Three Toe Scratch by Alex Nicol

This Play is the copyright of the Author, and may not be performed, copied or sold without the Author's prior consent

SCENE.ONE

IN THE FOREGROUND IS THE LUNCH ROOM OF A FACTORY. LOCKERS, A TABLE WITH A LAMINEX TOP JAMMED UP AGAINST THE WINDOW. THERE ARE CHEAP CHAIRS OR BENCHES AROUND THE TABLE. A PRACTICAL BENCH WITH A SINK ALONG ONE WALL. A MICROWAVE OVEN AND A KETTLE. A BROOM LEANS AGAINST THE WALL. THE FLOOR IS THE USUAL MONOTONOUS PATTERN OF SQUARE, DIRTY VINYL TILES.

THERE ARE TWO DOORS, ONE LEADS TO THE FACTORY, THE OTHER TO THE LAVATORY. THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE IS STERILE. THE ONLY ADORNMENT IS AN UNIMAGINATIVE POSTER PROCLAIMING THIS TO BE A WORK-SAFE WORK PLACE. IT LISTS THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENT FREE DAYS BUT IS SEVERAL YEARS OUT OF DATE. THIS HANGS IN CLEAR VIEW OF THE AUDIENCE.

THE SET NEEDS TO BE CONFINING (AND PROTECTIVE).APART FROM THE LUNCH ROOM THERE IS A RAISED PLATFORM LONG ENOUGH FOR EACH OF THE CHARACTERS TO STAND SIDE BY SIDE WITH ABOUT HALF AN ARMS LENGTH BETWEEN THEM. THIS IS BACKED BY A WALL.

THE LUNCH ROOM IS IN DIM LIGHT. ELSEWHERE THERE IS DARKNESS. A WIND IS BLOWING, WHISTLING THROUGH A CRACK SOMEWHERE AND A SHEET OF IRON SCRAPES IRREGULARLY AGAINST ANOTHER SHEET OF IRON.

DONNA
Fuck! I've stuck something in my knee.
THE EXCLAMATION RINGS OUT WITH A HALF-ECHO BEHIND IT.

SONIA
Shit. Listen to the echo.

DONNA
I've cut myself crawling through that hole. I'll get tetanus or something.

SONIA
Don't be such a baby. Give us a look.

DONNA
You've got the torch.

TORCH LIGHT REVEALS SONIA AND DONNA ON THEIR KNEES. THEY CRAWL ONTO THE PLATFORM. SONIA SHINES THE TORCH ONTO DONNA'S KNEE.

SONIA
No Blood.

DONNA
It's the other knee isn't it.

SONIA
SWINGS THE TORCH ACROSS. You won't die. MOVES THE
TORCH BACK AND FORTH AROUND THE PLACE. It looks
funny.

DONNA
Naw. We haven't seen it for a while. That's all.

SONIA
Different.

ROSE
OUT OF THE DARK. Dry.

DONNA
Fuck!

SONIA SWINGS THE TORCH TO REVEAL ROSE ALREADY STANDING ON THE PLATFORM.

ROSE
I thought the same. It's different, not right, but it's just dry.

DONNA
You scared the shit out of me.

ROSE
I heard you breaking in. I thought you were a couple of kids.

SONIA
How'd you get in?

ROSE
Through the front. It's open. SWITCHES ON HER TORCH. Well?

DONNA
PULLS A SPRAY CAN FROM UNDER HER TOP. SHE SHAKES IT VIGOROUSLY TURNS TO THE WALL BEHIND HER AND BEGINS TO SPRAY….. FUCK INGERSOLE

SONIA
WATCHES FOR A SECOND AND BEGINS TO MOVE OFF. I'm gonna clean out the Coke machine.

DONNA
HAS REACHED G AND BEGINS TO SPRAY AN A

ROSE
E

SONIA
I've got to have put a hundred bucks in there.

ROSE
E!....It's gone.

DONNA
What?

