For Mam, Jen, and Dad who will always be with us.
All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance etc. should be made before commencement of rehearsal to MacFarlane Chard Associates, 7 Adelaide Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin T: 00 353 1 663 8646 F: 00 353 1 663 8649 www.macfarlane-chard.ie. No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained, and no alterations may be made in the title or the text of the play without the author’s prior written consent.
Commissioned and produced by Calipo Theatre and Picture Company.
Pineapple premiered at the Droichead Arts Centre on 29 April 2011 in a production by Calipo Theatre Company in association with the Drogheda Arts Festival
Written by Phillip McMahon
Directed by David Horan
Cast:
PAULA: Caoilfhionn Dunne
DAN: Nick Lee
ANTOINETTE: Janet Moran
ROXANNA: Jill Murphy
STEPH: Niamh Glynn
Production Design by Paul O’Mahony
Lighting Design by Sinead McKenna
Sound Design by Ivan Birthistle & Vincent Doherty
Costume Design by Emma Fraser
Produced by Collette Farrell & Lara Hickey
Characters |
Off-Stage Voices |
Paula, 26 |
Olivia / Paula’s Neighbour |
Roxanna, 16 / Paula’s sister |
Jean / Paula’s Neighbour |
Dan, 28-30 |
Nicola / Paula’s Neighbour |
Antoinette, 32 / Paula’s best friend |
Patsy / Antoinette’s Father |
Steph, 16 / Roxanna’s best friend |
|
The main action takes place in Paula’s kitchen. A tumbledown room littered with toys and piles of laundry. The rest of the action takes place in a mucky area between places; a no-man’s-land.
A mucky field. ROxANNA and STEPH hang around nothing in particular, sipping on Bacardi Breezers.
ROXANNA: I can’t stand fuckin’ Pineapple. I says to your man; I says – You Paki cunt, pay your Bacardi bills and get some ‘lemon lime’ or some ‘watermelon’ or somethin’.
STEPH: Makes your spunk taste good.
ROXANNA: What?
STEPH: Pineapple.
ROXANNA: What?
STEPH: Makes a fella’s spunk taste…sweeter like. ROXANNA: Says who?
STEPH: Read it somewhere.
ROXANNA: That’s disgustin’!
STEPH: Just sayin’.
ROXANNA: Well shut up sayin’…me stomach is turnin’!
The girls swig their Breezers.
It’s fuckin’ borin’ round here.
STEPH: Is right.
ROXANNA: We’ll fuckin’ die here.
STEPH: Breslin says that from the minute we’re born, we’re dyin’ – just depends how long it takes each of us.
ROXANNA: Dope.
STEPH: Then Charlene O’Neill pushes her glasses up ’er snout – asks Breslin if he clocks himself as an optimist?
ROXANNA: Scarlet for her…
STEPH: Is right! Then Breslin gets into a serious deep and meaningful; spouting some shite about the ability to be an optimist while still accepting the facts of life. It was bore-fuckin’-central. That chat’d put you to sleep quicker than a Venn Diagram; but sure be the time they’d finished the bell was bangin’ so it wasn’t all bad.
ROXANNA: Fitzy been knockin’ about?
STEPH: What?
ROXANNA: Fitzy?
STEPH: I was in town Friday and Saturday, wasn’t I?
ROXANNA: Right.
STEPH: Stayed out all weekend nearly. Said I was in yours…
ROXANNA: Your Ma not know I was away?
STEPH: Talkin’ to the wall, you do be.
ROXANNA: Right.
Pause.
STEPH: What’s it like over there?
ROXANNA: Brilliant.
STEPH: Is it yeah?
ROXANNA: Just bigger. Better like.
STEPH: And the fellas?
ROXANNA: Massive.
Pause.
STEPH: Was you out much?
ROXANNA: Nah.
STEPH: At all?
ROXANNA: Me aunty is real strict; fuckin’ weapon she is...but she’d to stay out one night, ’cos some auld one she minds was sick, or dyin’ or somethin’.
So it was just me in the gaff with Simon; me cousin. He works in Tesco or somethin’.
And we’re sat in front of fuckin’ Family Fortunes. All ready for bed I was, in me pyjamas, and Simon pulls on me pony tail.
He’s a bit of a sap, but he’s sound like.
So I reefed him back. Like reefed him.
And I musta hurt him, ’cos he was all…bruised pride or… you shoulda seen the face on ’im…and he clatters me/
STEPH: /Fuck.
ROXANNA: Not like…anyway (Points at her ring.) I send a sovereign his way, but he catches me.
Grabs me real rough.
Pins me down; elbow on me chest and the breath all caught in me throat…and he…kisses me Steph.
Me cousin.
Works his tongue through me teeth; all spit and hot air…
STEPH: –
ROXANNA: So I kiss him back; ’cos it doesn’t mean anything, ye know?
And he’s all gentle now; the soft couch and the TV.
And he’s shakin’; his hand and his top lip.
And he draws his fingers across me stomach; like he’s writin’ his name or…
The stretch of elastic then; cold hands, and me no knickers…his face on fire…eyes burnin…
STEPH: Paedophile eyes. Tell me you stopped him.
ROXANNA: Course I did.
Get your fuckin’ fingers outta me lunch box!
Fucker gets all flustered then. Simple fuck.
’Cos the horn is wearin’ off or maybe ’cos it clicks in his tiny mind that he was about to finger his sixteen-year-old cousin; and he catches me by the throat like a dog – chokin’ me.
I turn out the big guns then. Boo-hooin’ for mercy. Drip drip on the aunty’s good shag.
Works a’ coarse.
He’s all, Oh Fuck.
Catchin’ his breath or his thoughts or…
Holdin’ his head like a looper.
Oh Fuck.
The accent on ’im.
Throws himself round the room, Oh-in and fuck-in.
Simon, I says, Chill out ye sap, it’s cool. And you’d swear I just donated me life’s savin’s to his favourite charity ’cos he’s all grateful. Thanks me, and shakes me hand - the fuckin’ eejit – says he wants to take me into town for a straightner.
I’d to be at the doctors first thing is the thing, but he’s all – no bother, no bother – says it’s him taking me. Makes no difference if I’m hung over or not, once his Ma’s none the wiser; mum, he calls her.
So we drive into town and he pays for everything, and we get pallatic on WKD ’til six in the mornin’…and I’d to be up again at nine!
PAULA enters. She is in her kitchen. She is in a different scene to the two girls.
STEPH: Is this in London?
OLIVIA: (Off-stage and in Scene Two.) Paula?
ROXANNA: No, Leeds.
STEPH: You lucky bitch.
PAULA’s kitchen. A voice of a neighbour is heard offstage. PAULA opens her kitchen window wide and leans toward the open space.
OLIVIA: (Off-stage.) Paula?
OLIVIA: Paula Lyons, do you think I’ve nothin’ better to do than roar at your bleedin’ kids all day? I won’t have a blade o’ fuckin’ hair left with them.
PAULA: Playin’ is all.
OLIVIA: If that shoppin’ trolley passes my window the once more…
PAULA: Get over it. Fuckin’ curtain twitcher.
OLIVIA: You get over it; d’you hear me? You get the fuckin’ boat over it. See that trolley…you want the guards called…
PAULA: You might get more satisfaction out of Tesco love.
PAULA’s focus changes to her kids playing below.
Aaron get off that hedge…’cos it’s a hedge! (Pause.) I’m warnin’ ya, do not walk in this flat head-to-toe in muck ’cos I’ll reef ya, d’ya hear me? (Pause.) Fish-fingers, why? (Pause, changing tone.) Ah Aaron, go after Jason before he goes near that road. (Pause.) ’Cos he’s your brother, that’s why!
Flustered, Antoinette enters with bags of shopping from Lidl. Her fingers are crushed by the plastic.
ANTOINETTE: Paula quick…me fingers…quick.
PAULA untangles the bags from ANTOINETTE’s fingers.
Fuck sake.
Pause.
It’s like shoppin’ in bleedin’ Beirut. I swear to god. Lash on that kettle, will ya? I’ve a card of Kit-Kats in one of these bags...
PAULA is away in her thoughts.
Paula?
PAULA: What?
ANTOINETTE: The kettle? I’m bleedin’ gaspin’.
PAULA switches the kettle on.
Passed Jean on the way up. She’s after balloonin’. It’s either twins or cream cakes…I says it to her an’ all: ‘It’s either twins or cream cakes,’ I says. Ragin’ she was. They’d first-aid kits in Lidl, I got ya one.
PAULA makes tea.
Roxanna’s home?
PAULA: (Only half hearing.) What? (Out the window.) Aaron, don’t have me come down to ya…
ANTOINETTE: Roxanna, she’s back.
PAULA: Yeah.
ANTOINETTE: Just saw her cutting across the shops.
PAULA: Right.
ANTOINETTE: Not a bother on her.
PAULA: Right, yeah.
PAULA and ANTOINETTE sit in silence.
ANTOINETTE: Bold as brass.
PAULA: How are you getting home?
ANTOINETTE: Not going ’til later!
Pause.
Bus I suppose. Unless me aul’ fella comes through with a lift – pox bottle. Sooner see me cartin’ fuckin’ shoppin’ and baby on a bus than drop us up the road.
PAULA: It’s the getting back I suppose.
ANTOINETTE: It’s the fuckin’ petrol is what it is. Tight cunt. See what he says when he drops Stacey over.
PAULA: Your Ma has her?
ANTOINETTE: Don’t talk to me…
PAULA puts tea on the table. ANTOINETTE tears a packet of Kit-Kats open with her teeth.
Says she’ll take the bus up in the mornin’. I’ve me carpets coming first thing and ye know yourself, they could be all day fittin’ them and Stacey’ll only be under their feet. So she’s comin’ up anyway. I got a load of biscuits in and ham and all. I even got these Cappuccino’s that you just pour water in to; chocolate powder an’ all. They sound gorgeous.
PAULA: For your Ma?
ANTOINETTE: No, you thick, for the carpet fitter!
PAULA: You on the lookout for a culchie?
ANTOINETTE: I’d take a culchie over the pricks around here any day.
Pause.
Bit of luck me Ma might give me a dropsy for the carpets.
PAULA: Were you talking to her?
ANTOINETTE: What? (as in ‘who?’)
PAULA: Roxanna.
ANTOINETTE: Crossing the muck with your one Steph. Called her like – little bitch heard me an’ all – kept walkin’ but.
PAULA: Right, yeah.
ANTOINETTE: The neck a’ young ones these days.
Pause. PAULA is preoccupied.
There’s blacks moved in beside me.
PAULA: –
ANTOINETTE: Right next door.
PAULA: And what?
ANTOINETTE: What?
PAULA: Were you in with them or what?
ANTOINETTE: Waved to her – your one. Nodded back. Didn’t wave or nothin’ – I says I won’t call her a snobby cunt just yet…on account of the fact she’s probably up to her eyes gettin’ her own place sorted.
PAULA: Everyone’s movin’.
ANTOINETTE: Rake of kids. Chocolate drops, I says to meself. Sure who else would I be talkin’ ta?
PAULA: Jean got ’er place, was she sayin’?
ANTOINETTE: You jokin’? She could hardly get a word in edgeways with the battered sausage hangin’ out of her mouth. Young-one’s a glutton. Like, there does be cravin’s and then there does be pure piggery.
PAULA: (Lightly.) Shut up you/
ANTOINETTE: She even pregnant? D’you ever see a fella climb those stairs?
PAULA: (PAULA calls out the kitchen window.) Jean?! (To ANTOINETTE.) Ask her yourself.
ANTOINETTE: (Lightly.) Fuck off you!
PAULA: Jean?!
JEAN: (Off-stage.) What?
PAULA: Antoinette wants ye.
