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  • The Nether

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    The nether Play

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    The nether

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    The nether Play

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Signaler comme contenu inapproprié
    2K vues79 pages

    The Nether

    Transféré par

    Alba Pagán
    The nether Play

    Droits d'auteur :

    © All Rights Reserved
    Téléchargez comme PDF ou lisez en ligne sur Scribd
    Signaler comme contenu inapproprié
    sur 79
    4 Ea nae ae THE NETHER 40 A PLAY # JENNIFER HALEY Northwestern Unversity Press, vranupressorthwester.dt Copytight © 2015 by Jennifer Haley Pub lished 2015 by Northwestern Univesity Press. Al eights revered Prine inthe United States of America W987 6543 Professionals and amateurs are herby rane hat this mater being aly pro- tected under the Copyright Laws of the United States of Ameria ad all other ‘oemtis ofthe copyright unio, subject 10 opal Al sights, rluding, but noe lmited tm profesional, amatcuy record ing, maton pice, rection, Icing ‘li reading, radio and releision broad ‘ating andthe rights of wanton into foreign language are strcly reserved. ll ings reprdingpetiomance rights for thinly shonld be ddreved vo. Chris renive Ariss Agency. $05 Lexingon ‘Avenue 1th Hoot New York NY 10174, (212)2773010 dis tilecacom. Haley, Jenifer autho The nether: play / Jenner Hae ages Includes bbliographiel references ISBN $78-0-8101-3063-0 bk I 978-0-8101 (ebook 53608. AS464NG8 2014 2014 © The paper used inthis publication meets the minimum urements ofthe Ame an National Standard fr lformation Sc ences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Material ANSI 23948-1992. PRODUCTION HISTORY The Nether had its world premiere on March 24, 2013 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles, California, produced by Center The- atre Group (Michael Ritchie, artistic director; Edward L. Rada, manag. ing director; Douglas C. Bakes, producing director; Nausica Stergiou general manager), It was directed by Neel Keller, with scenic design by Adrian W. Jones, costume design by Alex Jaeger, lighting design by Christopher Kuhl, and sound design by John Zalewski, The cast was as fellows Sims Robert Joy Doyle Dakin Matthews Morris Jeanne Syqia Woodnut ‘Adam Haas Hunter les Brighid Fleming The Nether received its European premiere on July 17, 2014, at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in a co-production between Headlong (Jeremy Herrin, artistic director; Henny Finch, executive producer) and the Roysl Court Theatre (Vieky Featherstone, artistic director; Lucy Davies, executive producer). It was directed by Jeremy Herrin with set design by Es Devlin, costume design by Christina Cunning ham, lighting design by Paul Pyant, sound design by lan Dickinson, originel music by Nick Powell, and video design by Luke Halls. The cast was as follows: Sims Stanley Townsend Doyle David Beames Morris Amanda Hale Woodnut anno Jeremiah Iris Zoe Brough/ Isabella Pappas CHARACTERS Sims/Papa, a successful b Morris, a young female detective Doyle, a midal aged science teacher iris shining litle gel Woodint a fresh-faced guest Time Period: Soon Setting: An interrogation room and the Hideaway Nether realm Another world for mythical creatures 1 Demon world A dimension of Evil or Imagination SCENE 1 INTERROGATION ROOM [sims sits across a wide table from Detective MoRRIS.] sins: [ want to go home ‘morris: Which home? sims: I need to speak with my family -monnis: Which family? sin: I don’t know what you're getting at. want my phone call, Monts: There are things we want, to. sims: My lawyer. wonnis: Which lawyer? sis: Come on! Monnis: You are free to contact whomever you wish, Mr. Sims. We have a terminal here if you'd care to log in. ‘onkis: limagine your wife is worried by now. sins: Leave her out ofthis. morass: Your children, sums: I don’t have any children, Nonnis: You havea beautiful home, Mr Sims, Victorian. Set 4 country lane. Children on the front porch in lon ick from ng stockings and sailor caps, Barnaby. Donald, Antonia. Iris. Such quaint names, From an era associated with ‘ims; Thave a brownstone. My wife is sterile. You've got the wrot