Mindgame (3 page)

STYLER: Are you sure?

FARQUHAR: I'm quite certain.

STYLER: (
Turning from the window
.) Do you mind if I smoke?

FARQUHAR: My dear fellow, your personal habits are entirely your own concern.

STYLER: No. I mean — do you mind if I smoke now?

FARQUHAR: You want a cigarette?

STYLER: Yes.

FARQUHAR: Please. Go ahead.

STYLER: Thank you.

STYLER takes out a crumpled packet of ten Embassy cigarettes. He takes one out, puts the packet on the desk, then searches his pockets.

That's strange.

FARQUHAR: What?

STYLER: I seem to have forgotten my lighter.

FARQUHAR: No lighter?

STYLER: I'm sure I put it in my pocket this morning.

FARQUHAR: When you left London.

STYLER: Yes.

FARQUHAR: You have your cigarettes?

STYLER: Yes. But I've forgotten my lighter. You wouldn't have a match?

FARQUHAR: I'm afraid I don't smoke.

STYLER: Aah…

FARQUHAR: And as a security measure I don't keep matches in the office. Maybe Nurse Plimpton will have
some when she arrives. (
Annoyed
.) Where is Nurse Plimpton?

STYLER: Dr Farquhar, why won't you at least consider what I have to say?

FARQUHAR: About your book?

STYLER: Yes. Obviously I've only skimmed the surface, compared to you. I'm a populist and I'm not ashamed to admit it. But even so, if you read my books, you might surprise yourself. You might even be impressed by their honesty if nothing else.

FARQUHAR: You wrote about Chikatilo?

STYLER: Yes. And after that I wrote another book which covered nine more serial killers including Nilsen, Sutcliffe and Dahmer.

FARQUHAR: What was it called?

STYLER:
Bloodbath. Inside the Minds of Nine Serial Killers
.

FARQUHAR: And did you get there? Inside the minds?

STYLER: I did my research.

FARQUHAR: There is one thing I'd be interested to know, Mr Styler. Why do you write these books? What's your interest in these people?

STYLER: Well, I suppose I'm trying to illustrate one aspect of the human condition; the relationship between good and evil. That's what it really comes down to. The fact that humans are capable of acts of extreme evil as well as extreme good.

FARQUHAR: Saints or sinners.

STYLER: Exactly.

FARQUHAR: But taken to extremes.

STYLER: It's only natural for a writer to be interested in extremes because that's where the essence of human nature will be in sharpest focus.

FARQUHAR: So why didn't you choose saints? (
Pause
.)
Bloodbank. Inside the Minds of Nine NHS Nurses
.

STYLER: Well. I suppose sin sells better.

FARQUHAR: And this next book of yours…

STYLER: It's going to be very big. I have a publisher, a very reputable house. They've been talking to the
Sunday Times
and we may have a serialisation. The Americans are interested…in fact the publishers were queuing up at Frankfurt. All this on a three-page outline. Come on, Dr Farquhar! Six one-hour interviews. That's all I ask. I'll let you have the questions in advance and you can be in the room from the start to the end.

FARQUHAR: Perhaps you should try again in a year or so's time. As it happens, I'm planning to leave Fairfields.

STYLER: You're retiring?

FARQUHAR: I'm leaving. Quite soon, as a matter of fact. I want to travel. I could be going any day now. Maybe you can approach my successor.

STYLER: No. It has to be now. We're coming up to the thirtieth anniversary of Easterman's arrest. It's event publishing. The book, the serialisation, perhaps even a BBC tie-in. It couldn't be a better time.

FARQUHAR: Easterman?

STYLER: What?

FARQUHAR: You want to write a book about Easterman?

STYLER: Didn't I say?

FARQUHAR: No. You did not.

STYLER: I'm sorry. I should have said right away. That's the book I want to write. I want to write about Easterman.

A pause. FARQUHAR seems almost shocked. And then the door opens and NURSE PLIMPTON comes in. Somewhere in her forties, still curvaceous and attractive, she's wearing a starched white nurse's uniform which is very slightly small for her. Her hair and make-up are dishevelled and everything about her is strained and unnatural. She seems to be frightened (although she's doing her best to hide it). All in all, she has the air of a woman who has been horrendously abused.

FARQUHAR: Aah — Nurse Plimpton, at last.

PLIMPTON: I'm sorry I'm late. I was tied up.

FARQUHAR: What?

PLIMPTON: In B-wing.

FARQUHAR: I rang you twice.

PLIMPTON: Yes. I know. I'm sorry.