JEAN: What love?
ANTOINETTE: (To PAULA.) You’re dead. (To JEAN, out the window) Paula was saying you got a place?
JEAN: A duplex! Was I not sayin’? I was leggin’ it, sorry; starvin’ I was.
ANTOINETTE: (To PAULA.) Fat cunt. (To JEAN.) You delighted?
JEAN: (To a child.) Kevin, fuck off away from me for two minutes!! (To ANTOINETTE.) I just can’t wait to have enough rooms to be able to hide from these fuckin’ kids.
PAULA: (To ANTOINETTE.) I’m surprised the kids are not hidin’ from her.
ANTOINETTE: (To PAULA.) Hidin’ the bleedin’ food from ’er.
JEAN: Ran inta your sister there. Was she sayin’?
PAULA: Haven’t seen her love.
JEAN: She’s some mouth on ’er.
PAULA: You’re no saint yourself.
JEAN: She’s home inanyways?
PAULA: She hasn’t darkened this door.
JEAN: Enjoy the peace while it lasts sweetheart. Anyway – I’ll leg it – there’s a packet of Custard Creams starin’ me out of it here.
Pause.
PAULA: Did Rox say she was calling over or what?
ANTOINETTE: Are you deaf or somethin’? I wasn’t talkin’ to ’er.
ROXANNA and STEPH. The Wasteland.
STEPH: They don’t even ask for ID. Like, the lads know the bouncers by name an’ all.
ROXANNA: They sound like muppets.
STEPH: Ah, they’re a laugh, and it’s town like…beats this shit hole any day.
Pause.
They buy me drinks and everything…all night.
ROXANNA: (Considers.) I suppose. I’ll come out the next time.
Pause.
STEPH: Here?
ROXANNA: –
STEPH: Did it…hurt…when you did it with Fitzy?
ROXANNA: When?
STEPH: The first time.
ROXANNA: No. Why?
STEPH: At all?
ROXANNA: No, it never did.
STEPH: It’s just that Alan, one of the lads, says he wants to fuck me.
ROXANNA: Right.
STEPH: Tonight like. Said it real casual.
STEPH: I fancy his mate Trevor more, but I want to get it over with ye know?
ROXANNA: It’s pure easy.
STEPH considers this.
STEPH: And what’s the story with Fitzy now, are yiz still doin’ it?
ROXANNA: Says he still fancies me…even after everything. Says he fancies me more for being so strong.
Pause.
STEPH: It’s just that I fancy your man’s mate more. Trevor is his name.
ROXANNA: So?
STEPH: I suppose.
ROXANNA: It’s the experience you want. Fellas want ya knowin’ your way round…
STEPH: Never thought of that.
Pause.
ROXANNA: I was sick all day.
STEPH: Were you drinkin’ or…?
ROXANNA: No. Few Breezers is all.
STEPH: Say it to your Ma?
ROXANNA: Are you wise?
STEPH: What about Paula?
ROXANNA: She’ll only have me tormented about Leeds.
STEPH: She’s your sister! She cares…
ROXANNA: ’Still a head wrecker but.
Pause.
What does he look like this fella?
STEPH: Alan? You’d probably say he was bet down. I don’t know. He’s twenty. He’s a job an’ all…so…he’s money like.
ROXANNA: Well make sure he spends it.
STEPH: Too right.
ROXANNA: That’s the trick with fellas; give them nothin’ for nothin’.
Music rises. Each character inhabits the stage. An introduction of sorts; opening titles. ROXANNA, ANTOINETTE, STEPH and PAULA all stand as music plays over. Last to appear is DAN.
PAULA’s kitchen late at night. PAULA, ANTOINETTE and DAN. All are tipsy but not drunk. DAN is a stranger.
ANTOINETTE: (About her carpet.) It’s like beige all through the hallway and the same in the sittin’ room. Biscuit I think your man called it. Anyway, he was a wreck. He had some lino but, in the back of the van and he says he’d lay that as a nixer, for fifty quid…in the kitchen. I put me sad face on and me Ma paid for it. Fifty wasn’t bad but?
PAULA: That’s grand in’it?
ANTOINETTE: He says to me – If the shop is on to you, say nothin’ about the lino. – Proper bogger he was. I told him not to sweat it. I says – Your secret’s safe with me mister. Mortified he was; robbin’ bastard.
DAN: Is there any booze goin’?
PAULA: What?
DAN: A can or a whiskey or somethin’?
PAULA: It’s not a bleedin’ party you’re at.
DAN: (To ANTOINETTE.) Is it not?
ANTOINETTE: I never said party exactly. I said, let us in your taxi.
DAN: I live the complete other way.
PAULA: That’s Antoinette for ya.
ANTOINETTE: Don’t start all that – That’s Antoinette for ya – I won’t be havin’ any of that. Antoinette nothin’…
Pause.
Sure lash the kettle on, we have a cup o’ scald now we’re all here.
PAULA: (To DAN.) Do you want tea?
DAN: Seriously?
ANTOINETTE: (To PAULA.) I do. So chop chop.
PAULA: Don’t get smart with me Antoinette…I’ll scald ya with the cuntin’ kettle.
DAN: Will I fuck off then?
ANTOINETTE: Unless you fix washin’ machines?
DAN: What?
ANTOINETTE: Paula needs her plumbing seen to.
PAULA: (Laughs.) Shut up you, makin’ a show o’ me! Inanyways sweetheart – unless me calculations are wrong, your own pipes are a bit rusty.
ANTOINETTE: You bitch! I’m talkin’ about your bleedin’ washin’ machine. Is it on the blink or wha’?
PAULA: You what? Me…? Oh – it is yeah. (To ANTOINETTE.) See you…confusin’ me…
ANTOINETTE: Rusty pipes? The neck a’ you.
DAN: Right I’ll leg it then.
ANTOINETTE: Sit down there – we’re only buzzin’ off ya.
What are we Paula?
PAULA: Exactly. Don’t be gettin’ your knickers in a squiz.
(PAULA moves to the fridge.) I’ve a couple of Smirnoff Ice in here somewhere – left over from the Communion.
ANTOINETTE: (To DAN) Party! What did I tell ya?
DAN: Do I look like a Smirnoff Ice type?
ANTOINETTE: No but you look like you’re making your communion, so shut up and sit down.
PAULA hands DAN and ANTOINETTE a Smirnoff Ice with a straw in each bottle.
DAN: (About his clothes.) This is all my best gear by the way. Is it that bad? Ah you’s are winding me up. It’s not fair. I’m a bit dozy with a beer on me.
ANTOINETTE: A bit?
DAN: (About the clothes.) This is me seriously making an effort. I was trying to make a good impression or whatever…
PAULA: Were you now?
DAN: I was out with a girl, wasn’t I?
ANTOINETTE: Oh my god – you were on a date?
PAULA: Tonight?
ANTOINETTE: You were, weren’t ya?
DAN: Don’t look so surprised.
PAULA: And?
DAN: Well I’m sittin’ here, aren’t I?
ANTOINETTE: You bombed like a sack of shit, did you love?
PAULA: A date? Cringe.
DAN: It was going okay. I was being funny, (To ANTOINETTE.) shut up! She was havin’ a good time I reckon. It was a blind date yoke – through a mate at work – one of those… but yeah, we were havin’ fun. I took her for dinner – you know, nothin’ fancy or anything, just a place at the back of a pub and I had the – I dunno – some sort of skewer thing and she had a prawn cocktail thing to start and then she went on to have a Sea Bass and I was thinkin’, you know – that’s a lot of fish – but she had said something about being a part time vegetarian, so maybe she only eats seafood. Anyway it comes to like – just before the bill comes and she – now just before I tell you, I actually don’t care right – but she farts at the table/
PAULA: What?
DAN: /and I laughed, ’cos I thought it was funny, or cute – I didn’t care basically – we all do it. But she leapt up out of her seat and legged it to the jacks – and I’m sat there not knowin’ whether I should pay the bill or what, because I know your crowd can be quite sensitive about that, so I waited…
ANTOINETTE: Go on…
DAN: Well she comes back and says that she’s sick – like dodgy food or something, and I’m all up for complaining to the kitchen or the waiter or whoever but she’s – Grainne’s her name – she just says that it’s best to be at home if she’s not well…then I say that maybe she just needs to sit on the jacks for a bit. You know, like, trying to be sound – but she was like a rocket then; out the door – no mention of the bill or anything…
ANTOINETTE: Scarlet Church!
PAULA: (To DAN.) Sounds like you got blown out.
DAN: What?
ANTOINETTE: Dumped, if you will.
DAN: Ah – I wasn’t that into it anyways. I’ve got trust issues with vegetarians. Part time or otherwise.
Pause. DAN’s tone changes. He swigs his drink maybe.
Fuck it I suppose. You win some, you lose some.
Pause. His tone picks up again. He raises his drink in a toast.
Cheers.
The girls clink bottles with DAN.
Who’s Communion?
PAULA: You what?
DAN: The booze…
PAULA: It was only a few bottles, for anyone callin’ in or anything…
ANTOINETTE: Little Aaron. Mr Bling. Gorgeous he was.
PAULA: Get a life you – there was nothin’ bling about him. The bleedin’ height of good taste, so he was.
DAN: You’ve a kid?
PAULA: Two.
DAN: They here?
PAULA: Out with their Da.
DAN: Is he due back? I don’t want any trouble.
ANTOINETTE: Relax – you’ve more chance of catchin’ the Virgin at Knock.
PAULA: As in – No.
ANTOINETTE: He no longer – what’s the word for it – ‘resides’ here? That’s it. The fucker no longer resides here.
ANTOINETTE jumps up to use the toilet.
Hang on there now ’til I wet me sponge. Say nothin’ ’til I come back right…
ANTOINETTE exits. PAULA and DAN sit in silence for a second.
DAN: They’ll be all over this in work now – the news will trickle in via your woman – I’ll be made out to be some sort of insensitive pig.
DAN burps. PAULA smiles.
Shit, sorry. It’s this fizzy muck you have me on.
PAULA: You’re grand. We all do it right?
DAN: That is exactly what I said! We do all do it – fart away sweet heart – That’s what I should have said. She’d have probably keeled over. I mean in fairness, a fart, who gives a fuck? It’s funny.
PAULA: It is funny.
DAN: It’s very fuckin’ funny. And if you can’t laugh then what’s the…? Ah, I dunno.
Pause.
She definitely said party you know; outside the pub – I wouldn’t just…
DAN: Well I wouldn’t.
PAULA: It’s okay.
DAN: I’m just a bit dozy with a beer on me.
PAULA: Yeah.
PAULA stands awkwardly. DAN stands and moves to her as if to kiss her.
What’s this?
DAN: What?
PAULA: What are you doin’?
DAN: I just had it in my head…
PAULA: Jesus. Fellas! Yiz are as predicatable.
DAN: Sorry. The drink and the hour.
PAULA: It’s home time.
DAN: What?
PAULA: The party’s over.
DAN: You wouldn’t send a fella out in that?
PAULA: You’ll get a taxi on the main road.
DAN: It’s Baltic out!
PAULA goes to leave the room.
PAULA: Hang on there…
She exits.
DAN: I’ve been to worse parties by the way. In case you’re wondering – I had a good time.
PAULA re-enters with a big man’s jacket.
PAULA: Take this or you’ll freeze.
Pause.
Take it.
He reluctantly takes the coat from PAULA.
DAN: I was only…I don’t know. I’m sorry.
PAULA: I know yeah, but it’s late. (About the jacket.) You can keep that.
The next morning. ANTOINETTE sits in PAULA’s kitchen reading a magazine.
JEAN: (Off-stage.) Paula?
ANTOINETTE ignores JEAN calling from upstairs. Paula?
