ACT TWO — SCENE ONE
Scene: The same. A week later.
The kitchen is fairly tidy. GRANNY’S bed-ends and mattress are propped against the wall: she is sitting, dressed in her outdoor clothes and surrounded by her worldly belongings. MRS HARRIS and MRS BONE are keeping her company.
GRANNY: It’s awfu tae be aul an kicked aboot frae yin hoose tae the ither.
MRS HARRIS: Aw, cheer up, Granny. Have anither strippit ba. Whaur did ye pit them? (Rummages through one of the bags and locates sweets) There ye are! (She pops one into GRANNY’S mouth. GRANNY takes it out again, looks at it, and, satisfied, sucks contentedly) That’ll keep her quiet for a wee while. Hoo’s yer keeker the day? (Peers at MRS BONE’S mahogany-coloured eye) Och, it’s no near as bad as the last yin ye had. Whit did ye bump intae this time?
MRS BONE: The mangle … Mrs Morrison’s shairly bein kep a lang while at the hospital. I hope it’s naethin serious wi wee Bertie; yon’s an awfu-like cough he’s got. Nicht efter nicht I hear him hechin awa.
MRS HARRIS: Aye. Chests is chancy things. I mind when oor Wullie had the pewmony, I wis up a day an a nicht. No a wunk o sleep did I get till he’d past the crisis … and there wis his feyther, lyin snorin his heid aff.
MRS BONE: They men!
MRS HARRIS: Aye, they men! But if their nebs is rinnin, they think they’re deein.
MRS BONE: I hope it’s no pewmony wi Bertie, but I wouldnae be surprised, I wouldnae be surprised … I’m never surprised at onythin! I mean, aboot the human body I’m no surprised.
GRANNY: Eh dear! I’m deserted! Lizzie’s forgot me!
MRS BONE: Nutt at a! Of course ye’re no deserted. She’ll be here in a wee minute. (To MRS HARRIS) Puir aul thing!
GRANNY: I ken the way it is; I’m nae that dottled that I dinna ken i’m no wantit. I’m naethin but an auld nuisance tae Maggie an Lizzie.
MRS HARRIS: Whit an idea! Ye’re no an aul nuisance at a! I’m shair they’ll miss ye something terrible when ye go.
GRANNY: They’ll no miss me. But they’ll miss ma pension tae buy a bit bacon on a Friday nicht. Maggie aye bought a bit bacon wi ma pension. No that I got ony; I jist got the smell o it an a bit dipped breid. (Pause) She said I’d nae teeth tae chow wi. Wait till she’s aul hersel wi nae teeth.
MRS HARRIS: Aye, it’s a terrible bad arrangement that. When ye loss yer teeth, ye should loss yer appetite wi them.
GRANNY: Eh, deary dear! I’m wearied waitin.
MRS BONE: (giving MRS HARRIS a dig in the ribs) Sing us a wee song, Granny, tae pass the time.
(GRANNY turns her head slowly and looks long at MRS BONE)
GRANNY: (reproving) Singing’s for rejoicin.
MRS BONE: (with a giggle) Oo, that’s me pit in ma place!
GRANNY: An I’m no gettin up an dancin the Hielan Fling for ye either. (Darkly) I’m jist sittin here … thinkin … there’s on-gauns in this hoose … yon lassie that Alec’s mairret on …
MRS HARRIS: Isa.
GRANNY: Aye, Isa. She’s a tink. A tink. Maggie should rin her oot o the hoose. Mark ma words.
MRS BONE: Oh aye, Granny; we’ll mark them.
(There is a peremptory knock on the door)
That’ll be Lizzie. Jist the cheeky kind o knock she’d hae.
(MRS HARRIS opens the door to LIZZIE, a hard-faced harridan about fifty)
LIZZIE: (ignoring the others) Well? Ye ready?
MRS BONE: Ready? She’s been sittin here waitin on ye for the last hauf-oor.
LIZZIE: Got a yer claes packed? And yer pension book?
GRANNY: Aye, Lizzie; it’s here.
LIZZIE: See’s a look at it.
(GRANNY starts to fumble with her bag. MRS BONE goes to help her)
Hev they men no been for the bed yet?
MRS HARRIS: If they’d hae been for the bed it wouldna be staunin up against yon wa, would it?
