner of the 1982 George Devine Award and became the first play by a living female writer to be performed at the National Theatre, London, in 1986.

This Modern Classics edition feature a new introduction by Dr Carina Bartleet.

PART ONE

Scene One

A hospital. Two Doctors, both men, one some years older than the other, stand by Val’s bed. A female Nurse hovers in the background. They are all oblivious to Val’s first speech.

Val The performers in this pit are as old as the witchcraft trials. Centre stage. The powerful male Doctor-Inquisitor. In the wings, a subservient female Handmaiden-Nurse. Stranded on a mud flat, myself, a Witch-Patient.

The Doctors appear to be in the midst of a deep conversation when Joyce enters.

Older Doctor (with genuine concern) I’m afraid you can’t see your daughter at the moment, she needs plenty of rest. Perhaps you would care to wait outside? (With a gesture he indicates to the Nurse to show Joyce out of the room. Exit Joyce with Nurse. Then to the Younger Doctor:) I wasn’t on duty last night. Strictly speaking, March will see to this one.

Younger Doctor (smiles) Hare March?

Older Doctor Don’t tell me, on top of everything else our quack colleague is German.

Younger Doctor I meant as in ‘Mad as . . .’

Older Doctor Oh, I’m with you now. Hum yes. (Shaking his head over Val.) Probably have her flung out inside a week.

Younger Doctor With disarming success, no doubt.

Older Doctor And who’ll have to mop up the long-term backlash. Hum? Caught up in the unfortunate irony of psychiatric policy – concentration of short-term solutions. Our analyst friend is careful not to contravene that.

Younger Doctor (drily) What’s the difference between a cow chewing the cud and a therapist chewing gum? The cow has an intelligent look on its face.

Older Doctor (wryly) I’ll leave it to you then. (He exits.)

Younger Doctor (calls off) Staff.

The Nurse enters.

Nurse Yes, Doctor.

Younger Doctor Did you manage to dredge the social worker’s report up?

Nurse (offers him the medical notes which include a photocopy of the social worker’s report) Yes, I’m afraid there’s not much to go on though.

Younger Doctor (taking the file) Is there ever? (He sighs. Flicking through them.) Huh, that’s a fat lot of good. (He hands the notes back to her.) Still make it available to Dr March, we mustn’t allow accusations of unco-operation to fly around the ward. Children?

Nurse Doctor?

Younger Doctor Has she got any offspring?Nurse Yes, two.

Younger Doctor And do we know, pray, who is looking after them?

Nurse The maternal grandmother is to collect them from the nursery and look after them until their father gets in from work. In fact she’s outside now.

Younger Doctor Who? Who is?

Nurse Mrs Jones’s mother. Shall I tell her she can come in?Younger Doctor Oh yes, yes.

They both exit.

Nurse (as she goes through the door) You can come in now, Mrs Roberts.

Enter Joyce She crosses to the bed, pulls up a chair and sits down very unconfidently.

Joyce Hello love, how are you feeling? (Pause.) Don’t worry about the boys, they’re fine. We took them to playschool this morning. They were ever so good, no tears or nothing and I’ll collect them for as long – (She stops herself.) – for as long as they want to go. (Pause.) Colin’s rearranging his timetable at work so not to worry. He sends all his love. (Pause.) He’s beside himself, I mean he’s very concerned. Well, we all are, we all are. For you. That you get well, back to your old self. (Finally.) Have you got a message for him? (Silence.) Val?

Val (quietly) Here I sit, mad as a hatter with nothing to do but either become madder and madder or else recover enough of my sanity to be allowed back to the world that drove me mad.

Joyce (shocked) I don’t think I can remember all that. What on earth possessed you to come out with a mouthful like that?

Val I didn’t say it.

Joyce (gently, slightly patronisingly) Oh, Val, who did then? The washstand?

Val Some woman years ago. I don’t think there are any original states of mind left to reclaim.

Joyce (sighs) Val, love, this won’t do. Now, I’ve brought you a clean nightie and two flannels.

Scene Two

Afternoon. Sunday. Two days previously. Claire’s living-room. Claire is sitting in an armchair. Poppy is sitting on her lap. She has been reading Mrs Plug the Plumber to Claire. There is a Mother’s Day card, which Poppy has made, on the mantelpiece.

Poppy (reading) Ah well, all in a day’s work, said Mrs Plug. I’m going to go home and have a slap-up supper, this job is driving me round the bend. (She slaps the book shut.)

Claire (laughs) Poppy, it does not end like that.

Poppy I know. I thought it was boring for you.

Claire Now, have you got your Nan’s present ready?

Poppy Yes, I’ve hid it behind the chair.

Claire Good.

Poppy It’s your turn. Claire What is?

Poppy It’s your turn to read me a story, you promised.Claire It’s just that they’ll be here soon.

Poppy You promised.

Claire Okay, okay, which one . . .Poppy Pepsi-phone.

Claire Persephone.Claire picks up a book.

In the beginning, if there ever was such a time, Demeter, the goddess of life, gave birth to four daughters, whom she named Persephone, Psyche, Athena and Artemis. The world’s first children were unremarkably happy. To amuse their mother – with whom they were all passionately in love – they invented language, music, laughter – and many more useful and boisterous activities.

One morning Persephone menstruated. That afternoon, Demeter’s daughters gathered flowers to celebrate the loveliness of the event. A chariot thundered, then clattered into their midst. It was Hades, the middle-aged god of death, come to tak...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Halftitle
• Title
• Copyright
• Introduction
• Dedication
• Neaptide
• Part One
• Part Two