A Word, Timothy

	Stephen is in his study at home. There is a knock 
	at the door.


Stephen		Come in.

	Hugh enters.

Hugh		Hello, father. Mother said you wanted to see
		me.

Stephen		Yes, Timothy. A word. I want to ... (He is
		trying to open a drawer in his desk) Damn this
		drawer, I just cannot open it, would you mind, I
		wonder Timothy?

	Hugh goes round and easily opens the drawer.

		(Eyes rolling to heaven) Yes, yes. I knew it. I tried to
		go on fighting it, but I could not. It is true. Every
		word is true.

Hugh		(Puzzled) Father?

Stephen		Timothy, it is time you knew who you were.

Hugh		But I know who I am, father.

Stephen		No, child, you do not.

Hugh		I am Timothy Forrest.

Stephen		No. I wish it were true, but no. Sit. Twenty-four
		years ago a doctor told your mother and me that it
		was impossible that we could ever have children.

Hugh		Oh. Why not?

Stephen		I can't remember the precise reason. It was
		something to do with penises I think. We decided
		to adopt a child.

Hugh		I see. And you chose me.

Stephen		After a great deal of shopping around, yes. From a
		new edge-of-town orphanage that had just opened
		in Royston.

Hugh		Did they tell you who my real parents were?

Stephen		They told us that you were an orphan, that your real
		parents had died in a walking accident shortly after
		your birth. But that was a lie as we subsequently had
		cause to understand.

Hugh		They're still alive?

Stephen		Let me tell this in my own time, in my own
		way, in my own clothes, Timothy.

Hugh		I'm sorry, father.

Stephen		On your seventh birthday a man called round to
		this house. His name was Furlo Roth. He took out a
		silver multi-bladed knife and placed it in this drawer,
		the one you have just opened. (Stephen takes out the 
		knife) He closed the drawer and said that only the
		Chosen One could open it. You, Timothy ... you
		are the Chosen One.

Hugh		I am?

Stephen		And this (indicating knife) is Berwhale. The avenger.
		The weapon of the Chosen One. Tomorrow is your
		twenty-fifth birthday and you must leave us to go in
		search of Pewnack, the Destroyer, the Dark One, the
		Beast.

Hugh		Golly.

Stephen		When the fourth moon of Trollack rises above the
		Cylinder of Eyelass then Pewnack will strike. His
		kingdom will be numberless and darkness will
		blight the land, all men shall be slaves and the time
		of weeping will begin. So it is written in the runes
		of Ollerman-Goth, so it must be. Only the Chosen
		One can stop him, and only Berwhale, the avenger,
		can pierce the armour of the beast.

Hugh		I knew it! It sounds funny, father, but in my heart I
		knew there was something. I realise now that I have
		been waiting for this moment all my life.

Stephen		Yes! Yes, it must be so.

Hugh		Where do I find this beast, this Pewnack the destroyer?

Stephen		He lives in Saffron Walden.

Hugh		Saffron Walden, right.

Stephen		You must go there. Surprise is the key. If he
		knew you were after him he would set the minions
		of Threek on you. Become a part of the community.
		Get a job in a canning factory. Bide your time.

Hugh		Yes. How will I know this Beast?

Stephen		Only Teece, the Wise One, can tell you.

Hugh		Teece.

Stephen		Teece. In six months, when you have been accepted
		by the Saffron Walden community Furlo Roth will
		come to you and tell you how you might find Teece
		and begin the battle to free us of Pewnack.

Hugh		Yes! Yes! It shall be done.

Stephen		Now take Berwhale, the avenger and go upstairs
		and wash your hands for lunch.

Hugh		Right.

	Exit Hugh.

	Stephen looks sorrowfully after him.

	Enter woman.

Woman		Well?

Stephen		I think he swallowed it.

Woman		Thank God.

Stephen		We'll get that lazy sod out of the house and earning
		his living.

Stephen		Only one decent brothel left in
		this part of town now. I remember
		when it was built. I fainted halfway
		through the topping-out ceremony
		as a matter of fact.