Burying Your Brother in the Pavement (NHB Modern Plays) by Jack Thorne

Author:Jack Thorne
Format: epub
Publisher: Perseus Books, LLC

Seven

TOM sits on one of the bin bags. He looks out into the audience.

TOM. I…

Um… I…

A GUY on a skateboard rides across the back of the stage – trying an ollie before exiting.

I just…

The boy with all the words can’t explain himself.

The thing is, Luke isn’t a surprising – wasn’t – I mean, that wasn’t what Luke – he was straightforward. Not that – not going too far, not doing too much different.

I mean, he didn’t –

And I –

He quietens as a PUSHCHAIR MUM pushes a baby aggressively across the stage.

PUSHCHAIR MUM. No, what you said was ‘get your hands off my remote control, bitch, I got things to do, and people to watch’. I was like – you got things to do – you –

BABYFATHER. What’s with your chatting all the time – chat chat chat… Cos I tell you, I ain’t even listening no more…

PUSHCHAIR MUM. You ain’t listening? You listen, boy. You listen strong. Otherwise I’m putting that remote control where it hurts and you gonna be birthing it like a baby.

They exit the stage just as an ESTATE AGENT hurries past.

ESTATE AGENT (on the phone). No, I’m on my way to look at some property on the Tunstall… Lee Marshes… God no, I took the bus, I’m not parking around here – (Laughs like a jackal.) well, that’s why the first thing I’m going to propose is a garage extension… well, the location is fabulous, that’s why… it’s called gentrification, darling, and it’s happening…

TOM is still staring into space.

TOM. I’ve never liked surprises.

When I was younger, my mum used to have to tell me what was in my presents before I opened them. She knew what I was like.

STAN comes in wearing a dapper suit. He walks in like the Pink Panther. He has a sort of undeniable slink to him. He’s very jazz. The sun is now setting. It’s magic hour. And here’s the magic man. He has a theme, a light snare drum and some baritone sax.

I mean… not telling me that. That’s – that’s spin round five times, touch the floor, bang your head on something… And –

STAN. Hey. Kid. Planning. Me. The cat. Called. You?

TOM spins to meet his new company. Still totally absorbed by TIGHT’s revelations.

TOM. What?

STAN. You don’t talk jive? Thought everyone round here talked jive, man? My name’s Stanley Burrows, I’m from the planning department. You called. I came. (Makes revving noises.) Grrrm. Grrrm.

TOM. You’re – a planner?

STAN. Yeah. Me. Planner. Wow. And you know what – I’m going to make something of this place. Selling it. All. Private development. Tube extensions. Transport links. Wow. Clean. Schmean. Amazing.

TOM considers what to do.

TOM. I need your help.

STAN. Who doesn’t?

TOM. I want to bury my brother in this pavement. I got told I needed planning permission. Do I? Can you give me permission?

STAN looks at TOM, his eyebrows shoot up. The street lights turn on. One has a bad flicker on it.

STAN. In the pavement?

TOM. Yeah.

STAN. Wow. Love to, kid. But – jurisdiction.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.