LIZZIE: (taking pension book from MRS BONE) Here! Ye’ve drawn this week’s. Ye got the money?
GRANNY: Naw, Lizzie… I gied it tae Maggie.
LIZZIE: Oh? So Bertie gets new socks at ma expense, does he? And whit does she think you’re gonna live on for the next week? Air?
MRS HARRIS: Ach, leave the puir aul wife alane. Shairly ye can scrape up a bit tae eat for her; it’s no as if ye wis takin in a big hulkin brute o a man tae feed.
LIZZIE: I’m no takin in naebody tae feed. Folks that canna pay for their meat’ll find nae room in ma hoose.
MRS BONE: Oo! An her yer puir dead husband’s mither. Oo! I’m surprised at ye, Lizzie Morrison.
MRS HARRIS: I thought you said you wis never surprised — at anythin human.
MRS BONE: That’s jist whit I said: anythin human.
(They both stare hard at LIZZIE, then shake their heads at each other)
LIZZIE: I’ve tae earn every penny that comes intae ma hoose.
MRS HARRIS: Aye, we ken that. An ye don’t dae sae bad either, ye aul miser. Buyin up aul claes for a copper or twa an sellin them at sixpence a week …
MRS BONE: Or she’ll loan ye the dough tae buy them outright — at fifty percent.
MRS HARRIS: Aye, she’s got a right kind heart, she wouldnae see ye stuck; no if she could mak a guid thing oot o it.
LIZZIE: Ye’re jealous! Ye hevna the brains tae mak a bit yersels. But ye’re no above tradin wi me when it suits ye. Aye, an gettin a bargain.
MRS HARRIS & MRS BONE: A bargain? Frae you?
(They look at each other and shake their heads)
MRS HARRIS: I canna mind ony bargain.
LIZZIE: Whit aboot yon veloory hat ye bought aff me?
MRS HARRIS: Veloory hat? Veloory hat? … Oh, ye mean yon scabby aul felt bunnet wi the moultin bird on tap? Oh aye, I mind! If yon wis veloory, I’m a wally dug.
LIZZIE: It wis veloory. It belanged tae a lady in Kelvinside whaur I did a bit on a Saturday.
MRS BONE: A bit whit? Pinchin?
LIZZIE: Here! I could pit ye tae the Polis for that.
MRS HARRIS: No roon aboot here ye couldnae. They a ken ye.
GRANNY: Oh, I’m nae wantin tae leave here! I wisht I could bide wi Maggie till I dee!
LIZZIE: Bide then!
GRANNY: Ye ken I canna bide. Alec an Isa’s needin the room.
MRS HARRIS: Some folks is right selfish. You’ve naebody but yersel tae think aboot, an ye’ll no tak the aul wife aff Maggie’s hauns wi’oot kickin up a fuss.
(LIZZIE sits down and loosens her coat)
MRS HARRIS: I thought you wis in a hurry tae get aff?
LIZZIE: I’m sittin right here till Maggie comes hame wi whit’s left o Granny’s pension.
MRS BONE: Huh! Whit a hope you’ve got! Whit d’ye think’ll be left?
LIZZIE: Aye… mebbe y’re right … In that case, I’ll jist hae tae tak whit she bought.
(She gets up and goes to open food cupboard. MRS HARRIS grabs her)
MRS HARRIS: Here! Mrs Bone and me’s in chairge o this hoose till Lily comes; you keep yer dirty aul neb oot of the cupboards or we’ll shout for the polis.
MRS BONE: An y’re no wantin them … No efter whit happened last Christmas. Wis it ten days she got, d’you mind, Mrs Harris for yon wee fraud wi the Club Fund?
MRS HARRIS: Aye. Ten days. It wis right bad luck her bein fun out, wasn’t it?
(A sharp knock on the door. MRS HARRIS lets in LILY. She looks around, surprised)
LILY: Maggie no hame yet?
MRS BONE: No yet, Lily. They’re keepin her a lang while at the hospital.
LILY: And the men hasnae come for the bed?
MRS HARRIS: Aw well, ye ken whit they Hoggs’ men is; aye like the coo’s tail and as much cheek when they dae show up.
