GIBBO
Inspired by a real event
devised and written by Sandy Fairthorne
in collaboration with Anthony Sharpe, Kirsty Snowden and Rebecca Morton
FIRST TWENTY PAGES________________________________________
Scene One
GIBBO
Inspired by a real event
devised and written by Sandy Fairthorne
in collaboration with Anthony Sharpe, Kirsty Snowden and Rebecca Morton
©Sandra Fairthorne
Gibbs’ Farmhouse
Lights up on
The stage is comprised of a kitchen, complete with couch and dining table. Above the sink is a small window. On either side of the stage are two doors, one to outside, the other to a hallway (unseen) leading to bathroom, bedrooms etc.
It’s night, in winter, on a sheep farm in regional Victoria.
A dog – (young border collie) barks, then stops. IN the half light of the kitchen, A WOMAN, CYNTHIA GREYSON, enters. She is wary, half expecting someone to be there. She carries a letter.
CLAIRE: Hello? Anyone here?
She waits. Nothing. She looks around, as music builds, and starts to wander through the room, touching furniture that’s been there for decades.
She tries to find a place to put the letter. She is nervous, but resolute.
From the different size boots in the corner, she realises the house is shared with a woman. She goes to slide the letter in a pair of large man’s boots, but then changes her mind.
She is going to just leave it on the table, when … the sound of a car, with faint whoops and laughter coming from passengers. Car lights flicker momentarily through the kitchen window.
CYNTHIA panics, and tries to find a place to – hide? She walks through a door to the hallway, and disappears.
The dog barks for attention. The car can be heard idling.
The sound of car doors slamming, more laughter and people yelling.
JEFF (O/S): Thanks for the lift. Sorry about my driver here.
CLAIRE (O/S): What do you mean? I’m fine!
JEFF (O/S): Sure you are...
CLAIRE (O/S): Thanks you guys.
JEFF (O/S): See ya. Night.
Sounds of car driving away and CLAIRE and Jeff’s voices approaching. A sensor light comes on outside.
JEFF (O/S.): Woops. Wait on, you’ll roll an ankle. That’ll be two bloody invalids. You alright?
The door bursts open, and CLAIRE flicks on the kitchen light. And enters, followed by her (slightly limping) husband JEFF GIBBS. She is merrily drunk.
CLAIRE: I’m not drunk! I am NOT DRUNK. I only had about four drinks.
JEFF: Yeah right.
JEFF is hunting for something in his pockets.
CLAIRE: Or was it five? Anyway. Do you think we should have...
She holds up a bottle and waves it, then unscrews the top and pours herself a drink.
JEFF: Hey hey hey . .Got something for you.
CLAIRE: Really?
JEFF (passing her a small jewellery box): Happy anniversary my love.
CLAIRE: But I didn’t get you anything. I thought we’d agreed no presents (this year?)
JEFF (OVER): Doesn’t matter.
CLAIRE (opening it): Ooh. Oh sweetheart.
JEFF: You like ‘em?
CLAIRE: Where am I ever gonna wear these? They’re so beautiful. They real? (she rubs the pearl ear rings on her teeth to check)
JEFF: Course they’re real!
CLAIRE: Thank you honey. I love them. (they kiss)
JEFF: But wait! There’s more!
CLAIRE (putting on ear rings): What?
JEFF: While you were chatting up my mates at the bar...
CLAIRE Oh my God.
JEFF: I didn’t tell you...
CLAIRE: Mick is SO CREEPY when he drinks.
JEFF: He’s not creepy.
CLAIRE: He put his hand on my ARSE. He’s (disgusting).
JEFF (Over): While Mick was touching up your arse...
CLAIRE: I can’t believe you don’t even care!
JEFF: Listen...
CLAIRE: What about his line about the barmaid. “She’d look good on a trampoline”. Who SAYS that?
JEFF: Listen to me...
CLAIRE: Yes?
JEFF: I won nine hundred bucks.
CLAIRE: What? How?
JEFF: On the footie draw!
CLAIRE: You said you weren’t gambling...
JEFF: And when lambing’s finished, we are going for a little mini holiday.
Outside the dog barks.
CLAIRE Oh my God!
