Act Two
Scene One
Evening. Living room. Meera is tidying whilst singing. Daniel comes in with bags, heās been clothes shopping for the baby.
DanielYo babes, you seen my mum?
Meera Food shopping.
DanielCool.
MeeraYou sure you got enough bags?
Daniel (excited) Look, look what I got.
Daniel goes through a sequence of showing Meera a selection of baby trainers, caps, clothes and blankets.
DanielLook at these Jordans, mad innit, and I got these cute hats and also look . . .
Reveals a designer baby jacket from the bag.
Wonāt fit her straight away but sheāll grow ā
MeeraYeah, itās nice.
DanielWhat . . . just nice?
Meera Yeah, itās cute.
DanielI hear you saying itās cute, but your face is push up like to say ā look Iāll take them back / if you ā
MeeraWhere did you get the money to buy all that?
Daniel (beat) Student loan.
Meera Student loan, right!
DanielYeah, I been saving it / because I knew ā
Meera reveals Danielās bank statement.
Meera Then what is this.
DanielWhatās that?
Meera Your bank statement, you spent that months ago.
DanielWhy you going through my shit?
Daniel snatches bank statement.
Meera I didnāt have to go through your shit, Iām tidying up.
Look Iām grateful, I really am and itās nice stuff but tell me you aināt doing that shit again?
DanielI told you ā
MeeraI know what you told me but tell me the truth.
DanielIt is the truth!
Meera Then why donāt I believe you? I told you Iām not bringing up no child here if youāre still on that.
DanielAnd I told you Iāve stopped! Anyway, you didnāt mind before . . . when I was spending P on you, and now you got a set of fucking morals you think you can tell man what to do . . . Look what Iāve done for you. You live here because of me. Your family didnāt want you and I made sure you were looked after, so before you start dishing out orders on man look at what the fuck Iām doing for you ā
Patricia enters.
PatriciaOi, what is going on inside āere?
Pause.
PatriciaMeera, go downstairs . . .
MeeraIām so sorry ā
PatriciaIām not going to repeat myself.
Meera goes.
PatriciaWhose house is this?
DanielLet me explain.
PatriciaMi never ask yuh fi explain nuttin, mi ask yuh a question.
Now, whose house is this?
DanielYours.
PatriciaDatās right. Donāt let mi catch you tarkin dat rubbish about āwhy she live hereā and āwhat yuh done fi herā, because di last time I check, this house in my name.
DanielWhy you listening / to our conversation?
PatriciaNah boda ask mi why mi listening to anything in my own house and I donāt want to āear you raising yu voice to her like dat full stop.
Deena comes running up the stairs and bursts in with excitement dancing.
DeenaMum, Mum, Mum, guess whoās ā
PatriciaNot right now Deena, Iām trying to sort out ā
DeenaCool but ā
PatriciaI said not right now! I canāt do two things at once and Iām trying fi sort out these two inside āere.
Deena is shocked.
DeenaDo you know what, forget it!
Deena storms off.
PatriciaExcuse me! Whatās di matter wid everyone inside here. Mi have your sister upset every two second for God knows what and then yuh two are fighting whenever mi turn mi back. I just want some bloody peace and quiet inna mi house! Is that too much to ask for? Now whatās dis rubbish you tarkin to Meera?
DanielWe were just talking and then ā
PatriciaThen talk! Now is not di time to be shouting at her, giving the gyal all kinds of stress. Listen, whatever yawl arguing about is none of my business, but Iām nobodyās fool, but yuh canāt do things for people outta the kindness of yuh heart and throw it back in their face when you na like what yuh hear, do I make myself clear?
DanielYes, Mum.
Meera and Patricia exit. Daniel takes a seat. Deep breath.
Scene Two
Leonās flat. A rainy late evening. Leon is tidying, playing grime music. Door knocking. Leon turns the music off, looks through the peep hole and opens the door.
DanielCan I holla at you real quick?
Leon (hesitant) Yeah cool.
Daniel enters. Leon sits. Apart from the sound of the rain itās silent.
DanielI been outside three hours trying to think what I was gonna say when I come here.
LeonListen bro ā
DanielLet me talk . . . what the fuck, fam! Yo, real early man aināt no eeddiat you know. Trust me, Iām telling you man aināt no eediat! I thought to come back, lick off manās door and do you suttin. But then I thought nah thatās Leon. My guy . . . Man vomited for hours. Just kept retching. Like I had something inside of me, inside...