Sandra:
OK! (Sighs) I’ve been over my friend Gareth’s house, I’m sorry.
Stuart:
Friend! Yer right, I knew it I could tell, you going out all day and not coming out till late in the night .I cant believe you did this to me again! I gave you a chance and you blew it, you cheating little bitch!
Sandra:
And you no why I done it because he’s twice the man you’ll ever be, at least he can treat me right. So get over yourself.
Stuart:
(Very angrily) Get out of my house!
Sandra:
Your house! Your house what makes you think it’s your house.
Stuart:
Who’s names on the rent card.
Sandra:
So! Who’s the one who goes out and works for the family?
Stuart:
I have already told you I’ve token time off.
Sandra:
You’ve token time of for sixes months.
Stuart:
Oh shut up and get out of my house, leave me and James alone.
Sandra:
I’m not leaving without my son.
(Stuart pushes Sandra out of the house, she crying on the floor.)
Get out !
James:
(Where’s mammy gone)
Stuart:
(That cheating scum, I don’t want her near my son.
Sandra:
(Why have I left my son with him?)
End of scene
Scene Three – The lie
(Six years later, Stuart sits on the couch reading the paper,
James comes over and sits beside him.)
James:
Dad, I know you have never really wanted to talk about this, but where has mum gone? (Long silent pause)
Stuart:
Your mother err……… passed away a long time ago, when you were little.
James:
How? (Looks upset)
Stuart:
I don’t really won’t to talk about it, it was really just terrible starts to cry) It was terrible.
James:
Dad I would really like to no, it’s really been eating at me. I’ve don’t really remember her and it’s just…
Stuart:
Well ok, she (little pause) she … had cancer, she was ill for a really long time she died when you where really young.
James:
How come you haven’t taken me to see her grave? (Looking shocked)
Stuart:
Its hard for me to talk about it , I just wont to get on with my life ok.
James:
But I won’t to go.
Stuart:
I’ll take you another time, I don’t wont to talk about it.
End of scene
Scene four – Unexpected guest
(Stuart and James walk across stage Sandra walks past them, Sandra and Stuart notice each other)
Stuart:
Let’s just get home quickly son, before we miss the football. (Looking worried.)
James:
OK dad.
(Gets to the front door.)
Stuart:
Hang on let me find my keys.
(Looks around eerily, while racing to find keys . walks into house, Sandra comes onstage towards the house looks as though she’s thinking whether or not to knock the door , but in the end she goes up to the house.)
Sandra:
So this is the right house! Please can I see my child . (begging.)
Stuart:
You decided to come back after all this time, you’re joking me! (Seems shocked to see Sandra.)
Sandra:
Just please let me see my son, I’ve missed him so much!
Stuart:
So you’ve decided that you have a son.
Sandra:
You decided a long time ago for me that I haven’t got a son.
Stuart:
Well I didn’t stop him from having his birthday cards of you… oh yeah, because you didn’t send any.
Sandra:
You moved so often though, how am I supposed to keep track.
Stuart:
I don’t care you got yourself in this mess, you shouldn’t of gone gallivanting with any tom, dick and Harry, you should have been home with James like a proper mother. Any way I’ve told him that you’re dead.
Sandra:
Who tells there son that there mothers dead, you have caused him so much pain ,you don’t deserve to be a father your not fit to be one in this skolar your in. He needs to be with his Mother as soon as he finds out what you have done he’ll come back to me.
Stuart:
He isn’t going to find out.
(Slams the door)
Sandra:
I WILL GET MY SON!!!
End of scene.
Scene five – The truth.
(James is in his school uniform walking home, Sandra is walking behind him, and she goes up to him.)
Sandra:
Err excuse me, James.
James:
WHAT THE … ! How do you know my name…?
Stuart:
(Looks past James up to Sandra angrily.)
Ahhh there you are James, could you come here.
Sandra:
No, Stuart he has to know!
(James looking confused)
Stuart:
James get here now, away from that strange person.
(James walks over to Stuart.)
Sandra:
No please I’ve waited so long, I need to speak to him.
James:
What does she want to say dad.
Stuart:
Nothing (laughs) you want to talk to a strange women who speaks nonsense, Come on.
(They both walk of)
Sandra:
James I’m your mother.
James:
You’re crazy, my mother died a long time ago. How could you possibly be my mother, don’t be so disrespectful.
(They both walk off)
(Sandra looks around for help, and then pulls something from her pocket.)
Sandra:
James look I have pictures. James walks on against Stuart.)
James:
That’s … that’s me ... and you together, when I’…… young.
(Stuart freezes)
It cant be my mums dead, I was tolled by my dad.
(James and Sandra hug)
I can’t believe it after all this time.
(Stuart thaws out and looks scared)
Stuart:
It’s true; I did lie but only to keep you away from that cheating scum.
James:
But she’s my mother, I don’t care what she did to you , you kept her away from me all that time and brought me up in that crap you call a home……
I cant go back to that shack with you, I cant trust you know. What else could you be lying about
Sandra:
You can live with me… in safety and trust.
Stuart:
What no you can’t leave me I’m your father you can’t leave me
(A brief struggle with James and Stuart starts, then ends with Stuart on the floor sobbing and Sandra and James leave together on the side.)
The end.
