Remember Me

IT'S 1995.

TINGAL IS SITTING IN ONE RECLINER ROCKER, BETH IN ANOTHER. THE T.V. IS ON, BUT THE SOUND IS TURNED DOWN. THERE IS A TABLE BESIDE TINGAL'S CHAIR. AND WALKING FRAMES BESIDE TINGAL AND BETH'S CHAIRS.

BETH Do you want the sound up?

TINGAL Eh?

BETH I say do you want the sound up.

TINGAL No.

BETH No. That's alright then.

TINGAL Do you?

BETH Eh?

TINGAL Want the sound up. I say do you want the sound up?

BETH Oh! No. No.

TINGAL I thought you wanted the sound up.

BETH No. I asked if you wanted the sound up.

TINGAL I don't want the sound up.

BETH Neither do I.

TINGAL No.

BETH No. I don't really listen to it.

TINGAL No.

BETH There's nothing on, is there?

TINGAL No.

BETH I just look at the pictures. Just look at the pictures.

PAUSE.
TINGAL GRADUALLY BECOMES AWARE OF AN ODOUR.

TINGAL You smell.

BETH What?

TINGAL You. You smell.

BETH I beg your pardon.

TINGAL You smell. You smell like someone died. Like a compost heap. You smell something putrid.

BETH I don't.

TINGAL You've pooed your pants, haven't you.

BETH No. (FEELS, UNCERTAIN) No. It's the seats. They always smell a bit.

TINGAL I know the seats smell. It's not the seats.

BETH Well it's not me.

TINGAL You sure?

BETH I'm positive.

TINGAL It's me then.
(TINGAL PICKS UP A MOBILE PHONE AND PRESSES TWO BUTTONS.)
I've pooed me pants. (PAUSE) Yes it's me. Who'd you think it was, Bob Menzies? Come and fix me.
HE PUTS THE PHONE DOWN.

BETH You oughtn't to accuse people.

TINGAL What?

BETH Of making smells. It's not nice.

TINGAL Pooing yourself isn't nice.

BETH And neither is talking about it.

TINGAL The fact is I was hoping it was you not me.

BETH I'm going to my room. (STANDS BEGINS GATHERING UP HER POSSESSIONS)

MILLIE, A NURSES AID ENTERS

MILLIE Mr. Tingal. You musn't ring your daughter when you have a problem. There is a buzzer right here beside you. (MILLIE HELPS TINGAL UP.)

TINGAL It doesn't work.

MILLIE Of course it does.

TINGAL Then why don't you come when I buzz.

MILLIE There are other patients beside yourself Mr. Tingal. Sometimes we're busy. (PLACES TINGAL'S WALKING FRAME)

TINGAL Never too busy to answer the phone.

MILLIE I mean it Mr. Tingal. Keep ringing your daughter all the time and we'll take your mobile away. Now come on. Let's get you sorted out.

TINGAL Arthurton's coming with us.

BETH Am not. (SITS AGAIN.)

MILLIE How are you pins today?

TINGAL How should I know when I can't feel 'em? Ignorant woman.

THEY GO OUT.
BETH TAKES OUT A BOOK TRIES TO READ, THEM MOVES TO ANOTHER CHAIR OUT OF THE LINE OF SIGHT OF THE T.V.
DEBBIE ENTERS. SHE HAS A CAVERNOUS SHOULDER BAG.

DEBBIE Can I turn it round for you?
(SHE TURNS THE T.V. SET SO BETH CAN SEE IT.)
Would you like the sound up.

BETH What?

DEBBIE Would you like the sound up.

BETH No. There's nothing on.

TURNS AWAY FROM T.V.

DEBBIE Are you reading?

BETH Trying to.

DEBBIE I'm Debbie. From Para High. The high school... You're Mrs. Arthurton.

BETH How did you know that.

DEBBIE They told me.

BETH There's no privacy any more.

DEBBIE I'm sorry. I asked if there was someone here I could talk to. They said you might...
I'm sorry to disturb you.
See I'm doing this project for school.

BETH Go away.
(DEBBIE IS NON PLUSSED. SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.)
And put that thing back. I don't want to see it. (DEBBIE RESTORES THE T.V.)
This tea is cold. Get me some tea.
White mind, Not too strong. And no sugar.

DEBBIE GOES OUT.

TINGAL No wonder they smell.
(SITS. PULLS WALKING FRAME AROUND BESIDE THE SEAT & OUT OF THE WAY)
There's nothing on, is there.
(BETH IGNORES HIM)
Did I ever tell you about the time I was working down at the Mount?
Every Poets day we'd knock off early and head home. Drove five hundred miles in five hours.
At least I could see the road in those days.
(PAUSE)
I'm sorry I said you stank.
(PAUSE)
At least it's a topic of conversation.

RELAPSES INTO SILENCE.
BETH READS.
MILLIE ENTERS FOLLOWED BY DEBBIE WITH TEA.

MILLIE Elizabeth Arthurton, what did you tell this young girl.

BETH Go away.

MILLIE Now Lizzie. Is that nice. Of course not. You don't mean it either.

BETH I do.

MILLIE You don't. You're always saying there's nothing to do. Well then.

BETH I'm not listening.

MILLIE TAKES BOOK.

MILLIE Yes you are, Lizzie. And you're going to help Debbie with her project, aren't you.
(PAUSE) Aren't you.

BETH What if I don't want to.

