Frozen: A Play

by Bryony Lavery

Overview

"[A] big, brave, compassionate play about grief, revenge, forgiveness and bearing the unbearable." --The Guardian

One evening, ten-year-old Rhona goes missing. Her mother, Nancy, retreats into a state of frozen hope. Agnetha, an academic, comes to England to research a thesis entitled "Serial Killings: A Forgivable Act?" Then there's Ralph, a loner with a bit of a record who's looking for some distraction . . . Drawn together by horrific circumstances, these three embark upon a long, dark journey that finally curves upward into the light.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466894013
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	03/26/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	316,055
File size:	314 KB

About the Author

Bryony Lavery's plays include Bag, Origin of the Species, The Wedding Story, and the award-winning Her Aching Heart. She lives in England.

Read an Excerpt

Frozen

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By Bryony Lavery

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Copyright © 2002 Bryony Lavery
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4668-9401-3

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CHAPTER 1

Act One

ONE: FAREWELL TO NEW YORK

New York street sounds ... busy, whirling traffic and voices. Stops abruptly as light reveals ... Agnetha, hallway of her apartment, New York. Checking her airline tickets, passport.

Agnetha

Yes yes yes yup yeah yo.

All is ready. She looks around. Looks through a doorway.

Bye room.

Gives the room a little wave.

Bye bedroom. Bathroom. Office.

She salaams gravely.

Bye home.

They all get waves, thumbs up, high signs, as appropriate. Until ... she's ready. She picks up airline tickets, carry-on bag. She's ready. Then, she unclenches her jaw ... and her teeth start chattering.

Oh no. I do not need this. Not now. Please.

But it is now. She puts down her tickets. Her teeth chatter uncontrollably. She succumbs loudly to the chattering ...

Er g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g ... oo g-g-g-g-g-g-g ... okay out good.

She waits again. Then tears fill her eyes and she starts blubbing. She encourages herself to cry ... then bawl ... there is something deliberate and good-humoured about it ... as if she is two people ... one expressing emotion, the other encouraging it out ...

Mmmmuuuuuuurrr ... mmmmmmaaaaaaaaaaa ... yes, come on ... wwwwwaaaaaaahhhhhhh ... mmmmmmaaaaaaaaaahhh ... Come on ... plane to catch ...! Oh boy ...

The bawling moves into keening and howling, so Agnetha must pick up her carry-on bag, which she screams into, muffling the sound somewhat. She screams and screams. Finally ...

Okay. Finished? Finito?

She checks.

Yes. Yep. Okay. Good.

Picks up her travel documents, bag etc., again.

Yes yes yes yup yeah yo ...

She calls loudly through the walls.

Sorry, Mrs Lipke! The Big Noise is leaving! Sorry Mr Chen!

Crazy Horse is outta here!

She leaves for the airport.The sound of a large plane flying over ... heading towards ...

TWO: FAMILY LIFE

The gentle chirrup, hum, buzz of an English garden ...

Nancy, home, her back garden, evening, idly nipping buds off.

Nancy

I should have gone round myself with those secateurs. We've never seen eye to eye on shrubbery. I'm prune-to-a-dormant-bud but she'll be instigating a slash-and-burn regime. She's let her Clematis montana alba do its own thing.

I said 'They like their feet in the shade and their head in the sun' but she's plonked it in a south-facing bed sandy soil and it's gone on the rampage over into next door's speciality alpines. I offered to go round myself tomorrow and cut it back for her but she says 'It's Bridgnorth tomorrow.' Always leaves it to the last minute and then it's got to be done This Minute Now Immediately. So I asked for volunteers but that was like getting someone to sign up for active service ... Bob's got Nautilus training ... and what's that all about ...?

A plane flies overhead. Nancy 'tuts' gently.

Been very happy with his flab till now and I always say 'I'm very partial to your love handles' when we have a cuddle but well so I need one of the girls to look lively. But Ingrid's 'off' Grandma at the moment because of The Make-Up Question so I think easier all round if I send Rhona ... but Rhona's so good I always put on her and I try to be fair so I gird my loins to tackle Ingrid in spite of it being like negotiating with Attila the Hun these days ... I've taken a Deep Breath ... when suddenly Crash Bang Wallop Holy War breaks out upstairs! ... 'What Is It Now?' ... I go – and that's when Bob slithers out ... I hear the door click shut as I get up the stairs ... he's so ... sneaky these days ... no 'Goodbye then Nancy love ...' well. In The War Zone ... There's a Max Factor Thick-Lash mascara wand gone missing from Attila's private drawer and who's Suspect Number One ...? Ingrid goes into Rhona's room to obligingly fetch her for me, drags her back by her hair, so I separate them and look at the Young One.

