George Jenner 5, rue Jean Origer L-2269 LUXEMBOURG Telephone (352) 408634 A STEEL STRING GUITAR AND A CAT NAMED BERLIN A play for theatre copyright (c) 1992 George Jenner THE CHARACTERS Tony Munroe June Maxwell Maureen McGrath Susie McGrath- Maureen's daughter, played by the same person Simmo Macka Berlin, East and West : three cats that are never seen THE ACTION takes place in the present and sixteen years ago. THE SETTING is a pub in Tamworth, a NSW country town. The type of pub with yellow tiles outside, worn carpet and furniture and the lackadaisical mood of a hot Australian summer. There is a public bar at elbow height and with a brass rail or aluminium cigarette tray. There are some bottles and glasses on the wall behind the bar. There is some furniture typical of the lounge bars of such places - a low table and old lounge chairs. The chairs should not have arms, for it is hard to play the guitar while sitting on an armchair. A guitar leans against a wall. THE MUSIC: Much of the action is in the Locomotive Hotel in Tamworth, which is renowned for country music. The music should not relax into the banality of the American Western music. SYNOPSIS The play begins in the present. A skeleton of a young woman has been found in the bush out of town. It is probably Susie's. The remainder of Act 1 is set 16 years ago. June and Tony meet at the pub and fall in love. June gets pregnant and moves in with Tony, a move which breaks up the brotherly relationship of Tony and Simmo. As Act 1 progresses, the pressures of mateship entice Tony to stay often at the pub where he drinks with Simmo and Macka. He stays one night after closing time, gets drunk with Susie (the barmaid and June's best friend) and they dance and fool around a bit. June has suspected Susie and Tony of meeting, and when Tony comes home drunk and runs over Berlin, her cat, there is a fight. June leaves in her car. Tony follows her in his. June picks Susie up and they head out of town while June confronts Susie about her affair with Tony. But June is drunk and they have an accident. As June and Susie get out of the crashed car there is a further accident as Tony comes up behind them. The act ends as the accident happens. Act 2 is in the present. Tony and Simmo live on a property out west. June lives with Macka in a house at the coast. Tony and June have communicated again after some years apart, and they plan to meet at the pub in Tamworth. However, a skeleton has been found in Tamworth. Police believe it belongs to one of the girls that disappeared. Tony hears this news, but it is too late to change his plan so he goes anyway. June doesn't hear the news, and after a violent fight with Macka, she leaves him. In Tamworth Maureen, Susie's mother, recognises them. She accuses them of killing her daughter. June's state of mind is suddenly transformed to how it was on the night that ended Act 1. She re- enacts that time when she inadvertently pushed Susie into the path of Tony's car. Susie was killed and June lost her baby. This time Maureen is pushed into the path of the car. June and Tony embrace across the body. ACT 1 The Induction takes place in the present. The remainder of Act 1 takes place some years ago. INDUCTION - THE PRESENT - THE BAR OF THE LOCOMOTIVE HOTEL. THE BAR OF THE LOCOMOTIVE HOTEL IS IN DIM LIGHT. THERE ARE SOME EMPTY GLASSES ON THE TABLE. MAUREEN ENTERS. MAUREEN I had a daughter named Susie. She looked just like I did when I was young. "She's a cracker, Maureen," they said. We brought her up in a bar. MAUREEN MOVES TO THE LOUNGE TABLE TO COLLECT THE EMPTY GLASSES ON IT. AS SHE STACKS THEM IN THE CROOK OF HER ARM, THE CLINKING PUNCTUATES HER SPEECH. MAUREEN When she was little she used to sit up on the bar and time the blokes drinkin' beers - "killin' schooners" she called it. One second ... two seconds ... three. Sold a lot of beer that girl. We used to laugh... MAUREEN WIPES THE TABLE AND MOVES BEHIND THE BAR WHERE SHE CLEANS THE GLASSES AND PUTS THEM AWAY. SIMMO AND MACKA ENTER AND GO TO THE BAR. THEY ARE YOUNG - AS THEY APPEAR IN THE REMAINDER OF ACT 1 (SOME YEARS BEFORE THE TIME IN WHICH MAUREEN IS TALKING) - AND STAY IN HALF LIGHT. MAUREEN MECHANICALLY POURS BEERS FOR THEM. THEY DO NOT HEAR WHAT SHE IS SAYING. MAUREEN God we laughed. She was so ... beautiful. That aint a word ya hear very much in here. But she grew up and disappeared. MAUREEN THUMPS THE BEERS DOWN ON THE BAR. MAUREEN Without a trace. She wouldn't have just left me - not like them others. I thought I'd forgotten about them other kids. SIMMO AND MACKA MOVE TO THE LOUNGE TABLE AND SIT. TONY ENTERS, WAVES TO SIMMO AND MACKA THEN PICKS UP THE GUITAR. HE SITS ON A STOOL AND PLAYS QUIETLY. HE DOES NOT HEAR MAUREEN. MAUREEN How many years since Susie took off with them bastards an' ... Ah Susie - why'd she have to grow up in a pub - there's nothin' sacred here unless it's - well unless it's cursed. (PAUSE) 'S funny, bein' reminded after all these years. Still remember my Susie of course but I'd almost forgotten them other kids. Forgotten to hate 'em. Forgotten that I used to love 'em. (PAUSE) I had a daughter named Susie. An' now they reckon they've found her bones. MAUREEN EXITS. END OF INDUCTION. SCENE 1 - THE LOCOMOTIVE HOTEL IN TAMWORTH SUSIE, JUNE AND TONY ARE EIGHTEEN. SIMMO AND MACKA ARE A COUPLE OF YEARS OLDER. TONY IS SITTING PLAYING THE GUITAR ON ONE OF THE LOUNGE CHAIRS. SIMMO AND MACKA MOVE FROM THE LOUNGE TO THE BAR WHERE THEY SIT ON THE STOOLS. THEY SIT DRINKING BEER AND TALKING IMPORTANTLY TO THEMSELVES. JUNE ENTERS AND ASKS SIMMO A QUESTION. HE POINTS ACROSS STAGE AND SHE FOLLOWS HIS FINGER. MACKA Struth. What she want, Simmo? SIMMO Lookin' for Susie. MACKA Not me? SIMMO Your luck! Edie would kill ya anyway. MACKA Edie! Reckon for a sort like that I'd kill 'er first. What'd you bastards let me get married for anyway? SIMMO Go to hell Macka. MACKA Bloke might like to go to hell for a sort like that. THEY PERVE AT JUNE AS SHE CROSSES THE STAGE. SUSIE ENTERS FROM THE SAME PLACE AS JUNE JUST DID. SHE HAS HER ARMS LOADED WITH STACKED EMPTY GLASSES AND PICKS UP SOME MORE FROM SIMMO AND MACKA'S TABLE. SHE SEES JUNE. SUSIE June! SIMMO Who's yer friend Susie? SUSIE Piss off Simmo. MACKA If she's lookin' for company... SHE IGNORES HIM AND GOES OVER TO MEET JUNE. SUSIE Hi. I'm not off for a while yet. JUNE Oh. Where can I... SUSIE That's the guy I was tellin' you about. JUNE Him. (LOOKING AT SIMMO) SUSIE Playin' the guitar a course. Those apes would scare themselves if they sang in a dunny. TONY IS SINGING NOW, AND JUNE SINGS A QUIET HARMONY AT THE END OF THE SONG. SUSIE Come an' meet 'im. JUNE No... SUSIE Come on. JUNE Do you really know him? SUSIE 'Course I do. I known him for years - well since he's been drinkin' here anyway. Come on. I'll introduce you. JUNE I'm nervous. SUSIE Oh come on June, you're actin' like a little school girl. JUNE Be fair Susie. You see 'em all the time in here. SUSIE You are nervous. Never seen you so shy in me life. It's just a bloke for chrissake. JUNE Yeah but I never.... SUSIE Come on. Come an' meet him. Come on. (SHE DRAGS JUNE BY THE ELBOW OVER TO TONY. HE KEEPS PLAYING THE GUITAR) Hey Tone! Tony Munroe, meet June Maxwell, my best friend. TONY NODS CURTLY. JUNE Hi. TONY (TO SUSIE) I'm practisin'. SUSIE I reckon you two ought to get an act together. June sings great harmonies, Tony. Don't you June. You want a drink? (HE NODS) I'll get you a beer. You two start talkin' about your act. I'll be back in a minute. SUSIE EXITS. TONY (HE BREAKS AND SMILES) Pushy. JUNE Yeah. Always. Got me into heaps of trouble at school. TONY Yeah? JUNE Heaps. TONY Yeah I bet. So do you sing much? JUNE A bit. I heard you at folk night last week. TONY Yeah? (HE SINGS) Come all you Lachlan men, and a sorrowful tale I'll tell, The story of a decent man who through misfortune fell, JUNE JOINS IN WITH THE HARMONY His name it was Ben Hall, a man of high renown, Who was hunted from his station, and was like a dog shot down. AT THE END OF THE VERSE JUNE SINGS AN OBVIOUSLY BAD HARMONY. THEY LAUGH. JUNE Do you [d'ya] always sing songs like that? TONY Like what? JUNE About bravery an' warrin' an' huntin'. TONY They're just songs. JUNE Bein' brave and gettin' shot down like a dog. TONY (PAUSE) Makes good songs. JUNE If we're going to have an act together I'll have to teach you some jolly songs. TONY Now who's pushy.... JUNE Do you ever write your own? TONY Sometimes, though..... JUNE Good, then we can write some happy songs together... TONY Listen! JUNE What? TONY (PAUSE) Maybe all right. JUNE (THEY PAUSE TO CHECK EACH OTHER OUT FOR A MOMENT) So what else do you do? (TONY STARTS TO PLAY AGAIN, LIGHTLY AND ABSENTLY) Hey I'm talkin to ya. Apart from singin' gloomy songs. You gotta job? TONY Yeah. Out at Wallaby Creek Station. JUNE Jackerooin'? TONY Wild man on a horse tamin' the outback. (HE PLAYS A LOUD CHORD ON THE GUITAR.) Actually I shovel chicken shit in a poultry shed. JUNE (LAUGHING) You live out there too? TONY Nah. Got a flat with Simmo round the corner from 'ere. JUNE Simmo? SIMMO (INTERJECTING FROM ACROSS THE ROOM) Hey Tony! You comin' to the meetin'? TONY (TO JUNE) That's Simmo. (HE STOPS PLAYING. TO SIMMO) 'Ang on. I'm busy. SIMMO We can see that. You gonna be long? TONY ..aah just 'ang on a bit. SIMMO Well 'urry up. TONY (QUIETLY) Shuddup, Simmo. JUNE He yer mate? TONY Kinda. Cousin. More me brother really. Been livin' with him an' 'is mum since I was ten. She died an we...well we gotta flat round the corner. JUNE I'm sorry. (PAUSE) I just finished high school. Work in a shop but I wanta be a singer. Some story, huh? TONY Sounds like a good start. JUNE Yeah. A start. THE GRIN BROADLY AT EACH OTHER. SUSIE ENTERS. SHE IS CARRYING A PILE OF STACKED GLASSES, AND COLLECTS THE EMPTIES FROM THE TABLE. SUSIE She's a bit shy, eh Tony? TONY Thought you was gettin' me a beer, Susie. You reckon I'm singin' 'ere for free? SUSIE (TO JUNE) We let 'im sing 'ere sometimes. Gets 'im an audience and free beers, the two most important things in 'is miserable little life. (TO TONY) I got me job to do before I shout you freebies. Then there's yer mate. TONY Simmo? SUSIE If 'e sees me shoutin' you I'll never hear the end of it. Me mum would bloody well kill me. (TO JUNE) How you goin' honey? JUNE Fine...honey. SUSIE If 'e gives yer any trouble... TONY Ah get out of it Susie. SUSIE ...just you call for me an' I'll thump 'im. TONY Don't sound too bad. SUSIE Don't talk until you tried it. SIMMO JOINS THEM. SIMMO Tried what? TONY Messin' with Susie. SIMMO Who'd mess with 'er? Catch somethin' incurable. SUSIE (LEAVING) Wouldn't be too bad in your case Simmo. SIMMO You supposed to be workin'. SIMMO TRIES TO PINCH SUSIE'S BUM, BUT SHE AVOIDS HIM EASILY AND THEY LAUGH AT EACH OTHER. SIMMO 'Ow are ya Tone? TONY Simmo this is June. Friend of Susie's. SIMMO 'Ow are ya? (HE SITS DOWN AT THEIR TABLE) JUNE Fine. You live with Tony? SIMMO What of it? JUNE Just wonderin'. Simmo short for somethin'? SIMMO Probably. TONY What you sour at, Simmo? SIMMO Who says I'm sour? Stupid to be sour. (TAKES A SWIG OF HIS BEER) Life's too bloody good to be sour, eh? TONY Yeah, I s'pose. SIMMO (PAUSE FOR ANOTHER SWIG) Macka's here. TONY Seen 'im. SIMMO We was wonderin' why you didn't come over for a beer. TONY I talkin' to June here, eh? SIMMO You shoulda come over. We was talkin' about the team. TONY So? SIMMO So yer a part of it aint ya. We wanted to know what you... TONY I can't spend all of me time talkin about the bloody football team. All you blokes ever talk about when yer together is the bloody football, tearin' apart every second of the last bloody game as if you could relive it an' do it better. SIMMO That's called learnin' by yer mistakes. TONY Wise man now, eh? SIMMO Flamin' genius mate. (PAUSES, OBVIOUSLY BORED BY TONY. FINISHES OFF HIS BEER) You comin' to trainin' or have ya got better things to do? TONY Got a beer comin' first. I'll see ya there in a while. SIMMO (LOOKING AT JUNE) Yeah. SIMMO EXITS JUNE Don't reckon he likes me. TONY Simmo's all right. JUNE I just said he didn't like me. TONY He just reckons he's gotta look after me, that's all. Always reckons if I'm talkin' to a girl I'm probably in trouble. SUSIE RACES THROUGH AND DUMPS A BEER ON THE TABLE. SUSIE Who's in trouble? JUNE No one's in trouble. SUSIE Well yell if ya are, Honey. (SHE EXITS) Almost finished June. JUNE (TO TONY) You gotta go to trainin'? TONY Soon. Hey you oughtta come and watch us play on Sat'day. D'you like football? JUNE Can I bring a book? TONY No. You can run a sideline - if yer lucky. JUNE Why didn't ya say so. I wouldn't miss that. TONY Don't worry, you'll love it. I've gotta go. TONY RACES OUT AS SUSIE COMES IN. THEY ALMOST COLLIDE IN PASSING. TONY See ya Susie. Thanks for the beer. SUSIE Where ya goin'? See ya. Jeez 'es in a hurry. So 'owed ya get on, eh? JUNE All right. SUSIE All right? JUNE 'E wants me to go watch 'em play footy. SUSIE Wow. That'll be real excitin'. He's tryin' to impress you. JUNE What goes on with him an' his brother? SUSIE Tony and Simmo? (SHE SHRUGS) You gonna go to the footy? JUNE I suppose. I'd prefer 'ed sing songs with me. SUSIE Did 'e say anythin' strange? JUNE Like what? SUSIE You know. Like somethin' out of a lousy country song. JUNE (LAUGHING) 'owed you know? SUSIE I reckon 'e must a taken a proper dong on the head playin' footy once. JUNE 'Owed you know? SUSIE Mum says I can knock off. Come for a walk? JUNE What do ya know about him? SUSIE I told ya 'es been singin' 'ere for a while. JUNE I suppose you've...