Misha Williams

 3 
 
 
 
 
 
THE CAST: 
 
 
BRIAN, in his fifties. 
 
RUTH, his wife. 
 
"M," an exotic female elemental. 
 
NINA FAWCETT, Brian's mother. 
 
ALBERT DE WINTON, in his forties. 
  
JESS, forty. 
 
FAWCETT, Brian's father. 
  
 
     
JACK, Brian's brother. 
 
RALEIGH, Jack's friend. 
 
 
 
 
THE SET: 
 
On the left of the stage, a black space with two or three 
contemporary pieces of furniture. This is "the present."  
On the right, a grey space represents "the past" and the 
world of thoughts and memories. However, the two 
realities (and areas) gradually merge together. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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 4 
ACT ONE 
 
SCENE ONE.  AMAZONIA. 
 
Darkness. Jungle sounds; a gentle morning chorus. Grey, misty light 
slightly illuminates an empty stage. The noise of a single engine plane 
intrudes from the distance. It comes closer. We hear flocks of parrots 
screeching and taking off. The plane swoops low with an ugly invasive 
sound and white leaflets drop down. The engine drone diminishes for a 
moment but then the plane returns to make another dive. A tall savage 
figure emerges, moving in a dreamy, almost zombie-like slow motion. 
The figure picks up a leaflet with indifference. From the passing plane we 
hear a shrill voice through a megaphone. 
 
     
 
 
 
 
BRIAN'S VOICE 
Jack!! Are you down there, Jack?! It's your brother! It's 
Brian ! 
 
The figure examines the leaflet. It is JACK who has not seen writing for 
years. He looks at it as if the message was in hieroglyphics. 
 
BRIAN'S VOICE 
If you're down there, come out and wave!! I've come 
to take you home, Jack!!! 
 
JACK is convulsed with a burst of savage, almost insane, laughter. 
Then with conviction (and in a public school accent which contrasts 
crazily with his Indian appearance) he speaks quietly. 
 
JACK 
No thanks, Brian, old chap. I'd rather not. 
 
The plane roars off. JACK disappears into the darkness. 
 
 
 
SCENE TWO. CARLISLE. 
 
Outside Brian's bungalow ALBERT DE WINTON tests his portable 
recording gear. He is about to do an interview for radio. JESS carries his 
bag and briefcase.  
 
 
 

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 5 
ALBERT 
Testing…one, two, three. (Earnestly) We present  "The 
Fawcett Catastrophe." The greatest exploration 
mystery of the 20th century by…Albert de 
Winton…Testing. 
 
As he plays the recording back JESS puts down his gear. 
 
JESS 
Al!… Extra batteries! You better take some. 
 
She starts to go. 
 
ALBERT 
Jess! Aren’t you coming in?… After five hours driving 
here!! 
 
JESS 
No. I'm just going over to Tesco. I need some 
Tampax. 
 
ALBERT 
Oh, typical ! Your priorities! Christ! 
 
JESS  
(Leaving breezily) I'll pick you up in an hour. 
 
ALBERT 
Oh, fuck! Thanks a lot! I thought you might be 
interested! 
 
Inside Brian's bungalow. BRIAN enters. He wears khaki shorts, open 
sandals with grey socks, a green eyeshade and metal framed National 
Health glasses. RUTH scrambles across the stage. She looks not unlike 
the Queen Mother. Half really afraid, half exaggerated joking. 
 
RUTH 
Aiiiiiyeee! Darling!! I think there's that mouse again in 
the kitchen! 
 
BRIAN 
The BBC chappie's just arriving. I'll sort him out first 
and then I'll sort out "Mickey Mouse". Gosh, they're 
attacking on all fronts this morning. 

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 6 
 
RUTH hurries off and a beautiful dark-haired woman comes from the 
direction of the kitchen. She is "M," an "elemental," who embraces all 
times and all cultures in her face and can only be seen by BRIAN. She 
looks a bit sheepish about frightening RUTH. 
 
BRIAN 
You! Honestly! Will you behave! 
 
 
With an impish shrug to BRIAN  she goes off…. 
MUSIC. The scene breaks as BRIAN and ALBERT arrange themselves at 
the table for the next scene. 
 
 
SCENE  THREE.      CARLISLE BUNGALOW 
 
BRIAN and ALBERT seated, engaged in a standard radio interview for a 
Radio Four feature. 
 
ALBERT 
So your father had a really audacious agenda for his 
final expedition…to find in the heart of South America 
the origins of world civilization. A breathtaking 
challenge to orthodox science! Sweeping Egypt and 
Sumeria aside like that! 
 
BRIAN 
Oh yes. He was convinced that south of the mighty 
Amazon, in the Mato Grosso, a still largely unexplored 
area, was a hidden city containing the remnants of the 
world's very first civilization. He called this place "Z".  
  
          
 
 
             ALBERT 
And he took along your elder brother Jack? Still in his 
early twenties. And actually turned down Lawrence of 
Arabia who was desperate to go with him on the 
expedition. 
 
BRIAN 
It is extraordinary that he should turn down the 
famous Lawrence… 
 
 

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