JEFF: We are fucking hitting the road. I’m gonna get a break from Mum and Dad, and you can - (The dog barks again) SIDDOWN!
CLAIRE: I wanna go somewhere warm, where you can see me in my bikini.
JEFF: Wooo hoooo!
CLAIRE: Okay so we need to book!
JEFF: So maybe we can go for three nights somewhere.
CLAIRE: I wanna go for longer.
JEFF: We’ve only got nine hundred bucks darling.
Jeff nuzzles into her neck.
CLAIRE: You’re a bad person. You told me you’d stopped gambling.
JEFF: It was the footie draw babe. Ten bucks. (Starts to sing a little) We’re goin’ on a holiday.
They start to sing and dance round the kitchen. The dog barks again.
JEFF: Siddown! Oy! Jesus he’s a whiner.
CLAIRE: I’ve been letting him in a bit. (JEFF reacts, annoyed) Oh come on! He’s so happy when he comes in. So grateful. (She feigns calling out to him.) Here baby..
She heads for the door again. Jeff can see she’s mucking around. He pulls her to him.
JEFF: He’s gonna be a working dog honey, not a fur baby.
CLAIRE (rolling her eyes): I know. (referring to the ear rings) What do you think?
JEFF: Beautiful.
She twirls in front of him. He pulls her to him and kisses her.
JEFF: So what was Mick touching your arse for?
CLAIRE: He’s disgusting.
JEFF: He’s just -
CLAIRE: A sleaze.
JEFF: - one of the boys.
CLAIRE: Oh okay. Next time one of my friend starts touching YOUR arse...
JEFF: Bring it on!
CLAIRE (Imitating him): She’s just being one of the girls! One of (the girls!)
JEFF (OVER): You’ll be cracking the shits about that as well. See? There’s equality for you.
CLAIRE: Can we have one date where your mates don’t turn up afterwards?
JEFF: What am I meant to say? ‘Oh boys, sorry. Me and the misses (wanna be...‘)
CLAIRE (OVER): If you didn’t leave my side I wouldn’t care. But I always get stuck talking to the DREGS. Oh my God. Like Dale.
JEFF: Dale’s alright.
CLAIRE: Even HE knows he’s not alright. Do you know what he said to me tonight? (imitating DALE) ‘I bet you’re sorry you’re stuck with me.”
JEFF: Is he still trying to pick up the barmaid?
CLAIRE: I can’t watch. She’s young enough to be his DAUGHTER.
JEFF: Well then give him a hand if you want to get rid of him. Talk him up!
CLAIRE: In all good conscience I could NEVER talk him up to anyone. He’s a DUD.
JEFF: He’s alright.
CLAIRE: He’s a DUD. He couldn’t read ‘Caesar’. For the salad. He’s like ‘Kaeeysar? What the hell’s this fancy bullshit?’
JEFF: Next time we’ll do Chinese. They don’t do Chinese. That’ll give us some time together.
CLAIRE: Great.
JEFF: Not that we don’t get that anyway.
CLAIRE: Time together away from here. With my best friend. My lover and my husband. I love that word. Husband.
JEFF (singing): We’re going on a holiday..a little mini holiday...
He pulls her onto the couch and tickles her.
CLAIRE: I’m hungry.
She wriggles free, walks over to the bench and pulls out a jar of yoyo biscuits. She carries them over to Jeff.
CLAIRE: Your Mum gave me a hard time about buying these. “Such an easy recipe! Even YOU could cook them!”
JEFF (making up a scone etc): Next time tell her they’re rock cakes. (she laughs at this) Hey I picked up some brochures in town. For that new retirement home. Just dropped them in their letterbox. It’s pretty flash. Got a bowls green, and swimming pool – they sort of market it like a senior’s club – so Mum can still be social – much as she’ll piss everyone off. And they get tours – like wine tours and stuff.
CLAIRE: I don’t think your Dad’s going to be keen.
JEFF: But Mum’ll have the final say.
She pulls out her mobile phone.
CLAIRE: Been looking at that Farm stay website too, look. They’d even do the drenching! See? Look what they’re paying.
JEFF: Holy shit!
CLAIRE: We could make $350 a night.
JEFF: What, for this dump?
