SHRADDHA

(Faith: You are what’s in your heart)

by Natasha Langridge

Shraddha was first performed at Soho Theatre, London, on 29 October 2009.

The Romany Gypsies are about to be evicted from the building site of the London Olympics. Understandably they are more suspicious than usual of outsiders (gorgers). Pearl Penfold is 17 years old and has been promised in marriage to another Romany community. However, she and JOE, a gorger from the local council estate have fallen in love. In this scene, JOE tries to appeal to Pearl’s family and delivers the following speech outside their trailer. Ultimately, JOE’s appeals are fruitless and the young lovers run away together.

JOE

I’m sorry to disturb yer… Mrs Penfold… Mr Penfold

Sound of dogs barking.

I had to come

Back

I had to

I know what yer said about what you’d do to me teeth

but

I’ve come to ask yer

to your face

Straight

Can I come in?

Will you come out?

I know what yer said before ’bout my knees

But if yer knew what was in me

Please

Give me a go to win your daughter’s heart

I know I ain’t rich

I know I ain’t all the things I gotta be

But I can learn

If yer show me

Yer ways

Teach me how you do it

I never had no one to teach me

It ain’t my fault I was born a gorger

I’ll work harder than you even

I’ll work and work and work

till I’m it

Please

Give me a go

Please answer me

I ain’t goin’ away

I can’t

I was just dragging around in the dark before

No light

Anywhere

But in her

Brightness

Life like I never seen

Please

What can I do?

I gotta have it

Gets on his knees.

Her

Tell me an I’ll do it

I’ll do it

Please

He waits for a long time.

More and more dogs are barking.