ROSE
Disconencted. Removed. Gone. E,R I ..N..G..E..R

SONIA
Bastards. SHE KEEPS MOVING.

ROSE
Where are you going?

SONIA
To steal something.

DONNA
HAS PULLED UP AT ER UNCERTAIN OF WHAT COMES NEXT.

ROSE
There's nothing left. S..O..L..E

DONNA
STARTS ON THE S AND REALISES THAT SHE'S JAMMED HERSELF UP AGAINST AN EXHAUST OUTLET ON THE WALL AND WON'T HAVE ROOM TO FINISH THE WORD. Fuck!

ROSE
Unless you want some old tubs or a couple of miles of endless chain

DONNA
What's his first name then.

SONIA
They didn't waste any time.

DONNA
Rose! What's his first name?

ROSE
Mister. Mister Ingersole.

ROSE
Or feathers. There are plenty of feathers left

SONIA
Yeah. Feathers. Wet feathers.

DONNA
I hate feathers. Once, in the shower, I looked down and there's a fuck'n feather. A white feather, you know, sticking out of my fanny I nearly shit myself. I thought, you know, I'm turning into a chook.

SONIA
On the chain. Legs apart. Feet in the air looking at the ceiling, wondering what's going on.

DONNA
Stand here all day killing the poor bastards then you go home and find you're turning into a chook.

SONIA
Hey! You look across and there's Brosna waiting for you with her knife.

DONNA
FAKE HEAVY MIDDLE EUROPEAN ACCENT. Come little birdie snicker snicker time Squzzzzzzzzz!

SONIA
COPYING THE ACCENT I hate these birds. THEY LAUGH
AND THEN FALL SILENT.

ROSE
Just like us really.

DONNA
What?

ROSE
Never mind.

DONNA
GOES BACK TO WORK WITH THE SPRAY CAN WRITING HER OWN NAME UNDER THE ABORTED ATTEMPT TO WRITE FUCK INGERSOLE.

SONIA
WANDERS AWAY INTO THE DARKNESS AND WE HEAR THE SOUND OF A WINDOW BEING SMASHED AND THEN ANOTHER.

ROSE
That's pretty stupid.

SONIA OFF
Yeah. ANOTHER WINDOW SMASHES.

ROSE
Then what are you doing it for. It's just vandalism.

DONNA
You the night watchman?

ROSE
Wanton destruction. There's no sense.

SONIA
OFF. Look Rose I came here to steal something. I don't give a fuck what ... just something, you know. Now if I can't steal nothing I'll smash something because it makes me feel better. Alright? SMASH. Shit!

DONNA
What?

SONIA
I cut myself didn't I?

ROSE
SMILES

DONNA
Bad?

SONIA
RETURNS WITH A PALM FULL OF BLOOD.

ROSE
I'll get the first aid kit. If they haven't sold that too.

SONIA
LOOKS AT DONNA'S SIGN THEN SMEARS A BLOODY PALM PRINT UNDER THE DAUB.

DONNA
You'll get germs in that.

SONIA
Yes mom.

DONNA
What'd you reckon she's doing here?

SONIA
Looking for overtime. I don't know. Shit that hurts.

ROSE
ENTERS. FIRST-AID KIT IN HAND. SHE SEES THE BLOOD ON THE WALL. Stupid girl.

SONIA
Look! I'm not stupid. I'm not a girl and I don't work here anymore, none of us do. So don't think you can tell us what to do. HOLDING OUT HER HAND. Put a band-aid on that.

ROSE
DABBING ANTISEPTIC. This'll sting and you've still got a bit of glass in it.

SONIA
REACTS IN PAIN.

ROSE
Well you shouldn't break windows, should you?

SONIA
PULLS HER HAND AWAY.

ROSE
PULLS HER HAND BACK. Keep still. I do the first aid. It's my job.

SONIA
What job? That's my hand, it's not a bit of meat.

PHILOMENA
FROM THE DARKNESS. This is just like the lunch room then isn't it.

DONNA
Fuck'n Phili. You here too?

PHILOMENA
Everyone fighting.