CLAIRE: We’ve come full circle. We’re retro now! We could get them to drive the truck round, feed the lambs for us.… (They kiss.) I’m smart aren’t I?
JEFF: You’re my little university girl.
She pulls back. He keeps trying to kiss her.
CLAIRE: Oh yeah hey! Guess who drove past me today? In town?
JEFF: Who?
CLAIRE: I’m sure it was her.
JEFF: Who?
CLAIRE: Remember Cynthia Greyson?
Jeff shakes his head.
CLAIRE: Cynthia – She was my best buddy when I first started teaching. She ran the school choir. She was the cool kid in town.
JEFF: What, before you got in with the wrong crowd you mean?
CLAIRE: Yeah well she wasn’t into footie. Parents were Jehova’s Witnesses. Then one day she just disappeared, remember?
JEFF shakes his head again.
JEFF: Wanna drink? A cuppa?
CLAIRE: I want an Irish coffee! And I want it NOW sir. (JEFF gets up and starts fixing her a drink). Even her parents didn’t know where she was. There were all these rumours that she’d had a breakdown and was in some psych ward in Melbourne. I never believed it. She was really – together, you know? Then the parents suddenly up and left. Never heard a thing again. She just – disappeared. I can’t believe you don’t remember Cynthia Greyson.
The door opens and CYNTHIA walks in. She stands in the corner.
JEFF: Who’s Cynthia Greyson?
CYNTHIA: Me. I’m Cynthia Greyson.
JEFF: Jesus!
CLAIRE: Cynthia! Oh my God! What are you doing?
CYNTHIA: Sorry for (scaring you)
JEFF: What the (fuck)?
CYNTHIA (OVER, TO CLAIRE): I’m so sorry!
CLAIRE: What are you – trying to kill us?
CYNTHIA: The place was unlocked so I – I – wanted to surprise you.
JEFF: Well you got that right.
The two women look at each other and laugh.
CLAIRE: I knew it was you! You bloody maniac! Look at you!
CYNTHIA: Look at you! You look exactly the same you bitch!
CLAIRE: You can talk you bloody –
CYNTHIA: Come here.
They hug.
CLAIRE: What are you doing hiding in the hallway?
CYNTHIA: I was just waiting for my moment. I didn’t know when to interrupt the banter. You guys don’t draw breath.
CLAIRE: You staying here then – with us?
CYNTHIA: No no no. I’ve booked the – motel.
CLAIRE: Why didn’t you tell me earlier ya nong? I could’ve got (the room ready and -)
CYNTHIA (OVER): I’m fine I’m fine. Honestly.
Pause.
CLAIRE: God it’s been…how long?
CYNTHIA: Twenty four years.
CLAIRE: We’d better celebrate.
CYNTHIA: You got a whisky?
CLAIRE: With soda or..?
CYNTHIA: Straight’s great.
CLAIRE: Comin’ right up.
JEFF steps up to her and offers his hand. She takes hold of it and looks straight at him.
JEFF: Gidday Cynthia. Jeff Gibbs.
CYNTHIA: We have met.
JEFF: Can’t recall, but -.
CLAIRE: He’s got early dementia.
JEFF (good natured): Fuck off.
CLAIRE: He was too busy with da boys to notice girls. (She passes CYN a drink)
CYNTHIA: (to JEFF) You still play?
JEFF: Not since I hurt me leg. But still down at the footy club. Training under 12’s.
CLAIRE: Cheers, beers..
CYNTHIA AND CLAIRE (together): - and negative smears.
JEFF watches them clink and drink.
JEFF: So you two were pretty close?
CLAIRE: Cyn was my hero.
CYNTHIA: Really?
CLAIRE: You were the queen of cool. So what are you doing back here? Tell me.
CYNTHIA: What are you doing getting married?
CLAIRE: I would’ve made you a bridesmaid but you’d done a runner, remember?
CYNTHIA: So how long you two been – ?
JEFF: Twenty two years today.
CLAIRE: Mother in law makes it feel longer.
CYNTHIA: Mel still running the town?
JEFF: She gets around in a little buggy now.
CLAIRE: Still the town bitch.
CYNTHIA: Mum was terrified of her.