(LILY turns to LIZZIE)
LILY: Well, Lizzie … nae sense in the baith o us hangin on … I’m here noo.
lizzie: Aye. So I see … Didnae expect tae see you. Hev they sacked ye at last?
LILY: I’m servin the night. I can shairly get a bit of the day tae masel. No that it’s ony o your business.
LIZZIE: Funny tae me the way you can aye be bobbin in an oot o Maggie’s. Ye must hev an awfu nice boss … Or mebbe you’re awfu nice tae him, eh?
LILY: Jist whit dae ye mean by that?
MRS BONE: Tak no notice o her, Lily. Her tongue’s that rotten it’ll drap aff yin o they days.
(There are sounds of girlish laughter on the stairs and a cheeky rat-tat-tat on the door. LILYopens it to ISA, JENNY and ALEC. The girls are arm-in-arm and are convulsed with laughter at some joke not shared by ALEC who looks glum)
ISA: Aw Goad! the aul yin’s no awa yet.
JENNY: I tellt ye we’d rin intae them. It taks a stick o dennymite tae shunt Granny.
ISA: Whaur’s ma dear mither-in-law? Oot at the jiggin?
LILY: Cut oot the impidence. Ye ken fine she’s at the hospital wi Bertie.
ISA: Keep yer wig on. I jist thought she’d hae been here tae welcome me wi oot-stretched airms.
LILY: You’ll get ma ootstretched airm in a minute.
(JENNY and ISA look at each other, lift their shoulders, heave mock sighs)
JENNY: (to ISA) See whit I mean, Isa?
(They both slowly survey the other women, looking them over, up and down and shaking their heads)
ISA: Aye Jenny. I see whit ye mean … Ach well … they canna help it. (To ALEC who has found himself a chair of some sort) Get aff that an let me sit doon!
ALEC: No, I’ll no! I had it first. (For a brief moment he faces her boldly, then he wilts and removes himself to lean morosely against the wall)
MRS BONE: (enviously) My, Isa! I could dae wi a leaf oot o your book!
(ISA gives her a long hard stare)
ISA: Oh aye … You’re the yin that lives up the stair? … Ye lost the battle years ago, hen.
JENNY: (to GRANNY) Well, ye’ve got plenty o company noo, Granny.
GRANNY: Aye. Plenty o company.
JENNY: (to the room) She’s got plenty o company, she says.
MRS BONE: (rising) Well, I’m shair I’m no one tae stay whaur I’m no wantit. Come on, Mrs Harris.
MRS HARRIS: Aye. Comin. (To JENNY) You’re a right cheeky wee bizzim, Jenny Morrison. Serve you right if the next time your Mammy’s needin me or Mrs Bone, we’ll no come; an you’ll hae tae bide in.
JENNY: Oh, but I’ll no be here! I’ve seen the last o you auld tea-sookin tabbies. This little birdie’s flyin awa frae the nest … Pit that in yer pipe and puff it oot tae the neighbours.
MRS BONE: An whaur is the little birdie flyin tae, may I ask?
JENNY: Ye can ask, but that disnae mean ye’ll be tellt.
ISA: High time ye wis flyin, Jenny. Whit a nest!
LILY: You wis glad enough tae fly in here when yon midden ye wis in fell doon aboot yer ears.
ISA: Oh aye, but we’re jist bidin meantime tae help the aul folk oot wi the rent. Ten shillins a week we’re payin. Aren’t we, Alec?
ALEC: (surprised) Eh? Oh aye. Aye. That’s right.
LIZZIE: Gettin ten shillings aff yous and takin Granny’s pension tae? Who says I’m no takin yon groceries?
LILY: (grabbing her arm) I says.
(There is a loud thump on the door. JENNY lets in the removal men. MRS HARRIS, MRS BONE who had been ready to go, sit down again)
1ST MAN: Hya, Granny! For the road again, eh? My, the rare time you hae tae yersel.
(GRANNY bows her head and starts to cry)
Aw, cheer up.
GRANNY: I’m nae wan tin tae gae wi Lizzie. I’d raither bide wi Maggie.
1ST MAN: (straightening up and looking at the grim-mouthed LIZZIE) Aye. Imphm.
LILY: Come on, Granny. Ye ken Maggie’s had ye near a year and there’s nae the room! And aside frae the room, Maggie’s tired oot wi Bertie … (Looking balefully at ISA and ALEC) … an a her ither troubles. So come on, be a good girl. Eh? For Maggie.
