art One is set in i n Reddish Stocport in the early Sprin/ of 1&4 art 56o is set in eel on the .sle of Man in early Sprin/ 1&4 !n inter#al mi/ht fall more happily bet6een scenes ei/ht and nine than bet6een arts One and 56o4
5he same actor 6ho plays -ohn Connolly sho%ld play $arry Connolly 5he same actor 6ho plays S%san $eyer in art One sho%ld play Cathy $eyer in art 56o4
art One is set in i n Reddish Stocport in the early Sprin/ of 1&4 art 56o is set in eel on the .sle of Man in early Sprin/ 1&4 !n inter#al mi/ht fall more happily bet6een scenes ei/ht and nine than bet6een arts One and 56o4
5he same actor 6ho plays -ohn Connolly sho%ld play $arry Connolly 5he same actor 6ho plays S%san $eyer in art One sho%ld play Cathy $eyer in art 56o4
2
1.
John Connolly and Cathy Heyer. Outside the front of her house.
C!5$7
"hat are yo% doin/8 "hat are yo% doin/ o%tside o%r ho%se8 !re yo% completely deaf or somethin/8
-O$(
(o4
C!5$7
"hy are yo% standin/ o%tside o%r ho%se8
-O$(
.9m deli#erin/ pamphlets4
C!5$7
7o%9re doin/ 6hat8
-O$(
)or Mar/aret 5hatcher4 )or the Conser#ati#e arty4 $a#e yo% tho%/ht abo%t 6ho yo%9re /oin/ to #ote for in the net election8
C!5$7
!re yo% bein/ serio%s8
-O$(
Don9t . loo it8
C!5$7
7o% don9t eactly loo lie a politician4
-O$(
.9m not a politician4
C!5$7
7o%9re not eactly dressed lie a politician4
-O$(
.9m not a politician4 Can Can 6e co%nt on yo%r #ote in the net election8
C!5$7
7o% loo more lie a psychopath than a politician4
-O$(
)lippin/ hec4 .9m not a psychopath either4
C!5$7
7o% loo lie a serial iller4 7o% loo really stran/e4
-O$(
5han yo%4
C!5$7
7o% don9t tal lie a politician either4 ! politician 6o%ldn9t say ;)lippin/ hec< (ot ri/ht to somebody9s somebody9s face4 "hy are yo% yo% dressed lie that8
-O$(
=ie 6hat8
3
C!5$7
=ie that4 "ith yo%r bi/ coat8
-O$(
.t9s cold4
C!5$7
B%t yo%9re not dressed lie somebody dressed for the cold yo%9re dressed lie somebody tryin/ to loo interestin/4 .s it ca%se yo%9re an intellect%al8
-O$(
(o4 "hat8
C!5$7
.s it beca%se yo%9re all sad and /loomy8
-O$(
Can 6e co%nt on yo%r #ote in the net /eneral election8
C!5$7
!ren9t yo% a bit yo%n/ to be in the Conser#ati#e arty8
-O$(
(ot anymore4 (ot no6adays4 !ll sorts of people are in the Conser#ati#e arty no6adays4
C!5$7
7eah4 Mad people4
-O$(
.9m probably /oin/ to /o no64
C!5$7
. sho%ld no6 and all4
-O$(
"hat do yo% mean8
C!5$7
7o%9re -ohn Connolly4
Pause.
C!5$7
7o%9re -ohn Connolly aren9t yo%8
-O$(
$o6 do yo% no6 my name8
C!5$7
$o6 do yo% thin8
-O$(
.9#e absol%tely no idea4
C!5$7
.9#e 6atched yo% e#ery day for the past three 6ees4 7o% li#e on So%thcliffe Road off Reddish Road by the +olf Cl%b4 7o% only ?%st came here4 7o%9re trainin/ to be an acco%ntant4 7o%9re 6orin/ for -ason Kirby as his assistant4 7o% come from Brad6ell4 .n the $ope @alley4 "hich is d%mp4 Belie#e me if anybody no6s 6hether or not yo% loo sad and /loomy its me and yo% do so there yo% are4 7o% better ?%st li#e 6ith it beca%se it9s act%ally the tr%th4 .9m Cathy4
>
$i4 -O$(
"hy 6ere yo% 6atchin/ me8
C!5$7
.9m interested in ne6 arri#als4 Ro%nd here yo% need people to shae thin/s %p a bit4 !re yo% really deli#erin/ political pamphlets8
-O$(
7es4
C!5$7
!re yo%8
-O$(
(o4
C!5$7
"hat 6ere yo% doin/ here8
-O$(
. 6as siin/ %p yo%r ho%se to see the best 6ays to /et in in order to do a bit of b%r/lin/ 6hen yo% 6eren9t aro%nd4
C!5$7
"ere yo%8
-O$(
.s yo%r M%m in8
C!5$7
(o4
-O$(
5hat9s /ood then4 .s she normally in at this time of day8
C!5$7
Do yo% honestly thin .9m /oin/ to ans6er that %estion8
-O$(
!re yo% normally in at this time of day8
C!5$7
(ot normally4
-O$(
"here are yo% normally8
C!5$7
!t Colle/e4
-O$(
Stocport Colle/e8
C!5$7
. lie yo%r tactics4
-O$(
"hat are yo% st%dyin/ at Stocport Colle/e8
C!5$7
! le#els4
-O$(
Ri/ht4
She sucks her thumb.
A
C!5$7
5hat 6as a lie by the 6ay4 .9m not doin/ ! le#els4 .9m doin/ one4 !n ! =e#el4
-O$(
5hat9s %n%s%al4
C!5$7
.9m doin/ an ! le#el in $istory4 .t9s all . e#er thin abo%t4
-O$(
"hy are yo% s%cin/ yo%r th%mb8
C!5$7
.9m not4
-O$(
7o% are4
C!5$7
.t9s f%nny isn9t it8
-O$(
"hat is8
C!5$7
!re yo% thinin/ all inds of thin/s abo%t me8
-O$(
(o4
C!5$7
!re yo% secretly hopin/ 6e9re /oin/ to spend a certain amo%nt of time to/ether8
-O$(
(ot in any 6ay4
C!5$7
.f yo%9re /oin/ to spend any time at all 6ith me yo% need to no6 that . do ha#e a da%/hter4
-O$(
"ho said . 6anted to spend any time at all 6ith yo%8
C!5$7
She9s si months old4 She9s called R%th4 . call her R%thy4 . lo#e her completely4 She smells lie the most bea%tif%l thin/ that 6as e#er on earth4 She can9t sleep properly and sometimes that tires me o%t . ha#e to confess4 . don9t no6 6ho her Dad is4 .t co%ld be one of se#eral men4 . ne#er bothered tryin/ to find o%t4 ,%ite %icly after . /ot pre/nant 6ith her . realised they 6ere pretty m%ch red%ndant4 )athers4
-O$(
!re yo% tryin/ to impress me or somethin/8
C!5$7
(ot in any 6ay4 .t9s ?%st somethin/ . /en%inely belie#e4 My o6n Dad died 6hen . 6as t6el#e for eample and . can honestly say . don9t thin .9m in any 6ay 6orse off for the eperience4
-O$(
!re yo% asin/ me to feel sorry for yo%8
C!5$7
$e 6as a hairdresser4
John isn't altogether certain how to respond to this. Cathy doesn't leave him much time.
Do yo% lie the 6ay . smell8 -O$(
.9#e not really noticed it4
C!5$7
Do yo% no6 6hat smell that is8
-O$(
(o4
C!5$7
.t9s Oil of Elay4
-O$(
5errific4
C!5$7
"hen .9m not in colle/e . 6or at the B%tcher9s on Manchester Road and sometimes . do smell a bit of meat so . tae partic%lar care to ha#e a /ood 6ash as soon as . possibly can and . find Oil of Elay the best means of 6ashin/ the smell off4
-O$(
.t smells lo#ely4
C!5$7
5han yo% #ery m%ch4 Do yo% lie bein/ a ?%nior acco%ntant8 Don9t ans6er that4 . don9t really 6ant to no64 .9ll tell yo% somethin/ for nothin/ -ohn Connolly4 .9m not s%rprised people /o on stries4 7o% /et to ha#e a day off 6or4 .f 6as a bin man ro%nd here .9d /o on strie4 Definitely4 eople drop so m%ch litter aro%nd here they sho%ld be ashamed of themsel#es4
-O$(
Do yo% e#er stop talin/8
C!5$7
(ot 6hen .9m ner#o%s4
-O$(
.9d #ery m%ch lie to meet her
C!5$7
"ho8
-O$(
7o%r da%/hter4
Pause.
C!5$7
7o% 6o%ldn9t
-O$(
. 6o%ld4
t starts to rain.
C!5$7
.t9s rainin/4
&
-O$(
7eah4
C!5$7
Do this
-O$(
"hat8
C!5$7
=ift yo%r face %p4 .ts lo#ely isn9t it8
She lifts her face up to the rain. He watches her. He does it too. He looks at her.
-O$(
$a#e yo% /ot a boyfriend8
C!5$7
(o4 $a#e yo%8
-O$(
Of co%rse not4
C!5$7
$a#e yo% /ot a /irlfriend then8
-O$(
(o . ha#en9t4
C!5$7
5hat9s a relief4
-O$(
"hy8
C!5$7
"hy do yo% flippin/ thin8 7o%9re not married are yo%8
-O$(
(o4
C!5$7
(either am .4 . 6ish . 6as4 Sometimes . feel lie . am4 .n my mind .9m married to F#il Knie#el4
-O$(
+osh4
C!5$7
Only 6hen .9m ind of playin/4 Do yo% 6ant to /o for a 6al8
-O$(
"here do yo% 6ant to 6al to8
C!5$7
. don9t really care . ?%st %ite lie the idea of 6alin/ do6n a road chattin/ to yo%4 "ere yo% really sco%tin/ o%r ho%se to try to brea into it8
-O$(
7es4 . 6as4 .9m sorry4
C!5$7
$a#e yo% e#er really broen into somebody9s ho%se8
*
-O$(
7es4
C!5$7
$a#e yo%8
-O$(
7es4
C!5$7
. thin yo%9re completely lyin/4
-O$(
. don9t rob poor peoples ho%ses and . ne#er tae anythin/ that mi/ht be of the remotest sentimental #al%e4 B%t . really do brea into other people9s ho%ses 6hen .9m bored4 .9#e ne#er h%rt anybody4 . 6o%ld of co%rse if . felt it 6as the only means of self' defence4
C!5$7
"hat9s it lie8
2.
Cathy and John. nside saac!s "erg!s house. #hree days later. $s they talk he kisses her.
C!5$7
7o%9re a bit mental aren9t yo%8
-O$(
(o4
C!5$7
7o% are4 =ie a deran/ed person4
-O$(
Sh%t %p4
C!5$7
=ie a retard4 =ie a f%cin/ spastic44
He kisses her ears. He bites her neck.
C!5$7
Oh f%c that9s lo#ely4
-O$(
"hat is8
C!5$7
7o% issin/ my ears4 .t9s lie an electric shoc4
-O$(
Do yo% e#er 6ant to brea thin/s8
C!5$7
7eah4
-O$(
"hat ind of thin/s do yo% thin abo%t breain/8
C!5$7
. lie thro6in/ brics thro%/h 6indo6s4 . lie settin/ fire to st%ff4 . set fire to a par bench once4
She unbuckles his belt. She undoes his trousers. She rubs his cock.
C!5$7
. lie c%ttin/ bits of other people9s hair off4 Sometimes . lie to do pisses on thin/s4
-O$(
isses8
C!5$7
. pissed on my +ran9s carpet in her bathroom on p%rpose one time4 5hat 6as f%nny ca%se she tho%/ht it 6as my mate9s brother4
-O$(
"ell she 6o%ld4
C!5$7
. no64
-O$(
+irls don9t piss on the floor by accident4 Boys do all the time4
C!5$7
5hat 6as ind of 6hy . did it4
She takes his cock out of his pants. She goes down on him.
-O$(
Oh Christ4
C!5$7
"hat8
-O$(
(othin/4 Don9t stop4
C!5$7
7o%9re f%nny4
-O$(
lease4
She stops before he comes. She stands up. She takes her knickers off from beneath her dress and puts them in his pocket. She e%amines his face.
C!5$7
. lie yo%r left ear4
-O$(
"hat8
C!5$7
.s that a bit random8 7o%r ri/ht one9s oay4 7o%r left one9s flippin/ brilliant4
She smiles.
7o%9re %ite scared aren9t yo%8
10
-O$(
(ot in any 6ay4
C!5$7
7o% are4 Don9t 6orry4 . lie it4 Bite me4
-O$(
"hat8
C!5$7
Bite my chee4
He does. She puts him inside her. #hey fuck. She comes. She hits him repeatedly for making her come. Some time.
C!5$7
7o%r sin is ?%st abo%t the most incredible sin in the 6orld has anybody e#er said that to yo% before8
-O$(
(o4
C!5$7
"ell they really sho%ld ha#e done beca%se it9s tr%e4 . co%ld 6rap myself %p in yo%r sin and sleep there all ni/ht4 7o% ha#e a lo#ely lo#ely coc too 6hich is nice4
-O$(
Ri/ht4 5han yo%4
C!5$7
5hat9s oay4
#hey lie there for some time.
C!5$7
!re yo% o8 -ohn8
-O$(
Ssshhhh4
C!5$7
$a4
-O$(
"hy are yo% la%/hin/8
C!5$7
(o reason4 . 6asn9t4 . lie it4
-O$(
"hat8
C!5$7
=yin/ here4
#hey lie for some time.
. lo#e this feelin/4 #hey lie there for some time.
. feel lie e#ery bit of me is a6ae and asleep at the same time4
11
#hey lie there for some time.
.f . tell yo% somethin/ do yo% promise not to ha#e an epileptic fit8 -O$(
.t depends 6hat it is4
C!5$7
7o% need to promise4
-O$(
. can9t do that yo%9re /oin/ to ha#e to try me o%t4
C!5$7
"hen .9m 6ith yo%4 . don9t 6orry abo%t all the thin/s that ha#e happened to me4 !nd . don9t 6orry abo%t the thin/s that are /oin/ to happen4 . don9t 6orry abo%t R%thy4 . feel lie .9m ind of ?%st there4
-O$(
.9#e no6n yo% three days Cathy4
C!5$7
. can /et rather attached to people %ite s%ddenly4 .tGs f%nny this4
-O$(
"hy8
C!5$7
Breain/ into somebody else9s ho%se4
-O$(
Do yo% thin he9ll notice 6e9#e been here8
C!5$7
. don9t no64 .9ll mae the bed before 6e /o4 $a#e a bit of a tidy %p4
-O$(
Don9t4
C!5$7
.9#e ne#er seen his bed before4
-O$(
$a#en9t yo%8
C!5$7
(o4 "hy 6o%ld .8 . al6ays 6anted to be a criminal4
-O$(
!nd no6 yo% are4
C!5$7
Does it co%nt if yo% no6 the person 6hose ho%se it is really 6ell8
-O$(
Of co%rse it co%nts4 $e didn9t let yo% in here did he8
C!5$7
(o he definitely didn9t4
-O$(
"hat does he do8
12
C!5$7
$e9s a hairdresser too4 $e 6ent to school 6ith my Dad4 !nd then he became his apprentice4 "hen my Dad died he really looed after my M%m4
-O$(
"as he tryin/ to /et in her pants8
C!5$7
$e9s #ery attenti#e to her4 $e9s been #ery /ood 6ith R%thy4 $e babysits sometimes4 .f .9m not caref%l .9ll start feelin/ a bit /%ilty4
-O$(
"hat 6o%ld he do if he came bac and fo%nd %s8
C!5$7
$e9d be a bit s%rprised4
-O$(
$o6 6ill yo% tell him 6e /ot in8
C!5$7
.9ll tell him my M%m /a#e me a ey4
-O$(
7o% sho%ld chan/e yo%r hair4
C!5$7
"hy8
-O$(
7o% sho%ld 6ear it %p or somethin/4 Or 6ear it do6n4 . don9t no64 Chan/e the colo%r4
!bsol%tely e#erythin/4 !ll abo%t Cathy9s Dad and the hairdressin/ b%siness in /eneral and ho6 attenti#e yo%9#e been to Cathy9s M%m and yo%r le#el of concern for little baby R%thy4 Cathy9s done an ecellent ?ob of b%ildin/ yo% %p before yo%r arri#al so . ha#e to say it9s really %ite ecitin/ to meet yo%4
C!5$7
-ohn9s my boyfriend4
.S!!C
. see4
-O$(
She9s no6n me three days4
.S!!C
$o6 did yo% /et in here8
-O$(
. mean . ind of am her boyfriend b%t .9#e ne#er heard her %se that 6ord before and . ha#e only no6n her for three days so .9m sli/htly taen abac by her tone of familiarity4
C!5$7
M%m /a#e me a ey4 "e didn9t epect yo% to be bac4 "e ?%st needed some6here to /o and . ased M%m if it 6o%ld be all ri/ht if 6e came ro%nd here and she said it 6o%ld be so 6e did4
.S!!C
"hen yo% say yo% needed some6here to /o8
1>
C!5$7
"e don9t really /et a /reat deal of opport%nity to be alone 6ith each other4
.S!!C
. don9t no6 ho6 . feel abo%t that4
C!5$7
(o4 .9m sorry .saac4
-O$(
.t9s not tr%e by the 6ay4
C!5$7
"hat8
-O$(
She didn9t borro6 her M%m9s ey4 "e broe in4 7o%r bathroom 6indo6 6as really easy to prise open4 .t9s ?%st somethin/ . sometimes do4 Brea into people9s ho%ses4 .t9s smashin/ f%n4 Can . say in the face of 6hat m%st be rather s%rprisin/ ne6s yo%9re bein/ terrifically calm and . admire that immensely4 "e didn9t dama/e anythin/4 5hey9ll be minor s%perficial dama/e to the 6indo6 frame b%t its not m%ch more than a fe6 chips of paint4
.S!!C
. sho%ld call the police4
-O$(
Don9t be ridic%lo%s4
.S!!C
$o6 is that ridic%lo%s8 . come home4 . ha#e absol%tely no idea 6ho yo% are4 Cathy9s here4 She9s in my bed4 7o%9#e clearly been4 7o%9#e been4
-O$(
"e did ha#e a bit of a f%c4 .t 6as a really /ood one4 .t 6as releasin/4
.S!!C
.9m /oin/ to call yo%r M%m and then .9m /oin/ to call the police4
C!5$7
.saac4 Don9t4
-O$(
$e 6on9t4
.S!!C
"atch me4
-O$(
.f yo% do . promise yo% .9ll find yo% and .9ll beat the li#in/ shit o%t of yo%4
C!5$7
-ohn4
-O$(
. ha#e /ot one f%c of a temper on me ha#en9t . Cathy8
C!5$7
$e really has4
-O$(
So ?%st calm do6n4
1A
C!5$7
$is Dad 6as a farmer4 $e inherits it from him4
John wanders off. $s he passes saac& saac backs away.