ANTOINETTE gets up and closes the window.
ANTOINETTE: (To herself.) Fuck off. Heifer.
ANTOINETTE goes back to her magazine. ROXANNA enters looking queasy.
Wonders will never cease, what?
ROXANNA: Where’s Paula?
ANTOINETTE: Corpo.
ROXANNA pours a glass of water, but thinks better of it and rushes to the toilet.
(About the Corpo) Waste a’ time. They doe wan’ t’ know. There’s no talkin’ to Paula but. She’s not exactly close friends with common sense is she? Distant cousins if anything…pen pals.
The sound of vomiting in the next room. ANTOINETTE’s face creases in disgust. ROXANNA enters.
Was that you, ye dirty bitch?
ROXANNA rummages through PAULA’s biscuit tin come medicine box.
ROXANNA: Have you pain killers Antoinette?
ANTOINETTE trawls through her bag.
ANTOINETTE: I’ve Feminax…any use?
ROXANNA: Me head is liftin’.
ANTOINETTE: You’re not supposed to be drinkin’. That’s rule number one; I know that much. What is it…recovery an’ all that. Drink’ll pull the bleedin’ stomach out of ye.
ROXANNA: Mind your business. I’m sick.
Pause. ANTOINETTE hands ROXANNA the pills.
ANTOINETTE: You glad to be home?
ROXANNA: It was only a long weekend.
ANTOINETTE: Still.
ROXANNA: Same shit, different day here.
ANTOINETTE: And there.
ROXANNA: Give it a rest, will ya? You’re like an aul’one.
ANTOINETTE: It’s a kickin’ you want.
JEAN: (Off-stage.) Paula?
Pause.
Paula?
ROXANNA throws the window open.
ROXANNA: She’s fuckin’ out.
JEAN: (Light hearted.) Roxanna ya pox. I’ll tear the bleedin’ hair outta ya, you curse at me again. Where’s your sister?
ROXANNA: Is it the ‘O’, the ‘U’ or the ‘T’ you don’t understand?
ROXANNA closes the window.
Dozy gee-bag.
ANTOINETTE: Were you over with Fitzy or…?
ROXANNA: What of it?
ANTOINETTE: Drama in his garden is all. Passin’ last night.
ROXANNA: You’ve too much time on your hands.
ANTOINETTE: Couldn’t miss it. Big hoo-hah. Half the road was out.
ROXANNA: It’d suit you to mind your business.
ANTOINETTE: Has the little fucker even called you?
The hall door slams. PAULA talks from the hallway.
PAULA: Taxi driver’s after overcharging me I think. What’s six from twenty?
PAULA sees ROXANNA. They stare at each other for a second.
ROXANNA: Fourteen…
PAULA: Me brain is dead. Yeah, and he handed me back twelve. Twelve from twenty is eight.
ANTOINETTE: Was he foreign?
PAULA: No. He was Irish. Know him an’ all. I’ll catch him again, the robbin’ swine.
Pause. PAULA and ROXANNA take each other in.
Howaya?
ROXANNA has tears in her eyes.
ROXANNA: I’ve a pain in me head.
PAULA: It’s okay.
ROXANNA: The fuckin’ bitch locked me out. I was like a knacker climbin’ in the toilet window. I’d to take me skirt off just to fit through the yolk. She’s touched in the head Paula. Goes on this mornin’ as if nothin’ happened. She’s a psycho. Woke up with a lump on me nut from where I whacked it off the sink…well the tap actually. Felt nothin’ last night; but this mornin’, I felt it fuckin’ tenfold. Have you any Solpadeine?
PAULA rummages through a biscuit tin filled with medicines and tablets.
PAULA: I must’a had the last one.
PAULA leans out her window and shouts.
Jean? (Pause, no response.) Jean? (Pause, no response.)
ANTOINETTE: Talk about choosin’ your moments. She hasn’t bleedin’ stopped all mornin’!
PAULA: Nicola?
NICOLA: (From offstage.) What?
NICOLA: Just Anadin, why?
PAULA: Roxanna got a bang of a tap!
NICOLA: She home?
PAULA: Safe and sound. Will you send us down two?
NICOLA: Course I will. Have you any DVDs down there? I’m bored off me tits!
PAULA: I’ve Nemo and Rush Hour 3. Send Kayleigh down.
NICOLA: C’mere, ask Rox what’s goin’ on over in Balcurris?
PAULA: With what?
NICOLA: The Fitzy’s gaff. Guards trolling it all day.
PAULA looks to ROXANNA.
ROXANNA: One o’ the brothers prob-ly, or the Da, I dunno.
PAULA: (To NICOLA.) She doesn’t know sweetheart.
NICOLA: Ah – yiz are useless!
PAULA comes in from the window.
ROXANNA: Don’t be broadcastin’ me bleedin’ business!
PAULA: You’d rather suffer?
ANTOINETTE: Any joy with the corpo?
PAULA: (Sarcastic.) Mm. They says take me pick of any gaff the length and breadth of the city.
ANTOINETTE: That was decent o’ them…and there was you expecting a no!
PAULA: Bastards.
PAULA looks at the mess surrounding her.
This place is fallin’ to bits.
ANTOINETTE: I wouldn’t do a tap to it if I was you. No way. I wouldn’t even wash the windows – not that you do inanyways mind.
ROXANNA: Somethin’ will come up Paula. It has ta.
PAULA: I can’t carry on like this – we’ll rot here. It’s no good.
ROXANNA: Somethin’ will Paula.
PAULA kisses ROXANNA’s forehead. The voice of ANTOINETTE’s father is heard from out on the street.
PATSY: (Off-stage.) Antoinette?
ANTOINETTE: Stick on that kettle Rox.
PAULA and ROXANNA throw a look to ANTOINETTE.
What?
ROXANNA: Your poor Da.
PAULA: Shift your arse.
ANTOINETTE: I never says to him what time to come over. I’m no more ready to move than you are. Leave him.
PATSY: (Off-stage.) Antoinette?!
ANTOINETTE: Poor Da nothin’. He never even said he was droppin’ me home. It’s Saturday bleedin’ night. He’s only over here ’cos he wants rid of Stacey. You’ve no idea of him.
PATSY: (Off-stage.) Antoinette?
ANTOINETTE: (To PAULA.) What?
ANTOINETTE leans out the window.
I heard you the first time. I’m wipin’ me bleedin’ arse. Giz a minute.
She comes in from the window.
He’s a torment.
ANTOINETTE moves to the hall to get her coat.
I’d sooner sit here with yous than on that buildin’ site on me tobler.
PAULA: Ring us after, yeah?
ANTOINETTE talks as she leaves the flat.
ANTOINETTE: Ragin’.
The hall door slams and the flat is suddenly quiet. PAULA moves around the kitchen with a cloth, wiping surfaces.
ROXANNA: Where’s Aaron and Jason?
PAULA: With him. Says his auld one’s giving him stick ’cos she never sees them. Told him that’s his doin’ and not mine. Came over yesterday, full of the joys of spring after winning a tonne on a horse; fuckin’ eejit. You’d swear he just won the lotto, wavin’ it in the air. I didn’t even let him past the door; told him he better spend every last cent on those kids.
Pause.
ROXANNA: They must wreck your head all the same.
PAULA: You get used to it.
ROXANNA: Still…they must.
Pause.
PAULA: You did do the right thing in Leeds.
ROXANNA: Did I?
PAULA: You’re only a baby yourself.
ROXANNA: An’ what?
PAULA: You’ve a second chance now. You can start over.
ROXANNA: Yeah.
PAULA: You won’t know yourself. All brand new. You can get back into it now: school and the whole lot.
ROXANNA: Don’t start Paula.
PAULA: It’s your time you wanna be takin’…your body an’ all that…but a second chance; that’s all I’m sayin’.
ROXANNA: Me Ma says I’m disgustin’. Says she can’t face lookin’ at me; what I done and what I did. Says she can’t sleep with the thoughts of me.
PAULA: That’s/
ROXANNA: /Wants me took to a priest.
PAULA: As if those fuckers would understand – No way.
ROXANNA: Will you ring ’er?
PAULA: What?
ROXANNA: Ma. Will you put her straight? She might listen to you.
PAULA becomess uncomfortable.
PAULA: Stay over here for a bit, yeah? ’Til she calms down.
ROXANNA: Right.
PAULA: Text her an’ say you’re mindin’ the kids or helpin’ me out or somethin’.
ROXANNA: Yeah okay.
PAULA: Leave her give her mind a rest.
Pause.
ROXANNA: I’m not going to no priest.
Pause.
PAULA: Antoinette brought up a load of pirates. We get a kebab tray and drag out the duvets?
ROXANNA: I can’t. I’ve to go on a message.
PAULA: It’s too quiet with the kids gone. You know what I’m like.
ROXANNA: I can’t Paula. I’ve to find Fitzy.
PAULA: Jesus Roxanna.
ROXANNA: I promised him.
PAULA: And what about when he promised you. When he said he’d take you to Leeds?
ROXANNA: He had his reasons.
PAULA: Cowards invent reasons. I know that only too well. Fellas have reasons and excuses drippin’ off them.
ROXANNA: Not Fitzy.
PAULA: Stay with me sweetheart.
ROXANNA: He loves me Paula.
PAULA: Fellas are dogs. Learn that. It’s all love and – I’d do anything for ya – until you’re in your moment of need and he’s either there beside ya or he’s not…and Fitzy wasn’t. He’s not.
ROXANNA: What about his needs? The things he needs?
PAULA: You’ve obviously been watchin’ too much television. Your brain is tapped. His needs? Listen; fellas have an amazing talent of gettin’ exactly what they want and need. Don’t you worry ’bout that. But your needs, young one. Your needs! Let that be your number one concern from here on in.
PAULA’s kitchen. Night time. DAN stands in the kitchen holding the big jacket. He has a black eye. PAULA is gathering ice into a tea towel.
DAN: I did all that last night. I’m fine, honestly.
PAULA: It looks sore but.
DAN: He caught me lovely, the fucker. Don’t feel bad or anything.
PAULA: What?
DAN: Well when I left here I’d to jog it was so cold, and then finding the ‘main road’ was all a bit Where’s Wally…and then…once I’d finally flagged a taxi, a couple of boys emerged from the fog shouting, ‘you’ve skipped the queue love.’
Pause.
The fuckin’ queue? It was a dual carriageway.
PAULA: They take your money or anything?
DAN: Seemed happy enough with the aul’ dignity ye know? I think I even offered to share the cab – it was that cold – I’m a sap really…I woke up laughing – I’m a fuckin’ eejit.
PAULA: (Laughs.) I’m sorry…I can just picture you though.
DAN: I thought the coat would’ve helped me blend in. I think I might have even attempted an accent. (Attempts an accent.)
Alright boys? That’s when he landed one on me. (laughs) Come to think of it, I’d have punched me.
They laugh which turns into dead silence. Long pause.
So…I wanted to drop the coat off – just ’cos it harbours bad memories for me basically – and er…just ’cos I wanted to say I was drunk last night but I wasn’t…
PAULA: The jacket’s for the bin anyways. But thanks.
PAULA takes the jacket from DAN. He hovers in silence for a second searching for something to say that might keep the conversation going.
DAN: (Taking a chance.) Make us a cup of tea, will you?
PAULA: Are you takin’ the piss?
DAN: I’ve come all this way.
Pause. PAULA relaxes.
PAULA: Sit down.
DAN: My granddad worked on these places, was I saying that?
We used to drive down here when we were kids. The old man would park over by the shopping-centre and marvel at his work.
PAULA: Lucky you.
DAN: Who needs the funfair when you can get a two-hour lecture on the inner workings of a tower block? Every last detail divulged; the design process, the execution. In the summer he’d even go as far as drawing diagrams in the dust of his bonnet. Then it was up the back roads to the airport for an ice cream and a look of the planes heading off. We were…spoiled.