(SHE GOES QUIET) SUSIE Suppose I've what? (NO RESPONSE, THEN WICKEDLY) Suppose I 'ave. JUNE Wouldn't surprise me. SUSIE No business of yours anyway. JUNE Susie, you 'aven't really... SUSIE You think I'm some kind of mole just 'cause I work in a pub? JUNE No... SUSIE It's not my fault where I grew up, for chrissake. Not allowed to be pretty in here. (SHE STRAIGHTENS JUNE'S COLLAR) Jesus, you're the pretty one, but that's all right cause it makes me look better when we hang 'round together. JUNE But do you...? SUSIE (REVOLTED) None of the blokes we get in here. (PAUSE) I'm an angel, you know. Just ask me mum or old Jack. They reckon I'm an angel and what better place to test an angel than in a pub full of swearin' and drunks. You're lucky, you know. JUNE Why? SUSIE You never see... JUNE See what? SUSIE Sometimes this place stinks of puke. Kill a schooner in 3 seconds an' you can lick the world. (PAUSE) Aren't you glad you're nice, June? JUNE Nice! SUSIE You are... JUNE Don't mock me. SUSIE Then don't pretend you're not as strong as me. If we fall, we'll fall together, you an' me, but right now we fly, high an' fast an' majestic. We're beautiful, June. We are beautiful, and so we are strong. JUNE Susie! Save it for a song, will ya? (PAUSE, SHE SHAKES HER HEAD AND LAUGHS.) I really hate football. THEY EXIT. END OF SCENE 1. SCENE 2 - AT TONY'S AND SIMMO'S FLAT TONY AND SIMMO ARE GETTING READY FOR A FOOTBALL GAME. THEY HAVE A FOOTBALL. WHILE ONE METICULOUSLY INSPECTS HIS GEAR THEN PACKS IT IN HIS KIT THE OTHER PLAYS WITH THE BALL. HE THEN PASSES AND PACKS HIS OWN GEAR. THE BALL GOES BACK AND FORTH THOUGH THE SCENE. TONY HAS ALREADY STARTED PACKING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCENE. SIMMO Why you gettin' ready so early, mate? Game's not till 2'. TONY Goin' to pick up June. SIMMO She comin' - again? TONY Yeah. SIMMO Struth. That must be four games in a row. TONY Five. SIMMO Why? TONY Why what? SIMMO Why she comin? You said she hated it. TONY She does. SIMMO So why she comin' if she hates it. TONY Because she likes me, I suppose. SIMMO Oh. Can I come with yer? TONY S'pose. SIMMO (SHORT SILENCE AS HE STARTS TO PACK HIS GEAR) How much? TONY I'll take ya for free. SIMMO No how much does she like ya. TONY (HE GRINS) Fair bit. SIMMO Hey, ya bastard. What's been goin' .... TONY Eh none a your business, mate. SIMMO Ya dirty bastard. TONY None a ya business. SIMMO C'mon. With ya mates.... TONY Simmo! Somethin' I gotta tell ya. SIMMO Yeah? TONY Well...I'm movin' outta the flat. SIMMO Eh? TONY I'm movin'. Gonna take a house with June. SIMMO What? TONY I said I'm gonna take a house with June. There's a spare out at the station. Boss said I could have it. Take the rent outta me pay he.... SIMMO Yer can't be serious. TONY I am serious Simmo. Never been more serious. SIMMO What's wrong with livin' 'ere? TONY Nothin'. SIMMO It was 'er idea wasn't it? TONY Doesn't matter whose idea it was. SIMMO I reckon it's the single most important question meself. Aint like you to just get up an' leave me. I don't believe ya mean it. TONY I'm not just gettin' up an' goin' like that. It's... SIMMO You haven't got her up the duff have ya? (NO RESPONSE) Jesus you're a stupid bastard. TONY Look I been thinkin' 'ard about it and ... SIMMO 'Ow ard? 'Ow ard can ya 'ave thought about it. Tiny mind like yours. If ya thought about it like ya reckon ya have you'd a come up with a different answer. You wouldn't wanna be movin' if ya'd a thought real 'ard. I suppose you gonna marry 'er. You don't think, Tony. You don't think hard about nothin'. TONY It's not for thinkin' about Simmo. (THIS IS HARD) I love her. SIMMO What do you know about that. Yer too young. You don't know nothin' about it. TONY I'm almost the same age as you. SIMMO So? TONY So how the 'ell do you know anything about it. SIMMO I'm smarter than you that's 'ow. TONY (LAUGHING) That's what yer Mum always said. SIMMO So it must be true, eh? If Mum always...(HE GOES QUIET) TONY Almost a year. SIMMO Yeah. (HE THROWS THE BALL VIOLENTLY AT TONY) Ya stupid bastard. If ya leave me what 'ave I got left. TONY I'm not movin' very bloody far. SIMMO You know what else Mum woulda said? What do yer reckon she'd think of yer takin' off for a lark with some tart. TONY I reckon yer Mum would be happy as bloody Larry about it. She might a cried an' said somethin' soppy. Somethin' about goin' away with me true love... SIMMO Bullshit she would. She read soppy books to get away from .... She'd tell you 'ow life really ends, 'ow it turns out in real stories. No soppy endings. No weak women's stories mate. Bull shit stories the lot of 'em. Real stories might start nice but you gotta watch 'em if they get too sweet 'cause they'll rot yer guts, and like rottin' teeth yer life starts fallin' to pieces, and bit's of yer keep wearin' away and fallin' in the mud where nobody'll notice yer and they tread on yer like yer don't exist anymore. An' look at us. Nineteen years of age an' we've 'ad people dyin' on us all our lives. We've 'ad more of it than I'd consider proper an' I tell ya I'm gettin' sick of people leavin' me. Ya never get used to it. TONY Jees, Simmo, I'm not dyin'. SIMMO Amounts to the same thing in the end. Just take longer, that's all, like cancer - not like the accidents. TONY We gotta split up sometime, Simmo. SIMMO (PAUSES) Promise me somethin'. TONY What? SIMMO Promise me. TONY What? SIMMO I been lookin' after ya for ten years now.... TONY Oh yeah. SIMMO Well I been lookin' out for ya. Mum mighta looked after ya, but I looked out for ya. Weed like you always needed protectin'. Ya gotta admit... TONY What are ya gettin' at, Simmo? SIMMO Well ya gotta let me keep lookin' out for ya. TONY What do ya reckon you can do for me now. I'm leavin' 'ome for good. SIMMO But like ya said, you'll still be around. I now what's best for ya. Let me look out for ya? TONY Make ya happy treatin' me like a kid brother? SIMMO Maybe that's what it is. Make me 'appy anyway. An' you better not go too far away or I'll come lookin' for ya an' I'll job yer one so 'ard ya wont forget who's lookin' out for ya no more. TONY S'fair enough I s'pose. SIMMO (PAUSE) I don't want ya ta go, Tony. TONY Ya gotta move on, mate SIMMO Ah don't crap me. SIMMO CHARGES AND THEY RUMBLE. TONY Hey what are ya bloody well doin'? SIMMO HAS TONY PEGGED TO THE FLOOR, AND IS STRADDLING HIS CHEST. SIMMO Yer a lousy fighter, Tony. Always were. (TONY IS STRUGGLING UNDERNEATH HIM) You know ya wont be able to move if I don't want yer to, an' I don't, 'cause you aint ready to go solo. The only way to teach you some sense, eh? An' you'll die without me lookin' out for ya. TONY Get off me. SIMMO My ol' man taught me better than yours. Lotta good it did me. Taught me to fight all right, but it never brung 'im back. Stupid, really. Didn't even want ta fight till he'd gone and left me, an' it don't bring people back. TONY You gonna let me go? SIMMO Why should I let you go? I told ya, yer all I've got left in the world. I don't want ta let you go, Tony. Tell me what yer gonna do, Tony. What are ya gonna do? TONY I'm goin'. SIMMO Wrong answer. (HE SHAKES TONY VIOLENTLY) Wrong answer. TONY I have to go. SIMMO Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. TONY Jesus, get off me. WITH A HUGE EFFORT HE TURNS SIMMO OVER AND PEGS HIM. HE BEGINS TO SHAKE BUT SIMMO RELAXES, BREAKS DOWN HIS RESISTANCE AND BEGINS TO SOB. TONY SITS LIMPLY - DRAINED. SIMMO Get off me. TONY DOES NOT MOVE. SIMMO (SHOUTING. HE PUSHES TONY OFF HIM) Get off me. THEY STAND GLARING AT EACH OTHER. SIMMO You never beat me in yer life, 'ave yer? TONY I never wanted to get out before. SIMMO GRABS TONY BY THE SHIRT. SIMMO What's that supposed to mean? Ya reckon you can beat me now, do ya? Now that you want to leave.... TONY It's not ya fists that kept me here, Simmo. You know that. TONY FLINCHES BUT SIMMO JUST BURIES HIS FACE IN TONY'S SHOULDER. TONY PUTS HIS HANDS ON SIMMO'S SHOULDERS, THIS BEING AS CLOSE AS THEY WOULD GET TO AN EMBRACE. AFTER A MOMENT SIMMO PUSHES HIM AWAY, GRABS HIS BAG AND BEGINS TO WALK OUT. SIMMO You comin' to footy? TONY GRABS HIS BAG AND FOLLOWS SIMMO OUT. END OF SCENE 2. SCENE 3 - TONY AND JUNE'S HOUSE JUNE ENTERS THE HOUSE AND LOOKS AROUND. SHE HAS A CAT CRADLED IN HER ARM. JUNE Well, Baby, this is it. Our new home. What a life we'll have with Tony to look after us, and he will, too, even if we have to make him do it. You'll help me won't you Baby. TONY ENTERS WITH A BAG. TONY What's the name of yer cat? JUNE She's called Berlin. TONY Why Berlin? JUNE Why you called Tony? TONY Dunno. JUNE Well there ya go then. (JUNE PUTS DOWN THE CAT AND MOVES TO TONY) Jesus you're a spunk man. (SHE EMBRACES HIM) TONY (ABASHED) Eh Juney. Come off it. JUNE (LAUGHING) My man. (SHE LETS HIM GO AND BECOMES QUIETER) My home. So this is my home. Hey. We need to celebrate. Got any sparklin' wine or somethin'? JUNE MOVES TO THE REFRIGERATOR AND LOOKS FOR DRINKS. TONY Hardly. Might be some beers. JUNE Yes. Here we are. Brown champagne. Guess that'll have to do, eh, Tony? (SHE GETS OUT A CAN OF BEER. SHE OPENS IT AND POURS TWO GLASSES) Sing us a song Tony Munroe. Sing us a song to celebrate. TONY What sort of song? JUNE I dunno. Use yer bloody head, for thinkin' instead of drinkin' for a change. TONY GETS THE GUITAR. TONY Well what do you want me to play? JUNE How 'bout a love song to celebrate? JUNE HANDS TONY A BEER. TONY A soppy love song. Me? Ta. Cheers. JUNE To us. (JUNE AND TONY CLINK AND DRINK. THEN THEY BOTH BURP AND LAUGH AT THE SAME TIME) Now about that song. TONY I'll play. You sing. (HE BEGINS TO PLAY SOME SAD BLUES) You know this one. JUNE Oh, Tony we're celebrating. TONY (HE GRINS AND CHANGES TO A JOLLY RIFF) Whoops. How's this. JUNE Much better, thankyou. (SINGS) We travel around, the road is our home, Sleep under the stars and in country inns. We aint got much that we call our own, 'Cept a steel string guitar and a cat named Berlin. People ask "Where are you goin'to?" "Why do you keep on travellin'?" "And what are you taking with you?" TONY Just my steel string guitar, JUNE And a cat named Berlin. "What will you do when you get there," my friend, They ask, but they're not understandin', That for us this road don't have an end, We just walk hand in hand Followed by Berlin. JUNE I got my man and a cat named Berlin. What do you think, will we still be together, At the end of all this wanderin' It's a pity we couldn't go on forever, With the steel string guitar, And the cat named Berlin. TONY How 'bout another beer? JUNE That was the last one. TONY Fair dinkum. Jees a case disappears quick around here. JUNE You mean around you. TONY Yeah, I suppose. I'm just gonna nick into town and get some more. JUNE Oh. You goin' to the Loco - now? TONY Yeah. Why? JUNE I just got here Tony. I thought we might - well - be together for a bit or somethin'. TONY I won't be long, June. I'm just goin' in for supplies. No more than an hour, I promise. JUNE Jeez, Tony. I've only been her five minutes. Please stay. TONY C'mon, June. I really won't be long. JUNE Can't you do without yer beer for just one night? TONY But you said it before. You said we're celebrating. JUNE Yeah but that doesn't mean... TONY Look. I'll get a bottle of champagne too. Something nice to go with tea, all right? JUNE We don't need it, Tony. TONY But I promised Simmo... JUNE Ah Simmo. TONY I promised 'im I'd go down for a drink tonight. JUNE Good 'ol Simmo. Can't 'e do without ya for just one night. TONY I said I'd be there, an' I don't like to let 'im down. JUNE Won't 'e 'ave other mates there? TONY He'll be burnin' if I don't show. JUNE Tell 'im it was my fault. TONY Won't 'ave to tell 'im that. JUNE Why doesn't 'e like me, Tony? TONY Never said 'e didn't like ya. JUNE Never said 'e did. TONY Why do ya care? JUNE 'Cause I love you. Makes 'im almost family. TONY So let me go an' meet 'im. JUNE I'm not keepin' you 'ere. You can get up an' go anytime you want. You don't have to plan to run out of beer. Just be honest with me. TONY JUST STANDS THERE. JUNE Go on. TONY Don't think you can trap me here June. JUNE I'm tellin' you to go. TONY 'Cause ya can't. I won't be trapped by a girl. JUNE Just go and see Simmo will you. Get out of me hair. TONY I mean it. You think you can make me do anything you want. JUNE I just said you can do anything you want. This aint a trap. TONY JUST STANDS. HE IS FRUSTRATED. TONY How am I gonna please you June? I love you, but I owe Simmo so much. We've gotta be mates, me an' Simmo - the things we been through together. This is poisonin' me mateship. JUNE I don't mean to come between you and Simmo. TONY Well you do. Yer both makin' me fight an' I don't want to. Jeez it's worse than the bloody footy. JUNE I don't wanna fight. I just want you to stay with me for a while. Simmo's had you for long enough. Give 'im a bit of time to get used to us. 