-O$(
See8
saac looks at him.
7o% flinched4 $e flinched4 He winks at them and e%its. Cathy and saac left alone.
C!5$7
.saac .9m really sorry he threatened to beat the li#in/ shit o%t of yo%4
.S!!C
"ho is he8
C!5$7
$e9s called -ohn Connolly4 $e9s a trainee acco%ntant4 "o%ld yo% lie me to clean yo%r sheets8 . co%ld p%t some spare ones on yo%r bed4 .t9s nice4 .sn9t it8 5he feelin/ of clean sheets on a bed4 Don9t loo lie that4
.S!!C
=ie 6hat8
C!5$7
7o% loo really 6orried4 7o% loo really stran/e4
3.
John and Cathy and Susan Heyer& Cathy!s mother. #he Heyer front room. $fternoon.
-O$(
Cathy9s al6ays /oin/ on abo%t yo%4 She9s fond of yo%4 Some people really tae to their mothers don9t they8 She taes to yo% She loos a bit lie yo% as 6ell . thin4 7o%9#e both startlin/ eyes4 . bro%/ht yo% this4
He presents her with the gift of a #oasty aker.
SES!(
"hat is it8
-O$(
.t9s a toasty machine4 .t maes toasties4 .t9s lie a toaster b%t yo% open it from the top and it toasts sand6iches on both the bottom and the top half and ind of presses them to/ether4 .9m sorry that it9s not in a bo and . thin it is act%ally second hand b%t . tho%/ht yo% mi/ht find it %sef%l4 . lie yo%r hair4
1
SES!(
7o% 6hat8
-O$(
Sorry is that a bit m%ch4 . al6ays mis?%d/e these thin/s don9t .8
C!5$7
7o% do sometimes4
-O$(
She9ll tell yo%4 ;-ohn4< She says4 ;7o% al6ays mis?%d/e these thin/s4 7o%9re al6ays a bit m%ch4<
SES!(
$o6 lon/ ha#e yo% been /oin/ o%t 6ith my da%/hter8
-O$(
12 days4
SES!(
.saac told me he fo%nd yo% in his ho%se4
-O$(
Did he8
C!5$7
.9m really sorry M%m4
SES!(
7o% sho%ld be ashamed of yo%rsel#es4
C!5$7
"o%ld yo% lie a c%p of coffee -ohn8
-O$(
7es4 lease4 5hat 6o%ld be terrific4 Me and coffee4 .9m coffee boners4 !ren9t . Cathy8
C!5$7
$e is yeah4 "o%ld yo% lie a c%p M%m8
SES!(
(o4 . 6o%ldn9t4 (o4
C!5$7
.9ll be ri/ht bac4
Cathy leaves.
-O$(
Can . ass%re yo% Mrs4 $eyer that my intentions to6ards yo%r da%/hter are entirely hono%rable8
SES!(
"hat8
-O$(
. am /oin/ to really loo after her and really tae care of her and as lon/ as she 6ill allo6 me to . s6ear . am not /oin/ to let her /o h%n/ry or /et #ery chilly or be fri/htened4 (obody 6ill e#er batter her4 She 6on9t e#er need to 6or b%t she can if she 6ants to4 . ?%st am /oin/ to mae her life completely brilliant4
SES!(
Sh%t %p4
-O$(
OK4
1&
SES!(
Stop /ibberin/ on for /oodness sae4
-O$(
$e told me he 6o%ldn9t tell4
SES!(
"ell he did4
-O$(
"here9s R%thy8
SES!(
She9s asleep4 "here do yo% thin she is8 She 6as a6ae all ni/ht4
-O$(
Do yo% not mind 6hen Cathy stays o#er at mine8
SES!(
"hy sho%ld . mind8
-O$(
Does it not bother yo% ha#in/ to loo after R%thy on yo%r o6n8
SES!(
She9s easy to loo after4 Compared to Cathy she9s no tro%ble at all4
-O$(
Don9t say that4
SES!(
"hat8
-O$(
Don9t be mean abo%t Cathy4 5he 6ay she tals abo%t yo%4 7o% sho%ld /et do%ble locs on yo%r 6indo6s by the 6ay4
SES!(
"hy8
-O$(
5hey9re 6ea4 Or /et a b%r/lar alarm4 F#en if its ?%st the bo for a b%r/lar alarm4 %t it on the 6all o%tside yo%r ho%se4 5hat9d do the tric as 6ell as anythin/4
Cathy comes in with John!s coffee.
C!5$7
$ere4
-O$(
5han yo%4
C!5$7
7o% t6o been chattin/ abo%t me behind my bac . bet4
SES!(
"e ha#en9t4
-O$(
"e ha#e act%ally4 Does she lie a lot yo%r M%m8
C!5$7
(o4 Don9t be silly4
SES!(
.s it tr%e yo%9re a ?%nior acco%ntant8
1*
-O$(
5hat9s ri/ht4
C!5$7
$e 6ors for -ason Kirby4
SES!(
7o%9re not from ro%nd here are yo%8
C!5$7
$eGs from Brad6ell4 .n Derbyshire4
SES!(
.9#e ne#er been there4
-O$(
.t9s in a place called 5he $ope @alley4 .t9s bea%tif%l4 .t9s b%ilt on limestone4 . lie the idea that the 6hole to6n is b%ilt %p on coral reefs and marine life that rose %p from the sea millions and millions of years a/o4
$e9s not one of those 6eirdo types 6ho ne#er eats is he8
C!5$7
$o6 6as R%thy8
SES!(
She slept lie an an/el4
C!5$7
5han yo% for looin/ after her4 She lies it 6hen yo%9re there4
SES!(
. chan/ed her fo%r times4 56ice in the middle of the ni/ht4 She smelt a bit f%nny4 $er n%mber t6os4
C!5$7
-ohn ased me to mo#e in 6ith him4 . told him . 6o%ld4 .9m /oin/ to mo#e in net 6ee4 .9m /oin/ to tae R%thy 6ith me4
Susan looks at her for some time.
C!5$7
. don9t epect yo% to say anythin/4 . ?%st tho%/ht it 6as fair to let yo% no64
SES!(
!re yo% ?oin/8
C!5$7
(o4
SES!(
7o% do realise that there is absol%tely no 6ay . am /oin/ to let yo% lea#e4
C!5$7
"hat do yo% mean ;let me lea#e<8
SES!(
!nd if yo% do yo%9re not tain/ R%thy4
C!5$7
. am4
Pause.
. lo#e him M%m4 SES!(
7o% don9t no6 6hat lo#e is4
C!5$7
.9#e ne#er felt anythin/ lie it4
SES!(
$e p%ts his hand in yo%r nicers and promises yo% the 6orld4 .t9s nothin/4
C!5$7
"ell if this is nothin/ . don9t no6 6hat somethin/ is4
20
. 6atch him sleepin/4 $e ne#er snores4 $e loos lie a baby4 Can . tell yo% one thin/ . do8 Sometimes 6hen he9s not in . p%t his clothes on4 John returns.
-O$(
. hope yo% don9t mind me 6alin/ o%t on yo% lie that4 . ?%st fo%nd myself /ettin/ %nnecessarily irritated and . tho%/ht that the best thin/ to do 6as to etract myself from the sit%ation4 7o% ha#e a bea%tif%l ho%se Mrs $eyer4 7o% m%st be pro%d4 . 6anted to see R%thy4 .9#e ne#er seen her before4 She9s fast asleep4 She loos %ite peacef%l 6hen she9s asleep doesn9t she8 !re her limbs meant to be at those an/les8 )%nny isn9t it8 5he feelin/s 6e ha#e for o%r children4 . ha#e to say the etent to 6hich yo%r eyes loo eactly lie Cathy9s is o#er6helmin/ me a to%ch4 Do yo% mind if . don9t stay for my tea4 . sho%ld be /ettin/ bac4 Maybe both %s sho%ld Cathy4 Sometimes yo% no6 6hen yo%9re ?%st not 6anted don9t yo%8
4.
On a picnic blanket in Reddish vale, Siobhan Hennessey and John and Cathy. They’re drinking cider. Cathy lies on John’s lap. Siobhan sings Hush Little Baby to Ruthy. Cathy has had her hair cut a lot shorter.
C!5$7
She likes that.
SIOBHAN
It’s cause she can hear my heart beat.
C!5$7
It's not. It's because she likes people singing to her. She likes you singing to her especially. You’ve got a beautiful voice. Hasn’t she John?
-O$(
It’s all right.
C!5$7
Have you heard him? “It’s all right”. You sing like an angel.
SIOBHAN
She’s funny isn’t she?
C!5$7
How?
SIOBHAN
With her little movements. I’ve not seen them before. And her little eyes. $er eyes are so pretty4
Some time.
21
-O$(
It’s warm.
SIOBHAN
Yeah.
Some time.
SIOBHAN
When did you get your hair cut, Cathy?
C!5$7
Last week.
SIOBHAN
It looks very different.
C!5$7
It’s meant to. Do you like it?
SIOBHAN
I love it. It shows your eyes up.
C!5$7
I got it done how John asked me to have it done.
SIOBHAN
Did you?
C!5$7
Is there something wrong with that?
SIOBHAN
Not really.
Some time.
Should I cut my hair too do you think? CATHY
That’s up to you.
SIOBHAN
Should I cut it as short as you?
C!5$7
No.
SIOBHAN
What do you think?
C!5$7
What’s it got to do with him?
SIOBHAN
What do you think John?
-O$(
No. You should leave it exactly like that.
Some time.
C!5$7
It’s lovely here.
SIOBHAN
Yeah.
Some time.
22
-O$(
It stinks a bit now, though, doesn’t it? People are so bloody lazy. They should take their rubbish away themselves. One day, soon, everybody’s going to go on strike.
C!5$7
You’d love that. Look at his face. The way he talks about it.
SIOBHAN
I like it.
C!5$7
What?
SIOBHAN
His face.
C!5$7
Shiv.
SIOBHAN
Sorry.
C!5$7
That’s not really exactly appropriate.
SIOBHAN
It is true though. Do you know who you look like?
-O$(
Who?
SIOBHAN
John Travolta.
C!5$7
You should see him in his underpants. It’s less exciting then, I’ll tell you that for nothing.
SIOBHAN
I can imagine.
C!5$7
He doesn’t even know how to pair his socks. He never bloody washes a plate.
SIOBHAN
Is she always like this to you?
-O$(
Pretty much.
C!5$7
I am not.
SIOBHAN
Is it really lovely living together?
-O$(
It is yes.
SIOBHAN
Do you have all kind of little routines as well?
C!5$7
Yes.
-O$(
We don’t. Don’t listen to her. We don’t.
C!5$7
I get home from college or work. He watches the telly. I give him a
23
beer. He watches the telly. I make his tea. He watches telly. I sort Ruthy out. He watches telly. I pour him a bath. He gets in it.
-O$(
She sucks my cock.
Pause.
Well, you do. SIOBHAN
Do you?
Cathy can’t speak.
-O$(
She does. She’s really good at it.
SIOBHAN
Are you?
C!5$7
I wish I had time frankly. I’m putting Ruthy to bed. I’m doing my homework. I’m trying to wash the stink of the butchers out of me.
JOHN
Have we got any more Cider?
SIOBHAN
No.
C!5$7
Would you like me to go and get some? What are you grinning about?
SIOBHAN
I’ve just missed you. It’s really nice to see you. It’s really nice to meet you John.
-O$(
Yes. It’s absolutely enchanting to meet you too. Does anybody want to go for a walk?
C!5$7
No thank you.
-O$(
We could explore.
SIOBHAN
There’s not much to explore I can tell you.
-O$(
I bet I could find somewhere. I can always find something to explore, me. Always find somewhere to go. Something to do. Someone to play with. We wouldn’t have to bring little Spazzy Bones with us would we? Sorry. That’s just an affectionate little nickname I just made up for her just now this second. Was it really horrible? You know I don't mean it. I've rather taken to her. I have, Cathy. Do you forgive me? Cathy, please will you forgive me for calling Ruthy “spazzy bones’ and suggesting we leave her here in the middle of the Vale?
2>
Cathy examines John.
C!5$7
Why are you looking at her like that?
-O$(
Like what?
C!5$7
Don’t say like what it just makes it worse.
-O$(
I honestly don’t know what you’re going on about.
C!5$7
I don’t blame him Shiv you’re beautiful. He’s eating you up with his eyes.
She takes Ruthy and puts her in her buggy and prepares to leave.
SIOBHAN
Where are you going?
C!5$7
I’m going getting more Cider. I said.
-O$(
Good thinking.
C!5$7
Do you want to come with me John?
-O$(
I’m a bit knackered. I just want to have a bit of a kip.
C!5$7
Please.
-O$(
No.
SIOBHAN
I’ll watch Ruthy.
CATHY
Okay.
SIOBHAN
He can stay here. I’ll make sure nobody robs him in his sleep.
C!5$7
I will be back.
She leaves pushing Ruthy in her buggy.
SIOBHAN
If you want to have a sleep I’ll watch your bag and everything. I promise not to run off.
-O$(
. donGt4 I’m not tired in the least. I was just feeling a bit bored.
SIOBHAN
Yeah.
-O$(
Cathy tells me you’ve got your own flat.
SIOBHAN
It’s council. Nortumberland Parade. On Northumberland Road. Flat 5c.
2A
-O$(
Lovely. And you work at Boots.
SIOBHAN
On Merseyway.
-O$(
Is that thrilling?
SIOBHAN
No.
-O$(
Don’t you just love being surrounded by chemicals?
SIOBHAN
Some chemicals are quite fun.
-O$(
Do you think you’ll stay working in Boots for years and years Siobhan?
SIOBHAN
No.
-O$(
What else do you want to do?
SIOBHAN
I don’t really know.
-O$(
Do you want to stay in Stockport?
SIOBHAN
May as well.
-O$(
You like it do you?
SIOBHAN
I do, yeah.
-O$(
What do you like about it?
She looks at him. Doesn’t know what to say.
I see. SIOBHAN
Are you really going to beat Isaac up?
-O$(
No.
SIOBHAN
You should. He’s a soft bastard.
-O$(
It's not that he's soft. He's not soft at all. It's that he thinks he's wise. He's not.
SIOBHAN
I would have loved to see his face when you threatened him.
She makes a sudden movement to him. He flinches.
2
-O$(
I like your arms
SIOBHAN
You what?
-O$(
It’s nice, looking at your arms.
They look at each other.
SIOBHAN
Have you ever done this?
-O$(
What?
SIOBHAN
This.
She rubs her arm against his.
-O$(
Its nice isn’t it?
SIOBHAN
And what about this?
She tickles the underside of his arm.
-O$(
That tickles.
SIOBHAN
Yeah.
-O$(
Are you ticklish?
SIOBHAN
I am a bit.
-O$(
I thought you would be. Where are you most ticklish?
SIOBHAN
On my tummy.
-O$(
Show me.
SIOBHAN
What?
-O$(
Show me your tummy.
Cathy comes back in.
C!5$7
Were you talking about, me?
SIOBHAN
No.
C!5$7
I bet you were. People do. Constantly jibber jabbering. They think
2&
they’re doing it behind my back. They're not. I can always hear them. I completely can hear you by the way.
5.
Outside John Connolly’s flat. John Connolly and Susan Heyer.