MILLIE Nonsense. You'll enjoy it. You love talking about yourself. And that's all Debbie wants you to do. And no sulking either.

MILLIE GATHERS CROCKERY.

DEBBIE Here's your tea.

MILLIE Would you like a fresh cup Mr Tingal?

TINGAL Yes.

MILLIE GOES OUT.

BETH Well sit.

DEBBIE Ta.

BETH If I don't talk to you she'll make my life a misery.

DEBBIE I'm doing an oral history project. The aim is to record the wisdom and experiences of the elderly before they die.

TINGAL Ha!

BETH GLARES AT DEBBIE.

DEBBIE Mrs Arthurton you lived through the most important period of our history ever. I mean ever. The Second World War. The biggest war there's ever been. I want to record your impressions to pass on to future generations. I think, you have a duty to record your memories before you die.

BETH No. I'm senile. I can't remember a thing.

DEBBIE Don't worry. You just talk.
(DEBBIE DIGS A TAPE RECORDER OUT OF HER SHOULDER BAG SETS IT ON THE TABLE BESIDES BETH AND PLUGS IN A MICROPHONE.)
The sound goes in here. Then I'll type it up and every word you say will be preserved for all time.
(DEBBIE SWITCHES THE TAPE ON)
There.

SILENCE.

DEBBIE Well. (PAUSE) What's your name.

BETH You know my name.

DEBBIE It's Mrs Elizabeth Arthurton.

BETH You see. You did know it.

DEBBIE ...being interviewed by Debbie Smith. The date is August the 15th. 1995, the fiftieth anniversary of VJ day. How old are you Mrs Arthurton.

BETH Mind your own business.

DEBBIE Mrs Arthurton is quite old and somewhat infirm. She has to use a frame to get around. She likes to pretend she's irascible, but she's really a dear.

TINGAL Ha!

BETH Why don't you interview him.

TINGAL Oh no. Not on your Nellie!

DEBBIE Do people call you Lizzie.

BETH No.

BETA ENTERS U.S. AS BETH'S MOTHER.

BETA(MOTHER) (CALLING) Lizzie.(SHE CROSSES QUICKLY)

BETH I hate being called Lizzie.

BETA(MOTHER) Lizzie. Where is that dratted child.

BETA EXITS.

BETH All my childhood I was Lizzie. Swore as soon as I left home not to answer to Lizzie. Never again.

DEBBIE But the nurse calls you Lizzie.

BETH She never asked. People never do. Think about it. Every day being called by a name you hate. Wop. Wog. Granny. Lizzie. Nobody cares for us old crocks.

DEBBIE That's not true.

BETH 'Tis. They just dump you here when you're old and worn out. Just dump you and forget you. (PAUSE) Except if you sign an organ donor form. Then they're all over you like a rash.

GAMMA AS A SURGEON, WEARING A SURGICAL MASK APPEARS U.S.

GAMMA(SURGEON) How are you today Mrs. A. Keeping well? Looking after that kidney for us?

GAMMA PARKS U.S. AT THE PROPER MOMENT HE WILL BECOME A FARMER.

BETH But watch out if you go to sleep. They'll have that kidney out before you know what's what.

TINGAL You know she's pulling your leg.

BETH Maybe. I won't sign an organ donor form. You know what they do with you, don't you, after they've taken all the bits they want.

DEBBIE No. What?

BETH Take my advice. Don't ever eat hamburgers.

TINGAL Ha!

DEBBIE Mrs. Arthurton please. Are you going to help me or not.

BETH What's the matter. Haven't you got a sense of humour?

DEBBIE I get marked on this at school. Please. You were there in the war. The greatest war that has ever engulfed the world. Ever. What you thought and felt and heard and saw is important. You are important. What if you die without telling anyone what you saw and felt and did and and lived, wouldn't that be a waste.

TINGAL You're wasting your time with her. She couldn't tell you a straight story for five minutes at a time.

BETH I can. Alright. The truth, with no varnish. No yarns. And you can buzz off for a start.

TINGAL My pleasure.There are enough tall tales on T.V. without any more.

STARTS TO EXIT.

DEBBIE When were you born?

BETH 1910.

DEBBIE So you were 29 when war broke out.

BETH That's about right. I was an army nurse.

BETH Woodside. Me dad had a farm up there.

ALPHA AS BETH'S FATHER, A STOLID FARMER, MOVES D.S. GAMMA, A FELLOW FARMER CROSSES TO HIM.

ALPHA(FATHER) I don't know what it is. I thought it was going to be a good year. Plenty of rain, Plenty of feed. Then the cows start dying of bloat.

BETH It turned out to be a mineral deficiency.

GAMMA(FARMER) Can't the government man give any advice?

ALPHA(FATHER) Nothing worth writing home about.

GAMMA(FARMER) Seems such good land too.

ALPHA(FATHER) It is. Or should be. But how can you farm when all your stock curl up their toes and die on you.

GAMMA(FARMER) You can't.

ALPHA(FATHER) I'm thinking of trying my hand at farming up north. There's land opening up outside Clare. A place called Boobarowie.

THE TWO FARMERS MOVE U.S. IN CONVERSATION.

BETH Boobarowie. That's where I grew up.

DEBBIE And you became a nurse?

BETH Yes.

DEBBIE What made you take up nursing?

BETH A sense of dedication, I suppose.

ALPHA AS FATHER CALLS TO LIZ.

ALPHA(FATHER) Lizzie.

