Churchill Plays: 2: Softcops; Top Girls; Fen; Serious Money (Contemporary Dramatists) by Caryl Churchill

Author:Caryl Churchill [Churchill, Caryl]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2013-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

Scene Two

WOMEN and a BOY working in a row, potato picking down a field. When their buckets are full they tip the potatoes into a potato grave at the top of the field.

VAL thirty, ANGELA twenty-eight, SHIRLEY fifty, NELL forty, WILSON sixteen.

MRS HASSETT forty-five, gangmaster, stands at the bottom of the field watching them. They pick down and back once, and start down again.

SHIRLEY sings the fireman’s song from children’s TV programme Trumpton.

SHIRLEY (sings). Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew,

Cuthbert, Dibble, Grub.

Da da diddidi da

Diddidi diddidi diddidi da

Da da diddidi da

Diddidi diddidi da, pom.

ANGELA joins in and sings with her.

NELL joins in.

VAL stops and stands staring.

NELL. You all right, girl?

NELL doesn’t stop working.

VAL goes down the field to the end where MRS HASSETT is.

MRS HASSETT. What’s the matter, Val? Took short?

VAL. I’ve got to leave now.

MRS HASSETT. What do you mean, got to leave? It ent three o’clock.

VAL. I know, but I’m going.

MRS HASSETT. Who’s going to do your work then? Mr Coleman wants this done today. How does it make me look?

VAL. Sorry, I can’t help it.

MRS HASSETT. You think twice before you ask me for work again because I’ll think twice an’ all. So where you off to so fast?

VAL. Just back home.

MRS HASSETT. What’s waiting there then?

VAL. I’ve got to. I’ve gone. Never mind.

MRS HASSETT. Wait then, I’ll give you a lift halfway. I’ve another lot at Mason’s I’ve got to look in on.

VAL. I’ve got to go now.

MRS. HASSETT. You’ll be quicker waiting. I don’t owe you nothing for today.

VAL. You do.

MRS HASSETT. Not with you messing me about like this, not if you want another chance.

VAL. I’ll start walking and you pick me up.

VAL goes.

The others arrive at the end of the field. WILSON is first.

MRS HASSETT. What’s your name? Wilson? The idea’s to get the work done properly not win the Derby. Want to come again?

WILSON. Yes, Mrs Hassett.

MRS HASSETT. Because if you work regular with me it’s done proper with stamps. I don’t want you signing on at the same time because that makes trouble for me, never mind you. And if I catch you with them moonlighting gangs out of town you don’t work for me again. Work for peanuts them buggers, spoil it for the rest of you, so keep well clear.

NELL. Spoil it for you, Mrs Hassett.

MRS HASSETT. Spoil it for all of us, Nell.

ANGELA. What’s up with Val?

NELL. You’ve got two colour tellies to spoil.

MRS HASSETT. Think you’d get a better deal by yourself? Think you’d get a job at all?

ANGELA. Where’s she gone? Ent she well?

MRS HASSETT. She don’t say she’s ill. She don’t say what.

NELL. You paying her what she’s done?

MRS HASSETT. Will you mind your own business or she won’t be the only one don’t get picked up tomorrow morning.

NELL. It is my business. You’d treat me the same.

ANGELA. Nell, do give over.

SHIRLEY. Come on, Nell, let’s get on with it.

NELL. She treat you the same.

WILSON. If I do hers, do I get her money?

MRS HASSETT. You’ll have enough to do to finish your own.

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