23
therefore dynamite karmically. Don't
imagine Daddy
wasted his life in chasing rainbows, Joan. He had a
supreme mission, which he fulfilled! To bring up Jack,
unsullied and deliver him to the intended destination.
It is important that the published material is accepted
as complete. We must keep what we know entirely to
ourselves. My task is to give the media people
information that is already
known while making them
think they are getting something new. This was
difficult with Albert de Winton because he wasn't a
fool. Anyway he's prowling around trying to get at
Daddy's "background" as he puts it and may well
contact you. I need hardly say Joan….
(He becomes
more relaxed and chirpy) Oh, good girl. I know you
wouldn't dream of it…. Because you're evolved and so
am I. But Mother! Christ,
her Karma is due for
destruction if she carries on in her insane, reckless
manner… I just had a call from Mrs Orr, Mother's
landlady. And she is of the opinion that Mother's a
mental case. The other ladies in the guest house can't
stand her because she talks, talks, talks endlessly
about herself and even stops strangers in the street to
tell them about her life and she's careering through
her last £105 pounds like there was no tomorrow…Are
you
feeling better, Joan? I was sorry to hear about
your fallen arches. Getting old is a nuisance. And
Jean?… Thank you. And send my love to him. Oh
good. Yes, she still thinks you made a bad mistake
marrying a "Swiss worm" as she calls him. Pots of
love… Oh, Ruth's feeling a bit tender. I cooked a
strong curry for supper and she was up half the night.
(He chuckles) Alright, Joan. I think we can keep them
at bay.
RUTH
enters.
BRIAN
Just stay vigilant and don't even open the door to
media people! 'Bye.
RUTH
Brian! What is going on?
I always get left out of
everything. There are always these dramas with your
family and you never tell me a thing. It's just not fair.
24
BRIAN
Ruthie. I couldn't live without you. You are the anchor
on my sanity. So I'm taking you into Carlisle for a
cream tea, darling.
RUTH
Oh, Brian! You certainly know how to satisfy a woman.
BRIAN
I don't know what I'd do if you ever went first.
RUTH
What do you mean?
BRIAN
I mean
died first. Before me.
RUTH
Oh, how could you? From cream teas to death!
You're always full of surprises.
BRIAN
There's a bus at quarter to. Come on!
They start to go. On the other side of the stage JACK
and RALEIGH
enter
and crouch down looking like two ragged fugitives. "M"
enters and stops
BRIAN
leaving. She takes him by the hand to watch the following.
SCENE EIGHT. AMAZONIA.
RALEIGH
I'd hoped it would be more picturesque. When I agreed
to be the expedition photographer. I thought there
would be more…there would be less green. Less flat.
More mystery and drama in the landscape . It's just
boiling hot. Aren't you sorry you didn't go to Hollywood
instead? That actress on the voyage . She could have
got you straight into flicks. Your father could have gone
without us.
25
JACK
Don't be daft.
RALEIGH
I would've joined you. Now we're stuck going round in
circles. What's happening to us for God's sake? I don't
understand this mystic stuff of your father's. It's all
beyond me and I'm worried.
JACK
Why don't you just go back?
Father has asked you to
go back several times. He doesn't believe you're up to
this…. journey. I wouldn't think any less of you, old
chap.
RALEIGH
I'm not bloody going back. On my own. It's extremely
dangerous. Indians. Bandits… I promised my mother I
wouldn't take any risks. She wants me back alive.
(
almost in tears) I just want to get back to my motor-
bike. It
was great Jack, you must admit,
tearing round
the Devon lanes on our bikes. Don't you miss your
Harley-Davidson?
JACK
Raleigh. We
were close at school. And then "debs
delights" together and parties. But life moves on…It's
very sad. People develop at different speeds. I feel I've
outgrown you, old chap.
RALEIGH
You pompous arse!
JACK
It was fun. But those days are over. I have a special
task. And I must proceed with it. Part of Daddy's
doctrine is the idea that every person in their life has a
task that they must accomplish otherwise their soul will
not develop. And I follow that.
RALEIGH
Well
I've got a special task that
I must accomplish…
26
He starts to go.
RALEIGH
This journey's obviously giving you enlightenment but
it's
giving me nothing but the shits!
He moves off uneasily, trying to control his bowels.
Sudden blackout.
SCENE NINE. CARLISLE. BRIAN'S BUNGALOW .
BRIAN
Was it like that?
M
Of course . You know Raleigh just wasn't up to
roughing it. He would've made a good gigolo. Living off
wealthy women.
BRIAN
I think he was homosexual and just wanted to follow
Jack.
M
He wanted material wealth fast. He would have loved
to have found lost treasure on that journey. That's why
your father and Jack had to get rid of him. He was just
all wrong for their "Great Scheme".
BRIAN
Poor Raleigh. We used to lark around at school. We
saw a show together once with a strange banter we
used to repeat. "You remind me of a man. What man?
Man with a power. Power of what? Power of voodoo.
Who do? You do!" He used to be incredible fun. God,
it's all gone…And yet it's
still vividly in here (pointing to
his brain).
Moving away from "M"
and speaking to the audience.