Operartion
Postage Stamp
Prologue
SOUNDS
OF WAR. PROJECTED IMAGES OF WAR IN EUROPE.
PAVEL
ILLUMINATED FROM BEHIND THE SHEET.
A
SHOT. PAVEL FALLS THROUGH THE SHEET.
PROJECTED
IMAGES.
PAVEL
PUTS ON HIS BANDAGE.
SOUNDS
OF ENGLAND.
PROJECTED
IMAGES OF ENGLAND.
PAVEL
UNCOVERS THE MANNEQUINS.
THEY
COME ALIVE. PAVEL HIDES UNDER THE SHEET.
Scene
1: The Post Office
MARY
AND GAIL SERVING IN THE POST OFFICE.
WE DON'T HEAR THE OTHER SIDES OF THE CONVERSATIONS
WITH THE CUSTOMERS.
Mary
Good morning Mrs Bailey. How's your
mother? Oh lovely, and the girls?
Good. Three first class, of course.
Gail
Hello Maisie. I'm fine but it's so busy
today. Of course we can take up the
hems, but it won't be till tomorrow..
Mary
Oh yes, I heard. Isn't it shocking?
Oh no, I don't think so. Not my Gail,
she was at home with me fixing some seams.
Ha ha, yes. Isn't that funny?
NEXT!
Morning Mr Leonard. Name and signature
there please.
[WHISPERING, TO GAIL] Mrs Bailey seems
to think Verity
saw you dancing with a soldier on Friday! Of
course I told her
it must have been a mistake.
Gail
Mmm. Of course.
[TO CUSTOMER] Put it on the scales for
me Sally.
Mary
What was that Gail?
[TO CUSTOMER] Thank you. There
we go, twelve shillings. See you next
week.
NEXT!
[TO
GAIL] Did you say of course you weren't
dancing with a soldier on Friday?
Gail
Yes Mum.
Mary
Yes what?
[TO CUSTOMER]
There we are. A postal order for two
and six.
Gail
[TO CUSTOMER] That will take one week
with the green stamp, two weeks with the blue
one, Sally.
[TO MARY] I wouldn't dream of dancing
with a soldier on any day Mum.
Mary
That's good, because this is a very small
village you know.
[TO CUSTOMER] Hello Mrs Jackson. What
can I do for you?
Gail
I know.
THE
PHONE RINGS. LIGHTS UP ON THE SCREEN.
MARY ANSWERS THE PHONE.
Mary
Hello. Good morning Mr Smith.
Yes, it's beautiful here too, despite the
cold. Lovely sunshine on the cliffs.
So what can we do for you today?
I see. Goodness. Well that is
rather...
You see we don't normally...
I understand.
Of course things are different in wartime.
Yes. I only have to think of Harold.
Very well. We'll do our best.
Though as we've never done...an order like
this, I can't guarantee...
GAIL
ON STAGE.
Gail
Oh, she was at home with me, fixing some seams..
Why can't
you say 'yes, my daughter went to the town for the
evening. What of it?' If you're
like them just admit it and don't pretend
you're different. And if you are different
then be different. Dad
would've -
SHE
NOTICES PAVEL UNDER THE SHEET. HE REVEALS
HIMSELF.
Pavel
Hello.
Gail
Are you very badly injured?
Pavel
It's just my leg, really. And... [GESTURES
TOWARDS HIS FACE]
Gail
And when it's healed will they send you back
to fight?
Pavel It
may not heal properly. Ever.
Gail
So you will stay here for...
Pavel
A very long time. I hope.
MARY ON THE PHONE
Mary
Well I'll need the brand name and manufacturer
of the...That's
right.
And of course the measurements of the envelopes.
Ah, between 18 and 22, I see. Well we
can try working towards
twenty, but...
If we don't have the exact width there could
be problems of..
Well yes, exactly, Sir, fitting them in the
box.
Precisely.
GAIL AND PAVEL
Gail
You're from Poland?
Pavel
Yes. I was sent to fight in Italy.