'E just needs a bit of time to get used to me. (SHE MOVES TO EMBRACE HIM) Let's give 'im bit of time. (THEY KISS) TONY 'Ell be burnin' up in there. Burnin'an' tearin' in is guts. JUNE So let 'im burn. (THEY KISS) END OF SCENE 3. SCENE 4 - PUBLIC BAR AT THE LOCOMOTIVE HOTEL SIMMO AND MACKA ARE DRINKING AT THE BAR. MACKA Come again? SIMMO With June. MACKA The luck bastard. Wouldn't mind givin' her one myself. SIMMO You don't understand Macka. He's livin' in a house with her. MACKA What? SIMMO Now. Moved in last week. MACKA Why? Is she.... SIMMO Far as I know, yeah. MACKA Stupid bastard. Well I'll bloody well fix him up when he gets here. Stupid bastard. SIMMO FINISHES A BEER. MACKA STILL HAS HALF A GLASS. SIMMO My go again? MACKA Steady on mate. I hardly started. SIMMO You want one or not? MACKA Might as well get me one. How come ya so thirsty. Don't usually drink 'em so fast. SIMMO Good for ya. Hey Susie! You servin' or what? SUSIE ENTERS TO FIX THE BEERS SUSIE You drinkin' quick tonight Simmo. Somethin' on yer mind? SIMMO You care? SUSIE (PAUSE) Ya mate comin' tonight? SIMMO What mate? SUSIE Funny how grumpy some blokes can get. Can't see nothin' good nowhere. MACKA What're you on about Susie? SUSIE (TO MACKA) Don't reckon 'is mate's comin' tonight. MACKA Who, Tony? SUSIE SHRUGS AND EXITS. MACKA Aint Tony comin'? You said 'e was. SIMMO He said 'e was. Said he'd be 'ere by now. MACKA Not like 'im. SIMMO 'Es 'ardly been 'ere for the last month you blind bastard. MACKA Well I've 'ad things on me mind, 'aven't I? Can't look after everyone's bloody problems. It's this pub that does it. See nothin' changin' even when yer starin' it in the face. SIMMO Oh rave on Macka. You finished? MACKA What? SIMMO 'Smy go. MACKA Jees yer knockin' 'em back mate. Dunno whether to be worried or impressed. SIMMO No need to worry about me mate. Susie! MACKA Then I guess I'll 'ave another. SIMMO Thought ya might. Susie! SUSIE ENTERS. MACKA Couple more Susie. SUSIE (SHE POURS) And what about your mate, Macka? MACKA Eh? SUSIE We don't see Edie much down here. MACKA She's at home. SUSIE Not like her. MACKA She's lookin' after the kid. SUSIE Cathy? MACKA That's the only one I got. SIMMO What time is it anyway? SUSIE Edie used to be down here all the time. MACKA I dunno Simmo. How long till closin' time? SUSIE A while. MACKA How long? SUSIE Why? Don't ya wanna go home, Macka? MACKA Why wouldn' I? SIMMO How long did ya say, Susie? SUSIE Don't you wanna leave either? SIMMO What? MACKA Man's got a right to be where he wants, aint 'e? SUSIE I suppose a man would, but havin' a wife an' kid doesn't mean... You blokes reckon yer men just 'cause ya can drink ten schooners without chunderin'. Big strong men. Feel those arms, Macka. Jeez your a strong bastard. I bet you could snap me in half with a flick of yer wrist. I wouldn't dream of tellin' yer where ya can and can't be. MACKA (HE LAUGHS AT HER) I tell ya, Susie. It's big help bein' strong. SIMMO What the hell are you two on about. MACKA Nothin'. Nothin'. Shuttup an' drink yer beer. SUSIE I just hear a few rumours, you know Simmo. Standin' here all day long I hear rumours about all sorts of things. MACKA Shuttup Susie. SUSIE Don't you want your mate to hear them too, Macka? SIMMO Rumours is just mouthin' off far as I'm concerned. I don't wanna hear nothin' if it's just a rumour Susie. Don't mean nothin' to me if yer mouthin' off for no reason. SUSIE Aren't ya just a little bit curious? SIMMO Ya gonna tell me lies about me mate. I'd rather ya just kept ya mouth shut and pulled us some beers. SIMMO SLAMS HIS GLASS DOWN AND TURNS AWAY FROM HER. SUSIE What'll ya do, Simmo. Beat up on me? SIMMO (HE TURNS BACK TO FACE HER) You know I'd never hit you Susie. SUSIE Why not? You're a strong bloke like Macka. SIMMO What's he got .... MACKA You have to get at somethin' don't ya? You bitches don't know yer place and I don't like where yer pokin' in yer nose. You wont talk straight so ya don't really know nothin, do ya? SUSIE For Christ sake Macka if there's nothin' to know why are ya carryin' on like ... MACKA I'm just standin' up for meself. Bloke just can't stand there an' take... SUSIE And who's standin' up for Edie? MACKA ... and take the shit that I get around here. THE ARGUMENT STOPS. SIMMO Does your Mum know you fight with the customers? SUSIE She fights as much as I do. SIMMO Wonder we keep comin' back to this place. SUSIE You must like somethin' about it. (SHE GRINS. HE TURNS AWAY) Fightin'? MACKA Oh here ya go again... SIMMO Macka, shuttup will ya. Drink yer beer. Tell me somethin' Susie. MACKA They're just rumours Simmo.... SIMMO I don't give a shit about that Macka. Just shuttup. SUSIE What do ya want Simmo? I gotta go do some work. SIMMO Just tell me what your mate has been doin' to Tony? SUSIE Doin' to 'im? SIMMO I'm losin' faith in that boy I tell ya. I dunno why 'e doesn't come. Night after night I wait 'ere an' 'e doesn't come. Where's the faith in a man, Macka? Where's the faith. A feller 'as to know who is mates are, or there is no faith in the world. SUSIE What are ya tryin' to say, Simmo. You think June's keepin' 'im locked up at home against his will or somethin'? SIMMO Somethin' like that, yeah. SUSIE Maybe he stays home because he likes her - not because he doesn't like you. I tell ya he's so much better than you that if he was mine I'd lock him up just in case. (SHE EXITS) SIMMO Would ya Susie? MACKA The bitches. They all stick together, eh mate. SIMMO Shuttup and drink yer beer, Macka. END OF SCENE 4. SCENE 5 - THE HOUSE OF JUNE AND TONY JUNE IS SITTING AND STROKING THE CAT. TONY IS RESTLESS. HE WATCHES HER FOR SOME TIME, PACES A BIT, THEN CONFRONTS HER. TONY Think I'll go for a beer. JUNE You promised you'd stay home tonight. I thought we might - well - we haven't had a night together for a while. It would be nice to spend the night together. Don't you think, Tony? TONY I won't be long, June. I'm just goin' in for supplies. No more than an hour, I promise. JUNE You've been in there every night for the past week. I hardly ever see. We live together and I hardly ever see you. TONY I spend a lot of time 'ere with you. JUNE You act like you can't stand being here with me. TONY I spend all day couped up. I have to get out. JUNE There's a difference between this and a bar? TONY I have to get out. JUNE Please stay with us, Tony. TONY I promised Simmo... JUNE Simmo, Simmo, Simmo. Always bloody Simmo. I reckon he could do without you for one night, an' a night without beer wouldn't hurt you either. TONY Eh? It'd kill me! (PAUSE) I don't wanta get 'im angry. JUNE So you made a promise to both of us? TONY You know what he's like. JUNE (SHE STANDS AND FEIGNS A BLOW TO HIS CHEEK) He might thump ya again, eh, and a bloody good thing if 'e did, I reckon. TONY Do ya? (HE PUSHES HER) You reckon do ya? You reckon you know all about it? You reckon you know what it's like on the other end of 'is fist. (HE PUSHES HER HARDER. HER HANDS GO TO HER BELLY AND SHE BACKS AWAY) JUNE Get away. TONY I'm not gonna hit ya. JUNE Yeah well make sure ya don't. Don't take it out on me if ya can't beat Simmo, ya bastard. TONY Ah sit down. TONY PUSHES JUNE INTO THE CHAIR, BUT THE CAT IS SITTING THERE. BERLIN SCRATCHES JUNE. SHE STARTS AND THE CAT DROPS TO THE FLOOR) JUNE Oh you've scared Berlin now. TONY Ah ya stupid mongrel cat. (HE TAKES A BIG KICK AT THE CAT, BUT MISSES IT DELIBERATELY). JUNE Don't! TONY Who says I can't beat him. JUNE You mean bastard. TONY I didn't hurt it. JUNE Her! She! And she's pregnant too. TONY Stupid cat. JUNE Did you hear me? TONY What mangy old Tom did she find out here? JUNE Any number of cat's out here, mate. Feral bastards. TONY They're not too choosy sometimes, eh? JUNE No, I guess not. TONY (PAUSE) So do ya mind if I go to the pub now? JUNE Oh go for christ sake! TONY What are ya crook at me for? JUNE Just go. If ya don't go now I'll come with ya. (SHE LAUGHS AND STARTS TO PUSH HIM OUT) TONY Susie was right about you. JUNE (SHE TURNS HIM AROUND) What has Susie been sayin'. TONY Nothin'. She said nothin'. JUNE What did she say. You gonna see her tonight? At the pub? TONY She does live there. JUNE Yeah, and you almost do, too. This is where you live, Tony. Here with me and Berlin... TONY You and your cat with it's stupid bloody name..... JUNE Have they got a bed for you down there too? Has Susie got a bed down there for you? TONY What are you... JUNE The mole. You go to see Susie, don't you? But she's my best friend. TONY You're mad. JUNE I known her too long. TONY She's just the barmaid. JUNE I know her. You can't tell me she aint why you go there. TONY I go to drink with me mates. JUNE That's all? TONY An' they'll be waitin' for me. JUNE All you do is drink? TONY No. We sit around an' tell lies and perve at girls. What do ya reckon we do? JUNE It hurts me. TONY What does? JUNE You don't even try to understand, do yer? TONY Can't help bein' thick. JUNE Yeah. I guess not. Can I come with yer? TONY Thought you only liked goin' on folk night. JUNE Maybe I feel like hangin' out with you. You do like goin' out with me don't you? TONY 'Course, but... JUNE But what? TONY Get ya gear on then. JUNE (COLLECTING A COAT AND A BAG) Can you put Berlin out? Carry her gently ... (SHE RUBS HER TUMMY) she's got a belly full. END OF SCENE 5. SCENE 6 - PUBLIC BAR AT THE LOCO SIMMO AND MACKA ARE DRINKING AT THE BAR OF THE LOCOMOTIVE HOTEL. THEY ARE DRUNK. MACKA Tony comin' tonight? SIMMO Dunno. Said 'e was. MACKA Don't see im much since 'e moved in with that sheila. They still... SIMMO S'pose. TONY AND JUNE ENTER. SIMMO There's yer answer. MACKA Well, well, well. Look what the cat's dragged in. TONY G'day mate. MACKA Hello Juney. You remember me, darlin'? JUNE Simmo. Macka. How are you both? SIMMO Not bad. MACKA You oughtta come down more often. SIMMO You 'avin' a drink? JUNE Yeah. Susie here? SIMMO Somewhere. What'll you 'ave? JUNE Beer'll do. (SHE MOVES TO THE LOUNGE TABLE TO TAKE OFF HER COAT AND PUT HER HANDBAG DOWN) SIMMO What ya bring 'er for. Who's shout is it? MACKA I'll get 'em. (CALLS) Hey Susie. SUSIE ENTERS. SHE SEES TONY. SUSIE (DELIGHTED) G'day Tone. 'Ow are ya? MACKA Susie! SUSIE Yes, Macka. You want something? MACKA Whaddaya reckon? SUSIE Cuppa tea? MACKA Just pour us some bloody beers will ya. (SHE DOES NOTHING - PAUSE) Please! SUSIE That's better. MACKA I reckon it's time we changed pubs. Wonder if the Central needs a footy team. SUSIE (IGNORING MACKA) How's your new home Tony? TONY All right. MACKA I heard we lost ya to the enemy, mate. TONY Yeah. Moved out to the station. SUSIE He's got a little girl out there, aint ya Tony? TONY Ah bugger ya, Susie. It's nothin' for yous to get excited about. MACKA Whaddaya mean it's nothin' to get excited about. Jees, ya kept it flamin' quiet. Simmo 'ad to tell me. SUSIE (IGNORING THEM) Ya ought to bring her in more often. Bloke like you shouldn't be trusted on yer own. JUNE COMES OVER FROM LOUNGE. JUNE 'E hasn't got the brains to get in trouble on 'is own. SUSIE (SURPRISED) Juney! JUNE Hello Susie. SUSIE Didn't see ya come in. How are ya? JUNE All right. SUSIE Come over in a while an' we'll rehearse that song eh? JUNE Yeah, all right. SUSIE LEAVES. MACKA (TO TONY) Ya dirty bastard. How long has this been goin' on? TONY Well just for... JUNE What's dirty about it, Macka? MACKA From what I hear - fair bit of it. JUNE I suppose you oughtta know. MACKA Yer right there. JUNE When Edie left school for you .... MACKA Yeah, yeah, Edie again. So I make one little mistake and none of you will ever let me forget it. As if I'm likely to let meself forget it. Christ - I'm the one that's gotta live with it. JUNE From what I hear Edie's gotta live with more problems than you. MACKA Edie's too stupid. I'm the one that worries about things. I'm the one who lives with the problems all day goin'round and round in me head. JUNE Least I don't hear ya denyin' nothin'. MACKA Yeah well I gotta put up with a lot, eh? JUNE Well I'm real sorry for ya, Macka. MACKA Yeah I can tell. Still, you might be sorry yerself one day. JUNE What do ya mean by that. MACKA Could be you're makin' my mistakes for me now. TONY We aint makin' no mistake. MACKA Not talkin' about you, mate. JUNE Well what are ya on