LIZ, THE YOUNG BETH, ENTERS OPPOSITE.

LIZ Yes dad.

ALPHA(FATHER) Have you given any thought to what you'll do when you leave school?

LIZ No dad.

ALPHA(FATHER) Have you...Is there a boyfriend?

LIZ No. no.

ALPHA(FATHER) Well how about nursing. Your sister's making a fist of nursing. Do you want to go nursing?

LIZ I dunno.

ALPHA(FATHER) I'll put your name down at the Kapunda hospital.

ALPHA SINKS BY A CHAIR. LIZ PUTS ON A NURSES CAP.

DEBBIE Did you enjoy nursing?

BETH Yes. very much.

GAMMA HAS BECOME A PATIENT. A DRESSING GOWN AND SOMETHING BEHIND HIS BACK. LIZ CROSSES TO HIM.

GAMMA(PATIENT) Nurse, nurse.

LIZ Yes Mr. Brown.

GAMMA(PATIENT) Nurse, I've got something for you.

LIZ Oh yes.

GAMMA(PATIENT) Here. (HANDS HER A BEDPAN.)

LIZ What are you in for Mr Brown.

GAMMA(PATIENT) Me guts are rotten.

LIZ I can believe that.

GAMMA, THE PATIENT, SHUFFLES TO THE SIDE OF THE STAGE AND SHEDS THE DRESSING GOWN. LIZ EXITS WITH THE BEDPAN OPPOSITE.

BETH I was nursing at Kapunda when the war broke out.

DEBBIE What was it like before the war?

ALPHA HAS DONNED A BOWLER AND CARRIES THE TIMES AND AN UMBRELLA. BETA AND ZETA ENTER AND JOIN ALPHA. BETA WITH A SUITABLY 40'S HAT AND ZETA WITH A TENNIS RACKET.

BETH The war.

ALPHA(MALE POM) The great war.

BETA The first World War.

ALPHA(MALE POM) There'll never be another war like that.

BETA(FEMALE POM) The war to end all war. For ever, for all time. We pray it's so.

ZETA(YOUNG FEMALE POM) We've got the League of Nations now. War is impossible.

ALPHA(MALE POM) Perhaps. What about Spain. Abyssinia?

ZETA(YOUNG FEMALE POM) They could hardly be called wars.

ALPHA(MALE POM) What about Japan and China.

ZETA(YOUNG FEMALE POM) Well, they're savages in the far east, aren't they?

GAMMA DONS A STRAW HAT AND PICKS UP A TENNIS RACKET.

GAMMA(STUDENT) We, the Students of Cambridge University vow and declare that war, all war, is unthinkable in a modern world. We wish the world to know we will not take up arms under any circumstances.

ALPHA(MALE POM) You'd let the country be invaded?

GAMMA(STUDENT) How can we expect the world to renounce violence if we will not renounce it ourselves?

ALPHA(MALE POM) Tell that to the Hun when he sticks a bayonet up you.

GAMMA(STUDENT) If the unthinkable should happen. In the event of another war we would not defend ourselves, or our country. We would not serve. We would not fight.

ALPHA(MALE POM) Pha!

THE FOUR SHADES PREPARE FOR THEIR NEXT ASSIGNMENT.

BETH There were always stories in the papers, of course. Wars in far off lands. I don't think anyone took it seriously. It didn't effect us. Not here. Not in Australia.

ALPHA HAS BECOME "DAD", A FARMER. GAMMA, "DAVE" BETA WHO HAS BECOME A FARMER'S WIFE GIVES "DAD" A NEWSPAPER.

ALPHA(DAD) Seventh of March 1936. I dunno Mum what the world is coming to. This Hitler chap has occupied the Rhineland.

BETA(MUM) Do you think it will mean war Dad?

GAMMA(DAVE) War!

ALPHA(DAD) No Mum. I don't think it'll come to that. The Rhineland was always a bone of contention.

GAMMA(DAVE) How do you mean, Dad?

ALPHA(DAD) Well, Dave. Say it was a cow.

GAMMA(DAVE) I thought it was a bone of contention Dad.

ALPHA(DAD) Just say it was a cow. Use your imagination Dave.

GAMMA(DAVE) Oh.

ALPHA(DAD) First it was a German cow. Then it was a French cow. Now it's a German cow again. Of course they're gunna argue over who gets the milk.

GAMMA(DAVE) What if it's a bull Dad.

ALPHA(DAD) What?

GAMMA(DAVE) You ain't gunna get no milk from a bull.

ALPHA(DAD) We're talking about the Rhineland. Not cows, or bulls...or bones of contention.

GAMMA(DAVE) ...gee Dad. You sure know a lot about politics.

BETA(MUM) Well of course he does.

GAMMA(DAVE) Dad.

ALPHA(DAD) Yes Dave.

GAMMA(DAVE) Where is the Rhineland.

ALPHA(DAD) Well...shouldn't you be putting the cows in the top paddock?

GAMMA(DAVE) Aw Dad.

ALPHA AND GAMMA PARK.

BETH It's easy to forget how popular Hitler was among Germans everywhere. And Englishmen. And Australians. By comparison our politicians were a drab lot.
ZETA, A SUBURBAN AUSTRALIANS MISS CROSSES TO BETA, ANOTHER FINE EXAMPLE OF THE GENRE.
ZETA(ADA) GIVES BETA(JOAN) A NEWSPAPER.

BETA(JOAN) March 14. 1938. Hitler invades Austria.