DONNA
You turn up for the late shift?

PHILOMENA
Fighting. Always the fighting.

SONIA
That's not a fight that's a discussion.

PHILOMENA
But it's not right then to be fighting. We are friends.

ROSE
What you got there?

PHILOMENA
HOLDS OUT A SIMPLE POSY OF FLOWERS.

SONIA
That's not going to bring her back.

DONNA
Gawd I hate flowers. SHE BREAKS AWAY FROM THE GROUP VANISHING INTO THE DARKNESS.

SONIA
We did all that.

ROSE
So? Do it again. It's nice Phili. Nice. To remember her. Here

PHILOMENA
So, I will put them here where she worked.

SONIA
It just makes me mad

ROSE
She'd like that she would.

DONNA
FROM THE DARKNESS. A bunch of flowers. That's it. A bunch of Woolworth's flowers. SHE REJOINS THEM No ones even gonna see 'em.

PHILOMENA
Still I will put them here. MOVES TO THE EDGE OF THE PLATFORM AND PUTS THE POSY DOWN.

ROSE
She'll know. MOVES TO TAKE UP A POSITION ALONGSIDE PHILI. That's it then. We can now declare these works officially dead.

EACH OF THEM TAKES OUT A WHITE MESH HAIR NET AND SLIPS IT ON. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF LINES THEY SLIP ON A WHITE COVERALL AND A PAIR OF RUBBER BOOTS.

SONIA
I won't miss it.

PHILOMENA
You came back.

SOUNDS OF THE KILLING CHAIN IN OPERATION BEGIN TO FADE IN UNDER. THE LIGHTS GRADUALLY CHANGE AND THE SOUNDS BUILD TO GIVE US THE IMPRESSION OF A LITTLE HELL. SOUNDS, ECHOES AND ABOVE ALL SMELLS.

ROSE
I loved the place.

SONIA
Crap! (BEAT) Hair Miss Mcleod.

DONNA
Yes Mr Ingersole. DELIBERATELY PULLS A LOCK OUT FROM UNDER THE NET AND LAUGHS.

SONIA
Eight hours on your feet.

DONNA
The fuck'n chain rattling ... Chooks squawking.

SONIA
You'd reckon they could oil the chain or something.
DONNA
How many chooks you reckon we killed.

ROSE
Noise.
PHILOMENA
Smell

SONIA
Everything wet.

ROSE
And all that blood. EACH OPENS THEIR HANDS AND LETS FALL BLOOD RED RIBBONS TO THEIR FEET.

DONNA
Oh Jesus. I've never seen so much blood.

LIGHTS DOWN ON PLATFORM UP IN THE LUNCH ROOM.
BROSNA IS ALREADY IN THE ROOM. SHE HAS TAKEN OFF HER HAIR NET AND BEGINS TO BRUSH HER HAIR QUICKLY WITH A GOOD BRUSH. SATISFIED WITH THE RESULT SHE RETURNS THE BRUSH TO HER BAG. FROM HER LOCKER SHE GETS A PLATE AND BEGINS TO SERVE HER LUNCH FROM A CONTAINER. SHE SITS, BACK AGAINST THE WALL UNDER THE WINDOW

WHILE SHE DOES THIS THE OTHERS ENTER THE ROOM BY WAY OF THE WASH ROOM DOOR. DOLLY MOVES TO HER LOCKER. SHE TAKES OUT A PLASTIC LUNCH BOX AND A KNITTING BAG. SHE CLOSES THE LOCKER CAREFULLY AND STANDS LOOKING APPREHENSIVELY AT BROSNA.

DOLLY
I wonder ... that's where I usually sit.

BROSNA
Every seat is the same.

DOLLY
Yes ... Only I know I was a bit late ... I need the light.

BROSNA
There's light.

DOLLY
Over my shoulder, you know, for the knitting. It's for little Wayne. The pattern's a bit tricky.

BROSNA
Look. The light everywhere in this room is the same.

