Probe
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A scientist's brain probe unleashes surprising thoughts in two young men – from a knowledge of dead languages to a secret hatred.
A 4-minute play, performed at the Lyric Studio Hammersmith as part of a Spread the Word project.
Extract from Probe:
AVA: Shall we get on? I’ve got a lot of subjects to get through today.
We’ll try you this time (to HECTOR).
(presses switch attached to HECTOR’s headset)
HECTOR: Lugete, o Veneres Cupidinesque,
et quantum est hominum uenustiorum:
passer mortuus est meae puellae,
passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quem plus illa oculis suis amabat.
AVA: I don't know what I hit then.
ED: What the fuck was that?
AVA: Latin.
HECTOR: I don't know Latin.
AVA: Well, it was in there. I can't get out what isn't already in there.
ED: Where’d you think he’d learn Latin? I went to the same school as him and there definitely wasn’t any Latin.
AVA: You’d be surprised what’s in your head. Let me try again, I’ll slightly reset this... OK. Are you ready?
(AVA presses switch on HECTOR)
HECTOR: I hate Ed.
(Pause. AVA and ED stare at HECTOR speechlessly)
HECTOR: I... I dunno where that came from.
AVA: Perhaps a... just a blip.
ED: But what...
AVA: We’ll press on. The mind throws these things up. Don't worry about it. (She makes a note)
Now! Let's try again. Sit a bit stiller, perhaps.
HECTOR: Your equipment's not working, you know. Something wrong with it. I'm serious. You need to take a look at it.
AVA: It's working fine.
(ED is still staring silently at HECTOR.)
AVA: Look. (she goes to press switch on ED again, but he takes his headset off)
ED: No. Do him again.
HECTOR: No, man...
ED: Do him!
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