The River of Ashes (ENO Mini Opera entry)

The River of Ashes

The scorched earth of the Land of the Damned, where the only signs of life are the vile, stinking, putrid and ever-flowing River of Ashes and the few hopeless souls along it: two emaciated cowboys panning the ash and one impossibly old scientist doing experiments between them.

ALL

River run

River flow

Where old dreams and nightmares go

River run

River roll

Open sewer of the soul

River run

River ooze

All the hopes we had to lose

River run

River flow

Nowhere else for us to go

COWBOY ONE

Your first love saying yes

Your heart never knowing pain

COWBOY TWO

All the glamour and the gold

All the riches! All the fame!

SCIENTIST

Cures for all the silent killers

Bubbling deep inside your brain

DREDGER (head popping out of the river)

Any flickering of hope

Let me feel alive again!

ALL

River run!

River flow!

Where he brought our dreams to go!

River run!

River roll!

By the man without a soul!

COWBOY ONE

I am a damned and tortured man

Awake some forty years

Gargoyle to this endless stream

Of others’ hopes and fears

One day when I wasn’t looking

A guess when I can’t give

I turned my back and something stole

My sole reason to live

So now I pan this dusty dreck

To find a glinting light

A crystal glinting, bobbing in

This flow of darkest night

COWBOY TWO

I once dreamt of endless glory

Transcending even time!

All the wealth in all the world

It one day would be mine

But the darkness of despair

I let creep too far

And one by one from my night sky

The darkness stole my stars

Sifting shadows ever since

And still not found a gem

The merest flicker of a hope

To let me dream again

DREDGER

This river runs so dark with all

The ash of useless dreams

Burnt down by a quiet man

His ears deaf to our screams

The dreams and hopes that you don’t need

He’ll calmly sweep away

And us, the hopeless, search the ruins

For hope that’s gone astray

A tiny glinting gem of something

Hardened by the flames

Dazzling visions letting the dreamless

Begin to dream again

SCIENTIST (adding ash into a beaker)

A pinch of broken promise

A drop of held-back tear

The ticking of the clock that says

Your test results are here

Essence of the watching eyes

That see you through the cracks

That certain sort of sweat when you

Forget to pay your tax

Mix over a gentle heat

This hubble-bubble stew

Until you form the fabled gem to

Make you feel anew

A small explosion from the beaker. They all look.

SCIENTIST (grandly)

Bugger!

A lorry reverses up to the edge of the river.

COWBOY ONE and COWBOY TWO

The Sweeper!

DREDGER and SCIENTIST

The Sweeper!

ALL BUT THE SWEEPER

The Sweeper of Dreams!

The Sweeper of Dreams enters.

SWEEPER

Yeah, y’alright?

COWBOY ONE

Thank God you’re here!

COWBOY TWO

Yes, thank all the gods!

SWEEPER

Shut all your noiseholes, all gods are sods!

But I’m the only S.O.D.

ALL BUT THE SWEEPER

The Sweeper of Dreams!

SWEEPER

Shutup, you sycophants!

The Sweeper empties a whole lorryload more ashes into the river.

COWBOY ONE

More ruinous ruins!

COWBOY TWO

What dreams we might find!

SCIENTIST

We’ve not a found a thing!

DREDGER

I’m losing my mind!

COWBOY ONE

We’d all almost given up hope we’d find hope

COWBOY TWO

Starting to wonder how we were to cope!

SCIENTIST

My bones are so tired

My patience stretched thin

DREDGER

We’ve tried every way

To do ourselves in!

ALL BUT SWEEPER

Oh Sweep like sheep last night

We dreamt you’d come!

So many false visions - !

The Sweeper is not there.

ALL BUT SWEEPER

And you were just one

COWBOY ONE

He might find us one day

COWBOY TWO

Never know

SCIENTIST

On we go

DREDGER

So!

ALL

River run

River flow

Where old dreams and nightmares go

River run

River roll

Open sewer of the soul

River run

River ooze

All the hopes we had to lose

River run

River flow

Nowhere else for us to go

The Brute - A Youtube Advertisement

SCENE
[Black and white; high definition; slow motion; snap shot transitions; ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ from 3:16 onwards.]

CLOSE-UP: 0.00
[A mugshot of BOBBY THE BOXER’s face, as he lies on his bed: beaten, bloodied, bruised, barely conscious – 4 seconds.]

EXTREME CLOSE-UP: 0.04
[A side-on shot of a bloody wound on Bobby’s cheek; a hand with a cloth on left of shot not yet touching it – 2 seconds.]

EXTERNAL: 0.06
[A wide shot of a rundown English brutalist estate – 2 seconds.]