DOLLY
TAKES A SEAT AND LOOKS ACROSS AT BROSNA'S LUNCH.SHE MAKES AN ATTEMPT TO BE PLEASANT TO ENGAGE HER.
Home made?

BROSNA
My father makes the sausage. SHE CUTS A PIECE AND OFFERS IT Real sausage.

DOLLY
No thanks dear I've got to be careful what I eat these days.

DONNA
ENTERS AT PACE. SHE TURNS OVER A SIGN THAT SAYS DAYS WITHOUT ACCIDENT HANGING ON THE BACK OF THE DOOR LEADING TO THE FACTORY. IT REVEALS A BEEF CAKE PIN UP OF A FOOTBALL STAR. SHE CRASHES HER LOCKER OPEN.THERE'S A PIN UP OF WILLIE NELSON INSIDE. SHE PULLS A CASSETTE PLAYER FROM THE LOCKER AND LEANS ACROSS TO SEE WHAT BROSNA IS EATING. Shit that stinks!

BROSNA
You bring the smell with you. Look at your hands.

DONNA
HAMMERS DOWN THE PLAY BUTTON ON THE CASSETTE AND TURNS TO SWITCH THE ELECTRIC KETTLE ON. WILLIE NELSON BOOMS FORTH ... DON'T LET YOUR BABIES GROW UP TO BE COWBOYS.

BROSNA
Could we, for just one lunch hour, do without that nasal whine?

DONNA
Tut, tut, tut madam wants her symphony orchestra.

BROSNA
It is so loud. UP TO SWITCH IT OFF.

ENTER PHILI WHO TAKES NO NOTICE. SHE GOES TO HER LOCKER TO GET HER LUNCH.

DONNA
HER HAND OVER THE BUTTONS. Don't touch it. Don't you fuck'n touch it.

BROSNA
I won't listen to some drunken American.

DONNA
Willie's not American. He's country.

BROSNA
He's a tired old man.

DONNA
That old man can rub his whiskers under my ear anyday.

DOLLY
Please. Donna.

BROSNA
Oh yes. Of course. With an old man you think you're safe. With a strong, young man ... A GESTURE OF CONTEMPT AT DONNA'S SEXUAL INADAQUECY

DONNA
Look who's talking old. Barb wire knickers herself.

BROSNA
So, where is your man? Tell us why he left you.

DOLLY
Please.

BROSNA
No decent man would touch you.

DOLLY
Please.

ENTER SONIA

DONNA
TO DOLLY O shut up you whinging nanny. TO BROSNA You want to stand side by side with me outside the club and see who gets a fuck first?

SONIA
TURNS THE TAPE OFF.MIMICS WILLIE'S NASAL TONES IN
A PHRASE FROM THE SONG. Can't hear myself shout to argue.

DONNA
Only did it for a stir. Shit, did those old girls this morning stink or what.

DOLLY
Poor old boilers.

SONIA
PUTS HER BOOTS UP ON THE SEAT BESIDE DOLLY AND PULLS THEM OFF. DOLLY REACTS TO THE SMELL UNDER HER NOSE AND THE CAVALIER TREATMENT OF SOME ONE ELSE'S CHAIR.
Your guts'll stink like that when they open you up Dolly.

DOLLY
Poor old things. Laid eggs all their life.

SONIA
Still full of 'em. That's what you been pulling out all morning Phili.
Eggs without shells. That's abortion that is. You'll have to confess that ... tell the priest.

DONNA
You gotta tell him if Clarrie pokes you on Fridays Phili?

SONIA
Nothing wrong with that.

DONNA
O yeah! No meat on Friday. That's right isn't it Phili?

DOLLY
Poor old things

KETTLE BOILS. DONNA UP TO ATTEND

SONIA
You gotta kill old things Doll

BROSNA
I hate them. they are disgusting.

SONIA
Old chooks, old cats, old dogs, old women. They clutter up the place.
DONNA
POURS HOT WATER INTO A MUG.

BROSNA
Plastic food in plastic bags for plastic people.

