[TASTE]

[Mrinmay Kushal, Ashlesha Singhal]

-0-
CHARACTERS (in order of introduction):

Sally. Talkative, bright-eyed, elegant, late 20s. (blue and purple-y vibe)

Edward. Observant, debonair, late 20s. (blue and purple-y vibe)

Richard. Distasteful wine connoisseur, extremely well dressed but not at all well put
together, something cringy about him despite looking and
sounding impressive. (checkered somber maroon feel)

Mike. A London stockbroker, in essence a non-potbellied Slughorn. (upbeat gray

formal)

Margaret. Dignified and disapproving ex-schoolmistress, a frigid but extremely

graceful way of conducting herself. (jewel tones, too many
stones)

Louise. Breezy, spoilt charming girl who demands what she wants but cannot assert
herself. (pastel-y)

DESCRIPTIONS

Dining. There are yellow roses on the dining table. There is a large quantity of
shining silver, three wine glasses to each person and, the faint
smell of roasting meat from the kitchen bringing on a strong
desire for the immediate satisfaction of their hunger.

SCENE 1

Setting: [London.]

At Rise: [Mike’ s well-done-up living room at the back, a dining table in

the front. The interiors are fancy and modern but with lace
and pastels and patterns for a vintage feel.]

Time: The sun has just set.

[SALLY and EDWARD are walking up to Richard’s

place. -Voiceover-]

-1-
 SALLY
I cannot believe this is happening. I managed to worm my way out of the last two dinners
but Margaret can get so insistent! And I’m so fond of them, you know I am! It’s just.. that
Mike can get unbearable around Richard, GOD. And from what you’ve told me of the last
two dinners, (voice heavy with sarcasm) I cannot wait to see the display of extravagance.

EDWARD
Oh (laughs) indeed yes, my dear, and you are going see the signs at dinner tonight. But
don’t be too harsh on them, the Schofields are excellent hosts, you cannot deny that , and
Monsieur Linguini will have outdone himself to impress for your beloved Richard Pratt.

SALLY
Oh, stop it. Like I don’t hear enough of him every other day at the magazine to have to
socialize with him over a rare weekend (mimics) “a man famous for his love for food and
wine and worthy president of a small society known as the Epicures. Each month he sends
privately to its members, exclusive information about food and wines.”
[Doorbell rings. Edward and Sally enter.]

MIKE
Well, hello! If it isn’t the editor herself, finally gracing us with her presence! And my
favourite, Edward! (hugs them and welcomes them in)
[everyone greets one another. They all
settle down on the sofas]

MARGARET
Richard should be here any moment, he’s heading here from one or the other of his famous
dinners where wonderful dishes and rare wines are served. Of course they love him! And
he is dedicated, you can’t take that away from him. His dedication is so inspiring, his
refusal to smoke for fear of harming his ability to taste, and his passion while discussing a
wine, describing it as if it were a living being.

SALLY
(laughs) I’m sure. I’ll hear about it soon enough, that’s a part of my job. I keep hearing
about Mike and him playing their little game each time they meet.

MARGARET
Oh, why did you have to bring that up?

EDWARD

A simple betting where Richard guesses the name and age of a wine presented by Mike.

-2-
 MIKE
Yes, it is a fun game.

EDWARD
I don’t think its fun for you Mike. You lose every time to Richard and I’m pretty sure you
will lose today too if it is played.(winks)

MIKE
We will see about that.

[Richard enters. Everyone greets one another

and sit down to talk. Indistinct small
talk.]
EDWARD
Hey! Richard is here.
SALLY
Yes, Richard is here. (exasperated tone)
MARGARET
Welcome Richard. How was the dinner?
RICHARD
Yeah. It was good. I have been to better ones.
MIKE
Hello! Richard. I think we should discuss the rest at the table. I went to check with the
maid and the food is almost ready.
RICHARD
You all go ahead. I need to use the washroom. I will join you in a bit. Hi! Louisa.

SCENE 2

At Rise: [Everyone is seated and helping themselves to the great looking

meal set before them.]

Time: The clock is striking nine.

[Lights come on at the ninth dong]
SALLY
Mmm… this fish fried in butter is heavenly.

MIKE
Don’t forget the mosel wine Richard.

-3-
 EDWARD
Geierslay Ohligsberg 1945. Interesting.

MIKE
Geierslay is a small village in the Mosel area, almost unknown outside Germany. This wine
we are drinking is something unusual. So little of this wine was produced that it was
almost impossible for a stranger to get any of it. I had visited Geierslay personally the
summer before in order to obtain the few bottles that they allowed me to have.

