The Real Estate

Freddie Machin

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9781788501019
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

A sharply observed, epic play combining elements of social realism and satire, which asks: who do our homes really belong to, and who gets to tell our stories?

A tower block in central London is bought by private developers. Their plan is to raise rents, forcing the current tenants out.

But the residents won't give up their homes that easily. Recruiting the help of a film crew already shooting on the estate, they take on big business – and come face to face with their history in the process.

Freddie Machin's play The Real Estate was first performed and produced by the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.

The Nick Hern Books Multiplay Drama series features large-cast plays specifically written to be performed by and appeal to young people.

Scene 1: Tenants’ Association Meeting One

In darkness, FRANK enters the community centre. He crosses the hall and turns on the kitchen light offstage. As he potters around the kitchen, he begins to sing ‘The Way You Look Tonight’. He comes back into the hall, which is still in darkness, except for the light that spills from the kitchen.

FRANK sings the second verse of ‘The Way You Look Tonight’.

But he is interrupted by a vision of himself and ANNIE WHITEMAN in this room almost fifty years ago. They are dancing together. YOUNG FRANK takes over the song, singing the third verse.

The memory disintegrates and FRANK finds he is breathing heavily. He stumbles to a chair and sits down, controlling his breathing.

The lights flicker on. NATALIE and TOMMY enter with shopping bags. There is a sign on the wall which reads ‘Hawksmoor House Community Centre’.

NATALIE. I’ll see if the urn’s working. Do you want tea?

TOMMY. No thanks. Evening, Frank.

NATALIE. Why are you sitting there in the dark, Frank? You alright, love?

She gives him a kiss on the cheek.

There’s money in the meter you know. God, it’s freezing in here.

FRANK. Is Danielle coming tonight?

NATALIE. Has your sister text you, Tommy?

TOMMY. Yeah.

NATALIE. Is she coming?

TOMMY. No.

NATALIE. Why not?

TOMMY. Dunno.

NATALIE. Didn’t you ask her?

TOMMY. She’s never been to a meeting in her life, why would she come to this one?

NATALIE. Because I asked her to, that’s why.

FRANK. She’s just like her grandmother.

NATALIE. Will you text her please and find out where she is.

NATALIE disappears into the kitchen. TOMMY wanders up onto the stage and turns on the PA.

NATALIE (off). You didn’t switch the urn on, Frank. We’ll have everyone gasping for a cup of tea. Tommy, will you bring that bag through please, it’s got the tea stuff in it.

Tommy.

TOMMY. –

NATALIE (off). Tommy, if you’re turning that microphone on / you can

TOMMY (into mic). A very good evening, ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming out tonight. You know the rules by now. Cash prizes will be awarded. Eyes down for a full house.

NATALIE (off). Tommy.

TOMMY. Buckle my shoe – forty-two.

NATALIE (off). Tommy, can you hear me?

TOMMY (into mic). Tommy, can you hear me? Thirty-three.

NATALIE (off). Can you put some chairs out please?

TOMMY (into mic). That’ll be a no then – seventy-seven.

NATALIE comes over to TOMMY.

NATALIE. Esther’s running late as well, it’ll be me you and Frank at this rate. Are the biscuits in your bag?

TOMMY (into mic). Where did I put those bourbons /

NATALIE pulls the plug on the PA.

Number six.

NATALIE rifles through the plastic bag that TOMMY brought in. TOMMY gets the chairs out.

NATALIE. You gonna give us a song later, Frank?

FRANK. Not tonight.

NATALIE. Esther said you weren’t feeling very well.

FRANK. I never do any more.

NATALIE. Why don’t you go back to bed?

FRANK. I wouldn’t get up if I did.

NATALIE. You’re not that old.

FRANK. No Danielle tonight then?

NATALIE. No.

FRANK. She’s too popular. Just like Annie was. Chatting to everyone in the pub, she could light up any room she walked in to.

NATALIE. If you start crying again, Frank, I’ll send you home.

FRANK. I’ll stay for a bit.

NATALIE. Here, have a biscuit.

FRANK. Seeing as it’s the last one.

NATALIE. The last one what?

FRANK. Meeting.

NATALIE. Who told you it was the last one?

FRANK. Danielle was in the pub this afternoon, chatting to everyone. Said it was gonna be the last meeting.

NATALIE. And what the fuck does she know about it?

Enter DUNCAN.

DUNCAN. You haven’t started, have you?

TOMMY. Not yet.

FRANK. Duncan.

NATALIE. You alright, Duncan?

DUNCAN. No I’m not. The carer was late.

NATALIE. What, again?

DUNCAN. Took me forever to get Mum ready for bed.

FRANK. You shouldn’t have to do it on your own, it’s not right.

DUNCAN. Any biscuits? I’m starving.

NATALIE. Have you seen her today?

DUNCAN. Who?

NATALIE. Danielle.

DUNCAN. No.

TOMMY. Why would Duncan have seen her? He doesn’t leave the house.

DUNCAN. Thanks, mate.

NATALIE. What time did you see her, Frank? Was she drinking?

FRANK. Half-two, it was.

NATALIE. Fuck’s sake. She should have been in work. What did she say to you?

FRANK. Just that. That it was the last one.

DUNCAN. The last one what?

NATALIE. What did she say in that text?

TOMMY. –

NATALIE. Oi.

TOMMY. What?

NATALIE. Give me your phone.

TOMMY. Fuck off.

NATALIE. Give me your phone now, let me see it.

She wrestles with him for the phone.

TOMMY. No! Fuck off.

DUNCAN. Is the urn on?

FRANK. Looks like it’s the last meeting, Duncan.

DUNCAN. What? But why? It can’t be the last one. Why?

But TOMMY won’t give in.

NATALIE. It’s not. Go and check on the urn.

DUNCAN. Has something happened? With the property developers?

NATALIE. There’s a sandwich in the kitchen.

Duncan.

DUNCAN. Has it?

NATALIE. Sandwich. In the kitchen.

DUNCAN goes.

FRANK. Where’s Esther?

NATALIE. She’s running late. Tommy!

TOMMY. What?

NATALIE. Can you get the rest of the chairs out please?

Enter ESTHER.

ESTHER. Sorry I’m late. Sorry! That fucking bus. Hello, Natalie. Hello, boys.

NATALIE. You’re not late, the urn isn’t hot yet.

ESTHER. It’s broken.

NATALIE. Since when?

ESTHER. I brought some toffee vodka instead. So sad. I can’t believe it’s the last session. Feel like we should light a candle, or smash the place up or something. Fu...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Contents
• Introducing Multiplay Drama
• Original Production
• Epigraph
• Characters
• The Real Estate
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information