about? SUSIE ENTERS, COLLECTING GLASSES. MACKA Did you ever stop to think... SUSIE Mum reckons we're all too young to think... MACKA Crap. SUSIE ... and even if you blokes were older you'd still be too pissed. SIMMO She doesn't have to serve us. If she doesn't like us bein' pissed she can kick us out. Why she own a pub anyway if she can't stand drunks. SUSIE She says the alternative is too horrible. SIMMO What's that? SUSIE Listenin' to sober blokes that reckon they can think. I don't think you have to worry about that though, eh? MACKA Yaaahh... SUSIE EXITS WITH THE GLASSES. TONY MOTIONS FOR MACKA TO FOLLOW HIM OVER TO THE LOUNGE TABLE. JUNE AND SIMMO ARE ALONE AT THE BAR. JUNE Seems we've become competitors. SIMMO Whatta ya mean by that? JUNE In love we seem to become possessive. Do you know about love, Simmo? SIMMO Uncomfortable word that. It don't slide too well from the tongue, but just sits in there blockin' up yer throat an' makes yer do stupid things. JUNE We should be friends, Simmo. SIMMO Who says we aint? JUNE You don't like me. SIMMO Doesn't mean we can't be friends. JUNE You wouldn't admit it if yer did. SIMMO Look, ya got to understand how it is between me an Tony. He needs me to look after 'im. JUNE He needs me to love him, an' he needs you to let him love me. Why can't you let him go? SIMMO He's the only family I got in the world, June. JUNE What about me? SIMMO You? JUNE Yeah, me. I could be yer sister. SIMMO BEGINS TO LAUGH, LOUDLY AND CRUELLY. TONY AND MACKA COME OVER TO FIND OUT WHAT IS FUNNY. JUNE SHRUGS OFF TONY'S ATTENTION AND SITS AT THE LOUNGE TABLE AFTER PICKING UP THE GUITAR. THE MEN TURN THEIR FACES TO THE BAR AND ARE QUIETLY CONVERSING. SUSIE ENTERS AND SITS WITH JUNE. SUSIE Phew. Mum says I can have a break. What's wrong with them? JUNE Nothin'. SUSIE TAKES THE GUITAR FROM JUNE AND QUIETLY TUNES IT. JUNE Do you think I'm doin' the right thing, Susie. SUSIE You always do the right thing, June. JUNE Sure. SUSIE You do. Somethin' wrong? JUNE (PAUSE) Remember Edie at school? Remember how all she did all day was talk about her boyfriend? SUSIE S'all any of us did. Not much 'as changed eh? (SHE WINKS AT JUNE) JUNE And she left school for Macka. Jees she used to talk about him like he was ... a king or somethin'. SUSIE None of us knew him. JUNE Is what I'm doin' so different? SUSIE I thought you were in love. JUNE Will you get serious? SUSIE You're doin' the right thing, June. You always do the right thing. JUNE I'm serious Susie. I depend ... we depend on him forever. SUSIE And that's the right thing to do. JUNE And that's what you would do? SUSIE Of course - if I had a man like yours, that is - though forever? Long time.... (SHE LAUGHS AND PLAYS A CHORD ON THE GUITAR.) Are we gonna sing or what? JUNE 'Swhat you do best. SUSIE Well thankyou. (SHE CONTINUES PLAYING THE GUITAR) JUNE Singin' your way into men's hearts. SUSIE Well I like doin' that ... (SHE LAUGHS, BUT LOOKING AT JUNE SHE STOPS LAUGHING AND PLAYING THE GUITAR) JUNE Play the guitar, Susie. SUSIE PLAYS THE GUITAR AND THEY SING. When you've taken my hand and walked through my life with me. When you've taken my fear and my sorrow. And in so taking you give, Forsaking tomorrow for me. When you've taken my heart and walked hand in hand with me. When you've taken my love for yourself And in so taking you live, Forsaking all else for me. Though a stranger, in faith I emptied my soul into yours. Though a stranger I've given my love, And in so giving I take The danger of risking it all. TONY, SIMMO AND MACKA START TO SING AT THE BAR. THEY ARE NOW FAIRLY DRUNK. THEY ARE SINGING ONE OF 'THAT SORT OF SONG' THAT SPORTING TEAMS LIKE TO SING. THEY DROWN OUT THE WOMEN SINGING. JUNE AND SUSIE GIVE UP THEIR QUIET SONG. THEY SHRUG AND GO OVER TO JOIN THE BOYS AND START SINGING ALONG. SIMMO GOES QUIET AND TURNS AWAY. THE SONG PETERS OUT. THERE IS A SHORT SILENCE. THEY ALL SEEM EMBARRASSED. JUNE IS IGNORING SUSIE, SO SHE STARTS TO COLLECT GLASSES. JUNE Don't yer like our singing, Simmo? SIMMO I didn't hear ya singing. JUNE Yeah. Wont let me into your little world at all, will ya? Ya little world of heroes. SIMMO We don't want sluts around... JUNE Eh? SIMMO ...messin' up the place, eh? JUNE You slimey mongrel. PAUSE. SIMMO Well ya know it don't ya. JUNE You got no right to say that. You don't know what ya mean. SIMMO But you do eh? You know exactly. You disturb things. JUNE Afraid to move an inch, aren't ya Simmo. You tread on everyone an' yer afraid to move. Yer totally gutless until you've got a few beers in ya. You gutless pigs... SIMMO It's you, ya hussy, that's breakin' things up around here. It's you an' ya scratchin' female ways. (HE MOVES TOWARDS HER, THREATENING) Ya scratchin', bitchin', witchin' female ways. TONY MOVES BETWEEN THEM. JUNE Ah ya weak bastard... ya wanna thump me? SIMMO My oath I do. TONY Watch yer step Simmo. And yer foul mouth. SIMMO Tell me who's weak. TONY Back off, Simmo. TONY PUSHES SIMMO AND HE BACKS OFF. MACKA HAS MOVED IN AND GRABBED JUNE'S SHOULDERS. HE IS GRINNING TONY Leave her alone. JUNE (SHRUGGING OFF MACKA) I can handle him, Tony. TONY Sure June. JUNE You don't have to protect me. TONY Yeah I do. Gotta protect my girl. SHE PAUSES THEN CLUTCHES HIS ARM. PAUSE. MACKA A very pretty domestic scene, that. Personally, I didn't think yer singin' was that bad. SIMMO Shuttup, Macka. MACKA (MACKA PICKS UP HIS AND SIMMO'S BEER AND PUSHES SIMMO OVER TO THE LOUNGE TABLE) Come over 'ere ya stupid bastard. SIMMO Give us me beer. (HE SNATCHES IT AND DRINKS. THEY SIT AT THE TABLE) JUNE Stupid prick. Ya brother's a jerk, Tony. TONY Ya shouldn't provoke him. JUNE He wouldn't hit me. TONY He'd pound your pretty face soon as look at yer. JUNE I don't believe it. TONY I wouldn't tempt 'im if I were you. JUNE Yeah well I suppose you'd know about that, eh? TONY What are ya on about now. JUNE Maybe nothin'. (PAUSE) Nice of you to protect me though. TONY What did ya want me to do. Let him thump ya? (HE LAUGHS) Then I'd have to fight him. JUNE (LAUGHING WITH HIM) Oh gawd. Think what he'd do to your pretty face. TONY Eh, don't... JUNE Oh it's so pretty, Tony. TONY Shuttup, June. JUNE I'd do the same for you, you know. I'd fight for ya. (PAUSE) Well say somethin'. TONY What? JUNE I dunno. TONY (PAUSE) Do you think they'll ever leave us alone? JUNE (SHE THINKS AND THEN GETS UP TO LEAVE) You comin' home? TONY I promised the boys I'd hang around for a while. JUNE Did ya now? Well I'll see ya there, eh? TONY Hang on June. How you gonna get there? JUNE Guess I'll have to hitch a ride. Next time we go out I'll bring my car too. See ya. JUNE EXITS. TONY Hang on Juney. Don't get angry. (PAUSE, AS HE WATCHES HER LEAVE) Ah bugger it. MACKA A very pretty domestic scene that. SIMMO Shuttup, Macka. MACKA Real, real pretty. SIMMO (TO TONY) You are staying for another one? TONY Looks like it, don't it. MACKA (DRAINING HIS BEER) Not for me, mate, I gotta go. SIMMO Eh? What for? MACKA I gotta go. See yous tomorrow. SIMMO Hang on Macka. You was givin' me a lift. MACKA Well I'm goin' now. (HE EXITS) SIMMO Ah bugger ya. Wait. (HE DRAINS HIS BEER, THEN TO TONY) You comin' in tomorrow? SUSIE ENTERS AND STARTS WIPING DOWN THE BAR. TONY Maybe. SIMMO Well I'll see ya then. TONY Yeah, right. SIMMO EXITS, LOOKING BACK AT TONY. SIMMO I'll see ya tomorrow. Look after him, Susie. (HE IS GONE) SUSIE See ya, Simmo. Last one hear again, Tony? Don't you reckon you should be gettin' back home too? I'll be closin' up in a minute. TONY You'll give me one more, eh Susie? SUSIE As usual. TONY Why don't you have one with me? SUSIE Tony! You know I'm not allowed to drink when I'm servin'. Mum'll kill me. TONY You been drinkin' all night. I seen ya. Come on, I hate drinkin' alone. SUSIE How come ya didn't go with June? (PAUSE) Somethin' wrong? TONY Nah. SUSIE Should be. Yer always here till late. If you was my man.... TONY You aint, so shut it. SUSIE Sorry. None o' my business. TONY You 'avin' a drink or what? SUSIE Yeah all right. TONY Hey, let me pour it for you. (HE MOVES TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BAR) What'll you have. SUSIE Well thank you sir. I'll have a brandy. TONY Here ya go. (HE POURS AND GIVES HER THE DRINK, AND HOLDS OUT HIS HAND FOR MONEY) SUSIE Put it on my tab. (SHE DRAINS THE GLASS) Not bad. I think I'll try a few of those. TONY POURS HER ANOTHER BRANDY. TONY I dunno what to do, Susie. Seems I can't please anyone at the moment. SUSIE Spreadin' yerself around, eh? TONY Can't be nothin' wrong with that, eh? TONY SHRUGS. SUSIE D'you know I've lived in this pub all me life. TONY So? SUSIE I hate this place. I just hate it here. SUSIE DRAINS HER GLASS AND SLAMS IT DOWN ON THE BAR. TONY REFILLS THE GLASS. TONY Why'd ya tell me that? Ya always look happy. SUSIE (SHE SMILES) I am. (PAUSE) You're gonna get me in trouble here, Tony Munroe. I can feel it in me bones. You know if I get the taste I'm off, and you know it goes straight to me bloody head. (SHE DRAINS HER GLASS) Fill up me brandy. (SHE PICKS UP HER REPLENISHED GLASS) Cheers, mate! TONY Yeah, here's to ya, Susie. SUSIE To life. TONY (OH SO EARNEST) Yer a lucky bitch. SUSIE (WITH A LOUD GIGGLE) You blokes kill me. God I hear so much drivel in this place but you young blokes... TONY Same age as you. SUSIE ... you young blokes - when ya get pissed and think yer bein' wise. You're the worst of the lot. TONY IS INDIGNANT AT FIRST BUT THEN LAUGHS WITH HER. THEY LAUGH AND DRINK. JUNE AND SITS UNSEEN IN DIM LIGHT. SHE PLAYS THE GUITAR. (SUSIE) Come on. TONY What? SUSIE Come on. Let's dance. There's music goin'. TONY But I... SUSIE Come on. There's no one here to see you. THEY DANCE. TONY Yer a good dancer, Susie, but I better go.... THEIR DANCE HOLD BECOMES AN EMBRACE. SUSIE Yeah Tony. TONY I'm going now. SUSIE Yeah, yeah Tony. THEY KEEP DANCING. THEY KISS. THE LIGHTS FADE. THEY EXIT WHILE JUNE SINGS (BEGINNING OF SCENE 7). SCENE 7 - THE HOUSE OF JUNE AND TONY JUNE IS SITTING PLAYING THE GUITAR. SHE SINGS. JUNE (SINGS) Return your thoughts to times gone by. How many times I've wondered why. Too many dreams on too many nights Look at me through my own eyes. Wandering mind of missing time Stories of you with silent lines Strange visions, broken magic The spells are tragic in my eyes. The sunlight whirl on shining sands The veiling mist of morning lands Soft twilight Starlit night We danced then the spring time waltz The spring dance of lovers. Keep your memories to yourself And take of mine what you want. But I hope they both are the same, We once looked through the same eyes. The sunlight whirl on shining sands The veiling mist of morning lands Soft twilight Starlit night We danced then the spring time waltz The spring dance of lovers. TONY ENTERS, ENDING THE SONG ABRUPTLY. HE IS DRUNK. JUNE PUTS DOWN THE GUITAR AND TAKES A SWIG FROM A WHISKY BOTTLE. SHE IS DRUNK. TONY Hello Juny. Been singin' to yer cat again? JUNE So did you have fun with your mates? TONY Jeez I need piss. JUNE Pub shut two hours ago. TONY I was havin' fun with my mates. JUNE I saw them leave just after me. TONY You know June? The way you talk I sometimes think you don't really love me. (HE GIGGLES) JUNE It's no use talkin' to ya when you're like this is there? I saw them leave. You're lying to me. Lying! I gave everything to you - promised meself to you forever - and -I saw Macka and Simmo leave without you Tony, and I promised meself to you forever ... SHE HEARS SOMETHING OUTSIDE) What's that? TONY What? JUNE Can you hear that noise? Outside. TONY FALLS INTO A LOUNGE CHAIR. JUNE (RUNNING OUTSIDE) What have you done? TONY Hey where you goin? Are you comin' to bed? June? TONY NODS HIS HEAD. THERE IS A SCREAM FROM JUNE OUTSIDE. HE LOOKS UP THEN REALISES HE HAS TO VOMIT. HE COVERS HIS MOUTH AND RACES TOWARD THE SINK, BUT JUNE ENTERS AND STOPS HIM. SHE IS HOLDING A BLODDY MESS (DEAD CAT) WHICH SHE SHOVES IN HIS FACE. JUNE Look what you've done? TONY GAGS. HE IS TRYING NOT TO PUKE. JUNE This was Berlin. TONY VOMITS. JUNE You ran over her, you moron. You come home pissed and run over me cat. I found her dead. I wouldna known till daylight 'cept the kittens were makin' such a racket. You've just destroyed a family you dirty drunk bastard. TONY FALLS EXHASTED BACK INTO THE CHAIR. JUNE TURNS TO TONY AND WITH ANGRY RESOLUTION SHE KICKS HIM. HE FALLS TO THE FLOOR, SCREAMING. TONY You bitch! Whadja do that for. I'll get you... JUNE Stand up you weak bastard. Stand up and look what you've done. (HE DOES NOT MOVE. HE IS NURSING HIS SHIN) Stand up! TONY Jesus my leg. JUNE HOLDS THE BLOODY MESS NEAR HIS FACE. JUNE GOES TO KICK HIM AGAIN BUT STUMBLES AND DROPS THE CAT ON HIM. TONY Eh get it of me. JUNE PICKS UP HER WHISKY BOTTLE. JUNE You don't care, do you? Berlin never meant nothin' to ya did she. (SHE SINGS.) Aint got nothin' to call my own 'Cept a steel string guitar and a cat named Berlin. She never