uy. Moris [consulting a report}: Solicitation. Rape. Sodomy. Murder. These are heavy charges, Mr. Sims. sims: Are you charging me? Monnis: The repetitive nature of the offenses. The amount of money you've made. sims: If you're not charging me— Motnis: We know about your account in Burkina Faso ‘is: If you'e not charging me, you have to let me— MORRIS: Oh, you're free to go. SIMS: Im free to go? Motus: We cant hold you here without charging you. That would be ‘gains the la, SIMS: Okay. Then I'm going to go, Mounts: We can't control a person's bo fours is free to walk out the fee Person's body. Yours is free to walk out d Sis: Great. My body is walking out the door onnis: But if it does, we'll rescind your login, Mr. Sims. You will never have access toa terminal again. sims (slight pause: Who did you say you are? moxnis: This is an investigative unit of the Nether. I am an in-world representative, My name is Detective Morris. sins: Ihave business in the Nether. All of my connections. You can't, expel me onris: You have a taste for th old fashioned. Think of it as « return to simpler times. sims: This isa violation of my rights, My lawyers are the best in the field. You won't keep me out for long, onnis: Long enough to locate and detain your children. Morais: What's wrong, Mr. Sims? omnis: I thought you didn’t have any children. Monnis; We sent someone undercover to your realm to make sure cour charges were grounded. Because you've programmed itso that nothing there may be recorded, he submitted a written report [consulting a report] After undergoing @ meticulous security scan of my login, creating my character from a set of prescribed looks, ‘and passing a Draconian manners tutorial dissuading modern ter- rminology, I enter the Hideaway. ‘The first thing I experience isthe trees. The flickering light and soft sound as they sway in the sun and wind is almost overwhelming, They surround a beautifully rendered 1880s GothicRevivel with « squeak in the top porch step. I ring the doorbell. I can actually fel my hand sweat, clutching my and spy figures in the foyer—an impeccably dressed man stroking the face of one of the children, a litte girl— carpetbag. | peek through a window sins: They. Ate not. Children. ‘onnis: | guess that depends on context, Mr. Sims. Or should I call SCENE? INTERROGATION ROOM [pow sits across the table from monnis, head in his hands] Morris: Mr. Doyle? onnis: Mr. Doyle, Morais: Mr. Doyle, we have not told your wife. [povte raises his head.) ‘At this point we are merely detaining you. We need information about this man called Papa. In exchange, we will protect your identity {consulting a report] Cedric Doyle. You are a teacher at Franklin Middle School. You won a Distinguished Teaching Award in Sci- fence, You are one year away from retirement with full pension for forty years service in the school district. Your wife is 2 senior vestry member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, where you used to teach Sunday school until about four years ago. You have one daughter a junior at Illinois State. looking up] Footing the bill for an in-world college. That's a huge expense, Mr. Doyle, Most students now get their higher education at online institutions in the Nether. You claim to moonlight a professor atone ofthese institutions University of Metaphysical Certirude ¢ [consulting the repo Ifyou ike, this entire story about who you are may remain intact, We've even made arrangements with UMC to actually hire you All those hours at your terminal, plus the boost in your bank ac- count, wil continue ro make perfect sense Dorie: May I keep her? ‘Mownis: Keep who? ote: Iris, ‘Monris: No, Mr Doyle. Once we have what we need on Papa, that life ows: owt:T have nothing to say SCENE 3 INTERROGATION ROOM [morris and sims.] sims: What authority do you have, yanking me from my garden? onnis: We thought face-to-face interaction would be a good change for you. sins: You shouldn't even know who I am. I have the right to remain anonymous wonnis: We're able to track most of our users, but your identity encryp- tion is like nothing we've ever seen. Once you log in, you disappear. sims; Are you pissed you can't target me for advertising? ‘wonnis: We don't care about you, Mr Sims. It’s your realm. The Hide- away, Have you heard of