The Evacuee

Genre: Historical Drama

Eddy Taylor co-authored The Evacuee in spring 2024. The play follows Thomas, the heir to the Baker-Barbier estate during the height of the Blitz where his life is uprooted by the arrival of Peter, a war orphan from the Channel Islands, who steadily becomes the pride of the family and threatens to steal Thomas’s inheritance.

Praised for its vividly illustrated world and rich set up, The Evacuee tackles themes of toxic masculinity, found family and the complexities of male relationships in war time.

Preview

ALBERT and THOMAS are walking through the forest outside the Baker-Barbier Estate. ALBERT is holding a gun. 

ALBERT: Watch. Make sure you crouch, rest the rifle under your chin and steady yourself.

THOMAS: Yes, sir.

ALBERT: You’ve got to be quick to catch these buggers.

They wait in silence.

ALBERT: (Whispering.) Can you hear that Thomas? Now look.

THOMAS puts his hands over his ears as ALBERT readies his shot.

ALBERT: Closer... Yes. Yes.

The gun explodes. The sound of a deer shrieking and another deer scuttering. ALBERT turns back to THOMAS, who quickly lowers his hands.

ALBERT: See what I did there, boy?

THOMAS: Yes, father.

ALBERT and THOMAS walk in silence. ALBERT stops walking. THOMAS looks back, before stopping too.

ALBERT: Crouch, boy. Crouch. Here’s the spot. Look.

THOMAS: Where?

ALBERT: Shush. Quiet. Look.

THOMAS nods. 

ALBERT: Warning, the gun is heavy.

THOMAS: You can say that again.

ALBERT chuckles. THOMAS smiles meekly. 

THOMAS: Like this?

ALBERT: Crouch more and hold it steady. And… fire.

Gun explodes. The bullet grazes the deer’s leg. It scutters away, hobbling.

Pause.

ALBERT: Not bad for a first try, son. How did that feel?

THOMAS: Heavy. But not as difficult as-

ALBERT: Good. We’ll make a soldie- hunter out of you yet.

THOMAS: Yes, sir.

They find a spot. ALBERT and THOMAS stop walking. Both of them crouch.

THOMAS: Father, look! Two deer.

ALBERT puts his finger to his lips.

ALBERT: (Whispering.) Now wait.

The gun slips out of THOMAS’s hands with a loud thud. The sound of one deer scurrying off. The other stays.

THOMAS: (Whispering.) I can do this.

THOMAS picks up the gun. He glances at ALBERT. He sees his disappointment. THOMAS shoots with abandon. The bullet flies into a tree. The deer scurries.

Pause. 

ALBERT: Not to worry, boy. We still have dinner, thanks to me. You should return to the house.

THOMAS does not move.

ALBERT: Cook should be preparing dinner by now. You could even help her.

THOMAS: I-

ALBERT: Run along without me. I want to check the traps.

THOMAS: Y-yes, sir. (Coughs.) Thank you, father. 

ALBERT shakes his head at THOMAS, gestures for him to leave. 

THOMAS exits.

ALBERT walks over to the dead deer and hauls it over his back. He exits.