ZETA(ADA) Hardly an invasion.

BETA(JOAN) Well Hitler's taken over Austria.

ZETA(ADA) But the Austrians wanted union with Germany.

BETA(JOAN) More fools them.

ZETA(ADA) A referendum showed 99.75% support for German/Austrian union.

BETA(JOAN) Rigged.

JOAN PICKS UP ANOTHER NEWSPAPER.

BETA(JOAN) October 5. 1938. Now look. Hitler invades Checkoslovakia. What did I tell you.

ZETA(ZETA) Give me the society page. Who cares about all these foreign goings on.

BETH That's it, isn't it. No one wanted to know. No one wanted to believe that sooner or later there would be a Poland.

ZETA(ADA) Anyway, Hitler won't invade Poland. Chamberlain has made it clear it will mean war if he does.

BETA(JOAN) A lot Hitler will care.

ZETA(ADA) Oh he cares. He's not a fool. He'll listen to world opinion. He won't invade Poland. You'll see. He won't invade Poland.

BETA(JOAN) PICKS UP ANOTHER NEWSPAPER.

ZETA(ADA) And Russia. Russia's invaded Poland too.

BETA(JOAN) France and Britain are declaring war on Germany.

ZETA(ADA) And what about Russia?

BETA(JOAN) It's Germany that invaded first. Russia is just being opportunistic.

ZETA(ADA) That makes it alright, does it?

BETA(JOAN) We're at war with Germany. It's Hitler and Fascism we've got to stop. France, England, the entire Commonwealth. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa. They're all in it.

ZETA(ADA) You're right. If we don't stop Hitler who's next? George.

GAMMA, STARTLED, QUICKLY DONS HIS YOUNG SUBURBAN AUSTRALIAN MALE ATTIRE.

GAMMA(GEORGE) Yes love.

ZETA(ADA) We've got to stop Hitler.

GAMMA(GEORGE) Yes dear.

ZETA(ADA) What are you going to do about it?

GAMMA(GEORGE) Me?

ZETA(ADA) HANDS HIM AN ARMY OFFICERS CAP. BEWILDERED GAMMA(GEORGE) PUTS IT ON.

BETH And we were at war. It was September the third 1939.

ALPHA(NEWSREADER) Australia has captured it's first prisoners of the war, the Vienna Boys Choir. The Vienna Boys Choir were touring Australia when war broke out. They have been captured as enemy aliens. They will be treated as refugees.

DEBBIE Did you enlist straight away?

BETH No. Not straight away. It didn't...the war. It didn't seem real. Not straight away.

N.B. THIS NEXT SPEECH CAN BE TAKEN FROM THE RECORD "The War of the Worlds. Audio Rarities LPA #2355"

V.O. ANNOUNCER "Ladies and gentlemen. I have a grave announcement to make, incredible as it may seem, strange beings who landed in New Jersey tonight are the vanguard of an invading army from Mars."

ALPHA(ANNOUNCER) The death toll in the Black Friday bush fires that swept across Victoria from the South Australian border to East Gipsland has risen to 70 with the death of a man at Stawell.

BETH That was the good news.

ZETA(ADA) April the 9th, 1940. Germany invades Norway and Denmark.

BETA(JOAN) May the 10th The Germans invade Holland and Belgium.

ZETA(ADA) May the 28th. Holland and Belgium surrender. German troops have seized the French port of Calais. The entire British Expeditionary Force is trapped between Calais and Ostend at a place called Dunkirk.

BETA(JOAN) June the 4th. In a massive operation, operation Dynamo, 338,226 men, almost the entire British Expeditionary Force, as well as French and Belgian troops were rescued from the beaches at Dunkirk. This is Hitler's first great defeat. For these men, re-equipped and re-armed will form the core of the army that will eventually defeat Hitler and his Nazi hordes.

ZETA(ADA) We hope.

BETA(JOAN) No they could be right there.

ZETA(ADA) June 14. Paris falls.

BETA(JOAN) June the 22nd. In the forest of Compiegne, in the same railway coach where the Germans had surrendered at the end of the first world war, Hitler today accepted the surrender of France.

ZETA(ADA) That's what all this is about isn't it.

BETA(JOAN) What?

ZETA(ADA) Revenge. Hitler's after revenge for losing the first world war.

BETA(JOAN) Don't be silly. He wasn't in power in those days.

ZETA(ADA) No Revenge for Germany. He's a German. He probably feels it. You know?

BETA(JOAN) He's an Austrian.

ZETA(ADA) Oh. Is he?

BETH All of a sudden everything, everyone changed.

GAMMA(A FARMING DAD) Things are looking grim. We could loose this war if we're not careful.

ZETA(A FARMING WIFE) Can you imagine Hitler invading Australia?

GAMMA(A FARMING DAD) I can. It wouldn't be pleasant.

ZETA(A FARMING WIFE) No.

GAMMA(A FARMING DAD) I think we'd better get our finger out. I'd better get my finger out.

ZETA(A FARMING WIFE) You mean enlisting?

GAMMA(A FARMING DAD) Yes. Would you mind?

ZETA(A FARMING WIFE) No. We'd cope.

GAMMA(A FARMING DAD) Course you would.

THEY EMBRACE.

BETH That was when I enlisted. Along with half Australia.

ALPHA(SERGEANT) Yes sir.

GAMMA(A FARMING DAD) Look, I'd like to enlist.

