SCENE 2: INTERIOR. FRONT ROOM SIMMS HOME.Grams: Sound of a porn film on the TV.
Lights off in the room with the glow of the TV providing the only light. The TV faces the stage with its back to the audience. It is 3am. Gary is asleep on the sofa with his trousers undone near his thighs and a box of tissues nearby. One is stuck to his trousers. A few seconds for the audience to take in the scene. Then the sound of a key in an exterior door, which opens and shuts. A beat then Gemma enters and turns the lights on. She is dressed in her funeral clothes with a coat and a hat. One of her arms is in a sling. She pulls a suitcase behind her. It has a black golfing brolly attached. She stands and takes in the scene.
GEMMA
(Under her breath) Jesus Christ…
She walks over to the TV, has a quick look at the on-screen action then tilts her head to get a better look at a different angle. A beat. She has a sharp intake of breath then shakes her head and switches it off. She returns to her suitcase and takes the brolly. She pokes Gary with it.
GEMMA
Gary… Gary…
There is no movement so she gives the brolly a real shove as she shouts his name.
GEMMA
Gary!
He wakes but he is still half-asleep at first.
GARY
Fuck off!!
GEMMA
Gary. It’s me…
GARY
Gems?
GEMMA
Yes.
GARY
What time is it?
GEMMA
It’s 2am.
GARY
You missed the funeral.
GEMMA
I know.
GARY
The vicar waited for you…
GEMMA
My train collided with a car near Doncaster.
GARY
You could have got a cab.
GEMMA
It was a major incident Gary. Police, army… People died… I was injured. See… (She raises her arm) I needed to get it seen to…
GARY
It alright now?
GEMMA
Fractured.
GARY
You could have phoned Gems… Even with one hand you still could have phoned…
GEMMA
All your numbers are in my mobile.
GARY
You could try using the cunt then.
GEMMA
I did try ‘using the cunt’ but my battery was de… my phone was dead.
She sobs as a day of trauma catches up with her. Gary pauses and feels impotent. He then stands to go over and comfort her but his trousers fall down.
GEMMA
(She sobs and laughs then points to him) Your trousers… They…
GARY
(He looks down and realises what she is referring to) I’ve had problems with these… Wrong size… Keep falling down… Lots…
GEMMA
(She dries her eyes) You should probably buy a belt…
GARY
I should. I said that to myself only yesterday. Just got a bit sidetracked with one thing and another…
GEMMA
You can pull them up now if you want…
He pulls his trousers up.
GEMMA
(She gestures to his trousers) There’s a tissue stuck to…
Gary looks and removes it and puts it in his pocket.
GARY
(Thinking of an excuse) I’ve had a cold…
GEMMA
How did the funeral go?
GARY
It was a good send-off… Dad would’ve been proud. Lots of people there. Hundreds in fact. Never seen the church so packed. Buried with mum too. Just like he wanted…
GEMMA
Great… I thought you’d all still be out…
GARY
I was tired. Decided to come home and have an early night but I couldn’t sleep so I thought I’d…
GEMMMA
Watch some TV?
GARY
Yes. Watch some TV.
GEMMA
Anything good?
GARY
Found a nature documentary…
GEMMA
A nature documentary?
GARY
Yeah. Thought it might…
GEMMA
Help you get to sleep?
GARY
Yeah. Help me drop off…
GEMMA
Where’s Michael?
GARY
Still out with Size. I think the lads from the casino invited them back when the pub chucked out.
GEMMA
How is he?
GARY
Hard to tell.
GEMMA
How do you mean?
GARY
You know. Not giving anything away. You know what he’s like…
GEMMA
Doing his silent hard man act?
GARY
He should be back soon…
GEMMA
I take it my room hasn’t been claimed by anyone else since I was last here?
GARY
No. Still where it was with all you old…
GEMMA
Shit?
GARY
I was going to say ‘stuff’.
Silence.
GEMMA
I want to stay up and talk but I’ve had a long day and I’m exhausted.
GARY
Yeah. You look tired.
GEMMA
Are you OK with that?
GARY
Course…
GEMMA
We’ll talk properly tomorrow, yeah? I promise…
GARY
Yeah.
GEMMA
I’ll let you get back to your documentary…
GARY
Great…
GEMMA
I’ll see you in the morning.
Gemma kisses him then grabs her case and leaves. Blackout. Cut to…
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