-O$(
Mrs $eyer 6hat a deli/htf%l s%rprise4
SES!(
.s Cathy in8
-O$(
(o4
SES!(
+ood4
-O$(
"hy9s that /ood8
SES!(
. 6anted to spea to yo% on yo%r o6n4
-O$(
$o6 ecitin/4
SES!(
"hy aren9t yo% at 6or8
-O$(
. slept in4
SES!(
.t9s /one ele#en o9cloc4
-O$(
. no64 .t9s sli/htly shamef%l4 Me and Cathy 6ere 6ell 6e 6ere %p rather late .9m afraid to admit4 "e didn9t /et a /reat deal of sleep last ni/ht if yo% no6 6hat . mean either of %s4
SES!(
. don9t 6ant to no64
-O$(
. bet yo% do4 Sorry it9s Cathy and . isn9t it8 .9m al6ays main/ that mistae4 . called Mr4 Kirby4 $e 6as initially li #id b%t . taled him do6n4 . 6as on my 6ay o%t ?%st no6 as a matter of fact4
SES!(
"here is she no68
-O$(
!t colle/e4
SES!(
"here9s R%thy8
-O$(
She9s /one 6ith her4 5hey9#e /ot a playschool4
SES!(
7o%9re not looin/ after her8
2*
-O$(
(o4
SES!(
"ell that9s a relief4 . 6o%ldn9t tr%st yo% 6ith her for all the tea in the 6orld4
Pause.
-O$(
!re yo% s%re yo% meant that8
SES!(
"hat8
-O$(
. mean ordinarily its all the tea in China4 Or all the money in the 6orld4 .9#e ne#er heard anybody /et those t6o thin/s mied %p before4 . mean fair play4 5here9s plenty more tea in the 6orld than ?%st in China4 5ea all o#er .ndia for eample4
SES!(
Stop talin/4
-O$(
5here9s a small amo%nt of tea in here4 "o%ld yo% lie one8
SES!(
(o . 6o%ldn9t no4
-O$(
"ill yo% come in8
SES!(
(o4
-O$(
Come in4
SES!(
(o4
-O$(
"e can9t stand o%t here talin/ e#erybody9ll stare4 "ho no6s 6hat they9ll thin8 .s that a ne6 top8
SES!(
. be/ yo%r pardon8
-O$(
7o%r top4 .s it ne68 .t9s rather fetchin/4 . lie it4 .t s%its yo%4
Don9t thin . can9t beca%se . can4 .9m not a complete idiot4
-O$(
!ren9t yo%8
2
SES!(
$a#e yo% /ot someone in there no68 .s she hidin/ %nder yo%r bed8
Some time. He looks at her.
-O$(
!re yo% mad8
SES!(
Sho%ld . come in and ha#e a loo4
-O$(
. eep asin/ yo% to4
SES!(
. no6 yo% -ohn Connolly4 .9#e no6n men lie yo% for years and years4 . thin it 6o%ld be better for e#erybody if yo% ?%st left the 6hole place 6ell alone4
He looks at her. Smiles.
-O$(
)%nny isn9t it8 7o% co%ld be sisters yo% and Cathy co%ldn9t yo%8 . mean sisters 6ith an %n%s%al a/e /ap b%t sisters ne#ertheless4 Does anybody e#er mae that mistae8 Do yo% e#er pop do6n the p%b and the landlord ass yo% 6hat yo%r sister9s ha#in/ to drin8 7o%9#e /ot to 6atch those landlords ha#en9t yo%8 5hey can be ri/ht r%m b%//ers4 =ittle dirty minded shits4
SES!(
Don9t yo% dare lie to my little /irl4
-O$(
.9m not lyin/4 . don9t lie4
SES!(
Don9t yo% dare thin yo%9re tain/ her a6ay from me beca%se yo%9re really not /oin/ to do that4
-O$(
Does she belon/ to yo%8 =et me tell yo% somethin/ for nothin/ S%y , if yo% come ro%nd to my flat talin/ to me lie that one more time . s6ear . 6ill flatten yo%4
SES!(
7o% don9t fri/hten me4 7o%9re a little boy4
-O$(
5hat /irl 6o%ld do anythin/ . told her to4
SES!(
She f%cin/ 6o%ldn9t4
-O$(
7o% 6ant to try me8
Pause.
-O$(
Can . as yo% somethin/ S%san ho6 old 6ere yo% 6hen the old man died8
30
She doesn!t respond.
"hat 6as his name8 She doesn!t respond.
S%san .9m sorry for teasin/ yo%4 .9m bein/ a ri/ht little cheey chops and . no6 it9s %nfair beca%se lets be honest 6ith each other here yo%9re hardly the sharpest nife in the dra6er are yo%8 . thin the t6o of %s m%st ha#e /ot off on the 6ron/ foot4 "e9re practically family for /oodness saeH -%st tell me 6hat his name 6as4 Cathy hasn9t told me4 She ne#er tals abo%t him4 . thin she really misses him by the 6ay altho%/h she9d tell yo% the opposite4 Sometimes 6e do that don9t 6e8 Say the absol%te polar opposite to 6hat 6e act%ally mean4 "hat 6as his name8 SES!(
Fd6ard4
-O$(
Did yo% %sed to call him that or did yo% %sed to call him Fd8 Or Fddy perhaps8
SES!(
. %sed to call him Fd6ard4
-O$(
!nd ho6 old 6ere yo% 6hen he died8
SES!(
5hat9s none of yo%r b%siness4
-O$(
(o4 . no64 .9m ?%st nosey4 $o6 old 6ere yo%8
SES!(
324
-O$(
-%icy4
Pause.
SES!(
"hy did yo% come here8
-O$(
.t9s my flat4
SES!(
5o Stocport4 "hy did yo% lea#e Brad6ell8
-O$(
. o%t/re6 the place4
SES!(
"hy did yo% end %p here8
-O$(
.t 6as a bit random . ha#e to admit4 . ?%st fancied a chan/e4 .t9s the ind of thin/ . do4 . mi/ht mo#e a/ain yo% no68 5ae Cathy 6ith me4 op R%thy in the bac seat4 $ead off into the s%nset4
31
SES!(
7o% 6o%ldn9t4
-O$(
"o%ldn9t .8
SES!(
She 6o%ldn9t /o 6ith yo%4 She9d ne#er tae R%thy4 She9d ne#er do that4
6.
Siobhan Hennessey!s flat. Siobhan Hennessey and John Connolly.
-O$(
.t9s a smashin/ #ie64
S.OB$!(
7eah4
-O$(
7o% can see the ennines4 Do yo% e#er /o there8
S.OB$!(
(o4
-O$(
7o% sho%ld yo% no68 . miss it the co%ntryside4
S.OB$!(
"e 6ent 6ith school4 "e 6ent on a school campin/ trip to Fdale4 . 6as t6el#e4 .t 6as brilliant4 .t 6as s%nny all 6ee4 "e 6aled to the top of Kinder Sco%t4 .9m sorry4 .9m talin/ a lot4 .9m a bit ner#o%s4
-O$(
"hat are yo% ner#o%s for8
S.OB$!(
.9m not %sed to ha#in/ #isitors4
-O$(
(o8
S.OB$!(
(o4
-O$(
.t mi/ht be yo%r ner#o%sness that p%ts them off4
S.OB$!(
.t mi/ht be4
-O$(
Or yo%r talin/4
S.OB$!(
Do yo% 6ant a c%p of tea8
-O$(
(o than yo%4
S.OB$!(
Don9t yo% lie tea8
32
-O$(
(ot really no4
S.OB$!(
$o69s Cathy8
-O$(
She9s completely fantastic than yo% #ery m%ch for asin/4 7o% sho%ld come ro%nd4 Come and see R%thy4 +i#e %s a bit of a son/4
Siobhan doesn!t answer.
$o6 many pl%/ socets are there in this room8 S.OB$!(
. don9t no64 5hree4 )o%r there9s one behind the door4 "hy8
-O$(
(o reason4 !re all these 6indo6s in all these flats loced from the insi de8
He reaches over to her hair and runs his hands through it.
Does that feel nice8 S.OB$!(
Ftremely4
-O$(
Do yo% no6 ho6 many ner#e endin/s there are in yo%r scalp8
S.OB$!(
(o4
-O$(
Bloody loads4
S.OB$!(
. bet4
-O$(
. lo#e it4
S.OB$!(
"hat8
He smiles. Pulls his hand away.
-O$(
7o%r flat4
S.OB$!(
5hans4
-O$(
.f my mother co%ld see me no64
S.OB$!(
7o% 6hat8
-O$(
$o69s 6or8
33
S.OB$!(
Shit4
-O$(
"hy8
S.OB$!(
.ts al6ays shit4
-O$(
.s it8
S.OB$!(
!t the moment it9s 6orse than normal4
-O$(
"hy8
S.OB$!(
Beca%se of the stries4 5here9s absol%tely f%cin/ nothin/ comin/ into the shop4 "eGre ?%st left there looin/ lie m%ppets4 "hat8
-O$(
7o%4
S.OB$!(
"hat abo%t me8
-O$(
7o%9re s%rprisin/ly ener/etic aren9t yo%8
S.OB$!(
. don9t no64
-O$(
. lie it4 .t9s a %ality .9m dra6n to in Cathy as 6ell4 She9s not as smart as yo% b%t she9s /ot a similar ind of ener/y4
S.OB$!(
Cathy9s smart4
-O$(
7eah4
S.OB$!(
She9s lie a force of nat%re4
-O$(
7eah4
S.OB$!(
She9s my best friend4
He kisses her. She kisses him back.
S.OB$!(
Don9t4
-O$(
"hy not8
S.OB$!(
7o% no6 6hy not4 . can9t4
-O$(
7o% can4
S.OB$!(
lease -ohn4 . don9t e#en fancy yo% that m%ch4
3>
-O$(
Don9t yo%8
S.OB$!(
. don9t fancy yo% half as m%ch as yo% fancy yo%rself4
-O$(
$o6 many times do yo% thin .9d need to stroe yo%r hair lie this 6ith my nails before yo% dra//ed me into yo%r bedroom8
S.OB$!(
.t 6on9t 6or4
-O$(
Do yo% thin yo% co%ld stand a h%ndred8
S.OB$!(
(o4
-O$(
)ifty4
S.OB$!(
More lie fi#e4
She punches his chest (uite hard. He smiles at her and backs away a bit.
S.OB$!(
Sorry4
-O$(
7o% sho%ld be4
S.OB$!(
Can 6e ?%st8
-O$(
"hat8
S.OB$!(
(ot4
-O$(
OK4
Some time.
S.OB$!(
$o69s the apprenticeship /oin/ -ohnny Connolly8
-O$(
.t9s terrific4
S.OB$!(
"hy aren9t yo% there today8
-O$(
Mr4 Kirby9s a bit poorly4 $e didn9t come in4 . had some 6or to do4 . finished it early so that . co%ld come ro%nd and see yo%4
S.OB$!(
"hat 6or8
-O$(
)ilin/ the @!5 ret%rns before )riday4 )%nny isn9t it8
S.OB$!(
"hat is8
3A
-O$(
7o% say ?%st that one sentence ;filin/ the @!5 ret%rns before )riday< and it immediately saps all se%al ener/y in the room4 $o6 many people li#e on each floor here8
S.OB$!(
. don9t no64
-O$(
$o6 many flats are there8
S.OB$!(
5en4
-O$(
(obody 6o%ld notice 6o%ld they8
S.OB$!(
(otice 6hat8
-O$(
.f . came bac here 6ith Cathy and 6e broe into one4
S.OB$!(
. thin they 6o%ld4
-O$(
"e can9t stop o%rsel#es4 "e eep tryin/ to4 .t9s ?%st a bit addicti#e4 Do yo% mind if . /o net door 6hen .9#e finished here8 5o sco%t the place o%t8
S.OB$!(
(o4
-O$(
"ho is it8
S.OB$!(
.t9s a /%y . thin he9s a st%dent4 . thin he9s somethin/4 .9m not s%re4 $e plays a lot of -oy Di#ision4
-O$(
Cheery4 Does he li#e on his o6n8
S.OB$!(
. thin so4
-O$(
Does he ha#e any pets8
S.OB$!(
(o4
-O$(
(o do/s or anythin/ lie that8
S.OB$!(
(o4
-O$(
"here9s yo%r bedroom8
S.OB$!(
.9m not tellin/ yo%4
-O$(
.9ll find it myself4
S.OB$!(
)ind it yo%rself then4
3
-O$(
.f yo% tell anybody that .9#e been here yo% no6 6hat9ll happen don9t yo%8
S.OB$!(
(o4
-O$(
.9#e /ot a temper on me the lie of 6hich yo% 6o%ldn9t belie#e4
S.OB$!(
$o69s .saac9s face doin/8 =ooed pretty intact 6hen . last sa6 it4
.n yo%r room4 Don9t tae a/es abo%t it4 .f yo%9re too lon/ it9s not o%t of the %estion that .9ll end %p fallin/ to sleep or somethin/4 !nd 6e 6o%ldn9t 6ant that 6o%ld 6e8
7.
$ beach at "lackpool. John Connolly and Cathy eyer. )ight is falling.
C!5$7
!re yo% OK8
-O$(
.9m fine4
C!5$7
$o69s yo%r le/ feelin/8
-O$(
.t9s in a/ony4
C!5$7
.9ll iss it better for yo%4
-O$(
=ater4
C!5$7
$a#e yo% calmed do6n no68
-O$(
7eah4 7es4 7es . ha#e4 7es4
C!5$7
. hate it 6hen yo%9re lie that4 Snappin/ o%t all o#er the place4 Blamin/ e#erybody for e#erythin/4
-O$(
. no64
3&
C!5$7
5hey didn9t catch yo%4
-O$(
(o4
C!5$7
7o% didn9t tae anythin/ any6ay did yo%8
-O$(
(o . didn9t4
C!5$7
5hey co%ldn9t char/e yo% 6ith anythin/4 7o% 6ere ?%st standin/ there4 oor baby4 . lo#e it here4 "e %sed to come here 6ith Dad4 Come on Cathy let9s /o %p Blacpool4 $e9d tae %s to the f%nfair4 R%thy lies it here4
-O$(
Does she8
C!5$7
Sho%ld see her little face4
-O$(
. can ima/ine4
She looks at him.
"e sho%ld ha#e bro%/ht her 6ith %s4 C!5$7
M%m 6as fine4 She lies feelin/ 6anted4 . didn9t tell her 6hat time 6e9ll be bac4 She co%ld sleep there co%ldn9t she8
-O$(
.Gd rather /o and fetch her4
C!5$7
Be better if she stayed tho%/h4 5hat 6ay 6e don9t need to 6ae her4
-O$(
She9ll 6ae %p any6ay4
C!5$7
"e co%ld ?%st let M%m deal 6ith it4
-O$(
.9d %ite lie to pic her %p4
She smiles at him.
-O$(
"hat8
C!5$7
7o%4
-O$(
"hat abo%t me8
C!5$7
7o% prefer her to me half the time . thin4 DonGt 6orry4 . lie it4 .Gm ?%st a bit s%rprised4
3*
Some time.
-O$(
"e sho%ld stop one day yo% no68 Robbin/ other people9s ho%ses4
C!5$7
. don9t no6 if . co%ld stop no64
-O$(
.f they e#er catch me and they find o%t abo%t my record in Brad6ell they9ll /o mental4
C!5$7
5hey 6on9t catch yo%4 5hey9re not eactly that smart4 . bet that9s the real reason yo% left4 Ca%se the police 6ere on yo%r trail4
He doesn!t answer.
. %ite lie the idea of yo% bein/ on the r%n4 7o%9re an o%tla64 Both of %s are 6hen yo% thin abo%t it4 . don9t no6 if it9s #ery /ood for R%thy to be raised by o%tla6s4 . 6onder 6hat my dad 6o%ld say i f he9d seen me4 $i Dad4 .t9s me Cathy4 .9m sittin/ here on Blacpool beach 6ith a con#icted ho%se b%r/lar and bein/ his sideic4 -O$(
$e can9t hear yo%4
C!5$7
. no64
Some time.
. 6ish yo%9d met him4 . miss him lie mad sometimes4 Sometimes . don9t4 Do yo% 6ant to /o to the f%nfair8 -O$(
(o4
C!5$7
"e co%ld /o on the pier then4
-O$(
(o than yo%4
C!5$7
"hy not8 5he pierGs brilliant here4
-O$(
.ts f%ll of old people4
C!5$7
Don9t be st%pid4
-O$(
.t is4
C!5$7
"hat9s 6ron/ 6ith old people any6ay8
3
-O$(
.9#e had eno%/h of them4
C!5$7
"hy8
-O$(
!ll they do is /o on and on and on4 Do yo% e#er /et the sense that somethin/ amain/ is /oin/ to happen8 5he /ra#edi//er9s ha#e /one on strie4 .t9s completely astonishin/4 5hey9#e stopped b%ryin/ corpses4 .t9s /ettin/ 6orse so that it can /et m%ch m%ch better4 She9ll 6in4 !t the election4 Definitely4 5he +o#ernment9ll chan/e4 F#erythin/ 6ill chan/e4 .t 6ill be etraordinary4
C!5$7
Sshh4
-O$(
"hat8
C!5$7
Stop talin/4
-O$(
"hy8
C!5$7
-%st listen4
-O$(
5o 6hat8
C!5$7
5he sea4
#hey listen to the sea.