obscenity laws? sis: My realm is properly registered and meets all international requirements Monais: What about your server? sims: My server? Nonnis: The physial machine where you store the code for the Hideaway. sins: Yes, I know what itis, Moris: We want to know its location, sims: [don’t have to tell you that Monnis: I suggest that you do, ses: My servers not inthis country. So it’s not any of your business ‘MORRIS: Your content is here. Your content is everywhere. sims: Iv notin your jurisdiction. ‘omnis: Mr Sims, wherever your content appears is my jurisdiction Monnis: Your realm is not only popular, but lucrative. Ivs afforded You leonsuting a report] wo hundred square feet of real grass, surrounding your brownstone. A garden of chard. Your wife's clothes are made from cot ‘in-world abundance, snap peas and swiss ton. Why, with such do you choose the life of a shade? ‘1s: I'm not a shade, a, fot login records indicate you spend a great deal of time online sie Yethavea lt of work on your hands if that’s become a cime Boe Tove Never considered crossing over? Sr Tin my in-world ie {end my garden -onnis: But really, My 48° of sixteen hours a day in the Nether? What ca Ir: Sims, an averas m be gained by spending so much time in some- thing that isn't real? sins: Just because its virtual doesn’t mean it isn’t real. Eighty per cent ofthe population work in office realms, children attend school in educational realms, There's a realm for anything you want to know or do or think you might want to try. As the Nether becomes ‘our contextual framework for being, don’t you think it’s a bit out of date to say itisn’t real? Moxnis: Is your wife aware of your tendencies? sims: She asks no questions as long as the wine-made-from-grapes arrives at the door wornis: Your tendencies toward children, Mr. Sims. sims [slight pause: Like everyone, she’s as aware as she wants to be. Monts: What if we made her very aware? sis: | expect she would resent you Monts: Or brought it to the attention of your neighbors? sims: I don’t spend enough time in-world to worry about my stand- {ng in the community. And my record is whistle clean. Real chil- dren are hard to come by these days. I's not lke they play outside anymore ‘onnis: Are you trying to be droll, Mr. Sims? sims: Yeah, I'm trying very hard to be very fucking droll Moxais: It won't reflect well on your case sims: Do I have case here? A case sounds legal, which this definitely isnot. Monis: We need you to give us the location of your server. When we have confiscated your hardware and deleted your realm, you'll be free to go without prosecution— sims: This is against the law! % onnis: Relax, Mr Sims Fr sims: My realm is clearly designated Adult. There are adults behind the children and adults behind the guests. My background checks ae thorough in the extreme to make st we don’t involve users Who are underage. This is in accordance with the statute on con sensual roleplay— MORRIS: You seem to be quite up on laws and statutes sts: Thisis my business— Monnis: This is our business too. The Nether is home to many busi ‘nesses with an obligation to protect the needs of our community And our community has decided that realms such as yours are impermissable— ‘ims [carcastc): Was there a vote? >onxis: Yes there was. suggest you pay greater attention t sage boards, Sis: This is shit. You're feeding me shit. ‘ornis: Would you care to log in right now and check? Sms: So you can trace me to my server? No, I would not. 2™onkis: Then you'll just have to trust I'm telling the truth SIMS: Trust you? Who are you?! ‘onus: The Nether is no longer some great Wild West. We have & Polis body that is just as real as anything in-world. And we're is ett own laws, with our own form of prosecution. You ask ‘what authorit ity T have? Look around. There's no Hideaway here. Now I suggest you sit down, sims: sis: Look; Detective, Iam sick. Tam sick and have always been sick and there is no cure. Noamount of cognitive behavioral therapy or relapse determent or even chemical castration will sway me from my urges toward children, | am sick and no matter how much I loved him or her I would make my own child sick and I see this, see this—not all of us see this—but I have been cursed with both compulsion and insight. I have taken responsibility for my