DONNA
BIG FALSE SNIFF OVER THE MUG. CACKLE. Ah! That's real chicken! CLIMBS IN TO SIT BESIDE PHILI. Wanna come to the
club with Son and me Saturday?

PHILOMENA
Thank you but Clarrie will probably ...

DONNA
Leave Clarrie out of it. We're gonna see Gregory. PAUSE Gregory! Didn't you see the ad on TV?

SONIA
Anyone want a coke? Dolly? EXITS )
)
DOLLY )OVER RIDE
No thanks love. )
)
DONNA )
Gregory the exotic. Dolly's comin aren't ya?

DOLLY
IS BUSY KNITTING A SMALL JUMPER FOR WAYNE. SHE SNIFFS.

DONNA
Make you drop more'n a stitch. All those muscles and oil. `Ja see `im?

DOLLY
Better things to do with my time.

BROSNA
God. How could you degrade yourself?

DONNA
Yeah disgusting! Think about rubbin that oil in.

BROSNA
Animal.
DONNA
Lezzo! Last chance Doll. If you're not going to go you'll have to mind the kids.

DOLLY
As usual.

DONNA
C'mon Phili. Tell Clarrie to let you off the chain. We'll look after you.
C'mon. You gotta see him. He finishes up with nothing but a tassel on his tossle.

ENTER SONIA
SONIA

Got one.

DOLLY
Oh.

SONIA
Nice and juicy and just about your size Phili.

PHILOMENA
What?
DONNA
Lunch.

BROSNA
Show me.

SONIA
OPENS HER HAND SHE IS HOLDING A PARTIALLY FORMED
EGG CLEANED FROM ONE OF THE OLD HENS KILLED IN THE MORNING RUN. IT IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PIGEON'S
EGG, WITHOUT A SHELL AND DULL RED. One of Henny Penny's aborted children. Still nice and warm. Welcome to Ingersole's. Get it into yer.

DONNA
Get it down yer Phili.

PHILOMENA
TURNS HER HEAD AWAY IN REVULTION.

SONIA
Eat it. Yer gotta eat it. It's a test.

DONNA
Straight down. It's only a egg without its shell. Go on.

PHILOMENA
PUSHES HER CHAIR BACK AND SCRAMBLES TO HER FEET.

BROSNA
I knew she would run.

SONIA
GRABS ONE OF HER ARMS. C'mon Phili. Like an oyster. We all did it, even Doll.

DOLLY
SHUDDERS AT THE MEMORY. SHE KEEPS KNITTING TAKING NO PART.

SONIA
HOLDING TIGHT TO PHILI BRINGS THE EGG IN FRONT OF HER FACE. Down. Down. Down.

PHILOMENA
KNOCKS SONIA'S HAND AWAY SPILLING THE EGG TO THE FLOOR.

BROSNA
DIVES FOR IT AND PICKS IT UP. SHE GRABS PHILI BY THE OTHER ARM PINNING HER. That won't do you any good. You're going to eat it little girl.

DONNA
Grab her nose Son. You're gonna get it Phili might as well open your mouth.

PHILOMENA
THROUGH CLENCHED TEETH. Take it away.

DONNA
Hang on to her. BREAKS AWAY. SHE GOES TO THE SINK AND POURS BOILING WATER DOWN THE BLADE OF A VICIOUS LOOKING KNIFE. BROSNA MOVES THE EGG BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS IN FRONT OF PHILI'S FACE TORMENTING HER WITH IT.

BROSNA
You eat all kinds of filth in your country what's the difference? Eat it.

SONIA
Shit. It's only an egg. You don't have to chew it. Just swallow.

DONNA
This'll do it. SHE SLASHES THE BACK OF THE HOT BLADE ACROSS PHILI'S NECK. PHILI SCREAMS IN FEAR . THE SCREAM IS CUT OFF AS BROSNA FORCES THE EGG INTO HER MOUTH. ALL THREE COLLAPSE ONTO THE FLOOR.