C!5$7
!re yo%r M%m and Dad still ali#e -ohn8 Don9t yo% 6ant to introd%ce them to R%thy8
-O$(
SheGs better off 6itho%t them belie#e me4
C!5$7
7o%9re almost lie her Dad no6 aren9t yo%8
He smiles.
. tho%/ht to myself yesterday . tho%/ht that no matter 6hat happens no64 .9ll al6ays be 6ho . am4 !nd the only thin/ . can chan/e is the thin/s . do4 . so 6ish . co%ld act%ally t%rn into somebody completely different4 5hat 6o%ld be my 6ildest dream4 5he only time . don9t thin that is 6hen .9m 6ith yo%4
>0
7o% do realise that no matter ho6 hard yo% loo yo% 6ill ne#er find anybody else 6ho lo#es yo% as m%ch as . do don9t yo%8 -O$(
7es4
C!5$7
7o% co%ldn9t li#e 6itho%t me co%ld yo%8
-O$(
(o4 . don9t thin . co%ld4
C!5$7
7o% sho%ld marry me is 6hat yo% sho%ld do4
-O$(
Marry yo%8
C!5$7
7eah4 . co%ld be Cathy Connolly4 Sometimes . 6rite that do6n4 Cathy Connolly4 R%th Connolly4 Don9t yo% thin it so%nds nice8
-O$(
.t does yeah4
C!5$7
Do yo% 6ant to8
-O$(
"hat8
C!5$7
Do yo% 6ant to marry me8
-O$(
OK4
C!5$7
Do yo%8
-O$(
7eah4 OK4
C!5$7
"ill yo% /et me a rin/8
-O$(
Do yo% 6ant one8
C!5$7
7eah4 "e co%ld /et one from one of the machines in the )%nfair4 $aH !re 6e en/a/ed to be married no68
-O$(
. don9t no64
C!5$7
!m . yo%r fiancIe no6 -ohn8
-O$(
7eah4
Some time.
C!5$7
Don9t yo% thin that9s f%nny8
-O$(
"hat8
>1
C!5$7
Don9t yo% thin that 6as the best 6ay to /et en/a/ed e#er8 "e sho%ld mar it4
-O$(
Mar it8
C!5$7
"e sho%ld ha#e some ind of symbol or somethin/8
-O$(
=ie 6hat8
C!5$7
. don9t no64 7o% thin of somethin/4 .t9s yo%r en/a/ement too yo% no64
-O$(
. can9t thin4
C!5$7
"ell that9s not the first time is it8
-O$(
"e co%ld ha#e a dance4
C!5$7
$ere8
-O$(
7eah4
C!5$7
OK4 7o% n%tter4 Stand %p then4 Come on -ohn Connolly4 On yo%r feet4
She drags him up.
5here9s no m%sic4 -O$(
(o4
C!5$7
Didn9t thin of that did yo%8
-O$(
Sorry4
C!5$7
5here9s m%sic from the fair/ro%nd4 "e9#e ?%st /ot to listen a bit harder than yo% ordinarily 6o%ld4
#hey dance together straining hard to listen to the old fifties *oo +op ballad blaring from the fairground. #hey stop. She leans into him.
Sho%ld 6e ha#e a bit of a f%c8 -O$(
.n a bit4 My le/9s still sore4
C!5$7
7o% co%ld lie do6n4 7o% co%ld be F#il Knie#el and yo%9#e had a horrible motorbie crash4 . co%ld be yo%r n%rse and . ?%st can9t eep my hands off yo%4
>2
-O$(
5hat so%nds f%n4
C!5$7
Sho%ld 6e8
He smiles at her. Some time.
C!5$7
"e co%ld stay here co%ldn9t 6e8 Stay here4 Es t6o4 =ea#e R%thy 6ith M%m4 5he pair of them4 SheGd lo#e that M%m4 !nd ne#er /o bac8 Do yo% promise8
8.
Susan Heyer!s house. Susan Heyer and saac "erg. #hey look at each other. )either wanting to make the first move.
.S!!C
. %nderstand that it9s hard4 .G#e seen yo% aro%nd his sort before4 .G#e 6atched her 6ith him myself4 She feels lie a da%/hter to me too sometimes4 . no6 that so%nds irrational b%t its also tr%e4
SES!(
.t isn9t4
.S!!C
.9#e no6n her all her life4
SES!(
5hat doesn9t mean yo%9#e /ot any idea 6hat it9s lie ha#in/ a da%/hter4 .9m sorry .saac . didn9t mean to be r%de4
.S!!C
7o% did4 .t9s fine4 7o%9re an/ry4
SES!(
.9m not an/ry .9m fri/htened4
He looks at her.
$e made a pass at me4 $e told me he tho%/ht . 6as sey4 Don9t tell me yo% thin that9s normal beca%se it isn9t4
>3
.S!!C
. don9t really belie#e in normal beha#io%r S%san4
SES!(
7o% 6o%ldn9t4
.S!!C
. thin normality in this co%ntry is somethin/ that9s in#ented to try to maintain a ind of order4 eople 6ere enco%ra/ed to /et married beca%se it 6as normal4 5hey 6ere enco%ra/ed to 6or beca%se it 6as normal4 5hey 6ere p%t into factories and li#ed ro%nd the factories and dran in the p%bs to anaesthetie themsel#es from the 6retched bloody misery of the life in the factories beca%se that 6as the normal thin/ to do4 .9m not 6orried abo%t him beca%se he9s not normal4 .9m 6orried abo%t yo% beca%se . thin yo%9re /oin/ to do somethin/ yo% re/ret4
SES!(
.9m not4
.S!!C
. no6 yo% S%san4
SES!(
7o% bloody donGt4
.S!!C
5here9s nothin/ more horrible than 6atchin/ yo%r children mae mistaes4 7o% 6ant to /et inside their bodies and mae the correct decision for them4 7o% canGt4
SES!(
. ha#e no interest at all in /ettin/ inside her body4
.S!!C
She has to do some thin/s that she9ll re/ret4
SES!(
She reminds me of 5ed4 She maes me thin abo%t him4 . hate it4
.S!!C
"hy do yo% hate that8
SES!(
. 6as an/ry eno%/h 6ith him 6hen he 6as ali#e b%t that9s nothin/ compared to ho6 an/ry . am 6ith him for /oin/ and flippin/ 6ell dyin/ on me4 . 6ish he 6as here4 $e9d tell me 6hat to do4
.S!!C
$e 6o%ldn9t4 $e 6o%ldn9t ha#e noticed4
SES!(
$eGd be better than yo% are4 7o% ?%st stand there4 7o% ne#er act%ally do anythin/ do yo%4 7o% donGt no6 me one bit4 $e ne6 me4 . 6orry abo%t R%thy4
.S!!C
She9s not yo%rs to 6orry abo%t4
>>
SES!(
She may as 6ell be4
.S!!C
S%san4
SES!(
. loo after her more than she does4
.S!!C
5hat9s not tr%e4
SES!(
7o%9re soft4 5hat9s yo%r problem4
.S!!C
.9m not4
SES!(
7o%9re st%pid4 7o%Gd do anythin/ for me 6o%ldnGt yo%8 7o% al6ays 6o%ld ha#e done4 DonGt thin . ne#er realised that beca%se . did 5ell me .Gm 6ron/4 See4 .9m sorry4 7o%9re ?%st abo%t the 6orld9s nicest man yo% aren9t yo%8
.S!!C
(ot in any 6ay4
Cathy enters.
C!5$7
M%m4 M%m4 M%m4 $iya4 $i .saac4
.S!!C
$ello lo#ely4 $o6 are yo%8
C!5$7
.9m really absol%tely and totally brilliant4
.S!!C
+osh4
C!5$7
. no64 $o6 are yo% .saac8
.S!!C
.9m /reat lo#e4
C!5$7
$o69s 6or8
.S!!C
.t9s eactly the same as it al6ays is4
C!5$7
$air9s still hair is it8
.S!!C
$air is still hair4
C!5$7
"here9s R%thy8
>A
SES!(
She9s asleep4
C!5$7
$o69s she been8
SES!(
She9s been lo#ely4
C!5$7
$as she been asleep all day8
SES!(
(o4 She 6as a6ae %ntil abo%t t6enty min%tes a/o4 She9s been e#er so playf%l4 She9s been smilin/ a6ay4
C!5$7
$as she8
SES!(
She9s started smilin/ 6hen she sees me4 . thin she reco/nises me4
C!5$7
She smiles at anythin/ her4 She smiles at lamp'posts4
SES!(
She9s a happy little so%l4
.S!!C
S%san4 Cathy4 . sho%ld be /ettin/ off4
C!5$7
Don9t /o . only ?%st /ot here4
.S!!C
. ha#e to4 .9#e /ot to /et %p early tomorro64 . need to /et some dinner4 . need to do an order for the shop4 .9m really sorry4
C!5$7
. /ot a B for my co%rse6or essay4
.S!!C
Cathy that9s brilliant4
C!5$7
.t9s the best /rade .9#e e#er /ot4 Mr4 =e6is told me it 6as the most sophisticated essay .9d 6ritten 6ritten yet4 .tGs abo%t the the ca%ses and conse%ences of the aris Comm%ne4
.S!!C
Blimey4
SES!(
"hat the blaes is the aris Comm%ne4
.S!!C
.t 6as a m%nicipal +o#ernment set %p in aris in 1*&14
SES!(
.t 6as a 6hat8
C!5$7
=ie a co%ncil4
.S!!C
.t 6as the first time the 6orin/ classes had e#er held any ind of political po6er4 .t 6as an amain/ly si/nificant time4 .t 6as bro%/ht do6n in a bloodthirsty battle4 5ens of tho%sands of people
>
6ere illed4 5hey 6ere shot %p a/ainst the 6alls of ere =achaise cemetery in aris4 C!5$7
. 6as basically ar/%in/ that it 6as all their o6n fa%lt4
.S!!C
"ere yo%8
C!5$7
5hey 6ere asin/ for it4 .f people don9t li#e in order and sense then all yo% /et is chaos4 5hat 6as my main ar/%ment4
.S!!C
"as it8
C!5$7
Mr =e6is said that . 6as 6ron/ b%t he lied my essay beca%se . 6as so passionate abo%t it4
.S!!C
. can9t belie#e yo% tho%/ht the aris Comm%ne deser#ed to be cr%shed4 Mr =e6is is ri/ht to tell yo% yo%9re 6ron/4 .9m as appalled as . am pro%d4 !nd .9m #ery #ery late4
C!5$7
Stay for a bit4
.S!!C
. can9t4
C!5$7
7o% can4
.S!!C
5han yo%4 . can9t4 .9ll come bac4 .9m dead pro%d of yo%4 ! BH
C!5$7
. no64
.S!!C
=oo after yo%r mother4
C!5$7
. al6ays do4
.S!!C
=oo after yo%r da%/hter4
SES!(
!s if . had any choice in the matter4
.S!!C
+i#e R%th a iss from me4
C!5$7
OK4
.S!!C
.9ll see yo% soon ladies4 $a#e a /lorio%s e#enin/4
C!5$7
Bye .saac4
.S!!C
Bye4
SES!(
Bye .saac4
>&
.S!!C
See yo% soon S%san4 .t 6as lo#ely to see yo%4
saac leaves.
C!5$7
$o6 lon/9s he been here8
SES!(
!ll afternoon4 =ooin/ at me4 "ith his bi/ st%pid eyes4
C!5$7
7o% sho%ld ?%st marry him M%m4
SES!(
.9m /oin/ to i/nore that4
C!5$7
7o%9d mae a lo#ely co%ple yo% t6o4 7o% sho%ld /et en/a/ed4 S%san Ber/9s /ot a lo#ely rin/ to it . thin4
SES!(
7o%9re bein/ st%pid Cathy4
C!5$7
.9m not4 .9m ?%st happy4
SES!(
"hat on earth ha#e yo% /ot to be happy abo%t all of a s%dden8
C!5$7
=ife4 +ettin/ a B4 Seein/ .saac4 Comin/ home4 Colle/e as a 6hole4
SES!(
. see4
C!5$7
.9m really en?oyin/ it at the moment4 5he other st%dents are startin/ to %nderstand me4 5hey9re startin/ to en?oy my company4 Mr =e6is is lo#ely4 $e9s a stran/e old man and he smells of pipes b%t he9s really s6eet and #ery enco%ra/in/ and .9#e made a decision4
SES!(
$a#e yo%8
C!5$7
. ha#e yeah4
SES!(
"hat ha#e yo% decided no68
C!5$7
. ha#e decided that . thin . 6o%ld lie to carry on st%dyin/ $istory and maybe /o to olytechnic4 Mr =e6is 6as talin/ abo%t it to me yesterday4 $e 6as tellin/ me abo%t Canterb%ry olytechnic4
SES!(
Canterb%ry8
C!5$7
$e said that Canterb%ry olytechnic 6as an ecellent place to loo into the st%dy of $istory for somebody 6ho doesn9t ha#e as many %alifications as yo% mi/ht need to /et into Eni#ersities or some6here lie that4
>*
SES!(
!re yo% bein/ sarcastic8
C!5$7
(o4 .9m bein/ serio%s4 .t9s as /ood as a lot of reco/nised Eni#ersity %alifications he said and . 6as thinin/ that 6hat . co%ld do if e#erythin/ /oes 6ell is that . co%ld maybe loo at trainin/ to be a teacher4 erhaps at primary4 erhaps at secondary4 Maybe at n%rsery school le#el4
SES!(
Cathy4 7o%9re not eactly Eni#ersity material are yo% s6eetheart4
C!5$7
-ohn thins it9s a /reat idea4
SES!(
Does he8
C!5$7
$e9s pro%d of me he said4 $e said he9d definitely be happy to lea#e Stocport and come and find some6here in Canterb%ry to stay4
SES!(
. bet he did4
C!5$7
.t9s s%ch a bea%tif%l to6n4 arts of Canterb%ry Cathedral date from the se#enth cent%ry4 . bet yo% didn9t no6 that did yo%8
SES!(
"hat 6o%ld yo% do 6ith R%th8
C!5$7
"e9d tae her 6ith %s4
SES!(
7o% co%ldn9t do that4
C!5$7
Co%rse 6e co%ld4 7o% co%ld come and #isit %s4 .t9s in Kent4 .t9s bea%tif%l4 .t9s not e#en that far from the sea4 She9d lo#e that4 She lo#es the seaside4
SES!(
"ho9d loo after her8
C!5$7
. 6o%ld4 -ohn 6o%ld4 "e9d tae it in t%rns4
SES!(
-ohn8
C!5$7
$e9s /reat 6ith her4 $e9s e#er so /entle4 "e co%ld maybe /et a (anny if -ohn finds a ?ob in acco%ntancy 6hich is 6hat he 6ants to do4 Mr4 Kirby is really pleased 6ith him4 $e9s /oin/ to set him %p for acco%ntancy eams in the s%mmer he said4
SES!(
-ohn can9t loo after R%thy4
C!5$7
$e can4 5here9d probably be a playschool at the colle/e any6ay beca%se they ha#e to pro#ide them no64 .t9s part of the la6s4
>
SES!(
5here is no 6ay -ohn Connolly is looin/ after my /rand'da%/hter4
Pause. Cathy stops. She looks at Susan.
