February, 2020. Edinburgh
A scene. Katherine’s living room. Early evening.
Inside a large opulent living room. Curtains pulled. Lamps switched on. JEREMY is sitting in a large armchair. KATHERINE is standing by the fireplace. JANET is sitting on the edge of a chaise longue. BESSIE is sitting on a sofa. All have glasses in their hands.
Katherine: I propose a toast.
Bessie: To us. The Cloudbusters.
Jeremy: Mother, for God’s sake…
Bessie: Jeremy, allow me some fun for once in your life.
KATHERINE and JANET exchange glances across the room.
Jeremy : Fun? This is organised crime, Mother.
Bessie: You’re so like your father.
Jeremy: Every time you bring him up. Every goddam time.
Bessie: There’s a reason for that.
Katherine: Heh, come on. Drink to whatever you want – but drink!
Janet: To Cyril.
Jeremy: A cloud…
Janet: Clouds have rights too
Jeremy: I’m not saying they don’t.
Bessie: You signed up for this, Jeremy.
Jeremy: Only because it was your long lost friend with a, let’s say (he pauses), an odd background.
Katherine: Don’t be an arse, Jeremy, not in my house.
Jeremy: Just saying how it is.
JANET stands up, walks to the fireplace and puts her full glass down on the mantlepiece. KATHERINE pats her arm and takes a slug from her glass, which is nearly empty. She tops her glass up from the bottle. She offers it to JANET. JANET shakes her head.
Bessie: I’m sorry, Janet. He’s just tired. Such a long drive to come up here. He’s an expert you know. On all these gang things. Kidnappings are his speciality. Doesn’t leave room for charm.
Jeremy: You’ve no idea what my speciality is, Mother.
Janet: Jeremy, if you don’t want to be here…
Katherine: There’s the door, Jeremy. No room for men like you in my house.
JEREMY puts his glass down on the floor and stands up. He steps towards the door. BESSIE stands up, follows him to the door and takes him by the arm. Whispers in his ear. He whispers back. They appear to be arguing.
Katherine: Anyway, did you hear the news? There’s been another cloud kidnap. In Glasgow. A car parked in the Merchant City apparently.
Janet: Can’t believe anyone would leave their cloud in a car. How irresponsible.
Katherine: Really stupid. Must have going to the theatre or something.
BESSIE and JEREMY come back to the centre of the room. JEREMY sits down, puts his hands on the back of his head.
Bessie: He’ll help.
Jeremy: Correction. I actually said I’d lead if we keep it professional. It’s not a game. I’ve got two days here then I’ll be managing the operation by phone.
Katherine: Who decided you’d be in charge?
Jeremy: It’s obvious, isn’t it.
Janet: Does it matter? I just want Cyril back.
JANET turns her back to the others and faces the wall. She takes a slug of wine from her glass.
Bessie: See what you’ve done, Katherine? Why not just let Jeremy take charge? He knows what he’s doing. He’s trained. The military and everything. He’s even been to wars. To top tables. Remember that piracy case in Somalia. The one with the oil tanker?
Jeremy: Could you please leave it out.
Katherine: I don’t know what oil tankers have to do with clouds. And I don’t need a man telling me what to do. I’ve enough of that at work.
JANET turns around and faces the room. She has her glass in her hand and it is empty.
Janet: It’s my cloud. I just want him back. If you can’t agree just leave. (There is a long silence.)
Katherine: OK, OK, Jeremy, but mess it up and you’ll be responsible.
Jeremy: If you let me do my job nothing will be messed up.
Bessie: That’s it. We’re agreed. I propose a toast!
BESSIE raises her glass. JANET follows. KATHERINE AND JEREMY do not look at each other and raise their glasses half way.
To be continued.
SANDERLINGS 