CLAIRE: Where you living now?
CYNTHIA: Moved to Darwin.
CLAIRE: How exotic. We’re still waiting to move into the house on the hill. Mel says if we’d had kids they’d have moved out for us years ago but –
CYNTHIA: Oh. So..?
CLAIRE: Just didn’t happen. (pause). You get over it. You?
CYNTHIA: One son. Daniel.
CLAIRE: You married or..?
CYNTHIA: Had a couple of close calls, but hey, you can only slave on one male at a time.
JEFF moves towards the door.
JEFF: I might leave you guys to it.
CLAIRE: Aah no you don’t!
JEFF: We got an early start in the morning love.
CLAIRE: We gotta do the wedding videos!
JEFF: Oh no.
CLAIRE: Cyn’s gotta see us do the wedding waltz! (she dances around a bit)
JEFF: Not tonight love (please?)
CLAIRE (OVER): Come on honey. It’s been ages. (to CLAIRE). And since the number one bridesmaid bloody disappeared on me!
CYNTHIA: I wouldn’t have been number one.
CLAIRE: You’ll never know now will you?
She exits quickly. The two of them suddenly alone, JEFF squirms a little. CYNTHIA looks around.
CYNTHIA: This room is just the same.
JEFF: You been here before?
CYN: Just the once. One of your famous post footie piss ups.
JEFF: Claire put a stop to those quick smart. Bit of a relief actually.
Pause.
CYNTHIA: Still don’t remember me..?
JEFF: Those were wild days. Who remembers any of ‘em?
CYNTHIA: I remember it very clearly actually. That party.
Pause. There is a thump from the hallway.
JEFF (out to CLAIRE): You need a hand?
CLAIRE (from hallway): I’m right.
JEFF: You’re in for a long night.
A pause.
CYNTHIA: Um.. Can we talk?
JEFF: Go for it.
CYNTHIA: I mean, in private.
JEFF: Hey?
CYNTHIA: In a café or –
CLAIRE enters, carrying a wedding album and DVDs. CYNTHIA shakes her head at JEFF.
CLAIRE: Here we go kids.
JEFF (to CYNTHIA): Here’ll do. We got no secrets.
CLAIRE: What secrets?
JEFF: Cynthia’s got something to say. Apparently.
CLAIRE: You okay? You’re not sick?
CYNTHIA: I’m fine.
CLAIRE: Cos that’d be really bloody annoying. Finally you turn up again just as you’re about to cark it. (she studies them both) Did you two go out together or ..?
CYNTHIA: No. We didn’t go out. Did we.
JEFF shakes his head and shrugs (ie, no idea who she is).
CLAIRE: So – what’s -?
CYNTHIA: Not a good time.
JEFF: Nah nah nah. You got me curious now.
Pause. She takes another drink.
CYNTHIA: This isn’t the time (or place or) -
CLAIRE (OVER): Come on Cyn! / JEFF: Out with it.
CYNTHIA: Um..Oh God this is such a stuff up. (to CLAIRE) This is not what I meant to happen. This is not - where it should be.
CLAIRE: What is it?
Pause. CYNTHIA decides to go ahead.
CYNTHIA: Like I said, I’ve got a son. Daniel. And recently, on his twenty third birthday, he announced he wants to meet his Dad.
CLAIRE: Oh yeah? I get that.
CYN: So that’s why I’m back. To give him the heads up. Tell him in advance sort of thing – that – that he has a son who wants very much to meet him.
CLAIRE: So the father doesn’t know?
CYNTHIA shakes her head. CLAIRE is innocently swept up in the scandal about to be revealed.
CLAIRE: Ooooh. So..local. (leans forward, conspiratorially) Who is it? We won’t tell. Pauly? Nige? Not - not Mick?
At each names CYNTHIA shakes her head, then looks very deliberately at JEFF, who’s been listening with the interest of an outsider up ‘til now. He suddenly gets the drift. They both do.
CLAIRE laughs. So does JEFF.
JEFF: Yeah right.
CLAIRE: That’s – crazy.
JEFF: It is.
CYN: I’m not crazy.
CLAIRE: We’re not saying you’re crazy we’re just saying -
JEFF: I don’t even know you. I don’t even remember meeting you.
