Charnworth Books (1)
Scene 1. Curtains open to a rather dusty bookshop interior. Bookshelves line either side of the stage, at angles pointing towards the back where there is a curtain between the two shelves. There is a small table in the middle of the stage, above which is suspended a solitary bare bulb. There is a wooden chair beneath the table. On the table itself are scattered pieces of paper, several books and an old wooden cash drawer. A small book trolley on castors stands to one side. Eduardo stands front stage, he is an older man, wearing a rather eclectic mix of clothes and round steel rimmed glasses. Eduardo is holding a pile of books bound with string infront of him. Eduardo: Evelyn My dear I have warned you before of this, men, men are but interested in you for selfish reasons, you can trust me on that. Smiles They dazzle you with a bright display, like some exotic bird, all colour and shine. Once they have a grip on you they will not let go Evelyn, they will turn very very dark, men are by nature destructive to those they entrap and young men are the worst. You must be on your guard, a woman of your concinnity must be very aware of unwanted attentions. Shocked He said that! You should not stand for such things Evelyn, that's just crude, whatever happened to chivalry. In our day it was different, remember? I remember it well. We knew how to dance, how to sing, how to court. Ah the long summer of youth. Smiles, we can see an idea forming on his face. I tell you what Evelyn, why not come back tonight, after the shop is closed and we can dance again. Smiles. I cook a very special surprise. That will clear your mind of all these upstarts. Places the books on the table. Tonight then and thank you again for the books, here let me show you to the door Evelyn Eduardo walks to front stage left ushering Evelyn out of the shop, he gives a semi theatrical bow and there is the ring of the shops door closing. Eduardo returns to his desk, unties the bundle and begins to examine the books. He picks them up one by one and puts them down without much interest on the desk, until he comes across a rather small and particularly dusty book. He picks it up and eyes it with interest. To himself. Eduardo: Evelyn you dear! the shop door bell rings and in strides Richard, he is wearing a suit with red braces. He carries with him a mobile phone, briefcase and a personal computer. He is rather hesitant as he enters the shop and looks with some unease around him. Richard: Mr Lug han? Eduardo regards him for a time. Eduardo: Lughan! Richard: Lug-han? Eduardo stops and gives a sarcastic smile. Eduardo: Please, call me Eduardo. Richard smiles and nods. There is a pause, Richard looks embarrassed whilst Eduardo regards him with interest. Eduardo: And you are? Richard: Me? Eduardo: You have a name? Richard: Oh yes, of course, I'm sorry, This is all a bit new to me. Eduardo: It is not a secret I hope? Richard: A secret! Eduardo: That would get my day off to a flying start, a man with a secret name. You are a spy? Richard: No no, I'm sorry. Eduardo: Not a spy eh! A criminal perhaps, a wanted man? Richard is beginning to tire of this folly. Richard: My name is Richard Evan Jones. Richard shuffles his possessions around so he has a free hand then advances toward Eduardo with it thrust infront of him. The two shake hands, there follows an awkward pause. Eduardo: Well Richard Evan Jones, what can I do for you today? Richard: Please call me Richard. Eduardo: OK Richard what is it you are looking for. Richard: Charnworth Bookseller's Eduardo: Then you have found it. Richard clears his throat and stands back. Richard: I am here representing my employers, Rowe Holdings? Eduardo: A whole company want's to buy book's, I shall be able to close early. Richard: Have you not been informed? Eduardo: Informed of what? Richard: Oh! Eduardo: Go on! Richard: Rowe Holdings purchased this building two days ago, along with this whole arcade of shops. Eduardo returns to sorting through his books and pretends to be disinterested in Richard. Eduardo: No one told me of this! Richard: No? Eduardo: I did not even know it was for sale! Richard: These thing do move rather fast. Rowe holdings purchased the site directly off your landlord a Mr....... Smythe I believe. Eduardo: Mr Smythe! he is an inbred fool, no doubt you got it for an old song? Richard: I really don't know, that is not my department. Eduardo: And what is your department? Richard: I'm an assessor. Eduardo: Why should Rowe Holdings send an assessor to my shop? Richard: The fact of the matter is, Rowe Holdings now own Charnworth Book's. Eduardo leaves his books and regards Richard. Eduardo: Hell you do. Richard: I'm sorry? Eduardo: This is the first I have heard of this whole business. Richard: You should have received a fax this morning! Eduardo: I have no