Pops

Charlie Josephine, Charlotte Josephine

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781786828422
• eBook ISBN: 9781786828439
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Mental Health in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

They're trying. Despite everything. They're really trying. They almost work together, beautifully. Looking at what is inherited and who is responsible, award-winning writer Charlie Josephine's new play Pops follows a father and daughter caught in a vicious cycle of addiction, and the self-inflicted shame around mental health.

*DAUGHTER: I won’t stay for long. I promise.

FATHER: It’s fine!

DAUGHTER: Be out of your hair/

FATHER: there’s no/

DAUGHTER: as soon as/

FATHER: honestly, there’s no/

DAUGHTER: I just need to/..

FATHER: Get back on your feet.

DAUGHTER: Exactly.

FATHER: .

DAUGHTER: I/

FATHER: honestly, it’s no/..

DAUGHTER: I’m really grateful.

FATHER: Well it’s. Really, the least I/..

(Silence. It’s awkward. Neither of them knows what to do. A lot is not said. He looks about the room, points to the telly, ‘Come Dine With Me’ is on. He sits down to watch it.)

FATHER: I love this.

DAUGHTER: .

FATHER: Come and sit down!

(She does, though she doesn’t want to. It’s hot in this room. He doesn’t take his eyes off the television as he talks to her.)

DAUGHTER: How’s your day been?

FATHER: Oh tickety boo tickety boo. Not bad for a Wednesday.

DAUGHTER: It’s Thursday.

FATHER: Is it?

DAUGHTER: Yeah.

FATHER: Oh! I’ve lost one!

(He laughs, she doesn’t.)

FATHER: I love this.

DAUGHTER: .

FATHER: Ooooh she’s a bitch that one!

DAUGHTER: .

FATHER: I’d do roast beef.

DAUGHTER: .

FATHER: Can’t go wrong with a Good Roast Beef.

DAUGHTER: Unless you’re vegetarian.

FATHER: Which no one really is.

DAUGHTER: No?

FATHER: Not really.

DAUGHTER: .

FATHER: Yeah. Roast beef. Or that Pork Dish.

DAUGHTER: .

FATHER: .

DAUGHTER: What pork dish?

FATHER: That Pork Dish I used to/

DAUGHTER: don’t remember a/

FATHER: don’t you remember?

DAUGHTER: No/

FATHER: I used to do a Pork Dish, don’t you/

DAUGHTER: no/

FATHER: remember? This lovely Pork Dish/

DAUGHTER: no/

FATHER: you used to love that/

DAUGHTER: I don’t/

FATHER: you used to guzzle it down/

DAUGHTER: I don’t /

FATHER: no? Oh, you used to love that!

DAUGHTER: .

FATHER: What about you?

DAUGHTER: What about me?

FATHER: What would you do? Not a Pork Dish.

DAUGHTER: No, not a Pork Dish.

FATHER: No.

DAUGHTER: No. Because I’m a vegetarian.

FATHER: No!

DAUGHTER: Yes. I did say I/

FATHER: yeah but you’re not really a/

DAUGHTER: yes, I am.

FATHER: No one’s really a/

DAUGHTER: yes, they are.

FATHER: Just silly! No one’s really/

DAUGHTER: yes they are! I am!

FATHER: .

DAUGHTER: .

FATHER: He’s a wally that one.

DAUGHTER: .

FATHER: Reminds me of old what’s his name.

DAUGHTER: .

FATHER: What’s his name?

DAUGHTER: Who/

FATHER: you know/

DAUGHTER: no/

FATHER: you know! From the school! Bloody. What’s his name?!

DAUGHTER: Who?

FATHER: Your teacher! The posh one. Oh! What’s his/

DAUGHTER: Mr Heggerty/

FATHER: Heggerty! Heggerty! Hegger-ty. With his/.. And his /.. Always so/..

(They proper crack up laughing. We have no idea why, but it’s joyful to watch. They eventually stop, they sigh in the same way. She smiles, watching him watching the telly. Without taking his eyes off the telly he reaches across to the cassette player and presses play. An old song plays softly. She stares at it, suddenly feels sick.)

FATHER: Oh, blimey I/

DAUGHTER: it’s fine!

FATHER: I didn’t think I/

DAUGHTER: honestly, it’s cool/

FATHER: you don’t mind?

DAUGHTER: No no no it’s fine/

FATHER: sorry/

DAUGHTER: no/

FATHER: stupid/

DAUGHTER: it’s fine!

FATHER: I love this….It’s proper….Rock n roll.

(She nods trying not to look at the cassette player. Without taking his eyes off the telly he turns the volume up on the cassette player one notch. Her body shudders.)

FATHER: So, not a Roast Beef.

DAUGHTER: No.

FATHER: No! Roast, nut, thing? Nut roast?

DAUGHTER: Yeah, maybe. Yeah, or, maybe a, erm.

FATHER: Yeah?

DAUGHTER: .

FATHER: Yeah?

DAUGHTER: Dunno.

FATHER: No, go on.

DAUGHTER: Can’t think/

FATHER: go on!

DAUGHTER: Really...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Chapter 1