Scene 1 Flashcards
Start
Syd! Syd, are you ready yet?
2nd line
We hear a grunt from upstairs.
They’ll be here, y’ know. They’ll all be here if you don’t get a move on.
(Off) All right, all right, what harm will it do if I’m not quite ready? Bloody hell Betty. It’s only family we’re expecting- not the Queen Mother.
(Moving to the first step on the stairs)
The Queen Mother I wouldn’t mind. But our Reeny is a different matter. And listen, don’t you go babbling about the price of my new suite.
(Off) How can I tell her how much the suite cost when I don’t know myself?
(Impatiently) Of course you know how much it was. You signed for it in the shop.
(Off) Yes, I signed for it. But when I signed it cost £220 quid. When Mrs Devlin was here the other night it’d gone up £80; when y’ showed it to Barbara Mac it was a £350 job.
How did I come to marry someone so stupid? £220pounds. Sydney, with HP on top of that. With VAT on top of that. You try and make me look cheap in front of our Reeny an’ I’ll swing for you. And she won’t lift a finger to help. Sandra!
(Not looking up from her book) What?
Just come an’ have a look.
What? I’m reading.
(Looking at the tree, smiling, fawning, proud) Look, love. Look at it. (Pause) You’ve always loved the tree, haven’t you? Eh? Isn’t it really lovely this year?
You could at least have got a real tree.
Don’t be stupid! Who buys real trees these days? - they smell.
Yeh. Real trees are supposed to ……..
I want the house to be nice. Not smellin’ like the inside of some forest.
Sandra sighs and walks towards the kitchen.
(Reaching into the cabinet) All right, clever, if you want a smell - here!
(She produces an aerosol and liberally sprays the tree.)
What’s that?
That is the smell of real trees. (Holding up the can)
Pine essence, lovely. (She sniffs)
Sandra resumes her passage to the kitchen.
I’ve told y’ Mother - like that is just a con trick.
(Following her through to the kitchen) An’ I’ve told you I don’t want to hear any more of that stuff. I’m certainly not havin’ any of that at Christmas.
Sandra ‘tuts’ and goes to pick up her book. Betty beats her to it, though.
(Reading out the title) The Long March of Capitalism - now what sort of a book’s that supposed to be?
(Taking the book) A murder story, Mother!
(Busying herself in the kitchen) Well, I’ve warned you about all this readin’. The way you’re goin’ on you’ll be damagin’ your eyes.
Sandra goes through to the front room door.
Where are you goin’ now?
Upstairs
Sandra exists
