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• On the Rock : ONE-ACT PLAY, excerpt 1 , ONE-ACT PLAY excerpt 2

On the Rock (2005), translated by Sarah Maitland

ONE-ACT PLAY, excerpt 1

Context:

Guy Burgess and Kim Philby have come together on the Rock of Gibraltar. They talk about their Cambridge days, and discuss the wars and political strife raging across Europe.

Sample text

GUY:

Might I remind you that we’re not actually in Spain?

KIM:

But of course. God save the King.

GUY:

The Spanish might complain, but Gibraltar will always belong to the Crown. It’s a small matter to the Spanish, though they’re too proud to admit it. When they take up a fight they’re in it to the end. That’s what we’re seeing now, hardly ten miles away.

KIM:

They’re fighting Fascism, Guy. It won’t be long before the rest of Europe has to follow suit.

GUY:

We already are, darling. Some of us are, anyway. In our own way.

KIM:

That’s why we’re here, I suppose.

GUY:

You’re right. It is why we’re here. For our silent war. (They toast their drinks.) Oh yes, congratulations on your articles, Kim. They’re quite brilliant.

KIM:

All I do is take the information the Nationalist Military Command gives me and change it for the average Times reader.

GUY:

Precisely. You’re not yourself, Kim.

KIM:

That’s our job. Not being ourselves. We’re like theatre actors, you and I. Always ready for our next assignment. I’m playing a journalist next.

GUY:

You’ve always been a journalist.

KIM:

Yes, outwardly neutral, but with nationalist sympathies bubbling under the surface. You know the sort. Conservative. Horrified by the very idea of leftist politics in southern Europe.

GUY:

Well you’re doing a remarkable job.

KIM:

It’s all a question of style, darling.

GUY:

Yes, ‘In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing’.

KIM:

It’s a splendid quotation, but hardly sincere. Tell me, what exactly is your role these days?

GUY:

I told you before, I’m a radio broadcaster for the BBC. I’m learning in depth about the dark nature of that rare species known as the British ruling class. It’s really quite fascinating. The other day I caught a well-known radical politician playing table tennis in a morning suit and with a naked young man for a net.

KIM:

So what did you do?

GUY:

I joined in, naturally. Yes, journalism is a noble pursuit.

KIM:

You’re incorrigible, Guy.

GUY:

Ah yes, the Trinity days, your favourite saying. Every time I’d borrow your notes, ‘you’re incorrigible, Guy.’ And that night I turned up at the dorm with five bottles of whisky from the dons’ bar, ‘you’re incorrigible, Guy’. Or that time we met my cousins from Plymouth and I introduced you as my fiancé . . .

KIM:

There was such a sense of vitality then. I miss it. That healthy air of irresponsibility. In those days being Marxist meant committing yourself to life, in all of its marvellous unpredictability. It was a never-ending party.

GUY:

And now it’s not? It wasn’t that long ago.

KIM:

No, but it’s different now. More sober, more responsible, more ... professional.

GUY:

Yes, with Europe the way it is you’re practically middle-aged at twenty these days.

KIM:

Sometimes I think what’s happening in Spain is just a dress rehearsal for a larger performance in the rest of Europe. But there’s no need to be pessimistic; the Spanish fascists won’t get far. That’ll take the Italians and Germans down a peg or two.

GUY:

Franco’s still advancing.

KIM:

Then he must be stopped.

Silence.

Copyright

The above sample taken from the translation On the Rock (2005) by Sarah Maitland is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

ONE-ACT PLAY excerpt 2

Context:

Kim and Guy have been debating the hypothetical idea of killing a dictator. Guy believes that neither of them would have the stomach to do it, but then he reveals to his friend that this is exactly what Moscow wants Kim to do. They want Kim to kill Franco.

Sample text

KIM:

Perhaps the right to change one’s mind is a bourgeois luxury few of us would wish to relinquish. But there’s no stopping us either, when we’re truly determined. At least in my case.

GUY:

I’m not sure I like to hear you talking like that.

KIM:

Why?

GUY:

Because Salamanca is only the first stage of their plan . . .

KIM:

What plan?

GUY:

The plan to kill Franco.

KIM:

I beg your pardon?

GUY:

You heard me, Kim. To destroy the Nationalists once and for all. Cut off the head and the body dies. It seems the order came from Stalin himself. He’s desperate to halt the advance of Fascism.

(Silence.)

KIM:

How will they pull it off?

GUY:

With your help. Actually, they want you to do all of it.

KIM:

What?

GUY:

As I said, Kim, it would be your mission.

KIM:

But how?

GUY:

You’ll bide your time, lie in wait, and when the moment presents itself, you will strike.

KIM:

What kind of strike?

GUY:

To cut off their head.

KIM:

This has to be some kind of joke, Guy.

GUY:

If only it were. This wasn’t easy, you know. You’re an old friend, Kim, giving a mission like this troubles me as much as it does you.

KIM:

It won’t work. They know who I am. I’m not ready . . .

GUY:

They tend to assume we’re ready for anything, darling.

KIM:

Not for anything, no. Nobody said a word about murder.

GUY:

Don’t be naïve. Certain things are expected of a wartime spy. Weren’t you just saying there’s no stopping the truly determined . . .

KIM:

Now wait just a moment. Why the sudden trust? I’m a complete novice and they know it. All I do is weed out secrets from drunken officials. They know that I couldn’t hurt a fly.

GUY:

A minute ago you complained you’re not ‘productive’ enough and just about anyone could handle the work you do . . . A minute ago you . . . Never mind. If there’s a dichotomy between belief and behaviour I suppose it’s all part of our rich cultural heritage, isn’t it?

KIM:

I’m not made for killing, Guy.

GUY:

I know, Kim, I know . . .

KIM:

I can’t do it.

GUY:

(After a pause) I’m glad. It’s pure folly. For a moment I actually thought you were entertaining the idea . . . In any case, I’ve done my bit passing on the message. Well now . . . let’s talk of the old days again . . . Remember when Blunt made us pose nude for that artist? What was his name . . . ?

Copyright

The above sample taken from the translation On the Rock (2005) by Sarah Maitland is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Entry written by Gwynneth Dowling. Last updated on 3 May 2011.

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