ALPHA(SERGEANT) Good man. The army needs all the able-bodied men it can get.

GAMMA(A FARMING DAD) You'll take me then?

ALPHA(SERGEANT) Of course. Is there some reason why we shouldn't?

GAMMA(A FARMING DAD) I'm a farmer.

ALPHA(SERGEANT) Oh. (TEARS UP ENLISTMENT FORM)

GAMMA(A FARMING DAD) But I want to go.

ALPHA(SERGEANT) I'm sorry sir. Farming is a reserved occupation. The boys at the front must be fed.

GAMMA(A FARMING DAD) Can't you take me? You don't know what it's like. The looks you get. The taunts. The jeers.

ALPHA(SERGEANT) We've all got to do our bit. In our own way.

ZETA HAS BECOME A NURSE (JOY) AS HAS LIZ. THE SERGEANT ADDRESSES THE TWO NURSES.

ALPHA(SERGEANT) Ladies. The army is going to need nurses. Lots of them. We don't go into battle to deliberately kill, maim and injure people. Not our people, at least.
But both injury and a fair amount of maiming is inevitable. Naturally we want to be able to offer our boys, those who do fall foul of the enemy, the best medical attention available.
You will of course be given the rank of commissioned officers.
You can't expect men to be bossed about by women otherwise, can you?

DEBBIE What did you think of the army?

ALPHA(SERGEANT) The army is not civvy street. There you have nice white hospitals and, odd as it may seem, they don't go anywhere. Every morning you arrive at work, and there's the hospital just where you left it. Nice, and white. We don't do things that way in the army. You'll work in a field hospital. We supply a field, and we call it a hospital.
You'll live in tents.
Eat in tents.
Treat patients in tents.
Operate in tents.

LIZ What about hygiene.

ALPHA(SERGEANT) That's another thing. In the army you address everyone as either sir, or mam. There's none of this Hi George, or Hi Jean nonsense. Discipline!

LIZ But...

ALPHA(SERGEANT) And that brings us to the most important point of all. Marching. You must march in a straight line in the army. I will teach you to march if it kills you.
Atten shun!
Ri...wait for it, wait for it...turn!
Quick Harch!
'Erf, 'erf, 'erf, ri, 'erf.

HE MARCHES LIZ & JOY OFF.

BETH The army gave us some basic training in Sydney before we joined a permanent unit.

JOY AND LIZ ENTER.

ZETA(JOY) Oh, oh, oh.

LIZ What do you think of the army now?

ZETA(JOY) My feet. My feet.

LIZ Think what the poor boys must go through.

ZETA(JOY) I won't. I can't bear it. I'll never walk again.

JOY HOBBLES U.S. ALPHA HAS BECOME FATHER AGAIN.

LIZ Hello Dad.

ALPHA(FATHER) Well well. My little Lizzie.

LIZ I'm posted to Darwin.

ALPHA(FATHER) Darwin, is it. There's trains and troops moving every night.

LIZ There's a big army hospital I'm posted to...

ALPHA(FATHER) Pray we won't need it.

ZETA BECOMES A NEWS BOY.

ZETA(NEWSBOY) Extra. Read all about it. Japanese bomb Pearl Harbour. Read all about it. America is in the war.

GAMMA(AS A BUSINESSMAN BUYS PAPER) And it's about time too..

ALPHA(FATHER) Your Sister should be safe in Singapore. Singapore at least will stand anything the Japs can throw against it.

LIZ Take care.

ALPHA(FATHER) You write, hear.

LIZ I'm a nurse, dad.

ALPHA(FATHER) Just the same. Take care. (THEY HUG) Take care.

THE HUG ENDS. FATHER MOVES AWAY. THEY BOTH WAVE. TILL FATHER'S GONE U.S.

DEBBIE What was it like nursing in wartime.

BETH Primitive. Thrown together hospitals. I could tell you stories.

BETA BECOMES A MATRON & GAMMA A DOCTOR. LIZ JOINS THEM.

BETA(MATRON) Doctor, there is no possible way I'm going in there.

GAMMA(DOCTOR) It's got to be done.

LIZ Don't look at me.

GAMMA(DOCTOR) Come on Matron. Be brave. What will our gallant lads fighting over seas think.

BETA(MATRON) Frankly I don't care.

THE LIGHTS FADE.

BETH The generator had failed again.

BETA(MATRON) I'm not going in there in the dark.

GAMMA(DOCTOR) Don't be silly Matron. It's probably a harmless carpet snake.

BETA(MATRON) Or a taipan.

DOCTOR I don't think so. The main thing is we've got to get it out of the operating theatre. Now come on.

BY NOW IT'S TOTALLY DARK. THE DOCTOR AND MATRON HUNT FOR THE SNAKE WITH A TORCH.

BETA(MATRON) Doctor I am absolutely certain we should not be hunting for snakes in the dark.

F.X. THE SNAKE HISSES.

BETA(DOCTOR) Shh! Did you hear that?

THE TORCH LIGHTS THE SNAKE.

BETA(MATRON) Oh my god!

GAMMA(DOCTOR) Just hold the torch steady and I'll kill it.

MATRON SCREAMS. DROPS THE TORCH. THE TORCH GOES OUT. IT'S DARK.

BETA(MATRON) Eeeeek. Eeeeek. Eeeeek.

GAMMA(DOCTOR) Will you. Watch out. Matron.

LIZ Are you alright in there?

