Four Days in June

by Penny Rogers

flasks of mead

Cast

Robin Goodfellow       Hospital radio announcer

Lisa                              Nurse

Tania                           WAG, currently married to Ron King

Nick Weaver                Hospital porter

Ron King                     Premier League Footballer

SCENE 1         INT. RECOVERY ROOM IN EXPENSIVE PRIVATE CLINIC

MUTED VOICES.  MENDELSSOHN’S OVERTURE TO A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM PLAYS QUIETLY IN THE BACKGROUND. FADES.

Robin G.          Good afternoon everyone. This is Silky Smooth Radio, your private radio station broadcasting exclusively to the Top Drawer Clinic, here in the heart of London’s Mayfair. Please send ME, Robin Goodfellow, your requests. Your name will never be disclosed on air if you want complete privacy. So now, for ‘ Donna’ in the eating disorders unit here’s the song you asked for …. PLAYS COURAGE BY SUPERCHICK. FADES

Lisa                  Wake up now Tania. It’s all done. You’ll be fine. You can open your eyes when you’re ready.

Tania               I can’t. They hurt.  I need pain killers. Now. Lots of them.

Lisa                  You’ve had some; the soreness’ll soon go off. There’s already been a phone call to ask how you are. Someone called Ron King.

Tania               He’s my husband. The treatment is my birthday present.

Lisa                  Hope you don’t mind me asking, but is he THE Ron King?

Tania               Yes he is. THE Ron King. Striker for the most successful football team in the premier league. I ‘spose you want his autograph. I’ve got some signed ones in my bag.

Lisa                  Nah. Thanks for offering but we support West Ham. Come on now Tania, here’s Nick to take you upstairs. Open your eyes.

Tania.              Wow Nick, you’re really something!

Nick                 Excuse me?

Tania               You are so cool, and I love your hair. Where have you been all my life? Did she say your name’s Nick? Ooohh yes, I can see your badge. Nick Weaver. I love you Nick Weaver.

FX SOUNDS OF HOSPITAL TROLLEY MOVING

Nick                 Here, steady on. You can’t be seeing right.

Tania               Ooohhhh, you are funny. Is there a Mrs Nick, or do I have a chance? I’ve got a lot of money and I’d be very discreet. Mind you if one of the celebrity mags got hold of a picture of you.Wow! You wouldn’t be a porter in this clinic for five minutes. We’d be chased by the paps all over the world.

Nick                 What are you on about? Are you mad? I’ve got three kiddies and their Mum’d kill me if I got up to any funny business. And as for this job, it’s the best thing I’ve had since I came out of the army.

Tania               Oh Nick, there’s no need for your wife, or anybody, to know. It would be our wonderful secret romance. I do love you. Hold my hand, just for a minute. I don’t feel very well.

Nick                 More than my job’s worth. You’re still recovering from an operation, your judgement’s clouded. Here’s your room. Lisa’ll look after you.

FX SOUNDS OF MAN WALKING AWAY WITH TROLLEY

Tania               Who is that gorgeous man?

Lisa                  He’s a porter. I think he’s called Nick. Wouldn’t say he’s gorgeous though, a bit chubby for me – and I like men with a bit more hair than he has!

Tania               I’ve gotta have some of that! As soon as I can get up I’ll go and find him. Can you make sure I’m not disturbed?

Lisa                  I’ll put a note on your door. Is it OK if your husband visits?

Tania               Ron? No it is not OK. I don’t want to see him ever again. If he rings tell him I’m asleep, and if he visits tell him I’m throwing-up. That’ll keep him away.

Lisa                  If you’re sure….

Tania               Yes, I am. Just leave me alone now.

FX LISA LEAVES, CLOSING DOOR

Tania               I’ve got to get Nick back here as soon as possible. That man is so tasty. P’raps I’ll have a sleep, then think what to do.

FX SOUNDS OF GENTLE BREATHING FOLLWED BY A START

Tania               I’ve got it! FX SOUNDS OF PHONE BEING PICKED UP AND DIALLED. Hello. Is that the porter’s lodge? Can I speak to Nick please? He’s not there? Can you ask him to come to Room A19? He left something here. Thanks.

FX ENDS CALL

Spa treatments for his wife will keep her out of the way…and some premier league tickets for him. Perfect.

FX KNOCK ON THE DOOR

Ron                  Tania, can I come in?

Tania               No you can’t. I feel sick.

Ron                  I’ll come back in half an hour

Tania               FX PRETEND VOMITING NOISES

Ron                  I’ll get the nurse FX SOUNDS OF MAN WALKING AWAY

Lisa                  FX OPENS DOOR. What’s the matter now?

Tania               Where’s Nick?

Lisa                  I don’t know, and you can’t see him. He’s got a job to do and it doesn’t involve talking to you.

Tania               Who said anything about talking? Look. Find him and I’ll give you tickets for any West End show you want.

Lisa                  Not possible. Get some sleep.

FX CLOSES DOOR

Lisa                  Excuse me, are you Ron King?

Ron                  Yes, I am. I ‘spose you want a selfie. Come closer babe.

Lisa                  Get your hands off me! No I don’t want a selfie. Sorry, that sounds rude. It’s just that I’m worried about Tania.

Ron                  Well get the Doctors to sort it. I’m paying enough for the treatment, and the stay in this frickin’clinic.

Lisa                  I don’t think they can do anything. The operation went really well, she’s fine…..but she doesn’t seem to be seeing the same things that the rest of us see.

