Denny: I don’t understand that woman! What’s she need an education for anyway?
(Denny while still angrily speaking to Jack goes to the bar and chooses a pint of larger then sits back down)
Denny: Just an essay. It wasn’t as if it was important or nothin!
Jack: What y’ talking bout Denny? What essay?
Denny: She makes out like I don’t give her nothin. We don’t ever go down to the pub anymore, don’t go anywhere wiv each other!
Jack: Denny. You talking about Rita again?
Denny: It’s always bloody Rita I’m talking bout nowadays. I don’t know what to do Jack. Everythin’ I do is wrong. Its just not working anymore. I miss her, I don’t understand her anymore. It’s like, like she’s become a new person, changed and still changing and I can’t bring her back.
She keeps telling me that this ain’t the culture for her and that it’s not what she wants.
She doesn’t want to come out with me anymore. Jack I miss me Rita. I’ve tried everythin’ I have. I’ve bought her presents hoping she would come back to me, but the look her face when I gave them to her told me what I didn’t want to know. She’s gone. I burnt her books in hope that she would understand my pain. She thinks I’m jealous of her and her education but I'm not, I’m jealous of the books she spends so much time with.
I can’t understand what pleasure a book gives her I’ve tried so hard with her and her mum has to y’ know. It’s HER bleedin mother why can’t she go out with her! Her mum always asks me where’s Rita? where’s Rita? and I just never know what to say any more. None of this makes sense.
(Denny wipes the small teardrops that are starting to collect in his eyes. Jack pats Denny’s back and shows some sympathy)
Jack: Denny. Don’t worry, she’ll come back. Rita belongs here with us in the pub. She fits in here singing with us and havin a laugh. She doesn’t belong with those educated people.
Denny: I dunno Jack. Sometimes I think she does belong with them the way she acts. This guy Frank her teacher, I dunno what he’s teaching her but its not what she needs. I had it all planned out. We were supposed to have children, have a family. N’ live in one of those big houses in Formby, but Rita's been lying to me bout the pill. She’s been taken it without telling me. She doesn’t want a family and I can’t understand why. I don’t understand her at all. She’s a completely different person sometimes, she watches BBC1! And she likes it she’s the one that has ago at me now if I watch ITV. We’re two different people now and I hate it I love her so much and I’ve tried so hard to make it work. But if Rita don’t wanna change back to being like us then I guess it’s just not worth tryin anymore. I’ll give her a choice that’s what she always goes on about how she wants choices well I’ll give her a choice she can drop this education crap or leave me.
(Denny drinks half the pint of larger in front of him. He’s looking very depressed and angry)
Jack: Denny mate don’t worry it will all go your way in the end. You’re the man sort her out. Put the woman in her place, otherwise she’s gonna walk all over y’. She’s off her cake trying to get educated. She won’t succeed. It’s a waste of time her carrying on with this rubbish. Denny just tell her its enough and that she can’t do it anymore. If you give her a choice like that that she might pick the wrong one y’ know.
(Denny drinks the rest of his pint and storms out of the pub looking confused and as if he’s about to cry)
Blackout.