C!5$7
"hat8
SES!(
5here isn9t4
C!5$7
Don9t be silly4
SES!(
.9m not bein/ silly4 7o%9re bein/ silly4 . 6on9t allo6 it4 $e9s not allo6ed to4
C!5$7
(ot allo6ed to8 "hat do yo% mean he9s not allo6ed to8 "ho are yo% to /o ro%nd startin/ tellin/ people 6hat they are and 6hat they9re not allo6ed to do4 Blimey M%m 6ho do yo% thin yo% are all of a s%dden4
SES!(
. didn9t 6ant to do this4
C!5$7
7o% 6hat8
SES!(
. really didn9t4
C!5$7
"hat are yo% ?ibber ?abberin/ on abo%t no68
SES!(
5here9s somethin/ . need to tell yo% lo#e4
C!5$7
.s there8
SES!(
.t9s abo%t -ohn4
C!5$7
.s it8
SES!(
. thin he9s ha#in/ an affair 6ith Siobhan $ennessey4
C!5$7
Do yo%8
SES!(
. thin he is in lo#e 6ith her4
C!5$7
"ell that9s a s%rprise4 Comin/ from yo%4 $onestly M%m yo% sho%ld see ho6 yo%r brain 6ors some of the time4
SES!(
. sa6 them4
C!5$7
Oh yeah8
SES!(
. 6ent ro%nd to yo%r flat to lea#e some mil beca%se .9d popped off
A0
to the /rocers and .9d /ot more than . needed and . 6as passin/ by yo%rs and he 6as in there and he tried his hardest to stop me comin/ in beca%se she 6as in there 6ith him b%t . sa6 her and she 6as in there 6ith him and she 6as 6earin/ yo%r dressin/ /o6n4 She 6as4 .9m sorry4 C!5$7
"hen 6as this8
SES!(
On Monday4
C!5$7
.t can9t ha#e been on Monday4 "e 6ent to Blacpool on Monday M%m4 7o% m%st ha#e made a mistae4 7o% m%st ha#e /ot it 6ron/4
SES!(
. didn9t4
C!5$7
7o% m%st ha#e seen somebody else4
SES!(
.t 6asn9t4
C!5$7
$o6 can he ha#e been at her flat if he 6as in Blacpool8 5hin abo%t it4 Ese yo%r f%cin/ brain M%m please4
SES!(
Don9t s6ear at me yo%n/ lady4
C!5$7
.9m only s6earin/ beca%se .9m easperated by 6hat an idiot yo%9re bein/ and ho6 mental yo% are and ho6 st%pid yo% are4 5hat9s the only reason .9m s6earin/4
SES!(
.t 6as in the mornin/4 Before yo% bro%/ht R%thy ro%nd4
C!5$7
$e 6as at 6or in the mornin/4
SES!(
Rin/ Mr4 Kirby4
C!5$7
"hat8
SES!(
Rin/ him no6 and as him if -ohn 6as at 6or in the mornin/ on Monday8
C!5$7
(o4 .9m not /oin/ to do that beca%se it 6o%ld mean . 6as tain/ yo% serio%sly and .9m sorry .9m ?%st not4
SES!(
S6eetheart4
C!5$7
Don9t s6eetheart me4 .9m not yo%r s6eetheart4 .9m -ohn9s s6eetheart4 .9m his fiancIe4
SES!(
7o%9re 6hat8
A1
C!5$7
"e9re /ettin/ married4 $e too me to Blacpool beach and sat me do6n in the moonli/ht and ased me to marry him4 .t 6as the most romantic thin/ on earth so don9t start main/ all inds of lies abo%t him beca%se that 6o%ld be horrible and %nfair and %ntr%e4
SES!(
7o% can9t4
C!5$7
. can4
SES!(
!fter e#erythin/ .9#e done for yo% and R%thy4 !fter all the thin/s . had to p%t %p 6ith4
C!5$7
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah4
SES!(
. ne6 this 6as /oin/ to happen4
C!5$7
Blah blah blah4
SES!(
. al6ays ne6 this 6as the ind of thin/ yo% 6o%ld do4 . co%ld tell it from the moment yo% 6ere born4
C!5$7
Blah blah blah4
SES!(
"hen yo% 6ere born . screamed at all the doctors to tae yo% a6ay ca%se yo% 6ere %/ly as anythin/ and e#en then . co%ld tell yo% 6ere broen4 . tried /ettin/ shot of yo% and . co%ldn9t4 . tried smotherin/ yo% b%t . co%ldn9t /o thro%/h 6ith it4 . did thin abo%t sellin/ yo% b%t nobody 6anted to b%y yo%4 . sho%ld ha#e tried harder is 6hat . sho%ld ha#e done4 . sho%ld ha#e left yo% on the bloody doorstep some6here4 Rin/ him4
C!5$7
(o4
SES!(
Rin/ him4
C!5$7
(o4
SES!(
Rin/ him4
She leaves. Susan is left alone on stage. She looks all around herself as though not recognising her own flat. Cathy comes back.
A2
SES!(
"hat did he say8 "hat did he say Cathy8
C!5$7
. need to /o4
SES!(
"hat did he say lo#e8
C!5$7
. need to find -ohn4
SES!(
. tho%/ht yo% said he 6as at 6or4 "hat did Mr Kirby say8
C!5$7
.f . /o and find -ohn 6ill yo% loo after R%thy8
SES!(
(o4
C!5$7
"hat8
SES!(
. can9t4
C!5$7
"hat8
SES!(
. can9t s6eetheart4 .9m b%sy4
C!5$7
"hat are yo% talin/ abo%t b%sy8
SES!(
.9m sorry lo#e4
C!5$7
"hat are yo% sorry for8
SES!(
. no6 6hat it9s lie4
C!5$7
7o% don9t4
SES!(
7o%r father 6as the same4
C!5$7
$e 6asn9t4
SES!(
By the time he finally told me 6hat he9d been doin/ . co%ldn9t do anythin/ abo%t it beca%se of yo%4 Can yo% ima/ine if yo%9d had a baby 6ith him8 5hat 6o%ld ha#e been %nbearable4 "o%ldn9t it8
C!5$7
Sh%t %p4
SES!(
.t9s oay4 . don9t mind if yo% tell me to sh%t %p4 Beca%se 6hat .9m tellin/ yo% is the complete tr%th4
C!5$7
. don9t no6 6hat to do M%m4
SES!(
"hen he /ets bac toni/ht tell him 6hat yo% fo%nd o%t and that
A3
yo%9re /oin/ to come bac here and li#e 6ith me4 C!5$7
. can9t do that4
SES!(
7o% can4
C!5$7
.9d loo pretty st%pid if . did tho%/h 6o%ldn9t .8 .t has to be a bit more than that doesn9t it4
SES!(
"hat do yo% mean8
C!5$7
. can9t ?%st let him /et a6ay 6ith treatin/ me lie this and ?%st come home and pretend it ne#er happened4
SES!(
"hat are yo% talin/ abo%t8
C!5$7
.9m /oin/ to ha#e to do somethin/ a bit more than that M%m don9t yo% thin8
SES!(
"hat do yo% mean a bit more than that8
C!5$7
7o% no64 Dad no6s4 7o% no6 6hat . mean4 7eah4 7o%9re ri/ht4 She is a bit4
Cathy moves to leave.
SES!(
Cathy 6here are yo% /oin/8
C!5$7
.9m /oin/ to find -ohn4 .9m /oin/ to sort this o%t4
SES!(
"hat abo%t R%thy8
C!5$7
Don9t call her R%thy4 $er name9s R%th4 .9m the only one 6ho9s allo6ed to call her R%thy M%m yo% no6 that4 !ll of a s%dden . feel an a6f%l lot better4 Do yo% e#er /et a feelin/ lie that8
SES!(
=ie 6hat8
C!5$7
"hen e#erythin/ all of a s%dden is #ery #ery clear4
A>
9.
saac "erg!s shop. saac "erg and Cathy eyer. Cathy has ,uth with her in a buggy. She pushes her back and forth as she talks. saac en-oys watching them.
C!5$7
"ill yo% do me a fa#o%r8
.S!!C
Co%rse . 6ill poppet4
C!5$7
$o6 do yo% no68 .9#e not e#en ased yo% 6hat it is yet4
.S!!C
7o% don9t need to4 .9d do anythin/ for yo%4
C!5$7
!re yo% s%re8
.S!!C
. 6as4 .9m /ettin/ a bit ner#o%s no64
C!5$7
(er#o%s8
.S!!C
. can9t help feelin/ that .9#e a/reed to somethin/ a bit premat%rely4
C!5$7 about the shop
7o%9re %iet4
.S!!C
.t hasn9t been4 5his is my first brea4
C!5$7
!re yo%r fin/ers all sore from c%ttin/ hairc%t after hairc%t after hairc%t8
.S!!C
! little4 Maybe4 (o4
C!5$7
Don9t yo% /et bored of asin/ people abo%t their holidays8
.S!!C
. don9t as people abo%t their holidays4
C!5$7
(o act%ally thinin/ abo%t it . don9t s%ppose yo% do4
.S!!C
. lie people4
C!5$7
. noticed4
.S!!C
5hey9re %nderestimated act%ally4
C!5$7
Do yo% thin so8
.S!!C
eople lie that harridan 5hatcher b%ild %p 6hole mytholo/ies abo%t people bein/ selfish and %ntr%st6orthy and /reedy and corr%pt and they9re not4 5hey9re all ri/ht4 "hat9s the fa#o%r8
C!5$7
"hat9s a harridan8
AA
.S!!C
.t9s an ei/hteenth cent%ry 6ord for a lar/e 6orn o%t horse4
C!5$7
.saac4
.S!!C
Cathy4
C!5$7
!re yo% in lo#e 6ith my M%m8
.S!!C
!m . 6hat8
C!5$7
7o%9re al6ays ro%nd at o%r ho%se4 7o% loo at her 6ith yo%r bi/ old droopy old eyes4 7o% mi/ht as 6ell tell me4 . bet she9d definitely marry yo% if yo% 6anted her to4
.S!!C
Cathy4 . am not in lo#e 6ith yo%r mother4 . lo#e her #ery m%ch4 B%t 5ed 6as my closest friend and . co%ld ne#er really /et o#er that4
Cathy e%amines him for a while& smiles at this idea.
C!5$7
. donGt belie#e yo%4 . thin yo%Gre ?%st scared of 6hat 6o%ld happen if yo% did 6hat yo% really 6anted to do most of all in all the 6orld4 . thin thatGs 6hy yo% tal abo%t politics all the time4 !s a distraction4 "hat 6as he lie8
.S!!C
"hat do yo% mean8
C!5$7
7o% ne#er really no6 yo%r parents %ntil yo% /et 6ell into bein/ an ad%lt and . ne#er had that opport%nity 6ith him4 "hat ind of friend 6as he8
.S!!C
$e 6as #ery loyal4 $e 6as #ery f%nny4 $e co%ld be a bit boners too lie yo%4 . lo#ed him4 . 6as si 6hen . met him4 5he month . first came to Stocport4 1>34 $e 6as in my class4 $e ne#er ased me any embarrassin/ %estions abo%t 6here . came from or abo%t +ermany or 6hat happened there or anythin/ lie that4 $e 6as my mate e#er since4 5hat9s abo%t the s%m of it4
C!5$7
.t9s f%nny4
.S!!C
"hat8
A
C!5$7
.ma/inin/ yo%r Dad as somebody9s mate4 "ill yo% tae -ohnny o%t for me8 B%y him a pint4
.S!!C
"hy8
C!5$7
. thin he co%ld do 6ith a /ood 6ise talin/ to4 !nd . 6ant him o%t of the ho%se toni/ht4 .9m plannin/ a treat for him4
.S!!C
5hat9s nice4
C!5$7
$e really lies yo% yo% no68
.S!!C
Does he8
C!5$7
$e said he sometimes tho%/ht yo% 6ere tryin/ to o6n me b%t he lied yo%r calmness and yo%r 6isdom4
.S!!C
. see4
C!5$7
"ill yo%8
.S!!C
"on9t he be a bit shoced if . ?%st t%rn %p on his doorstep and offer to b%y him a pint8
C!5$7
7eah4 B%t he %ite lies shocs4 Did yo% hear that he slept 6ith Shi#8
saac stares at her.
5hat 6as 6hy . tho%/ht he needed a /ood 6ise con#ersation4 .S!!C
Cathy are yo% oay8
C!5$7
. am4 .9m fine4 . ?%st 6ant yo% to tal to him4
.S!!C
. am so sorry4
C!5$7
Don9t be4
.S!!C
Do yo% mind if . call him a f%cin/ toe'ra//ed shit8
C!5$7
(o4
.S!!C
$e9s a f%cin/ toe ra//ed shit4
C!5$7
. no64 .9#e decided .9m /oin/ to p%nish him4
A&
. came %p 6ith a brilliant idea4 . can9t tell yo% 6hat it is beca%se it9d really s%rprise yo% and yo%9d probably try and stop me or yo%9d tell the police and then thin/s 6o%ld ?%st /o from bad to 6orse4 .S!!C
Cathy 6hy 6o%ld . tell the police8
C!5$7
7o% 6o%ldn9t really4 B%t . bet yo%9d try and stop me and .9#e /ot this smashin/ idea and it9d really annoy him and don9t yo% thin he deser#es to be annoyed8 !ll yo% need to do is /o and /et him from his flat and say yo%9#e heard 6hat9s happened and yo% ?%st 6ant to tal to him and tell him yo%9re not an/ry and yo% promise yo%9ll b%y him a pint and let him sort his head o%t and then 6hen he comes bac he9ll /et the shoc of his life4 $ere4
.S!!C
"hat8
She kisses him a long& lingering kiss.
C!5$7
"as that nice8 . ne6 yo%9d lie it4 . bet yo%9#e been 6onderin/ abo%t that for years and years4
.S!!C
Cathy4
C!5$7
Do yo% feel morally compromised no68 See4 7o%9#e /ot to do my fa#o%r for me4 7o%9re f%nny4 7o%r face4 !re yo% a bit shoced8
.S!!C
(o4
C!5$7
!re yo% a little bit ecited8 . can tell4 5here are 6ays in 6hich boys re#eal themsel#es4 Don9t ?%d/e me4
.S!!C
.9m not4
C!5$7
Do yo% promise me not to ?%d/e me8
.S!!C
Cathy calm do6n4
C!5$7
7o% ha#e the most bea%tif%l hands4 One day 6ill yo% c%t my hair8
.S!!C
"hat8 Fr4 7es4 O4
C!5$7
Don9t really4 . 6as only ?oin/4 7o%9d mae a ri/ht mess of it . bet4
A*
Fi/ht o9cloc4 My ho%se4 Don9t let me do6n4 "ill yo%8
10.
Siobhan Hennessey!s flat. Siobhan Hennessey and Cathy Heyer. ,uthy is with her in the buggy. Cathy pays slightly less attention to her.