(She helps GRANNY to her feet and collects her belongings. Meanwhile the second man has been whistling under his breath and giving ISA and JENNY the eye)
2ND MAN: D’ye fancy blondes or brunettes, Joe?
1ST MAN: Jist so lang’s they’re (He illustrates ‘curved’) I tak them as they come. (He goes ‘click-click’ to JENNY who tosses her head)
2ND MAN: (grabbing bed-end) Old iron, old iron, any any any old iron. It’s a wunner tae me this buggerin bed disnae walk doon the stairs an oan tae the lorry itsel.
GRANNY: I’ll no be callin oan ye again, lads; I’ll no gang doon they stairs again, oxtered by Maggie an Lizzie. Next time it’ll be ma box.
LILY: Och Granny, dinna talk daft.
GRANNY: Na na, Lily. I ken … the Lord has beckoned me.
(JENNY and ISA snigger)
ISA: Well, next time he beckons, jist you go.
(GRANNY sets up a terrible wail. The 1ST MAN approaches ISA grimly: she looks up, surprised)
1ST MAN: Ye didna mean that, did ye? Did ye? (ISA is taken aback) Tell yer Granny ye didna mean it.
ISA: She’s no ma Granny.
1ST MAN: Tell her ye didna mean it.
ISA: I didna mean it.
1ST MAN: She didna mean it, Granny.
ALEC: (unsticking himself from the wall and cackling) He soarted you, Isa! He soarted you!
(ISA turns a vicious look on him and he wilts)
ISA: Jist you wait!
2ND MAN: Come oan, come oan, get a move oan. Here, we’ll tak the bed doon first an come back for the mattress.
(They go out with the spring)
MRS HARRIS: My, whit a rare-looking chap yon big fella is. And nice, tae. Bet he has his fun, eh?
JENNY: It’s no likely tae be wi you, hen.
MRS HARRIS: I’ve ma ain man!
JENNY: Aye. So ye hev. We’ve met on the stairs. Heavy breather.
MRS HARRIS: Well, he’s gettin oan!
JENNY: Oh, is that it? I’ve whiles thought he wis trying tae get aff.
(JENNY and ISA clutch each other and giggle. MRS HARRIS glares at them)
LIZZIE: (to GRANNY) Well, if ye’ve had yer greet, we’ll get on.
(To LILY) An I’ll get yon pension money oot o Maggie. I’m no as saft as I look.
ISA: Saft? Soft? They dug you oot o a quarry.
LIZZIE: If I wis you, Alec, I’d wallop that impident wife o yours till she wis black and blue.
ISA: Wallop me? He wouldna dae that tae me, would ye, sweetheart?
(ALEC grins foolishly, and shuffles his feet. The men come back)
1ST MAN: Ups-a-daisy! (To ALEC) Here, Mac, like tae gie’s a haun wi the bed-ends? That’ll let him tak doon the mattress.
(ALEC makes a move to comply)
ISA: Here you! Whit d’yous think ma husband is? A bloomin cairter?
2ND MAN Ye don’t mean tae tell us you’re merriet tae him?
(He gives a long low whistle and shakes his head)
1ST MAN: Come oan, cut it oot! We’ll pit the mattress oot on the stairheid.
2ND MAN Aye, a right. Cheerio girls. Sorry we canna gie ye a lift on the lorry, Granny, but we’re no allowed tae cairry livestock.
LIZZIE: We’ll tak a penny on the tram, and if yous two’s no at the hoose in hauf an oor, I’ll ken whaur tae look for ye.
1ST MAN: That’s a right sweetheart; come right in and we’ll let ye staun us a pint.
(They clatter off, whistling)
JENNY: Bloomin cairters! Cheek!
(LIZZIE, none too gently, takes GRANNY’s arm)
LIZZIE: Come on then.
GRANNY: Leave go! I canna rin awa!
(In the doorway, left wide open by the removal men, stands MAGGIE. She carries BERTIE’S clothes over her arm and his boots, laces tied together, dangle from her fingers. She is sobbing. They all look up at her)
LILY: (running forward) Maggie?
(MAGGIE leans against the door-jamb and sobs helplessly)
MAGGIE: They’ve kep him in.
