Blackberry Trout Face

Laurence Wilson

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN: 9781849432436
• eBook ISBN: 9781849433662
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: British Drama

Kerrie sets about her daily task of preparing Mum's heroin… Jakey has had enough of life in the crew… Cameron is too scared to step outside the front door… One morning, the three teenagers discover a note in the Frosties. Mum has abandoned them: they have been left home alone… Blackberry Trout Face is a bold, gritty and funny play, which explores the universal themes of family, loyalty and ambition. With sharply-drawn characters, crackling dialogue, and plenty of humour, we follow three young people as they struggle to cope in exceptional circumstances. Blackberry Trout Face was comissioned and developed by award-winning theatre company 20 Stories High. Winner of the 2010 Brian Way Award - the UK's best new play for young audiences Shortlisted for the Manchester Evening News Best New Play Award 'An amazing show that opened my eyes' - Sam, aged 17, audience member 'A brave new voice in British Theatre' - Manchester Evening News on Laurence Wilson

SCENE 1 – FREE GIFT

Early October. Tuesday morning. The kitchen of an Edwardian terrace house somewhere in Liverpool. It is the only occupied building in a street that has otherwise been vacated and tinned up. The kitchen is fairly big and is cluttered, with everything from dirty and clean washing, pots and pans, McDonalds free toys, a few books, and bills.

Nothing matches, including the chairs and table and a shoddy, two seat sofa. There are two worktops in an L-shape. The smaller having an almost finished construction of a model bridge on it, with the rest of the pieces and tools scattered around it. On the other worktop are coffee, tea and sugar tins and a bright yellow sharps bin.

JAKEY enters; he has the air of an angry dog about him and a number one haircut with a big scar visible on one side. He wears the street clothing of a local youth gang member, black tracksuit and black trainers. He has hold of a letter, which he puts on the worktop and opens the fridge and takes out a carton of milk, sniffs it and deciding it’s okay, has a swig. He picks the letter back up, opens it quickly and reads it. He smiles. CAMERON enters, he is wearing his school uniform, which is very crumpled and out of shape, one arm slightly longer than the other, with silvery snot trails on the sleeves. He is thin and timid looking, and a bit twitchy; he is carrying a Transformer toy. JAKEY immediately stuffs the letter in his pocket.

CAMERON: What was that?

JAKEY: What was what?

CAMERON: What yer just stuffed in yer pocket?

JAKEY: Nothin.

CAMERON: Yer not in trouble again are yer?

JAKEY: It’s a letter off me ex.

CAMERON: She wrote yer a letter?

JAKEY: She wants me back.

CAMERON: She didn’t just text yer?

JAKEY: No.

CAMERON: Or facebook yer?

JAKEY: No.

CAMERON: That’s just weird. Can I see it?

JAKEY: Did you sleep in them last night? (Indicates CAMERON’s school uniform.)

CAMERON: Yeah.

JAKEY: Why?

CAMERON: It’s what’s it, innit?

JAKEY: What?

CAMERON: Economical.

JAKEY: Is it?

CAMERON: What’s the point of takin it off to go to bed, when the first thing yer do when yer wake up, is put it straight back on again?

JAKEY: You’ll have to get changed into yer spare.

CAMERON: Why?

JAKEY: I can’t have me little brother walkin around like some tramp.

CAMERON: I haven’t got a spare.

JAKEY: She’s only got yer the one uniform?

CAMERON: This used to be yours.

JAKEY: Lad, I was never that skinny.

CAMERON: That’s why Kerrie boiled it in a pan for us.

JAKEY: Did what?

CAMERON: To shrink it.

JAKEY: Unreal.

CAMERON puts his Transformer down and gets up and takes some silver foil from the draw and grabs an old plastic toy helmet from the floor. He then sits down and starts covering the helmet in the silver foil.

CAMERON: Why are yer up?

JAKEY: Coz I am.

CAMERON: But yer never usually get up until about half one.

JAKEY: Call the bizzies!!!

CAMERON: Are yer goin somewhere?

JAKEY looks at CAMERON and then looks as if he’s going to say something, as KERRIE enters. KERRIE is in a rush and has the air of a busy bee. She has her school uniform on, it is neat and tidy. She hardly glances at the boys and heads over to a drawer by the sharps bin. She opens the drawer and looks puzzled. She tries the drawer next to it. She turns around to look at her brothers.

KERRIE: What have yer done with it?

JAKEY: Done with what?

KERRIE: Don’t play games.

CAMERON: What’s up?

KERRIE: As if yer don’t know.

CAMERON: I don’t, honest.

KERRIE: Don’t do this to her.

CAMERON: Isn’t her stuff there?

KERRIE: This isn’t fair. Yers haven’t got any idea of the pain, have yer?

JAKEY: Shut up.

KERRIE: Just give it to me.

JAKEY: I haven’t got it.

KERRIE: Tell me where it is then.

JAKEY: She must of got it.

KERRIE: I take it up every mornin.

JAKEY: Cameron, have you hid it?

CAMERON: No. I don’t like ...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• SCENE 1 – FREE GIFT
• SCENE 2 – PRODIGAL SLUM
• SCENE 3 – CAM AND JERRIE
• SCENE 4 – ALL THE DIRTY PLACES
• SCENE 5 – THE ONE THAT’S GOT TO STAY