PAULA: –
DAN: I’m Dan by the way.
PAULA puts tea on the table.
PAULA: I know, yeah. Sure we were…
DAN: Nah – you never asked. You or your mate.
PAULA: Oh right – I’m Paula.
DAN: I know yeah. Paula and Antoinette. Double trouble…
PAULA: What’s wrong?
ROXANNA looks to DAN.
ROXANNA: Cem over to say I’m stayin’ in Steph’s tonight.
PAULA: No. Sorry.
ROXANNA: What?
PAULA: Sorry Steph. No offence or nothin’…
STEPH: No.
ROXANNA: What ya talkin’ about?
PAULA: You’re stayin’ here tonight. Now go meet Fitzy, or whatever you have to do…but your sleepin’ here, d’ya hear me? Or else you’re goin’ home. They’re the options.
ROXANNA: Fuck sake.
PAULA fishes for a tenner in a bag.
PAULA: Stick the kids coats on an’ take them for a burger or somethin’, I’ve no dinner made. Get you and Steph somethin’ too.
STEPH: Thanks Paula.
ROXANNA: Are you mad? I’m not takin’ no bleedin’ kids nowhere. Do I have skivvy tattooed on me forehead?
PAULA: Roxanna, I’ll pull bleedin’ lumps out o’ you if you keep up your lip. Me Ma might take it off you, but I won’t. Now if you wanna stay here, in my flat, then you play by my rules…do ya hear me? Do you hear me?
ROXANNA: You’d’ve more bleedin’ freedom in Mountjoy. PAULA: Keep goin’ the way you’re goin’ an’ you’ll soon find out.
STEPH: Come on Rox, you’re makin’ a show of us.
ROXANNA takes the tenner.
ROXANNA: Fuck sake.
ROXANNA looks at DAN as she leaves.
What are you lookin’ at?
PAULA: Get out before I lamp ye.
The girls exit.
DAN: She’s a charmer.
PAULA: You might wanna mind your own business.
ROXANNA and STEPH walk straight out of the previous scene and into the next. They are in the wasteland with the kids, whom we never see.
The wasteland.
STEPH: Mr Breslin pins up a chart of a woman’s body, and with a ruler he starts pointing at the bits. He kicks off with the breasts, as he calls them…draws an X on the nipple, and says that for those that don’t know, a woman’s breast produces milk. We were pissing ourselves laughin’ but he was sweatin’ too much to notice. Then he coughs and moves down…starts naming parts like they’re on his shopping list; vagina, cervix, fallopian tube, ovary, uterus…then Orla nudges me and points at Breslin’s package…the fucker is only hard – the creep. So I nudge Charlene and she points it out to Karen who pulls an orange out of her bag and aims it at Breslin’s knob. She’s some aim, the jammy bitch. He yelped like a stuck pig. Class dismissed. The fuckin’ laugh.
Pause.
All the girls were askin’ for ye…
ROXANNA: (Calls to the kids.) Aaron fuck off. We’re talkin’.
STEPH: When you coming back an’ all. How you doin’, an’ all that.
ROXANNA: I haven’t changed me number.
STEPH: Still. They says hello an’ all.
Pause.
ROXANNA: Fitzy’s brother hung himself.
STEPH: I know. Sure Karen lives next door to them.
STEPH: What over?
ROXANNA: Went over earlier but the Da says for me to stay away; it’s just family.
STEPH: Did they say what it was over?
ROXANNA: He owed money to some young fella in a gang I think. Money for yokes or somethin’.
STEPH: Shit.
ROXANNA: Somethin’ stupid. Three hundred quid or somethin’.
STEPH: It has to be over somethin’ else?
ROXANNA: Maybe. He was a fuckin’ loser an’ all. The labour wouldn’t let him sign on or anything…so he was dealing yokes…like, not even dealing them; buying them and addin’ a euro or takin’ them himself. He was a dzope. He’d come home mad out of it…tellin’ Fitzy how much he loves him an’ all. In the mornin’ but, it was all different. Wouldn’t look at Fitzy…like…wouldn’t even be in the same room as him. Always made out like Fitzy was wasting his time doin’ his course.
STEPH: Still.
ROXANNA: What?
STEPH: He’s dead like.
ROXANNA: And wha’?
The girls swig their Breezers.
STEPH: What about Fitzy?
ROXANNA: Wants ta be left alone.
STEPH: That’s fellas, as Paula would say.
Long pause.
ROXANNA: And what about your man?
STEPH: It wasn’t… He stuck it in and went at me like mad but I wasn’t feeling much. It was small like. It was uncomfortable I suppose, but it wasn’t…it was just grand.
ROXANNA: Well don’t let him and his tiny mickey put you off! Go after your man Trevor now. They’re all mad for it I bet.
STEPH: Not sure like. Your man Alan made a bit of a hoo ha when we were leavin’ the pub. High fivin’ the lads an’ all, saying that he was taking me home to doggy the hole off me.
ROXANNA: Urgh. Pig. And did he?
STEPH: No he didn’t. Just wanted to kiss and cuddle mostly.
ROXANNA: Fuckin’ eejit!
STEPH: I can still taste his breath; all beer and smokes.
ROXANNA: Still – one down.
STEPH: Totally.
ROXANNA: (Calling.) Aaron…Jason… Fuck off home. It’s freezing out.
Pause.
I said, go home.
STEPH: Should we have got them the chips?
ROXANNA: Size o’ them.
STEPH: Ah, they’re gorgeous but.
ROXANNA: Money went on Breezer’s inanyway.
STEPH: We walk over?
ROXANNA: Do I look like their bleedin’ mother?
Pause.
STEPH: This over Fitzy then?
ROXANNA: Fuck Fitzy. Fuck Paula. Fuck fuckin’ everyone. They can all fuck off. Tryin’ to run me bleedin’ life.
STEPH: Masters, or rather mistresses of our own destiny is what Breslin says.
ROXANNA: Fuck Breslin. Fuckin’ ride him already and give us all a bit of peace.
STEPH: Your man Alan didn’t text me or anything. I don’t want him to, but he said he would.
ROXANNA: He sounds like a dope. If he texts, text back and ask him if he knows where to get the mornin’ after pill. Make him sweat.
Pause.
STEPH: He has a girlfriend.
ROXANNA: So?
STEPH: Yeah, I suppose.
ROXANNA: You’re hardly lookin’ to marry him.
STEPH: Bury him more like – Yoke.
Pause.
ROXANNA: Fitzy’s brother had a one year old, did you know that?
STEPH: –
ROXANNA: A little baby girl. One year old. And he was able to bail out on her. Just like that.
Pause.
Thing is; she’ll always have that now – that little baby. Her whole life she’ll carry that with her.
PAULA rummages for some clean clothes. She holds dirty T-shirts in her hand. DAN stands awkwardly.
DAN: Can I do anything?
PAULA ignores him. She darts into another room. We hear her talking to the boys.
PAULA: Put that on ya. Now. (Pause.) Well you’s shouldn’t have walked home on your own. (Pause.) Well you should’ve told her no. Anything could’ve happened to yiz. Yiz have me up the walls.
PAULA re-enters. She stops to take a breath. She might cry.
DAN: They’re home now…
Pause.
PAULA: What?
DAN: It’s okay.
DAN holds PAULA into him like he might kiss her if she let him. It only lasts a second before she pulls away.
PAULA: I could murder Roxanna; leaving them roam the streets on their own.
DAN: There’s a good reason I bet.
Pause.
I’ll touch on. I’m in the way.
PAULA: Yeah.
DAN moves to exit.
Or hang on. I dunno. (Frustrated.) Fuckin’ hell…
DAN considers and sits down maybe.
DAN: Go easy on yourself. They’re home.
PAULA: There’s days when I won’t even let them outside you know. Days when I hold them up in here…the three of us…it’s cruel in its own way…but it’s the only way to know they’re safe sometimes.
DAN: That’s no way to live either.
PAULA: Sometimes it is. There’s no rules.
DAN: You must miss your fella?
PAULA: The owner of the coat?
DAN: The extra set of hands.
PAULA: He wasn’t any use to us.
DAN: Times like this.
PAULA: He wouldn’t work or do anything. In the end he said he was depressed, but I think he picked that up off the telly. We’re all something…but we get on with it.
DAN: The father of your kids…that has to count for something.
PAULA: He wasn’t a father. He was half a man.
DAN: Still…
PAULA: Remembered for Christmases and birthdays for all the wrong reasons…
I’d me tree set up this one Christmas, and I’d got all these handmade decorations at the market. Your wan must have stroked them out of Arnott’s, they were that nice…all snow globes and angels. None of that stringy glittery shite anywhere.
The boys helped me dress it.
Aaron would have been four or five and Jason…sure he was still in nappies…
And I remember askin’ Git if he wanted to help…get into the Christmas spirit, or whatever.
‘Fuck off and leave me alone,’ he says, ‘Do I look like Santa’s little helper?’
He thought he was funny…fuckin’ eejit.
He was a bit of a smoker, Git. He never touched any other drugs, but he was a fucker for the hash. Never in front of the kids…I’d’a had his life…but he was a smoker, yeah.
Christmas Eve, I’d managed to get the kids down early. They’d had their bath and they looked gorgeous in their matching pyjama’s that (Points at the door) Antoinette got them – she was next door at the time – and I remember looking at them asleep and thinking, ‘That’s me. That there is what I’ve achieved.’
I wrapped all the presents.
About eleven I’d everything done.
git was stoned on the couch.
I opened a can for meself. I never drink beer. Only at Christmas. I love the first sip…that’s when you know all the madness is over and you can start to enjoy it then.
I’d only had one can, and I hadn’t even heard the door go.
They were just standin’ in the sitting room. In no hurry and certainly not afraid.
Only three of them…and just young fellas…eighteen, if even.
I started to shake Git, but he was in ‘Lala’ land.
One of the young fellas put his finger to his lips and made a fist with his other hand.
The other two started gathering up the presents.
‘Git,’ I says, ‘wake up, ye fuckin’ eejit.’
The young lads just laughed… It was too easy for them.
‘Your tree is gorgeous missus,’ one of them says, lifting it from its stand. But it gets caught at the plug and he’s stuck as to what to do, so he yanks it.
His mates are at the door then, arms full of presents, ‘leave the tree ya fuckin’ queer,’ but he’s got it in his head now. He keeps yankin’ the bleedin thing and me good decorations are getting tossed all over the shop.
So I picked up an unopened can and hopped it off his head.
Only for his mates broke their holes laughing he’d have probably punched me…and they just danced out the door with all the things meant for my little ones.
Pause.
So do I miss him…me ex-fella…the father of me kids…the half a man…no…I don’t.
Pause.
DAN: Were you married?
PAULA: Are you mad?
DAN: Small mercies.
PAULA: When he was locked or stoned he’d start mouthing off – new start, this and that – make somethin’ of ourselves, this an’ that. But sure, he’d have it all forgot by mornin’. He had a knack of meaning nothing of what he said.
Pause.
I suppose he did us a favour by walkin’.
DAN: You didn’t…?
PAULA: The first sign of trouble and he was out the door. Very fond o’ sayin’ he had options – and right enough, he did in the end.
DAN: Well he’s missing out. I’d love to be a Da. (Pause.) Sure the day is young yet…
PAULA: You don’t have anyone…?
DAN: To make pregnant? I don’t. Not at the moment.
PAULA: Well if you’re not married, what’s wrong with ya?
DAN: I bottled it.
PAULA: What?
DAN: I didn’t rock up at the church.
PAULA: Stop!