NEIGHBOURS: Aw! Naw!
GRANNY: Maggie, Maggie, she says ye’re tae gie back ma last week’s pension.
MAGGIE: Fancy them keepin him in … I never thocht …
MRS HARRIS: Is it the bronchitis, Mrs Morrison?
MAGGIE: No, its no bronchitis … it’s TB.
(LILY comforts her)
MRS BONE: I kent it! I kent it! I says tae him, I says, yon’s a TB cough!
LILY: Shut up, you! Don’t cry, Maggie. (She puts her arms round MAGGIE and leads her towards the chair occupied by ISA to whom she hisses:) Shunt, you! (ISA gets up) It’s better for Bertie tae be in the hospital; they’ll pit him right there. Doctors are that clever noo.
MRS HARRIS: TB! My! That’s bad. Puir wee fella!
MRS BONE: (giving her a poke in the ribs) Och awa! They can dae a soarts o things wi lungs. Ma sister Mary’s hubby went up regular tae hae a lung taken oot and blew up an pit back.
JENNY: Whit a lot o rot!
MRS BONE: I’m tellin you, Miss Cleversticks! There’s a big word for yon operation. Numey-somethin.
JENNY: Lungs is no penny balloons. (To the still sobbing MAGGIE) Och, Mammy, don’t cry (Pause) Mammy! (To ISA) Ma Goad! Did I no tell ye? It’s like this a the time! Yin trouble efter anither! I’ve never kent it ony different! D’ye blame me?
(ISA gives JENNY a sympathetic head-shake and they sigh in unison)
ISA: Like we said … it’s no livin, is it?
GRANNY: Maggie, I’m awa tae Lizzie’s.
LIZZIE: Aye, we’re awa. (With an effort) Sorry about the wean, Maggie. Ye should hae went up wi him afore. Come on then, Granny, or they men’ll be at the hoose afore us.
GRANNY: I can manage masel.
(At the door, GRANNY looks back at the crowd, then at MAGGIE, but MAGGIE is too upset to notice)
MRS HARRIS: (as the door closes behind them) Och, the puir aul soul.
LILY: (appealing to both neighbours) See! (She indicates the sagging heap that is MAGGIE) Thanks very much for helping oot, but …
MRS HARRIS: That’s a right, Lily. Ye’re welcome, any time.
MRS BONE: (a pat on MAGGIE’s back as she goes out) We’ll tak a wee look in later tae see if there’s onythin new.
(MRS HARRIS and MRS BONE go off together. ALEC, who has slipped immediately into a vacated chair, chews his nails, his eyes on MAGGIE)
MAGGIE: He looked that wee in yon hospital cot, and the doctor said … he said … why was he no attendin the chest clinic? He was angry. He said something tae the nurse … (She breaks into helpless sobs again).
LILY: (taking the little shoes from MAGGIE’S finger and folding BERTIEE’s clothes) Never heed, Maggie; never heed they doctors; they’re aye crabbit at they clinics … Whaur’s John?
MAGGIE: He jist saw me ontae the tramcaur at the hospital gates; he said he’d … (She raises her eyes and looks pointedly at JENNY) … be hame later.
LILY: Oh! Aye. I get ye. (She turns to look at JENNY who stares back at her resentfully).
(In the following silence, ALEC gets up and crosses to his mother, sits on the arm of her chair and pats her back. She puts up a hand which he takes: she gives him a watery loving smile)
MAGGIE: Ye a right, Alec? An Isa?
ISA: Oh aye! I’m a right. Sorry aboot Bertie, but he’s faur better aff in the hospital.
JENNY: Aye, he couldna get well in this midden o a place, Mammy.
MAGGIE: Tae think I ever grudged gettin up tae him in the night!
JENNY: Och, Mammy!
MAGGIE: Jenny … ye’ll no leave us … will ye?
JENNY: (sighing) Mammy, there’s nae difference. Aye, I’m gaun. I’m jist waitin till Nessie gets back frae the factory so’s I’ll no go intae a cauld hoose. (As MAGGIE looks at her with eyes full of reproach) Uch! (She turns her face away)
MAGGIE: Ye’re breakin yer daddy’s heart, that’s whit ye’re daein! (JENNY doesn’t answer) Ye’ll … ye’ll come back an see us … often, Jenny?