LIZ SHINES TORCH. MATRON IS PERCHED ATOP THE DOCTOR'S SHOULDERS. HER DRESS COVERS HIS FACE. THE DOCTOR STAGGERS HELPLESSLY OFF STAGE.

TINGAL ENTERS.

BETH We never did find that snake.

DEBBIE You made that up.

BETH Didn't.

DEBBIE You're telling what happened in the war, but what happened to you? You're not telling me what happened to you.

BETH I am.

TINGAL Ha.

DEBBIE I want to know what you saw and felt and did. Not what the papers were saying.

BETH I've got to give the context.

DEBBIE Forget the context. Stuff like that I can get from the history books.

BETH I'm doing my best. If you'd rather someone else...

DEBBIE No. No. Tell me about your social life. Surely you didn't nurse all the time.

BETH Well there were always men.

TINGAL Ha! (BETH GLARES AT HIM) Ha!

BETH Go away.

TINGAL I did. Now I'm back.

DEBBIE Just ignore him.

ZETA(JOY) Come on Liz.

LIZ Honestly I'm half asleep.

ZETA(JOY) They're nice blokes. Cross my heart.

LIZ I really should write home.

TINGAL There's nothing on telly.

BETH I'm ignoring you.

ZETA(JOY) Do that tomorrow. Look Harry's brought his mate. I need you to hold his hand while me and Harry you know.

LIZ I know?

ZETA(JOY) Yes. You know.

LIZ Oh. Oh!

ZETA(JOY) Come on. Let your hair down.

LIZ Alright. But I'm not you-knowing.

GAMMA(HARRY) ENTERS WITH JOE THEY'RE QUICKLY INTRODUCED TO LIZ. THEY PAIR OFF. JOY AND GAMMA(HARRY) EMBRACE AND MOVE OFF STAGE. LIZ AND JOE SIT. LIZ ON THE GROUND. JOE LEANING AGAINST A CHAIR. THIS ALL OCCURS IN MIME UNDER TINGAL AND BETH'S DIALOGUE.

TINGAL You can't believe half what she says.

BETH I'm being honest.

TINGAL Leaving things out. Making stories up.

BETH Never.

DEBBIE (TO TINGAL) Please. (TO BETH) Mrs Arthurton, go on.

TINGAL I'm watching telly.

BETH Good.

JOE It's nice isn't it.

LIZ Yes. Do you want to go for a swim.

JOE Not at this time of the year.

LIZ Why not?

JOE The water's crawling with Blue Bottles. Didn't they tell you that when you got here.

LIZ Probably. I had just done a week of nights, then was bounced around in the back of a truck all the way up from the Alice. They could have told me the world was ending.

JOE You should listen. These are the tropics. There are some dangerous nasties around here.

LIZ Apart from the blue bottles?

JOE Yes. Salt water crocks.

LIZ Ugh.

JOE Stone fish, sharks, of course, and the most ferocious mulloway in the world.

LIZ Mulloway?

JOE I'll cook you some. Forget crays. Forget trout. These fish are pure ambrosia.
(LIZ STARTS TO NOD.)
Hello. Am I that boring?

LIZ I'm sorry. Look you better take me home. I'm so sleepy.

JOE Sounds interesting.

LIZ I mean really sleepy. I've just come off nights again. I'm totally blotto. You can take me out tomorrow if you like. I'll be awake by then.

JOE Alright I will. And I will cook you mulloway.

JOE & LIZ FREEZE.

BETH Look could we stop now.

DEBBIE Oh but we're going so well.

BETH I'm tired.

TINGAL Ha!

BETH I am.

TINGAL Wimping out.

DEBBIE Just a little longer. About fifteen minutes.

BETH No. No.

DEBBIE Just to the end of the tape alright? Please? Please?

BETH Alright.

DEBBIE What was life like in Darwin during the war.

BETH There were always letters from home.

ALPHA(FATHER) Dear Lizzie. Things at home are tough. Everything is rationed. You just about need a coupon to go to the toot. And there's no farm labour. Instead we've got this new fangled Land Army of women.

BETA(WOMAN 1) Mr. Davis.

ALPHA(FATHER) Hello.

BETA(WOMAN 1) We're your farm labour.

ALPHA(FATHER) Don't make me laugh.

BETA(WOMAN 1) You've heard of the land army. We're it.

ALPHA(FATHER) Do you come from a farm?

ZETA(WOMAN 2) Brompton, actually.

ALPHA(FATHER) Then you know nothing about farming.

ZETA(WOMAN 2) No.

BETA(WOMAN 1) Some of us do.

ALPHA(FATHER) This job takes men. Strapping lads. Farming is hard yacka. Hard Yacka. Look at you. No muscles.

ZETA(WOMAN 2) Give us a chance.

BETA(WOMAN 1) Yes. Be fair. We'll show you we can do the work.

ALPHA(FATHER) I don't know.

BETA(WOMAN 2) You don't really have much choice. All the men being away in the war. Who's going to get the hay in if we don't?

ALPHA(FATHER) Alright, alright, go ahead. Make my hay. They did too. But it does make you wonder what the world's coming to.

JOE There you are. Take a seat.

JOE AND LIZ SIT SIDE BY SIDE ON THE ARMS OF A CHAIR THEY MIME SITTING ON STOOLS AT THE COUNTER OF A CAFE.

LIZ This is a nice place.

JOE Best cafe in town.

LIZ I like it.

JOE What'll you have.

LIZ Tea, and a piece of cake.