CYNTHIA: I think you do...I think you know very well
CLAIRE: So you believe (that..)
JEFF (OVER): Just stay out of this. (TO CYNTHIA) I don’t know what that look is on your face.
CLAIRE: Jeff!
CYNTHIA (OVER, to JEFF): Are we gonna just play games here or -?
JEFF: I dunno what you’re on about.
CYNTHIA: Am I going to have to just say it then? In front of -?
JEFF: Say what?
Pause. CYNTHIA suddenly looks ill.
CLAIRE: You okay?
CYNTHIA: I’m fine I’m just -
CYNTHIA exits to the garden. The sensor light goes on. CLAIRE goes to the window.
CLAIRE: What the -?
JEFF: She’s insane.
CLAIRE: She’s being sick in the garden. Jesus.
JEFF: She’s crazy. I’ve never even...I don’t...Jesus.
CLAIRE: Obviously something’s...
JEFF: She’s a sandwich short honey.
CLAIRE: She’s just confused.
JEFF: She’s not right (points to his head).
CLAIRE: Shh!
CYNTHIA enters again, warily. The sensor light goes off…
CLAIRE: Let’s just all calm down.
CLAIRE gets her a glass of water. CYNTHIA stands and sips the water slowly.
CYN: I should go.
CLAIRE: Don’t go.
JEFF: Let her go.
CYN: I should go.
CLAIRE: You can’t go.
JEFF: Let her go darl.
CLAIRE: She can’t drive.
JEFF: She can take the back road. She’ll be (fine)
CYNTHIA (OVER): I didn’t want it to be like this I really didn’t.
JEFF: Like what? Like hide in my house and -
CYNTHIA (TO JEFF): I just wanted to talk to (you)
CLAIRE (OVER): I don’t understand.
JEFF is studying her.
JEFF: I think I do remember you. I do. I do remember you. Actually. You had different hair.
CYNTHIA: I went red for a while.
JEFF: It was short and tufty.
CYNTHIA: That’s right.
JEFF: Yeah I remember you. Mick’s cousin had you arrested for stealing at the IGA that time.
CLAIRE: Jeff!
CYNTHIA: That’s right.
JEFF: What was it? A frozen chicken stuffed up your dress or..?
CYNTHIA: I was mucking round. I did it as a dare. (to CLAIRE) I was (a kid)
JEFF (OVER): And now you come round here, twenty years later and try to tell (me -)
CYNTHIA (OVER): We all do things we regret.
They look at each other long and hard.
JEFF: I do remember you being here. You were pissed and...You were pissed.
CLAIRE: Stop it.
CYNTHIA: I wasn’t.
JEFF: You were out of it.
CYNTHIA: I was never a big drinker. Not then.
JEFF: But a big drinker now, eh?
CLAIRE: Jeff, stop it.
CYNTHIA: I remember everything that night. Very clearly.
JEFF: You were pissed. I remember that.
CYNTHIA shakes her head and looks at CLAIRE.
CYNTHIA: I wake up next to him.
JEFF: And now you come lurking round my house, drinking my whisky, speaking bullshit...
CYNTHIA: You said nothing happened that night.
JEFF: That’s because it didn’t.
Jeff moves threateningly towards CYNTHIA.
CYNTHIA: I couldn’t work out what I’d drunk. To be that out of it.
JEFF moves towards her menacingly.
CLAIRE: What’s happening here?
CYNTHIA: Get out of my face.
JEFF: Get out of MY FACE.
CYNTHIA: You’ve already been inside my BODY without my permission.
Pause.
CLAIRE: What?
JEFF: What a load of bullshit.
CLAIRE: What are you saying?
CYNTHIA holds up the letter.
CYNTHIA: I was going to just -(CLAIRE takes the letter and starts to read) You have a son. And he’s going to contact you. He wants to meet you. And I don’t want you denying that you’re his father –
JEFF: This is (almost funny).
CYNTHIA (OVER): All I’m asking (for is)–
JEFF (OVER): You are off your fucking ‘nana.
CLAIRE: STOP IT! We need to hear what she has to say.
JEFF: Over what I have to say?