C!5$7
$iya4
S.OB$!(
$o6 did yo% /et in8
C!5$7
.9m really sorry4 .t 6as dead easy4 7o%r loc9s really simple to brea thro%/h4 . hope yo% don9t mind4 . 6as 6aitin/ for yo% a/es4 . 6as ?%st passin/ by4 . had somethin/ to /i#e yo% and . tho%/ht yo%9d be in b%t yo% 6eren9t so . 6aited for t6enty min%tes and there 6as still no si/n and it 6as /ettin/ a little bit chilly for R%thy and . 6as /ettin/ a bit bored so . tho%/ht .9d ?%st pop the loc4
S.OB$!(
7o% popped the loc8
C!5$7
.ts not dama/ed4 5here9s a tric4 -ohn ta%/ht me4 7o% loo really cross4 !re yo% really cross8
S.OB$!(
(o4 (o4 (o4 (o4 .9m a bit conf%sed4
C!5$7
7eah4 .t m%st be a bit s%rprisin/4
S.OB$!(
.t is4
C!5$7
. didn9t mean to mae yo% cross4
S.OB$!(
7o% ha#en9t4
C!5$7
. ha#e yo% little liar4 . sho%ld ha#e called4 .f .9d called . 6o%ld ha#e no6n yo% 6ere /oin/ o%t4 . ne#er thin abo%t these thin/s4 . ?%st blinin/ 6ell do the first thin/ that pops into my mind4 .s this a really bad time or somethin/8
S.OB$!(
(o4 (o4 7o% nana4 .tGs fine4 7o% don9t need to call4 7o% idiot4 .t9s ?%st a bit %n%s%al4
C!5$7
7eah4 !nd it is a bit r%de too tho%/h isn9t it8 -%st t%rnin/ %p4 O%t of the bl%e4 Do yo% 6ant a c%p of tea8 5he ettle9s on4
S.OB$!(
(o than yo%4
C!5$7
7o% s%re8
A
S.OB$!(
. am yeah4 .9m totally s%re4
C!5$7
Do yo% 6ant a drin or somethin/8
S.OB$!(
(o4 $onestly .9m fine4
C!5$7
7o%9#e /ot a bottle of flippin/ /in in there . noticed4 "e co%ld ha#e +in 5onics4 . didn9t no6 yo% dran /in4 $a#e yo% e#er broen into anybody9s ho%se8
S.OB$!(
(o4
C!5$7
.t9s dead easy4 "o%ld yo% lie me to sho6 yo%8 (o don9t 6orry4 . don9t ha#e to4 .t9s a bit of a trade secret4 . sho%ld probably eep it to myself4 $o6 are yo%8
S.OB$!(
.9m /reat4 $o6 are yo%8
C!5$7
.9m /reat too4
S.OB$!(
5hat9s /ood4
C!5$7
. no64 "here9#e yo% been8
S.OB$!(
!t 6or4
C!5$7
$a#e yo%8
S.OB$!(
7eah4
C!5$7
$a#e yo% really8
S.OB$!(
Fr yeah4
C!5$7
7o%9re not bein/ a bit of a cheey charley lyin/ chops8
S.OB$!(
(o4 .9m still in my %niform4
C!5$7
Oh yeah4 . didn9t notice4 $o6 6as it 6or8
S.OB$!(
Borin/4
C!5$7
"as it8
S.OB$!(
7eah4
C!5$7
.t9s horrible 6hen it9s borin/ isn9t it8
0
S.OB$!(
7o%9re tellin/ me4
C!5$7
$ey4
S.OB$!(
"hat8
C!5$7
+%ess 6hat8
S.OB$!(
"hat8
C!5$7
. si#ed offH
S.OB$!(
Did yo%8
C!5$7
7eah4 .t 6as brilliant4
S.OB$!(
. 6ish .9d done that4
C!5$7
. no64 .9#e ne#er done it before4 . didn9t no6 it9d be so easy4 . ?%st ran/ %p4 5old them . had food poisonin/4 7o% can9t in the food ind%stry 6hen somebody says they ha#e food poisonin/ yo% can9t allo6 them to come into 6or on acco%nt of cross contamination4 !re yo% s%re yo% don9t 6ant a /in8
S.OB$!(
(o4 .9m fine4 $onestly4 $o69s R%thy8
C!5$7
Oh yo% no64
S.OB$!(
7eah4
C!5$7
Fha%stin/4
S.OB$!(
7eah4
C!5$7
! bit annoyin/4
S.OB$!(
7eah4
C!5$7
Still cryin/ all the time4 (ot ri/ht no64
S.OB$!(
(o4 $o69s -ohn copin/ 6ith that8
C!5$7
$e9s copin/ ?%st brilliantly4 $e9s so lo#ely 6ith her4 $e lets me sleep thro%/h the ni/ht4 $e ?%st says ;yo% /o to sleep lo#e .9ll sort her o%t<4 $e told me he lo#ed her more than he lo#ed me4 . /ot dead ?ealo%s4 (ot really4 .9m so l%cy4
S.OB$!(
7o% are4
1
C!5$7
!nd . didn9t tell yo%J he9s doin/ amain/ at 6or4
S.OB$!(
.s he8
C!5$7
Mr4 Kirby told him he 6as an ;o%tstandin/< apprentice4 $e said that he9s been employin/ apprentices for years and years and he9d ne#er seen someone 6or so hard or be so accomplished4 .t9s amain/ 6hen yo% thin abo%t it4
S.OB$!(
5hat9s /reat Cathy4
C!5$7
. no64 !nd /%ess 6hat else4
S.OB$!(
"hat else8
C!5$7
7o%9ll ne#er /%ess this one4
S.OB$!(
"hat8
C!5$7
.f . tell yo% do yo% promise not to la%/h8
S.OB$!(
OK4
C!5$7
$e ased me to marry him4
S.OB$!(
Did he8
C!5$7
(o4 Sorry4 5hat 6as 6ron/4 . ased him to marry me and he said yes4 So 6e9re /oin/ to /et married4 . am so definitely chan/in/ my name by the 6ay4 .9m not bothered abo%t all these 6omen libbers4 . am definitely /oin/ to be Cathy Connolly4 .9m /oin/ to chan/e R%thy9s name too4 So she9ll be R%th Connolly and then 6e9re /oin/ to try to sort o%t an official adoption4 So -ohn9ll be her father beca%se if anythin/ happened then she9d act%ally ha#e to /o and li#e 6ith my M%m and . don9t really 6ant her to do that4
S.OB$!(
Don9t yo%8
C!5$7
(o4
S.OB$!(
$o6 come8
C!5$7
. don9t thin . tr%st her4
S.OB$!(
"hat do yo% mean8
C!5$7
. thin she mi/ht tell a fe6 lies e#ery no6 and then a fe6 por pies4 Did yo% ne#er /et that sense off her8
2
S.OB$!(
(o4
C!5$7
+osh4 . did4 She9s /oin/ f%cin/ doo'lally4
S.OB$!(
5hat9s amain/ ne6s Cathy4
C!5$7
. no64 .9m so ecited4
S.OB$!(
"hen 6as this8
C!5$7
On Monday ni/ht4 .n the moonli/ht4 On Blacpool beach4
S.OB$!(
Oh come here4 .9m so pleased for yo%4 $e9s really lo#ely and he9s dead fit and yo% t6o mae a lo#ely co%ple and its ?%st the best ne6s e#er4
$ere4 . 6as /ettin/ chan/ed this mornin/ and . fo%nd this and .9d not 6orn it for a/es and . tried it on and its lo#ely b%t it doesn9t fit me any more at all4 . m%st ha#e p%t on 6ei/ht or somethin/4 .t m%st be -ohn4 $e m%st be feedin/ me %p4 =ie his little pi//y4 !nd . didn9t 6ant to thro6 it a6ay and -ohn lies me 6ith a little bit of flesh on me so . don9t 6ant to /o on a diet or anythin/ so . tho%/ht 6hat .9d do 6as pop o#er here and see if yo% 6anted it and let yo% ha#e it4 !nd . came ro%nd and yo% 6eren9t in4 So . popped yo%r loc 6hich in one 6ay is a bit na%/hty b%t in another 6ay at least yo% no6 no64 7o%9d better chan/e yo%r locs hadn9t yo%8 !ny6ay4 $ere4
She passes a dress to Siobhan. t is wrapped in paper. Siobhan unwraps it. She holds it up. t is beautiful.
S.OB$!(
5han yo%4
C!5$7
"hat do yo% thin8
S.OB$!(
.9m a bit taen abac4 5his is a bit o#er6helmin/4
3
C!5$7
.s it8
S.OB$!(
7o% bein/ here4 !nd all yo%r ne6s4 5his is all '
C!5$7
"hat do yo% thin abo%t the dress8
S.OB$!(
. thin it9s lo#ely4
C!5$7
Do yo%8
S.OB$!(
. remember yo% 6earin/ this4
C!5$7
.9#e not 6orn it for years4
S.OB$!(
!re yo% s%re8
C!5$7
5otally s%re4
S.OB$!(
B%t it loos really lo#ely on yo%4
C!5$7
.t doesn9t fit me anymore4
S.OB$!(
Cathy4 5han yo%4
C!5$7
Don9t be silly4 .t9s only a dress4 Don9t /o o#erboard4 Oh my +od4
S.OB$!(
"hat8
C!5$7
. ?%st realised4 Did yo% thin . 6as /oin/ to as yo% to be my bridesmaid8 . really set yo% %p for that didn9t .8 . 6asn9t e#en thinin/4
S.OB$!(
. didn9t thin that4
C!5$7
.9#e not e#en started thinin/ abo%t that4 "e9#e not e#en taled abo%t it4 . ?%st came ro%nd to /i#e yo% my dress4
S.OB$!(
(o4 Silly4 .t didn9t e#en cross my mind4
C!5$7
. bet it did and yo%9re bein/ all h%mble and lo#ely4
S.OB$!(
.t didn9t4
C!5$7
. bet it did4
S.OB$!(
Sho%ld . /o and try it on8
C!5$7
7eah4
>
S.OB$!(
Can yo% stay here for a bit8
C!5$7
7eah4 .9ll mae a c%p of tea4 . mi/ht mae myself a /in and tonic4
S.OB$!(
.t9s totally lo#ely4 5han yo%4 "ait here4
Cathy is let alone. She starts crying hysterically. Silently. She starts hitting her own head and pinching her own arms. She stops. She pulls herself together.
S.OB$!(
"hat do yo% thin8
C!5$7
.t9s bea%tif%l4
S.OB$!(
. lo#e it4
C!5$7
.t9s s%ch a lo#ely colo%r 6ith yo%r hair4
S.OB$!(
.t9s really lo#ely Cathy4 5han yo%4
C!5$7
7o%9re my best friend Shi#4 .t9s only a dress yo% nana4
S.OB$!(
"ell . lo#e it4 .t9s really ind of yo%4
C!5$7
+ood4 .9m /lad yo%9re happy4 7o%9d better a/ree to be my bridesmaid no6 6hen . do /et ro%nd to asin/ yo% 6hen 6e9#e sorted e#erythin/ o%t4
S.OB$!(
Co%rse . 6ill4 Come here4
#hey have a big hug.
S.OB$!(
Did yo% /et a c%p of tea8
C!5$7
. didn9t no4
S.OB$!(
Do yo% 6ant one8
C!5$7
(o than yo%4 .9#e chan/ed my mind4
S.OB$!(
Did yo% 6ant that +in 5onic8 . co%ld ha#e one 6ith yo%4 "e co%ld ha#e a celebration4 5his doesn9t happen e#ery day does it8
C!5$7
. don9t 6ant one4 .9m fine4 Can . say8
S.OB$!(
"hat8
A
C!5$7
5here9s somethin/ . can9t fi/%re o%t4
S.OB$!(
"hat do yo% mean8
C!5$7
.9#e been thinin/ my hardest and looin/ bac o#er my calendar and e#erythin/ and . can9t %ite p%t my fin/er on it4
S.OB$!(
On 6hat8
C!5$7
"hen 6as ri/ht 6hen the first time yo% had se 6ith -ohnny Shi#8
Silence.
"as it on Monday or 6as it before that8 S.OB$!(
"hat are yo% talin/ abo%t8
C!5$7
. no6 yo% had se 6ith him on Monday mornin/ before 6e 6ent to Blacpool4
"as it last 6ee8 $o6 lon/ 6as it after yo%9d met him8 "as it a 6ee8 56o 6ees8 ! day8 "as it somethin/ #ery imp%lsi#e8 Did it ?%st crop %p in con#ersation or had yo% planned it for a/es and a/es8 "hat9s the matter8 $as the cat /ot yo%r ton/%e8 . sho%ld set yo% on fire or somethin/ sho%ldn9t .8 7o%9re meant to be my best friend4 5he least yo% co%ld do is tell me 6hen it 6as co%ldn9t yo%8 .s that an %nreasonable thin/ to as8
S.OB$!(
Cathy .9m so sorry4
C!5$7
"hy8
S.OB$!(
.9m so sorry4 . didn9t mean to4 . had no idea4 $e he he'
C!5$7
!re yo% completely in lo#e 6ith him8 Shi#4 !ns6er me4 $a#e yo% fallen in lo#e 6ith -ohn8
S.OB$!(
Cathy4
C!5$7
.t9s f%nny4 7o% thin yo% no6 somebody and then yo% find o%t somethin/ and it maes yo% 6ant to c%t their chees off 6ith their itchen scissors or /rind /lass into their eyes or somethin/ lie that4 .t maes yo% really 6ant to h%rt them4 . 6on9t4 Don9t 6orry4 B%t don9t thin . don9t 6ant to 6ith all of my heart beca%se . completely and totally do4 . ha#e so ca%/ht yo% by s%rprise ha#en9t .8 Can . 6arn yo% from this moment on yo%9d better 6atch yo%r bac4 7o%9d better lea#e Stocport4 .f . 6as yo% .9d lea#e Fn/land alto/ether4 .9d r%n a6ay and eep r%nnin/ beca%se no matter ho6 far yo% /et it 6on9t be far eno%/h and no matter 6here yo% /o . 6ill ne#er e#er ne#er stop follo6in/ yo%4
11.
John Connolly!s flat. John Connolly and Cathy Heyer. She pushes the buggy with her. She seems more disconnected from it than ever.
-O$(
Cathy8
She looks at him and doesn!t respond.
"hat are yo% doin/ here8 She looks at him and doesn!t respond.
. tho%/ht yo% 6ere at 6or4 . tho%/ht . 6as /oin/ to /et some time to myself4 She looks at him and doesn!t respond.
$o69s R%thy8 She looks at him and doesn!t respond.
.s she oay8 !re yo% all ri/ht8 7o% loo lie yo%9#e seen a /host4 C!5$7
"hy aren9t yo% at 6or8
-O$(
Mr Kirby said . co%ld lea#e early4 . lie yo%r dress4 .G#e not seen that before ha#e .8
&
C!5$7
. don9t no64 Do yo% no6 somethin/ .9#e only ?%st noticed abo%t yo%8
-O$(
"hat8
C!5$7
7o%r a%ra4
-O$(
My 6hat8
C!5$7
.t9s a #ery %n%s%al colo%r4
-O$(
.s it8 "hat is it8
C!5$7
R%thy m%st be able to see it4 5hat9s one of the thin/s that babies can do4 .t9s 6hy she notices yo%4 .t9s a #iolent colo%r4 .t9s horrible4 Don9t do that4
-O$(
Do 6hat8
C!5$7
Don9t /i#e me that loo4
-O$(
Cathy yo%9re bein/ %ite stran/e4
C!5$7
7o% mae me feel so pro%d4 . see people 6atchin/ yo% 6al do6n the street and . thin ;he9s my boyfriend4< !nd no6 yo% do this to me4
-O$(
Do 6hat to yo%8
C!5$7
. 6as talin/ to my M%m4 She told me she sa6 yo%4
-O$(
"hich she m%st ha#e en?oyed4
C!5$7
On Monday mornin/4
-O$(
"hereabo%ts8
C!5$7
$a4 +ood mind /ames4 +ood idea -ohn4 lay yo%r little f%nny ma/ic trics4
-O$(
"hat ma/ic trics8 "hat are yo% talin/ abo%t ma/ic trics8 . 6as at 6or on Monday mornin/4
C!5$7
She sa6 6hat yo% did4
-O$(
7o%Gre talin/ entirely in riddles yo% l%natic4
*
C!5$7
"ith my best friend4 )%cin/ her4 She did -ohn don9t try and deny it beca%se if yo% try and deny it .9ll pic somethin/ really hea#y %p and smash it into the bac of yo%r head4
Silence. He stares at her. She moves closely to him. She unbuttons a button on his shirt. He is froen to the spot.
Do yo% no6 sometimes . do thin 6e are on the ed/e of the 6orld and that ?%d/ement day is comin/ and e#erythin/ is a6f%l and 6e9re really /oin/ to /et it8 "e9re really in an a6f%l lot of tro%ble4 .9#e ne#er told anybody that before b%t . really thin it is the case4 . do4 . do4 . do4 . do4 . really4 . did4 . really4 . tr%sted yo%4 Do yo% no6 ho6 hard it is for me to introd%ce men to R%thy8 .ts not easy -ohn4 .ts really . lo#e her so m%ch4 B%t . tho%/ht 6ith yo% there co%ld be' . 6o%ld do anythin/ for yo%4 . really don9t thin that yo% 6o%ld do anythin/ for me in the same 6ay4 Do yo% belie#e me8 Beca%se . 6ill pro#e it4 . 6ill4 . 6ill4 . lo#e yo% more than . lo#e her and yo% did that to me and it maes me 6ant to4 -O$(
. didn9t do anythin/4 She9s lyin/4
C!5$7
. told yo% not to deny it4 . don9t belie#e yo% ?%st denied it 6hen . told yo% really clearly not to4
-O$(
Cathy yo%r M%m is lyin/ to yo%4 .tGs 6hat Mothers do Cathy4 Belie#e me . f%cin/ no6 mate4
C!5$7
F#erythin/9s /one bac6ards4 5his 6hole co%ntry9s /one %pside do6n4 5he /ood thin/s are bad thin/s the bad thin/s are /ood thin/s4
-O$(
Cathy please4
C!5$7
Be %iet4
-O$(
.9m /ettin/ a little bit %nner#ed . ha#e to confess4
C!5$7
7o% f%cin/ co6ard4 . called Mr4 Kirby4 $e said yo%9d not been in 6or for t6o 6ees4
-O$(
7o% called him8
C!5$7
. can9t belie#e . didn9t notice4
-O$(
7o% spoe to Mr4 Kirby behind my bac8
He looks at her.
Do yo% remember 6hat yo%r life 6as lie before yo% met me8 =i#in/ in yo%r pissy little ho%se 6ith yo%r pissy little mother4 "addlin/ aro%nd Reddish Road 6ith yo%r pissy little friend4 "aitin/ for b%ses4 !dmirin/ the bea%ty of Reddish @ale4 . /a#e yo% a Eni#erse of opport%nity and don9t thin . didn9t beca%se . did4 "hat is it 6ith 6omen8 5he only /ood 6oman . e#er met in the 6hole 6orld is R%thy4 He looks at her.
-O$(
.t 6as one f%c4 .t didnGt mean anythin/4
She hits him hard across his face. She gasps in e%citement.
-O$(
. s6ear to Christ Cathy $eyer if yo% lay one more fin/er on me e#er a/ain . 6ill f%cin/ brain yo% so help me +od . 6ill4
7o%r mother4 "hat is she lie8 "eGll /o and tal to her4 5he cray old c%nt4 Both of %s4 .Gll hold yo%r hand4
C!5$7
-ohn4 Don9t4 Don9t4 DonGt4 DonGt4
-O$(
. bet . can mae yo% smile4
12.
Cathy Heyer and John Connolly!s flat. Cathy Heyer and ,uthy Heyer. ,uthy is in her cot. She is silent. Cathy approaches her. She stops. Hears something. /ooks up.
C!5$7
"ater and shit and sin and bone4 She9s not real4 She9s made o%t of thin air4
She holds up ,uthy!s pillow. She smells it.
=oo at yo%4 .ma/ine /ro6in/ %p as yo%8
13.
Susan Heyer!s bedroom. Susan Heyer is asleep in bed. Cathy sits on her bed brushing her hair. "rushing and brushing and brushing it.
SES!(
Cathy8
C!5$7
Did . 6ae yo% %p8
SES!(
"hat are yo% doin/8
C!5$7
.9m sorry4 . tried my hardest to be really %iet4
SES!(
"hat are yo% doin/ lo#e8
&1
C!5$7
.9m br%shin/ my hair4 Do yo% thin if . br%sh it hard eno%/h it9ll /ro6 bac8
SES!(
"hat are yo% doin/ here . meant8
C!5$7
.9m sorry4 . honestly didn9t mean to 6ae yo%4
SES!(
.t9s %arter to fi#e in the mornin/ lo#e4
C!5$7
. no64 .9m sorry4
SES!(
"hat9s 6ron/ s6eetheart8
C!5$7
(othin/4
SES!(
"hy aren9t yo% at -ohn9s8
C!5$7
$a#e yo% seen ho6 s%nny it is8
SES!(
Did yo% tell him8
C!5$7
. lo#e it 6hen days start lie this4 .t9s lie somethin/ ma/ical9s happenin/ . thin4
SES!(
Did yo% tell -ohn Cathy8 Did yo% tell him 6hat . told yo%8
Cathy smiles at her.