fax. Richard: Oh. Eduardo: What is wrong with the post? You could have sent me a letter through the post. Eduardo holds up some letters from his desk. Eduardo: Simple. But I have had nothing. Richard: That still doesn't alter the facts. Eduardo: You may own this building, these bricks and mortar, but Charnworth books is more than that, more than this. Eduardo wanders around the shop. Eduardo: It is these books, this trade, the people who come here. It is books that make a book shop not brick's. Richard: I didn't mean that. Eduardo: I have rights you know! Richard: We don't own your business. Eduardo: Oh? Richard: That is why I am here. Eduardo: Why? Richard: To value your business. Eduardo: And why should I let you do that? Richard: A shop with a sitting tenant is no use to Rowe Holdings, We want to see if it's viable to buy you out, then run or sell the shop as business. Eduardo: And if it isn't? Richard: Sorry? Eduardo: If it isn't viable to buy my business? Richard: The shop is not really part of the arcade, I don't believe there are any plans for it. Is it listed too? Eduardo nods. Richard: Then it will be sold as is, with tenant, to a new landlord, who-ever that maybe! Eduardo: Another Landlord. Richard: Probably a property speculator, someone who doesn't mind the time and trouble of eviction proceedings. There are those that don't even try the legal way. Eduardo: I see, and how long will it take, to value. Richard: I have to let them know by this afternoon. Eduardo walks around the shop, scratching his chin and looking at the books. Eduardo: Eviction Proceedings (shakes his head.) This is the last Bookshop in Charnworth you know, the last one. There has been a bookshop in this town for one hundred and fifty years. That is a lot to lose I am afraid, a lot to lose. Eduardo walks to the front of the stage. Eduardo: Very well. Richard: So you'll let me value the business? Eduardo: That is what I have said. Richard: Good, You won't regret it. Eduardo: I hope not. Richard: Yes, right... let's get started. Richard places his things onto the desk. Richard: I need a power point for my computer. Eduardo: Is that necessary? Richard: The battery is flat! Eduardo: No I mean the computer, just to value this shop? Richard: It makes my job easier, not scared of technology are you. Eduardo does not rise to this. Eduardo: I'll get you a lead. Eduardo disappears behind the curtain, he returns with a power lead, while Richard sets out his computer and things. Eduardo pulls out the chair, stands on it and takes out the bulb, then plug's in the power lead while Richard regards him with Horror. Richard: Is that safe? Eduardo stands back and examines the dangling lead then shrugs. Eduardo: I dunno, I haven't used it in years. They both observe it for a time. Eduardo: It's OK I think, just keep your feet off the floor when you're working. Richard: You have insurance? Eduardo nods and Richard sits down at the table. Eduardo: (To himself ) For my car. Richard is buried in his computer whilst Eduardo wanders casually around the shop Richard: Okay I'll need....Spreadsheets, profit and loss, stock lists and order figures. Richard continues working at his screen while Eduardo just stops and regards him, after a time Richard lifts his head up and looks straight at Eduardo. Richard: You have them? Eduardo: I am them! Richard just stares at him exasperated. Eduardo: It is all in here. He taps his head. Eduardo: Profit and loss, stockists, all in here, everything I need to run my business. Richard: OK. So you have no idea of your stock value? Eduardo: Of course, in here. He taps his head again. Richard: This is going to take longer than I thought. Richard gets up and looks at the books thinking, then has a flash of inspiration and picks a book off the table. Richard: I can estimate it, it'll take longer but I can do it. He opens the book and rummages through it. Richard: There's no price on this book? Eduardo: What is it? Richard: "Maintaining your Austin Allegro" Eduardo: You want that book, you can have for one pound fifty, a good price I am sure. Richard: I don't want it. Eduardo: Why not? Richard: Because I haven't got a Austin Allegro, I've never had a Austin Allegro, I never want an Austin Allegro. Eduardo: It is a good price! Richard picks up another book and flicks through it, then puts it down exasperated. Richard: Do any of the books have prices on? Eduardo: How do I know what the price of a book is? Richard: You don't know what the price is! Eduardo: Not until I know how much it is worth to you, no. Richard: But you just told me that book was one pound fifty? Eduardo: Sure, you haven't got an Austin Allegro, I can see that, so you could have it for one pound fifty, not that I would sell it to you! Richard sits back down rather resigned. Richard: And why won't you sell me the book, not that