Philip Davison
Radio
***
BEING PERFECT
a play for radio
(RTÉ, 2004);
(extract)
LUKE: What do you mean - anyway?
DUMPHY: Aren’t you after being in an accident? And aren’t you both alive?
a beat; Luke's former exhilaration has a reprise -
LUKE: Fran, what are you looking at me like that for? Lookit - I’m not perfect...
FRANCES: You used to be.
***
THE DUKE
a play for radio
(RTÉ, 2004);
(extract)
The ticking of a mantelpiece clock
DUKE: Yes, it's curious, isn't it?
BILLY: What?
DUKE: It's got nothing to do with closing your eyes.
BILLY: No?
DUKE: Nothing to do with the blackness of sleep. BILLY: I suppose not...
The rustle of a newspaper
DUKE: I seem to be going further each night.
BILLY: Really? Further? How do you mean - further?
DUKE: Further. Into wherever the hell it is I go.
BILLY: When you're asleep?
DUKE: When I'm asleep.
BILLY: You haven't been sleeping properly, then?
DUKE: Oh, I've been sleeping. It's just I've been going places.
***
LENNON'S GUITAR
a play for radio
(RTÉ, 2005);
(extract)
The sound of a guitar being tuned
The guitar is now tuned. Several false starts, then a piece of MUSIC is played on the guitar. The music develops a WAVERING ECHO. The echo is taken up in the opening exchange, accentuating the air of unreality -
HECTOR: No, it isn’t. But since when has that stopped you, Jemmie?
JEMMIE: Exactly. Now, Hector, I’d like to say I’m very disappointed. Know what I mean?
HECTOR: I do, Jemmie. I know what you mean.
JEMMIE: I thought you were a man of vision.
HECTOR: So did I, Jemmie.
JEMMIE: I have the next Beatles here. Agreed?
HECTOR: Agreed. But these are outrageous terms you're asking.
JEMMIE: I was going to hum you a Beatles song, but now I’m annoyed.
HECTOR: All right. You win. Let’s all make a lot of money.
JEMMIE: Good man, Hector. Except…now the terms have changed. I want more.
Guitar music stops abruptly. Reality bites - the sound character is now entirely realistic - a car coming down multi-storey car park, screeches to a halt.
JEMMIE: Lovely car you drive, Mr Longhorne, sir…Hector…HECTOR: The answer is no. Out of my way or I’ll run you over.
JEMMIE: I'm not moving until we have a talk.
Engine revs. The sound of Jemmie leaping onto the bonnet.
***
THE FISHMONGER
a play for radio
(RTÉ, 2006);
(extract)
The run-up to our anniversary has been like the run-up to Christmas. It has involved no running. Only a few heavy sighs - and they might have nothing to do with any anniversary. Never mind. We remain as we are. Today’s the day. I was up early. Couldn’t sleep.
It’s a lovely day for an anniversary. People in hot climates don't know what this kind of a sunny day is like. Sun beating down on our street.
He’ll be at the door of the shop, sweating on his chair. Breathing through his gills. Pouting like a big mullet. He should drink more water. I’m drinking more water. ‘It’s good for the kiddlies,’ I tell him and he laughs. ‘Diddle I already know that,’ says he.
I’ll be in the cool of our dry aquarium. Behind the ranks. I might have a little sing. Just to mark the occasion. I Dreamt that I Dwelt in Marble Halls.
I have something for him. Something small. I'm putting it on the mantelpiece. He won't see it, of course. I'll have to point it out to him this evening.
It’s a gold tie-pin, and cuff-links with his initials engraved.
’Maybe he hasn’t forgotten. Maybe he has something for me that would fit in his pocket.***
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