EDWARD
Quite impressive Mike.

MIKE
Don’t you want to have a taste Richard?

RICHARD
So, Louisa as I was saying, that cook was one of the most amazing guys I have ever met.

LOUISA
I definitely am going visit that restaurant the next time I am in Paris.

RICHARD
You really should.

EDWARD
Say Mr Richard, what do you think about this one?

SALLY
(mocking RICHARD) A sensible wine, rather shy but quite sensible.

EDWARD
And the one we had before?

SALLY
(mocking RICHARD again) A good humoured wine, kind and cheerful - slightly rude
perhaps, but still good-natured.
[RICHARD looks amused.]

-4-
 MIKE
(to EDWARD) I doubt whether anyone else in the country has any of it at the moment.

(cont.) (louder, addressing the table at large with an air of importance) The great thing
about Mosel is that it's the perfect wine to serve before a claret. A lot of people serve a
Rhine wine instead, but that's because they don't know any better.

(to EDWARD) An attractive little wine, don't you think?

EDWARD
Indeed.

[RICHARD gives a quick look down the table

each time he dropped his head to take a
mouthful of fish. As he spoke, he leans
closer and closer to her, and the poor girl
leans as far as she could away from him,
smiling politely and looking not at his face
but at the top button of his dinner jacket.
They finish their fish, and the SERVANT
comes round and takes away the plates. When
she comes to PRATT, he has not yet touched
his food, so she waits, and PRATT notices
her. He quickly begins to eat, pushing the
pieces of fish into his mouth with rapid
movements of his fork. Then, when he had
finished, he reaches for his glass, and in
two short swallows he pours the wine down
his throat and turns immediately to continue
his conversation with LOUISE. Mike sees it
all, conscious of him sitting there, very
still, looking at his guest. His round,
cheerful face seems to loosen slightly, but
he controlled himself and said nothing.
Soon the servant comes forward with the
second course. This is a large joint of
roast meat. She places it on the table in
front of MIKE, who stands up and cuts it
very thinly, laying the pieces gently on the
plates for her to take to the guests. When
everyone has been served, he puts down the
knife and leans forward with both hands on
the edge of the table.]

-5-
 MIKE
(to everyone) Now, for the claret. I must go and get it, if you'll excuse me.

EDWARD
Get it? Where is it?

MIKE
In my study, already open; it's breathing.

EDWARD
Why the study?

MIKE
It's the best place in the house for a wine to reach room temperature. Richard helped me
to choose it last time he was here.

[At the sound of his name, RICHARD looked

round.]

MIKE
That's right, isn't it?

RICHARD
(seriously) Yes, that’s right.

MIKE
On top of the green cupboard in my study, that's the place we chose; a good spot in a
room with an even temperature. Now, without any further ado, let me go get it.

[The thought of another wine to play with

had cheered him up, and he hurried out of
the door. He returned a minute later more
slowly, walking softly, holding in both
hands a wine basket in which a dark bottle
lay with the name out of sight, facing
downwards.]

MIKE
Now! What about this one, Richard? You'll never name this one!

[RICHARD turns slowly and looked up at MIKE,

then his eyes travelled down to the bottle
in its small basket. He stuck out his wet
-6-
 lower lip, suddenly proud and ugly.]

MIKE
You'll never get it, not in a hundred years.

RICHARD
(rudely) A claret?

MIKE
Of course.

RICHARD
I suppose, then, that not much of this particular claret is produced?

MIKE
Perhaps it is, Richard. And perhaps it isn't.

RICHARD
But it's a good year? One of the great years?

MIKE
Yes, I can promise that.

RICHARD
(Speaks slowly, looking extremely bored, but there is something strange about his way of
speaking; between the eyes there was a shadow of something evil, and there should be a
faint sense of discomfort as the people watch him.) Then it shouldn’t be too difficult.

MIKE
This one is really rather difficult, I won't force you to bet on this one.

RICHARD
Really. And why not?

MIKE
Because it's difficult.

RICHARD
That's rather an insult to me, you know.

-7-
 MIKE
My dear man, I'll have a bet on it with pleasure, if that's what you wish.

RICHARD
It shouldn't be too hard to name it.

MIKE
You mean you want to bet?

RICHARD
I'm perfectly ready to bet.

MIKE
All right, then, we'll bet the usual. A case of the wine itself

RICHARD
You don't think I'll be able to name it, do you?

MIKE
As a matter of fact, and with respect, I don't.
[He was trying to remain polite, but PRATT
was making little attempt to hide his low
opinion of the whole business. Strangely,
though, his next question seemed to show a
certain interest.]
RICHARD
Would you like to increase the bet?

