In the tunnels.
Mikey and Tony come to a dead end.
Mikey What?
Tony It’s blocked. Fallen in.
Mikey Are we going to die here?
Tony No. We just need to go back. There’ll be a way out.
Do you have anything to eat?
I feel a bit …
Tony Polo?
Mikey Do you know what’s nice?
The quiet.
They listen.
Tone.
Don’t you have a phone?
Tony No.
Mikey What’s that like?
Tony I don’t know. I just never have. I suppose with my mum things have rather passed me by.
I did once go on Facebook.
But to be honest it was all rather …
Mikey What?
Tony Well, seeing the people from school; partners, kids. I dunno.
I suppose. It can make you feel lonely.
Mikey Yeah.
…
You know I was actually on a date tonight.
Tony Oh right. Good?
Mikey I stood him up.
Tony I see.
Mikey Oh. Him. I said him.
I’ve never said that before.
I’ve always thought …
Well. It just came out.
Tony Maybe it’s the effect of being deep underground.
Mikey Yeah!
Sorry. Only …
He is crying, suddenly overwhelmed.
Tony That’s okay.
Mikey I wanted to tell my mum.
But it’s like there’s this thing inside. And whenever I try I just …
It chokes me up.
Tony I used to get that. Lecturing. Even when no one came.
A sort of tightening up?
Mikey Yeah.
I mean, it’s happening a bit now.
Tony Maybe you just need to practise.
Mikey What?
Tony Well, saying it out loud.
Mikey Right.
Tony Go on then.
Mikey What? To you?
Tony Unless …
Yes.
Mikey What do I say?
Tony …
I’m gay?
Mikey Me too!
Tony No. No. I was being you.
Mikey Oh right.
…
Tony Mum.
Mikey Mum, I’m gay.
Tony That’s it. Sounds good.
Mikey Mum, I’m gay.
…
I’m a big gay goose.
Tony I’m as gay as you like.
Mikey I’m a goosey gay gander.
Tony Like a lovely old mop.
Mikey Like the top of a tree, waving in the wind. Somewhere on a mountainside.
That’s me, Mum.
That’s me inside.
…
She’ll be alright.
Tony Of course she will.
Mikey I liked your mum.
She was fun.
Tony Was she?
Mikey She used to let me play with her fridge magnets when I was little.
Tony Oh, yeah. The strawberry and that big shoe.
Mikey She had all the alphabet too.
Tony Really? She must’ve got that for you.
Wasn’t there when I was a kid.
Mikey I sometimes hid in her kitchen. Spelled out rude words.
Your mum would do them too.
Tony Mum? No.
Mikey Had a filthy mouth on her.
Tony She was always so strict with me.
Mikey People change when they get old.
He hears something, calming and peaceful and far away.
What’s that?
Tony can’t hear anything.
Tony What?
Mikey That song. It’s beautiful.
Mikey is getting woozy.
I like you, Tony.
Glad you’re here.
Sorry I called you a paedo.
Feel a bit … weird … though …
Mikey faints. Tony catches him.
Tony Michael?
Mikey!