JOE What sort.

LIZ You choose.

JOE Right. Say, did you see that black feller out the front.

LIZ No.

JOE Don't look.

LIZ What?

JOE Look at the pictures on the wall. Then glance casually. See him? There. Through the window.

LIZ Oh.

JOE Would you say he's acting suspiciously?

LIZ No....Yes. He looks...guilty. He keeps looking up and down the street.

JOE Right. He's keeping nit.

LIZ He's keeping nits?

JOE Not nits. Nit. He's a cockatoo. A look-out. Liz, theres something odd going on here. Look.

TWO CIVILIAN MEN (ALPHA AND GAMMA) COME IN, LOOKING FURTIVE, CROSS THE STAGE AND EXIT THROUGH A BEAD CURTAIN THAT HAS ROLLED IN FROM THE WINGS. LIGHT STREAMS THROUGH THE BEADS AS THEY SWING TOO AND FRO, THEN CUTS OFF. THE LIGHTING AND EFFECTS HAVE SUDDENLY BECOME VERY ORIENTAL.

LIZ They went out the back.

JOE There's something going on.

LIZ What?

JOE I don't know. A gambling den. Drugs.

LIZ No! Here? In Darwin?

JOE It's possible. Darwin's always had a large Chinese population. Foo Manchu. Triads. It could even be a Jap spy ring.

LIZ Gosh! Should we call the police?

JOE There's no time. We've got to investigate this ourselves. Come on.

LIZ What do you think you're doing. You can't go back there.

JOE We've got to.

LIZ Don't leave me here.

JOE Come with me.

LIZ You're mad.

JOE Come on. You'll be safe with me.

THEY GO THROUGH THE BEADS AND THE LIGHTS CHANGE AS THEY MOVE BACK ACROSS THE STAGE. A CHINESE WOMAN ENTERS OPPOSITE CARRYING A LARGE WOODEN BOX.

JOE Can we have two.

BETA(CHINESE WOMAN) One.

LIZ Joe what is it? Opium?

JOE Alright. One.

THE CHINESE WOMAN HANDS THEM AN ICE CREAM.

BETA(CHINESE WOMAN) You must share. There's a war on you know.

THE CHINESE WOMAN EXITS.

JOE You know men have died for one of these.

LIZ HITS HIM.

DEBBIE Did you continue to see him.

BETH No. I was posted back to Sydney.

JOE Dear Liz. I came up to see you and you were gone. Just like that. Posted back to Sydney, Joy tells me.
You know I'm not much for writing, I kinda hope you'll write to me. I was hoping to like, get to know you better. Maybe after the war, eh?
Maybe we could meet after the war.
I'd like to see you again.
Joe.

DEBBIE You were in love.

BETH No.

DEBBIE Did you meet him again.

BETH Yes.

ALPHA(FATHER) APPEARS.

ALPHA(FATHER) Dear Lizzie. I'm writing to tell you that your sister left Singapore just hours before the city fell to the Japanese. She was on the ship Vyner Brooke. The Vyner Brooke was attacked and sunk off the coast of Sumatra. Your sister is listed among the missing. We have not given up hope.

ALPHA(FATHER) PARKS U.S.

DEBBIE You've changed the subject.

BETH There was a war on. You don't make plans. You just get swept away by events.

DEBBIE Was she alright. Your sister.

BETH You could say that. She got ashore. Spent the rest of the war as a prisoner. She never talks about it.

DEBBIE But she should.

TINGAL Darn tooting.

BETH No. There are some things you never talk about. Some things you can't talk about.

TINGAL Ha!

BETH Will you stop that abominable noise.

DEBBIE Mrs Arthurton, please. How can we know. How can we learn if you don't tell us.

BETH You don't understand.

DEBBIE That's the point. That's the point. I want to understand.
(PAUSE)
Did anything like that happen to you?

BETH No. No. Sort of. There was one thing. It was later in the war. Borneo. I was at a field hospital. We had a lot of wounded.

LIZ ENTERS WITH DOCTOR.

LIZ But he's Japanese.

ALPHA(DOCTOR) He's still a human being nurse.

LIZ Yes, but...

ALPHA(DOCTOR) It's a bad wound. He needs surgery now. Prep him please nurse.

LIZ Yes doctor.

ALPHA(DOCTOR) He's our patient. And don't worry. There will be guards all the time.

DOCTOR EXITS.

DEBBIE You operated on a Japanese soldier?

BETH No. No. I don't want to talk about it.

DEBBIE Beth, yes. This is the whole point of doing oral history. To find out your experiences. To pass your experiences on to the next generation.

BETH I won't talk about it.

TINGAL That'd be right.

BETH What do you know.

TINGAL More than you.

DEBBIE Mr...sir, please.

BETH You're senile. Senile.

TINGAL At least I'm not chicken.

BETH Are you saying I'm chicken.

DEBBIE Mrs Arthurton.

TINGAL You never could face up to anything.

BETH I can. And did. And can.

TINGAL Bawk! Bawk! Bawk!

DEBBIE Will you stop it. Stop it. You're behaving like a couple of children. Yea well. Sorry.

LIZ APPROACHES TWO SOLDIERS FROM THE REAR. THEY ARE JOE AND GAMMA(HARRY).

LIZ I'm looking for the Japanese pilot.

JOE Well look who's here.

LIZ Joe.

JOE Liz. Liz. You're looking great.

GAMMA(HARRY) Hello Liz.