MIKE
No, Richard. A case is enough.

RICHARD
Would you like to bet fifty cases?

MIKE
That would be silly.

[MIKE stands very still behind his chair at

the head of the table, carefully holding the
bottle in its basket. There is a whiteness
about his nose now and his mouth is shut

-8-
 very tightly.
PRATT is sitting back in his chair, looking
up at MIKE. His eyes are half closed, and a
little smile on his lips. And again, you can
see something very evil about the man's
face.]

RICHARD
So you don't want to increase the bet?

MIKE
As far as I'm concerned, I don't care, I'll bet you anything you like.

[Everyone else at the table sit quietly,

watching the two men. MIKE's wife is
becoming annoyed; it feels that at any
moment she is going to interrupt. The meat
lies in front of them on their plates,
slowly steaming.]

RICHARD
So you'll bet me anything I like?

MIKE
That's what I told you. I'll bet you anything you like.

RICHARD
Even ten thousand pounds?

MIKE
Certainly I will, if that's the way you want it. (He’s more confident now, knowing quite
well that he can afford any sum that Pratt mentioned)

RICHARD
So you say that I can name the bet?

MIKE
That's what I said.
(There is a pause while Pratt looks slowly round the table, first at Ed, then at the three
women, each in turn. He seems to be reminding that they are witnesses to the offer).

-9-
 MARGARET
Mike! Mike, why don't we stop this nonsense and eat our food. It's getting cold.

MIKE
But it isn't nonsense, we’re making a little bet.

[The SERVANT is standing at the back of the

room, holding a dish of vegetables,
wondering whether to come forward with them
or not.]

RICHARD
All right, then, I'll tell you what I want you to bet.

MIKE
Tell me then I don't care what it is. I'll bet.

RICHARD
(Again, the little smile moves the corners of PRATT's lips, and then, quite slowly, looking
at MIKE all the time-)
I want you to bet me the hand of your daughter in marriage.

LOUISE
(gives a jump, cries out) Hey! No! That's not funny! Look here, Daddy, that's not funny at
all.

MARGARET
No, dear, they're only joking.

RICHARD
I'm not joking.

MIKE
(He is not in control of the situation, the frenzy of trying to regain his ground apparent
on his face.) It's stupid.

RICHARD
You said you'd bet anything I liked.

- 10 -
 MIKE
I meant money.

RICHARD
You didn't say money.

MIKE
That's what I meant.

RICHARD
Then it's a pity you didn't say it. But, if you wish to take back your offer, that's quite all
right with me.

MIKE
It's not a question of taking back my offer, old man. It's not a proper bet because you
haven't got a daughter to offer me in case you lose. And if you had, I wouldn't want to
marry her.

MARGARET
I'm glad of that, dear.

RICHARD
I'll offer anything you like. My house, for example. How about my house?

MIKE
Which one?

RICHARD
The country one.

MIKE
Why not the other one as well?

RICHARD
All right, then, if you wish it. Both my houses.

[At this point, Mike pauses. He takes a step

forward and places the bottle in its basket

- 11 -
 gently down on the table. LOUISE notices his
pause-]

LOUISE
Now, Daddy! Don't be stupid! It's all too silly for words. I refuse to be betted on like this.

MARGARET
Quite right, dear, stop it immediately Mike, and sit down and eat your food.

[MIKE ignores her. Looks over at his

daughter and he smiles a slow, fatherly,
protective smile. In his eyes is suddenly
shining the faint light of victory.]

MIKE
You know, you know, Louise, we ought to think about this a bit.

LOUISE
Now stop it, Daddy! I refuse even to listen to you! Why, I've never heard anything so
crazy in all my life!

MIKE
No, seriously, my dear. Just wait a moment and hear what I have to say.
LOUISE
But I don't want to hear it.

MIKE
Louise, please! It's like this. Richard, here, has offered us a serious bet. He is the one who
wants to make it, not me. And if he loses, he will have to hand over a large amount of
property. Now wait a minute, my dear, don’t interrupt. The point is this. He cannot
possibly win.

LOUISE
He seems to think he can.

MIKE
Now listen to me, because I know what I'm talking about. The claret I've got here comes
from a very small wine-growing area that is surrounded by many other small areas that
produce different varieties of wine. He'll never get it. It's impossible.

- 12 -
 LOUISE
You can't be sure of that.