sick- ness. I am protecting my neighbor's children and my brother's children and the children I won't allow myself to have, and the only way I can do this is because I've created a place where I can be my fucking self! SCENE 4 ‘THE HIDEAWAY FOYER, THE NETHER [A ray of sunlight beams through a tall window. para enters as 1818, ‘uns in, breathless He caches her, spins her around in the light. She shrieks with laughter. He puts her down, and she wobbles in circles] “is: Whol I'm atop! : Was that fun? ara: I knew you'd appreciate it the most. I need an easy audience 10 give me heart tively): Are you saying I'm easy? ara: Now Iris... that joke is too old for you. [she giggles and reassumes innocence] ss: Ive never asked you for anything, have I, Papa? ara: No, you haven't nis: was thinking. [might wanta birthday party. arn: A birthday party? ans: Yes ava: Are you trying to grow up? You're already nine years od ns: I imagined the yard dressed in streamers. And birthday cake. We could invite our favorite Hideaway guests. rapa: Involve the guests. So this is an entrepreneurial idea? snus: Somewhat. ara: Somewhat? ‘mas: Not altogether Para: Then what? You must tell me what's on your mind rnis: want a day that’s all about me. ris: ara: Come here. ” {She moves to him.) We have a beautiful home here We have a beautiful family of which you are an important member. It is this beauty which drews ic community. But do you ‘our guests. And of course a sympathet know whatis the most important thing we offer? he shakes her head. An opportunity to live outside of conseque this over] Nothing here can change. Which is of the way we are changeless, a beautiful reflection IRs: Like the way God sees us. ara: God? mis [almost guilly: Ive been thinking about God. Para: see, tus: Notasin a person. But as in the way we are wi ith each other, Do You think about God that way? Uhe sound ofa grand doorbell is heard} tavss Wehave a guest. You'd bes go tothe parlor ms: Yes, Papa, [Ske tums to go] te ge We cance ive a brchdny 1 would upet «bel ance te se ere to suggest you're growing older ‘mis: Tunderstand aml esom you do. You're my darling sie. [Para puts his hand to her cheek. woopwur enters, and vara quickly drops his hand. He gives ins a gentle push, and she exits Para turns to ara: My good sir! Welcome to the Hideaway! wooowur: Thank you! ara: Your frst time? WooDNUT: As a matter of fact, yes. Is it obvious? ara: Not to worry. Keep coming back and you'll fit right in. woopnvr: You're confident I'll wish to return? apa: I guarantee it, Mr. ‘woopxvr: Woodnut. Thomas Woodnut. And you are... ? apa: You may call me Papa. a9 SCENE 5 INTERROGATION ROOM [Morais and power] Mounts [reading from a report]: Papa escorts me to the find tae of the children, A girl who looks to be ns Blaying a perfec rendered vintage Steinway pi, Yearold boy dancing with a dandified ‘saw inthe foyer—the one whose cheek inawindow seat. Wh is is, Without furh "pa grand staircase parlor, where I rwelve years old noforte. A five- guest. And the little girl I Papa was stroking—sitting hats your name? 1 ask. She replies, My name er discussion, she takes my hand and leeds me to the second floor. Weenter bedroom with fowered wallpaper and a white lace bed a Ht its nea. tase therm frank amazement, the detail enc 88—down to the smell of mulch fi we smell of mulch rising from a. ga >eneath her Window—throwing me ino a state of pleasure and confusion ris beckons to me... Why don’ you come here? I won't bite... She then citcles her fingers around the bunny’s ea, strok- ing from base to tip— porte: Okay ‘Monts: Okay what, Mr, Doyle? porte: Do you think y re going to shame me into helping you? I'm past shame, Monzis: Then why are you finding it hard to listen? porte: Because I'm sick of your voice. How old are you? monnis: Why do you ask? DOYLE: You remind me of my students So ful of themselves So sure they know what the hells going on. ‘Monnis: I'll shut up if you give me the information I need on Papa, ppov.t: I don’t have information. We are anonymous to each other. 