Act one Flashcards
“no money no milk”
Mrs. Johnstone’s financial issues are revealed when she can’t pay the milkman, he suggests that this is a frequent occurrence when she says shell pay him net time.
“like Marilyn Monroe”
Mrs J mentions Marilyn frequently when describing her relationship with her husband, who’s left her a single parent, discussing how they used to dance and her appearance (“30 but looking 50”).
“He wanted his own not someone else’s”
While Mrs J is working Mrs Lyons reveals that she’s incapable of having children and the strain this has had on her and her husbands relationship, in contrast to Mrs J who has lots of kids without much effort. - she says her husband told her “all we had to do was shake hands and I’d be in the club”.
“His own toys”
“silver trays to take meals on”
“ bike with both wheels on”
In her naivete Mrs J is lead astray by Mrs Lyons promises of a luxury lifestyle for her unborn child once she reveals that she’s pregnant with twins. The ‘my child’ song is started with Mrs L complaining about her dream to have a child of her own and then turns into a form of bribery with these promises of luxury which Mrs. J knows she cant afford/ offer.
“We must make this a binding agreement”
Mrs Lyons is quick to attempt to seal the deal making Mrs J swear on the bible and saying that if the children find out about their true identity both will die. She also promises that Mrs J would be able to see him all the time- her husband is away so she calculates that now would be the perfect time, stuffing things under her top to create a matching belly.
“Edward is my son”
“You sold your baby”
Mrs J decides to change her mind once the twins are born but Mrs Lyons changes her mind by reminding her of the promise they made, Mrs J eventually gives up and tells Mrs Lyons to take “one” and turns so she cant see.
“Where’s the other twinny”
When Mrs J returns home with Mickey she tells her other children that the twin had died, the family return to normal life looking in the catalogue for thing Mrs J cant afford - makes the reader understand why she couldn’t support so many kids. - a catalogue and finance man appear wanting to collect fees she doesn’t have.
“The house is your domain”
Mrs Lyons becomes jealous of the natural connection Mrs J forms with Edward once she returns to work and ells her husband she should be fired for not focusing on her job, she offers her £50. Mrs J is distraught and says shell go to the police - Mrs L stops her by claiming that if she goes to the police she’ll be charged and could lose her other children.
“G’is a sweet”
Edward and Mickey meet and become blood brothers after realising they find each other interesting. Sammy appears and calls Edward a “friggin poshy” but Mickey sticks up for him, they argue about Edward’s sweets - he doesn’t care because he has lot’s. Mickey and Edward reveal that both parents had told them not to play in the others area. Mickey teaches Edward the F word.
Mickey and Linda
Linda sticks up for Mickey when the other’s tell him that he’s going to hell for saying the F word.
“shouldn’t mix with the likes of them in the future”
Mickey, Linda and Edward are seen throwing rocks at a statue by a police officer, when questioned Edward tells the officer his name is ‘Adolf Hitler’ to impress Linda and Mickey. All children are escorted home but the police officer tells the Lyons’ that this was no more than a prank, tells them to take away Edward’s pocket money in a jokey manner and says he should stay away from the other kids - even though he was the one caught hitting the statue, the officer is invited in for a drink by Mr Lyons.
“Crime”
Mrs J gets very different treatment with the office threatening her children with a court case (if Mickey or Sammy does anything else) , undermining her parenting skills and telling her that the ‘prank’ he discussed with the Lyons’ was instead a ‘crime’. Even though Mickey wasn’t the one who got caught doing anything illegal. She seems glad to have him leave.
The Lyons’ are leaving
After the policeman leaves, Mr. Lyons asks Edward if he would like to move to the country, explaining that Mrs. Lyons has been ill. Edward protests that he wants to stay, but Mr. Lyons asks him to consider it. Mrs Lyons ahs become increasingly unstable and paranoid that the truth about herself and Mrs Johnstone’s deal will be revealed and is desperate to move away. Edward visits the Johnstone’s to tell Mickey but he’s not home so Mrs J takes the message and overcome with emotion gives Edward a locket with a picture of ‘Mickey’ he says she’s “smashing” while they hug. - Mickey arrives and gives Edward a toy gun as a goodbye.
“Bright new day”
- The Johnstone’s leave
Mrs. Johnstone announces that her family is being relocated to the country, where no one will know her family’s reputation. She begins to imagine her family’s life at their new address, with its garden and its fresh, country air. She orders her children to come help her pack, as all of her neighbours (and the Milkman) rejoice that the unruly family will finally be leaving.