Gail
I'm so interested in all the countries of
Eastern Europe. I've read a lot of the
writings of Mr Marx and Mr Engels and I think
communism is a very interesting philosophy.
Pavel
I do too.
MARY ON THE PHONE.
Mary
So the destinations are Belfast, Norfolk,
Sheffield and...?
Jamaica. Goodness.
The heritage post mark featuring the Duke
of York, certainly.
And
you really would like us to completely cover
up the stamps with the post marks? That
is to say, Sir, [WHISPERS]
completely obliterate them? Not even leave
the Queen's face
showing?
Yes of course Sir. War time.
GAIL
AND PAVEL.
Pavel
I think we should think beyond our own countries,
to the community of the human race.
Gail
That's a very progressive view.
Pavel
This is the time for progressive views.
Look at us. I'm from Poland, you're
from England. We understand each other.
Don't
we?
Gail
Yes, I think so.
You must read this book by Robert Tressell.
Mary
Well, we'll begin collating the order at 7pm
this evening,
just
as soon as we've closed the Post Office and
chopped the
vegetables for tomorrow's soup.
Thank you again, Sir, for your continued custom.
I'll be thinking of Harold when I pack the
envelopes for you.
Gail
It's so strange that you came to us.
Pavel
I followed the smell of vanilla. The
whole village smells of vanilla. It's
very warm and sweet. And here is where
it's strongest.
Gail
I'm making fudge in the back.
Pavel
I thought it would be something to do with
you.
Gail
You can try some when it's finished if you
like.
MARY COMES OVER AND INTERRUPTS THEM.
Mary
Gail, we have a very special consignment of
envelopes to deal with tonight.
Gail
But it's the Fabian Society dinner!
Mary
I can't very well change the stationery order
to fit in with your meetings can I?
Mr Smith says -
Gail
[TO PREVENT MARY FROM GIVING SOMETHING AWAY]
Mother, this is Pavel. He was sent here
because he's injured. To help us out.
Pavel
I can help you with your order.
Mary
That won't be necessary, thank you.
It's Gail's duty.
Pavel
In that case, please let me fix your lamp.
Mary
You won't be able to fix that, young man.
It needs a screw
which is no longer being manufactured because
the factory is being used to make bombs.
So it must be thrown away and another one
bought, at great expense..
Pavel
Perhaps this...
HE TAKES THE CORRECT SCREW OUT OF HIS POCKET AND FIXES
THE
SCALES.
Pavel
If there is anything else I can do...?
I could repair the catch on that window.
Mary
Oh, Harold did it before he went but it didn't
hold. It comes open in the wind.
Which is a worry...
Pavel
It won't take a moment.
Mary
And there's a loose floor board over here
I keep catching on.
And the mirror fell out of the wall.
Gail wouldn't stop looking at herself.
Pavel
Of course.
Mary
Goodness, I could get quite used to having
a man around again!
Gail
[UNDER HER BREATH, IMITATING MARY] ÔI
could get quite used to having a man around
again!' A woman is capable of hammering
a nail into a wall too Mother.
Mary
Then why haven't I seen you doing it?
Gail
Because I'm too busy Ð
Mary
Amusing yourself.
Gail
No, educating myself.
Pavel
Please don't fight.
Gail
[WHISPERING, TO PAVEL] She doesn't listen
-
Pavel
Don't be angry. This place is very beautiful.
The cliffs and the sky.
Mary
Exactly.
Pavel
It's so beautiful I don't know what to do
with it.
Gail
It's horrible. There's nothing but cows
and weather.
Mary
Gail wants to live in London.
MARY
EXITS TO BACK.
Pavel
I've been to London. There are some
interesting buildings. And people walking
very fast in hats.
Gail
And the world being changed.
GAIL AND PAVEL HAVE AN INTIMATE MOMENT.
MARY
BEGINS HER WITCH TRANSFORMATION.
Scene
2: The Spell
GAIL
STARTS HER TRANSFORMATION TOO. THEY
PUT ON ROBES, ANOINT THEMSELVES, MIX POTIONS,
LIGHT CANDLES ETC.
Gail
Which candles?
Mary
The black.