meant nothin', eh, so ya killed her in ya cold beer drenched blood and her blood mixin' in with ya wheels an' ya don't care... TONY (SHOUTING) It was an accident. JUNE (PAUSE TO RECOMPOSE AND TAKES A SWIG OF THE WHISKY.) Pub shut two hours ago. TONY I was talkin' to Susie. JUNE She's not that good a talker. TONY I need a piss. TONY SITS DOWN HEAVILY AND HIS HEAD SLUMPS ON HIS CHEST. JUNE STARES AT HIM FOR A MOMENT. JUNE Bastard. Bastard. I'm just sick to death of you, Tony bloody Munroe. I'm goin away, mate. I'm goin away. (SHE GETS OUT A BAG) I'm takin' the kittens and goin'. Are you listening to me? (SHE GOES OVER AND WAKES HIM WITH ANOTHER KICK) I'm leavin' you, Tony. (SHE PUTS THE TWO KITTENS IN THE BAG) C'mon babies. TONY Oh? Where are you goin', June? JUNE C'mon. (PAUSE) I guess I'll go over to the coast. TONY Eh? (HE STANDS, SUDDENLY AWAKE) You goin' East? Across the mountains? JUNE What's it to ya, Tony. Ya not comin' with me. I don't want ya. TONY Struth June. It was an accident. It wont happen again. I promise. JUNE It's not just Berlin, Tony. TONY Then.... JUNE We were fine together, Tony. Really fine. I used to be so happy, you know. And now... ah Jees I gotta go Tony. TONY It was just there under me wheel. I couldn't see it. JUNE And you off boozin' every night. TONY I tried to swerve but I woulda hit the shed. JUNE An me left alone all the time. No one to talk to but the cats. TONY ...it was Susie's fault. She got me pissed. JUNE Susie? TONY But I missed the kittens. I remember now. I missed the kittens. JUNE I been goin' mad Tony. Here alone. The cats don't talk back, you know. So Susie had somethin' to do with it? TONY It wont happen again June. JUNE Tell me about... (PAUSE) I only got one life, Tony. I'm goin'. TONY I don't know what you mean June. Tell me what you mean. JUNE Why don't you ask Susie. TONY Susie? JUNE Ah, what difference would it make. TONY Ya not really goin' are ya June. JUNE MOVES TO STAND IN A DARK PART OF THE STAGE. TONY GETS UP TO FOLLOW HER. ONE OF THE KITTENS HAS CRAWLED OUT OF THE BAG AND TONY TRIPS OVER IT THEN PICKS IT UP. TONY STARES AFTER JUNE. HE SITS DOWN AND CLOSES HIS EYES FOR A MOMENT. TONY June you dropped a kitten. (LOOKING AT THE KITTEN) Ah what am I gonna do with you. TONY GETS UP ABRUPTLY. TONY Let's go get her, eh mate. Bring her back. (PAUSE) I can't let her go, mate. I can't. I'll follow her. Where do ya reckon she'd go? East she said, I know? But she'd have to go and say goodbye to....Susie. Oh no. Come on mate, lets go. SPOT ON TONY. SPOT ON JUNE. THEY ARE DRIVING, TALKING TO THE KITTENS. SUSIE ENTERS BEHIND BAR AND WIPES IT. JUNE (PULLING UP OUTSIDE PUB. SHE CALLS) Hey Susie. Susie McGrath. SUSIE (LOOKING UP. QUIZZICAL) June? JUNE Come for a ride Susie. SUSIE What's are you doin'? JUNE C'mon. Get in. SUSIE Shh, June. You'll wake everyone up. SUSIE GETS IN THE CAR. SUSIE What are you doin' June. JUNE You're pissed. SUSIE So are you. THEY BOTH GIGGLE AS THE CAR PULLS AWAY. SUSIE Hey where we goin'. I've gotta clean up the pub. JUNE So late? SUSIE Well I had a drink after work. (PAUSE) All right. Two drinks. THEY GIGGLE AGAIN. TONY (IMPATIENT WITH CAR) Come on you old heap. We'll never bloody catch her. That's her at the pub - hey get back over there. (HE PUSHES THE CAT AWAY) ...get yer flamin' claws out of me. (THE CAR SWERVES AS HE LOSES CONTROL MOMENTARILY) JUNE What are you laughing at? SUSIE Eh? JUNE Why you so happy? Been foolin' around tonight. SUSIE Aaah foolin'. (SHE GIGGLES WITH SMILE ON HER FACE, THEN STOPS ABRUPTLY.) Foolin'? Nah I just serve the beers. JUNE Had a few yerself too, eh? SUSIE What of it? JUNE Who were you foolin' with? SUSIE No one you know. JUNE Who? SUSIE You gonna take me back? I gotta clean up... JUNE Bitch. (SCREAMS) Slut. TONY (YELLING) Get a move on. (QUIET) Fool. Where are you goin' June. You can't just get up and leave. I've been good for you. Oh I love you you stupid bitch, you stupid bastard where are you going June? I'll show you how much I love you, June. June..... SUSIE I don't know what you're talkin' about June. What are you talkin' about, Honey? JUNE You know - Honey. SUSIE Jesus watch where you're driving. Slow down, Juney. JUNE Have I got a nice voice, Susie? SUSIE Eh? JUNE I like to sing harmony when Tony plays his guitar. It's kinda nice to sing harmonies with him, 'cause I love him you know. (NO RESPONSE) We could be on records one day - me and Tony. TONY Will you get off me ya mangy bastard. (HE PUSHES THE CAT AWAY AGAIN) SUSIE Slow down June. (SHE SCREAMS) No.... SUSIE COVERS HER HEAD AND JUNE STEPS ON THE BREAKS. SHE STARES WIDE EYED AS THE CAR SKIDS AROUND THEN STOPS AGAINST A SOMETHING SOLID. SUSIE You all right? JUNE Get out. SUSIE You all right June? JUNE Get out. JUNE PUSHES SUSIE OUT OF THE CAR. SUSIE, SOBBING, CRAWLS AWAY AND CROUCHES ON THE GROUND. TONY Where the hell are they now? JUNE Tony? (SHE SEES HIM IN THE DISTANCE) That's Tony, Susie. Hey, Susie. He'll take you home. C'mon. JUNE REACHES FOR SUSIE'S HAND, BUT SUSIE PULLS AWAY. SUSIE Get away. JUNE (SHE LAUGHS) TONY (BRUSHING THE CAT AWAY) Get off me. JUNE He won't be takin' me home. No way. (SHE CLUTCHES THE BAG) Not me and my babies. You can go with him if you want, Susie. JUNE GRABS SUSIE'S HAND. SUSIE RELUCTANTLY STANDS. JUNE DOES NOT LET GO. JUNE I'm finished with him. Forever. He'll take you home. Come here. TONY Get off me. SUSIE Nothin' happened June. Let me go. JUNE You want Tony ... TONY Hey where'd they go? JUNE ... you go get him. JUNE FALLS AGAINST SUSIE. SUSIE Nothing. JUNE Really? JUNE AND SUSIE BOTH CRASH TO THE FLOOR. TONY Get those claws.... hey! TONY JUMPS ON THE BRAKES, BUT IT'S TOO LATE. SUSIE (SCREAMING) No... Tony! ABRUPT DARKNESS. END OF ACT ONE. ACT 2 - THE PRESENT INDUCTION - IN THE BAR AT THE LOCOMOTIVE HOTEL. MAUREEN IS BEHIND THE BAR. SHE IS READING A TABLOID NEWSPAPER AND POLISHING GLASSES. SHE IS LOOKING OLD AND RATHER HAGGARD. SHE DOES'T NOTICE THE OTHER CHARACTERS AS THEY APPEAR IN THE INDUCTION. TONY ENTERS, SITS ON THE FLOOR AND PLAYS THE GUITAR SOFTLY (POSSIBLY THE 'SPRING TIME WALTZ' FROM THE END OF ACT 1). MACKA AND JUNE ENTER. SHE CAN HARDLY WALK AND LEANS HEAVILY ON HIM. THEY DANCE TO TONY'S MUSIC, HESITANTLY AT FIRST OWING TO JUNE'S INFIRMITY, THEN PROGRESSIVELY MORE SMOOTHLY. MAUREEN I had a daughter named Susie. (PAUSE TO READ THE NEWSPAPER) Could be anybody's bones, couldn't it? Coppers reckon it's a girl. (PAUSE) None of them kids are here now. They all disappeared together it seemed. All I remember clear is the searchin'. They'd come back night after night after findin' nothin'and they - they came back 'ere an' they drank. They drank like they were tryin' to kill themselves. Every night they'd be at it, tossin' 'em down one after the other, an' if they hadn't collapsed by closin' time they'd keep drinkin'. Sometimes we'd come in in the mornin' an' Simmo would be slumped over the table, sleepin' in his own vomit. Then he disappeared too - like the others. SIMMO ENTERS AND WALKS SLOWLY TOWARDS TONY. (MAUREEN) He left without a word. No goodbyes, no traces. There was no one to keep him here. But I stayed, waitin' ... I made excuses to stay. (SHE RUBS THE BAR SLOWLY WITH A CLOTH). MACKA AND JUNE STOP DANCING AND HE LEADS HER OFF. SIMMO TAKES THE GUITAR FROM TONY, LOOKS GENTLY AT HIM THEN STANDS HIM UP AND KICKS HIM IN THE ARSE. THEY EXIT. (MAUREEN) Oh Susie where are you? I've dreamed of findin' you. (SHE THUMPS THE BAR) There's this wall an' I stand behind it. It's not bricks or stones - everything gets in the way of something else. They build walls, an' I just want my baby, but all I get is bare, clean, unadorned and unremarkable bones. END OF INDUCTION. SCENE 1 - A PROPERTY OUT WEST THE VERANDAH OF A COUNTRY HOMESTEAD. IT IS LATE AFTERNOON, JUST AFTER WORK IS DONE AND THE MEN ARE CLEANED UP FOR DINNER. IT IS CLEAR AND STILL, PEACEFUL AND COOL LIKE THE TIME FOLLOWING A SUMMER SHOWER. TONY IS LOOKING FOR HIS CAT TO FEED IT. TONY West! West! Where are ya, ya stupid old bastard. (HE LOOKS IN A FEW PLACES, WHISTLING) SIMMO ENTERS WITH A TABLOID NEWSPAPAPER. HE TURNS TO OGLING PAGE THREE. TONY Here puddy, puddy, puddy... SIMMO STOPS, LOOKS APPRECIATIVELY AT THE PAPER THEN LOOKS AT TONY WHO HAS HIS HEAD HIDDEN. SIMMO G'day mate. You lost something? TONY (STARTLED) Ah bugger ya, Simmo. Have you seen West? SIMMO Seen what? TONY My flamin' cat. SIMMO TOSSES A LETTER TO TONY. SIMMO Mail for ya. TONY I been waitin' for this. (PAUSE) Mail usually comes earlier don't it? TONY IMMEDIATELY RIPS OPEN THE LETTER. SIMMO LOOKS RELIEVED. SIMMO Who do you know in Coffs Harbour? TONY No one. Mind yer own, mate. SIMMO Looks like girl's writin'. TONY OPENS THE LETTER AND READS EAGERLY. SIMMO WATCHES OVER THE TOP OF HIS PAPER. SIMMO (POINTING) There he is! TONY What? SIMMO Yer cat. Goin' under the chair. TONY LEAPS, MISSES, AND KNOCKS HIS HEAD. SIMMO LAUGHS AT HIM. TONY Read yer paper, Simmo. SIMMO Bugger'll go hungry. TONY Well he can catch a bloody snake. SIMMO (WHILE TONY READS) I told you to stop writin' to her months ago. TONY I stopped. She didn't. I started again. Fair enough? SIMMO No. (THE CAT IS RUBBING UP AGAINST HIS LEG. HE KICKS IT AWAY) Eh! Stop rubbin' up against me leg. TONY Simmo! SIMMO Mangy rag. TONY He does that 'cause he likes ya. SIMMO Schemin' bastard thinks I'll feed it. So what does she say? TONY She says "Give my love to Simmo". SIMMO She does not! Schemin bitch.... she was never nothin' but trouble and I reckon...piss off will ya. (HE KICKS THE CAT AWAY AGAIN, THEN SITS AND READS) TONY READS HIS LETTER. (SIMMO) So June's still lookin' for ya. (PAUSE) Been a fair while out here aint we? Do ya remember when I came here lookin' for ya. Remember what ya said? TONY No. SIMMO I do. Remember every word I do. Ya said that June left ya one night and Susie went with her. Remember them words, Tony? TONY Ancient history, Simmo. As I recollect I also asked ya never to mention it again, so don't. SIMMO I never mentioned it again. TONY Ya did just then. SIMMO I was just wonderin' if you heard from Susie too. Does June talk about her? TONY Never. SIMMO Funny for a bloke like you to spend so long on property outback - never movin' - never goin' anywhere - never chasin' skirts. Look at me. Good wife - coupla nice kids an' a good job. Place we live is flamin' remote but I'm not complainin'. Now take you... TONY What in blazes has got into you? SIMMO ... ya got no family 'cept me - ya got no ambition - no plans - never go chasin' women - never get drunk anymore. How come ya never told me what happened? TONY I didn't think yer'd be interested. SIMMO Well I am so tell me about it. I just want to help you. TONY Yeah? Need help do I? SIMMO You always need help. I been lookin' after ya since I got here haven't I? TONY Ya followed me here, beat me up and then hung around ignoring me for years while ya larked around with that sheila ya married. WEST SCRATCHES TONY AND HE REACTS TO THAT AND SHOOS THE CAT AWAY. (TONY) Get out of it ya mongrel. SIMMO Ya said there was an accident. TONY All right Simmo. There was an accident. Remember them nights we used to have down at the Loco? Jees we used to drink like ... that night was really wild Simmo. SIMMO I remember the night, mate. June left first, then me and Macka left. TONY The three of us were really pissed, and we went out screamin' in the car. We just went - the three of us just went. Doesn't matter. Leave it. I'm tryin' to read me mail. SIMMO Finish yer story. You were sayin' June didn't want ya... TONY Hey we were all set, me and June. We were set, the two of us. Do ya remember us singin' those nights? We were goin' places. SIMMO Big dream TONY We were gettin' out of there. SIMMO So why did she leave ya? TONY 'Cause I let you push me around. TONY PUSHES SIMMO WHO REACTS BY PUSHING BACK HARDER. SIMMO Really? "He's just a thug, Tony". SIMMO PUSHES TONY INTO A WALL AND PINS HIM. JUNE Well what would she say now, eh, if she saw ya beltin' me up against the wall? SIMMO "Go to it, Simmo. Hold 'im down so I can have a go." TONY "He's a thug, Tony." SIMMO RELEASES TONY WHO PUSHES HIM AGAIN. SIMMO "Ooh don't hurt me." Why'd she leave ya anyway? TONY Simmo... SIMMO Yer right, bugger it, I don't wanna hear about you two. What happened to Susie? (TONY DOESN'T RESPOND) Tony? (PAUSE) You know I went to the pub the day you all disappeared? TONY Big surprise. SIMMO Yeah well I was there early. Anyway I hung around all bloody day waitin', an' no one turned up. After a while Maureen told me she couldn't find Susie anywhere, so I got on the blower and I couldn't find you and I couldn't find Macka. (TONY STARTS TO READ HIS LETTER AGAIN) Jees it was weird. The pub was packed that night, blokes yellin' and brawlin', but I was sittin' in the corner by myself an' I could hear the blood in me ears. I could hear me heart beatin' faster an' faster. Jesus I was