"hat are yo% smilin/ abo%t8 C!5$7
.9m ?%st happy4
SES!(
.t9s nice4 .9m ?%st not %sed to seein/ yo% smile4 7o%9#e /ot a lo#ely smile4
C!5$7
5han yo%4
SES!(
.t9s ?%st a bit of a s%rprise 6ain/ %p and findin/ yo% here4
C!5$7
.t m%st be4
SES!(
!re yo% oay8
C!5$7
.9m fine4
SES!(
"hat did he say8
&2
C!5$7
"ho8
SES!(
-ohn4
C!5$7
-ohn 6ho8
SES!(
7o%r -ohn4
C!5$7
7o%9d better as him hadn9t yo%8 . 6asn9t really listenin/ to be honest4
SES!(
"as he #ery cross8
C!5$7
(ot really he 6asn9t4 $e ?%st ept /oin/ on and on and on4 .t 6as #ery irritatin/4
SES!(
$a#e yo% come bac home no68
C!5$7
M%m4 Can . as yo% somethin/8
SES!(
+o on4
C!5$7
$o6 are yo%8
SES!(
"hat do yo% mean ho6 am .8
C!5$7
Can . /et yo% a c%p of tea8
SES!(
.t9s a bit early for a c%p of tea lo#e4
C!5$7
.s it8
SES!(
.t is a bit poppet yeah4 $o6 did yo% /et in to the ho%se8
C!5$7
. %sed my ey4 .9m not eactly /onna brea in am .8
SES!(
(o4 Sorry4 Do yo% 6ant to /et in here 6ith me8
C!5$7
Maybe4 5hat9d be nice4 5han yo%4 "e9#e not done this for a/es ha#e 6e8
Of co%rse it 6asn9t4 . ?%st /et so an/ry sometimes4 . don9t mean to4
C!5$7
.t9s all ri/ht4 .9m not cross4
SES!(
!ren9t yo%8
C!5$7
. don9t blame yo% for sayin/ thin/s lie that to be honest4
SES!(
Don9t yo%8
C!5$7
. don9t blame yo% for anythin/4 .t 6asn9t yo%r fa%lt4 "e9re ?%st the least l%cy /irls in all the 6orld4 !ll three of %s4 7o% and me and R%thy ha#e been /i#en a bi/ sad spoon of bad l%c4 "e sho%ld ha#e a dance %s t6o4
SES!(
7o% 6hat8
C!5$7
"e sho%ld4 . lie a nice dance4
SES!(
!re yo% all ri/ht s6eetheart8
C!5$7
. am M%m yeah4 .9m fine4
SES!(
.s R%thy OK8
C!5$7
She is no6 yeah4
SES!(
"here is she8 "here is she Cathy8
C!5$7
Ssshhhh4
SES!(
"hat8
C!5$7
7o%4 7o% ha#e to be %iet4
SES!(
"hy8
&>
C!5$7
7o% can9t tell4
SES!(
"hat do yo% mean8
C!5$7
.f . tell yo% a secret do yo% promise to eep it8
SES!(
"hat is it8
C!5$7
Do yo% promise yo%9re not /oin/ to tell8
SES!(
OK4
C!5$7
Do yo% s6ear8
SES!(
OK4 . s6ear4 "hat is it8
C!5$7
. illed her4 . illed R%thy4 . smothered her 6hen she 6as asleep4 .s that a6f%l8 .t9s a /ood ?ob yo% promised not to tell isn9t it8 Can yo% ima/ine if . hadn9t made yo% promise4 5his 6o%ld be really embarrassin/4 .9d /et in so m%ch tro%ble4 !re yo% a bit shoced8 7o%r face is a ri/ht pict%re4
SES!(
"hat are yo% talin/ abo%t Cathy8
C!5$7
. did4 . left her in her cot at -ohn9s flat4 . did it on p%rpose so that he9d ha#e to find her4 . smothered her4 She 6as fast asleep4 She didn9t feel a thin/4 "hat8 "hat9s 6ron/8
SES!(
!re yo% lyin/8
C!5$7
(o4 Silly4
SES!(
.s this yo%r idea of a ?oe8
C!5$7
(o4 .t9s the tr%th4 .t 6o%ldn9t be a #ery /ood ?oe 6o%ld it8 .t 6o%ldn9t eactly be a /reat sense of h%mo%r eh8
Susan stares at her. Some time.
&A
SES!(
7o% can9t ha#e done4
C!5$7
. ha#e done4
SES!(
7o% ha#en9t4
C!5$7
. ha#e4
SES!(
7o% liar4
C!5$7
.9m not lyin/4 M%m calm do6n4
Susan looks at her for a time. She gets up out of bed.
"here are yo% /oin/8 SES!(
7o%Gre horrible4
C!5$7
"here are yo% /oin/ M%m8
SES!(
.9m /oin/ to /o and call -ohn4 !s him4 .9ll /o ro%nd and see him4 .9ll call the police if . ha#e to and don9t thin . 6on9t beca%se . 6ill4
C!5$7
7o% loo a bit 6obbly M%m4 7o% sho%ld probably sit do6n4 7o%r face has /one all 6hite4
SES!(
.ma/ine main/ somethin/ %p lie that4 5hat9s sic is 6hat that is yo%n/ lady4
C!5$7
. didn9t mae it %p4
Susan stares at her for a long time.
. didn9t4 $onest4 SES!(
Stay there4
C!5$7
. 6asn9t /oin/ any6here4
SES!(
Stay ri/ht there4 Don9t to%ch me4
C!5$7
M%m . 6asn9t /oin/ to to%ch yo%4 . thin yo%9re ha#in/ a bit of a f%nny t%rn aren9t yo%4
SES!(
7o% horrible nasty little 6itch4
C!5$7
.9m not a 6itch4
&
SES!(
Don9t try and r%n a6ay4 .9ll catch yo% myself4
14.
Cathy Heyer!s prison cell. She is awaiting her verdict. saac "erg is with her. She looks at him. She hits him. He doesn!t react. She hits him again and again and again and again. He takes it all. She stops. He goes to rest his hand on her.
C!5$7
Don9t to%ch me4
He stops.
+et yo%r hands off me4 .S!!C
.9m sorry4
C!5$7
. can9t be to%ched4 Don9t4 . 6ant to stand still for a #ery lon/ time and ne#er mo#e4
.S!!C
Cathy they9ll come in if yo% don9t calm do6n4
C!5$7
5hey 6on9t4
.S!!C
5hey9re 6atchin/ %s4
C!5$7
5hey9re not4
.S!!C
5hey are Cathy4 5hey told me they 6ere4
C!5$7
"hat are yo% doin/ here8
.S!!C
. came do6n to 6ait 6ith yo%4
C!5$7
"ho let yo% in here8
.S!!C
5he C%stody Ser/eant said it 6as OK4 $e said he tho%/ht it 6as a /ood idea for somebody to be 6ith yo% 6hile theyGre considerin/ their #erdict4 $e said yo%r M%m hadn9t been4
C!5$7
. don9t 6ant yo% here4
.S!!C
.9m not /oin/4
&&
$ pause.
C!5$7
"here9s M%m8
.S!!C
She9s at home4
C!5$7
"here9s -ohn8
.S!!C
. don9t no64
C!5$7
$e9s not been in4
.S!!C
(o4
C!5$7
Did he /et the shoc of his life 6hen he fo%nd her8 . 6ish .9d seen his face4 . only did it beca%se he lied her so m%ch4
.S!!C
.9#e not seen him4
C!5$7
$a#en9t yo%8
.S!!C
(o4
C!5$7
"here9s he /one8
.S!!C
. don9t no6 lo#e4
$ pause. She smiles at him.
C!5$7
5hey sho%ld brin/ bac han/in/ and han/ me sho%ldn9t they8
.S!!C
(o4
C!5$7
Don9t yo% thin that9d be f%nny8
.S!!C
(o4
C!5$7
Do yo% not belie#e in capital p%nishment8
.S!!C
(o . don9t4
C!5$7
"ell yo% sho%ld4 . do4 . sentence me to han/ by the nec %ntil . am dead4 Do yo% 6ant a sand6ich .9#e a s%dden cra#in/ for a sand6ich4
.S!!C
.9m all ri/ht4 "o%ld yo% lie me to as for one for yo%8
C!5$7
.n a bit4 7eah4
&*
#hey look at each other for a while.
C!5$7
5ell -ohn 6hy . did it4 . sho%ld be eno%/h for him . thin donGt yo%8 . sho%ld4 Do yo% remember 6hen . sno//ed yo%8 "as that really horrible8
.S!!C
(o4 .t 6asn9t4
C!5$7
Do yo% 6ant me to sno/ yo% a/ain8
.S!!C
(o4
C!5$7
5hey probably 6o%ldn9t let %s4 Can . tell yo% .saac8 5here is part of me that9s %ite ecited abo%t 6hen she 6aes %p4 R%thy4 . mean . no6 she 6on9t b%t . can9t 6ait to see her a/ain4 $er eyes al6ays li/ht %p 6hen she sees me4 "hat do yo% thin it9ll be lie in prison8
.S!!C
. don9t no6 Cathy4 .9#e ne#er been inside a prison before4
C!5$7
.n primary school yeah yo% line %p in pairs and hold yo%r partners hand4 Do yo% remember that8
.S!!C
. do yes4
C!5$7
. sometimes thin it 6o%ld be a nice thin/ to hold hands more often4 Maybe they9ll do that in prison4 Did yo% hear8 $e 6as ri/ht all alon/ 6asn9t he8 She is the 6inner4 Do yo% thin e#erythin/9s /oin/ to chan/e no68
.S!!C
robably4 7eah4 .t probably 6ill4
C!5$7
! ne6 start4
.S!!C
Maybe4 . no6 6hat its lie4
C!5$7
"hat 6hatGs lie8
.S!!C
. no6 6hat it feels lie to 6ant to do 6hat yo% did4 . no6 6hy yo% did it4 . completely %nderstand4 . 6anted to tell yo%4 . 6anted yo% to no64
&
C!5$7
"hat are yo% /oin/ on abo%t yo% eh8
.S!!C
.t doesnGt matter4
C!5$7
$a#e yo% seen M%m loads and loads8
.S!!C
! bit4 (ot loads and loads4
C!5$7
$a#e yo% been constantly /oin/ ro%nd there8
.S!!C
(o4
C!5$7
Do yo% thin R%thy9s in hea#en8 5hat9s 6hat M%m thins4
.S!!C
. no64
C!5$7
Do yo% thin that too8
.S!!C
. don9t belie#e in hea#en4
C!5$7
Don9t yo%8 "eirdo4
.S!!C
. 6ish . did4
C!5$7
"ell then do then4
.S!!C
. can9t4
C!5$7
7eah yo% can4
.S!!C
. 6ish . belie#ed in hea#en4 . 6ish . belie#ed in +od4 . co%ld ha#e been a Rabbi by no64 . 6o%ld ha#e made a /reat rabbi me4 B%t . don9t lo#e4 . ?%st don9t4
*0
PartTwo. 15.
#he doorway of Cathy Heyer!s house in Peel in the sle of an. Cathy Heyer and Harry Connolly.
$!RR7
Cathy $eyer8 .s yo%r name Cathy $eyer8
C!5$7
(o4
$!RR7
7o%9re Cathy $eyer aren9t yo%8
C!5$7
(o4 .9m not .9m afraid4 7o% m%st ha#e /ot the 6ron/ person4 $o6 embarrassin/4 My name9s "endy Mc+o6an4
.f yo% don9t admit to me 6ho yo% are then . promise yo% . 6ill noc on e#ery door on this 6hole street and e#ery door on e#ery street on this 6hole f%cin/ island . find and . 6ill tell them that yo% are Cathy $eyer and .9ll tell them eactly 6hat yo% did4 !re yo% Cathy $eyer8 !re yo% Cathy $eyer8 5his is yo%r last opport%nity to ans6er my %estion4
C!5$7
"ho are yo%8
$!RR7
My name9s $arry Connolly4 7o% ne6 -ohn Connolly4 $e9s my Dad4 $as that come as a bit of a f%cin/ s%rprise to yo%4 $as it come as a bolt from the f%cin/ bl%e8 .t loos lie it has4 7o% 6ant to see yo%r face4 7o% don9t mind if . don9t tae my shoes off do yo%8 . didn9t thin so4
He enters her house.
C!5$7
"hat are yo% doin/ here8
$!RR7
"hat do yo% thin8
C!5$7
. ha#e no idea that9s 6hy .9m asin/4 $o6 did yo% /et here8
*1
$!RR7
. /ot the Man )erry to Do%/las4 . hitch hied to =i#erpool and /ot on the first a#ailable ferry4 .t too me nearly t6enty'fo%r ho%rs eactly4 . ha#en9t slept4
C!5$7
"ho told yo% . 6as here8
$!RR7
! man called .saac Ber/4
C!5$7
. don9t belie#e yo%4
$!RR7
. didn9t as yo% to4
C!5$7
$e 6o%ldn9t tell yo%4
$!RR7
$e did4
C!5$7
$e 6o%ldn9t tell anybody 6here . li#e4
$!RR7
$e told me4
C!5$7
$e 6o%ldn9t do that to me4
$!RR7
$e has done4 Sorry4
C!5$7
"hy 6o%ld he do that8
$!RR7
Beca%se . told him ho6 important it 6as for me to see yo%4 . told him it 6as part of my therapy4 . 6as lyin/ thro%/h my arse and he f%cin/ belie#ed me4 . ha#en9t come here for reasons of therapy at all .9m afraid4 Don9t panic4 .9m not /oin/ to h%rt yo%4 .9d f%cin/ lie to mind yo%4 5hat9s a fa#o%rite f%cin/ fantasy of mine that . ha#e properly f%cin/ fantasised abo%t h%ndreds of f%cin/ times b%t in the end .9m ?%st a f%cin/ better person than yo%4 "o%ld yo% lie to hear some of the fantasies .9#e had abo%t h%rtin/ yo%4
C!5$7
(o4
$!RR7
7o% r%ined my Dad9s life4
C!5$7
5hat9s not tr%e4
$!RR7
$e 6oe %p one mornin/ to find a dead baby in his bedroom4 5hat 6as yo%r fa%lt4 Of co%rse it9s f%cin/ tr%e4 sychopath4
C!5$7
Don9t say that4
$!RR7
Stop me4 Killer4
*2
C!5$7
Stop it4 .9m not a psychopath4 lease /et o%t of my ho%se4
$!RR7
"hat are yo% /oin/ to do Cathy scream8
C!5$7
.f . need to4
$!RR7
!nd 6hat the f%c 6ill yo% tell the nei/hbo%rs 6hen they f%cin/ /et here8
C!5$7
.s it strictly necessary for yo% to s6ear %ite to the etent that yo% are doin/8
$!RR7
$a4
C!5$7
"hy are yo% la%/hin/8
$!RR7
!re yo% ?%d/in/ me8 $onestly Cathy . epected a lot of thin/s b%t . didn9t epect a sanctimonio%s hypocrite4
C!5$7
"hat do yo% 6ant8
$!RR7
. 6ant yo% to no64
C!5$7
7o% 6ant me to 6hat8
$!RR7
My Dad is a f%cin/ 6rec4 $e has been all my life4 !nd . ne#er ne6 6hy4 My M%m left him 6hen . 6as fo%r years old and . ne#er ne6 6hy4 56o 6ees a/o he told me 6hat yo% did to him and all of a s%dden e#erythin/ made sense4 . %nderstood 6hat it 6as4 5hat na/4 5hat p%ll4 .t had li#ed in my /%t lie a rottin/ not and ne#er %nderstood 6hat it 6as and then . did4 . #ery m%ch 6anted to come and tell yo% 6hat yo%9#e done and . 6anted yo% to no6 that . no6 6here yo% are and that yo% can ne#er e#er hide4
C!5$7
5his is horrible4
$!RR7
.saac said yo%9#e been li#in/ here for a year no6 is that tr%e8 Don9t they mind yo% ro%nd here or somethin/8
C!5$7
"hat do yo% mean don9t they mind me8
$!RR7
Do they e#en no6 6ho yo% are8 Beca%se . am definitely /oin/ to
*3
tell them4 C!5$7
Don9t4
$!RR7
"hy not8 "hy not Cathy8 Do yo% thin its fair that yo% /et a6ay 6ith it8
C!5$7
.9m not4 . didn9t4 . 6as in ?ail for siteen years4
$!RR7
.t9s no6here near lon/ eno%/h4 5ell me one /ood reason 6hy . sho%ldn9t tell yo%r nei/hbo%rs 6ho yo% are8
C!5$7
.t9s nothin/ to do 6ith them4 .t9s nothin/ to do 6ith yo%4
$!RR7
F#erybody ro%nd here thins yo%r called $elen4 $o6 the f%c did yo% thin %p the name $elen8
C!5$7
. don9t remember4
$!RR7
.t9s st%pid4 7o% don9t e#en loo lie a $elen4 .s this a #ery friendly comm%nity8 .s it a ?olly little place8
C!5$7
7es it is4
$!RR7
.ts %ite f%cin/ retro isn9t it8 ,%ite 1A0s thro6 bac4 5here are f%cin/ fields f%cin/ e#ery6here does it not mae yo% feel a bit sic8
C!5$7
(o4
$!RR7
Does e#erybody all /o callin/ on each other in their f%nny f%ced %p cod sco%se accents and main/ each other little caes and pots of ?am and ham sand6iches and presents8
C!5$7
(o4
$!RR7
. bet they f%cin/ do4
C!5$7
eople are ?%st nice to each other4
$!RR7
"hat ind of a name for a to6n is f%cin/ eel any6ay8
C!5$7
. thin yo% sho%ld /o no64
$!RR7
Do yo%8
C!5$7
.f yo% don9t /o no6 .9ll call the police4
$!RR7
7eah8
*>
C!5$7
.t9s been nice to meet yo%4 .ts time for yo% to /o4
Does he no6 yo%9re here8 Does yo%r )ather no6 yo%9re here8 Did yo% tell him yo% 6ere comin/8 $o6 old are yo%8
$!RR7
"hat8
C!5$7
$o6 old are yo%8
$!RR7
"hat the f%c has that /ot to do 6ith yo%8
C!5$7
. didn9t no6 he9d had a child4 . didn9t e#en no6 he /ot married4
$!RR7
7eah f%nnily eno%/h he didn9t in#ite yo%4 $e tho%/ht abo%t it and then decided a/ainst it partly on acco%nt of yo% ser#in/ life imprisonment for m%rderin/ a baby and partly on acco%nt of the fact that yo%r name made him freee 6ith fear4
C!5$7
"ho did he /et married to8
$!RR7
.f yo% honestly thin .9m /oin/ to tell yo% that yo%9re e#en more st%pid and f%cin/ mental than . tho%/ht4
C!5$7
"as it Siobhan $ennessey8
$!RR7
(o it f%cin/ 6asn9t4 "ho the f%c is Siobhan $ennessey8 . came here to spit in yo%r face4 . came here to ic yo% or smac yo% o%t4 .G#e decided not to do any of those thin/s4 B%t there is somethin/ #ery important that yo% need to no64 . am /oin/ to tell yo% this and then .Gm /oin/ to lea#e4 7o% are the 6orst h%man bein/ there has e#er been4 7o% thin yo% can hide from that8 7o% canGt4 7o% thin yo% can chan/e yo%r appearance or yo%r hairc%t or yo%r clothes or the 6ay yo% smell or 6here yo% li#e and i tGll chan/e anythin/ really8 "ell yo%Gre lyin/ to yo%rself4 7o% 6ill be fo%nd a/ain and a/ain4 5hat 6as my ?ob4 5hat 6as 6hat . came here to tell yo%4 Do yo% %nderstand 6hat . came here to say8 Do yo% %nderstand 6hat . came here to say8
*A
Do yo% %nderstand 6hat . came here to say8 C!5$7
7es4
He stares at her for a long time. Picks something up. /ooks at it. Puts it down again. #urns to leave.
