Blasted (Scene 1 - Excerpt)
Blasted (Scene 1 - Excerpt) Lyrics
Blasted
For Vincent O’Connell, with thanks.
Characters
Ian
Cate
Soldier
Author's note
Punctuation is used to indicate delivery, not to conform to the rules of grammar.
A stroke (/) marks the point of interruption in overlapping dialogue.
Words in square brackets [ ] are not spoken, but have been included in the text to clarify meaning.
Stage directions in brackets ( ) function as lines.
Editor's note
This edition of Blasted, first reprinted in 2000, incorporates minor revisions made to the original text by Sarah Kane shortly before her death. It should therefore be regarded as the definitive version in all respects.
Scene One
A very expensive hotel room in Leeds - the kind that is so expensive it could be anywhere in the world.
A mini-bar and champagne on ice.
A telephone.
A large bouquet of flowers.
Two doors - one is the entrance from the corridor, the other leads off to the bathroom.
Two people enter - Ian and Cate
Ian is 45, Welsh born but lived in Leeds much of his life and picked up the accent.
Cate is 21, a lower-middle-class Southerner with a south London accent and a stutter when under stress.
They enter.
Cate stops at the door, amazed at the classiness of the room.
Ian comes in, throws a small pile of newspapers on the bed, goes straight to the mini-bar and pours himself a large gin.
He looks briefly out of the window at the street, then turns back to the room.
Ian I've shat in better places than this.
(He gulps down the gin.)
I stink.
You want a bath?
For Vincent O’Connell, with thanks.
Characters
Ian
Cate
Soldier
Author's note
Punctuation is used to indicate delivery, not to conform to the rules of grammar.
A stroke (/) marks the point of interruption in overlapping dialogue.
Words in square brackets [ ] are not spoken, but have been included in the text to clarify meaning.
Stage directions in brackets ( ) function as lines.
Editor's note
This edition of Blasted, first reprinted in 2000, incorporates minor revisions made to the original text by Sarah Kane shortly before her death. It should therefore be regarded as the definitive version in all respects.
Scene One
A very expensive hotel room in Leeds - the kind that is so expensive it could be anywhere in the world.
A mini-bar and champagne on ice.
A telephone.
A large bouquet of flowers.
Two doors - one is the entrance from the corridor, the other leads off to the bathroom.
Two people enter - Ian and Cate
Ian is 45, Welsh born but lived in Leeds much of his life and picked up the accent.
Cate is 21, a lower-middle-class Southerner with a south London accent and a stutter when under stress.
They enter.
Cate stops at the door, amazed at the classiness of the room.
Ian comes in, throws a small pile of newspapers on the bed, goes straight to the mini-bar and pours himself a large gin.
He looks briefly out of the window at the street, then turns back to the room.
Ian I've shat in better places than this.
(He gulps down the gin.)
I stink.
You want a bath?
Cate (Shakes her head.)
Ian goes into the bathroom and we hear him run the water. He comes back in with only a towel around his waist and a revolver in his hand. He checks it is loaded and puts it under his pillow.
Ian Tip that wog when he brings up the sandwiches.
He leaves fifty pence and goes into the bathroom.
Cate comes further into the room.
She puts her bag down and bounces on the bed.
She goes around the room, looking in every drawer, touching everything.
She smells the flowers and smiles.
Cate Lovely.
Ian comes back in, hair wet, towel around his waist, drying himself
off.
He stops and looks at Cate who is sucking her thumb.
He goes back in the bathroom where he dresses.
We hear him coughing terribly in the bathroom.
He spits in the sink and re-enters.
Cate You all right?
Ian It's nothing.
He pours himself another gin, this time with ice and tonic, and sips it at a more normal pace.
He collects his gun and puts it in his under-arm holster.
He smiles at Cate.
Ian goes into the bathroom and we hear him run the water. He comes back in with only a towel around his waist and a revolver in his hand. He checks it is loaded and puts it under his pillow.
Ian Tip that wog when he brings up the sandwiches.
He leaves fifty pence and goes into the bathroom.
Cate comes further into the room.
She puts her bag down and bounces on the bed.
She goes around the room, looking in every drawer, touching everything.
She smells the flowers and smiles.
Cate Lovely.
Ian comes back in, hair wet, towel around his waist, drying himself
off.
He stops and looks at Cate who is sucking her thumb.
He goes back in the bathroom where he dresses.
We hear him coughing terribly in the bathroom.
He spits in the sink and re-enters.
Cate You all right?
Ian It's nothing.
He pours himself another gin, this time with ice and tonic, and sips it at a more normal pace.
He collects his gun and puts it in his under-arm holster.
He smiles at Cate.
Ian I'm glad you've come. Didn't think you would.
(He offers her champagne.)
Cate (Shakes her head.)
I was worried.