LIZ Harry.

JOE I wrote.

LIZ I got your letter. I wrote back. A letter. Did you get it?

JOE Not yet. It's probably chasing me all round Australia.

LIZ I'm sorry.

JOE Naw. It gives me something to look forward to.

LIZ I've got to prep the prisoner.

JOE What?

LIZ He's having an op.

GAMMA(HARRY) We're going to operate on that yellow bastard.

LIZ Yes.

GAMMA(HARRY) He's the enemy.

LIZ I know. But he's a patient.

JOE Liz. Can I see you.

LIZ No. I'm on nights. 12 hour shifts. It knocks you around.

JOE Well when can I see you. I want to see you.

ZETA HAS BECOME A JAPANESE PRISONER.

LIZ This weekend. I've got some time off. Is this the patient.

GAMMA(HARRY) Watch it sister. He probably bites.

LIZ Hello. We're going to look at your wound. The wound. Make you better. Fixie fixie hole in tum tum.

ZETA(PILOT)(IN JAPANESE) Iya. Iya.

JOE I think we'd better hold him.

GAMMA(HARRY) LEANS HIS GUN AGAINST A CHAIR SO HE CAN HOLD THE PILOT.

ZETA(PILOT)(IN JAPANESE) todomaru.

GAMMA(HARRY) AND JOE HOLD THE PILOT.

GAMMA(HARRY) Hold still you little yellow bastard.

THE PILOT BREAKS AWAY. LIZ IS THROWN ASIDE. THE PILOT GRABS THE GUN AND FIRES IT. GAMMA(HARRY) GOES FLYING, HIT IN THE STOMACH BY A BULLET. LIZ SCREAMS.

GAMMA(HARRY) Jesus. Jesus.

JOE FACES THE PILOT ACROSS THE GUN.

JOE Now you know you can't get away. Just give me the gun. Alright snot features?

SLOWLY THE PILOT BACKS AWAY.

ZETA(PILOT)(IN JAPANESE) Todomaru.

SUDDENLY HE PUTS THE GUN AGAINST HIS OWN HEAD.

JOE That's going to help, isn't it. Come on. Give me the gun.

JOE MOVES IN AND GRABS THE GUN. IT GOES OFF. THE PILOT FALLS DEAD.

GAMMA(HARRY) Help me Joe. Help me. I don't want to die.

BETH There's some things. One day in your life you'll never forget.

GAMMA(HARRY) Nurse, nurse. You won't let me die will you?

LIZ I won't.

GAMMA(HARRY) Promise me.

LIZ I won't.

GAMMA(HARRY) Nurse.

LIZ I won't.

GAMMA(HARRY) I don't want to die.

LIZ Don't talk.

GAMMA(HARRY) Jesus. My guts are gone.

LIZ Hold his hands Joe.

JOE You'll be alright.

GAMMA(HARRY) I'm cold. Joe. Joe.

JOE I'm here mate.

GAMMA(HARRY) Joe. I'm gunna die aren't I?

JOE No. Of course not.

GAMMA(HARRY) Joe, promise me you'll never forget me.

JOE You're alright.

GAMMA(HARRY) Promise me you'll never forget me.

JOE You're not dying.

GAMMA(HARRY) Promise me you'll never forget me.

JOE I promise.

GAMMA(HARRY) Promise me you'll never forget me.

JOE I promise. I promise mate, alright?

BUT HE'S DEAD.
THE LIGHTS GO DOWN ON LIZ, GAMMA(HARRY) & JOE.

DEBBIE Darn. The tape's run out. It was just getting interesting too. I'll put another one in.

BETH No. I can't remember any more.

DEBBIE Is that the thing you...

BETH No. No. People die all the time. Even in war.

DEBBIE But his death upset you.

BETH Harry was a nice bloke. The cemetery is full of nice blokes. I won't do this any more.

DEBBIE But Mrs. Arthurton.

BETH I won't remember any more.

DEBBIE Alright. Maybe tomorrow.

BETH No.

DEBBIE I'll come back tomorrow. Tomorrow. Alright?

BETH Tomorrow.

DEBBIE EXITS.
SLOW HAND CLAP. IT'S TINGAL.

TINGAL You liar.

BETH What would you know.

TINGAL A darn sight more than you.

BETH I was there. These things happened too me. Do you think I would lie about it. Do you?

TINGAL You're mistaken.

BETH I know what happened. I was there.

TINGAL You know nothing. I never yet met a doctor who knew anything.

BETH I was a nurse.

TINGAL And nurses know even less.

BETH I'm tired.

TINGAL You're not tired.

BETH I am.

TINGAL You? Never.

BETH Tired. Tired to death.

TINGAL You're hiding. Hiding from yourself.

BETH Don't speak to me Joseph Tingal. You don't know how I feel. What goes through my mind.

TINGAL What passes for a mind.

BETH I was there. In the war up to my elbows in the blood of the.... Every day I saw those wounded boys come in. Boys. Seventeen, eighteen. Mere children, looking up at me with big doe eyes. "Am I dying sister?" They'd ask me. "Tell me, am I dying?" What could I say? What could I say?
(PAUSE.)
I never knew what to say.

TINGAL She'll be back tomorrow, you know.

BETH I still don't know what to say.

ACT 1 ENDS.

Copyright (c) 1995 & 1999
Fred Willett
49 Metala Rd
Paralowie
South Australia
Australia 5108
phone 06 8 8281 2524