Scene 12

(In the street. PJ enters)

Kirsty:    (Off-stage) PJ! Wait!

(PJ stops and waits. Kirsty enters.)

               You walk bloody quickly. I’ve been chasing you since the bend.

PJ:           What do you want, Kirst?

Kirsty:    Who’s boiled your blood? You’ve got a face like a smacked arse.

PJ:           I’ve just been to the pub – 

Kirsty:    Yeah, it’s a shit pub – 

PJ:            Got up to date with the gossip.

Kirsty:    Anything good?

PJ:           About Ellie, mostly. Your gossip, Kirst. What are you doing?

Kirsty:    What do you mean?

PJ:           Telling everybody she arrived during the night – 

Kirsty:    She did!

PJ:           That she’s hiding – 

Kirsty:    She might be – 

PJ:            It’s nobody’s business, Kirst, and blabbing your mouth off is wrong!

Kirsty:    Mick asked – 

PJ:            Mick’s a dickhead. Why do you think he wants to know about her?

Kirsty:    I don’t know – 

PJ:           Because he’s a fecking predator. Don’t tell him anything.

Kirsty:    Okay – 

PJ:           And you know what, Kirst? What if it is a safe house? What if she has been placed there, to 

                hide? If she’s been removed, what she’s been removed from must have been pretty, bloody 

                horrific for her and the boy. Did you think about that when you were bandying around her 

                personal information? What if she’s found because of loose talk; some bastard might 

                be hunting her down as we speak – 

Kirsty:    Sorry – 

PJ:           Don’t be sorry, just think, next time you open your big mouth.

(Pause)

Kirsty:    I went to Home Bargains for you, they’ve got what you need and all under a tenner.

(She starts to leave.)

PJ:          Thank you. Kirsty wait, come back. I’m sorry.

(Kirsty comes back and PJ gives her a hug.)

Kirsty:    I hate it when you’re angry with me.

PJ:            I’m not angry with you… but promise me you’ll keep quiet about Ellie.

Kirsty:    Promise. Also, Magwitch has got a couple of phones, in good nick too. I was going to get 

                 one for Bridie but wanted to check with you first.

PJ:            Where did they come from?

Kirsty:    Donated. Part of the food bank and recycling project. Folk drop them off and Magwitch 

                sorts them out. I told him I wanted one for Bridie and he said he’d 

                sort me a really good one. There’s one in a flowery case.

PJ:           Yeah, but it’s not just about the phone, is it? I’m not sure I can afford to keep it topped up.

Kirsty:   But Bridie can with her dog-walking business.

PJ:          That money goes into her savings account – 

Kirsty:   She can take a little out of her earnings for her phone. I will say that I’m only giving it to her 

               if she keeps it topped up herself, like Liam.  And when she starts her baby-sitting business –

PJ:          What babysitting business?

Kirsty:   She’s looked it up – at twelve she can babysit.

PJ:          She’s not mentioned that to me.

Kirsty:   Well don’t say I said. What do you think?

PJ:          Go on then. She’ll be thrilled. (Pause) Make-up and a phone; last year it was a beanie hat and 

               a skateboard.

Kirsty:   You look grumpy again, what’s up.

PJ:          Oh, it’s nothing; just Liam being Liam.

Kirsty:   Permission to blab?

PJ:           Permission granted.

Kirsty:    I’ve heard a rumour – 

PJ:           Me too. Is it the same rumour?

Kirsty:   The manageress of the Cosy Café?

(PJ nods)

              What’re you going to do?

PJ:         Buy me a coffee.