Talking with Picasso by Frank Rotherham

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This Play is the copyright of the Author and may not be performed, copied or sold without the Author's prior consent

ACT 1 SCENE 1

Late afternoon, prison cell; stage lit. The Captain
drags Willis past the barred section to the door. Sound of bolt and
door opening; the captain throws Willis into the cell. Willis lands
on his knees head down and does not move. The captain stands in the
open cell door watching Willis and lightly hitting his hand with his
baton. He pushes Willis's backside with his foot sending him
sprawling, nods contentedly and exits smiling, closing the door and
taking a last look at Willis through the barred section. Willis lies
for a while, groans, and attempts to raise himself from the floor. He
eventually succeeds, standing with difficulty and looks at the drawing
of Picasso on his cell wall.

Willis
This is Hell Picasso; we have to get out of here. Two bloody years, I
can't stand much more of this. PAUSES LISTENING. You will come
with me, that's great. It has to be soon though; they are planning
to execute me.

WILLIS STAGGERS TO HIS BED AND FLOPS FACE DOWN ON IT. HE LIES STILL
FOR A LITTLE WHILE, MOVES INTO A FETAL POSITION AND SOBS AS HE PASSES
OUT AND DREAMS HE IS BACK ON THE STAGE PLAYING HIS TRUMPET. WINDOW
LIGHT FADES INTO NIGHT. STAGE IS BLACKED OUT AS YOUNG WILLIS ENTERS
FRONT STAGE LEFT AS OFF STAGE AN ANNOUNCERS VOICE IS HEARD.

Announcer off stage (BBC accent.)
Willis Wright facing the death sentence in an Asian prison plays his
beautiful 'Stormy Weather', recorded at the London Palladium in
the 1983 command performance before her Majesty. We wish you luck
Willis, we want you back playing for us all.

SPOTLIGHT YOUNG WILLIS, REVOLVING BALL LIT, YOUNG WILLIS SMILES, WAVE
AND NODS TO SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE. HE MIMES THE TRUMPET PLAYING OF
'STORMY WEATHER'. TEN SECONDS OF RECORDED APPLAUSE FOLLOWS THE
MUSIC TO ALLOW YOUNG WILLIS TO EXIT. STAGE BLACKS OUT

Act 1 Scene 2

BLACKED OUT STAGE GRADUALLY GETS LIGHTER AT FIRST FROM THE HIGH WINDOW
.WILLIS LIES ON THE BED ASLEEP. A COCKEREL IS HEARD CROWING, WILLIS
STIRS. THE CAPTAIN LEADS AMANDA PAST THE BARS INTO THE CELL. WILLIS
AWAKES AND SITS UP.AS HE HEARS THE CELL DOOR OPENING. WILLIS SITS ON
THE SIDE OF THE BED.

Captain
Knock on the door when you have finished Madam. I will let you out; I
will not be far away.

CAPTAIN EXITS CLOSING AND BOLTING THE DOOR.WILLIS SLOWLY AND PAINFULLY
GETS OFF THE BED

Willis
Too right he won't, he will be watching us through the bars, and
listening. PAUSE
You are here bloody early.
Amanda
And good morning to you Willis. Still a smart arse, are you? Good
God have you
been throwing yourself against the wall again?

WILLIS
Yeah, we have no TV; it is our only entertainment, I am trying to
stick my self on it, next to my friend, Picasso. We geniuses have to
stick together for our own sanity. WILLIS BOWS TO HER PAINFULLY
Welcome ma'am, Ms Amanda Armstrong, third under secretary of our
illustrious Australian embassy.

Amanda
Not for too much longer Willis, I finish here soon, you however are
here for twenty years or until they execute you. SHE MOVES TO THE
TABLE, PUTS HER FOLDER ON IT AND SITS ON A STOOL. Do you want to make
another formal complaint about being beaten?

Willis
No, I bloody don't. I want an Australian lawyer. I could hardly
speak to the bastard that represented me at my trial. Probably why I
was found guilty and the firing squad are loading up their guns.

Amanda
Not because you were caught, carrying drugs Willis? WILLIS STANDS
SHRUGS MOVES TO THE SECOND STOOL. Anyway, I am here this early to
tell you that you are getting a lawyer from home. Canberra advised us
last month that an Australian legal representative was on her way to
represent you and, she has arrived.

