23 September 2024

Posted by Tabby Hayward

What Characters Want

10 participants

This week, we focused on the dreams/ambitions of characters. After first writing down one thing we want by the end of the day, by the end of the year and by the end of our life (based on a Simon Stephens exercise), we then thought about these wants and desires in terms of a character - as well as their dream home, dream job, dream holiday, dream partner, dream pet, etc, and how far away these were from their current situation.

After sharing ideas, we looked at a scene from Caryl Churchill's masterpiece, Top Girls. In the scene, Kit, Angie and Joyce all want different things, and are prevented from getting what they want, as their wants come into conflict with other characters. Inspired by this, the writers developed their own scene of dialogue between two characters whose wants come into conflict.

Charlotte focused on her brilliant returning characters, Fleming and Winter:

Fleming: Winter! Winter wait!

Winter: Yes I know we have a lot to catch up on but I really don’t have time for a chat right now.

Fleming: Just stop a minute and think about this.

Winter: I’ve had all the time in the universe to think about this moment, Fleming. I think I ought to know my own mind by now.

Fleming: And what would Elizabeth say about all this?

Silence

Or James? Have you even given them a second thought? Thought about how they’re going to feel after all this?

Winter: That’s low coming from you.

Fleming: You’re going to ruin everything.

Winter: I already have, multiple times over. There’s nothing left so I might as well fess up and see where that takes me.

Fleming: What happened out there? I mean REALLY this time.

Winter: You don’t want to know. Now let me through or so help me, I’ll throw you to the ground.

Fleming: No. No way. You’re not getting through me that easily.

Winter: You would do the same thing if you were in my position.

Fleming: And what is that exactly because from where I’m standing, you have a million other choices that are a hundred times better than this!

Winter: Don’t you think I’ve tried? Do you think I wanted to end up here, doing this job? Leaving all of you behind so I can go galavanting off whilst the world around falls apart because if I am then that’s not what I want in the slightest.

Fleming: I did try and tell you. You’re not the easiest man to find!

Winter: Yeah well maybe you should have tried a bit harder.

Fleming: Don’t give me that rubbish.

Winter: What?

Fleming: Don’t go blaming me or any the others if none of us had any idea where or when you were.

Winter: Keep your voice down!

Fleming: Oh sorry was no one supposed to hear that bit. Oh well excuse me for breathing!

Silence

Don’t do this.

Silence

Winter I’m begging you. Just (pause) We’ll find something else. We’ll find another way. I’m sure there’s another way…

Winter: You’re rambling now. Just step aside. If you really want to know what happened out there, with me, with everything, then step aside.

Fleming: I can’t let you do that. You’ll have to arrest me or do you not have that power anymore?

Winter: There are pilots currently in prison who will attest to that. So yeah I can still arrest you but I don’t think this is the right place.

Fleming: (Hands out his hands) Go on then. If you have nothing to lose, then I have even less. We might as well be in the same position.

Winter: Move Ian!

And Christopher's dialogue brings in some exciting fantastical elements too:

A Golden Telescope – by Christopher Thomson

We enter scene in an antique shop, all is quiet outside and the only light is from a fire and a few candles Wild shadows leap across the rows of antiques and curios. Emile, the elderly eccentric owner, is gesturing behind him to the young boy leaning eagerly on the counter.

Emile – Well which one would you prefer Mr. Wainwright?

Art – Oh that one right there sir! In the special leather binding.

Emile – Oh this one? (Retrieves it from a high recess behind him) Ah yes, well this is a very special item young master. Very special indeed

Art – (Nods with nervous energy) It’s my heart’s desire to have it sir. (Emile passes it to him, cool in his hand) Thank you sir (Taking it reverently he turns it over in his hand, looks up wide-eyed) I love it’s elegance, it’s so beautiful sir.

Emile – (Quickly plucks it back again) Oh it is fine item to behold for sure, but this particular object has been in my possession for many years. There, is something, how shall I say queer about it?

Art – Queer sir?

Emile – Yes, some might even say magical

His eyes glint in the firelight, a slight tilt of his lips

Art – (eyes wide, gasps and gazes in wonder) Whoa

Emile – Indeed. (Eyes return to the object in his hand, all business again) But I’m afraid an item of this value cannot be bought, although I doubt you would find the gold to afford it. Some things have no price.

Art – (Face falling) Oh please Mr. Ravenscroft sir, I so very much would like it.

Emile – (Gently chuckles, handling the telescope with a soft smile) Fear not Mr. Wainwright, I shall not part with such a trinket for mere gold. I’m afraid the true owner of this telescope shall be chosen.

Art – Chosen?

Emile – Have you ever done anything magical my dear Art?

Art – No sir? (Hesitates, looks down) At least, I don’t think so sir.

Emile – Well, at least you’re honest. But tell me (the glint in his eye returns), are you willing to fight for it? (Art looks up again hope returning) To seek it out and keep it close to your heart, even in the darkest places, where all hope is lost?

He looks deadly serious at Art. Art fights the instinct to quail under his gaze

Art – Anything for the telescope, sir.

Emile – (Holds his gaze for a moment, then smiles broadly) Never too late to start, that’s what I say

Smiles conspiratorily. Art smiles back shy but eager.

Emile - Tell me Mr. Art, you say you know this place well? I have seen you making your way around the moor.

Art – Yes sir

Emile – There is a particular hill out on the moor. A magical place.

Points out the old glass window of the shop to moonlit moor beyond stretching out into the distance

Emile – Up on that hill there is a house, marked by a single, silver cross on the door. Within it, in one of its many rooms, is a lone dresser. It will appear to glow faintly and call your name. In the top left drawer is a brooch. Find it and return it to me here by midnight tonight and you may have what you truly desire.

Art – Are you sure Mr Ravenscroft sir? Can’t it wait until daylight? My mother won’t be happy if she finds me out of bed so late.

Emile – (leans over the counter, slight ominous) Ah but Mr. Wainwright you don’t know your mother, do you?

Emile begins laughing as the whole room starts to break apart, like blots of ink on parchment, swirling and fading to black. Art wakes up in a field on the moor, laughter still ringing in his ears, as he recognises the grass below. Standing up, the surroundings feel familiar. He is up on the moor somehow, no longer in Mr Ravenscroft’s shop. But looking out, despite the darkness he cannot see the light of the village. Looking behind, however, uphill he sees a house he’s never seen before.

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What Characters Want