Free Bang Bang Bang by Stella Feehily Page B

pictures.
    SADHBH. How can you say that? You know him for about five minutes! The guy only cares to makes a name for himself.
    MATHILDE. And so what if he can make people look?
    SADHBH. He asked Mama Carolina to show him the raped children? / It’s not on.
    MATHILDE. What do you want me to do?
    SADHBH. He can’t stay with us any longer.
    MATHILDE. What will he do?
    SADHBH. I don’t know. It’s not my problem.
    Why is that my problem?
    MATHILDE. It’s becoming unsettled just beyond Masisi.
    Outbreaks of violence in the hills. There are rumours / in the camp.
    SADHBH. Tell him to collect his stuff. I’ll arrange security back to Goma.
    MATHILDE. The room at the compound is my own, is it not?
    SADHBH. It is.
    MATHILDE. So – in fact – it’s not your business.
    SADHBH. You could say that.
    MATHILDE. I think your hormones are making you very aggressive.
    SADHBH. Fuck the hormones – I am aggressive.
    Pause.
    I’m sorry if I’m being harsh but we’re trying to build up the kids’ trust here. / That’s the most important thing.
    MATHILDE. I understand – of course I know this. Why do you always talk to me like I’m stupid?
    SADHBH. I don’t. / Mathilde?
    MATHILDE. Yes. Yes. Yes. We all can’t be like you! Without a life.
    You’ll have to start without me.
    Vin?
    SADHBH shakes her head and moves away.
    VIN approaches MATHILDE.
    VIN. Hey. Sorry. ( Takes her hand. )
    MATHILDE. Not now.
    VIN. I’ve no way of getting back to the compound. What does she –
    MATHILDE. Don’t take pictures of the kids around here.
    This is her territory.
    VIN. I’ve taken / barely anything.
    MATHILDE. She’s being totally unreasonable.
    VIN. Bit of a boot.
    MATHILDE ( giggles ). Shush.
    VIN kisses MATHILDE.
    VIN. If I’m going to show stuff it’s got to be serious work.
    Hey – that letter you told me about.
    The invitation from Colonel Mburame.
    If I could get a portrait of him –
    MATHILDE. That sounds like a really bad idea.
    VIN. He sent her a cow, didn’t he?
    And she said he was perfectly civilised.
    MATHILDE. No. She said he gave her tea.
    VIN. Exactly.
    And I know just how to do it.
    Him on a chair. Staring down the barrel of the lens.
    Bam.
    I’ll whack the picture off to Reuters as soon as.
    MATHILDE. Vin.
    VIN. Come on.
    I’ll borrow one of the cars and go early in the morning. In fact, Janvier can take me. He’ll know where to go. We’ll be there and back before anyone’s up.
    MATHILDE. Vin. There are nine hundred and seventy-eight men, women and children living in shit here. The serious work is in front of you.
    Now
    Do as she says. Fuck off. Take pictures.
    They kiss. The light fades.
    Six
    We hear gunfire and chaos as in the Prologue.
    As the light fades on the scene we hear the Prologue scene dialogue through a walkie-talkie radio.
    There are shouts of panic.
    The door is kicked. Once. Twice.
    SADHBH. Mon Dieu, pitié.
    SOLDIER. La ferme!
    SADHBH. Je m’appelle Sadhbh, et ça c’est Mathilde.
    Nous avons de l’argent. Beaucoup des dollars.
    Je vous en prie!
    MATHILDE. Nous avons des cigarettes.
    SADHBH. Je vous en prie. Prenez tout.
    SOLDIER. Mettez vous par terre. Tout de suite. Accroupies.
    SADHBH. Nous avons du whisky. Prenez-le. Prenez –le, buvez le avec vos enfants.
    SOLDIER. Déshabillez-vous.
    MATHILDE. Non, non, je vous en prie. Nous sommes mariées, nous sommes mères.
    SOLDIER. Déshabillez-vous.
    MATHILDE. Non, non, non.
    SADHBH. Je peux vous donner l’argent.
    Nous avons presque quatre mille dollars.
    Prenez-les. C’est pour vous.
    Dieu vous pardonnera, si vous partez maintenant.
    SOLDIER. Je prends l’argent.
    Je prends les téléphones.
    Je prends tout.
    Et, ensuite, je vais terminer le boulot.
    MATHILDE starts to cry.
    On ne vous entend pas.
    Personne ne vous écoute.
    The shadows close in.
    Seven
    A bar. Goma.
    Sweltering heat. Blinding sun