Then again – there’s a lot the nuns wouldn’t get away with now.
So –
Did you figure it out?
SADHBH. Figure out what?
MICHAEL. Why can’t Africa look after Africa?
SADHBH is about to answer and then stops herself.
SADHBH. Haven’t a clue. But at heart – I’m an optimist.
MICHAEL. The town’s very proud of ya, Sadhbh.
Ya know? Yer truly a citizen of the world.
Doing something – the kind of stuff ya would think about but would never do.
You’ve earned your title.
SADHBH. Cowboy of Kincasslagh?
MICHAEL. Fair fucks to you.
Listen, would ya ever think of coming up to The Railway one of the nights? It’s the old crowd but they’d love to see ya.
SADHBH. Oh, well… that’s, eh – I’m writing up a / report and –
MICHAEL. It’s just if you wanted to like.
SADHBH. Yeah.
Pause.
MICHAEL. Is that your fella in there?
Pause.
SADHBH. No.
MICHAEL. You had to think about that, didn’t ya.
SADHBH. I did.
There is a silence.
MICHAEL pushes a strand of hair from her face.
The music starts up again.
SADHBH’s name is being called from off.
MICHAEL. It’s the last dance of the night.
Pause.
Might you have the last dance with me?
SADHBH. Tongues will wag.
MICHAEL. I’ll chance it.
SADHBH stubs out her cigarette.
SADHBH. I better go in.
MICHAEL. Well, come on then, Miss Kavanagh.
This is your life.
MICHAEL takes her hand and twirls her around.
Bright spot of light.
The Congolese SOLDIER appears. He raises his AK-47 towards SADHBH.
SOLDIER. Je vais terminer le boulot.
End of Act Two.
EPILOGUE
Congo.
The IDP camp.
Children’s drawings of conflict stuck on a fence.
MAMA CAROLINA. Tu es enfin revenue. Dieu soit loué.
Et où es la petite Française?
SADHBH. She said to tell Mama Carolina and all the children that she loves you and thinks of you all every day.
MAMA CAROLINA. Qu’elle soit bénie. She was very agreeable with the children. I ask because a young nurse from Médecins sans Frontières shows me an article from the New York Times. We have worried about her.
SADHBH. Mathilde is now based at our Paris headquarters.
MAMA CAROLINA. I think la petite Française will not return.
This is a great sadness.
Poor Congo.
SADHBH. This is true. This is true.
And tell me – how is Amala?
MAMA CAROLINA. She does not cry so much these last months and she is one of the fortunate ones.
She does not have HIV. But I must tell you – in a camp like this – there are many rumours.
What happens if Mburame is not convicted?
SADHBH. The prosecutor believes they’re going to make an example of Colonel Jerome Mburame. It’ll have enormous impact.
MAMA CAROLINA. I am still frightened for Amala.
SADHBH. I will look after Amala.
I will make sure she is not identified.
MAMA CAROLINA. She has been waiting for you. One moment.
Amala? Amala? Come this instant.
She has been practising her English.
AMALA runs in carrying a home-made gun.
She throws herself at SADHBH.
AMALA. Mama Sadhbh, Mama Sadhbh.
Tu es revenue!
SADHBH. Oui, te l’avais promis.
AMALA. Regarde – moi, je suis grosse.
Je suis Américaine.
I want to be like you when I grow up.
Give me your sky piece.
SADHBH gives AMALA her hat. AMALA puts it on and runs around and around. She points the gun.
Je suis Mama Sadhbh.
Je suis Américaine.
Je suis Irlandaise.
Je suis.
Je suis.
I am Amala.
I am Amala.
I will tell all the stories, Mama Sadhbh.
AMALA shoots MAMA CAROLINA.
Bang Bang Bang.
AMALA shoots SADHBH.
Bang Bang Bang.
AMALA runs and takes aim at the audience.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
The End.
STELLE FEEHILY
Stella Feehily’s plays have been staged at the Royal Court Theatre, Soho Theatre and Project Arts Centre, Dublin, among others. She was co-winner of the Susan Smith Blackburn Award 2007 for O Go My Man. Her other plays include Duck (Traverse Theatre, Royal Court); This May Hurt a Bit (Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, 2014); Bang Bang Bang (Octagon Theatre, Bolton, 2011) and Dreams of Violence (Soho Theatre, 2009).
A Nick Hern Book
Bang Bang Bang first published in Great Britain as a paperback original in 2011 by Nick Hern Books Limited, The Glasshouse, 49a Goldhawk Road, London W12 8QP, in association with Out of Joint and the Royal Court Theatre, London
This ebook first published in 2016
Bang Bang Bang copyright © 2011 Stella Feehily
Stella Feehily has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work
Cover image © Gabriel Moreno
Cover design: Ned Hoste, 2H
Typeset by Nick Hern Books, London
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 84842 211 7 (print edition)
ISBN 978 1 78001 706 8 (ebook edition)
CAUTION This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Amateur Performing Rights Applications for performance, including readings and excerpts, by amateurs in the English language throughout the world should be addressed to the Performing Rights Manager, Nick Hern Books, The Glasshouse, 49a Goldhawk Road, London W12 8QP, tel +44 (0)20 8749 4953, e-mail [email protected], except as follows:
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