Thomson - Navigating

Out of the darkness comes the sound of a piano being played with heavy hands. It is joined by twenty or so voices of a small-town, amateur choir doing their best with Va pen siero.

One voice will begin to be heard above the others. Its BEA , oblivious to the fact that her singing becomes louder with each breath she takes. BEA is in her late fortiesan open soul, capable and trusting.

Her sister, ISOLA , is in another pool of light. ISOLA is ten years younger, more delicate in appearance. Withdrawn and vulnerable in demeanour. Her style of singing is much more reticent. She glances at BEA , reacting to her rather robust singing.

Nearby, PAM SHAW , a woman in her fifties, sings meekly, and in the mens section her husband, DICK SHAW , sings with determination. BRENT , a man awkward in his own body, fidgeting even as he sings, cant help but glance at ISOLA . Near him, wrapped up in his own voice, the confident, charming IAN DONNELLY is only too aware of how much the musical burden is falling on his shoulders.

The singing ends, theres the sound of applause. They all nod little bows as they pick up their music, but IAN steps forward, in a gesture that is unplanned.

IAN : Thank you. That was the prisoners chorus from Nabucco . In the capacity of secretary of the choir, on this glorious Sunday, I wonder if I might take the liberty of leading us in prayer.

BEA looks a little surprised, but bows her head with the rest of the choir. IAN is unused to praying, let alone leading the prayer.

Dear Lord, we pray for guidance to the Minister of Justice, other Honourable Members of Parliament visiting our town this weekend, for the citizens of our Shire present here today. For their representativesthe councillors and members of Dunbar Development Group gathered here before you. We ask you to bless us with employment and growth as it pleaseth you, and as we know could be so enhanced from the proposed new prison in our Shire. We have been sorely hit by hard times of late, Oh Lord, but we know with your help we can flourish once again. We have lived, Oh Lord, with the old prison up on the hill for as long as most of us have been alive, and until it closes next year, a daily reminder of our own fortune, freedom and of the true path. We ask you to bless us, and the other shortlisted sites, we thank you for the opportunity to show the Honourable Members the site our Shire and the facilities we offer. We ask your blessings too, Oh Lord, the representatives of Carter Corrections, American Detention Industries and Silver Security Systems who have travelled so widely to be with us today.

A few mumbles of Amen, but IAN is inspired to continue.

For we are a people who have always looked to the future, Lord, with your guidance in our enterprise and faith. Amen.

Sound of Amen. IAN is, uncharacteristically given his usual confidence, deeply relieved.

Thank you. And now Peter Greig, Chairman of Dunbar Development Group

Sound of applause.

TRANSITION to a riverside patch of land, not far from the entrance bar. ISOLA and BEA are waiting near a wheelbarrow on which is sitting a figurehead, covered with a canvas cloth.

ISOLA stares out to sea. BEA idly twirls a smooth old stick in her handa diviners stick. BEA looks at her watch, then has a quiet laugh to herself.

ISOLA : What?

BEA : Ian Donnelly praying. Ian Donnellys no more religious than I am. Ive heard the language at work, thank you. Once he started it was like he was tangled up in some dreadful web that was growing out of his mouth. I thought any minute now hes going to break into song and pull out his tambourine.

ISOLA : He had to pray. All the visiting politicians are in the Parliamentary Prayer Group.

BEA : How do you know that?

ISOLA : [ galvanised ] Thats our phone.

BEA : Since when have you got ears like a bat?

ISOLA : Ssssh.

They both listen.

BEA : Were not expecting a call.

ISOLA : Its stopped. Since when do you have to be expecting a call to get one?

Pause.

BEA : Fancy this [ the stick ] still being tucked away in all that junk. In one piece. [ Carved: ] G.S. Grandpa Samson. He was a dear old chap. Telling people where to sink their bores.

ISOLA : I dont remember.

BEA : Of course you dont. Thats why Im telling you. Hed say, You imagine the water up here, then you find it out there. That he had to have the idea of the water, before he could find the water. I used to puzzle over that.

ISOLA : Theyre not coming. I told you.

BEA : Give them another few minutes.

ISOLA : Theyll all have gone to the Business Club for lunch. What exactly did he say? Ian. Ian Donnelly.

BEA : I told you.

ISOLA : [ looking off ] Perhaps you werent precise.

BEA : I said, What time will you be finished showing around the politicians and the prison company bigwigs? and he said, About one oclock, and I said, Well, when you have, bring some of the service club fellows down to the land next to our place because my sister and I have got something to show you. That wed like to donate to the town. That we think would make a memorial. Then he said, For what? And I said, Well, what would do you think its for, the Battle of Trafalgar? Its thirty-five years this year since the Harmony went down. Oh, he said. [ Pause ] How about that, thats whats odd. The winds dropped, hasnt it? We can take the ballast out of our pockets. Dont slouch, Issie. Once you turn forty youll be putting yourself in line for a great big hump. End up doubled-over like old Mrs Jenna sits outside the Council of a Tuesday. Sits on the seat for a view of the entrance, and what does she see but her own.

A beat, then ISOLA laughs. Just a bit.

Thats more like it. [ Her smile fades ] Are you pre-menstrual, Issie?

ISOLA : No.

BEA : Well, you cant be, of course. Unless you and I are getting out of synch. Which I suppose wont be too far away. Dear, they were interested, the girls at work. [ As she recounted it and as she sits next to ISOLA ] When Issie and I were both in the city and I foisted myself onto her in Brink Streetfourteen years

ISOLA : Fifteen

BEA : Weve always been within a day of each other starting. A model of co-ordination Babs called it. Bake-off day, last Friday. Im in with that little group now, you can feel it. [ Pause ] They were saying how lucky we are. Arent you lucky to be that close? To have each other. You and your sister. [ Pause ] You could pop in sometime, they think the world of you. They do.