Poisoned Polluted

Kathryn O'Reilly

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781848429185
• eBook ISBN: 9781788502825
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

'I have to fight back. But I can't fight back. It's so strong, the feeling is so strong. I can't breathe and there's a tapping a light tapping that's when I wake. I wake up.'

Two sisters struggle to survive in the wake of a toxic childhood, bound by the legacy of what has been before. Each must find a way to build a life out of chaos. But what happens when the ties that bind become the thing that holds you back? Inextricably linked by blood, all they have is each other.

Kathryn O'Reilly's play Poisoned Polluted premiered at the Old Red Lion Theatre, London, in November 2019.

Movement – moments from movement sections later in the play.

HER twenty-three. SISTER twenty-eight.

HER	You look –
SISTER	Yeah –
HER	Great.
SISTER	Thank you.
HER	Never seen you look so good. Really.
	Really.
SISTER	Alright.
HER	I didn’t think –
SISTER	What?
HER	No, I don’t mean…
SISTER	Didn’t didn’t believe in me?
HER	No, I’m not saying that.
SISTER	No.
HER	You know I’m not saying that. I’m proud of you.
SISTER	Oh. Why didn’t you just say that?
HER	I am. You should be proud of yourself.
SISTER	Yeah.
HER	How long have you got this for?
SISTER	Erm… two years maybe.
HER	That’s good.
SISTER	If I’m a good girl, and don’t don’t break any of the rules, don’t fail any of their tests.
HER	Shall I make us a drink?
SISTER	I haven’t got a kettle yet.
HER	Should have told me I could have bought you a kettle.
SISTER	I don’t want you to buy me a kettle.
HER	Well I won’t buy you a kettle.
SISTER	I told you it wasn’t ready, this place isn’t ready.
HER	That’s a television.
SISTER	Don’t don’t touch it. I’m waiting for the box.
HER	It’s massive.
SISTER	Doesn’t work yet.
HER	That’s like having your own cinema. I know where I’ll be watching a film when I’m back.
SISTER	I won’t be in.
HER	It’s great to see you… looking so healthy.
SISTER	Funny, all I ate was Richmond sausages and drank copious amounts of coffee, instant shit with sugar.
	We were tol...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Contents
• Original Production
• Characters
• Poisoned Polluted
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information