crook. TONY IS READING HIS LETTER, PACING THE STAGE AND SMILING. TONY I'm leavin' Simmo. SIMMO And Maureen was yellin' at everyone - the drinkers and the cops and the phone an' me.... are you listenin'? TONY Did ya hear me? I'm leavin'. SIMMO GRABS TONY BY HIS SHIRT. SIMMO Why don't ya ever listen to me? TONY 'Cause ya talk too loud and ya talk shit. An' you never listened to me either but ya have to now. Are ya listenin'? Good. I'm leavin'. I'm goin down to Tamworth to meet up with June. SIMMO No. TONY I've gotta break out of here, Simmo. SIMMO I don't think so. Yer not leavin' me again, Tony. TONY I don't need yer permission. SIMMO It's not a request this time, Tony. I'm tellin' ya. TONY Stop pushin' me around. SIMMO I haven't hit ya for years. TONY Ya gonna kill me one day. SIMMO It's the only way to teach you. You really scared of me? I never meant to hurt you, Tony. Maybe I liked to rough you up a bit...but I have to make you understand anything. TONY And I'm scared of what I'll do to you. SIMMO Oh yeah. What are ya gonna do, big fella? Show me yer muscles an' I'll run away scared. TONY Don't make me, Simmo. Let me leave. SIMMO So I have to thump sense into ya, an I have to thump a story out of ya. TONY Back off. I'm goin' an' ya can't change me mind. SIMMO What did ya do to Susie? TONY Back off, will ya. SIMMO You puny bastard (HE PUSHES TONY ). If ya go I'll tell the cops where you are. TONY (DUMBFOUNDED) The cops? So what? SIMMO They'll bring ya back. TONY What are you talkin' about. SIMMO Yeah they'll chase ya. TONY I done nothin'. SIMMO But I'll never see you again then. Don't ya see? Yer safe here, Tony. This is the only place they can't find ya. I'm the only one that knows. Yer safe here. SIMMO THROWS TONY TO THE GROUND. SIMMO So why do ya have to meet her in Tamworth? TONY Well I can't go to Coffs. Macka would kill me if I turned up there. SIMMO And she can't come here ... TONY Because you might ... SIMMO All right, all right. So when is this romantic reunion? TONY Tomorrow? SIMMO Eh? TONY Says here she's goin' down there tomorrow, see. TONY HOLD THE LETTER UP SO SIMMO CAN READ IT. THE POST MARK IS NOW TOWARDS TONY. SIMMO Get it away. It stinks. TONY (LAUGHING) Just a little perfume, mate. SIMMO Don't let it touch me. TONY Can ya read it Simmo? Is it close enough? TONY PUTS THE LETTER IN SIMMO'S FACE THEN GETS CLOSE TO IT HIMSELF. HIS NOSE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OFF THE LETTER FROM SIMMO'S TONY Hang on. This was posted last week. SIMMO Tomorrow's even worse. You can't go there tomorrow. TONY Why so long? Don't take letters that long to get here. SIMMO Not now. You can't go down there now. There'll be cops everywhere. TONY Have you been keepin' this? SIMMO I'm sorry, Tony. I'm sorry but ya gotta trust me - you can't leave. TONY How come it took so long? Bastard. TONY THROWS SIMMO OFF AND THEY STAND. SIMMO I have to thump ya, Tony. I have to. TONY An' how come you delivered it? SIMMO CHARGES TONY AND PEGS HIM AGAINST THE WALL. SIMMO You never learned to trust anyone, did ya. You think I'm gonna thump you don't you? Why d'ya look so scared, mate? How many times have I thumped yer properly in yer life? TONY You kept it. SIMMO I aint never donged you proper, Tony. You're me cousin. You're me brother. Blood brothers. I wouldn't hurt you. TONY You been readin' my bloody mail. TONY PUSHES HIM AWAY, BUT SIMMO GRABS TONY'S ARM AND THROWS HIM INTO A CHAIR AND TRAPS HIM AGAIN. SIMMO You got no trust, mate that's your problem. TONY Ya nick me mail and read it, then throw me to the ground and get ready to pound me - an' ya ask me to trust ya. Okay Simmo if that's what ya want - I trust ya Simmo. SIMMO You smartarse. Yer twistin' me words. I just want ya to rely on me. TONY Ya go behind me back. What's there to rely on? SIMMO Jees ya make me crook... I'm tryin' to do what's right for ya, 'cause somethin' happened that means you need protectin' - mostly from yer own stupidity. I'm still lookin' out for ya, eh? TONY Yeah. I just don't like yer methods, that's all. You knew I was hurtin' an' still all ya wanna do is push me around. SIMMO I knew you were hurtin'? Ya never told me nothin'. How was I supposed to know? TONY You shoulda just known, that's all. SIMMO So I'm supposed to be a mind reader. Fat chance a seein' somethin' in there. SIMMO LAUGHS AT HIS JOKE AND SOFTENS. TONY I'll be bloody happy to get out of here tomorrow. SIMMO TACKLES TONY AND PEGS HIM TO THE GROUND. SIMMO I told you no. Not ever, and not tomorrow. TONY What do you want from me? SIMMO Take me back to that night. Why were June and Susie screamin'? SIMMO IS SITTING ON TONY. TONY Piss off. SIMMO Somethin' real interestin' in the paper today. TONY I'm not interested in racing tips. SIMMO Comfortable? TONY I'd prefer the page three bird. SIMMO Real interestin' it is. TONY (MAKING A GRAB FOR THE PAPER - SUFFOCATING UNDER SIMMO) Well show us for Chrissake instead of yabberin'. SIMMO Let me. "Police in Tamworth are investigating the finding of a skeleton on a property six miles out of town. They have not, as yet, been able to identify the remains, but reports are that it is believed to be of a young woman that died between 5 and 10 years ago. Many locals remember the disappearance sixteen years ago of two young woman and a young man. Maureen McGrath, the mother of one of the girls, thinks that the skeleton could belong to her daughter, Susie. " (PAUSE) Tony? What do ya reckon about that? TONY HAS GONE LIMP. SIMMO GETS OFF HIM. SIMMO What do ya reckon? TONY You read pretty well for a lumphead. (HE LAUGHS) And guess what. We're meetin' at the Loco too - tomorrow - me and June. They'll be pleased to see us, eh? (HE TAKES THE PAPER OFF SIMMO THEN READS AND VERIFIES THE STORY. HIS LAUGH TURNS HYSTERICAL) SIMMO It couldn't be true could it. You never told me someone died. TONY Why now? SIMMO You never told me that. Is it true? eh? Could it be true? TONY Why now? I finally decide to make a move and ... why now? I can't go can I, eh Simmo? What do ya reckon - Simmo? SIMMO Is it true? TONY What do I do Simmo? SIMMO Listen to me question ya prick. TONY I wanna meet June there tomorrow. SIMMO (SHAKING TONY) Why didn't ya tell me she was dead? TONY What do I do? SIMMO But why do I bother askin' - you never tell me nothin'. You never give me nothin' 'cause all bloody Tony Munroe does is take what Tony Monroe wants. Wants to think he's a tough guy. A murderer. I followed a murderer. TONY I didn't ask ya to come after me Simmo. SIMMO What did I have to stay for? You were gone. Macka was gone. And Susie was gone. TONY Eh? SIMMO You never knew, did ya. You never knew what I needed, did ya? TONY You took it if ya could. SIMMO But I could only take what was given. But you had to take what no one owed you. She liked you. I know I'm as rough as guts, but so are you, an' I never used no one. You rotten bastard, how could you kill her? And how the hell do I mourn after all these years.... (HE SHAKES TONY VIOLENTLY) and why, why, why didn't you tell me she was dead. Why... SIMMO SOBS BRIEFLY ON TONY'S SHOULDER. PAUSE. THEY SEPARATE. TONY Peaceful, aint it, after a shower? SIMMO Only just settled the dust. We need a thumpin' good soak. Couple of inches at least. TONY Peaceful's peaceful, an' I'm grateful for that. Settles the dust. Settles the bones. Best time a year out here after a shower at dusk. SIMMO Came a bit early today. It's quiet too early. Gets on ya nerves. (PAUSE) So is it really Susie they found? TONY Place is right. SIMMO Don't look too good mate... TONY Don't you start thinkin' ... don't think nothin' about it Simmo. Nothin'. SIMMO I'm just sayin' ... You never finished yer story. TONY Nothin'. There's nothin' to know. No dirty play. Not me. Not June. No dirty play. SIMMO Then Susie was...? TONY There was an acident Simmo. An accident. (AND THEN QUIETLY) Remember folk nights we used to have down at the Loco? SIMMO June and me and Macka had left. TONY Jees we used to drink like ... it was really wild Simmo. The three of us were really pissed, and we went out screamin' and Susie got crushed. June was screamin', and I was screamin' ... She got in her car and just drove off - screamin'. So I dumped Susie's body an' I drove off in the other direction. I was so scared I didn't know what I was doin' - I just drove an' drove till I ran outta fuel an' I walked and walked - but Susie... SIMMO Talk sense, mate. TONY ... I just dumped her body in the bush. SIMMO You what? TONY I was pissed. SIMMO You were scared. TONY Rat arse pissed. SIMMO Scared shitless. TONY Jesus Simmo how could I do that? I just dumped her. And now.... now... I've been stranded here doin' nothin' but swingin' tools, day after day in the heat, tryin' to bash it out of me system. Every swing, crash a picture of Susie and the next one crash, a picture of June and on and on until ... now I'm just sweat and muscle and regret, and I think of how we used to laugh and drink and sing... Everyday - every hour since that night I've tried to think of Susie and ... I wanna yell, and everytime I get her face in me head in comes June and pushes her out. I'm not with June. Susie's gone, but I can't mourn her until I see June again. PAUSE. SIMMO Peaceful aint it, after a shower? TONY She was my friend too. SIMMO You two timin' bastard. None of us could trust you, could we. So tomorrow? TONY Tomorrow? Guess I'll go off to meet June at the Loco. SIMMO Do you expect me to visit yer in prison? If you've still got any brains you'll call it off. TONY She's probably left by now. SIMMO Telephone. Telegram. TONY I can't. You know what Macka's like. Bloody scavenger - there'd be nothin' left but bones. SIMMO So stand her up and explain next time you write. TONY She's gonna leave Macka for good tonight, so I'll never find her again ... hey an' what if she hasn't heard the news about Susie, eh? SIMMO What if she has heard and doesn't go. It's in all the papers. I bet she hears it and thinks you'll hear it too. It's a moral that's what'll happen. If you turn up tomorrow she wont be there and you'll get nicked. It's a moral. TONY If I don't go and warn her she might get caught. SIMMO But if you go you'll both get caught. TONY So there's no answer. But we've been plannin' for months, now. SIMMO Oh, have yer? TONY So ya didn't read all me letters? SIMMO And what'll you do if Macka finds ya? TONY I can handle Macka. SIMMO I'd like to see that. An' Maureen will be onto you like a shot and she'll get the coppers onto you then... TONY Then what? They got nothin' on me Simmo. SIMMO Oh yeah. They'd put somethin' on ya soon enough. TONY They've got nothin' on me. SIMMO Ya still can't go... TONY Do you know how much I hate it here Simmo? Nothin' has happened to me here. Nothin' but doin' nothin' except thinkin' - 'cause all I got is memories here. I don't wait for things to happen 'cause I don't want anything. I haven't seen anyone or spoken a word to anyone but my stupid cat. An' all it does is rub up against me leg knowin' if it looks cute I'll feed it. (HE KICKS IT AWAY) SIMMO Someone oughtta kick you. Knock some sense into ya. TONY I'm sick of feelin' trapped out here. SIMMO What the hell can ya mean by that I wonder? Single bloke livin' in the middle of nowhere with plenty of brass and no commitments is worried about 'is freedom. What he doesn't realise is that he's like his cat, 'cause without someone lookin' after 'im 'ed be dead meat... TONY GETS UP AND BEGINS TO PACE. TONY (UNDER SIMMO) Rave...rave...rave... SIMMO (...CONTINUED) Needs his big brother to look after him he does, but do ya think he's grateful or anythin'? Do you think he trusts his big brother to look after him? It's a big bad lonely place, isn't it Tony. It's a hot, dry, dusty, remote and lonely place you live in. But do you think... TONY (EXPLODES) I hate this place. I hate it here, Simmo. I stayed 'cause there was nowhere else to go. There is nothin' here - nothin' to keep me here 'cause there's nothin' here I want. SIMMO I'm here. TONY And I'm here because of you. If you'd left me and June alone... SIMMO "It's all that Simmo's fault". TONY I mean it. It's your fault that I spent all me time away from June, that I spent it drinkin' me arse off. It's your fault that I poured so much beer down me throat I didn't know what I... I... I... SIMMO "Oh Tony. You're a drunk an' a sleaze, but I forgive ya - it's all that Simmo's fault." I aint the one that killed me mate an' dropped her in the bush, eh? Ask Susie who's fault it was. TONY And now you still want to keep us apart. Finally we can get together without you an' you won't let me. SIMMO Without me? TONY Just me an' June. SIMMO Without me, you ungrateful bastard. (HE LOOMS OVER TONY AND RAISES HIS FISTS). Show me what you can do without me, mate? TONY Anything. Just as long as I do one thing. SIMMO Come on. TONY Just one will do. SIMMO Show me. TONY You know