MIKE
I'm telling you I can. Though I say it myself, I understand quite a bit about this wine
business, you know. Heavens, girl, I'm your father and you don't think I'd make you do -
do something you didn't want to do, do you? I'm trying to make you some money.

MARGARET
Mike! Stop it now, Mike, please!

MIKE
(ignores her) If you will take this bet, in ten minutes you'll be the owner of two large
houses.

LOUISE
But I don't want two large houses, Daddy.

MIKE
Then sell them. Sell them back to him immediately. I'll arrange all that for you. And then,
just think of it, my dear, you'll be rich! You'll be independent for the rest of your life!

LOUISE
Oh, Daddy, I don't like it. I think it's silly.

MARGARET
So do I, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, Michael, for even suggesting such a thing!
Your own daughter, too!

[MIKE does not look at her, half guilty and

half ignoring.]

MIKE
Take it! (more eager, looks hard at the girl) Take it, quickly! I promise you won't lose.

LOUISE
But I don't like it, Daddy.

- 13 -
 MIKE
Come on, girl. Take it!

(MIKE is pushing her hard. He is leaning

towards her, and fixing her with two bright,
determined eyes, and it is not easy for his
daughter to refuse him.)

LOUISE
But what if I lose?

MIKE
I keep telling you, you can't lose.

LOUISE
Oh, Daddy, must I?

MIKE
I'm making you a fortune. So come on now. What do you say, Louise? All right?

(For the last time, she pauses. Then she

gives a helpless little movement of the
shoulders and looks around helplessly at the
others on the table)

LOUISE
Oh, all right, then. Just so long as you swear there's no danger of losing.

MIKE
Good! That's fine! Then it's a bet!

RICHARD
(looks straight at Mike) Yes.
(looking at LOUISE) It's a bet.

(Immediately, MIKE picks up the wine and

walks excitedly round the table, filling up
everybody's glasses. Now everybody starts
- 14 -
 watching RICHARD. He reaches slowly for his
glass with his right hand and lifts it to
his nose. The man was about fifty years old
and he did not have a pleasant face.
Somehow, it was all mouth — mouth and lips —
the full, wet lips of the professional
epicure. The lower lip hung down in the
centre, a permanently open taster's lip.
Like a keyhole, I thought, watching it; his
mouth is like a large wet keyhole.)

MIKE
Okay Richard, show us your skills, we all are waiting for you to amaze us.

RICHARD
As you wish Mike.

[Slowly he lifts the glass to his nose. The

point of his nose enters the glass and moves
over the surface of the wine. He moves the
wine gently around in the glass to smell it
better. He closed his eyes, and now the
whole top half of his body, the head and
neck and chest, seemed to become a kind of
large sensitive smelling-machine]

[MIKE sits back in his chair, trying to

appear unconcerned, but he is watching every
movement. MARGARET sits upright at the other
end of the table, looking straight ahead,
her face tight with disapproval. LOUISE,
moves her chair away a little and sideways,
facing the epicure, and she, like her
father, is watching closely. For at least a
minute, the smelling process continues;
then, without opening his eyes or moving his
head, PRATT lowered the glass to his mouth
and poured in almost half the wine. He
pauses, his mouth full, getting the first
taste. And now, without swallowing, he takes
in through his lips a thin breath of air
which mixes with the wine in the mouth and
passes on down into his lungs. He holds his
breath, blows it out through his nose, and
finally begins to roll the wine around under

- 15 -
 his tongue. It is an impressive
performance.]

RICHARD
Um! Yes. It’s a very interesting wine. It’s gentle. It’s graceful. Let’s use the art of negative
deduction and deduce what this wine is not.
MIKE
If that’s what you please Richard.

RICHARD
I must do it carefully you know. There’s a lot to lose here Mike.

MIKE
Sure, I understand.

RICHARD
So first, then, which area of Bordeaux does this wine come from? That's not too difficult
to guess. It's far too light to be from either St Emilion or Graves. It's obviously a Medoc.
There's no doubt about that. Now, from which part of Medoc does it come? That should
not be too difficult to decide. Margaux? No, it cannot be Margaux. Pauillac? It cannot be
Pauillac, either. It is too gentle for Pauillac. No, no, this is a very gentle wine.
Unmistakably this is a St Julien.

MIKE
That’s not going to win you this bet Richard.

[RICHARD leans back in his chair and places

his fingers carefully together, just then
LOUISE is about to light a cigarette.]

RICHARD
(snapping irritably) It’s a terrible habit Louise, put it away.

[LOUISE looks up at him, slowly and

disrespectfully, still holding the burning
match in one hand. She blows out the match,
but continues to hold the unlighted
cigarette in her fingers.]