EXTREME CLOSE-UP: 0.08
[The side-on shot of the bloody wound on Bobby’s cheek; the cloth now pressed to it – 2 seconds.]

EXTREME CLOSE-UP: 0.10
[A side-on shot of Bobby’s forehead; lips pressed to it – 2 seconds.]

EXTERNAL: 0.12
[A wide shot of a quiet English brutalist building – 1 second.]


EXTREME CLOSE-UP: 0.13
[The side-on shot of the bloody wound on Bobby’s cheek; the cloth slowly being released from the hand – 2 seconds.]

EXTERNAL: 0.15
[A wide shot of a significant English brutalist building – 1 second.]

EXTREME CLOSE-UP: 0.16
[A side-on shot of Bobby’s naked torso right; MARY’s clothed torso left – 1 second.]

EXTERNAL: 0.17
[An imposing upwards shot of a tall brutalist tower – 3 seconds.]

CLOSE-UP: 0.20
[A side-on shot of their faces: Bobby lying on the bed, looking up, in the foreground; Mary on top of Bobby, looking down, in the background – 1 second.]

EXTERNAL: 0.21
[The imposing upwards shot of the tall brutalist tower – 1 second.]

CLOSE-UP: 0.22
[Bobby’s left hand, grasping the mattress cover – 1 second.]

CLOSE-UP: 0.23
[Mary’s left hand, grasping a pillow – 1 second.]

EXTERNAL: 0.24
[The imposing upwards shot of the tall brutalist tower, just starting to crumble – 2 seconds.]

CLOSE-UP: 0.26
[A top-down shot of them looking at each other in the eyes with their heads resting on the pillow: hers on the left, his on the right – 2 seconds.]

EXTERNAL: 0.28
[The imposing upwards shot of the tall brutalist tower, now crumbling – 1 second.]

CLOSE-UP: 0.29
[The top-down shot of them with their heads resting on the pillow, now both looking down – 1 second.]

EXTERNAL: 0.30
[The imposing upwards shot of the brutalist tower, in full collapse – 2 seconds.]

CLOSE-UP: 0.32
[The top-down shot of them with their heads resting on the pillow, unable to look at each other – 2 seconds.]

EXTERNAL: 0.34
[The imposing upwards shot of the brutalist tower, now a cloud of dust – 2 seconds.]

CLOSE-UP: 0.36
[A top-down shot of Bobby turning onto his back, humiliated – 2 seconds.]

GRAPHIC: 0.38
[White text on black background: THE BRUTE – 4 seconds.]


ROOM SHOT: 0.42
[A shot from the top corner of the bedroom: Bobby in bed, on his left side, alone – 2 seconds.]

GRAPHIC: 0.44
[White text on black background: the performance details of the show – 4 seconds.]

[Fade to black.]

END: 0.49

Midtown UK - #004

A café, somewhere in England. It is empty, except for the Owner and the Wheelchair-bound Man. The Wheelchair-bound Man is, it seems fair to say, not unwelcome.

W When, just now?

O No, before.

W Good God, a customer.

O I don’t want to get carried away.

W You should call the police.

O What?

W You said he snooped around.

O I don’t know.

W Though if standing in a place where there are chairs provided gets a customer reported to the police, I think you might need a sign.

O I beg your...

W Think of the litigation costs.

O confused

W Hm?

O What do you know about litigation costs?

W What do I know about – oh that’s typical, that is! ‘What do you know about litigation?’ I know lots!

O I’m sorry / I’m sorry –

W overlapping I know lots you don’t know!

O to himself Christ...

W I know lots you don’t know I know!

O I know you do.

W Good. Now why aren’t you calling the police?

O I have glasses to wash.

W But nobody’s used them!

O Dust, then.

to himself Pedant...

W If he was sniffing around, he’d know you have no cameras here.

O God, you’re right.

W Not even one to catch his smug face...

O How do you know what he looked like?

W Well I’m assuming, from what you’ve said, that he was a smug little swine.

O He did have a rather remarkable manner.

W What’s that supposed to mean?

O I don’t know.

W I’m bored of this. What are you doing?

O I’m cleaning the – look, why don’t you rearrange the display cakes for me?

W Oh, yes.

O They need your... specialist touch –

W They certainly do.

prods one cake

‘Ere, I’m icing up over here.

Silence.

Eh? Eh?

O Sorry?

W I said I’m icing up over here. Icing – cakes? Yes? Oh, I’m wasted on this blog. Look, where’s my blanket?

O Did you leave it outside?

W Well I don’t know, do I?

O Let me go get it for you.

exits

W By the power of Lord Lucan, am I hungry.

to without ‘Ere!

Nothing.