FARQUHAR: Well, you're here now.

PLIMPTON: Yes. What do you want?

FARQUHAR: We have a guest.

PLIMPTON: I can see that.

FARQUHAR: His name is Mark Styler. He's a writer.

PLIMPTON: I know his work.

STYLER: Do you?

PLIMPTON: I read your book about Andrei Chikatilo. What was it called?
Serial Chiller
.

STYLER: I'm flattered.

PLIMPTON: I didn't enjoy it.

STYLER: Oh.

PLIMPTON: I thought it was gruesome.

FARQUHAR: Mr Styler wants to write a book about Easterman.

PLIMPTON: Easterman!

FARQUHAR: Yes.

PLIMPTON: (
To STYLER
.) He won't talk to you. You're wasting your time. Anyway, it's against the policy of the hospital. You ought to go. Now. (
To FARQUHAR
.) Do you want me to show him out?

STYLER: I think that was the general idea.

FARQUHAR: Mr Styler wanted a cigarette.

PLIMPTON: I don't have any cigarettes. I don't smoke.

FARQUHAR: He has his own cigarettes.

PLIMPTON: Then why was he asking?

FARQUHAR: He doesn't have a light.

STYLER: That's right. I seem to have forgotten my lighter.

PLIMPTON: There's a lighter in the desk.

FARQUHAR: Is there?

PLIMPTON: The second drawer down. On the left.

FARQUHAR is surprised. He opens the drawer.

FARQUHAR: You're absolutely right. I'd forgotten.

PLIMPTON: It's always there.

FARQUHAR: I can see that. It's unlikely to stray. Does it have gas?

PLIMPTON: No. It's a petrol lighter.

FARQUHAR: (
Annoyed
.) Does it have petrol?

PLIMPTON: I expect so. There's a spare can in the drawer.

FARQUHAR takes out a small petrol can, glances at it and puts it back.

FARQUHAR: You're right. (
To STYLER
.) Then you can have your cigarette.

STYLER takes out his cigarettes. FARQUHAR takes out the lighter and moves towards him. But the cigarette lighter is on a chain and reaches only half way across the room.

It seems you're going to have to meet me half way.

STYLER: Security?

FARQUHAR: Yes.

STYLER: With respect, Dr Farquhar, I wouldn't have thought it was something you'd forget. A thing like that.

FARQUHAR: I've had a lot on my mind.

STYLER steps forward. FARQUHAR lights the cigarette for him.

STYLER: Thank you.

PLIMPTON: I'll show you to the main gate.

FARQUHAR: Actually, I think I might give Mr Styler a little more of my time.

STYLER: Really?

PLIMPTON: Why?

FARQUHAR: I'd be interested to know why of all the people here he chose Easterman for his next oeuvre.

PLIMPTON: But you're not going to let him write it.

FARQUHAR: Anything is possible. I hadn't realised he was such a major literary figure.

STYLER: Well…

PLIMPTON: He isn't.

FARQUHAR: He has a publishing deal with a reputable firm. A possible serialisation in the
Sunday Times
.

PLIMPTON: Dr Farquhar…

FARQUHAR: We actually called you up here because he's hungry.

PLIMPTON: That's not my business.

FARQUHAR: I know. But I was wondering if you could talk to Cookie.

PLIMPTON: Cookie?

FARQUHAR: In the kitchen. I was hoping they might be able to rustle something up.

STYLER: I don't want to be a nuisance.

FARQUHAR: No. You've driven three and a half hours to get here. You didn't pass a single Happy Eater. I kept you waiting. It's the least I can do.

PLIMPTON: But the kitchen's closed.

FARQUHAR: Already?

PLIMPTON: Cookie's gone home.

FARQUHAR: It's very early.

PLIMPTON: She wasn't well.

FARQUHAR: She never told me.

PLIMPTON: You were busy. (
To STYLER
.) You could go to the pub. There's a pub just a mile down the road. The King's Head. They do a very good shepherd's pie.

FARQUHAR: Mr Styler doesn't want a shepherd's pie. He just wants a cup of tea and a sandwich.

STYLER: Just a cup of tea will be fine.

FARQUHAR: Surely to goodness we can rustle up a sandwich for a guest who's driven three and half hours to get here.

A pause. PLIMPTON realises she has no choice.

PLIMPTON: What sort of sandwich?

FARQUHAR: Mr Styler?

STYLER: Anything really…

FARQUHAR: There you are then. (
To PLIMPTON
.) Ham. Cheese and pickle. Tuna and cucumber. Egg and cress. Peanut butter and strawberry jelly. Anything you can lay your hands on.

