Arthur's World

Helena Thompson

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781783198627
• eBook ISBN: 9781783198634
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Arthur is an OAP, hiding out from the world in his grotty high-rise. He'd move – if it weren't for his missing teenage son. Today is Michael's 18th birthday – will he finally come home? But the person Arthur finally lets in turns out to be someone else entirely. This boy is seeking refuge from The Fights – the raging riots sparked years ago by a notorious computer game.

ARTHUR is finishing making a cake. The radio is on.

RADIO: (Newsreader has a young London accent.) The Fights’ deathtoll has risen to more than 10,000. So far no government measures have succeeded in slowing the rate of increase. Youth Minister Gabby Lull is currently reviewing the curfew for teenagers. There’ll be more news every hour, on the hour. And now, time for a tune.

Rudimental’s ‘Waiting All Night’ starts to play.

ARTHUR: (Talking to himself.) Twenty! Blimey. Can’t see it meself. Thas a bleedin adult. That ain’t you…

ARTHUR puts the cake in the oven.

Yer a kid in my book. Leapin about like a grasshopper, gazillion questions a second, long skinny legs an big balloon tum…

ARTHUR sets the timer.

When you were little this place seemed huge…couldn’t believe it when council paid our rent…called it our penthouse, din’t we?… I’d look around an you’d be gone… poof… Always hiding somewhere…used ter giggle so loud, ad ter make out I was deaf…

Pause.

Member those models we’d make of a mornin, somfing ter do when yer woke too early, newspaper strips wrapped round a balloon; balloon goes down an you’re left wi shape, da da! …even when it’s gone.

Pause.

Sometimes I hear this knocking. Always knocked when you were home fer holidays. I’ll rush out, dripping wet.

ARTHUR knocks, slow and thoughtful.

Happy birthday, son. I wish –

There’s a knock on the door. Another knock.
ARTHUR opens the door.
The song’s chorus kicks in.
There’s no one there. ARTHUR’s suddenly caught short.
He dashes to piss in the loo. Meanwhile KINO sneaks in.
He’s wearing some kind of mask.
He looks around for something to steal. ARTHUR returns. KINO
whips out a knife and holds it to ARTHUR’s throat.

KINO: Gimme de goods, or I kill ya.

ARTHUR: (Resolute.) Kill me.

KINO: What?

ARTHUR: I want you to kill me.

KINO: Ya…?

ARTHUR: Now!

KINO: Wha’s wrong wi you?

ARTHUR: Do it!

KINO: Alright man, fuck!

KINO tries to psych himself up. Outside, we hear the gang.

GANG MEMBER: Oi, bitch!

KINO: Shit.

ARTHUR: What?

GANG MEMBER 2: Bitch!

ARTHUR: Was goin on?

GANG MEMBER 3: Bitch! Bitch!

KINO lets ARTHUR go.

ARTHUR: You’re scared…

KINO removes his mask.

KINO: Jus til dem go, yeah?

KINO sits down on the trunk. By way of warning, ARTHUR clears his throat. KINO halts – and seats himself elsewhere. He gets out his phone, starts to play a game; we hear its tinny, cinematic soundtrack.

ARTHUR: This ain’t a ruddy youth club, lad…

KINO: (Engrossed in his phone.) Come on, come on…jus til I died, yeah?

ARTHUR: No. NOW!

KINO’s startled into stopping playing. We hear the ‘You Lose’ theme tune from his phone – wa wa waaaa. KINO sucks his teeth. He puts the phone away. Discretely, he checks the window.

KINO: Come like bouncers out there…

Again, ARTHUR grunts. Awkward silence. KINO’s restless. Then he spots the ingredients.

Was dis den?

ARTHUR: What’s it look like?

KINO: You was makin a cake.

ARTHUR: Birthday cake.

KINO: (Disbelief.) Birthday cake, oh my days.

KINO starts to enjoy himself.

(Nodding to the tru...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Cast
• Arthur’s World