Market Boy by David Eldridge

Author:David Eldridge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2006-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

The Boy kicks his feet. The Trader ’s van drives on. The Trader gets out of the van. He looks at the Boy. The Trader begins to pull the frame of the stall off the roof of the van. He passes the legs to the Boy. He puts them down and the Trader passes down the rest of the frame. The Trader jumps down and they begin to erect the frame in silence. Mouse and Don arrive. They pick up on the mood and simply begin work themselves setting out the stall until it is finished. Boxes spill out of the van. The stock finds its way into place as the frame is fully erected, then work on the displays begins. Signs go up — ROMFORD MARKET’S NUMBER ONE SHOE STOOL.

Snooks enters wearing a suit and polished shoes.

Snooks Oi oi!

Don Oi oi!

Mouse Oi oi!

Trader Where the bleeding hell have you been?

Snooks I’ve come to pick up my wages —

Trader You’ve got some cheek, boy —

Snooks It’s why I’m such a success. I’ve come to hand my notice in.

Don Bollocks.

Mouse Bollocks.

Snooks I’ve got a job up the City. Obviously I did think about cunting you all off but I know you’ll be lost without me, so I thought I’d let you know.

Boy How did you get a job in the City?

Don feels Snooks’s suit.

Snooks Watch the whistle, mate.

Trader It’s going back tomorrow.

Boy How did you get a job in the City?

Snooks They wanted me, didn’t they? When you’ve got get-up-and-go like I have, you’d be hard pushed to miss it. This market’s peanuts, mate. You wait, next time you see me I’ll be in a Porsche. So come on then, pay your debts. What about my Christmas box?

The Trader reaches for his pocket and counts out money.

Snooks Fucking hell. You look like you could do with going on a Brixton, mate. Who ate all the mince pies? I know your heart’s breaking, boys, I know you wanted to thank me for everything I’ve done for you —

Mouse Bollocks —

Don Bollocks —

The Trader hands over Snooks ’s wages.

Trader Go on, clear off, you yuppie!

Snooks spots the Boy, looks at the Trader leaving, then back at the Boy again. The whole market begins to assemble.

Leather Boy Oi oi!

Kate Arms Oi oi!

Leather Man Oi oi!

Snooks clocks the Girl heading out of the leather stall.

Snooks Oi, boy, is your mum walking yet?

The Boy turns away. Snooks laughs and makes howling and whining noises.

Girl Fuck off out of it, you tight-arse wanker! Go and throw yourself under a train!

Jason I wouldn’t recommend it, it’s very unfair on the driver —

Snooks Piss off, you slag, go and find another sap to do you up the harris!

Boy darts back and shoves Snooks., catching him off balance. Snooks falls to the ground. Mouse clambers up the stall and perches on top of the sheet.

Don Oi oi!

Snooks You’ve fucked my suit, you little wanker —

Mouse The boys fight —

The whole market gathers around. Snooks and the Boy begin to circle each other and square up.

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