Misha Williams

 60 
BRIAN crosses to the other side of the stage and draws back the black 
drape to reveal NINA'S blood soaked bed. 
 
BRIAN 
Her room was in a mess. Her wee clockie still ticking 
merrily, with only the blood that had flowed from her 
ruptured bowels to remind me of her ever having been 
there. By the pillow, Daddy's last letter to Mother. 
(Reading) "You have no need to fear any failure." Huh! 
Not half…..How pathetic; all her bits and odds and 
ends, familiar clothing, pictures, letters, trinkets. All 
eloquent of her, who's now only a memory. The young 
doctor was suspicious. Mother had died too quickly! 
Possible foul play! I fail to see what motive could have 
existed. An inquest was ordered and there'll be an 
autopsy. 
I went to see mother's body in the mortuary. 
 
He crosses the stage. A spotlight up on NINA, standing against a grey 
surface as if lying dead on a slab. 
 
Frankly it bowled me over. So pitiful, the expression, 
just as I've seen it many times. A sort of solemn 
dismay as if to say "Now where did I put my glasses ?"  
She had an eventful life. Born in Ceylon. Daughter of a 
Supreme Court judge. Fussed and feted in fashionable 
Indian houses. Married PHF and at first voyaged 
around the world with him to wherever he was posted. 
But then, he took up exploring… and twenty years of a 
string of long separations followed. On my father's and 
Jack's departure, she and Joan moved to Madeira living 
spaciously on nothing. She'd been spoiled with 
adulation as a young woman. Now she was denied the 
sort of life that as wife and mother she had every right 
to expect. She'd married a man who'd just not accept 
the responsibility of family. Always there was her 
coterie of interesting friends. Always she waited for the 
return of PHF and Jack, which never materialized. But 
she would spend more than funds warranted, so her 
fascinating life, spread over four continents, ended in a 
string of seaside boarding houses for impoverished 
gentlewomen. This fact made her very difficult in later 
life and drove away her friends and relatives just when 
she needed them. So she resorted to talking to just 

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 61 
about any stranger who'd listen. Perhaps, if she hadn't 
blurted out a lot of secrets, (Indicating the curse) she 
wouldn't have left this world alone, in a murky Brighton 
boarding house. 
 
He goes to his secret cupboard for a favourite book. 
 
BRIAN 
 
    Ah well, an evening by myself, with Ruth out at her 
German evening classes. "M" keeping a low profile. I 
shall indulge in a bit of light reading. Madame 
Blavatsky's  "The Secret Doctrine".  
     
He settles down on the sofa and then hears his name spoken. 
 
BRIAN 
Ruth? You're back early. 
 
NINA singing quietly. 
 
NINA 
"Wee bonnie boat like a bird on the wing…" 
 
She comes towards him. 
 
BRIAN 
What can I do for you mother? 
 
NINA 
Brian. I do love you. Despite the little tiffs, we've had 
some laughs together. Can you do me just one last 
favour? 
 
BRIAN 
Well. What? 
 
NINA 
Would you go back to Brazil? 
 
BRIAN 
Never. 
 
NINA 
And try!!…again…Just one last time! Just in case!… 

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 62 
BRIAN 
(Irritated) Alright…(Then jokingly) But if the one in a 
million happens and they are still around and just 
enjoying the sun and sangria. Either of them. I do not 
hold myself responsible for my actions. 
 
NINA smiles and fades away into the darkness. BRIAN alone in spotlight. 
 
I am well on my path and I have my great task ahead. 
From her point of view and the world's, I may be a 
failure. But from my point of view…I haven't started 
yet. 
 
 
Light fades. Short burst of music.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
End of Act One 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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 63 
 
 
ACT TWO 
 
 
SCENE ONE. ALBERT'S FLAT. 
 
The stage is now a single void. The black and grey areas are now a  
Magritte style limbo of surreal colours and light.. 
 
JESS on the phone. ALBERT nearby. They grin broadly at each other. 
 
JESS 
You liked the script, darling ? Fantastic. We're so 
pleased this end. So when do you want us in L.A.? I 
can't wait to see you, Ida. Oh, I've aged of course. No, 
you couldn't sweetie. Oh, we'll have to get facelifts 
before we arrive. I know how important looking young 
is over there. Oh, dear. Yes, here he is…Right here. 
'Face beaming! 
 
Hands him the phone. 
 
ALBERT 
Hi, Ida….Oh, I'm absolutely thrilled. Of course I don't 
mind script changes. Delighted to do any re-writes.  
 
JESS nods at ALBERT animatedly. 
 
    
 
 
ALBERT 
Well, I can't wait to be there. It's all so exciting…Oh, 
the tapes arrived. You like that Northern guy? Really? 
It needs a name, though, doesn't it?… Oh you see Jack 
as the main character? (Bemused, but trying to tow the 
line) So you want that camp Northerner, and you want 
an American star as Jack? Oh…Well..Jack was very 
pure, you know. You see him as… randy? A womanizer? 
Well… I could change that a little. (He gives JESS a 
small sigh.) No problem. You want to cut the early 
scenes about Fawcett?…. Well, how will the audience 
understand his…his quest? Don't we need exposition? 
Can we go straight to Amazonia without the Ceylon 
scenes?…Oh, Ida? Are you sure? Ok. Ok. I'll try. Give 

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