DONNA
Hold her mouth closed. Hold it closed.

ROSE ENTERS TRIPPING OVER THE GROUP

ROSE
What are you doing? Let her up.

DONNA
Get out of it Rose. Phili's having lunch.

SONIA
She's gonna spew!

THE GROUP ON THE FLOOR DISENTANGLES. SONIA AND DONNA LAUGHING AND PUTTING AS MUCH DISTANCE BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND PHILI AS THEY CAN. PHILI HEADS FOR THE SINK GAGGING.

SONIA
Not in the sink you dirty bitch.

DOLLY
GETTING UP. O get out of the way. SHE MOVES TO PHILI AT THE SINK AND BEGINS TO RUB HER BACK. Come on just breath normally. Now, now it's all over.

DONNA
Yes mommy.

DOLLY
Have a glass of water now.

ROSE
When are you going to grow up Donna?

DONNA
We all did it.

ROSE
You all did it.

SONIA
You want to work in this shithouse you learn to eat shit.

ROSE
Yeah, well you might not be working here much longer.

DONNA
MOCK SCARED Oooooh!

ROSE
O shut up. We know you couldn't care less but some of us have been here for years. ( BEAT) They're closing the plant.

DONNA
Bullshit.

ROSE
He just told me. Very sorry ... Company decision… Know how you feel… I'm in the same boat…. They're closing the plant.

DOLLY
We'll lose our jobs?

SONIA
O Yeah. He's in the same boat. He owns the place.

ROSE
Not all of it. Anyway, it's not his decision. That's what he says.

DOLLY
And we'll lose our jobs?

ROSE
A month to complete orders then a skeleton staff to clean the place up and close it down. There won't be any jobs.

DONNA
Bastard.

PHILOMENA
SLUMPS AT THE SINK. DOLLY GRABS HER AND GIVES A LITTLE SCREAM. SHE BRINGS HER HAND AWAY FROM PHILI'S BACK AND IT IS COVERED WITH BLOOD.

DOLLY
She's bleeding.

ROSE
You stupid ... You've cut her Donna. You've cut her. Let me have a look.

DONNA
I never.

ROSE
AN INTAKE OF BREATH. That's deep.

DONNA
I used the back of the knife. Like always.

ROSE
That's going to need a stitch. Sonia go out to the front office and tell 'em we need a car for the hospital. Quick!

DONNA
I wouldn't cut you Phili.

ROSE
Well some one did. Get the other side of her and give me a hand. C'mon.
THEY EXIT… BROSNA MOVES TO THE SINK AND CAREFULLY WASHES A FORK SHE IS HOLDING WITH HOT WATER. SHE DRIES IT AND MOVES BACK TO HER LUNCH. DOLLY WATCHES WHAT SHE IS DOING AND REGISTERS WHAT IT MEANS. SHE OPENS HER MOUTH TO SAY SOMETHING BUT THINKS BETTER OF IT. SHE MOVES BACK TO HER SEAT AND BEGINS TO KNIT FURIOUSLY.

DOLLY
You shouldn't fight like that. You shouldn't fight. Young girls. All that swearing. MORE KNITTING . NO RESPONSE FROM BROSNA WHO CONTINUES TO EAT HER LUNCH CALMLY. SUDDENLY DOLLY SNAPS SHE PUSHES BROSNA'S PLATE AWAY VIOLENTLY. IT CRASHES TO THE FLOOR. How can you sit there and eat. We're going to lose our jobs. We're all going to lose our jobs.

BROSNA
STANDS AND LOOKS AT HER. SHE RETRIEVES HER PLATE FROM THE FLOOR AND METICULOUSLY CLEANS UP THE FOOD PIECES. Don't cry for them. They are filth. Finish your knitting.

DOLLY
What's the point of knitting anything for the little mite now?

BROSNA
MOVES TO THE SINK. SHE DUMPS THE FOOD PIECES AND BEGINS TO WASH EVERYTHING VERY CAREFULLY

[end of extract]

Price $7.99 Add to cart