Willis
Wow, last bloody month, news sure travels fast around here.

Amanda
I met her yesterday; it is her first brief for our embassy.

Willis
Great, an expert straight out of uni, a woman you say, a real woman.

Amanda
Yes, a woman and you keep your hands off her. It is not quite her
first job though; she has been in private practise a few years,
conveyancing, I believe. AMANDA CHECKS HER WRIST WATCH, SHAKES HER
HEAD

Amanda
She should have been here by now.

Willis
Oh great. A legal eagle who cannot find her way to the jail on time.
PAUSE I am going to leave my head to you Amanda, delivered directly to
you in a bloody hatbox.

Amanda
Fine, I will give it to the street kids to play football with.

Willis
You're a bitch.

Amanda
And you are a womanizing drug smuggler. WILLIS RISES AND WALKS TO
FRONT STAGE LEFT AND BOWS TO THE AUDIENCE.

Willis
What I am, Miss Armstrong is a trumpeter, one of the best in the
world. You believed I was guilty before my trial had even begun, and
the women madam were all consenting adults, more than willing, and
satisfied, which is more than I can say for you. You know damn well I
am not a drug smuggler, I was set up.

Amanda
All criminals claim to be innocent. The drugs found in your trumpet
case?

Willis
Yes, they were, but I did not put them there.

Amanda
The judges concluded that you did, it is not just my opinion that will
have you used for target practise.

Willis
I bet you will come to watch.

Amanda
I will be gone from this hell whole long before your sentence is
finalized. Ms Beckworth will do her best to assist you. SHE HANDS
WILLIS A FILE OF PAPERS FROM HER BRIEFCASE.

Amanda
Are these your correct details? WILLIS SKIMS THROUGH THE SHEETS.

Willis
Yes, amazing what you have on file about me but you have missed the
wart on the cheek of my left butt. That is your problem Amanda; you
have not seen it yet.

Amanda
In your dreams Willis

Willis
Yep you have been there, nightmares. PAUSE I guess I had better
write my will now; would you like my balls as well as my head?

Amanda
Yes, fine, marbles for the non-footballers. SHE RISES TO LEAVE BUT
SITS AGAIN.
By the way, we have advised your family of your sentence and a visa
has been arranged for your sister to visit you.

Willis
No, No, Christ no, I can't see Lorrie, nor anyone from home. Please
just tell her I am not allowed visitors and that I am innocent.

Amanda
Really, lie for you Mr. Wright and say you are innocent.

Willis
Yes innocent, I am as innocent, as pure white snow.

Amanda
Not a very suitable analogy Willis

Willis
Pure white snow, it is a jazz tune, Amanda.

Amanda
Really? SHAKING HER HEAD SHE REFERS TO HER NOTES

Amanda
You were caught trying to board a plane with drugs in your trumpet
case; you confirmed the case was yours.

Willis
Bullshit I had no idea what they were saying. The case was mine, the
drugs were not.

Amanda
You could not understand the custom officer but have visited this
country on and off for the last ten years, you must have learnt more
than 'hello pretty girl'.

Willis
Yes, I have but only a few more lines to carry on from that.

Amanda
Why I am not surprised? AMANDA LOOKS AT HER WRIST WATCH.

Amanda
I must go. I will see if I can locate your legal lady and no, I
cannot get anything for you, pass on any messages, and no definitely
no trumpet, so do not ask. AMANDA MOVES TO THE DOOR AND KNOCKS ON IT
WITH HER CAR KEYS. THE SOUNDS OF IT UNLOCKING IS HEARD INSTANTLY THE
CAPTAIN MOVES TO THE OPEN DOOR

Willis
You were listening, you bastard.

CAPTAIN
I am the bastard in charge and will listen when I want to, but I was
not listening. Who is Ms Beckworth Willis? THE CAPTAIN LAUGHS AND
THREATENS WILLIS WITH HIS BATON. HE LEADS AMANDA OUT OFTHE CELL
SMILING. THE DOOR IS SHUT AND BOLTED. WILLIS STANDS IN FRONT OF THE
PICASSO GRAFFITI.