I said ‘ere! Any chance of lunch soon?

to himself Go to feed, can’t do nothing without feed. Can’t knock together a display without feed, specially. Haven’t eaten in days.

checks he hasn’t returned

steals a display cake and takes a bite

Ugh.

puts it back

What’s happening to this place? Boiling all yesterday, freezing today. He must have bust the thermostat. The flowers don’t know if they’re up or down. They’ll all be dead before long. Good riddance. If I wanted all those garish colours I’d rub my eyes out...

rubs eyes

Yeah, really rub ‘em – start poking ‘em, like this!

pokes eyes

Ow! Bloody eyes...

O enters

What’s that, old gun?

W Is that my blanket?

O Yes. Here you are.

W Not before time.

Look, I’m bloody starving – well, not starving, obviously, but –

O Oh, of course...

W And I’ve already lost 10 of my 30 minutes lunch –

O Yes, yes, you’re right – here.

gives him one of the display cakes

Here, this’ll be ok, won’t it?

W Oh – er –

O Baked fresh... well, baked by me at least.

W That’s fine. Cheers.

O That’s all right.

hears something

Oh, er, sorry old chap, just got to, er... just realised this isn’t even your blanket! Stupid of me – yes, it’s, er, must be the one the neighbour’s dog used to sleep in.

W You what?

O Yes...

W Well where’s mine? This feels like mine. In fact it is mine!

O No, you’re mistaken there, sir.

W But it’s got my name on it! Look – right here!

O No, that says... something else.

takes the blanket

W Oi, give me that back! I’ll freeze!

O Just a tick...

exits

W My feet are cold. What are you going to do about that, eh? Eh?

Beat.

Nothing. ‘Spose it’s lucky I can’t feel my feet, then, isn’t it? You’re just going to have to stay cold, as you are. I’m no good to you up here, and you’re no good to me down there, so you’re just going to have to look out for yourselves, for once.

looks at the cake, and puts it back on the display

No...

takes it back

looks around for ideas

puts it down his trousers, bulging obviously

looks at it concernedly

grows in confidence

smiles; his posture changes

So this is what it feels like to be Jimmy Savile...

smile fades

That was definitely my blanket.

to without John?

John?

End.

Midtown UK - #003/2

A café, somewhere in England. It is empty, except for the Owner. He adjusts stale pastries at the counter. Outside, white paint flakes off the wall. Silence.

A Young Man enters. He is, it seems fair to say, not welcome.

Y Good afternoon there, sir!

O Hello there – er, what can I get for you?

Y Ooh, could I get, er... just an apple juice, please?

O We – we only do cordial. That all right?

Y Oh, right, ok, well... could I just have an orange then?

O Orange cordial?

Y Yeah, ta.

O I’ll bring it over. You... have a seat.

Y sits by the window, looking out at the street

O finds the bottle of cordial, unopened for years, and struggles with the bottlecap, though the congealed crust offers little resistance of its own

pours far too much into a filthy glass and fills with lukewarm, cloudy tap water

serves

Y Ah – thanks for that, thank you.

O No problem – pleasure.

Y looks out the window

O adjusts the pastries, watching him

Y looks back at him

O smiles awkwardly, having been caught

Y takes a sip from the glass and none after that

O watches him

adjusts display pastries

Y reads over the laminated, spare menu

O watches him carefully

adjusts the glasses

watches him

Y does not look behind him

O hears something

looks at him

carefully but hurriedly exits to the back

Y turns to see him leave

breathes

stands to look around

looks at the counter, then behind it

studies the walls

returns to where he sat, though stands

O enters

Y looks out the window at the street

O Oh.

Y Hm? Oh – hello again. Didn’t realise you’d gone.

O Are you – oh no, just something in the, you know – back.

You er... are you waiting for someone then?

Y Oh no, no.

O Mm. Right. Well can I get you – to himself – no, you’ve still got your juice there, haven’t you...

Y looks out the window

Do you mind if I ask a question?

O What? Oh, no. Fire away.

Y How long has this place been here? On the high street?

O Showing its age?

Y No no, course not – just wondering. Settle a bet, you know, that sort of thing.

O Fifteen years. Give or take.

Y Funny.

O Oh really?

Y I used to live here when I was little, just going round to have a look at everything again – nostalgia, you know – at my age, as well – and everything looks so familiar, some of the signs are exactly the same as they were ten years ago – those are what you remember most of all, the shop signs – but I cannot remember seeing this place once when I was a kid.

O Well we’re not really the sort of place people notice.

Y No...

So – do you get much, you know, footfall, er... do you get many people from round here coming in these days?

O Er, well – we’re not what we were.

Y Recession?

O Hasn’t helped.

Y No.

O The local rotary club pops in once in a while, keeps us, you know...

Anyway, um – what else can I get you? Small cake? Spot of tea?

Y No, I’m fine thanks.

O Oh – all right then...