Ian This? (He indicates his chest.) Don't matter.
Cate I didn't mean that. You sounded unhappy.
Ian (Pops the champagne. He pours them both a glass.)
Cate What we celebrating?
Ian (Doesn't answer. He goes to the window and looks out.)
Hate this city. Stinks. Wogs and Pakis taking over.
Cate You shouldn't call them that.
Ian Why not?
Cate It's not very nice.
Ian You a nigger-lover?
Cate Ian, don't.
Ian You like our coloured brethren?
Cate Don't mind them.
Ian Grow up.
Cate There's Indians at the day centre where my brother goes. They're really polite.
Ian So they should be.
Cate He's friends with some of them.
Ian Retard, isn't he?
Cate No, he's got learning difficulties.
Ian Aye. Spaz.
Cate No he's not.
Ian Glad my son's not a Joey.
Cate Don't c- call him that.
Ian Your mother I feel sorry for. Two of you like it.
Cate Like wh- what?
Ian (Looks at her, deciding whether or not to continue. He decides against it.)
You know I love you.
Cate (Smiles a big smile, friendly and non-sexual.)
Ian Don't want you ever to leave.
Cate I'm here for the night.
Ian (Drinks.)
Sweating again. Stink. You ever thought of getting married?
Cate Who'd marry me?
Ian I would.
Cate I couldn't.
Ian You don't love me. I don't blame you, I wouldn't.
Cate I couldn't leave Mum.
Ian Have to one day.
Cate Why?
Ian (Opens his mouth to answer but can't think of one.)
There is a knock at the door.
Ian starts, and Cate goes to answer it.
Ian Don't.
Cate Why not?
Ian I said.
He takes his gun from the holster and goes to the door.
He listens.
Nothing.
Cate (Giggles.)
Ian Shh.
He listens.
Still nothing.
Ian Probably the wog with the sarnies. Open it.
Cate opens the door.
There's no one there, just a tray of sandwiches on the floor.
She brings them in and examines them.
Cate Ham. Don't believe it.
Ian (Takes a sandwich and eats it)
Champagne?
Cate (Shakes her head.)
Ian Got something against ham?
Cate Dead meat. Blood. Can't eat an animal.
Ian No one would know.
Cate No, I can't, I actually can't, I'd puke all over the place.
Ian It's only a pig.
Cate I'm hungry.
Ian Have one of these.
Cate I CAN'T.
Ian I'll take you out for an Indian.
Jesus, what's this? Cheese.
Cate beams.
She separates the cheese sandwiches from the ham ones, and eats.
Ian watches her.
Ian Don't like your clothes.
Cate (Looks down at her clothes)
Ian You look like a lesbos.
Cate What's that?
Ian Don't look very sexy, that's all.
Cate Oh.
(She continues to eat)
Don't like your clothes either.
Ian (Looks down at his clothes.
Then gets up, takes them all off and stands in front of her, naked.)
Put your mouth on me.
Cate (Stares. Then bursts out laughing.)
Ian No?
Fine.
Because I stink?
Cate (Laughs even more.)
Ian attempts to dress, but fumbles with embarrassment.
He gathers his clothes and goes into the bathroom where he dresses.
Cate eats, and giggles over the sandwiches.
Ian returns, fully dressed.
He picks up his gun, unloads and reloads it.
Ian You got a job yet?
Cate No.
Ian Still screwing the taxpayer.
Cate Mum gives me money.
Ian When are you going to stand on your own feet?
Cate I've applied for a job at an advertising agency.
Ian (Laughs genuinely)
No chance.
Cate Why not?
Ian (Stops laughing and looks at her.)
Cate. You're stupid. You're never going to get a job.
Cate I am. I am not.
Ian See.
Cate St- Stop it. You're doing it deliberately.
Ian Doing what?
Cate C- Confusing me.
Ian No, I'm talking, you're just too thick to understand.
Cate I am not, I am not.
Cate begins to tremble. Ian is laughing.
Cate faints.
Ian stops laughing and stares at her motionless body.
Ian Cate?
(He turns her over and lifts up her eyelids.
He doesn't know what to do.
He gets a glass of gin and dabs some on her face)
Cate (Sits bolt upright, eyes open but still unconscious.)
Ian Fucking Jesus.
Cate (Bursts out laughing, unnaturally, hysterically, uncontrollably)
Ian Stop fucking about.
Cate (Collapses again and lies still)
Ian stands by helplessly.
After a few moments, Cate comes round as if waking up in the morning.
Ian What the Christ was that?
Cate Have to tell her.
Ian Cate?
Cate She's in danger.
(She closes her eyes and slowly comes back to normal.
She looks at Ian and smiles)
(He offers her champagne.)
Cate (Shakes her head.)
I was worried.
Ian This? (He indicates his chest.) Don't matter.
