Lying Fallow (excerpt)

Synopsis:

Sir Thomas Fallow, a highly regarded professor of philosophy, has just come up with an extraordinary new mathematical theory – Data Deficit Theory – which enables decision-making under conditions of severe uncertainty.

The theory is being hailed as possibly the greatest piece of work ever to come out of the university, but when his long-time friend, Dr Ruth Perelman, a mathematics lecturer, finally reads the manuscript, she realises that it is simply a watered-down version of a theory – Maximin Theory – devised by Wald in 1950.

The university closes ranks with the professor, and Ruth is left out in the cold.

At about the same time, Nina Harcourt, one of Tom’s PhD students, organises a student forum designed to ban the Zionist Student Union from the university campus.

Tom and Ruth line up on opposite sides of the debate, and the friendship rapidly disintegrates.

Meanwhile, Nina, dissatisfied with the theoretical nature of her political activism to date, decides to travel to the Gaza Strip, in order to become involved with the Palestinians on a grass roots level.  Her trip has extraordinary consequences.

In a dense, complex, searing and uncompromising work, the author forces us to examine the intellectual rigour with which we approach our loudly voiced opinions.

A damning indictment of political correctness and the death of intellect.

Character Breakdown:

Cast of four – one male, three female:

SIR THOMAS FALLOW (TOM)   A professor of philosophy
GWEN FALLOW   His wife
DR RUTH PERELMAN   A lecturer in mathematics
NINA HARCOURT   A PhD student

Running-time: 105 minutes.

Production History: Not yet produced.

Excerpt available for download for free.