Y So what do I owe you?

O Oh, er... pound ninety.

Y Ah – er, ok... there you go.

O Much obliged.

Y Thanks. Be seeing you.

O Bye now.

Y exits

O watches him leave

checks the café

sighs with relief

goes over to the front door, steps outside to look for customers, then shuts the door and locks it, flipping from ‘Open’ to ‘Closed’

exits to the back

End.

Midtown UK - #003

A café, somewhere in England. It is empty, except for the Owner. He adjusts stale pastries at the counter. Outside, white paint flakes off the wall. Silence.

A Young Man enters. He is, it seems to fair to say, not welcome.

Y Good afternoon there, sir!

O Hello there.

Y Could I get, er... just an apple juice, please?

O We only do cordial. That all right?

Y Erm... do you have orange?

O Orange cordial.

Y Yeah, just a glass of that, please.

O I’ll bring it over. Have a seat.

Y sits by the window

O finds the bottle of cordial, unopened for years, and struggles with the bottlecap, though the congealed cordial crust offers little resistance of its own

pours far too much into a filthy glass and fills with cloudy tap water

serves

Y Ah – thank you for that.

O Pleasure.

Y looks out the window

takes a sip of the cordial and none after that

O watches him

adjusts the pastries

Y reads through the laminated, spare menu

O watches him

adjusts the glasses

watches him

Y does not look behind him

O watches him

hears something

looks at him

slowly exits to the back

Y turns to see him leave

stands to look around

looks at the counter, then behind it, for some time

returns to where he sat, though stands, and looks out the window

O enters

Oh.

Y Hm?

O You, er... you waiting for someone, then?

Y Oh no, no.

O Mm. Right. Can I get you – to himself no, you’ve still got your... juice...

Y looks out the window

How long has this place been here?

O Showing its age?

Y Sorry? Oh – no no no, just, er, wondering. Settle a bet, you know.

O Fifteen years or so. Give or take.

Y It’s funny – I used to live here when I was little, and I don’t remember ever seeing this place on the high street.

O We're not the sort of place people notice.

Y Everywhere else looks the same as it always did. Even the signs are the same. Those are what you remember most clearly of all, the shop signs.

O Right.

Y Yeah...

So you... do you see much – do you get a lot of people coming in here these days?

O Well, it’s not what it was...

Y The recession?

O Hasn’t helped.

Y Course...

O We get the local rotary club every now and then, keeping us from...

Anyway – ‘s there anything else I can get you?

Y No, ta – what do I owe you?

O Ooh, er... pound ninety.

Y Ah – ok... er, there you go.

O Ta.

Y Thank you.

exits

O watches him leave

checks the café

sighs with relief

hears something

exits to the back

End.

Midtown UK - #002

A café, somewhere in England. It is empty, except for the Owner and a Wheelchair-bound Man. The Wheelchair-bound Man is, it seems fair to say, not welcome.

The scene has clearly been one of awkwardness for several years.

O Can I get you anything?

W No.

Silence.

hacking cough

O Oh Christ...

W Shut up!

hacking cough

Don’t you dare... !

O Let me get you -

W No! No! I’m not going to be beaten –

hacking cough

Away! Get away!

O gives him a glass of water

W snatches the glass and gulps it greedily

Ah...

O Better?

W None of your business! Yes.

O waits

W blank

O waits

W Thank you.

O cleans the glass

Silence.

W Can I do anything?

O No.

End.

Midtown UK - #001

A café, somewhere in England. It is empty, except for the Owner and a Man. The Man is, it seems fair to say, not welcome.

The scene has clearly been one of awkward silence for some time.

O Look, if you've finished your coffee I'm going to have to ask you to -

M Same again, please.

Bet you didn't have me down as a regular first time you saw me.

O no answer

M In truth, nor did I - but then, this wasn’t really my choice, was it?

O serves coffee

M Thank you - ah. Oh dear...

Bet you had me down as a Starbucks man, didn't you? Hmm? Yes? Well, you've got me there... you see, for all its criticism, Starbucks coffee is an altogether satisfying experience. They understand that you cannot, in this day and age, pass off boiling, brown-coloured water as a cup of coffee - something this country has never learned. It has a nice, er -

pours some onto the saucer

rich consistency. It is made using clean water from clean pipes - a sign of a healthy business - and served in clean cups. It is always available, however you want it made that at that very moment, and the barista always smiles at you while she's making it - presumably because her livelihood is not in jeopardy. Without any pretence of authenticity, or soul - whatever that means - it ticks all the boxes. It is an altogether American cup of coffee.

Though I suppose it would be unfair to accuse this cup of coffee of having any pretence of authenticity.

Bottoms up.

drinks

O When are you going to leave me alone?

End.