Cate I didn't mean that. You sounded unhappy.
Ian (Pops the champagne. He pours them both a glass.)
Cate What we celebrating?
Ian (Doesn't answer. He goes to the window and looks out.)
Hate this city. Stinks. Wogs and Pakis taking over.
Cate You shouldn't call them that.
Ian Why not?
Cate It's not very nice.
Ian You a nigger-lover?
Cate Ian, don't.
Ian You like our coloured brethren?
Cate Don't mind them.
Ian Grow up.
Cate There's Indians at the day centre where my brother goes. They're really polite.
Ian So they should be.
Cate He's friends with some of them.
Ian Retard, isn't he?
Cate No, he's got learning difficulties.
Ian Aye. Spaz.
Cate No he's not.
Ian Glad my son's not a Joey.
Cate Don't c- call him that.
Ian Your mother I feel sorry for. Two of you like it.
Cate Like wh- what?
Ian (Looks at her, deciding whether or not to continue. He decides against it.)
You know I love you.
Cate (Smiles a big smile, friendly and non-sexual.)
Ian Don't want you ever to leave.
Cate I'm here for the night.
Ian (Drinks.)
Sweating again. Stink. You ever thought of getting married?
Cate Who'd marry me?
Ian I would.
Cate I couldn't.
Ian You don't love me. I don't blame you, I wouldn't.
Cate I couldn't leave Mum.
Ian Have to one day.
Cate Why?
Ian (Opens his mouth to answer but can't think of one.)
There is a knock at the door.
Ian starts, and Cate goes to answer it.
Ian Don't.
Cate Why not?
Ian I said.
He takes his gun from the holster and goes to the door.
He listens.
Nothing.
Cate (Giggles.)
Ian Shh.
He listens.
Still nothing.
Ian Probably the wog with the sarnies. Open it.
Cate opens the door.
There's no one there, just a tray of sandwiches on the floor.
She brings them in and examines them.
Cate Ham. Don't believe it.
Ian (Takes a sandwich and eats it)
Champagne?
Cate (Shakes her head.)
Ian Got something against ham?
Cate Dead meat. Blood. Can't eat an animal.
Ian No one would know.
Cate No, I can't, I actually can't, I'd puke all over the place.
Ian It's only a pig.
Cate I'm hungry.
Ian Have one of these.
Cate I CAN'T.
Ian I'll take you out for an Indian.
Jesus, what's this? Cheese.
Cate beams.
She separates the cheese sandwiches from the ham ones, and eats.
Ian watches her.
Ian Don't like your clothes.
Cate (Looks down at her clothes)
Ian You look like a lesbos.
Cate What's that?
Ian Don't look very sexy, that's all.
Cate Oh.
(She continues to eat)
Don't like your clothes either.
Ian (Looks down at his clothes.
Then gets up, takes them all off and stands in front of her, naked.)
Put your mouth on me.
Cate (Stares. Then bursts out laughing.)
Ian No?
Fine.
Because I stink?
Cate (Laughs even more.)
Ian attempts to dress, but fumbles with embarrassment.
He gathers his clothes and goes into the bathroom where he dresses.
Cate eats, and giggles over the sandwiches.
Ian returns, fully dressed.
He picks up his gun, unloads and reloads it.
Ian You got a job yet?
Cate No.
Ian Still screwing the taxpayer.
Cate Mum gives me money.
Ian When are you going to stand on your own feet?
Cate I've applied for a job at an advertising agency.
Ian (Laughs genuinely)
No chance.
Cate Why not?
Ian (Stops laughing and looks at her.)
Cate. You're stupid. You're never going to get a job.
Cate I am. I am not.
Ian See.
Cate St- Stop it. You're doing it deliberately.
Ian Doing what?
Cate C- Confusing me.
Ian No, I'm talking, you're just too thick to understand.
Cate I am not, I am not.
Cate begins to tremble. Ian is laughing.
Cate faints.
Ian stops laughing and stares at her motionless body.
Ian Cate?
(He turns her over and lifts up her eyelids.
He doesn't know what to do.
He gets a glass of gin and dabs some on her face)
Cate (Sits bolt upright, eyes open but still unconscious.)
Ian Fucking Jesus.
Cate (Bursts out laughing, unnaturally, hysterically, uncontrollably)
Ian Stop fucking about.
Cate (Collapses again and lies still)
Ian stands by helplessly.
After a few moments, Cate comes round as if waking up in the morning.
Ian What the Christ was that?
Cate Have to tell her.
Ian Cate?
Cate She's in danger.
(She closes her eyes and slowly comes back to normal.
She looks at Ian and smiles)
About
Genius Annotation
The opening of Sarah Kane’s infamous debut play. First performed in 1995, it was extremely contentious and controversial at the time, but is now widely acknowledged as a seminal work of contemporary theater.
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Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
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