Ron                  You aren’t makin’ sense. Tell the Doctors.

Lisa                  What treatment did she have exactly?

Ron                  Eye rejuvenation using some expensive stuff from South America. Cost a fortune. Only agreed to pay for it to stop her going on about me being photographed with that X Factor winner.

Lisa                  You might need to find out about side effects. Try Google.

Ron                  Still think the Doctors ought to sort it out. I’ll come back tomorrow.

SCENE 2         INT. TANIA’S ROOM

Tania               It’s twenty-four hours since my operation. I’m fine now. I’m so glad you’ve come to see me. Get into bed with me. There’s no one here. No one’ll know.

Nick                 You’re mad. I can’t do that, I’d lose me job and Fran’d kill me. What do you want? The office said you had something of mine.

Tania               You have my heart.

Nick                 Rubbish. I’m off…..

Tania               No wait. Here are some vouchers for your wife. Fran is it? Funny name, but there you go. Vouchers for the best Spa in London. As many treatments as she wants.

Nick                 Why’re you doing this?

Tania               Because I love you.

Nick                 You’re mad, but I don’t suppose a quick cuddle would hurt.

FX SOUNDS OF KISSING.  DOOR OPENS, RON BURSTS IN

Ron                  Get your filthy hands off my wife. You’ll lose your job; I’ll break every bone in your body. You freak.

Nick                 I never touched her!

Ron                  And as for you Tania, you’re nothing more than a slapper. You can pack your bags and look for consolation in the National League.

FX SHOUTS AND COMMOTION

Lisa                  What is going on?

Ron                  I found this creep in bed with my wife.

Tania               He’s not a creep. I love him. He’s hot. I’ll never look at another man now I’ve found Nick.

Nick                 I’m not in bed with her. I didn’t do anything. Honest. She kept comin’ on to me. You gotta believe me. I didn’t really touch her, she’s not my type. A bit thin for me, I like something to get hold of…..

Lisa                  …….leave it Nick. Get back to work. Now go. Now! FX NICK RAPIDLY LEAVES ROOM 

Ron, you’ve gotta sort this out before there’s even more trouble than there is now. Find out something about this eye stuff.

Ron                  OK, I’ll get my PA onto it.  FX MAKING A CALL ON HIS MOBILE

Pixie, stop whatever you’re doing. I don’t CARE if you’re planning a photoshoot for OK!.  I don’t CARE if you’ve got The One Show on the other line. Listen to me. Get a flight to Bogata NOW. Talk to those people I got the eye stuff from. Here must be some sort of antiodote. FX ARGUING VOICE ON THE PHONE. I told you Pixie, GET IT. I don’t care about the cost, I don’t care about the danger. SORT IT OUT. No you can’t resign, you know why…… and I’ll make this worth your while……please Pixie. Thanks, you’re a doll, I’ll see you right for doing this. Yeah that’s right, go like an arrow from a bow if you think that’s quick, but take as much cash as you can with you. Notes talk over there.

There you are nurse. Nothin’ else I can do for now. Make sure you keep that weird porter away from her; I’ll make it worth your while.

Robin G.          Good afternoon from Silky Smooth Radio, broadcasting from the Top Drawer Clinic in the heart of London’s Mayfair. This is Robin Goodfellow apologising for being off-air for two whole days. This has never happened before, but then Silky Smooth Radio has never before been asked to help get vital medicine from South America. Well done all our contacts in Bogata. Let’s say a big ‘Thank You’ with Eyes Wide Open sung by Sabrina Carpenter. MUSIC PLAYS.

Lisa                  Wake up Tania. It’s all sorted now. You’ll be fine. Look at these lovely flowers from Ron. He brought them in earlier but you were asleep. He said he’ll be back this evening. That PA of his did an amazing job getting the medicine in just two days, just shows what money can do.

Tania               What flowers? Oh, those roses. Yes he always buys me red roses when I’m upset. I had such a strange dream! There was this really ugly man with a funny haircut and a beer belly. Ugh, gross. What do I look like? I hope this treatment has worked; I can’t afford to look old. If I do then no one’ll want me, the paps won’t chase me and I’ll lose all my celebrity endorsements. Do you know how much I’m worth? At least Ron’s not seeing that Lizi LaBonka any more, well he says he isn’t and there aren’t any rumours about it in Hello this week. When did he say he’d come to see me?

Lisa                  This evening, just as soon as he’s finished recording an interview for The One Show. He refused to do it live ‘cos he wanted to be here. He’s very romantic isn’t he?

Tania               ‘Spose so, at least he is as long as he gets his own way. I’m so glad he isn’t fat and ugly like that freak in the horrible dream I had.

Lisa                  ASIDE Hmmmm. If only you knew. TO TANIA Now, get some rest, then make yourself look lovely for when Ron arrives. I’ve got to go. A bottle of eye rejuvenation lotion has gone missing from the pharmacy.

             Heaven only know what’ll happen if it gets into the wrong hands!

Robin G.         This is Robin Goodfellow saying goodnight and sweet dreams from Silky Smooth Radio. To send you all to sleep on this midsummer’s night, and especially for Helena in the sleep disorder ward, here’s some music by Felix Mendelssohn.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM OVERTURE PLAYS AND FADES.

END

Les Jardins de Cadiot

after long drought rain

refreshes the tired gardens

I slip on wet stones