RICHARD
(suddenly expression changes to sickeningly sweet) I am so sorry for being rude Louise.
It’s just that I can’t tolerate a smoke at the table.

- 16 -
 MIKE
Richard I think we are moving off the main scheme of things here.

RICHARD
Oh Yes, So where were we? Yes. This wine is from Bordeaux, from St Julien, in the area
of Medoc. So far, so good. But now we come to the more difficult part - the name of the
producer. For in St Julien there are so many, and as our host so rightly remarked, there is
often not much difference between the wine of one and the wine of another. But we shall
see.

MIKE
Go on Richard. It seems more like you are beating around the bush.

RICHARD
We will see that later Mike.

[He picks up his glass and takes another

small drink.]

RICHARD
Yes (sucks lips) I was right. Now I am sure of it. It's from a very good year - from a great
year, in fact. That's better! Now we are closing in! Who are the wine producers in the area
of St Julien?

[Again he pauses. He takes up his glass.

Then his tongue shoots out, pink and narrow,
the end of it reaching into the wine. A
horrible sight. When he lowers his glass,
his eyes remains closed. Only his lips are
moving, sliding over each other like two
pieces of wet rubber.]

MIKE
You are the one who is going to answer your own queries Richard. No helpers here.
Sorry.

RICHARD
Let me concentrate Mike. Very soon you might not have any words to speak. So, coming
back to the wine. The wine comes from around Beychevelle. I remember now. The
Beychevelle area, and the river and the little port. Could it actually be Beychevelle itself?
No, I don't think so. Not quite. But it is somewhere very close. Talbot? Could it be Talbot?
Yes, it could. Wait one moment.'

- 17 -
 [RICHARD drinks a little more wine with
MIKE’s eyes firmly fixed on him.]

RICHARD
No, I was wrong. It is not a Talbot. A Talbot comes forward to you just a little more
quickly than this one; the fruit is nearer the surface. If it is a '34, which I believe it is, then
it couldn't be a Talbot. Well, well, let me think. It is not a Beychevelle and it is not a
Talbot, but — but it is so close to both of them, so close, that it must be from somewhere
almost in between. Now, which could that be?

[A moment of eerie silence, everyone’s eyes

are now fixed on RICHARD. For the last time,
RICHARD drinks some wine. Then, still
holding the glass up near his mouth, he
turns to MIKE and he smiles, a slow, silky
smile.]

RICHARD
You know what this is? This is the little Chateau Branaire-Ducru. And the year, 1934.

[Now everyone’s eyes were firmly fixed on

MIKE]
MIKE
Is that your final answer?

RICHARD
Yes, it is.

MIKE
What was the name again?

RICHARD
Chateau Branaire-Ducru. Pretty little farm. Lovely old house. I know it quite well. I can't
think why I didn't recognize it immediately.

LOUISE
Come on, Daddy. Turn the bottle round and let's have a look. I want my two houses.

MIKE
Just a minute please.

[MIKE’s face turns white as if all his energy

has been sucked out.]
- 18 -
 MARGARET
What is the matter Michael?

MIKE
Stay out this Margaret.

[RICHARD is looking at MIKE, smiling with

his mouth, his eyes small and bright. MIKE
was not looking at anyone.]

LOUISE
Daddy don’t tell me he guessed it right!

MIKE
Stop worrying my dear. There’s nothing to worry about.

[Suddenly, turns to RICHARD]

MIKE
I think you and I had better go into the next room and have a little talk.

RICHARD
I don't want a little talk, Mike, all I want is to see the name on that bottle. So go on, turn
it around.

[Suddenly the servant comes out from the

background holding something in her hand and
moving towards RICHARD]

SERVANT
I believe these are yours, sir.

RICHARD
Are they? Perhaps they are, I don't know.

SERVANT
Yes, sir, they're yours.

[PRATT takes them quite rudely and slips

them into his top pocket.

- 19 -
 The SERVANT remains standing beside RICHARD,
and there is something unusual in her manner
and in the way she stands there, small,
still and upright. Her old grey face had a
cold, determined look.]

SERVANT
You left them in Mr Schofield's study on top of the green cupboard in his study, sir, when
you happened to go in there by yourself before dinner.

[It takes a few moments for the full meaning

of her words to be understood, and in the
silence that follows, MIKE slowly pulls
himself up in his chair, and the colour come
to his face, and his eyes opened wide, and a
dangerous whiteness begins to spread around
his nose.]

MARGARET
Keep calm now, Michael, dear! Keep calm!'

-LIGHTS OUT-

- 20 -