1 have no idea who he is other than how he presents himself in the Hideaway. ‘MorRis: Does your wife know about him? onns: Why don’t we log in right now and contact her. porte: Fine. morts: Fine? ovte: My wife won't leave me. Monnis: Your daughter? DOYLE: I've saved enough money for her to finish college. And I dont care what she thinks of me. She's an adult now. She can think ny thoughts she wants, Monnis: Your job? Dorte: Pub. Iwas considered one of the top teachers inthe county an inspiration to future scientists. tured down professorships o stay in the public system. I won awards. Then came the Single School Act, which consigned all lessons to edi the Nether. I became no more th students were porn. tional games in an a monitor, making sure the n't hacking through the school firewall to engage in oRRIS: Is that how you discovered the Hideaway? Porte: The advertising was compelling, to say the least, T wanted to see if they gotten it right with Victorian-ea in ntions. ‘owns: When you entered, were you aware of your proclivity? orte: What proclivity? Monnis:Litle girs, Porte: The image ofa litle gil Monnis: I’s more than that, Hideaway isthe most ad artof sensation Mr Doyle. Its sound, smell, touch, The Wvanced realm there is when it comes to the inconsequential, NbnsG: Ab scisstis how can you sy that? Sensation ie our, gateway. Porte: Yes? Gateway to what? Mots To understanding the rules ofthe worl ove: The world we walk upon. But what about the world of our imagination? Moris: Exactly the same. People meetas physical beingsin the Nether poy: But there are no longer physical barriers to that contact. Now ‘we may communicate with anyone, through any form we choose And this communication—this experience of each other—is the root of consciousness, It is the universe wanting to know itself. Can't you see what a wonder itis that we may interact outside our bodies? It’s as revolutionary as—discovering fire! ornis: And just as dangerous. Who are we when we “interact” with: out consequence? What is revealed by feeling an axe slide through, the flesh of a litle giel? ovte: The revelation is when she resurrects and comes to stand be- fore you again. Images, sensations—those are Reeting, I's the re- lationships that matter, owe: moxnis: You intend to ctoss over. I thought your affairs were in re markable order. Of course you're not concerned with anything in world. You were going to become a permanent shade. Moxats: That is an egregious step, Mr. Doyle. And still highly experi ‘mental. You've probably looked into life-support systems. [can tell ‘you from experience they're not half as good as they're advertised I've seen bodies, after only one year, that are unrecognizable. Dovte: This bag of flesh is unrecognizable. donuts: We treat shades here. Iisa Tong bate to get them t accept themselves agein. The suicide rates high. We have program=— 3 ovtt: [don’t want your programs oun: The desire toliveas someone else i symptom of depression ort: I'm not depressed. 'm sad orn: What about your in-world relationships? What about your daughter? Porte: Ill tell her where to find me. MORRIS: So she can come visit? A nice little family visit in the Hideaway? Doms: We could stroll arm in arm down a country ane ‘Moats: Do you think Papa would allow that? Donte: She would need to obey the rules of the realm, but abs utely eee rer Ate Bnd Popa 2o magnanimous Ta ck fe re Ports a rigid behavioral prescription— Povtt: Your agent listed fa a chat by. cts in his report. But the next time you have the wate cooler don‘ ask him, What did you sec? What free did you feel? 4d you do? Ask him, How SCENE 6 IRIS'S BEDROOM iis stands with her stuffed rabbit as wooDNUT inspects the room] woopNur: This bedroom. It’s beautiful. A little girl's dream. nus: I'm glad you like it, Mr: Woodn. He goes to the window] WooDNvT: Sunshine. Warmth. Is that a garden down there? ants: Snap peas. Swiss chard, Lemon basil wooowur: Is i seasonal? Jn1s: Absolutely. You are fortunate to vist us in lat spring WoopNvr: Four seasons... adding up toa year? tris: We don’t think of it as “adding up.” Nothing here truly changes. WooDNUT: And whose idea was all of this? ‘mus: Papas, of course, wooosur: Papa? He is not merely a chaperone? ris: Oh no, he created the Hideaway woopwur: He came up with the idea? And did the programming? rus: We don’t use that word here, Mr. Woodnut. woonxur: | apologize. tus: Its your first time snus: Why don’t you come here? I won't bite. [She circles the bunny’ ear with her fingers, strokes it from base to tip. Woonnur clears his throat. He approaches her] nus: It’s okay to be nervous, wooowur: I'm not nervous. tts: Go ahead then. Touch me. [woopwur pats her stiffly on the head. She takes his hand and moves it over her face. He jerks his hand away] tis: Pethaps you'd lik to stat with the axe. WooDNUT: I beg your pardon? tsi That usually comes afes but if youre more inclined thet way— ‘woopwur: No. No. do not wish to start with the axe. 1S: Alright WOODNUT: Is it—expected? 