PLIMPTON: What if there's no bread?

FARQUHAR: Of course there's bread. There's always bread.

PLIMPTON: There may not be.

FARQUHAR: Then give him some Ryvita.

Again, PLIMPTON can see she's not going to win the argument.

PLIMPTON: I suppose I can look.

FARQUHAR: Just bring him a sandwich with anything you can find.

PLIMPTON: Right.

FARQUHAR: And a cup of tea.

PLIMPTON: I'll see what I can do.

FARQUHAR: That's very kind of you.

A dismissal. But PLIMPTON doesn't leave.

Yes?

PLIMPTON: He needs an ashtray.

FARQUHAR: What?

PLIMPTON: Mr Styler's cigarette. He needs an ashtray.

STYLER: Thank you.

FARQUHAR: (
Irritated
.) Nurse Plimpton…

PLIMPTON: He's going to get ash on the carpet.

FARQUHAR: I don't have an ashtray.

PLIMPTON: There's one in the desk. Third drawer down.

FARQUHAR: On the left or the right?

PLIMPTON: The right.

FARQUHAR: You seem very familiar with the contents of my desk, Nurse Plimpton.

PLIMPTON: Yes. I try to be.

FARQUHAR: Third drawer down.

PLIMPTON: On the left.

FARQHUAR leans down behind the desk. At that moment, PLIMPTON's whole manner changes. She produces a folded note and urgently waves it at STYLER. He responds with puzzlement and is about to come over and take it when FARQUHAR suddenly looks up, suspicious.

FARQUHAR: I can't find it.

PLIMPTON: It should be there.

FARQUHAR: But it isn't.

PLIMPTON: Did you move it?

FARQUHAR: I never even saw it.

PLIMPTON: Perhaps it went into the second drawer.

FARQUHAR: On the left?

PLIMPTON: On the right.

FARQUHAR leans down again and at that moment, PLIMPTON slips the note to STYLER who hides it. But right then FARQUHAR pops up again, this time holding the ashtray. He is immediately suspicious.

FARQUHAR: Nurse Plimpton?

PLIMPTON: Yes, Dr Farquhar?

FARQUHAR: Is there something I should know?

PLIMPTON: No, Dr Farquhar.

A pause. FARQUHAR is still suspicious.

FARQUHAR: A sandwich and a cup of tea.

PLIMPTON: Right away, Dr Farquhar.

PLIMPTON glances one last time at STYLER, trying to warn him with her eyes. Then she goes. Note: as she opens the door we see that the corridor outside the door has changed colour from the time when she walked in. FARQUHAR hands over the ashtray.

FARQUHAR: A souvenir of Torquay.

STYLER: Torquay?

FARQUHAR: Yes. I can't actually remember ever going there. It can't be much of a souvenir.

STYLER: I suppose not.

FARQUHAR: Have you ever been to Torquay, Mr Styler?

STYLER: No.

FARQUHAR: You're not trying to hide something from me, are you?

STYLER: I've never been to Torquay.

FARQUHAR: I'm talking about Nurse Plimpton. (
Pause
.) Just between you and me, Mr Styler, that woman's begun to worry me. That's the trouble with working with the criminally insane. Your perception gets twisted. You have no sense of what's real any more. No sense of anything. Maybe it's time she considered another career. What do you think?

STYLER: I don't know…

FARQUHAR: Why don't you tell me what's in that note she gave you?

STYLER: What note?

FARQUHAR: She gave you a note.

STYLER: She seemed to be afraid of you.

FARQUHAR: She's afraid of everything. Heights. Insects. The dark. Her own shadow. The note, please…

STYLER: Are you saying she's sick?

FARQUHAR: I'm saying she's overworked. (
Pause
.) Mr Styler, I'm trying to co-operate with you. But I can assure you that unless you give me that note, the note that Nurse Plimpton gave you after she so clumsily diverted my attention with that ashtray, your book contract and your serialisation and your BBC television series will have less chance of realisation than an afternoon of strip poker with the Queen Mum.

A long pause. STYLER produces the folded note.

STYLER: She wanted me to read it.

FARQUHAR: And I don't.

STYLER: Why not?

FARQUHAR: I'm her employer.

STYLER: ‘The master of Fairfields'.

FARQUHAR: Exactly.

STYLER hands over the note.

Thank you.

STYLER: Are you going to read it?

FARQUHAR: Maybe.

STYLER: I'd be interested to know what it says.