Scene 6 (Sarah)
By the river.
Evacuee children are playing. One of them sees a ring in the river and takes it
out.
EUSTACE:
Look what I’ve found.
CATHY comes over.
CATHY:
It’s a wedding ring.
CATHY takes it and looks at it.
CATHY:
Who do you think owned it?
EUSTACE:
…I think…it was a young woman…who got so cross with her husband
she threw it in the river…and never spoke to him again.
CATHY:
Yeah, or she could have fallen in on a stormy day and the ring fell off.
They are quiet for a while thinking about the ring.
CATHY:
Or her husband could have died.
EUSTACE:
What does the date say on the ring?
CATHY:
It says 1916.
EUSTACE:
That’s two years before the war ended.
CATHY:
So he could have died in the war?
EUSTACE:
Maybe.
CATHY:
What do you think her name was?
EUSTACE:
I don’t know. It’s rusted over the name. I think it was something pretty.
I think that she was lonely and would come here every day and watch the
water roll over the smooth stones and think of him. Until she got so sad
that she wanted to forget him. So, she threw the ring in the river and
never came down here and never thought of him.
CATHY: -----
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Scene 7 (Nicola)
Enter ANNE
Anne is waiting to meet again with Peter by the river. He is late and tries to creep up on
her, thinking she doesn’t know that he is behind her…
Enter PETER
ANNE:
You’re late…
She turns round to face him
PETER:
I’ve been working all morning and haven’t had time to stop.
He walks over to Anne and presents her with a rather sad looking bunch of flowers
ANNE:
But time to pick flowers on your way to meet me.
Peter smiles timidly
ANNE:
Thank you.
Pause
The castle will look beautiful once built.
PETER:
WHEN it gets built.
ANNE:
What do you mean “when”?
PETER:
A war seems imminent. Men from all backgrounds are going to have to
fight for queen and country. There is no choice. It’s something we have to
do.
ANNE:
But when will the Castle ever be finished?
PETER:
It will just have to wait. Adrian Drewe is going to fight as well.
Anne sighs and goes to sit by the river bank.
ANNE:
And what about us?
PETER:
What do you mean “what about us?”
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ANNE:
I mean what am I to do once you have left? I wanted you to show me the
moor, the tors and the valleys. You told me you would tell me stories of
ghosts and witches and we’d sit amongst heather bushes listening to larks.
PETER:
(Slightly angered) I will! This just comes first.
ANNE:
But who knows how long the war will last, months even years. My
dreams will be shattered.
PETER:
Your dreams! I’m building a castle. I’m carving blocks of granite that
have been brought for miles across the moor and you’re worried about
ghost stories.
ANNE:
I’m not worried about stories, I’m worried about us.
PETER:
Anne, we will be fine. Trust me.
ANNE:
But what happens if something goes wrong? What happens if you don’t
come back?
PETER:
(Very angry) I will come back Anne! I will.
ANNE:
(Angry) And what makes you so sure Peter? (She looks down at the
flowers she’s holding) These are all I will have left after you’ve gone,
they’ll wilt and dry, fossilised and my memories will be as brittle as their
withered petals.
PETER:
I’m scared too Anne. But I’ll come back and when I do we can build a
castle of our own.
ANNE:
You promise?
PETER:
Yes. Come on lets walk.
Peter takes Anne’s hand
Scene 8 (Nicola)
Anne enters clutching a teddy and bundle of baby clothes that she puts down and begins
to fold.
ANNE:
Shame you father won’t be here to see you new born. Who knows how
big you’ll be by the time he gets back from the war. You could be
crawling, walking, maybe even going to school. I hope he comes back
soon, our little family isn’t the same with out him.
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She holds her stomach
You will be my little ray of sunshine and we shall have each other for
company. I can’t afford to clothe you in silk or buy you the most beautiful
toys, but we shall make do and I shall show all the beauty of the moor. I
will take you for long walks by the river where the air is cool and there’s
nobody around.
Enter Helen (Another servant)
HELEN:
Anne, are you talking to yourself?
ANNE:
Well, sort of.
HELEN:
And what are all these baby clothes and this toy?
She picks up the teddy
ANNE:
Oh, they’re nothing. I think that…
HELEN:
Who’s pregnant Anne? Is it one of the other maids with a boy from
Drewsteignton?
ANNE:
No.
HELEN:
Well then, who is it?
Pause. Anne doesn’t say anything
HELEN:
(Shocked) It’s you!
ANNE:
Yes, it’s me. Please don’t tell anyone Helen.
HELEN:
Does anyone else know?
ANNE:
Only Peter of course, I haven’t told anyone apart from you.
HELEN:
Your secret is safe with me.
ANNE:
Thanks.
HELEN:
If you want to talk any time just come to me. It can’t be easy not having
Peter around to support you.
ANNE:
Thank you Helen, I appreciate it.
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Anne picks up the teddy and clothes and leaves
Helen leaves in the same direction
Scene 10 (Sarah)
Inside Castle Drogo.
Servant girl is in a corner of the stage sweeping. She goes and gazes out of the window.
Offstage, door closing. In comes paper boy.
YOUNG MAN:
Morning Miss.
ANNE:
Good morning.
YOUNG MAN:
I’ve got a letter for you.
Anne looks nervous
ANNE:
Oh, thank you.
He hands over the letter
YOUNG MAN:
Well, I best be off. I’ve got a busy day. The kitchen maids have
all got letters too. Well… goodbye.
ANNE:
Bye…. (reading the letter)…. Mrs Hardley. It is our job to tell
you that Mr Hardley is…missing. (She cries out. Someone calls
her name). I’m just coming.
Wipes her eye and runs off
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