She smiles.

She looks like a panda! Great black-rimmed eyes. I say to Ingrid 'Go on, give her a bamboo shoot.' wrong thing to say ... 'Mum! Rhona's not funny! You should take this seriously.' I say 'Who takes me seriously about a ceasefire on this Fighting?' and I pop in 'So ... Ingrid, why don't you go round to Grandma's for a bit of peace?' and she's almost hooked when I add ... 'And you could take the secateurs while you're at it ...' and she's off again. 'I'm just an unpaid skivvy in this establishment ... I wish I was an orphan ... I wish somebody would adopt me ... nobody loves me ... everybody loves Rhona best ...' I say hopefully 'Now stop that nonsense ... I love you both equally in different ways.' I don't. I don't love either of them at all at the moment! Or Bob! Or Mother! Any of them! They can all go to hell for all I care.

Quite close by, a van accelerates ...

But anyway somehow it happenes Ingrid has me agreeing to let her go out to 'Co-work on a joint domestic sciences project' that involves wearing full Warpaint with Jez or Maz or Spaz or somebody ... and chain of command's put the youngest soldier on secateur duty! Little Panda. My mother's going to think I'm letting her wear makeup too young and be Reading The Riot Act!!! ... That's probably why Rhona's not back yet. Time! Yes!!!

THREE: A BAD PATCH

Ralph, in his room, washing his hands at a sink.

Ralph

You know

it's one of those days you're just going to do it you might do it. I suppose mostly I'm a bit of a cold fish.

He dries his hands carefully on a small, clean towel.

But then, these times things hot up. It's been a bit of a bad patch for me ... fucking landlady ... pardon my French ... despite I told her I don't eat lamb ... despite I told her I'm not a big eater ... despite I made that clear ... turns up on the plate and I've eaten it before I've said 'This isn't lamb is it ...?' and it was ...

Takes a small bottle of hand lotion, pours a dollop on one palm, starts to rub it into both hands.

And I've gone out with hoojit ... Raymond Quantock ... and that wassname from work ... Dick Bottle ... and I've kept up with them putting it away ... otherwise ... and drunk five lager tops and two ... (Counts in his head.) ... four ... Jack Daniels and I've gone over on that damn foot again ... lightning strike of pain ... and it's put me in a strop nobody better mess me with nobody better been like ... offish and ...

He's on a street somewhere.

I just see her and decide I'm going to get her in the van. I just want to keep her for a bit spend some time with her. I just do it. It's a rush of blood. Hello.

I said 'Hello' are you deaf? It's rude to ignore people. Are you loony? You're loony. I'm only being polite. No need to get the hump. Not with me. I just said 'Hello.' Hello. Hello. Hello. I'm saying 'hello' to you. Least you can do is make conversation. Kind of world is this folk can't be sociable? Polite. Least you can do is make a response. It's Bad Manners if you don't. Bad manners. Rude. I said 'Hello.' Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello then ... finally ... finally ... she goes 'Hello.'

I think she quite liked me.

Oh yes she was interested.

The van's down here obviously the back door's not locked because I've thought ahead obviously she wants to come it's only fifty yards it's convenient.

I've got cushions in the back And a sleeping bag. Obviously.

Sometimes you're fucked by circumstances things don't go your way.

Picks something up. Regards it.

The secateurs I don't bargain for but in the event they turn out useful and add to it all passing off efficiently but logistically she's persuaded it's time to get in the van you make it work she's in the van.

A sound of deliberate snipping of plants ...He puts the top on the bottle of hand lotion. Secures it.

Lovely evening.

Sunny ... but with a light southerly breeze ...

FOUR: NATURE TABLE

Nancy, Rhona's bedroom, seven months later ... a window overlooking the garden.

Nancy

This is Leo. (a small, threadbare soft-toy lion)

She smiles slightly.

He's bald where she played Hairdressers on him. 'Rhona's Rough Cuts.'

Ingrid's making me a cup of coffee. She's like the Catering Corps these past few days. Mum, do you want a cup of hot chocolate?

Mum, shall we have a milky drink? Mum, Cherry Bakewell?

I've lost nearly two stone.

I've gone back to smoking. Cast-Iron Excuse. Even my mother has to let me.