JENNY: Aye … well … I’m no makin ony proamises. (She gets up and goes towards bedroom) Ma, ye’ve got Daddy an Lily an Alec an the weans. Ye’ll no miss me oot o the hoose. I’m hardly ever in it.
(JENNY goes into the bedroom)
MAGGIE: I dinna ken whit way we bring weans intae the world at a. Slavin an worryin for them a yer days, an naethin but heartbreak at the end o it.
ALEC: Aw, come on Ma, cheer up. (He smooths her hair: she looks up at him gratefully, lovingly, and lays his hand to her cheek. ISA looks at them and laughs)
ISA: Mammy’s big tumphy! G’on, ye big lump o dough!
(ALEC disengages himself from his mother and grins feebly)
LILY: My, You’re a right bitch, Isa. Yin o they days you’ll get whit’s comin tae ye. Alec’s no as saft as he looks.
ISA: Is he no, Auntie? I’m right gled tae hear it.
(JENNY comes in with a suitcase)
JENNY: Well, I’m awa. Cheeribye, everybody.
LILY: Goodbye. And good riddance tae bad rubbish.
(JENNY sticks out her tongue)
MAGGIE: Jenny, whit am I goin tae tell folks?
JENNY: Folks? Ye mean the neighbours? If they’ve got the impidence tae ask, tell them it’s nane o their bloomin business.
MAGGIE: Oh Jenny, Jenny! Whit’s happened tae ye, Jenny?
JENNY: Whit’s happened? I’ve wakened up, that’s whit’s happened. There’s better places than this. Jist because I wis born here disnae mean I’ve got tae bide here.
JENNY: (she wavers for a moment, then tosses her head) I’m no in the mood for kissin. Cheerio, Isa. Mind whit I tellt ye.
ALEC: Aboot whit? (He creeps forward, suspiciously to ISA) Whit did she tell ye, eh?
ISA: (pushing his face away) A bed-time story; but no for wee boys.
(MAGGIElooks helplessly on, combing her hair with her fingers)
LILY: Clear aff then, if ye’re gaun!
ISA: Ta ta, Jenny. See ye roon the toon.
JENNY: Aye. Ta ta.
(The door opens. JOHN comes in. He and JENNY look at each other)
JOHN: (wretched) I thought ye’d hev gone.
JENNY: Naw. Jist gaun.
(He lowers his eyes from her face and stands aside to let her pass. He turns and watches her from the doorway until her footsteps die away and the outside door bangs. Then he turns to MAGGIE. LILY goes over to ISA, gives her a shove, indicating the bedroom door: does the same to ALEC who follows ISA, but with a backward look to MAGGIE and JOHN. LILY goes off by the other door)
MAGGIE: (pointing to the pile of clothes with the little scuffed shoes on top) John, they’ve kep him in.
(She starts to cry again: he comforts her)
JOHN: I wis afraid o that; but it’s better, Maggie, it’s better.
MAGGIE: I didna want him kep in; I didna want him left in a strange place! He’ll be feart! He’ll be cryin for his Mammy!
JOHN: I ken, Maggie. I ken. He’ll be cryin for his Mammy the way I’m cryin for Jenny. (Pause) Ma first bonnie wee girl. Aye laughin. Ridin high on ma shoulders … Tell me a story, Daddy … Tie ma soo-lace, Daddy … (Despairing) An I couldna mak enough tae gie her a decent hame. So! She’s left us! She’s as guid as deid tae us.
MAGGIE: Naw! Ye’ve no tae say that! She’ll come back.
JOHN: (shaking his head) Nae. Naw. She’s deid tae me.
(He sinks down into a chair and is silent)
If I could hae jist … jist done better by ye a. If I could hae … (Head in hands, eyes on floor) … If! If! … Every time I’ve had tae say ‘no’ tae you an the weans it’s doubled me up like a kick in the stomach.
(He lifts his head and cries out:)
Christ Almighty! A we’ve din wrong is tae be born intae poverty!
Whit dae they think this kind o life does tae a man?
Whiles it turns ye intae a wild animal. Whiles ye’re a human question mark, aye askin why? Why? Why?
There’s nae answer. Ye end up a bent back and a heid hangin in shame for whit ye canna help.
(Fade out lights)