Yellowfin (NHB Modern Plays)

By Marek Horn

Nobody knows where the fish went, and nobody knows why the fish went – but ever since they did, things just haven't been the same. In a committee room on Capitol Hill, three senators have a job to do: they must question a man on charges of trading rare marine commodities, and they must find out what he knows.
Politics and the planet collide in a fiercely original play about the limits of science, the power of myths, and the things we can't control. Marek Horn's Yellowfin was premiered at Southwark Playhouse, London, in October 2021, directed by Ed Madden.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Release date: Oct 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781788504904

Marek Horn

Marek Horn is a playwright whose work includes: Octopolis (Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, 2023); Yellowfin (Southwark Playhouse, 2021) and Wild Swimming (2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Bristol Old Vic and UK tour).

Book preview

ACT ONE

Scene One

MARIANNE. So… describe to me how the pure grade

…Fish substance…

The wild fish substance

Came to be contaminated?

CALANTINI is sat back in his chair. He sighs, and then moves close to the mic, eyeballing the Senator before speaking.

CALANTINI. I’m sorry but…

Perhaps you could just say tuna fish?

Beat.

Because… we know what you mean

MARIANNE. I’m aware of that, Mr Calantini

CALANTINI. Everyone knows what you mean

MARIANNE. Thank you, Mr Calantini

I am aware

CALANTINI. Well then…

MARIANNE. Well then?

Well then, what?

CALANTINI. Well then…

Nothing

Pause.

MARIANNE. It’s quite a big deal

This

Y’know?

Getting hauled up in front of a Senate Committee like this

You know that, don’t you?

It’s a big deal

A beat and then close in to mic.

CALANTINI. I know that

MARIANNE. That doesn’t happen to everyone

That doesn’t happen every day

Again, another beat and then very close in to mic.

CALANTINI. I know

MARIANNE. And

If we find the testimonial you provide us with today to be in any way unsatisfactory…

STEPHEN. Or a little too satisfactory perhaps

MARIANNE. Yes indeed

Yes quite, thank you, Stephen

If we find either one or the other

If, either, we discover something new

Or

And this is crucial

Or if we think you’re hiding something

A full Congressional Hearing will follow

Again, CALANTINI sighs and then moves close in to the mic in an insolent way.

CALANTINI. I understand that

MARIANNE. And that could lead to public prosecution

Close into the mic.

CALANTINI. Yes

STEPHEN. And you don’t want to go back to prison, do you, Mr Calantini?

A pause, a sigh and then close in to the mic.

CALANTINI. No

MARIANNE. Then please confirm that you appreciate the severity of our undertaking here today

CALANTINI. And there…

There’s that language again

Into mic, an order.

MARIANNE. Confirm it!

Into mic, an order.

STEPHEN. Confirm it, please

CALANTINI. I confirm it!

Sorry!

Jesus…

Into mic.

Let the record show that

I confirm it…

Into mic.

STEPHEN and ROY. Let the record show

Relaxing, leaning back in chair.

MARIANNE. Let the record show

Beat.

Thank you, Mr Calantini

Now please

Continue to demonstrate respect and conscientiousness for the duration of our undertaking here today

CALANTINI. I will

MARIANNE. Thank you

CALANTINI. It wasn’t contaminated

Beat.

MARIANNE. I’m sorry?

Right into the mic.

CALANTINI. It wasn’t contaminated

The fish that my brother sold to the Russians

You asked me how it became contaminated, but it wasn’t

They said it was

The Russians said it was

But it wasn’t

Beat.

MARIANNE. Alright then, explain to me how, Mr Calantini, Explain to me how these accusations

These accusations that were levelled against you and your late brother by these Russians

Explain to me how they were, in fact, erroneous

In what way were they erroneous?

CALANTINI. I’m sorry…

I’m sorry but

Madame Senator, I appreciate your position here today?

And

I appreciate my position here today?

But this language is