It's bad today because it's Rhona's birthday tomorrow and they say Missing Children often phone on their birthdays. Get in touch ...

She holds her stomach. Swallows.

So I thought clean her room her Nature Table's a bit dusty.

Give me something to do.

When she comes back everything will be nice everything be the same everything familiar.

That's gorse with some sheep's wool tangled in it from Brecon Beacons. I got stuck between a lamb and its mother the mother ran at me ... I ran like billy-o the girls fell over laughing! Rhona found this in the gap ... we had cheese-and-chutney sandwiches.

A cold wind blows ...

Brecon Beacons. She loved that day! Wales! She's maybe ... (Thinks.) No. We leafleted Wales.

This is her witch stone it's a witch stone if it has a natural hole in it. See.

Looks through it.

You can see things in a witchy way ... it's magic.

Holds it tightly in her hand, eyes tight closed. Making a wish.

Kept it there. Mmm.

Puts it back exactly.

What are you doing on here, Leo?

You live on the bed! Somebody's been in here ... maybe Bob ... to primp and preen in private! I know what's going on and I know who with. It's all gone a bit softly-softly and undercover what with The Disappearance ... but if it's over I'm Raquel Welch!

I don't care!

These books are different.

Ingrid!

It is stifling her ...

Washing up cleaning doing helping! Well it's not!

I don't want anyone in here moving her things round, I want to keep it exactly as it was! If I have to get Bob to put a lock on that door I will!

Rhona

where are you?

I know you're somewhere!

FIVE: MOVING ON

Ralph brings a suitcase into his room.

Ralph

That incident up Scotland not down to me. I operate in a southwards direction Midlands Leicester Home Counties

Not fucking Scotland Not cold icy windy Scotland! Anybody with a brain would know that's Too Far! Too far from my centre of operations. I mean you're looking at transportation something what over two hundred miles ... where's the sense in that? Where's the efficiency? You've got to keep things clean in every sense. I don't touch anything outside an eighty mile radius of my centre of operations. Oh no oh no once you've got a site sorted well, you don't mess with that, do you? Obviously but mud sticks.

You've got to be fly in this game! £750 for the van. Him who bought it didn't notice the chassis's all rust. I've run it a coupla times through that field near Uttoxeter. A518. Stuck together with mud fuck him if he can't make a thorough check!

I'll get something a later reg. That's been a bit of an unlucky vehicle for me. So's this place. Landlady ... despite when the Old Bill come here they found nothing despite it's clean despite I'm clear despite that ... has gone 'Sling your hook don't want you here go clear off ...' and I've no comeback on it in law! Cunt Fucking Cheek! ... scuse me! Kept it like a New Pin!

Who do they think they are?

Should be a law. You should have a guarantee of security for your money.

Good job I done planning here. Good job I thought logistically ... had these in lock-up.

Taps head.

You've got to wake up very early to get ahead of me!

Oh yes! Oh yes!

Videos are packed, titles mostly upright. He turns one round. Takes out a notebook. Refers to it.

Lollitots Lesbian Lolita Little Red Riding Hood

Beautiful, romantic, yearning music ... sounds of summer countryside.

Little Ones in Love

Child Love Lesbian Lolita at School He turns a video the right way round ... mock exasperation ... he loves these videos.

Lolita's Examination Lolita's Auntie Pre-Teen Trio

Sweet Patti Sweet Susan Little Linda Baby Bonnie ...

These cost! What!!! So I put them in safe storage obviously. Protect my investment. I've had to get these from abroad! Amsterdam, some of these! France. Denmark.

Nobody's having these

they're precious oh yes oh yes

I'm going to have to safekeep these in my centre of operations until I get a new residence. I'm going to have to get some sort of protective filing system. I'm not sure that shed's efficient dampwise ...

He makes a short list.

Now I'm moving on

new start oh yes oh yes

A car drives off. Overhead, steady thrum of plane as ...

SIX: THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT

Agnetha, on an aeroplane, laptop on her lap, keying sporadically ... also drinking from a plastic cup ...

Agnetha (keys)

'Serial Killing ... a forgiveable act?'

She drains her drink. Presses the 'Flight Attendant' summoning light ... no response ...

(keys)

'Judicial Revenge ... a political choice?'

Pours non-existent drops of liquid from two or three small inflight bottles of brandy into the glass. Presses 'Flight Attendant' call again ... no response.

