Price - Salt, root and roe

Salt, Root and RoeTim Price is a former journalist from the South Wales valleys. His writing for the stage includes For Once (for Pentabus Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, 2011) and Will and George (shortlisted for the Verity Bargate Award, 2011). The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning (for National Theatre Wales) is set to open in 2012. Tim Price

For ChloPublished by Methuen Drama 2011 First published 2011 by
A & C Black
Bloomsbury Publishing plc
50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP www.acblack.com This electronic edition published in 2011 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc First published by Methuen Drama in 2011 Copyright Tim Price 2011 The author has asserted his rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library All rights reserved. You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. ISBN: 9781408172063 Visit www.acblack.com to find out more about our authors and their books. You will find extracts, author interviews, author events and you can sign up for newsletters to be the first to hear about our latest releases and special offer Where once the mermen through your ice
Pushed up their hair, the dry wind steers
Through salt and root and roe. Dylan ThomasThank you: Hamish Pirie, Michael Grandage, James Bierman, Miriam Green, Jo Danvers and all at the Donmar. Anna Carteret, Anna Calder-Marshal, Imogen Stubbs, Roger Evans, Lisa Jn, Bob Blythe, Niamh Cusack, Sian Phillips, Laura Cotton, Len and Elspeth Cotton, Richard, Branwen and Dafydd Cotton, William John Cotton (Poppin), Janet Davies, Grace Griffiths, Robert Davies, Phil Davies, Chlo Moss, Menna and Philip Price, Matthew Maryline and Sophia Price, Mark Jefferies, Gary Marsh, Nicky Lund and Katell Keineg. Salt, Root and Roe premiered in a production by the Donmar Warehouse at Trafalgar Studios, London on 10 November 2011, and featured the following cast and creatives: Iola Hughes Anna Calder- Marshall Anest Owen Anna Carteret Menna Hopkins Imogen Stubbs Gareth Rowlands Roger Evans Director Hamish Pirie
Designer Chloe Lamford
Lighting designer Anna Watson
Composer and sound designer Alex Baranowski Authors note:Salt, Root and Roe owes its production to the faith and tenacity of Hamish Pirie.

As director Hamish has, at various stages, invested financially, professionally and personally in this play. His commitment to writers, and new writing, is unshakable and this author owes him an eternal debt of gratitude. CharactersIola Hughes (Pronounced YO-LAH) 70s, identical twin, lived in North Pembrokeshire all her life. Lived on smallholding most of her life, slightly more countrified. Anest Owen (Pronounced ANN-EST) 70s, identical twin, lived in North Pembrokeshire all her life. Menna Hopkins4550s, daughter of Anest. Menna Hopkins4550s, daughter of Anest.

Neurotic, in cheap, nondescript clothes. Gareth Rowlands4550s, local policeman. ( / ) indicates when the next line should be spoken.
( ) indicates an interruption of thought. The phonetic pronunciation and English meaning of Welsh words and phrases is specified, directly after the first instance of each word or phrase, in the form Welsh word [PronunciationEnglish meaning]. Translations of Welsh words and phrases which appear in the play text are also included on page 99. Sounds of the sea. Light onIolaandAnestin heavy coats, tied together by a skipping rope. Anest Inside a limekiln. Iola You can play. Anest You can play games. Iola Imagine youre back. Anest In your Mammys tummy. Iola In your Mammys water. Anest You are water. Iola And you. Anest At the same time. Iola Like in the beginning. Anest With Gods face peeping. Iola Pressing the tide. Anest Observing us alive. Iola To the shore of lives. Anest Like in the beginning. Iola To the land alone. Blackout.

A stone cottage on the northern coast of Pembrokeshire, the most westerly part of Wales, facing the Atlantic ocean. Cardboard boxes fill the room. Mennastands in the middle of the room with latex gloves on. Mennastands in the middle of the room with latex gloves on.

Facing her isP.C. Gareth Rowlands. Gareth Scratch my nose? Menna No. Gareth Hold my hands like this? He holds his hands. Menna No. Pause. Gareth Wink. Gareth Wink.

I could wink? (OffMennas reaction.) No. Text? I could text you before? Beat. Im / sorry, thats ridiculous. Menna No. Something in the moment. Gareth Pull my ear? Menna No. Gareth Have you got any ideas? I can only think of winking now. Mennacant speak. Gareth There must be something. Menna It doesnt have to be big. / It doesnt have to be Gareths radio crackles with a voice India Whisky Uniform. / It doesnt have to be Gareths radio crackles with a voice India Whisky Uniform.

He walks off-stage. Gareth Receiving, go ahead MennawatchesGarethgo off, she circles the room before pulling her phone out and dialling it. Menna (to phone) Hi. Beat. Nothing. Nothing. Beat. Beat.

I love you. Beat. No, nothing. Mennabecomes self-conscious whenGarethappears at the door holding a box. Call later, bye. She hangs up.

Anything? Garethshakes his head. Gareth Theyve got, Guess Who? He puts it down. Its just there. After putting it downGarethtaps it. Peter? Menna Hm? Gareth Peter? Menna Yes. Mennafinds herself leaning on something.

Immediately she gets some sanitiser out and sanitises her gloves. Menna Yes, that was Peter. Um its the furniture. Its the furniture thats bothering me. Gareth Okay. Gareth Hm? Menna Theres nowhere to sit. Seeing a bench leaned up against something,

Next page