Stenham - Hotel

Insects.The stage is empty. After a few seconds, Ralph emerges from the plunge pool. He stands dripping in the sunlight. He stares out to sea. After a second Frankie pops up next to him. Ralph Ooo la la Frankie Holy Moses They take in the view for a moment.

Why is the sea always a girl? Ralph I think you mean ships. Ships are always girls. Frankie Why? Ralph Why not? Frankie kicks at the sand. Fidgety. Frankie Race you there. To the edge bit.

Ralph The shore? She nods. OK. Terms? Frankie If I win, you tell him. Tonight. Ralph Fine.

Robert gestures for Vivienne to come to him. She ignores him and continues unpacking. Robert stares at his wife. She wont meet his gaze. He flicks the music off. Robert I organised a surprise.

Vivienne Did you? There is the sound of Frankie and Ralph at the shore. A sudden scream. Then laughter. Robert goes to the glass doors and opens them. Looking out. Look. Look.

Hes too rough. Ralph Vivienne Leave them alone. They arent children. Robert Ralph isnt. No. Beat.

Look at what hes doing. Hes holding her down. Vivienne Frankie can defend herself. She turns, to look. Ralph suddenly yelps, swears. Pause. Pause.

He watches her. Robert Its a sunset boat trip. Just us. Vivienne ignores him. There are dolphins apparently. He waves a printout. He waves a printout.

Vivienne Look at me. He does. Do I look sick? Robert No. Vivienne Then I do not need to be consoled, or in fact cajoled, by sunsets and fucking dolphins. I dont have cancer. Beat.

I have you. Robert Do you? She looks right at him. Pause. Vivienne I dont know yet. She starts searching for a charger. Robert watches for a moment.

Robert They said to go to water sports at five. So Vivienne Five? She checks her watch. Now? He nods. I hate fish. Robert Theyre not technically fish. She pushes the charger into the adaptor and then into a socket.

It sparks violently. Shocking her. She cries out. Robert goes to her. She turns away. He tries to touch her.

She wont let him. She composes herself.She turns slowly. Faces him. Vivienne I told you they wouldnt work. We cant charge anything. Robert It doesnt matter.

Were on holiday. We dont need our Vivienne You used to be good-looking. He steps towards her. She stays where she is. Robert You still are. Beat. Beat.

I used to fuck you in toilets. On planes. Robert I remember. Hes closer now. He seems about to kiss her. She lets him get close then breaks away.

Vivienne Do we get a drink on this cruise? Robert Probably. Vivienne Have you paid? Robert They put it on the bill. She sighs. Vivienne Well never get the money back then. Come on. Robert smiles.

She cuts him down. The sun is going down. My phone is dead. Theres no internet. And, to add small sting to sweating insult, you left my book on the plane. So, Ill go.

But only because theres nothing else to do. And if its a one-mojito- per-passenger scenario, Im having both. Agreed? He nods. She heads to the door. He picks up two towels and follows her. They swing the door open to reveal a young maid, Nala.

She is holding a stack of neatly folded towels and two flannels that have been fashioned, origami-like, as swans. These balance precariously on top of the stack. She startles Robert and Vivienne. Nala Turn-down service. Vivienne Yes, of course. She enters the room. She enters the room.

Behind her back Vivienne mouths Tip her at Robert. Robert mouths back With what?Nala sets the towels down and turns around. They stop mouthing and smile inanely at her. Awkward pause. Then Robert turns and exits. Vivienne follows.

The door closes.Nala puts the towels down and takes in the villa. She hears the sudden sound of Ralph singing to himself on the beach. He is approaching the villa. She startles. Knocking over the stack of swan towels.The swans are ruined. She tries to refashion them.

It becomes obvious she doesnt know how. She takes the pile into the bedroom.Ralph bounds in through the patio. He calls out to see if anyone is there. Satisfied the villa is empty he grabs a jar of coloured jelly beans from the minibar. He is about to open them when the view catches his eye. He puts the jar down.

Untouched.The light has started to change. He walks towards the patio and sits down. The sky is slowly becoming more golden. He checks to see that no one is watching then pulls a tobacco pouch out of his pocket. As he rolls he starts to hum and sing to himself, No Woman, No Cry (Bob Marley). As he lights the cigarette he starts jiving a little on his own.

Its unselfconscious, joyful. Unknown to him, Nala is watching from the bedroom doorway.He turns around. He startles. Ralph Hello. They stare at each other for a moment. She doesnt move.

Whats your name? Nothing. She just stares. Do you speak Nala English? Beat. I do. She has a heavy Kenyan accent.Awkward pause.They both notice a pair of Roberts swimming trunks on the floor between them. Slowly Nala picks them up.

She folds them. Badly. Pause. Ralph is awkward. Ralph Let me help you. He goes to help her pick up the towels.

She interrupts the action. Nala Do you want some petals? Ralph Excuse me? Nala Petals. She brandishes a bag of rose petals. Ralph I dont understand. Nala Rose petals. On your bed.

Part of turn-down service. Do you want some? Ralph No thanks. Nala OK. She gathers up the towels as if to go. Ralph misreads the action as offence. Sorry. Yes. Yes.

Of course I do. Why wouldnt I? Thank you. She turns slowly. Sets the towels back down