I ever wanted it? Eduardo: Because the grocer next door, Mr Tame has an Austin Allegro. Richard: And he want's it? Eduardo: Not yet, I am holding it for when he breaks down. Richard: What if he doesn't break down? Eduardo gives him a knowing smile. Richard: (Getting more depressed and resigned by the minute.) Okay, Okay, So we have no way of valuing the stock from the shelves okay, okay, there must be another way. Eduardo returns to rummaging among his shelves whilst Richard thinks. Richard: I've got it. Eduardo returns to the tables. Richard: Purchase lists Eduardo stares blankly, Richard starts to gesticulate. Richard: Purchase lists, when you buy the books. You must have some record of the books you buy! Eduardo: Buy? Richard: You do buy books? Eduardo: A few. Richard: And the rest..Oh I don't even want to know, I can't believe this, Nice easy day's work I thought, Bit of time in the country I thought, do me good, bit of time to relax, unwind. Eduardo: It is not so easy for you eh? Richard is slumped on his elbows looking really depressed. Richard: I should have known, I should have expected this. Eduardo returns to his bookshelves. Richard: Who reads books anyhow, they're obsolete, no one needs them. Eduardo: (Does not look up from his rummaging.) And why not. Richard: Well computers, isn't it. Eduardo: Computers hey! Richard: Of course, this replaces a thousand books. Eduardo: Funny how history repeats itself! Richard: How. Eduardo: It just goes round and round, over and over. Richard: How can it, we've never had computers before. Eduardo: Computers, maybe no, but it is just the latest new toy. Richard: This is not a toy it is a powerful tool. Eduardo: Radio is a powerful tool. When I was young, younger that you are now Richard, I used to go and stay with my Aunt. She lived high in the mountains, the only contact with the outside world she had was a paper. (Eduardo smiles fondly) Once a month a paper, that was all anyone had in the mountains. News was gossip, spread form mouth to ear. Richard: How could they survive without contact, what would they eat? Eduardo: They were farmers, they had all they needed. One summer my father sent me up to the mountains with a radio as a gift. For days my Aunt just stared at it, then she put a cloth over it and used it as a flower stand. After a few weeks a neighbour came racing to our house, with his whole family. "Turn on the radio, Greta things are afoot." My aunt would not, they argued and begged until she relented and let them tune it in. We got a radio station in Turin, They told us war had broken out, everyone was to leave the mountain borders. So we left, except my Aunt. She threw the radio after us, cursing it for taking us all away. "It is the Devil's tool, The Devil's tool." Richard: Radios are not computers. Eduardo: No, they are not, but people believed radio would replace books, "Who needs to read when they can listen." That was a long time ago and what has happened? We still have books. Richard: You can't see radio! Eduardo: No you can't, so then came cinema to revolutionise the world! We still read books, only now we have books on cinema and movie stars and film scripts, nothing changes. Television, just the same thing. History it just goes around and around like a big wheel. So now it is the turn of the computer. Richard: They are not the same, you can do any thing with a computer that you can do with a book. Eduardo: Can you drop it onto the floor? Richard: That's not a fair example. Eduardo returns to his shelves. Richard: I can connect my computer to a web of computers all over the world, just with this phone. Eduardo is unimpressed and continues to rummage. Richard fiddles around to connect his phone to his computer. Richard: I can communicate with anyone in the world. Eduardo: Just Like a letter. Richard: Only at the speed of light. Eduardo: Like a telegram. Richard: I'll show you... I have a world of literary information at my finger tips. Billions of bytes of information ready whenever I need it. I can see almost anything by almost anybody, lines of books, plays, famous quotes, just about everything is here. I bet I can find anything before you can look it up! Eduardo: (This gets Eduardo's attention) Bet?..how much? Richard: That Kind of bet? oh I.....I can beat you any day . Two pounds! Eduardo: Big gambling man! Richard: Three then! Eduardo: Your sure that is not too much? Richard: Four? Eduardo: What happened to your confidence in technology! Richard: Five then! I bet you Five pounds. Eduardo: For five pounds I accept. Richard: Okay what literary thing do you want me to beat you to. Eduardo thinks for a while. Eduardo: The closing lines of Shakespeare's plays. Richard: Okay, which ones? Eduardo: You choose it is fairer. Richard: Are you ready? Eduardo nods. Richard: Macbeth. Richard begins frantically