DAN: It’s true. School mates, friends, work people…they were all there, hats at the ready…my family, her family… But I just couldn’t…I had this knot in my stomach that was just saying, No.
PAULA: Did you not have, like, years to think it through?
DAN: I know. I did. She was a lovely girl, but she didn’t make me feel anything but ordinary, you know? I’m not looking for fireworks every time I look at someone, but I do want to feel…something. I want to be excited.
PAULA raises an eyebrow.
Not in that way! Well actually, yes, in that way too…but in loads of ways…
PAULA: But waiting ’til the day? I mean…
DAN: I’m not proud of it. But an hour later and we’d have spent our lives miserable or trying to get out of it.
PAULA: What did she say?
DAN: Thanks.
PAULA: Shut up!
DAN: She sent me an email. She hasn’t spoken to me since – but she actually said thanks and went on to list the reasons why we shouldn’t be together – and she was petty enough at times but she spoke loads of sense too – like she was more straight talking and sensible in those few lines than she had been in eight years of going out, so I was like – good for you – and at the end of the mail she wrote in CAPS the main reason she was glad we didn’t get married…
PAULA: Yeah?
DAN: Because she didn’t love me.
PAULA: Fuck.
DAN: And I was like – snap – and good – because it means that we did the right thing. And it made me wonder then why I asked her and why she said yes – but then we do that kind of thing all the time because it’s easier, isn’t it – than being on your own?
PAULA: I don’t know.
DAN: Am I talkin’ too much?
PAULA: No.
Pause.
DAN: I bumped into her sister in a club last time I was home and she took great drunken pleasure in telling me that Elaine was engaged again. And even though I didn’t love her – that was still a kick in the balls.
A light goes on in the hallway. PAULA’s ears prick up.
PAULA: I’ll only be a second.
PAULA leaves. Offstage we hear her talking to the kids.
I know you’re asleep baby. I’m just wiping your face ’cos you’re piggy…now, close your eyes if you’re asleep.
Pause.
I’m puttin’ you into my bed with me, okay sleepy? In with me tonight.
Pause.
I know she did… She is bold, I know. I’ll get you the chips tomorrow. Close your eyes now okay, and I’ll be into yiz in a little minute. (She laughs.) Close them!
PAULA enters the kitchen. The gentle tumble of the washing machine is heard. Noises from the street. A siren. They look at each other. They really look at each other. DAN moves to PAULA. He kisses her.
ROXANNA enters. She’s drunk. She switches on the kitchen light to reveal PAULA waiting at the kitchen table.
ROXANNA: What?
PAULA slaps ROXANNA across the face.
ROXANNA: They ran off on me Paula.
Throughout the next exchange PAULA has the red mist around her. When she is physical with ROXANNA it should look uncomfortable for the audience and really painful for ROXANNA. PAULA grabs ROXANNA by the hair.
PAULA: I will have your tiny fuckin’ life before I let you do anything to those kids, do you hear me? Let me guarantee you that, I will cut your throat the minute my boys are scratched as a result of you.
PAULA has ROXANNA by the hair, her other hand is over her throat or face.
ROXANNA: (Crying.) You’re hurtin’ me Paula. I’m sorry. I’m sorry…I am.
PAULA: My kids could have been dead.
ROXANNA: I’m sorry.
PAULA: Do you even hear that? They could have been dead because of you. Your flesh and blood. You’re horrible. I can’t even look at you. You have me heart torn out.
PAULA releases her grip on ROXANNA who is crying.
ROXANNA: There’s just stuff going on is all Paula; with Fitzy.
PAULA: I don’t want to hear your excuses.
ROXANNA: His brother hung himself.
Pause.
PAULA: I wouldn’t even know whether to believe you. The lies fall out of your mouth.
ROXANNA: Fitzy’s brother hung himself Paula. He’s dead.
PAULA: Well that’s a crying shame. That’s heartbreakin’, but it’s no excuse.
ROXANNA: He won’t see me.
PAULA: Grow up Roxanna.
ROXANNA: I’m serious Paula.
PAULA: I warned you about him, and I told ya not to come crying to me over the scumbag.
ROXANNA: He’s not replyin’ to me messages and his auld fella says I’ve not to go near the house.
PAULA: If the brother is dead, then that’s the why. Have some cop on.
ROXANNA: He promised he’d be there for me Paula. No matter what.
PAULA: That’s fellas!
ROXANNA cries.
ROXANNA: Not Fitzy.
PAULA: What about him saying he’d take you to Leeds?
ROXANNA: He couldn’t go Paula. He couldn’t face it.
PAULA: But he let you face it on your own? What kind of a man is that?
ROXANNA: He couldn’t face it ’cos he didn’t want me to do it.
PAULA: Well that’s very fuckin’ easy for him to say. Did it occur to him to think about that when yiz were lyin’ down?
ROXANNA: He wanted the baby Paula. He said that when I told him I was, he started having dreams about it; about a little baby and about me…the three of us…and a house of our own…a family like.
PAULA: You’re sixteen, you thick bitch. You can barely look after yourself.
ROXANNA: He needs it Paula. It’s the only thing keepin’ him goin’.
PAULA: What d’you mean, he needs it? Needs what?
Pause. ROXANNA is quiet.
PAULA: No Roxanna.
ROXANNA: Sorry.
PAULA: Love – no. No.
ROXANNA: I couldn’t do it. Not on Fitzy. He wanted it so badly. He said it would help him get out of his gaf and the whole lot. He’s miserable Paula. He’s so sad.
PAULA grabs ROXANNA tightly.
I’m sorry. It’s still in me.
DAN and PAULA arrive home after a daytime date. They look fresh having stepped in out of the cold. DAN catches up with PAULA. He kisses her. She kisses him back, slightly uncomfortable.
DAN: We should head further afield next time.
PAULA: Sure Dolly-er is on the doorstep nearly. Any further and the day’d be gone.
DAN: I mean like a weekend somewhere – something short – my old dear has a cottage in Sligo that she’s always trying to get me down to. There’s a door needs fixing…
PAULA: Sligo?
DAN: Well it’s not Paris, but it’s a fine house – just needs a bit of TLC. It has a little pathway down to the beach and fuck all else for miles. No traffic, no noise – no interruptions. Just nothing.
PAULA: Would you not go mad?
DAN: With the quiet? No. Everything just slows down. It’s brilliant.
PAULA: You’d only be there and it’d be time to come home. What would be the point?
DAN: A few hours up the motorway is all.
PAULA: It sounds lovely an’ all – but sure, I haven’t been anywhere. Not in ages.
DAN: So?
PAULA: It’s not that easy.
DAN: It’s a weekend in the sticks.
PAULA: Still.
DAN: I’m not asking you to emigrate.
PAULA: I have to collect the kids.
DAN: I’ll get them. I said I would.
PAULA: Right. Thanks.
DAN makes to leave.
DAN: I’d just like to take you somewhere. That’s all.
PAULA: And I have responsibilities. I know that’s boring but – that’s the way it is.
DAN: We’ll take the kids with us. Whatever you want.
PAULA: It’s not about the kids. Roxanna needs people around her right now.
DAN: You can’t watch over her twenty-four-seven.
PAULA: She needs me. End of story.
DAN: She has you wrapped around her little finger.
PAULA: She’s a fuckin’ teenager – she’s pregnant…
PAULA: Rox?
DAN: Roll out the cotton wool…
ANTOINETTE enters.
PAULA: What do you want?
ANTOINETTE: Lovely!
DAN: I’ll go so.
ANTOINETTE: The accent on ’im. See you love.
DAN: Paula?
PAULA: What?
DAN: I’m going.
ANTOINETTE: I think she heard ya love. It’s only the three of us here.
DAN: Yeah. See you.
DAN exits.
ANTOINETTE: I love it when they’re moody.
PAULA: What?
ANTOINETTE: What? I got you credit.
PAULA: You don’t get your scratch ’til tomorrow?
ANTOINETTE: Found fifty outside Dunnes didn’t I? Says I better get rid, before it burnt a hole in me pocket.
PAULA: Dunnes? I thought we were going tomorrow?
ANTOINETTE: I got the chance of a lift off…bleedin’…Adeola. And sure you were off gally-vantin’.
PAULA: Off who?
ANTOINETTE: Your wan. Me neighbour. She’s downstairs waitin’ on me. You wanna see the kids in the back o’ the car; four black ones and Stacey…it’s like one of those parralolly unilolly (She means parallel universe.) yokes… says I to Adeola, (Speaks as if ADEOLA is deaf.) – space time continuum. – Says she to me – I’ve no idea what your talkin’ about – I says – I’m not far behind you love. – ah yeah…she’s sound as a pound.
PAULA is a little taken aback.
PAULA: Well, that’s good. That’s great isn’t it.
ANTOINETTE: He got his taxi’s worth in the end what?
PAULA: What?
ANTOINETTE: Your man, Dan. Oh that rhymed – I’m at that all day. Me nerves.
Pause.
Dots called over last night.
PAULA: Right?
ANTOINETTE: Yeah. Called over to see Stacey an’ all.
PAULA: First time for everything.
ANTOINETTE: Yeah. That’s what I says.
PAULA: Musta been no free tables at the snooker hall?
ANTOINETTE: He’d a drink on him.
PAULA: Waster.
ANTOINETTE: Swore on his life it was just one. Crossed his heart. Bein’ all merry. All jovial an’ all.
PAULA: Yeah?
ANTOINETTE: Gave him his dinner then.
PAULA: You’re touched.
ANTOINETTE: Stacey was conked out on the couch.
Pause.
It was him what said it was like old times.
PAULA: Did he now?
ANTOINETTE: Cast your mind back – he says.
PAULA: Easy for him to say.
ANTOINETTE: That’s what I says.
ANTOINETTE: Yeah.
PAULA: Prick.
ANTOINETTE: Cast your mind back – he says – You and me used to make a great team. We used to be somethin’ special us.
PAULA: Cringe.
ANTOINETTE: Big time.
PAULA: One drink me hole.
ANTOINETTE: Ge’rup out of that – I says to him – I’ve no need to cast me mind back. I’ve a child as a daily reminder.
PAULA: D’you say that to him?
ANTOINETTE: And the rest. Up the walls he had me. Spoutin’ all sorts of shite. How he loves me an’ all. How he just couldn’t cope an’ all, but that he always thinks about me and all this shite.
PAULA: And you gave him his dinner?
ANTOINETTE: Just kept sayin’ he loves me.
PAULA: Yeah?
ANTOINETTE: Like, nearly cryin’ he was.
Pause.
Over and over – I love ye.
PAULA: And what?
ANTOINETTE: Me heart was broken when he was goin’. Kissing me in the garden, like we’d only met or like we were in love or somethin’. Holdin’ me into him – kissin’ me like his life depended on it.
PAULA: And then leggin’ it.
ANTOINETTE: I love him Paula.
PAULA: And when was that ever enough?
ANTOINETTE is crying maybe.
ANTOINETTE: I love him and I hate him – am I mad?
PAULA: Dots is a waster love. Out and out. Just count up the times the fucker had the police at your door, or the bleedin’ eyes robbed out o’ your head? All for that selfish fucker to satisfy himself. Love isn’t nearly enough – and I know you do, but you’re too good for that shit. You’re better than that.
ANTOINETTE gathers herself.
ANTOINETTE: A good slap is what I need.
PAULA: Well that can be arranged. You want a sup a’ rosey?
ANTOINETTE: No – I better bleedin’ go…your wan downstairs has a bit of temper on her…she warned me not to be too long. Says I – Adeola, not bein’ funny or nothin’, but don’t lose the run of yourself sweetheart. She didn’t understand me but… sure who would, says you…I better be gone…
PAULA: You don’t want to stay for a while then? Egg and chips?
ANTOINETTE: I better go while I’ve the chance of a lift. I’ll never make it on the bus.
