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One Way Telephone

01 May

RTE, 2015

(extract)

SCENE 1

FX: A TELEPHONE RINGS – CALLER’S PERSPECTIVE.
THE RECEIVER IS LIFTED, BUT THERE IS NO
VOICE, JUST THE OPEN LINE.

Bartley conducts a rhetorical conversation with himself. Clearly, he is a man attempting to suppress his anxiety, and this adds to the tension –

BARTLEY: I know you’re there, old man. I know you’re listening.

On your one-way telephone. Didn’t I hear
you pick it up? I know you hear me.

Don’t tell me there’s a technical problem – or do – go ahead, speak.

Tell me you’re getting a mobile phone, like everybody else. You want me to get it for
you? You wouldn’t want me coming down there to deliver it, believe me.

No. You’re just not talking to me, are you?

You want to torture me. It’s part of your
new isolationist regime, isn’t it?

FX: A CLICK, THE LINE GOES DEAD. Bartley slams down his receiver, dials again. Handset is lifted at the other end. Bartley jumps in–

Me again. Speak.

No reply.

Bartley lets out guttural expressions of
frustration that are cut with incredulity. This
gives way to muttering designed to show
forbearance, even a measure of understanding –

Look, I know, in these times…
A man of your age – it used to be simpler, but we must keep up…

Strange what you can hear on an open
line…electric air.

I keep thinking I’m going to hear
seagulls…

He grows impatient again, gives a shrill whistle down the line.

Say something. Anything.

FX: RECEIVER IS SLAMMED DOWN. REDIALING. THE PHONE IS LIFTED AT THE OTHER END, BUT NOTHING IS SAID. THERE ARE FIZZLES AND POPS – WE ARE THROWN INTO THE CONFUSION OF A CROSSED LINE –

INTERLOPER 1: (D) Anyway, Paula, I told her she
should have it seen to without delay.
You know how these things are, Paula, I know you know.

INTERLOPER 2: (D) I do. I know. But he won’t let her. I mean, they’re her feet.

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