Willis
Picasso my friend you are the only one who believes I am innocent.
But you are more locked up in here, than I am. What do you reckon,
are you going to miss me when I am gone? PAUSES LISTENING AND SMILES
Bugger I thought you at least would. We have been friends a long
time now. I guess you just want me to stay with you. PAUSES
LISTENING OK, OK, yes I said I will take you with me when I go, or
maybe they can stand me against this wall and shoot us both to hell at
the same time. WILLIS KICKS THE TRASH CAN ACROSS THE ROOM MOVES TO
THE TABLE AND SITS HOLDING HIS HEAD WITH BOTH HANDS IN ANGUISH. SOFT
MUSIC OF STORMY WEATHER IS HEARD WILLIS HUMS TO THE MUSIC (ONE VERSE)
REMAINS SITTING STARING INTO SPACE. MUSIC STOPS WHEN THE DOOR OPENS,
THE CAPTAIN ENTERS FOLLOWED BY MARION.

CAPTAIN
SHOUTS Stand up. You have a visitor. POKES AT WILLIS WITH HIS
BATON,

WILLIS
TO PICASSO There aren't any bloody manners in this holiday Hilton,
hey Picasso
MARION LOOKS BEWILDERED AT WHO WILLIS IS ADDRESSING, WILLIS CONTINUES
TO SIT. THE CAPTAIN LOOKS ANGRY AND CONSIDERS HITTING WILLIS BUT DOES
NOT. THE CAPTAIN LEAVES, THE DOOR IS BOLTED BEHIND HIM AND HE MOVES
TO THE BARRED AREA TO WATCH THEM.

Marion
HOLDING HER HAND OUT Marion Beckworth, Mr. Wright, sorry I am late.
WILLIS SHAKES HER HAND LIMPLY. I have been waiting outside for the
Australian Consul but apparently, she has already seen you and left.

Willis
That's our bloody Amanda Armstrong, always working against me, never
has worked for me.

Marion
I am surprised to hear that Mr. Wright. I assume Ms Armstrong has
advised you that I have been sent by the Australian Foreign Office to
assist you.

Willis
Yes she told me, but it's a bit bloody late, my trial Is over.
PAUSES, LISTENING, LOOKS AT PICASSO. Yes Picasso that was rude.
POINTS TO PICASSO
My friend Pablo says I should apologies. BOWS I apologise Ms
Beckworth, thanks for coming. Please sit down. WILLIS GETS UP AND
BECKONS HER INTO THE STOOL, DUSTS OFF ITS SEAT. WILLIS SITS ON THE
BED. MARION SITS ON THE STOOL AND TAKES SOME PAPERS FROM HER
BRIEFCASE. SHE PUTS THEM IN FRONT OF HER ON THE TABLE. SHE SMILES
SADLY AT HIM AS SHE READS FROM HER NOTES.

Marion The Australian Government will do very thing possible to stop
any of its citizen's being executed in another country. My brief is
to get your death sentence repealed.

WILLIS
Repealed is not a solution, Ms Beckworth, another two years jail is
the same as a death
sentence for me, not even the locals survive twenty. I need to have
the guilty verdict squashed.

Marion
I am sorry, that's not possible at this stage. First, we seek
repeal of your sentence, then clemency.

Willis
SMILING I take it that this is your first visit here Ms Beckworth.

Marion
Yes, but if you are concerned I have been qualified for seven years.

Willis
Yeah, doing conveyancing, I believe.

Marion
Certainly not, my practice is in Cabramatta, New South Wales, not so
different from some conditions here I suspect. I will fight for you.
I trust we shall win. To start I need all the facts from you. SHE
TAKES OUT A LEGAL PAD TO WRITE ON I can only stay an hour and we must
be ready with the appeal in a short time.

Willis
How long is a 'short time'?

Marion
It will be weeks, rather than months.

Willis
Shit. Sorry, can I get bail?

Marion
Mr. Willis you are under a death sentence in a foreign country.

Willis
SMILING Just kidding, but I have a little money left; can you bribe
the judge to get me out?
MARION
I most certainly cannot. I did not even hear what you just suggested

WILLIS
POINTING AT THE BARRED SECTION No but I bet the captain did.