C!5$7
"here are yo% /oin/8
$!RR7
"hat8
C!5$7
"here are yo% /oin/8
$!RR7
5hat has f%cin/ f%c all to do 6ith yo%4 sycho4
C!5$7
7o%9#e missed the last ferry4
$!RR7
"hat8
C!5$7
!nd the last plane4
$!RR7
Do yo% serio%sly thin . /i#e a shit abo%t that8
C!5$7
"here are yo% /oin/ to stay8 7o%9re /oin/ to need to /o and /et a $otel4 $a#e yo% /ot any money for a hotel8 5here are some %ite cheap ones in Do%/las or yo% co%ld /et a room in the "hite $orse or head o#er to Ramsay4 . co%ld lend yo% some money if yo% 6ant me to4 7o% sho%ld no6 that . do ha#e a spare room and . don9t mind yo% stayin/ in it4
$!RR7
!re yo% f%cin/ ?oin/ me8
C!5$7
(o4 .9m not4 Don9t s6ear4
$!RR7
!re yo% f%cin/ tain/ the f%cin/ piss8
C!5$7
(o it9s a /en%ine offer4 . mean it %ite sincerely4 . 6on9t be in any 6ay offended if yo%9d rather /et a hotel b%t the offer is there4
$!RR7
.9d 6ae %p in the ni/ht and c%t yo%r throat4
C!5$7
(o yo% 6o%ldn9t4
$!RR7
. f%cin/ 6o%ld4
*
C!5$7
Don9t be silly4
$!RR7
.Gm not bein/ silly in the f%cin/ least yo% f%cin/ mental f%cin/ bitch4
C!5$7
Belie#e me $arry .9#e met people 6ho ha#e c%t other peoples throats4 7o%9re absol%tely nothin/ lie them 6hatsoe#er4
$!RR7
.9m /oin/4
C!5$7
5hat9s absol%tely yo%r prero/ati#e4
$!RR7
.G#e nothin/ more to say to yo%4 . ha#e no reason to be here any more4
16.
#he top of the hill above Peel Castle. Cathy heyer and Harry Connolly. #he ne%t morning.
C!5$7
.t9s old4
$!RR7
.t loos it4
C!5$7
5he oldest bits are from the 11th Cent%ry4 .t 6as b%ilt by @iin/s4 5hey fo%nd a coffin a fe6 years a/o of a 6oman 6ho 6as b%ried in 10A04 5hey called her 5he a/an lady 6hich . %ite lied4 .t9s ha%nted4
$!RR7
Sh%t %p4
C!5$7
.ts ha%nted by a blac do/4 .t9s called the Moddy Dhoo4 .f yo% see it yo% die4 7o% can see seals most days4 5hey come %p %ite close especially if yo% sin/ to them4 7o% can see basin/ shars too4 5hey9re h%/e4 7o% can tae a boat o%t to loo at them4 .9#e not done that4 .t9s the ind of thin/ to%rists do4 .9m /lad yo% stayed4 . 6anted to as yo% somethin/4
$!RR7
.t 6asn9t o%t of choice4
C!5$7
(o4
$!RR7
. 6as more embarrassed than . 6as an/ry ha#in/ to come bac to
*&
yo% and . 6as pretty an/ry4 C!5$7
. noticed4 $o6 did yo% sleep8
$!RR7
$o6 do yo% thin8
C!5$7
$a#e yo% had eno%/h to eat8
$!RR7
7%p4
C!5$7
7o% sho%ld /et an ice cream before yo% /o4 5he ice cream here is honestly the best ice cream in the 6orld4 "hat time9s yo%r fli/ht8
$!RR7
>304
C!5$7
7o% can /et a b%s4
$!RR7
. no64
C!5$7
. sho%ld ha#e made yo% a sand6ich to tae 6ith yo%4 5hey sell pots of fresh crab in the fishmon/ers that are ?%st delicio%s4
$!RR7
. don9t 6ant a sand6ich4
C!5$7
(o4
$!RR7
. can /et a sand6ich on the plane4
Some time.
C!5$7
. thin . s%it li#in/ on an island4 .t maes me feel safe4 . lie /oin/ for lon/ 6als4 7o% can 6al all the 6ay aro%nd the coast in fo%r days4 7o% /et to the top of Snaefell and yo% can see Fn/land .reland Scotland and "ales on a /ood day4 .t9s 203> feet hi/h4 "e sho%ld probably /o bac do6n4 !re yo% really se#enteen8
$!RR7
7eah4
C!5$7
7o% can9t be4
$!RR7
. am4
**
C!5$7
7o% don9t loo se#enteen4 7o% loo a lot older4
$!RR7
)%c off4 .9m se#enteen4
C!5$7
"hen are yo% ei/hteen8
$!RR7
)ebr%ary 10th4
C!5$7
. 6as se#enteen4 "hen . met yo%r Dad4 Sho%ldn9t yo% be at school8
$!RR7
(o4
C!5$7
!re yo% not at sith form8
$!RR7
(o4
C!5$7
"hy not8 . tho%/ht e#erybody 6as no6adays4
$!RR7
.9m not4
C!5$7
"hy not8
$!RR7
.t9s not really any of yo%r b%siness4
C!5$7
(o4 Sorry4 .9ll fi/%re it o%t e#ent%ally yo% no68
$!RR7
"hat8
C!5$7
.9ll fi/%re o%t 6hy yo%9re not in sith form e#ent%ally4 .9ll be able to loo into yo%r eyes and fi/%re it o%t4
7o%r a%ra is partic%larly brilliant4 .t9s startlin/4
*
$!RR7
)%c off4
C!5$7
5hat9s 6hy yo% ha#e to s6ear so m%ch4 .ts beca%se yo% find the ener/y co%rsin/ thro%/h yo%r #eins on acco%nt of yo%r a%ra sli/htly o#er6helmin/ so that all yo%9re left able to do is s6ear and s6ear and s6ear4 .t doesn9t really offend me4 . say it does b%t .9m ea//eratin/4 . %nderstand eactly ho6 it feels4
Some time.
F#erythin/ yo% 6ant yo% 6ill /et4 F#erythin/ yo% 6ant to achie#e yo% 6ill achie#e4 F#ery desire yo% ha#e yo% 6ill realise4 . can tell4 Don9t tell me 6hat they are4 $!RR7
7o% are really really 6eird4 !nd that is me tryin/ my hardest not to s6ear4
C!5$7
7o% 6ill marry Sally one day4 7o% 6ill ha#e t6o boys4 7o% 6ill tae them to the !ncient yramids in Cheops4 7o% 6ill li#e in +ermany for a bit4 7o% 6ill learn to spea another lan/%a/e fl%ently4
He stares at her. She smiles back. Struggles not to laugh.
$!RR7
"ho told yo% abo%t Sally8
C!5$7
(obody4
$!RR7
$o6 did yo% no6 all that8
C!5$7
sychic4 . told yo%4
$!RR7
)%cin/ hell4
C!5$7
5here yo% /o a/ain4
$!RR7
.9m a bit f%cin/ freaed o%t . ha#e to say4
C!5$7
7eah4
$!RR7
)%c4
She smiles at him. /ooks away. Some time.
C!5$7
"hat9s she lie Sally8
0
He can!t answer.
"here did yo% meet her8 .s she yo%r a/e or is she older than yo% or yo%n/er4 Don9t let it 6orry yo%4 -%st try yo%r hardest to be /ood to her and then e#en if yo% fail she9ll lie that yo% tried4 $a#e yo% /ot a photo/raph8 lease can . ha#e a loo at it8 $fter a time he takes a photograph out of his pocket and shows it to her.
She9s #ery pretty4 $!RR7
. no64
C!5$7
. don9t blame yo% for bein/ so in lo#e 6ith her4 Don9t thin abo%t 6hat e#erybody else thins4 .t doesn9t matter4
$!RR7
(o4 "hat 6as it yo% 6anted to as me8
C!5$7
.t can 6ait4 "hat time9s yo%r b%s8
$!RR7
(ot till 34
C!5$7
"hat are yo% /oin/ to do %ntil then8
$!RR7
"hat 6as my Dad lie 6hen he 6as yo%n/er8
She looks at him. Some time.
C!5$7
One time he too me to Blacpool4 "e stole a car and ?%st dro#e %p there and 6aled all alon/ the beach %ntil 6e 6ere on o%r o6n and all yo% co%ld see 6as the sea4 $e told me he 6anted to marry me4 $e promised that he9d ne#er tae me bac home4 F#ery time . hear the 6ord Blacpool no6 . thin of that ni/ht4 $e ta%/ht me ho6 to rob ho%ses4
$!RR7
"hat8
C!5$7
Did he ne#er tell yo% abo%t that8
$!RR7
$a#e yo% /one f%cin/ doolally8
1
C!5$7
.t 6as his fa#o%rite past time4 .9m sorry4 $e probably hoped to eep it pri#ate4 .9m bein/ mean b%t it is tr%e4 $e too me 6ith him a fe6 times4 . %sed to /et so ner#o%s4 .9d ne#er broen the la6 before . met him4 .t 6as %ite an ecitin/ feelin/4 .s that a bit odd to thin abo%t8
$!RR7
-%st a bit4
C!5$7
Don9t yo% start doin/ it4
$!RR7
. don9t intend to4
C!5$7
5hat9s /ood4 $e ne#er came to the trial4 . 6as cross beca%se . 6anted to see his face4 . 6as sad as 6ell4 $e al6ays cheered me %p4 $e had this face he %sed to p%ll4 7o% do it too4 .9#e noticed4 7o% loo %ite lie him4
$!RR7
. don9t4
C!5$7
7o% loo lie ho6 he %sed to loo4
$!RR7
.9m nothin/ lie him4
C!5$7
(o4 eople called me a monster in co%rt4 . remember ha#in/ a moment 6hen . tho%/ht that 6as %ite science fiction and . had to try my hardest not to do a bit of a /i//le and . didn9t %ite s%cceed beca%se . ?%st ept seein/ him p%llin/ that face in my head and thinin/ abo%t 6hat he9d ha#e said and it ?%st made me la%/h4
Some time.
$!RR7
"hat 6as it lie bein/ on trial8
C!5$7
.t 6as all ri/ht4
$!RR7
"as it8
C!5$7
. didn9t /et ner#o%s or anythin/ if that9s 6hat yo% mean4 .t 6as lie . 6as 6atchin/ somebody else on telly that 6asn9t act%ally me at all4
He doesn!t answer.
rison 6as lie that too4 "hen they first too %s there the so%nds and the sie of the /ates and the 6alls all looed #ery familiar beca%se .9d seen them so m%ch on telly4 .t 6as lie bein/ taen
2
onto a tele#ision set4 .t9s the smell that maes yo% realise at first4 rison smells of cabba/e and %rine4 . no6 that no6 b%t 6hen . first smelt it . 6as a bit taen abac4 . chan/ed4 5he first day they too me to Staffordshire . sat on a concrete slab and they hosed me do6n to /et rid of all the nits and the infection and it 6as eactly at that moment then that . chan/ed4 My 6hole body chan/ed4 . became a different person 6ith a different body4 .t 6as the saddest feelin/ e#er b%t in the end it 6as all oay4 .t9s a shame it didn9t happen earlier4 .f .9d been a different person . 6o%ldn9t ha#e done the thin/s that . did4 She sucks her thumb.
$!RR7
"hat 6as it lie8
C!5$7
"hat 6as 6hat lie8
Some time.
.t 6as #ery %iet4 .t felt lie . 6as 6alin/ a6ay from somethin/ horrible and 6hat . 6asn9t allo6ed to do 6as r%n4 She 6as asleep4 She didn9t mae a noise4 . pressed and pressed4 .t felt lie a li/ht /oin/ off4 .t9s horrible beca%se it9s nothin/ 6hatsoe#er to do 6ith her4 .t felt lie the start of somethin/4 . ser#ed siteen years in prison beca%se 6hen . 6as se#enteen . illed my little baby4 "hat9s yo%r M%m lie8 $!RR7
Better than he is4
C!5$7
"hat9s her name8
$!RR7
!lison4
C!5$7
!lison Connolly8
$!RR7
!lison $art no64 She chan/ed her name bac4
C!5$7
"here did he meet her8
$!RR7
!fter he left Stocport he 6ent to li#e in ortsmo%th4 $e met her there4
t starts to rain.
C!5$7
.t9s rainin/4
3
He lifts his face up to the rain to let it pour on his face.
C!5$7
"hat are yo% doin/ that for8
$!RR7
My dad ta%/ht me it 6hen . 6as little4
She can!t speak for some time.
C!5$7
Do yo% no6 6hat . thin8
$!RR7
(o4
C!5$7
. thin the reason yo% don9t /o to sith form is beca%se of yo%r Dad4 7o% thin heGs /raced yo% 6ith the le/acy of not bein/ /ood eno%/h4 .tGs not tr%e4 7o% are4 . thin yo% sho%ld /o bac and do yo%r hardest 6or4 . thin yo% sho%ld do the best yo% possibly can and /o and li#e a life $arry4 5hin/s are chan/in/4 5he +o#ernment9s chan/in/4 5hat9s one thin/4 eople are startin/ to realise that 6e mi/ht be all ri/ht and that the co%ntry mi/ht be all ri/ht and that 5ony Blair he mi/ht be all ri/ht and all4 "e 6on9t /o bac to that lot4 "e 6on9t mae that mistae a/ain4 "hat if this 6as the be/innin/ of somethin/ rather than the end of somethin/8 "hat if in the f%t%re they9ll loo bac on this time and thin /osh ho6 primiti#e and stran/e and 6e9re not at the end of an ad#ent%re 6e9re at the start of it4 "ill yo% tell him yo% sa6 me8 $arry4 "ill yo% tell him yo% sa6 me do yo% thin8
$!RR7
(o4
C!5$7
"hy not8
$!RR7
.f . told him . came here or 6here yo% 6ere or that . came to find yo% heGd ne#er spea to me a/ain4 $e9d /o insane4