PAULA: You’re miles away.
ANTOINETTE stands by the door.
ANTOINETTE: I know. (Pause.) See ya love.
PAULA is left in the empty flat.
ROXANNA and STEPH are at the Wasteland. DAN and PAULA are in PAULA’s kitchen. This scene plays out in two places at once. The time is the same in both. It’s a sort of split-screen scenario, but all should inhabit the space equally and maybe feel on top of each other. ROXANNA and DAN having played out different scenes will end up in the same scene.
DAN stands awkwardly with a bottle of champagne.
DAN: Where are the kids?
PAULA: (Points upstairs.) Sleepover in Jean’s.
They share a look. It’s their first time alone in the flat.
STEPH: (About the baby.) What does it feel like?
ROXANNA: Nothin’.
Pause.
Like an alien. It feels disgutin’.
DAN: I’m sorry.
PAULA: What for?
DAN: For arguing with you yesterday. I don’t know.
PAULA: You’re touched. You think that was a row? Don’t be soft…
He produces a bottle of champagne.
DAN: Well let’s call it a row. That way we get to drink this and make up.
PAULA: Oh yeah?
They kiss.
STEPH: Your man Trevor is a lovely kisser.
ROXANNA: What about the Alan one?
STEPH: Fuck him. Your man Trevor drove all the way out here.
Took us up the airport.
PAULA and DAN kiss or are close throughout the next section.
ROXANNA: Did you fuck him?
STEPH: Wanted to, but there was other cars there. He got a bit cranky then so I pulled him off to shut him up.
DAN: What?
PAULA: Sorry. I’m…
DAN: It’s okay. I’m the same.
PAULA: Really?
DAN: It’s been a while.
PAULA laughs.
I mean, I remember how it’s done. Don’t worry about that; but I’m a bit out of practice.
PAULA: Me too.
DAN: It’s okay.
They kiss.
STEPH: This young one messaged me on Facebook the other mornin’ calling me a tramp an’ all.
ROXANNA: That yoke is for simpletons.
STEPH: Sayin’ she’s gonna pull the head off me.
ROXANNA: As if.
STEPH: Turns out she’s a baby for Trevor.
ROXANNA: That’s her tough shit.
STEPH: I says it to him an’ all – he’s real honest – and he says that the baby is his, but that she tricked him some way and that he doesn’t really see her any more.
ROXANNA: So what is she bangin’ on about?
STEPH: Some shit about the bond between them. The glue, or somethin’…
ROXANNA: Well…fuck her.
STEPH: You will come out with us won’t ya? The laugh like.
ROXANNA: If I can ever get passed Paula.
STEPH: Do you want some of this?
ROXANNA: What is it?
STEPH: Breezer – from me Ma’s large bottle.
ROXANNA: The last one made me blow chunks.
STEPH: So?
PAULA pulls away from the kiss.
PAULA: Sorry…
DAN: No.
PAULA: Will I get glasses so? (For the champagne)
He nods. PAULA moves to get glasses.
DAN: How is Roxanna?
ROXANNA: We were stood talkin’ about names.
PAULA: Off chasing that scumbag probably.
PAULA’s mood changes.
ROXANNA: He’s all set on a girl. Reckons fellas have no sense. I don’t care what it is…I’m just glad that I’m havin’ it now. Aoife he wants…but I think that sounds real hickey, like Doreen or somethin’. I told him I wanna call her Shannon…or if it’s a boy I wanna call him Dale. Fitzy says – what, as in Dale Farm ice-cream? – thinkin’ he’s funny… so I says – No, like Dale Winton – just to wind him up ’cos he hates gays.
DAN: Paula.
ROXANNA: Anyway, it was great just to see him. I was startin’ to forget what he looks like.
PAULA: What?
STEPH: So he wants the baby now?
ROXANNA: Says it’s the only thing keeping him goin’.
DAN: You don’t know that this kid is no good.
ROXANNA: Says he can’t forgive himself over Tommo but.
PAULA: A bit of experience and you can spot them. The signs.
ROXANNA: There’s a row about to break. Fitzy is all geared up for a scrap.
DAN: Give him a chance maybe. You never know.
STEPH: What over?
ROXANNA: Nothin’. His dead brother. Broken hearts. Over nothin’.
PAULA: He had his chance.
DAN: There’s no value in willing him to fail either.
PAULA: Look out there. All you see is stories of big hearts and broken promises. Fellas that promised us the earth but when it came to it, they were gone.
DAN goes to kiss her apologetically.
Don’t.
She leaves the room.
ROXANNA: I says to him – do you love me – an’ all.
DAN picks up the champagne bottle.
…looking for a fight, ’cos me head has been wrecked over him…so I stuck that to him – do you love me – and he says…
DAN pops the champagne and drinks from the bottle.
…he says that I’ll never be able to imagine the places that he’s been in his head. He says but, that even when it got really dark for him, all up in his head…that he could still see me and the baby.
DAN in the kitchen with empty champagne bottle, drunk.
STEPH: I’ve to leg it. Me auld fella will batter me.
STEPH gets up to leave.
ROXANNA: The only thing keepin’ him goin’ he says.
STEPH makes to leave.
STEPH: Were you ballin’?
ROXANNA: (Calling after her.) Cryin’? Get a life. It was like me heart could breathe again but.
ROXANNA and DAN are suddenly in the scene together.
Where’s Paula?
DAN: Telly Room.
ROXANNA leaves the room and comes back seconds later.
ROXANNA: She’s asleep.
DAN: She’ll be back now.
ROXANNA: I said she’s asleep you fuckin’ eejit. You’ve to go home now.
DAN: (Calls.) Paula?!
ROXANNA: Did yiz fuck?
DAN: What?
ROXANNA: (Annunciating the word.) FUCK. Tonight. Did yiz do it?
DAN: Give your mouth a rest.
ROXANNA: I just want to know if you stuck it in me sister, and if you did, which I’d put money on it that you did – ’cos why the fuck else would you be stalking her – so like – I’m just wondering was she any good?
DAN: If you were mine, I’d...
ROXANNA: If I was yours? Your what?
DAN: You want manners put on you.
ROXANNA: A good kickin’?
Pause.
A slap? A good seeing to, is that it?
DAN: It’s a strange creature you are.
ROXANNA moves closer to DAN.
ROXANNA: That’s it, isn’t it? You wanna give me a good seeing to?
Pause.
Fuck me sister and then fuck me. Make a night of it.
DAN: You have your sister and every other clown round here wrapped around your little finger. It’s not right. I’d fuckin’ have you, (meaning, “your life”) that’s for sure.
ROXANNA: Would you now?
ROXANNA moves closer to DAN. Her mouth is dangerously close to his.
Have me then.
DAN: There’s a badness in you.
ROXANNA moves closer to DAN. She lowers her voice as she speaks to him.
ROXANNA: You think I’m sexy, don’t you?
DAN: Enough.
ROXANNA: What it must be like to fuck a sixteen-year-old; that’s the fantasy in’it?
DAN puts his hand on ROXANNA’s waist to hold her or hold her back. He is sitting but she is standing. They are almost at the same level.
DAN: You’re only a young one.
ROXANNA: And you a man. Big man like ya.
DAN: I pity you. Getting yourself into all sorts.
ROXANNA: You’d have me. That’s what you said.
ROXANNA’s lips move towards DAN’s. He doesn’t stop her. A good seeing to.
PAULA is dressed in funeral attire, she leans out the kitchen window talking to JEAN.
PAULA: You won’t know yourself with stairs an’ all.
JEAN: (Off-stage.) It’s just one more fuckin’ thing to clean what?
PAULA: You said it!
JEAN: Was there many there?
PAULA: Packed to the hilt. Kids mostly. Teenagers.
Pause.
When you off?
JEAN: Two weeks. Can’t bleedin’ wait.
PAULA: You’ll be a new woman on the Southside!
JEAN: I’ll be a lady what lunches! (Change of tone.) Fuck…I’m burnin’ bleedin’ toast up here…
ANTOINETTE, ROXANNA and STEPH enter with bags of chips. They are all dressed in black having been to a funeral.
ANTOINETTE: You’d swear someone took a shit in that lift. Thank fuck I’m out of this kip, that’s all I’ll say…
PAULA: I doubt that somehow. Rox, put plates under those chips.
ROXANNA and STEPH put out plates.
STEPH: There was loads of rides there today, wasn’t there?
ANTOINETTE: Get a grip, it was full of knackers.
PAULA throws ANTOINETTE a look.
What? D’you want me to lie. It was full of scum. That’s the truth of it.
PAULA: You’re hardly from royalty yourself.
STEPH: Did you see Bucko?
ANTOINETTE: With the diamond yoke in his ear?
STEPH: Total ride! And Fitzy’s older brother was smokin’ hot in that suit…and even Fitzy…he’s spoken for of course… but still…
ROXANNA is away in her thoughts. PAULA is buttering bread and handing out tea.
ANTOINETTE: You could dip each and every prick at that funeral in gold and I still wouldn’t touch them.
PAULA: Don’t mind Antoinette. Her taste in men isn’t as impeccable as she makes out.
ANTOINETTE: I know a waster when I see one.
PAULA: Even when you’re servin’ him up his dinner?
ANTOINETTE: You what?
PAULA: (Meaning the girls.) Give them a break is all.
ANTOINETTE: ’Sake.
The four girls get stuck into their chips and tea.
PAULA: (To ROXANNA.) Were you talkin’ to him?
ANTOINETTE: I thought you said to leave her be?
PAULA: Shut up you.
ROXANNA: His Ma wouldn’t shake me hand or nothin’.
ANTOINETTE: Over what?
STEPH: Sure he only told them, didn’t he?
ANTOINETTE: There’s only so much bad news a mother can take I suppose.
PAULA: (To ANTOINETTE.) Are you thick?
ANTOINETTE: What? You can’t say fuckin’ boo in this kip.
ROXANNA: Collared him outside and he was just in bits. Says the young fellas who were after Tommo was textin’ him, sayin’ they were thrilled he was dead…it saves them a job an’ all.
PAULA: Scumbags.
ANTOINETTE: Every last one of them.
ROXANNA: His heart is broken but.
STEPH: He was roarin’ cryin’ when I saw him. He was in bits.
PAULA: That’s the way of it.
STEPH: Up in the back fields last night the brothers had a fire lit. Crowds of youn’ fellas out. They’d a car at the bottom of the pitch, the fire climbin’ out the windows…and the kids all out collecting wood for them. Palettes and tyres… like ants they were…and the brothers tanked up. Whiskey and vodka from the bottle; the flames catching their tears, and their faces…roaring from the heat; all orange and red…and them not far from the depths of hell.
PAULA: You’ve a long way to come back from somethin’ like that.
STEPH: And the songs they were singin’. Hardshaws huggin’ each other and cryin’ into the ground. Thugs, screamin’ o’ the injustice. Wolfe Tones, and the Dubliners. Rebel songs an’ all. Songs about freedom, or whatever they could get heads to. Their voices breakin’ with the whiskey and the hurt. Broken hearts trun on the fire…and Tommo, they says, dancin’ in its glow.
The women are all quiet. Long pause.
PAULA: Your child did that and your life’d be over. She’ll never move from that now, that auld one.
ANTOINETTE: Your ‘what’s his name’ was there today.
PAULA: What?
ANTOINETTE: Your man. Down the back he was; throwin’ his beady eye over the whole affair.
PAULA: Dan?
ANTOINETTE: Couldn’t take his eyes off you.
PAULA: At the church?
ANTOINETTE: (Sarcastic.) No – at the chipper.
PAULA: I haven’t heard a peep from him in days.
ANTOINETTE: He was there alright. Glad Eye O’Hara.