MARION
You have been found guilty of first-degree drug smuggling and
sentenced to death?

WILLIS
In a nut shell yes.

MARION
FRUSTRATED In a nutshell, customs officers claimed that you stashed a
large quantity of drugs in your trumpet case.

WILLIS
That's a bit blunt and it is not true.

MARION
What is not true Mr. Wright?

WILLIS
Look Marion, you are going to fight for my life, please call me Will.

MARION
OK, 'Will' but what is not true.

WILLIS
That they found anything in my trumpet case. The packet was stuffed
into the trumpet, but not by me.

MARION
You didn't hide the drugs?

WILLIS
No, and certainly not in my trumpet. I could never do that. They
were put there but not by me.

MARION
Tell me what happened.

WILLIS
I was flying home. I booked my luggage in to go to Sydney. When I
went to pass through security, I was called aside to a customs office
and shown my trumpet case. I was told to open it. There was a packet
of white powder in the trumpet. Two police officers came in. They
handcuffed me. I was taken to the police station and charged with
drug smuggling one kilo plus, enough for a death sentence.

MARION
The case was out of your possession after you booked your luggage in.
PAUSE THINKING Why would anyone risk losing that amount of drugs by
putting it in your trumpet?

WILLIS
I upset Mr. Kong; nobody does that and gets away with it. No cost to
him, he would get the drugs back, from the same person who put them in
my trumpet in the first place.

MARION
How did you upset him?

WILLIS
I fell in love with Georgia, one of his dancing girls. I tried to get
her back to Australia, out of his clutches.

MARION
Was this love was mutual?

WILLIS
SHRUGS Well, Georgia is only half my age. She may have initially
only seen me as a ticket out of here but it became more than that. We
loved each other deeply.

MARION
Mr Kong would frame you over one of his dancing girls?

WILLIS
Yes. Mr. Kong does not accept loss, none, what so ever.

MARION
OK Will, if I am going to save your life, I must know all the facts,
and I must hear them from you. What happened before you were
arrested? Time is precious.

WILLIS
More to me than you, I suspect.

MARION
Then let us not waste it. OK? You packed your own bags.

WILLIS
Yes on the Friday night, as soon as I got back to my room after my
show. There was a message in my room from Georgia. It said that she
was taking the train saying she was frightened and did not want to
risk catching the local flight to Singapore with me. She would meet
me at the Singapore airport, before our Sydney flight boarded.

MARION
Did she have her flight ticket?

WILLIS
No, I had bought both our tickets by phone on my credit card. I had
picked up both tickets. We had planned to travel together. I was
worried when I got the message; it felt like something was going
wrong. Kong has spies everywhere, he could have found out about the
tickets. Georgia's message was phoned in to the hotel. He could
have been advised of this.

MARION
Do you know if Georgia got to Singapore?

WILLIS
No, she has not contacted me since that phone message; I know she
would if she could. A local friend who visited me a couple of times
made some inquiries for me. He said a young Australian woman caught a
train north on that Friday evening.

MARION
What do you think happened to her?

WILLIS
I think she had to run from Kong. She would not have taken a train
north to meet me; Georgia would have taken the train south.

MARION
Maybe she was not able to, or your friend's information was wrong.

WILLIS
Kong may have captured her. Georgia would get a message to me somehow
if she were free to do so. Will you please try to find her for me?

MARION
I'll make some inquiries, as a missing, Australian, possibly a
prisoner, the embassy will have to take the matter up.

WILLIS
Miss Armstrong claims that they have made full inquiries. THE CELL
DOOR OPENS AND THE CAPTAIN ENTERS.

CAPTAIN
Time to go Madam.

MARION
MARION LOOKS AT HER WRIST WATCH. I haven't been here an hour yet.

CAPTAIN
No Madam but I have ordered a special drill, all visitors must leave
now.

WILLIS STANDS AND GLARES AT HIM. Bullshit.

CAPTAIN
Not bullshit Willis, they are the true orders. CAPTAIN RAISES HIS
BATON AT HIM.

MARION
STANDS BETWEEN THEM Cool it Will. I have things I have to do. MARION
MOVES TO THE DOOR I'll be back soon with written authority to
spend all the time I need with you. Is there anything you need?

