Wales v Scotland 2010 #28playslater #day8

WALES V SCOTLAND 2010
SCENE ONE
A triptych of scenes, two in
darkness. A light shines on
television screen set to the last
five minutes of the Wales v.
Scotland in the Six Nations
fixture, 2010. Wales and Scotland
have a good Celtic relationship
and the game is traditionally goodhearted
excellent rugby. There are
about 5 minutes left in the game.
It doesn’t look good for Wales.
Blackout and then lights up on the
middle scene.
It’s Great St.
Mary’s, the grande-dame of the
Cambridge churches. A grand
memorial service for a great man.
A distraught woman - must be the
daughter- is finishing a poem.
GWYNNETH
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
She walks out of the light. A man
walks in. He addresses the
audience.
LLEWELYN
My father had no filter.
His phone buzzes in his pocket.
LLEWELYN
Someone’s scored in the Scotland Wales game. Do you mind if
I just check? I know he would want me to.
Blackout then lights up on the
screen. It is seven minutes to go.
Wales scores. It is astonishingly
beautiful.
COMMENTATOR
Try for Wales! Hope for Wales!
Blackout, lights up the stage left
scene, which is a mother and son,
JOAN and HUGH, sitting in a pew.
JOAN looks good by the way. They
are watching the funeral. HUGH is
crying in a heartbreakingly
dignified way. JOAN is desperate
to comfort him so speaks under her
breath.
JOAN
Your grandfather had such a good life. And he’s ok right
now. You know what he is doing. Watching the rugby from
heaven.
HUGH
Did you really mean that about the Red Arrows?
JEAN
All I am is saying is that ten minutes before we got the
phone call the Red Arrows were climbing up up through the
sky so beautifully right over their house. Remember? We
thought it had to be in Newnham. So it had to be an escort
into heaven. What else could it be?
HUGH
When you say it I believe it a little bit.
JEAN
He is a king of heaven now though I promise you. What
better thing to do than to imagine what the laws should be
(she realises she is getting too complicated) He wrote
about protecting the earth and protecting human rights and
he was very kind and every time I ever went over to his
house (she sobs) he would open a bottle of Champagne
instantly.
HUGH
Do you really think something happens after we die?
JEAN
Well I think you got to go in there with as good an
attitude as possible just in case. Dumbledore said it was
the next great adventure.
Blackout lights up on LLEWELYN
LLEWELYN
(checking BBC on his phone) Wales is playing some
suboptimal rugby right now. Right. I apologize. I only know
that my father loved rugby as he loved his life and his
work and his family. Openheartedly. There is much to
celebrate in his scholarship and leadership and devotion to
human rights. I understand that. But there is much to
mourn. I have lost my father. I have lost my father and he
would at least want me to follow the Rugby. I think he knew
how much I loved him. I know how much he loved me. After
one quite difficult trip to the toilet near the end I
looked up at him as I lifted him and all I could see in his
eyes was concern for me. He was like that.
His phone buzzes. He checks it
again.
LLEWELYN
Wales has scored. And the kick.
Blackout and then lights up on
JOAN and HUGH.
HUGH
It would be weird to see Taid in an adventure. He would
have to wear a tie.
JEAN
And the Marks and Spencers suits.
HUGH
Do you think he can ride around on horses along the beach
in Wales?
JEAN
Yes, I think he can for sure.
Blackout then lights up on the
stage right scene, a large screen.
The crowd at this point is already
going nuts.
COMMENTATOR
One score. One kick to try. One try to win for Wales.
Blackout. Lights also come up on
Llewelyn.
LLEWELYN
Greater men than me have already written biographies of my
father. The first modern vice-chancellor of the University.
The architect of international environmental law. The
prophet of the dangers of the modern state in Not In The
Public Interest. This seminal legal treatise --
His phone buzzes. He looks and repockets
the phone.
Blackout. Lights on the screen.
COMMENTATOR
This fixture has produced some classic games over the
years. Some of the rugby may not have been vintage -
Shane Williams steals the ball.
Blackout light on LLEWELYN.
He is refreshing his phone.
Now the lights come up on all the
scenes and LLEWELYN on his phone
and JEAN and HUGH are all watching
the rugby.
COMMENTATOR
And it’s a penalty to Scotland...
JEAN
The Scotland team is better looking.
LLEWELYN
We can be grateful he was with us. And I will be forever
grateful that I was his son.
COMMENTATOR
FORTY SECONDS.
A bloodied Scottish player takes
the field. They are two men down
and suddenly suffering.
COMMENTATOR
Wales has tied with seconds remaining. And they TIE!
The cheering swells.
LLEWELYN
They’ve equalised.
COMMENTATOR
Let’s see what happens. One more play.
COMMENTATOR
(breathless with the thrill) They have to get in kicking
range.
JEAN
That’s where Taid is.
HUGH
Oh yeah.
COMMENTATOR
IT IS THERE TO BE CLAIMED BY WALES.
Llewelyn stands proud.
COMMENTATOR
They’ve got to keep their composure now.
COMMENTATOR
(the loudest he has ever been) SHANE WILLIAMS!!!!!
JEAN’s eyes widen. HUGH smiles.
LLEWELYN puts his phone in his
pocket.
The crowd on the television yells joyously for four
solid minutes.
END OF PLAY
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