Unscorched (NHB Modern Plays)

By Luke Owen

A courageous and convincing play that sensitively tackles the important subject of child abuse.
Tom works in digital analysis, investigating crimes against children. Faced with watching recordings of the most unforgiveable acts on a daily basis, in a job that barely anyone else can endure, he struggles to retain his humanity.
Meeting Emily might just mean that his life has changed for the better, but when your entire working day is spent watching horrific crimes, how do you find room for love?
Unscorched was the winner of the 2013 Papatango New Writing Competition in partnership with the Finborough Theatre, London, where it premiered in October 2013.
'an amazing debut... a sensitive and thought-provoking portrayal of a difficult subject' WhatsOnStage
'an intelligent piece... strikes a strong balance between humour and a more complex examination of the process of desensitisation' The Times
'a cracker... admirably crafted' Time Out

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Release date: Nov 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781780012971

Book preview

cover-image

Luke Owen

UNSCORCHED

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Title Page

Original Production

Characters and Note on Text

Unscorched

About the Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

Unscorched was first performed at the Finborough Theatre, London, on 29 October 2013, with the following cast:

The play won the 2013 Papatango New Writing Competition, and was produced by the company.

Characters

TOM

EMILY

NIDGE

MARK

SIMON

VOICE

VOICE #2

Simon and the voices can easily be played by the same person, so the cast size is five (one female, four male).

Note on Text

Any dialogue in square brackets can be omitted, ‘swallowed’ or barely spoken. It should not be spoken in full.

This ebook was created before the end of rehearsals and so may differ slightly from the play as performed.

Scene One

An office.

There are two desks, each with a chair and a computer. Connected to each computer are: a mouse, a keyboard, two monitors and a set of headphones.

There is a small kitchenette: sink, cupboards, kettle, kitchen roll, milk (either UHT or in a fridge), sugar, teabags.

There is a small dehumidifier. Its water tank is full.

When the audience is ready:

Music: ‘Prelude No. 1 in C Major’ –J. S. Bach.

Enter NIDGE (name rhymes with ‘fridge’).

He turns on the main light. He puts down his bag. He switches his computer on. He takes off his coat and hangs it up.

He removes the dehumidifier’s water tank. He empties it into the sink. He puts the water tank back into the dehumidifier. It clicks into life.

He sits at his desk.

He picks up a clipboard, attached to which are dozens of printed sheets of A4. He skim-reads. He flicks through a few pages. He puts the clipboard down.

He starts working at his computer.

Seconds pass.

The music ends.

Enter SIMON, late.

SIMON. Sorry. Sorry.

NIDGE. ’s all right.

SIMON sits and switches his computer on.

SIMON. When’s he –

NIDGE. Ten minutes.

Beat.

[What] happened with that stuff from Friday?

SIMON. Finished.

NIDGE. Great.

Beat.

Good weekend?

SIMON. Yeah. Fine. You?

NIDGE. Yeah, [it wa]s all right.

Beat.

You okay to take the first batch?

SIMON. Sure – what is it?

NIDGE. It’s, uh, Z492 up to Z499.

SIMON. ’kay. When’s it due?

NIDGE. Last Thursday.

Silence.

SIMON clicks his mouse.

He hits F8 a few times, annoyed.

He presses and holds his computer’s power button. The computer powers down. He presses it again. It whirrs back into life.

’s it all right?

SIMON. It’s fine.

NIDGE. Might be the damp.

SIMON. Might be.

Silence.

SIMON presses and holds his computer’s power button. The computer powers down. He presses it again. It whirrs back into life.

Silence.

SIMON hits ‘Esc’ a few times.

NIDGE. [Is it] still playing up?

SIMON. Yup.

Silence.

NIDGE. [Have] you tried Safe Mode?

SIMON. Yes, Nidge, thank you for your input.

Silence.

NIDGE. [Did you] see Helen over the weekend?

SIMON. Have you done something to this?

NIDGE. No.

Silence.

Look, phone Gav.

SIMON. I’m not phoning Gav; Gav’s a shit.

Beat.

I don’t need Gav.

NIDGE. What’s it doing?

SIMON. Just…

Silence.

NIDGE. [Do you] want some tea?

SIMON.