Gail
[SHOCKED]
What are we doing?
Mary
Now, Gail! We're late starting with
your dawdling.
As representation of the goddess I have this
photograph of the
moon that was in the Gazette. Look:
they took it using the
big new telescope at Plymouth.
Gail
It's beautiful.
Mary
Have you brought a representation of the God?
Gail
Yes. It's Aneurin Bevan's speech about
the miners that can't afford coal inscribed
on oak bark.
Mary
We give praise to the Goddess and the God.
Gail
We give praise.
Mary
The crystal.
Gail
But Mother, what are we doing?
Mary
We are doing our duty. We are doing
this for your father.
This crystal represents the North, the element of
Earth.
Gail
This incense represents the East, the element
of Air. Incense of
black wisteria to give strength to the winds.
Mary
This water represents the West, the element
of Water. Salt
water to give power to the waters of the sea.
Gail
These candles I bring for the altar represent
the South, the element of Fire. Candles of
red for power and black for...
Black for...
[WHISPERS] Mum...
Mary
I cast this circle where time itself parts,
in a place that is not a place, in a time
that is not a time.
The Circle is cast.
THE CIRCLE IS CREATED ON THE STAGE.
Let the Quarters be called.
Gail
I...
Mary
Let the Quarters be called!
Gail
I call the Lords of the of the North, element
of Earth.
Hail and welcome.
Mary
Hail and welcome.
Gail
I call the Lords of the West, element of Water.
Hail and welcome.
Mary
Hail and welcome.
Gail
I call the Lords of the South, element of
Fire.
Hail and welcome
I call the Lords of the East, element of Air.
Hail
and welcome.
Mary
Spirits of this place, join with us now in
our ritual. Enter our circle and lend us your
strength.
We
meet here this night to raise a cone of power.
GAIL
AND MARY JOIN HANDS AND HUM
We
raise all the power of earth, air, fire and
water.
THE
HUMMING RISES IN INTENSITY. THEY BURST
OUT FROM THE CIRCLE. THEN THEY BURST
OUT OF THEIR BODIES.
Mary
We send this power to the Barents sea, latitude
seventy two, longitude twenty degrees East.
Gail
I was dancing with a soldier on Friday Mother
and I don't care what you think!
Mary
Of course you care. You want me to think
you're shocking. But I just think you're
na·ve.
Gail
At least I was only dancing. Verity
was kissing an American. And he was
a black man.
Now you are shocked.
THEY TAKE UP THE SHEET ON WHICH THE BOAT SAILS.
Mary
We send energy to the rocks, the winds, the
clouds and the sea.
That the Sharnhorst battle ship no longer be lucky.
That she be destroyed.
[TO
GAIL] I don't care what you do.
I just wish you had the dignity to keep it
to yourself instead of parading in front of
the whole village for attention.
Gail
I do not parade! It's not my fault this
village is full of small minded bigots with
nothing better to talk about. And you're
one of them!
Mary
We send our fire force to Belfast, Norfolk,
Sheffield, Duke of York, Jamaica. May
your guns burn bright and your shots be true.
May the wind blow South Westerly.
May the clouds fly low and hide the moon.
May the rocks come up to meet her, greet her, eat her.
[TO
GAIL] Don't pretend you're better
than me. I'm not fooled by your Fabian
society nonsense. You're not interested
in politics. You just like flirting
with men.
Gail
It's you who only likes flirting with men!
It was disgusting the way you flirted with
Pavel! You're jealous because I talked
to him about books!
Mary
You're making a fool of yourself. However
many books you read you're never going to
be as clever as your father.
Gail
Because he's a man?!
Mary
Yes.
May fire consume her.
May the sea swallow her whole.
May the Scharnhorst burn and drown with all who sail on her.
Gail
What did you say?
Mary
I release our energy to the elements to carry
it forth.
So
mote it be!
Gail!
Gail
So mote it be!
THEY
WATCH THE SHIP SINK.
PROJECTIONS:
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE REST OF THE PLAY.
A
FINAL IMAGE: GAIL REMOVES PAVEL'S BANDAGE.
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