CYNTHIA: Why won’t you let me speak?
JEFF: Cos’ you’re full of shit.
CLAIRE holds up letter.
CLAIRE: You’ve got the wrong man. He would never - I know this man and -
CYNTHIA: I was knocked out. What with?
JEFF: This is such crap. You’re fuckin -.
CYNTHIA: I was drugged. Had my drink spiked.
CLAIRE: I remember some story – years ago –
JEFF (to CLAIRE): What the fuck are you saying Claire?
CLAIRE: I’m (just) –
JEFF (OVER): Just stay out of it!
CYNTHIA: She’s recalling a conversation. Let her speak.
JEFF: Jesus!
CLAIRE: I’m not saying YOU...but someone else could’ve...Not Jeff though. He (wouldn’t)
JEFF (OVER): You were blind that night.
CYNTHIA: You said nothing happened.
JEFF: That’s because IT DIDN’T.
CYNTHIA: Well that’s the second lie. (Jeff moves towards CYNTHIA) Can you take a step backwards please?
JEFF: Why don’t YOU take a step – You take a (step backwards)
CYNTHIA (OVER): You’re trying to intimidate (me)
CLAIRE (OVER): Let her pass Jesus.
CYNTHIA is allowed just enough space to pass him.
JEFF: You’ve had your little say. Twenty years ago –
CYNTHIA: Twenty four –
JEFF: - at one of my drunken parties –
CYNTHIA: Oh so NOW you remember!
JEFF: I remember you being off your head...
CYNTHIA: I’d had two drinks, maybe three.
CLAIRE: What are you saying?
CYNTHIA: Gibbo drug raped me.
Silence.
JEFF: HA! And you fuckin’ wait twenty four years to -.
CYNTHIA: Yeah I fuckin’ do.
JEFF: What a load of bullshit.
CLAIRE: He didn’t. He did not (do that)
CYNTHIA (OVER): I said no sex.
JEFF: And there wasn’t any!
CYNTHIA: What’d you put in my drink Gibbo? To knock me out?
JEFF: You’re (insane).
CYNTHIA (Over): I remember you and that meat head Mick leaning against this bench, talking about me. I thought “Gibbo reckons I’m easy pickings tonight” – I could tell (by the way you -).
JEFF (OVER): This is all such (bullshit)
CYNTHIA (Over): That a turn on is it? Knocking a woman out then fucking her?
CLAIRE: He would never do that. Jeff is a good man.
CYNTHIA: Let’s find out shall we? If you won’t admit to being the father of my son -
CYNTHIA picks up his glass and goes to put it in her handbag.
JEFF: Give me –
He grabs the cup from her.
CYNTHIA: What are you so scared of?
JEFF: How dare you turn up and call me a rapist.
CYNTHIA: I was twenty one. I was about to go overseas on my own for the first time in my life – and suddenly presto I’m pregnant.
JEFF: Get out of our house.
CYNTHIA: I won’t. I absolutely won’t.
JEFF: You were pissed.
CYNTHIA: I was not (pissed)
JEFF (Over): You were very (very pissed).
CYNTHIA (OVER): You knocked me out and you raped me. You raped me and you KNOW IT.
CLAIRE: He did not do this. Believe me Cyn, I know this man.
CYNTHIA: So prove it. Give me some DNA.
JEFF: You are not getting (anything)
CLAIRE (OVER): He’s a decent man. Jeff is a good, decent man.
CYNTHIA shakes her head, half laughs and looks hard at JEFF.
JEFF: Get out.
CYNTHIA: Want to see a photo? Of your son?
She tries to find a photo on her phone, as JEFF manouvers her towards the door.
CLAIRE: Stop it.
CYTHIA: Let go of me.
JEFF: Out you go Sin Bin.
CYNTHIA: Thought you didn’t know who the fuck I was? (to CLAIRE) I’m sorry you had to witness this.
JEFF: What - sorry that you’ve just accused me of being a rapist? You know what? You can leave. Off you pop –
CYNTHIA: I don’t want to press charges. I just need you to acknowledge your son.
JEFF: I DON’T HAVE A SON!
CYNTHIA: You do. You do (have a son)
JEFF (OVER): Get out of our house.
