born bad

debbie tucker green

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9781854597403
• eBook ISBN: 9781780017129
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

A hard-hitting and original family drama, winner of the 2004 Olivier Award for Most Promising Newcomer.

' the bits don't make the bulk and the bulk don't mek the whole and the all a your bits together don't make your versions true. '

A blood-related black family. A Dad, a Mum, a Daughter, two Sisters, a Brother. A family argument. A skeleton in the closet...

debbie tucker green's play born bad dives headlong into the powerful heart of this family, unleashing wit, ferocity and verbal dexterity on the way. It was premiered at Hampstead Theatre, London, in 2003.

Preset

A solitary chair is onstage.

A female solo gospel rendition of ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’ starts through one verse . . .

The hymn becomes part hummed and less formed.

Fade to black.

The hymn blends, half sung, half hummed familiarly by MUM(unseen) who quietly takes over the tune.

Scene One

One chair on stage.

The hymn continues by MUM(unseen).

DAD is sitting in the chair, confidently.

DAWTA is not.

Silently she demands eye contact.

He finds it difficult.

DAWTA. Say it.

Say it.

Daddy . . .

Say it.

They make eye contact.

She gains his lost confidence.

The hymn draws to an end.

Black out.

Scene Two

Three chairs on stage.

DAWTA and MUM.

DAWTA. If yu actin like a bitch

I’m a call yu it

if yu lookin like a bitch

I’m a call yu it.

If yu lookin like a bitch as you lookin on me – I see yu and yu bitch ways – mi a go call you it again mi noh business.

Watchin yu watchin me like the bitch bitch yu is.

I’ll letcha

and I’ll say it two times.

Then two times that.

Then two times that again – for yu – yu mudda, and yu mudda’s mudda – those bitches that bred yu off before and before that – and from before that again.

From whenever your bitch bloodline started.

From whatever bitch beginnings yu had.

Bitch.

MUM. Don’t say that.

DAWTA. And I’ll call it like iss nuthin, and I’ll say it like iss nuthin like the nuthin it is like the nuthin you are like the nuthin you took a try at to mek me.

Bitch.

Cap fit.

Bitch.

And I’ll letcha look in my face now yu wanna – you wanna? I dunno what you wanna see, whatchu spectin on – whatchu spectin on – whatchu spectin on reflectin yu back – or is it you don’t got no shadow? – but I’ll letcha look –

MUM. I’m not lookin

DAWTA. letcha mek a piece a y’eye contact –

MUM. I’m not lookin yu

DAWTA. – now. Now yu feelin – how yu feelin? Now you feelin you able – look . . .

Look.

MUM. You got nothing I need to see.

MUM restarts humming her hymn.

DAWTA. Look . . .

Look it.

MUM. And never have had.

DAWTA. . . . Watch.

MUM looks at her.

Eh?

Now yu ready . . . an now yu wanna – now yu got the bottle with yu bitch self to clock me eye to eye – woman to woman –

MUM. is what yu is?

DAWTA. Never thought I’d reach it? – Woman to woman – bitch to bitch.

Si mi nuh.

I’ll letcha.

Letcha look on me.

MUM. Don’t call me that.

DAWTA. Wear your title wear yu crown

MUM. don’t call me that

DAWTA. bitch got summink to say looks like bitch can’t help herself, can’t help herself and her bitch ways – can yer...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Contents
• Original Production
• Characters
• born bad
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information