ROXANNA: He was lookin’ at me.
Pause.
PAULA: What?
ROXANNA: Dan. He was lookin’ at me. In the church.
Pause.
PAULA: Why would he be lookin’ at you?
ROXANNA: Why d’ya think?
Long pause. ROXANNA stares at PAULA.
’Cos of Fitzy, I suppose. His brother.
Pause.
ANTOINETTE: It’s a bit much all the same. Like, coffin chasin’ to get your attention. It’s a bit creepy.
ROXANNA: He is a creep.
PAULA: Excuse me?
ANTOINETTE: I think he is a bit, is he?
PAULA: What is it you don’t like about him Antoinette; the fact that he’s got a job? Or his ability to hold a conversation?
ANTOINETTE: Desperation more like.
PAULA: Careful now sweetheart; your track record doesn’t quite give you license to judge.
ROXANNA: She’s only ragin’ ’cos no fella will go near ’er.
PAULA: Oh, they’ll go near her alright. It’s staying near her that’s the problem.
ANTOINETTE: Do you think I come down to this dump to take abuse?
PAULA: It’s only a dump when it suits ya.
ROXANNA: And you know where the door is...you use it often enough.
ANTOINETTE: I could say the same for you young one.
ROXANNA: I’m family.
ANTOINETTE: Yeah…and blood is not the only thing thicker than water.
PAULA: Are you plannin’ on being a gee-bag all day?
ROXANNA: Try all year.
ANTOINETTE: What?
PAULA: I’ve no time for your bitchin’ today.
ANTOINETTE: Who’s bitchin’?
PAULA: Either shut your mouth or go on home.
ANTOINETTE: You kickin’ me out?
ROXANNA: How did you guess?
PAULA: (To ROXANNA.) Shut up you. (To ANTOINETTE.) I’m givin’ you options.
ANTOINETTE: I get fuckin’ more respect from the strangers livin’ next to me than I do off me own mates.
PAULA: Here we go –
ANTOINETTE: You’d wanna stop to catch yourself. Holier than bleedin’ thou. D’you think my life revolves around whatever it is you think I should or shouldn’t be doin’ on any given day? It’d serve you well now to remember the times I’ve held the weight of you in this kitchen, cryin’ over Git and the kids, cryin’ over your auld fella, god rest his soul, or your aul’ one who can’t stomach the sight of ye.
PAULA: Give over and sit down.
ANTOINETTE: I’ve a pain in my hole with you makin’ a thick o’ me. Sneerin’ when you should be supportin’ – Why did you move out so far? Why are you givin’ Dots his dinner? Why are you not just like me? – Because I’m gettin’ on with it. I’m doing something. I’m not standin’ still – unlike some people.
ANTOINETTE storms out.
PAULA: Is she for real?
The hall door slams.
STEPH: Will I go after her?
PAULA: Leave her.
ROXANNA: She’s a guaranteed boomerang.
PAULA turns on ROXANNA.
PAULA: That mouth of yours will be the end of the lot of us.
You just don’t fuckin’ let up sometimes.
Very long pause. The air is thick with tension.
STEPH: (Whispers to ROx.) Will we go?
ROXANNA: Paula? (PAULA doesn’t answer) Paula?
PAULA: What?
ROXANNA: I’m sorry right.
PAULA doesn’t answer.
ROXANNA: Paula. Me Ma rang me.
PAULA stops what she’s doing.
PAULA: And what?
ROXANNA: Wasn’t gonna pick up, but the day that’s in it you know?
PAULA: –
ROXANNA: She sounded wrecked on the phone. Like, not cryin’ or nothin’ but her voice was shakin’…like she was holding on to somethin’…
PAULA: You should go down to her.
ROXANNA: You should.
PAULA: You need to tell her what’s going on. It’s only right.
ROXANNA: She says to me face that I’m disgustin’…like an animal or somethin’…she said that…wanted the priest to make it all better…holy water from the kiddy fiddler for a quick fix. Fuck her.
PAULA looks sad.
PAULA: You can’t spend your life avoiding ’er. It’s her grandchild.
There’s a knock at the door. PAULA exits to answer it.
ROXANNA: You talkin’ to me or yourself?
STEPH: We goin’ out or what? Me head is bleedin’ wrecked with the two of yiz.
ROXANNA: Say nothin’ ’til I sort it.
PAULA can be heard in the hallway just before she enters.
PAULA: Jason, no! Sit in there now ’til the cartoon is over; we’re talkin’ in here…
PAULA enters with DAN.
DAN: How are ya?
STEPH smiles and ROXANNA looks away.
PAULA: Dan said hello to yiz.
ROXANNA: Yeah, we’re not deaf? Howaya.
STEPH: Hiya.
DAN: How are you Roxanna?
PAULA leaves the room.
Slight pause.
DAN: I’ve been better.
ROXANNA: Haven’t we all.
DAN: You haven’t been saying anything to upset Paula, have you?
ROXANNA: Like what?
DAN: Like, lies.
STEPH: You’re real serious mister.
ROXANNA: I don’t tell lies.
DAN: I hope that’s true.
STEPH: He’s a bit of a ride, in’ ’e.
ROXANNA: He is I suppose – and a great kisser…I hear.
STEPH: Oh!
PAULA re-enters.
PAULA: What? (Beat.) Roxanna, their coats are on. Will you drop them up their nanny Grogan for me? He’s takin’ them swimmin’ of all things.
ROXANNA: No.
STEPH: Come on; we get out of here, it’s borin’.
PAULA: As a favour, please.
STEPH: Ask her now if you can stay at mine.
PAULA: What?
STEPH: We were gonna go the pictures an’ stay in mine.
PAULA: (To ROXANNA.) Can you not go the pictures and come home here?
ROXANNA: I’m not going anywhere. It doesn’t matter.
PAULA: Fuck sake. Just go! Jesus Christ! Drop them over and go to Steph’s. Go on. Go out. The face on ye. Jaysus.
DAN: (To ROXANNA.) I doubt she’ll offer twice!
STEPH: Come on now before she changes her mind. Are you mental?
ROXANNA: ’Sake.
ROXANNA gets up to leave. PAULA moves to the hall to gather the kids and STEPH moves with her, leaving ROXANNA and DAN alone.
ROXANNA: I wish you’d ever fuck off.
DAN: You’re a nasty piece of work.
PAULA calls from the hall.
PAULA: Roxanna?
ROXANNA: Comin’.
DAN grabs ROXANNA by the arm maybe.
DAN: People get sick of burdens very quickly. Remember that.
PAULA enters.
PAULA: Today please.
ROXANNA: (Acting all innocent.) If you want me to come home tonight I will?
PAULA strokes ROXANNA’s hair.
PAULA: No love. You chill out. It’s been a tough day all round.
ROXANNA looks to DAN, then exits. PAULA and DAN stand close to one another.
DAN: I thought we could talk.
PAULA: I thought we might have seen the last of you.
DAN: Oh?
PAULA: It’s been a few days.
DAN: I was flat out with work and that.
PAULA: Oh right.
DAN: Yeah.
PAULA: You were at the church today?
DAN: I had thought to call up and see if the boys needed looking after but then I thought that you all might need some space and then I wasn’t sure then, and sure by then I’d over-thought the whole affair so I just slipped in the back of the church.
PAULA: But no phone-call?
DAN: Yeah. I don’t know.
ANTOINETTE is standing at the kitchen door.
ANTOINETTE: Your hall door was open.
PAULA: You come to your senses?
ANTOINETTE: Me phone.
ANTOINETTE retrieves her phone from the table.
PAULA: Sit down there.
ANTOINETTE: It’s just that I promised Adeola I’d mind her little brown bunch on account of her going the bingo… so…I…I’ve to…
PAULA: You’re being a wagon.
ANTOINETTE: I get nothin’ but abuse in this gaf and you…all this…all the girls are talkin’ about you and bleedin’…(DAN)
PAULA: So what? Let them talk.
ANTOINETTE: And I get a roasting for offerin’ Dots up a fuckin’ pork chop.
PAULA: You sat here crying your eyes out ’cos you say you love Dots – but he’s a toe rag. Am’n I only trying to protect you.
ANTOINETTE: A hypocrite is what you are…
PAULA: I don’t love Dan.
DAN looks uncomfortable.
That’s the difference. Get that into your brain.
Pause.
ANTOINETTE: Me Ma says I’ve to give me own area a chance or I’ll never settle in.
PAULA: And what?
ANTOINETTE: Nothin’. I just…I just won’t be knockin’ about as much…
PAULA: Right. Well…that sounds about right I suppose.
ANTOINETTE: It’s just with Stacey an’ all. She needs to start makin’ her own friends…
PAULA: Yeah.
ANTOINETTE: Yeah…well…anyway…
PAULA: What?
ANTOINETTE: Nothin’.
ANTOINETTE leaves.
PAULA: She’ll have changed her mind by tomorrow…that’s
Antoinette for you…
Pause. DAN looks dejected.
What?
DAN: Fuck sake Paula.
PAULA: That was about Antoinette.
DAN: Cut me some slack.
PAULA: I’m sorry. But we’re not in love, are we? Like – not yet anyway.
DAN kisses PAULA. He’s nervous.
DAN: I don’t know.
PAULA: You’re going soft.
DAN: It’s just Roxanna…
PAULA: I know. I don’t know what to be doing with her. How to help her. But I know what’s going on in her mind because I was there too, you know? That was me too.
DAN: Has she said anything about me?
PAULA: Like what?
Pause.
DAN: Can I tell you something?
PAULA: I can’t take any more surprises.
DAN hesitates. He could say anything.
DAN: It’s just to say that I don’t love you either.
But that I could. I definitely could.
PAULA and DAN kiss passionately. DAN lifts PAULA onto a counter top, they kiss as they undress each other.
The dead of night. PAULA’s kitchen. DAN falls over a pile of washing looking for the fridge in the dark. He pours himself a glass of milk by the light of the fridge. There is a thunderous knocking on the door. Startled, DAN flicks on a light. The knocking continues. A voice is heard through the letterbox.
DAN: Paula? You awake there?
DAN leaves the room to answer the door.
DAN enters the kitchen with STEPH in tow. Her lip is cut.
DAN: Sit down there. I’ll get some water.
PAULA enters all sleepy. STEPH is crying.
PAULA: What in the name of jaysus?
STEPH: I’m sorry. I couldn’t go to me own house. I’d a been kilt. Young one sendin’ me messages an’ all sayin’ she was gonna reef me…
PAULA: Where’s Roxanna?
Pause.
STEPH: I was tryin’ to phone you but your phone was off.
PAULA: What?
STEPH: They took her to the hospital.
PAULA: A fuckin’ pregnant girl as back up. Are you thick?
DAN: Save your energy Paula.
DAN puts his hand on PAULA’s shoulder. She pulls away.
PAULA: She’s only fuckin’ a baby herself.
Sounds rise; an ambulance, a telephone. Lights go dark.
The stage is empty. ROXANNA and STEPH are the first to inhabit their space at the muck. PAULA enters the kitchen. She moves around it, folding washing and checking on the kids out the window. STEPH and ROXANNA sit apart saying nothing.
PAULA: Aaron…Aaron… Take that roller skate off him…’cos it’s dangerous…Jason… (Paula laughs) I’m not messin’ with ya…put the boot down or I’ll streal ya…yiz are not funny, the two of yiz…
DAN enters.
DAN: Your door was open.
PAULA comes in from the window.
PAULA: (Signalling the window.) The boys…
DAN: How are ya?
PAULA: Getting on with it. You?
DAN: I’m okay. I slipped the lads some sweets there on the way up – young Jason said you’d string me up for it.
PAULA: They won’t eat their dinner.
DAN: Well I made them promise, didn’t I?