I can't beat ya. SIMMO Without me... but I looked out for you... (PREPARES TO STRIKE, BUT DOESN'T) TONY I know. SIMMO Without me? (HE LOWERS HIS FISTS AND BACKS OFF) So ya really goin'? TONY Ya reckon anyone will reckernise me? SIMMO Yeah, an' they'll chuck ya in the slammer. TONY Doesn't scare me. When you've got nothin' to lose... SIMMO Ooh write a song, Tony. "Throw in a little heartbreak." TONY Don't make fun of me. I'm leavin' tomorrow. SIMMO (MOCK COUNTRY SINGING) "I'm a fool, an' I'm leavin', tomorrow." AS HE SINGS, SIMMO TURNS HIS BACK TO TONY WHO JUMPS HIM AND PUTS HIM IN AN HEADLOCK. TONY GETS SIMMO INTO A WRESTLING HOLD THAT SIMMO CANNOT BREAK FROM. TONY Don't mock me. SIMMO You slimy, mongrel. You never jumped me in yer whole life. TONY (TIGHTENING HIS GRIP) And forget me, wont ya. Ya gonna let me go, eh Simmo? SIMMO I can't let yer go Tony. (SQUEEZE) Hey. TONY Yer not gonna pound me any more Simmo. I put up with your bullyin' me whole life, an now I'm runnin' for good again, an' I don't want you chasin' me this time. Ya gonna chase me Simmo? (SQUEEZE. SIMMO GRUNTS) C'mon, answer me, or do ya want me to crush yer throat like ya used to do to me. This is a game I learned from you Simmo. I want you to answer me but I'm not gonna let ya, so how are we gonna do this. Maybe you could stomp for me. Yeah, one stomp for no, two for yes - let's try it. Ya gonna let me go away aren't ya Simmo. C'mon stomp for me. (SIMMO IS ENRAGED) Stomp, Simmo, one for no, two for yes. Stomp for me. (SIMMO STOMPS ONCE) Wrong, Simmo. One for no, two for yes. (SIMMO BEGINS TO STOMP REPEATEDLY) One, two, that's better. Stop, Simmo. Stop. Stop. Stop. (IN TIME WITH THE STOMPING) Stop. Stop. Stooooop. (HE THROWS SIMMO TO THE GROUND) SIMMO (FALLING) I'll kill you. (HE GETS UP AND FACES TONY WHO STARES AT HIM WEAKLY) You shouldn't 've done that. TONY I'm dying here. SIMMO I'll kill you. TONY I'm dying here, anyway. This dry bloody heat, Simmo. Years of boredom an' regret an' fear an' hatred an' lies an' lies an' lies an' lies....an' loneliness. SIMMO An' I could never help ya? TONY I didn't mean that. SIMMO You ungrateful bastard. Yer not even tryin' to be a hero. Yer tryin' to find June so you can fob some of yer guilt onto her. Ya just can't hold it alone, can yer. TONY I love her. SIMMO You told me that last time. TONY I'm lonely. SIMMO Then go. (PAUSE) But promise me somethin'. TONY No. SIMMO Promise me you'll come back. TONY No, Simmo. No more promises. SIMMO (THREATENING) I'll thump ya. TONY Then thump me. I don't care what ya do to me, anymore. You can kill me if ya want, but I'm not promisin'. SIMMO (STARTING TO ATTACK. HE GRABS TONY) I'll beat it out of ya. TONY (COMPLETELY PASSIVE) I don't care. SIMMO LIFTS HIS FIST AS IF TO STRIKE. TONY MAKES NO MOVE. HE IS COMPLETELY INDIFFERENT. SIMMO PAUSES, UNCERTAIN ABOUT THIS NEW PLOY OF TONY'S. SIMMO CHANGES HIS GRIP ON TONY BY GRABBING THE FRONT OF TONY'S SHIRT AND HOLDING HIM AT ARMS LENGTH. SIMMO I love you, Tony. TONY Then I'll come back. SIMMO There gonna nick ya for sure. You know that, eh? TONY If ya let me go I'll be able to find me bloody cat. SIMMO You always were a stupid bastard. SIMMO PUSHES TONY AWAY. TONY EXITS. SIMMO You really will come back? Tony? SIMMO EXITS, FOLLOWING TONY. END OF SCENE 1. SCENE 2 - AT JUNE AND MACKA'S PLACE AT COFFS HARBOUR JUNE ENTERS WITH A HEAVY BAG. SHE STUFFS SOME LETTERS INTO THE TOP AND DOES IT UP AND HIDES IT. SHE PICKS UP THE CAT AND SITS AFTER PICKING UP THE NEWSPAPER SIMMO HAS LEFT. SHE READS A LETTER WHILE STROKING THE CAT. MACKA ENTERS. MACKA Ah good. Ya got the paper. JUNE IS STARTLED, THE CAT RUNS AWAY. MACKA GRABS FOR THE PAPER. MACKA Jumpy. Give us it. JUNE Ow. You scared her. MACKA Come on. SHE LETS IT GO, TRYING TO HIDE THE LETTER SHE HAS BEEN READING. MACKA SEES THE LETTER BUT IGNORES IT. JUNE All right. Take it. MACKA Well thank you. I can take my paper now, can I? JUNE I went an' got it for ya. MACKA SITS AND BEGINS TO READ THE PAPER. HE TURNS IMMEDIATELY TO THE BACK OF THE PAPER TO READ ABOUT RACE HORSES. JUNE GOES TO COOKING. JUNE You had a good day then? MACKA Where's dinner? JUNE It's comin'. How was your day? MACKA I see Freddy Jackson has horse runnin' at Grafton tomorrow. Might go up an' back it. Better see the lads at the club - get the word on it. JUNE You don't remember what day it is. MACKA He's a sly bastard. Keep it to himself. If word gets out he's on a winner he'll do 'is odds. JUNE We used to celebrate this day. MACKA Wonder who 'es got ridin her? JUNE Macka, Love? MACKA When's dinner? JUNE Oh, soon. MACKA What's takin' so long? JUNE I done a special roast for our anniversary. MACKA This again? JUNE Anniversary. The day when we found each other - we found we needed each other. MACKA Don't play it up. We only found each other by accident - I found you stumblin' along the road - could hardly walk, could ya? Very lucky you were. JUNE I knew what I was doin'. MACKA You were lookin' for me, weren't ya? You were lucky I was about. JUNE You followed me. MACKA Lucky to be alive at all. JUNE You were followin' me. You coulda stopped me gettin' hurt, but ya hung back ya gutless bastard. You coulda stopped it... MACKA I don't know how you were hurt 'cause ya never told me the truth. As if I woulda followed you out there. It was luck, that's all. You were just lucky that was the night I left Edie and went out on me own. JUNE She kicked you out. MACKA I was sick of her. JUNE She dumped you for another man. MACKA She didn't know any other men. I walked away, and I found you... you were... JUNE (SOFTENING) Well at least I found ya. We've had a good time, eh, and it's another year. MACKA So why're we celebratin'? Just get it on the table. JUNE Used to mean somethin' to ya, Macka. MACKA What? Me wife ran off with another man. JUNE I know. And it wasn't you that left her. Why would she leave you Macka? MACKA I been good to you. JUNE I never said you hadn't. MACKA You'd have kept walkin' if ya could. JUNE I wanted to be around... MACKA I kept you around. JUNE 'Spose ya think you was doin' me a favour? MACKA Ya loved me didn't yer? Ya had to, 'cause there was nothin' else ya could do. JUNE Why do you keep pretendin', Macka? Why do ya have to prove to yaself that you've got somethin' over me? You know I stayed 'cause I wanted to, not so's you'd keep me secrets. You're changed, Macka. Before Edie turned up again, you were the gentlest man in the world, an' now... MACKA You're such a smartass, aren't ya. A dumb, stupid smartass. Why don't ya just shuttup an' cook. JUNE One day.... MACKA One day what? JUNE One day I might just get out of here. Leave this rut - this hole. MACKA You! You haven't got the brains to do an original thing like that. Ya not that stupid either. JUNE So I can't get out bein' clever or dumb. MACKA That's about it. JUNE Yer cruel... MACKA Tough. JUNE ...'an you enjoy it. MACKA Oh yeah I love it. JUNE Yer horrible to me. MACKA You an yer spiteful little ways. JUNE You horrible bastard. I oughtta put arsenic in yer tea. MACKA Oh you're good at killin', aintcha. JUNE Don't bring that up. MACKA Ya proved me point anyway. Bitch. JUNE Don't bring that ... I'm sorry, Macka. I'm sorry. I'll get yer tea now. MACKA Murderin' bitch. JUNE Stop it. MACKA Killer. JUNE Stop it Macka. I'd prefer you hit me. I'd prefer you beat the hell out of me, like you used to do to Edie. I pitied you, you know. I used ta think we misjudged you, and you weren't the total bastard that everyone said. MACKA (LAUGHING) Oh so what changed your mind? JUNE You were nice to me! MACKA Yeah well I didn't need pity. JUNE You needed it all right. Edie kicked you out with nothin'. MACKA I left her 'cause she had nothin'. JUNE She left you - and you never ever thought you mighta done somethin' wrong - somethin' to be sorry for - somethin' to regret that you could never talk about - or forget. Then you followed me. You watched me drink meself stupid and get beaten up and then you followed me till I could barely move any more. You were waitin' for me, weren't ya. MACKA I found you draggin' yourself along the street. You were just a rag clingin' to that kitten. Why would I wait for a used up piece of dirt like that. JUNE You ... You found me dyin'. Macka ... Love ... you saved my life. MACKA What was I supposed to do? Let ya bleed to death? JUNE You remember? MACKA (HE EXPLODES) Of course I bloody well rememeber. I puked my guts up ... I ... I thought I was gonna die I was so sick. When I saw that thing... Jesus you had it wrapped up in newspaper. Oh June how could you do that. I've never seen anything so ... I shoulda let you bleed. JUNE You followed me ... MACKA How could you? JUNE ... and saved my life because you loved me. MACKA These ideas - sheilas always lyin'. You didn't have to come with me. JUNE I wanted to. MACKA You had just murdered yer best friend! You had no choice. You had to get away. JUNE To stay with you. I wanted to stay with you. Not just 'cause you could blackmail me. I loved you... MACKA Liar! JUNE So now I suffer. MACKA You deserve it. JUNE You hurt me. MACKA That's justice. JUNE You pitiful mongrel. But I don't pity you any more. You are so weak you can't even admit you might have loved a girl - you might have loved me. What's the matter? Words too hard for you? Or too soft? Or too loud... MACKA I never... Why can't you just let things be without all this yellin' and banshee screamin'. JUNE Because I am so unhappy. Can't you see that? MACKA Can't you see that I don't care? JUNE I don't believe you. It wasn't like this ... I never wanted to leave before. MACKA I told ya before - you're too smart to do that and you're too dumb... JUNE Leave you. Forever. MACKA ... to dumb to get by without me. JUNE I can do it, you know. Leave you with nothin'.... MACKA That's a threat with nothin' behind it June. JUNE With nothin'. Just like Edie left you with nothin'. HE GETS UP AN MOVES TOWARDS HER. SHE FEARS HIM AND BACKS AWAY. JUNE You got nothin' to give, Macka. MACKA You can't leave and ya know it. There's nothin' for ya out there even if ya did leave. Where ya gonna go? Where ya gonna turn without me? What ya gonna eat? Where ya gonna sleep, an' who's gonna cook me tea. ON 'TEA' HE SLAPS HER AND SHE FALLS BACK ONTO THE LOUNGE CHAIR, HOLDING HER FACE. JUNE (SCREAMS) No! (SPOKEN) You never hit me before. MACKA IS HORRIFIED. MACKA God don't let it start again. No... MACKA BURIES HIS HEAD IN HIS HANDS, THEN EVENTUALLY HE OFFERS HIS HAND AND HELPS JUNE OUT OF THE CHAIR. MACKA Who would cook me tea? JUNE (WITH MACKA) So ya want me to make ya tea? MACKA SITS GOES BACK TO READING THE PAPER. JUNE GOES TO COOKING. MACKA Freddie Jackson has a horse runnin' tomorrow. I told you that, didn't I? He's a sly bastard ..... Would you really leave? JUNE We've been so long together, I didn't think I could go through with it Macka. MACKA Go through with what? JUNE Leaving you - until now. MACKA Don't joke about it June. You wouldn't leave me would ya? Don't scare me. JUNE I'm goin' tomorrow. MACKA Really. JUNE I've packed. MACKA You need me June. (PAUSE) I seen you're face in the dark, June. You scare me those nights, when you screw up inside in yer dreams an' I .... I hold you. (PAUSE) When I think what you musta seen that night ... I'm the only one who sees what you keep in there - I know what you feel, an' I know I help you. I been thinkin' about goin' for the police for years. They'd make ya tell yer story. Then they could find that bastard an' be finished with it. JUNE Forget about Tony! You never believed anything I said did ya, Macka? You never believed I loved you, an' I've forgotten Tony a long, long time ago. He's been outta my life since the night he... MACKA Our joyous anniversary? He's still with you - in everything you do, an everything ya say. Ya breath it, walk it - sometimes it tastes like ya cook it. You've never forgotten him. I fell... I found out you've never - a hell - I was grateful. JUNE (SHE SMILES) You were more than grateful if I remember. MACKA I wanted you. Bloody hell I wanted you. JUNE But the last few months. MACKA Forget them. I'll be all right. (HE GOES TO HER) I've looked after you, eh? Please June, say you don't mean it. You don't want to leave me do you? (HE PUTS HIS ARMS AROUND HER) JUNE Oh Macka. (SHE RETURNS THE EMBRACE, THEN GENTLY PUSHES HIM AWAY, THOUGH HE CLINGS TO HER). Let me cook, eh? MACKA SEES JUNE'S BAG. HE GOES TO IT PUSHING HER AWAY. MACKA What the hell is this? You have packed. You were goin' to leave me. JUNE I changed me mind, Macka. MACKA You were goin' to leave me. You lyin' bitch. All that you said just now... JUNE I told you I had thought about it and packed Macka. But now I've changed me mind - I'm stayin', all right? MACKA But... JUNE I told ya I had been thinkin' about it - just thinkin' Macka - nothin' definite. MACKA You packed. You bloody mole. You were gonna