Fanny and Faggot

Jack Thorne

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2015
• Topic: Literature
• eBook ISBN:
  9781780014821
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

A two-part play presenting two distinct moments in the life of Mary Bell, the eleven-year-old Newcastle girl who was convicted of the manslaughter of two toddlers in 1968.

In the first part, Two Little Boys, two actors play childish games that gradually reveal the facts of the case, stepping in and out of several roles including judges, parents and abusers.

The second part, Superstar, takes place ten years later in 1978. Mary and a friend from the open prison where she is serving her sentence abscond for the weekend to Blackpool, where they meet two young soldiers on leave from Northern Ireland.

Jack Thorne's play Fanny and Faggot was first performed at the Finborough Theatre, London, in January 2007. (A version of the first part of the play, Two Little Boys, was staged at the Lift venue at the Pleasance as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2004).

 

 

 

 

Part One

TWO LITTLE BOYS

Characters

ONE (NORMA), thirteen

TWO (MARY), eleven

All other characters are played, as indicated, by the two female actresses. This playing should feel like a game. Indeed, the stage should be set out to reflect this game, with different levels for the actresses to play over.

The audience are seated as part of the action.

TWO is sitting on the floor as the audience enter, singing to herself, ‘Mrs Robinson’ by Simon and Garfunkel. She’s cutting up a piece of paper to make a butterfly.

ONE is watching TWO from a vantage point somewhere.

ONE. Do ya think ya’ll finish that today?

TWO. No.

ONE. What’ll it be?

TWO. Nowt for you, ninny.

ONE. Yeah?

TWO. Yeah.

Beat. TWO starts singing ‘Mrs Robinson’ again.

ONE. Anything ya’ll have me do then?

TWO (looks up mischievously). Yeah. Turn round five time, touch the floor n’ pull your knickers off.

ONE. I ain’t pulling my knickers off.

TWO. OK.

Beat.

ONE. You wanna do something?

TWO. Like wha?

ONE. You decide if ya like . . .

TWO. No, cos if you want me to stop this then it’s for something good, innit? You got to tell me something good and I’ll stop doing, won’t I?

Beat.

ONE. Babysitting?

TWO says nothing.

I don’t care, mind, if that ain’t it for you. You think of owt . . .

Beat.

Can I borrow ya cards?

TWO. No, they’re missing one, ain’t they?

ONE. I don’t mind.

TWO. You can’t play if ya missing any.

ONE. No, cos I’ll build something. Can I borrow them?

TWO. If it’ll stop the noise.

ONE. I ain’t making noise!

TWO. Ya asking me to do stuff, ain’t ya?

ONE. Nah, I was saying, but if ya don’t want it . . .

TWO. No. I don’t.

ONE. Yeah, well, ya being spastic yaself then . . .

Beat.

ONE picks up the cards and sits in the corner with them. After some time, she starts to speak.

JUSTICE CUSACK (played by ONE). Mary, I want to ask you some questions. Have you been taught about God?

TWO (giggle). Gad?

ONE. Nah. Don’t –

MARY (played by TWO with a giggle, she stands up from her butterfly). Yes, sir.

JUSTICE CUSACK stands up as well. The girls almost immediately enjoy their game.

JUSTICE CUSACK. And have you been taught that at school?

MARY. Yes, sir.

JUSTICE CUSACK. Do you go to church at all?

MARY. Sometimes, sir, to the mission.

JUSTICE CUSACK. Sometimes to the mission. Do you know what the Bible is?

MARY. Yes, sir.

JUSTICE CUSACK. And if you take the Bible and promise before God to tell the truth, what do you think that means?

MARY. You must tell the truth, sir.

JUSTICE CUSACK. You must tell the truth. Very well, she may be sworn.

Pause. ONE leans across and kisses TWO.

TWO. Why was that for?

ONE. I ain’t done nothing wrong, had I? If ya honest . . .

TWO. I was making –

ONE. Weren’t for me though . . .

TWO. Yeah. It were. It were a present.

ONE. Nah, ya saying it now . . .

TWO. I wanted to keep it fa surprise. So ya spoiled that one . . .

ONE. Nah, cos you can give it me now.

TWO. Nah. I won’t . . .

ONE. Then it weren’t for me, were it?

TWO. Yeah, it were . . .

ONE. No.

Pause.

TWO (carefully). I can see a snot in ya nose . . .

ONE. No, you can’t . . .

TWO. Comes out a little way when ya shouting, otherlike I wouldn’t ha’ seen it. I’ll pick it if ya like . . .

ONE (peals of giggles). I’ll pick at it if you eat at it.

TWO giggles, and pats her friend oddly, and then makes a funny face at an audience member. ONE watches her, carefully . . .

You ’eard about that boy . . .

TWO (camp, she’s enjoying herself). I AIN’T HEARING about ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Dedication
• Part One
• Characters
• Part Two
• Characters
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information