PAULA: Right.
DAN: A man-to-man kind of thing.
PAULA: God help us.
Pause.
DAN: Did you get my messages?
PAULA: What?
DAN: I was feeling like a bit of a desperado, calling and calling, but I didn’t wanna just drive over in case you needed your space – Roxanna or whatever. But I left a tonne of messages for you – and some of them quite good actually – so I’m hoping you got them. It’s just I never heard back and it’s been a fortnight.
PAULA: It’s been hectic.
DAN: I decided that two weeks was the threshold of politeness for a house call. So here I am.
PAULA: We’ve been up to ninety is the thing.
DAN: I got that part – yeah. But in fairness I think hectic is just another flavour in this place so it’s no excuse really.
PAULA: Do you want tea or something?
DAN: No Paula. I don’t want tea. Jesus.
PAULA: Are you gonna stand there, or…?
DAN: I don’t know…
DAN sits down.
Things went okay in the hospital after? You should have let me stay. I wanted to.
PAULA: I could kick meself for not seein’ that comin’.
DAN: They’re teenagers. It’s what they do.
PAULA: Mm.
DAN: How could you have known?
PAULA: I took my eye off the ball.
DAN: That’s rubbish.
PAULA: It’s what my old dear said when she arrived. She couldn’t help herself – it wasn’t in her to let things be, even for one night.
DAN: So she went in? I knew she would. It’s family.
PAULA: Oh she was thrilled. Beside herself she was. Rubbing a set of rosary beads like some sort of Bond villain. Oh she came in alright – and just in nick of time according to her. The whole scenario was like a living, barely breathing example of everything she’d ever warned us about. Violence and teenage pregnancy – all we were missing was some needle marks and she’d a’ had a hat trick.
DAN: Mother’s love being right. You gotta let that slide.
PAULA: I took my eye off the ball.
DAN: But Roxanna – the baby – Steph?
DAN: That’s good.
PAULA: It’s just with all these roads meetin’, you know – at the once. It’s too much.
DAN: I’m a bit dense when it comes to cryptic crosswords. Do you wanna flesh that one out for me?
PAULA: Your timing.
DAN: Oh fuck off. It’s like you’ve no idea what you’re even saying. If you like someone, you just go for it. There’s never going to be a good time for you.
PAULA: If you like someone?
DAN: What’s the other option – deny yourself a shot at happiness? ’Til when? And what if there are no more chances when you finally decide that the timing suits ya?
Pause.
PAULA: I went into a church yesterday.
DAN: –
PAULA: It’s thick really. I don’t believe in god or any of it, and priests make me sick to me core…but I dunno – habit, or…peace and quiet…something.
I went in anyway and there was a rehearsal for a communion on – a little girl’s school – all excited – racin’ through their prayers and the cocky ones stickin’ their tongues out for the imaginary bread.
Gorgeous, the lot o’ them.
I sat at the back; the stations of the cross on all sides.
I’m right beside number four – Jesus meets his mother.
And she looks a kind sort Mary – like we know she was prone to a few lies – but a kind cut to her – and I get to thinkin’ about my Ma, and how she believes all this shit – these fairytales – they’re not even stories to her; they all happened! Each and every one.
And all this while Rox is around the corner in the hoppo… and I get to thinkin’ about our Da – and what a kind sort he was – all gentle and soft – and I’m crying then, you know – ’cos of the event itself – Rox and Steph; the baby – and also because I hadn’t clapped eyes on my mother in a year – and that was a shock in itself…or…me emotions were…
And I wished then that the Da was around to look after all this.
You know when you miss someone so much that it’s like someone’s ringin’ your heart out like a dish cloth?
And – er – yeah – it occurs to me too that er – you know – you remember people how you want to, don’t ya? Good or bad. ’Cos our Da, you know – he was the kindest fella to us – perfect he was – but he was cruel to me Ma – yeah – he was a violent sort I suppose you’d say – just not to us.
And she said it to me the other night.
Like fair balls to her, because the woman is a shite communicator – but yeah…she says like…at some whacky hour of the mornin’ – she says that she resents us for lovin’ him more than her.
Pause.
And you can’t argue with that. The fella used to hurt her. And we were never around for her.
And she says that the rosary beads and the happy clappy water give her hope – yeah – they give her something to believe in. And you definitely can’t argue with that, because we – she said it herself – we – me and Rox – we’ve given her nothing to believe in.
DAN: You’ll make it up to her – I know you will.
PAULA: It got me thinkin’ though – you know – what do I have to believe in. If I don’t have things and I don’t have what she has – blind belief and faith. What do I have?
DAN: Have me Paula. I’m here.
PAULA: That is what I said. In my head –
DAN: – Yes. Have faith in me.
PAULA: I thought – That man. That good man. I can believe in him. – We all need something –
DAN: – Yes.
PAULA: But it was one of those nights you know – in the hospital – with the Ma there and little Rox beside herself with the grief of the baby that she thinks she’s lost – and we get to talking – three women – you can imagine it – and we all offered up our hurt and our hearts and many many tears and there was love and anger all swimmin’ in the same broth – and it all came out that night – as the thunder hugged the windows – we three emptied our souls.
DAN knows what’s coming.
DAN: Right.
PAULA: Yeah.
Pause.
You kissed my sister.
DAN: She – kissed me. I didn’t kiss her back. I swear to god.
PAULA: Sixteen years old.
DAN: She kissed me Paula, and I stopped her. And I never said because I’m a fuckin’ idiot – and of course I should have – I should have – I could kick myself – but she – ah fuck it – it’s twisted – she made me believe that you’d choose her version of events over mine – ye know – choose her over me. But I stopped her – and it’s been eating me alive ever since.
PAULA: I believe you.
DAN: Don’t play with me Paula.
PAULA: She told me everything. The same story. Blow by blow. I made her. Once she’d started I wouldn’t let up. Balling she was. Crying her heart out over what she’d done to me. Piece by piece.
DAN: Okay.
PAULA: Inconsolable. Couldn’t believe that she could do that to me.
PAULA: I just can’t have this in my house.
DAN: Paula, come on.
PAULA: I just don’t need the distraction. Do you understand?
DAN: We’re only starting. We can move on from this. A drunken episode – an overexcited teenager. We can move on.
PAULA: I can’t have this in my house. It’s too much.
Pause.
And I can’t get rid of Roxanna – Me blood. I won’t do that.
DAN makes to leave.
DAN: Would you even know how to be happy Paula? If it landed in your kitchen, would you know how to let your guard down? Would your heart recognise happiness? Or is it too far gone for that?
He exits.
PAULA’s kitchen. STEPH and ROXANNA sit at the table – they should seem younger than ever. PAULA hovers around.
ROXANNA: Paula?
PAULA: What?
ROXANNA: Did you hate being pregnant?
PAULA: No, why?
STEPH: I would. I’d hate the gettin’ fat.
PAULA: You wouldn’t. Your mind does be elsewhere.
ROXANNA: Do you get used to it?
PAULA: No. But you move with it. You take it as it comes.
ROXANNA: And what else?
PAULA: You worry…
STEPH: Do you be cryin’ an’ all?
PAULA: You’ll worry about the baby.
STEPH: It’s heart and it’s health an’ all?
PAULA: All of it. You’ll stay awake at night wondering what’s going on with your body and if you’re doing all the things you should be doing, like not drinkin’ or smokin’ or eatin’ greasy crap or anything like that. Its health yeah, you’ll be thinking of its health a lot. But you’ll have other worries as well.
ROXANNA: Yeah?
PAULA: Like you’ll worry about Fitzy. You’ll think everything through at the weirdest hours. The night time. The dead of night. The time when no one else is awake or thinking, you’ll be thinking of Fitzy. Will he be there for me? Stick around like? Will he make a good father? Will we have enough? Will a baby turn him off me? Me body…and all of that. The crying. The sleepless nights. Shitty nappies. Some fellas are not able for that.
ROXANNA: Fitzy is. He will be.
STEPH: You won’t know ’til you pop but.
PAULA: But you’ll also be saying…in the back of your head… you’ll be saying…and you won’t let yourself think it out properly…you’ll push this to the back, but you’ll be thinkin’: do I want to spend me life with this fella? Like, is this me now? Is this the lot?
ROXANNA: And do you be cryin’ an’ all?
STEPH: What about cravin’s? D’you be eatin’ coal an’ all?
PAULA: Never had coal now…but I put tomato sauce all over ice-cream once.
ROXANNA: Fuckin’ hell Paula!
STEPH: Would you do it again Paula?
PAULA: Don’t know love. Never say never, you know that way?
ROXANNA: With the right fella you would.
PAULA: Would I?
ROXANNA: I think you would Paula. If you loved him, and he loved you and it felt right…you would.
STEPH: Did it feel right the other times?
ROXANNA: It must have done.
PAULA: It did yeah.
ROXANNA: It must have.
PAULA: But feelin’ that, that feelin’…it’s not enough either… you know? Later on…it’s not enough…you…you never stop worrying. You tie yourself in knots. Hate yourself sometimes. Get all tangled up with the world askin’ why did I bring life into this? Why was I so selfish? How can I look after these kids? And for yourself as well, ye know: who is gonna look after me? Yeah…you have to ask yourself…who is gonna look after me?
STEPH: I’ve to go home. Me Da has me on a curfew. Says in all seriousness that he wants me tagged with one of those electric bracelets.
PAULA: He knows you’re not a bad young one.
STEPH: Thanks Paula.
STEPH makes to leave.
See you in school on Monday?
ROXANNA: Unfortunately.
STEPH: Breslin is gonna piss when he see’s you. See yiz.
STEPH leaves. ROXANNA calls after her.
ROXANNA: Breslin wants puttin’ on that sex offender’s list.
PAULA: You all set?
ROXANNA: Me Ma said, take a taxi, and she’ll pay for it.
PAULA: She’s spoilin’ ye.
ROXANNA: She’s bein’ all weird. All carin’ an all.
PAULA: And Fitzy?
ROXANNA: Don’t talk to me about that young fella. He’s like a bleedin’ lap dog. Between text messages and teddy bears. Like, give a girl some space to breathe.
PAULA: That’s fellas for ye!
ROXANNA grabs her bag from the hallway.
ROXANNA: Fellas nothin’ – Fitzy’ll get a kick in the nuts if he keeps it up. I’m an independent woman me.
PAULA stands and stares at ROXANNA.
I’m scared Paula.
PAULA: I know. But you did the right thing you know?
ROXANNA: Yeah? Why’s that?
PAULA: ’Cos you’d a mind of your own and that’s a rare thing.
PAULA and ROXANNA embrace. A long loving hug. ROXANNA makes to leave.
Go easy on ’er yeah?
ROXANNA: I’ll be like a sister of the immaculate conception.
You wait and see Paula.
ROXANNA leaves.
See ya.
She’s gone.
PAULA: Love you.
PAULA moves around her kitchen slowly. She touches surfaces, opens the fridge, closes it. She packs a load into the washing machine. She grabs a cloth and starts cleaning surfaces. JEAN’s voice is heard offstage:
JEAN: (Off-stage.) Paula?
PAULA pauses for a long time, taking in her kitchen.
JEAN: Paula?
PAULA opens her window.
PAULA: What?
JEAN: That’s me…
PAULA: What love?
JEAN: (Barely audible.) I said…that’s me…
PAULA: Speak up – I can’t hear ya.
JEAN: I said that’s me love. I’m off… The last van load just left.
I called down to ya earlier but you was out.
This is it.
This is the end.
PAULA takes a sharp intake of breath.
Whaaaat?
PAULA fights back tears maybe.
PAULA: Nothin’ love. I’ll miss yiz is all.
JEAN: Right back at you sister.
PAULA is left onstage alone. The lights fade.
Finish.