'ms: Papa prefers it for the frst ime. Is the ‘marbles, jacks, pike ‘eturning guests, but we don’t have to do it something else you'd like to play? I've got up sticks 26 woopnur: What are those? amis: They are games. Ican show you, How about jacks? {amis pulls a bag of acks out of her dress pocket and kneels down on the floor. She motions wooDNvt over] is: First I'm going to drop all the jacks. [She does] Now, I'm going to bounce the ball pick up a jack, and catch the ball again withthe same hand. [She does] See? [Again.] Would you like to try? [wooowur kneels.tn1s hands im the ball, wooour clumsily bounces the ball, pecks at a jack, The ball goes bouncing off. Ris retrieves it, laughing.) mis: You were close! Try again! Lintris and catches the ball] ued, wOODNUT gives the task his full attention. He snags a jack woopwur: Aha! rms: Very good! My turn! [unis scoops up two jacks, catches the ball.| wooowur: You took two of them! ints: First you take one, then two, then thee! woopnur: Let me try [woopnut scoops up two jacks, catches the ball xs claps woODNUT laughs, pleased with himself] rms: You did it! 7 woopnur: I did it! [He suddenly stops, drops the bal, stands sais: Is something wrong? Wooonvr: Ihave quite ten myself {He goes tothe window, stands inthe sunlight and shadows of leaves) tars: It’s okay to do that here, Mr. Woodnut. It’s okay to forget who you think you are. Litslifs her dress over her head and stands in her knickers] And discover who you might be. {woonwvr slouly moves toward her] SCENE7 INTERROGATION ROOM ding from a report: | approach th litle gel and fold her into my arms. Her skin is covered in goosebumps, which quickly fade in my embrace {Looking up] The next section o report is classified, but our agent did collet the evidence we needed 10 pursue this case. He confessed to me in person ths experience lft him traumatized sis: Your agent, Who was he? Monais: That's not important. Whats important is—we know every- thing that goes on in your “establishment.” And have been espe for this encounter, Mr Sims +0 I could ask: How ean you, in good conscience, infect people with this content? sims: People come to my realm of their own free will ‘Monnis: They're enticed by its beauty. By sensations they can no on- ger experience in the real world sis: [sit my problem the real world no longer measures uP? 29 a ‘oanis: would say it'll of our problem. But who's going to doany- thing about it when they're busy molesting children? sims: What ae you afraid of? Violence? Porn? Did you know pom drives technology? The first photographs? Porn. The first movies Porn. The most popular content when the Nether was called the Internet? Porn. The urge, Detective—the urge—as long as we ae sentient, you will never stamp that out. You must have spent tne in those collegiate fantasy realms ... questing .. killing wicked demons and wild boars, And the sex... I've been there I'v the cock bulges, In-world men are no comparison, with their sot {interface hands. Don’t tell me you never fucked an elf. ‘MoRuis: No, Mr Sims, I never fucked an elf sims: Come on, you're missing out. The point is—it doesn’t matter whether you killa boar ora demon. Whether you have sex witha shuld oran lf.1vs nothing but images. And there is no consequence MORRIS: Images—ideas—create reality. Everything around us—our Houses, our bridges, our wars, our peace treaties—began as fig- ‘ents in someone's mind before becoming a physical or social fat sms: Are you accusing me of creating pedophiles? If anything, I'm Biving them a place to blow off steam, ‘Morris: You foster e culture of legitimization, telling them their de- Sires are not only acceptable, bt commendable. Do you know what Your guests are doing in-world? Shas’ Doyou?T've ead the studies. Noonchas been able to draw acon-

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