WILLIS
Yes, I need my trumpet that is all I need.

MARION
Sorry Will, I can't get your trumpet; it will be being held as
evidence. MARION EXITS FOLLOWED BY THE CAPTAIN. THE DOOR IS SHUT AND
BOLTED.

WILLIS
Good luck Marion, Mr. Kong has found out you are here. WILLIS WALKS
AROUND THE CELL THE TRUMPET SOFTLY PLAYING STORMY WEATHER IS HEARD.
WILLIS MOVES TO HIS BED AND LIES DOWN. MUSIC STOPS AS THE DOOR OPENS.
MERLIN HINZE ENTERS CARRYING OVERNIGHT BAG. WILLIS LOOKS UP.

WILLIS
How's it going Merlin, are you still robbing babies and old ladies?

MERLIN
HOLDS OUT HIS HAND, WHICH WILLIS IGNORES. That's not a nice
greeting for an old friend Willis.

WILLIS
SITTING UP GETS OFF THE BED An old friend; I did not see anyone else
come in with you. Did you see anyone else Picasso?

MERLIN
Some people call me the magician.

WILLIS
Yeah but more call you 'the old bastard', 'old bastard number
two', 'bastard number one' is Mr. Kong
WILLIS PACES THE CELL STOPS IN FRONT OF PICASSO. Merlin says he is a
magician, maybe just what we need to get us out of here. He'll wave
his wand and we will be off down the yellow brick road and over the
rainbow with young Dorothy.

MERLIN
Escape is the ultimate prisoners wish, perhaps a smaller wish first.
MERLIN OPENS HIS OVER NIGHT BAG TAKES OUT A TRUMPET CASE. WILLIS SEES
IT,

WILLIS
Bloody magic. HE REACHES FOR THE CASE, MERLIN STOPS HIM

MERLIN
No magic, just bloody money, you pay Captain $5 a week OK, and it will
not disappear.
MERLIN PUTS THE CASE ON THE TABLE WILLIS OPENS IT AND TAKES OUT THE
TRUMPET LOVINGLY.

WILLIS
OK OK I'll pay, but how much for the ultimate disappearing trick?

MERLIN
A big ask Willis, let's take it one trick at a time. MERLIN MOVES
TO THE DOOR WITH HIS BAG. WILLIS PULLS HIM BACK BY MERLIN'S
SHOULDER.

WILLIS
Just a second, have you located Georgia yet?

MERLIN
No, nobody has seen her since she left the club the day before you
were arrested. I wish Kong did not think you spirited her away from
him. It would make it easier for both of us.

WILLIS
It's been two years, are you sure that you are even looking?

MERLIN
Yes, the boss wants her back just as much as you do. I reckon she has
skipped the country but I'm dammed if I know how if she did it.
MERLIN WAVES AND HE EXITS AS WILLIS STROKES HIS TRUMPET. HE LIES ON
HIS BED PUTTING IT TO HIS LIPS. INTRODUCTION MUSIC STARTS. THE STAGE
BLACKS OUT. YOUNG WILLIS ENTERS IN DARKNESS. SPOTLIGHT AND REVOLVING
BALL LIGHT ON.

OFF STAGE ANNOUNCER (AUSTRALIAN ACCENT)
Mr Willis Wright, performing at the Skylight ballroom, Sydney in 1984,
playing the beautiful 'body and soul'. BODY AND SOUL MUSIC IS
HEARD.

Young Willis ENTERS, STAGE BLACKS OUT FOLLOWED BY 10 SECONDS OF
APPLAUSE, HE MIMES PLAYING IT. YOUNG WILLIS EXITS. THE STAGE LIGHTS
GO ON, WILLIS GETS OFF THE BED, MOVES FRONT CENTRE AND BOWS TO HIS
IMAGINED AUDIENCE AND WAVES THE TRUMPET AT THEM AND BOWS AGAIN.

Willis LOOKING AT THE TRUMPET ALMOST IN TEARS OF JOY.
1984, the year dearest Lorrie was born, and the year I lost her
mother. Orwell was wrong, it was the criminals not the politicians
taking over the world.

[end of extract]

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