(keys)

'Brandy Refill ... a Forlorn Hope?' Yes ... I think so ... Close File ... Save? ... Oh yes please ... Shit ... e-mail ... oh yes please ...

She starts writing furiously ...

Dear David,

Dearest Damn Fuck You Then David Dear Doctor David Nabkus I hate hate hate hate hate you. All the people on this flight are in mortal danger and it is your fault. You will be responsible for these multiple deaths as we plummet out of the sky into the sea a very very very long way down there right under where I am sitting. On big air over big sea it is your fault you and your Big News you and your Hilarious Damn Bad Behaviour have cast doubt upon probability and alchemised me into Miss Fudge Feeling of Washington Square who is shit-scared of flying! Give me back my real brain! Hand over my native intelligence! When we crash because of you because of you taking away my faith in anything at all ... I take innocent people with me ... Lily-White Souls perish here ...

She pours a non-existent drop of brandy into her glass.

Although the stewardess serving me deserves to die ... a lonely, painful, lingering, agonising death for the impressive number of times she has wilfully ignored my request for brandy and for a certain radiant spitefulness over her inability to provide me with a vegetarian meal ... I imagine pouncing, sinking my teeth into her neck just above her white pretty blouse and biting out her throat murmuring all the time 'How's this for going with The Meat Option?'

She covers her laptop screen with a 'don't copy my homework' arm, against her next-door neighbour.

I believe their uniforms are stain resistant.

Looks out of the window.

Still over sea. Watery death for us all then ... unless I cannabalise that fucking air-hostess bitch! ...

Lovely, violent inflight movie. Many good and worthless men perished in explosions of bright red blood.

I thought of you.

Her eyes fill. She wipes them surreptitiously, then ...

You bastard

you make me frightened of everything!

The plane flies on. Ping of 'Fasten seat belts' sign flashing on ...

Oh my God!

Reads computer.

SEND?

Why not?

The plane flies on.

SEVEN: FLAME

Nancy, smart suit, drink, her house, four years later.

Nancy

It always works ... but it was magnificent tonight!

I get whoever's in charge of introducing to say quite simply ... 'From the organisation FLAME ...

Mrs Nancy Shirley ...' and I find if you just give it a minute ... they settle ... and then I go ...

She is in a school hall, many silent people.

Ladies and gentlemen of the ... and I fill in where we are ... tonight it was a Parent/Teachers thing in Spalding ... Ladies and gentlemen of the whatever ... on April 17th, 1980, my daughter, Rhona ...

and I pick up her photograph ...

walked out of my house to go to her grandma's house. She never got there she never came back she was ten. She's been missing for five years. She will be fifteen years old tonight. I know she's alive. I have Faith. Every night I pray that whatever reason is stopping her coming home will be removed and that she'll phone or write or just knock on the door and say 'Mum, it's me.'

Bob says he always watches that bit it gives him a chill down his back he says. I've got him giving me lifts to these dos it's brought us closer together, cemented us along with us both getting Belief ... Stopped that nonsense with that Nautilus trainer woman I've got him on jogging ... he said 'When you showed our Rhona's photograph tonight, I thought, we're going to get lucky this time ...' and then I pick up the other photograph and go ...

This ...

is Robert Greaves. He disappeared on his way to Boy Scouts on September 14th, 1976. He was fourteen. Today's his birthday ... You could have heard a pin drop ... He's twenty-three ... And four weeks ago he walked through his parents' front door in Braintree, Essex and said 'Mum, I'm back.' because we at FLAME found him! Even though my little girl my Rhona is still out there I rejoice for Mr and Mrs Greaves that our organisation was able to reunite them with their Robert ...

and Bob has the leaflets ready ... because FLAME is about just that ... keeping that flame of hope alive keeping it burning so that our missing children can see its light and feel its warmth and come towards it!

It's funny I feel I was born to do this I found nothing so easy to do as this it's funny but this is when I feel most alive ...

Returns to her room.

So ... I'm not best pleased to get back to a legless Ingrid ashtray piled another fag burn on the settee arm ... She says 'I had a bad dream I'm in the frozen frozen Arctic and I'm exploring but I'm no good at it I've lost somebody the body's under the ice but where I walk looking for ...

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Frozen by Bryony Lavery. Copyright © 2002 Bryony Lavery. Excerpted by permission of Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

Title Page,
Copyright Notice,
Acknowledgments,
Production History,
Characters,
Act One,
Act Two,
By the Same Author,
Bryony Lavery,
Copyright,