Leo Butler - Made of stone. Redundant. Lucky dog. The early bird

Leo Butlers first play, Redundant, was produced by the Royal Court Theatre, London as part of the Young Writers Festival in 2002, and was the winner of the George Devine Award. His subsequent works include Devotion (Theatre Centre tour, 2002); Lucky Dog (Royal Court Upstairs, 2004); Early Bird (Queens Theatre, Belfast, 2006); Ill Be the Devil (RSC/Tricycle Theatre, London, 2008); and Faces in the Crowd (Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, 2008). Since 2005 Leo has been writers tutor for the Royal Courts Young Writers Programme, and he has also written the television play Jerusalem The Golden (BBC Four, 2003) and Self-Made, a part-documentary/part-fiction film directed by Turner Prize-winning artist Gillian Wearing which was screened at the London Film Festival in 2010 and due for general release in 2011. Debbie
JackSetting Feel free to play with the setting and the physicality as pleases you, but do keep the rhythm of the speech. La Isla Bonita is a Madonna song and can be found on The Immaculate Collection album. Debbie She left for school as normal. Pause. Pause.

Has her breakfast. Coco Pops. Glass of milk. Pause. Watch her from the front window. Pause. Pause.

Mustve been what? Twenty past. Jack Quarter to. Debbie What? Jack Quarter to nine. Debbie Oh Jack She was late. Debbie I was running late. Debbie The clocks gone forward. Debbie The clocks gone forward.

I forgot to set the the Pause. The thing. Jack What? Debbie I forgot to set the Pause. Only realise once I turn on the news. Of course there was no news. Not at that time.

Whats the one? Jack What? Debbie Whats it called? You know the one, what is it? Jack What? Debbie The programme. Straight after the news. Jack I wouldnt know. Debbie Youd left already. Pause. Jack I was in a rush. Debbie You had an early start, thats right. Debbie You had an early start, thats right.

Thats what I thought, anyway. Hes got off early, I thought. Someones got the wind in his sails. Jack You werent thinking. Debbie No. Debbie She has her breakfast, I turn on the news. Pause. Jack Whats she wearing? Pause. DebbieandJack Whats she wearing? Pause. Jack Debbie Debbie Bargain Hunt. Jack What? Debbie The programme. Jack What? Debbie The programme.

Bargain Hunt, I remember now. Shes got on her little orange mac. With the hood pulled up. Turns the corner and goes to catch the bus. Course all the other kids have left by now. I gave her a note to pass on to her teacher.

I was going to ring, but but I was late myself, I wasnt Pause. You dont think, do you? Pause. You dont think anythings going to happen. Jack Shed been restless. Debbie What? Jack Come to think of it. Pause. Pause.

She hadnt been herself. Debbie I wouldnt say that. Pause. I wouldnt. Pause. No different to any girl her age.

Growing up. That age. Jack You think its all part of Debbie Growing up, thats what I said. Jack You think. Debbie What? JackYou think. Debbie Jack. Debbie Jack.

My partner, Jack. He thought shed been restless. Jack Its the little things you notice. Debbie He says that now. Jack The little things. Jack Shes put on weight. Debbie You see. Jack She can barely fit into her own clothes. Debbie Oh Jack The junk you feed her. Debbie Oh Jack The junk you feed her.

Mars bars and fucking Monster Munch. Debbie So its my fault? Pause. Jack She was distant. Debbie Oh Jack Reclusive. Debbie Come on, Jack Jack She was. Debbie Like any girl that age.

Growing up. Long pause. Of course, itd be different had she been a boy. Maybe she would have been more Jack Outgoing. Debbie Maybe. Debbie With you at least. Pause. Pause.

With her father. Jack Fine. Debbie With him. Long pause. What were saying Pause. Debbie It wasnt Jack Something. Debbie anything either of us had really Jack Something else going on. Debbie She would have told us. Pause. Pause.

She would have told me at least. Jack You cant help but think the worst. Debbie She hadnt been picked on or anything. Jack We dont know that. Debbie She kept herself to herself. Debbie Shes a good girl. Jack Right. Debbie An angel. Long pause. Jack Debbie. Pause. Pause.

Debbie Debbie At least she never said. Jack Should I go and check on her? Debbie At least. Pause. At least she never said anything to my face. Jack Debbie Debbie You dont just disappear. Pause. Pause.

Well, do you? Jack No. Debbie Well, do you, Jack? Long pause. She wakes up the following morning and Jack Im running late. Debbie Have you seen her gym bag? Jack Debbie, please Debbie I left it by the settee last night. Jack I havent seen it. Jack For Christs sake, will you get out of my way? Debbie Shes going to be late already. Jack I didnt even know she had a fucking gym bag! Debbie Jack Jack Gym bag. Debbie Jack, dont Jack How many bags does she need, for fucksake? Debbie Dont swear in front of her. Jack Jesus Christ Debbie Dont swear, I said! Jack I dont have time for this, Deborah. Debbie Frighten the poor girl. Jack Will you ? Debbie Shes hardly touched her Coco Pops, look. Jack Oh now Debbie Look at her. Jack Will you let me get my coat at least? Debbie Jack Jack Stood there like the fucking Andes. Debbie Dont Jack The pair of you. Debbie Dont speak to me like that. Jack Have you seen the time already?! Debbie Jack Jack Fucking useless, what are you?!

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