leave me. JUNE All right I was gonna leave you. I been plannin' for months. For months. Months Macka. Surprised? MACKA PACES BACK AND FORTH. MACKA She packed. Bloody hell she really packed. JUNE Surprised, Macka? MACKA Surprised? Well I'm surprised you thought of goin' through with it. But I knew about yer plans. I mean I've seen the letters, haven't I? But you really packed? JUNE Letters? MACKA I've seen the letters you get from him. I know where you hide them. JUNE You didn't.... you've been readin' my mail you bastard. All that you said ....grateful you said ... you loved me. And now you push me around like I was just yer dirt slave, with yer pushin' an' shovin', just like we knew you used to push Edie around, and now ya read me mail. Ya think I'm a kid? SHE PUSHES HIM. HE SHOWS RESTRAINT. MACKA Don't. JUNE Ya think I don't deserve a life of me own? You forgot why Edie left you, now you've forgotten me, Macka. You forgot what we promised each other when we left home - when we escaped together. You forgot that we needed each other then... an' now... I'm gettin' out of here. JUNE SLAPS MACKA. MACKA Don't hit me. You haven't got the guts to leave. JUNE Oh he talks of bravery! SHE SLAPS HIM AGAIN. MACKA Don't do that. JUNE You've never in yer whole life stood up to anyone yer own size. You've never been able to face a problem without takin' a swipe at someone you reckon is so far below you they should be trod face down in the mud. Where's your courage, Macka? SHE SWINGS AGAIN BUT HE CATCHES HER ARM IN HIS HAND AND HOLDS IT TIGHT. MACKA Why you... JUNE I love him, Macka. MACKA You'll never see him again. JUNE I'm goin' down to Tamworth to meet him. MACKA You aint goin'. You can't go - I wont let ya go - I only ever wanted to be the top thing in yer head. So you're stayin', aren't ya. (HE LAUGHS) You 'ave to live out your exile here with me now. HE TAUNTS HER WITH A LIGHT SLAP ON THE FACE. SHE STANDS FIRM AND SLAPS HIM BACK. MACKA IS ASTONISHED AND THEN ANGRY. HE SWIPES VICIOUSLY. MACKA Don't you. JUNE RECOILS, THEN GETS BACK UP TO FACE HIM. JUNE Coward. MACKA STARTS TO PUSH HER HARDER. MACKA Oh, bugger ya woman, ya make me ravin' mad, ravin stupid. Behavin' like a bloody lunatic, an' talkin' as if any of me words make sense to ya. It'll all come back to me so easily. Just go an' make me dinner will ya. Keep yaself safe. MACKA HITS JUNE HARD. SHE FALLS. MACKA SITS HEAVILY, EXHAUSTED, INTO ONE OF THE CHAIRS. HE GETS UP QUICKLY AS JUNE YELLS.... JUNE (YELLING) No...don't sit there... MACKA HAS SAT ON THE CAT. HE GETS UP, TURNS AROUND, AND KICKS IT WITH MASSIVE VIOLENCE AND MAGNIFICENT ANIMOSITY. MACKA Ya Mangy bloody cat. Ya bastard of a thing... always remindin' me. Always remindin' me of that bastard. JUNE No Macka don't. JUNE PULLS MACKA AWAY FROM THE CAT WHICH HE IS STILL KICKING. SHE FALLS ON IT, WEEPING. JUNE No...again....no.... MACKA (WITH VIOLENCE) Get away from that, ya stupid bitch. MACKA PULLS JUNE AWAY FROM THE CAT. HE HOLDS HER BY THE ARMS AND GLARES IN HER FACE. JUNE Big strong man. THEY ARE LOCKED IN THE HOLD FOR A MOMENT. MACKA I told ya ta get me dinner. MACKA PUSHES JUNE TOWARD THE PLACE WHERE SHE WAS PREPARING A MEAL. MACKA (AND CALMLY) Now do it. MACKA PICKS UP THE PAPER AGAIN. HE SMILES AT JUNE AND SITS VERY, VERY SLOWLY ON THE CHAIR WHERE THE CAT LIES DEAD AND BLEEDING. MACKA Do it. AS MACKA SITS AND GRINS, HE BRINGS UP THE PAPER TO COVER HIS FACE. HE READS, FEELING SUPREMELY SECURE, THOUGH TUNRING PAGES RAPIDLY. JUNE IS PREPARING A MEAL. SHE IS CHOPPING AND BANGING SAUCEPANS AND MAKING NOISES AS SHE GLARES AT MACKA. MACKA HAS STOPPED TURNING PAGES. HE BEGINS TO LAUGH, WHILE JUNE CONTINUES BANGING IN THE KITCHEN. MACKA Well bugger me look at this! You'll never guess what they've found down in Tamworth, June. You listenin' to this? JUNE I don't care. MACKA And you wanted to go down there tomorrow. Would you go to the Loco and say "g'day" to Maureen? Boy would they be glad to see you.... (HE CONTINUES LAUGHING BUT IS INTERRUPTED) JUNE PICKS UP A SAUCEPAN. SHE CREEPS OVER TO WHERE MACKA SITS AND DONGS HIM ON THE HEAD WITH THE SAUCEPAN. IT IS A CRUSHING BLOW, AND HE IS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. SHE PULLS HIM OFF THE CHAIR AND HE SPRAWLS LIFELESS ON THE FLOOR, HIS HEAD BLEEDING. JUNE My pretty, pretty baby, my East. My poor, poor... my poor, poor, baby. AS SHE TALKS TO THE CAT, SHE WRAPS IT UP IN THE NEWSPAPER. (JUNE) It's time to move on again, pretty one. But he wont find us. He'll never find us. (SHE TURNS TO MACKA) Just you try and find me, you bastard. JUNE PICKS UP HER BAG AND EXITS, BUT SHE LEAVES THE CAT AND THE NEWSPAPER BEHIND. END OF SCENE 2. SCENE 3 - THE BAR OF THE LOCOMOTIVE HOTEL, TAMWORTH MAUREEN IS SERVING AT THE BAR. SHE UNWRAPS THE NEWSPAPER (THAT HELD THE CAT) AND BENDS TO READ IT. MAUREEN See the way I read the news? - with me head bent like I was prayin'. I just don't know where to find truth - in a bible or a beer glass. Wherever I look you know what I see? A reflection - a picture of my daughter? A reflection of the child inside? If the water in the well was always still an' clear, we'd never a bothered inventin' mirrors, or cameras or newspapers. To twist, to squeeze a heart in your hand or turn it in your memory - to be fightin' a devil - to hate life and hope. SIMMO ENTERS AND SITS AT THE BAR. MAUREEN Simmo! (MECHANICALLY GETTING A BEER FOR SIMMO.) SIMMO G'day Maureen. Been a while, eh? MAUREEN Schooner is it? SIMMO Yeah, thanks. MAUREEN Where've ya been ya bastard? SIMMO Well you know - around. MAUREEN Ya winnin'? SIMMO Nah. Got married. MAUREEN (SHE LAUGHS AT HIM) Bugger me eh? Where have you been. (PAUSE) You heard the news then? (PAUSE. SHE BEGINS LAUGHING AGAIN.) You got married. Christ I don't believe it. (CALLING OFF) Yeah hang on I'm comin'. (TO SIMMO) You hang around and tell me about it. MAUREEN EXITS, LAUGHING. TONY POKES HIS HEAD IN AT THE SIDE. TONY Pssst. Simmo. SIMMO SEES HIM AND GOES OVER. TONY What the hell are you doin' here. You'll give everything away you moron. SIMMO I.... TONY June's late. SIMMO I couldn't .... TONY If you see her tell her I'm out the back. SIMMO Don't be crook with me - I came down to help ya. TONY Ah Simmo. Ya oughtta be donged ya all the way to the moon. SIMMO You're too stupid. You need help, eh? TONY I suppose. SIMMO But I couldn't let you.... TONY Simmo. It's all right. Meet us out the back later, but tell June where I am, all right? SIMMO I c... TONY All right? SIMMO All right. Just get out of here. MAUREEN ENTERS. TONY DISAPPEARS. MAUREEN Who was that, Simmo? SIMMO Some bloke lookin' for the Family Hotel. MAUREEN Where'd ya send him? SIMMO The Criterion. MAUREEN (LAUGHING AND EXITING WITH NEW BEERS FOR OTHER CUSTOMERS) Shoulda brung him in. I need the customers. JUNE ENTERS. JUNE Pssst. Simmo! SIMMO IGNORES HER. JUNE Simmo! SIMMO LOOKS INTO THE AIR. MAUREEN WALKS ACROSS THE STAGE COLLECTING GLASSES. JUNE DUCKS OUT. MAUREEN You finished yer beer yet mate? SIMMO Yeah I'll go another. MAUREEN 'ang on a minute then. MAUREEN EXITS. JUNE DUCKS BACK IN. JUNE Simmo! Please. SIMMO RELENTS AND GOES TO HER. TONY ENTERS AT OTHER SIDE OF STAGE AND SITS ON THE GROUND WITH HIS GUITAR. HE STARTS TO PLAY. SIMMO He's around the back you stupid bitch. JUNE Nice to see ya, Simmo. SIMMO Just piss off before I get the cops will ya. MAUREEN MAUREEN ENTERS AT THE BAR. MAUREEN So tell us about yer missus. JUNE DUCKS BACK OUT. SHE IS OBSUCURED BY SIMMO WHO IS POINTING. MAUREEN Simmo? SIMMO SITS BACK DOWN AT THE BAR, PREOCCUPIED. MAUREEN Who is she? SIMMO Stupid bitch. MAUREEN Well that's nice. SIMMO (FINALLY NOTICING HER) Eh? MAUREEN I asked about yer missus. SIMMO RELAXES. HE LAUGHS. SIMMO Get us another beer, eh Maureen? TONY STARTS TO PLAY "A STEEL STRING GUITAR AND A CAT NAMED BERLIN." LIGHTS DOWN ON THE BAR BUT MAUREEN AND SIMMO STAY THERE AND LISTEN IN SILENCE. JUNE, ENTERS AND LISTENS TO TONY SING. TONY (SINGS) We travel around, the road is our home, Sleep under the stars and in country inns. We aint got much that we call our own, 'Cept a steel string guitar and a cat named Berlin. People ask "Where are you goin'to?" "Why do you keep on travellin'?" "And what are you taking with you?" TONY Just my steel string guitar, JUNE And a cat named Berlin. "What will you do when you get there," my friend, They ask, but they're not understandin', That for us this road don't have an end, We just walk hand in hand Followed by Berlin. JUNE ENTERS AND SITS BESIDE TONY. THEY SING THE END OF THE SONG TOGETHER. What do you think, will we still be together, At the end of all this wanderin' It's a pity we couldn't go on forever, With the steel string guitar, And the cat named Berlin. JUNE You've changed the ending, you bastard. How am I supposed to sing the proper harmony. TONY I didn't think you were comin'. THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER. JUNE You heard about Susie then? TONY (PAUSE) Hey, you want to meet West, my cat? JUNE (TAKING THE CAT) Hello Baby - aren't you all grown up now? You're so much like your sister, you know, and neither of you looked even remotely like Berlin. TONY Never found the father did we? JUNE We oughtta get out of here. It was a mistake to come. TONY Yeah. THEY COLLECT THEIR BAGS AND BEGIN WALKING. JUNE Thought I might get the train soon. To Sydney. TONY I gotta car. JUNE Ya learnt to drive yet? TONY Very bloody funny. JUNE Sorry. I'd like a ride. TONY I'll go get the car. JUNE Here take the cat. But hurry. I don't like it here. TONY TAKES THE CAT AND MOVES ASIDE AND STANDS IN DRIVING POSITION. MAUREEN ENTERS. MAUREEN Stop. I know you. JUNE (STOPPING. LOOKS UP, HORRIFIED) What? We were just.... MAUREEN I said I know you. JUNE Hello Mrs McGrath. MAUREEN What are ya doin' here today, June? TONY IS DRIVING NOW. THE CAT IS ON THE FRONT SEAT AND BOTHERING HIM AGAIN. OCCASIONALLY HE BRUSHES IT ASIDE. JUNE Tony's gone to get the car. TONY (QUIETLY) Get off me. (HE BRUSHES THE CAT ASIDE) MAUREEN And what do ya know about them bones, June? What do you know about my Susie? JUNE Nothin'. MAUREEN I loved you kids. What did you do with my Susie? JUNE What makes you think ... MAUREEN Don't you kid me, June. I seen you take off with her... JUNE Yeah but what makes you think we did anything with her.... TONY Will you get off me ya mangy bastard. (HE PUSHES THE CAT AWAY AGAIN) MAUREEN Stop bullshitting me. I'm gonna call the cops. Don't try to leave. I've waited years for this. JUNE I don't wanta lose him again. MAUREEN Do you know what it's like to be separated from someone you love, when you don't know why and you don't know where she is and you don't know if you'll ever know anything again. (SHOUTING IN JUNE'S FACE) When you don't know how can you hope.... JUNE (SCREAMS) Susie! My best friend. My best friend. Oh why with Tony? The bastard. The dirty drunk bastard. MAUREEN What's wrong with you? TONY Keep yer claws... JUNE Susie, my best friend. I loved you. MAUREEN BACKS AWAY. MAUREEN What are you doing. You're mad. MAUREEN BACKS INTO A WALL. JUNE LUNGES AND GRABS HER. JUNE I like to sing harmony when Tony plays his guitar. We were goin' to have an act but I've stopped singin' now, so if you want Tony you go get him. JUNE DRAGS MAUREEN TOWARDS TONY. JUNE Come on. MAUREEN Let me go. I've done nothin' to you. JUNE You want Tony ... TONY Get those claws... JUNE ... you go get him. TONY Hey! MAUREEN (SCREAMING) No. JUNE HURLS MAUREEN INTO THE FRONT OF TONY'S ONCOMING CAR. THEY ARE BOTH FLUNG TO THE GROUND. MAUREEN DOES NOT MOVE BUT JUNE SITS UP SLOWLY AND NURSES THE PAIN IN HER STOMACH. AS THE CAR STOPS QUICKLY TONY IS THROWN FORWARD AND THE CAT IS KILLED. TONY IS DAZED BUT PICKS UP THE CAT AND GETS OUT OF THE CAR. JUNE It's like a knife. A knife, Tony. TONY RECOVERS SOME OF HIS SENSES AND GOES TO JUNE. TONY June - are you... JUNE (SHE GROANS IN PAIN) Oh it aches. From my heart down ... help me up. TONY HAS TO PUT DOWN THE DEAD CAT. JUNE SEES IT AS TONY LIFTS HER TO HER FEET. JUNE No! Tony. Is it dead? TONY Don't look at it, June. TONY TRIES TO EMBRACE HER BUT SHE SHRUGS HIM AWAY AND DOUBLES UP AND SCREAMS WITH PAIN. JUNE (SLOWLY LOOKING UP AT HIM) Where did you say you were going? JUNE GIVES HER HAND TO TONY AND GENTLY HE HELPS HER TO HER FEET. TONY Promised Simmo I'd go back to the property. Out West. JUNE Did you now? (SHE SHOVES THE DEAD CAT WITH HER FOOT AND MOVES IT ONTO THE OTHER SIDE OF MAUREEN'S BODY) I'm goin' to Sydney. TONY South, eh? JUNE Yeah. TONY (HE PAUSES FOR THOUGHT) Can I come? JUNE Yer bloody well better. THEY ARE STANDING EITHER SIDE OF MAUREEN'S BODY. JUNE REACHES FOR TONY AND THEY EMBRACE ACROSS THE BODY. A SIREN IS HEARD. TONY C'mon. Let's go get that train. JUNE Ya scared? TONY I am now. JUNE Yeah, me too. THEY STAY EMBRACED. TONY BURIES HIS FACE IN THE CURVE OF HER NECK. TONY LAUGHS. JUNE What? TONY Yer hair still tickles me nose. END OF PLAY.