Harrower - Dark Earth

Im still looking. If this map would fucking work Valerie Wheres the wall from here? Is it marked on there? Put it down on the ground. Euan Make it easier, wouldnt it? Were on a fold, I think, if you can believe that. I cant see where Valerie Where what? Euan Where Cause I cant see where the road goes. Cant see where the road is. The D road were on.

The E road were on. The fucking F, G, H, I road were on. This goat track of a road. Valerie We were driving east, werent we? East / Euan I should just leave the car there leave it to rot there, fucking useless piece of junk. Valerie Weve never had a problem with it before. Euan Unless the petrol gauge is broken, but I filled it, I filled the tank.

Valerie East, and we turned Euan And a phone, we have to find a phone now. Wherever a phones going to be. Valerie So we mustve been heading north. Euan north? Euan If theyre sending a van out to us, Val, they need to know where we are, not where we were heading. Valerie I know but theyll The vanll come from Falkirk, probably, wont it? Theyll send it from Falkirk, so whoevers driving the van will probably be a local, wont he? And hell know where the Antonine Wall is, I should think its been there for a while. Euan Theres not even any landmarks.

Theres nothing to look at, theres nothing to see. Were next to a field of whatever that is. Valerie (checks map) Passed through Slamannan not as far as Gardrum Moss. These names Jawcraig Cadgersloan Euan Somewhere in the middle of there. Stranded on a goat track. Valerie You said that.

Euan I know. (short laugh) Listen how quiet it is. Valerie Imagine waking up to that. I could wake up to that for a couple of months. (to herself; looking at her watch) What time is it? Euan What do they grow out here? Is there anything to actually eat? Time is it? Valerie Almost three. A farm. A farm.

Euan Maybe even a farmhouse I better get going. Valerie Am I not coming with you? Euan Im not going to be long. Valerie You dont know how long youre going to be. Euan Ill run. Valerie When do you ever run? Euan Ill be quicker on my own, Val. I run.

Valerie Alright. (Beat.) Two and a half years, Ive never seen you run. Go on then. Run. Euan Give me the map. Come back. Come back.

Euan We need a phone, Val. Ill keep going until I find one, OK? Im not going to wait here, not able to do anything, till someone decides to drive past, which could be the middle of next week, couldnt it? Judging by the amount of traffic that thunders past here. Pause. Valerie I had other things on my mind, Euan. Euan Its happened. Valerie I wanted us to have lunch, a day out together, thats all. Euan It was the last thing I said.

Valerie Wasnt the last thing. Euan Have you got my phone? And you shouted you had it. You said Valerie I know. I know I did, but I say things sometimes. Euan I know. I hear you say them.

So I tend to believe them. Valerie Keeps you happy inside your little head, keeps you from moaning. Therell be a house therell be a house round that bend there with a phone in every room, a house owned by a retired car mechanic who had to quit cause nowadays they dont have the same love, they dont take the same care and pride in the job that he did. Go ask him, he might help. Euan We might have to forget about Gordon and Ruths tonight. Valerie Well be back by then ! We will! Euan Who knows how long its going to take? Were stranded.

Valerie Do I get a last kiss before you start running? They kiss. Euan A woman on her own gets priority. In a breakdown. If you phoned them. Valerie Whatre you talking about? Euan They send a van immediately if a womans on her own. Valerie Im not on my own, am I? Euan Tell them you are. Come with me and tell them you are and Ill hide when they come.

Ill hide in the field. Why not? If you want to get / Valerie Euan, no. Go. Find a phone. Stop talking rubbish. Euan Its just a thought.

Its a way out itll take hours off waiting. Valerie Go. My eyes are closed, my back is turned run. Euan leaves.She watches him go out of sight. She becomes lost in thought.An older man enters from the opposite direction: Petey.He stops and looks at her. After a moment, she notices him. Valerie Hello.

Petey Afternoon. Valerie looks off in direction Euan went but theres no sign of him. Valerie The cars broken down. Petey That what it is? I was wonderin. Valerie Thats why Im waiting here. My boyfriends gone to look for a phone two minutes ago. (Pause.) Dyou live around here? Dyou ? Petey Thats me headin home the now. (Pause.) Dyou live around here? Dyou ? Petey Thats me headin home the now.

Minell be the first house he comes tae less he takes the other road, then hell get tae Duncan Craigs. Valerie How far is it? Petey Tae mine? No far. Ten, fifteen minutes walkin. Whats he wantin? Valerie My boyfriend? To use a phone, to Petey Get someone out tae you. Valerie Yeah. So will there be anyone in your house? Petey Aye, Idas in.

Christines getting the shoppin. Wife an daughter. Idall sort him out. Pause. Petey looks towards the car. Valerie The engine suddenly cut out for no reason. Petey Cannae be for no reason, must be a reason.

Always a reason in there somewhere. Valerie Yeah. Of course. I didnt / Petey Whatre you here for? Whatre you doin? Valerie We came for a drive were nothing just driving. We were looking to have lunch somewhere, then this happened. Petey Pity.

Good car like that dyin on you. (Pause.) If I knew anythin about engines Id be under the bonnet there, takin a look at the fuel pump reset. You from the West are you? Valerie Yeah Petey Ive heard talk about it. Gets mentioned sometimes. Valerie Whatve you heard? Petey High opinions o themselves, have they no? High opinions. Beat. Valerie Its difficult not to.

Petey Im sure its no. Over here for the day. Valerie Thats what we were having trouble with, me and my boyfriend knowing where we were. Where are we? Its so flat and featureless, I Petey In the middle, thats where you are. Smack in the middle. What our parents always said tae us this is where you live smack! (He mimes a hand slapping.) get used tae it.

An featureless? You have tae know where tae look. Valerie Wheres the Wall from here? Thats where we were going. Petey You were goin tae the Wall? The Antonine? Where? Valerie Seabegs Wood? We saw it on the map. Ive never been before. Petey Two miles that way. Theres Castlecary an all.