busying on his computer, Eduardo initially dashes off to look then stops and regards Richard for a time, he waits until Richard looks like he almost has it. Eduardo: "This, and what needful else that calls upon us, by the grace of grace we will perform in measure, time and place, so thanks to all at once, and to each one whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone." Richard stops and looks up astonished. Richard: You didn't even look! Eduardo: I didn't have to. Richard: That's not fair. Eduardo: You set the bet, five pounds! Eduardo holds out his hand and Richard rather reluctantly hands over Five pounds. Eduardo: Thank you. Richard: With great sarcasm. My pleasure. Eduardo: ( Eduardo returns to his piles of books) This work never ends!. Richard: Retaining his sarcastic tone. Work? Eduardo: Of course, everything has to be sorted. I know where every book in this shop is placed, it all has to be in order you see, all in order. Eduardo takes a tied bundle of books from the floor and places them onto the table. He unties them there is a card ontop which he glances at and smiles then tosses onto the table near Richard. Eduardo begins to sort through the books one by one, placing them in different piles. Richard: What sort of order, it all looks chaos to me! Eduardo: To you of course it looks like chaos, you have no knowledge of books. It is all in order if you look a little closer. Richard gets up and wanders along one side of the stage looking. Richard: Age! are they in order of age. Eduardo: Age? How can you look so much and see so little? Eduardo joins Richard. Eduardo: These are all poetry, what use is age to poetry? Richard: So you can see which is out of date? Eduardo throws his hands in the air with frustration and returns to his books. Richard: There are no signs? Eduardo: This is a bookshop, not a supermarket. Richard peruses the shelf some more. Richard: Alphabetical! from here to here they are in alphabetical order. Eduardo: Well done, learning the alphabet is important if you want to read! Richard: Signs wouldn't hurt. Eduardo: If they cannot understand the alphabet, I do not think they will buy a book. Richard returns to the desk and sits down, he picks up the card that came with Eduardo's books. Eduardo: Read it, it's okay. Richard: "Eduardo, thank you for a wonderful evening on Wednesday, I cannot wait to do it again. I have been having another clear out and thought you might like these. warmest regards Mabel." Richard puts the card down and looks up at Eduardo. Richard: So that's how you get your books! Eduardo: Some of them. Richard: From lonely old ladies! Eduardo: I will not have that, Mabel is a very dear friend. Richard: I didn't mean any offenc.. Eduardo: Mabel is a fine lady, a cultured lady. She has the most extensive library you will find anywhere and I tell you, she is far from lonely. Richard: I'm sorry. Eduardo: Her eyes are I'm afraid beginning to fail her, she has no need for so many books. Eduardo picks up two of the books Maybel has given to him. Eduardo: Why should she destroy a lifetime's collection, would you rather she threw away seventy eight years of history? Richard: No I.. Eduardo: She has no children, no family, so why not let some-one else, another generation enjoy everything Mabel has enjoyed. She is leaving something for the future to learn. Richard: I didn't mean.. Eduardo: Didn't think more like, that is the problem with your generation, you do not think. You don't have time for it. I bet you don't even read do you......Do you? Richard: Well I.. Eduardo: When was the last time you sat down and read a book, cover to cover? Richard: A while I suppose. I don't need to now, I can go to the movies. Eduardo: And what of your brain, are you prepared to let it rot and run out of your ears like porridge? Richard: It won't rot.. Eduardo: And your imagination, what of that. It will dry up like an old grape. Richard: I don't have time to read much! I can find thing's quicker with this. He gestures to his computer Richard: I can download a book onto it, watch, on anything I like, almost. Eduardo looks up to the sky resigned then goes around to look. Richard: Look see it's easy. Eduardo: Now what? Richard: I Can read it. Eduardo: From that fuzzy little screen? Richard: Yes. Eduardo: And what if there is a power cut, or you are on a train, or a plane. Richard: I can take it with me! Eduardo: If you have the battery's. Richard: Yes! Eduardo: You don't get it do you, you just don't understand. Eduardo sorts through the bundle of books he has just been given. Eduardo: You have forgotten what it is all about, with your mouse's and your screens and your (He looks round at the computer and reads from the case) "Microprocessor technology", you have forgotten what it is all about, it is in here, not virtual reality, actual reality in here. What good is a story without imagination. How can you really feel a place a time, perhaps ten, perhaps hundreds of years ago, without thinking it. How can you feel it without being totally mentally absorbed in the sights the sounds, the smell of the place, you can't do that looking at a grainy picture on your "cld" screen. Richard: Lcd. Eduardo: How can you possibly feel the emotion that the author felt, just by looking at that, perhaps you find a few snippets, a few sound bites of information, but that is it, you get no feeling, no empathy. It's all just cold, just cold hard fact. Eduardo sorts through his pile of books. Eduardo: You have forgotten how to feel Richard: That is all in the past, I don't need to read a thousand pages on something to find out what it is all about, I don't have time for that, I just don't have time. If I need information I need it now. Eduardo: Time! Richard: Time, time is everything nowadays. the world runs at the speed of light, information technology, it sweeps away everything before it. It is the future. Eduardo: And how do you know the future. Richard: Sure it's unstoppable, inevitable, obvious! Eduardo: When you have lived as long as I, you will see the future is anything but obvious. Eduardo sorts through the books on the table. Eduardo: You have time to read now? Richard: I..I.. Eduardo: You have something to do? Richard: Well I can't can I, I can't value your business that's for sure. Eduardo: So you read? Richard throws his hands in the air. Richard: Sure, whatever. Eduardo: I think you'll find this interesting. He tosses Richard a book, Richard reads the cover with disinterest. Richard: "The tale of Dundrum Bay"? He passes the book back to Eduardo. Eduardo: You listen, you may learn something. Richard folds his arms and leans back, he looks bored already, Eduardo opens the book and begins to read. "The Winter of 1846 was not particularly bad, not to the people who had lived at Dundrum year after year. To them it was just the usual battering of ocean winds followed by magically calm days like today, and today was a Sunday, so even more magical for having the time to enjoy it. Seamus and James walked casually around the long sweep of the bay, as had become their Sunday ritual .Church had passed without incident and now the two men strolled in a contented silence, dressed up for the service, but somehow longing for the sound of the ocean to cleanse there still ringing ears. Father Mathews was never a great orator, but what he lacked in oral talent he felt, in the eyes of god he more than made up for in sermon length. Seagulls danced upon the calm green sea that lay between rock spit and the giant steel bemoth that dominated the far side of the bay." Richard: Steel bemoth? Eduardo: Listen and you 'll see, listen to the seagull, the lapping of the ebb tide on the rocks, listen. "James stopped and stood in silence as a shoal of fish darted past close to the edge of the spit, several of them peeling upwards, their shimmering silver bodies momentarily breaking the surface of the water, then as if they had never been there vanishing into the green depths below. The faint sound of Irish music and water lapping begins in the background. he looked up beyond the immediate shore to the steel hull of the SS Great Britain that sat brooding in the distance, It already seemed like part of the landscape to James. The lighting changes to a bright afternoon. Eduardo walks to the front of the stage. Seamus was already nearing the end of the spit and James now hurried after him. Richard takes off his jacket, rolls up his sleeves and hurries to the front of the stage. Eduardo takes off his glasses. Richard now takes the voice of James and Eduardo that of Seamus. Seamus: She surely is an impressive sight. James: Impressive, that hulk of rusty iron is ruining my livelihood. She's blocking a fine fishing bank. Seamus stares in the direction of the ship, which is straight ahead of the stage. James: I'll be glad when she's cut up and out of our way. James takes off his shoes and socks then dangles his feet in the water. Seamus: Cut her up! they'll not cut her up have you not seen the effort they've spent so far, all those engineers to-ing and fro-ing. She's only been here two months, I'm sure they'll not give up on her yet, not whilst the weather holds. James: It's mild all right, you can't beat the feel of a mild sea on your feet, it'll be a good season for sure the nets will be full. I'll be putting out some crab pots soon. Seamus: Fishing, that's all you think about, fishing. Here we are looking at one of the technological marvels of our age , and all you can talk about is fishing. James: If it's so marvellous how come she's stuck fast, and on such a fine fishing bank.
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Copyright © 1999 Stephen Bellamy |