Massey - Chancers

Robert Massey CHANCERS NICK HERN BOOKS
London
www.nickhernbooks.co.uk ContentsChancers was first performed at the Viking Theatre, Clontarf, Dublin on 30 October 2013. The cast was as follows:

AIDEN	Luke Griffin
DEE	Mary Murray
GERTIE	Anne Brogan
JP	Andrew Murray
Director	Terry Byrne
Production Manager	Laura Dowdall
Production Assistant	Kerry Power
Set Design	Liam O'Neill
Set Construction	Brendan O'Reilly
Costumes	Jill Thornton
Photographer	Alan Craig
Poster Design	Emmet Henry

Yet the way men live is so far removed from the way they ought to live that anyone who abandons what is for what should be pursues his downfall rather than his preservation; for a man who strives after goodness in all his acts is sure to come to ruin, since there are so many men who are not good. The Prince,
Niccol Machiavelli Characters Aiden , thirty-nine
Dee , thirty-seven
Gertie , sixty-four
JP , thirty-nine Setting A modern, bright convenience store somewhere in County Kildare. A hot-food counter, Lotto machine, various grocery items, wine, etc. ACT ONE Empty shop. Morning Ireland on the radio.

AIDEN enters. He is preparing the shop for the day ahead. DEE enters from front door in sweatpants, runners, etc. She has just returned from the school run. DEE. AIDEN. AIDEN.

Youve plenty of time. DEE goes into the back while AIDEN continues about his business. She re-enters barefoot, carrying two different- coloured business suits on hangers. She holds them up . DEE. Whichever. DEE. DEE.

Choose, will you. AIDEN. I cant. DEE. The navy? AIDEN. DEE. DEE.

Or the grey? AIDEN. Either one of them, sure DEE. Youre no use to me at all. DEE goes back into the back of the shop to change. They continue to talk. AIDEN.

The kids go in okay? DEE. Lorcan was a bit nervous at the gate but he got over it when he saw all his friends inside. AIDEN. Good. DEE. AIDEN. AIDEN.

Whats wrong with him? DEE. Its a her. And she has a fairly bad reputation round the village. AIDEN. Theyve little else to be talking about. DEE.

Ill have to keep an eye out. Make sure he isnt slipping. AIDEN. Right so. DEE. You should have come with me.

First day back. All the other fathers were there. AIDEN. Thats why I didnt go. DEE. AIDEN. AIDEN.

Come on now, Dee. DEE. Im only saying. Its not all about us. AIDEN. I know. I know.

DEE re-enters now dressed in the business suit complete with heels, etc. looking good. Wow. DEE. What? AIDEN. DEE. DEE.

Thanks very much. AIDEN. You know what I mean. DEE. I hope I do. Its DEE. Its DEE.

What? AIDEN. Its perfect. You look perfect. DEE. Hard to believe it still fits me. AIDEN.

Better than ever. DEE. Bit dated now though. AIDEN. Doesnt look it. DEE.

Its ten years out of fashion at least. AIDEN. Things havent changed that much, love. DEE. Are you trying to be funny now? AIDEN ( putting arms around her ) . I actually think theyve improved.

DEE ( laughing ) . Were living in two storerooms out the back of our bankrupt shop some improvement. AIDEN ( breaking away ) . Thats not what I was referring to. DEE. I know its not, Im joking.

DEE applies her make-up in the reflection of the window. Youve someone begging outside there. AIDEN. I saw that, yeah. DEE. AIDEN. AIDEN.

No I shouldnt. DEE. Aiden. AIDEN . There but for the grace of God and a matter of months, Dee. DEE.

Thats a big part of your problem, so it is. AIDEN. Well, Ill live with that part of it, dont worry. DEE ( finishes make-up turns and faces him ) . Final verdict. AIDEN.

Absolutely gorgeous. Ten out of ten. No joke. DEE. I could put on a sack on for you in fairness, always could. AIDEN. AIDEN.

Will you wear that outfit for me later? DEE. Will I what? AIDEN. You know? With those shoes. Pair of stockings, suspenders. Open up the buttons a bit. I can be the boss.

You can drop your pen DEE. Dream on. AIDEN. You used to love all that. DEE. AIDEN. AIDEN.

Oh no you did. You did. You were filthy. Downright immoral. Dont deny me that now its about the only thing Ive left keeps me going. DEE. DEE.

I used to love a lot of things, Aiden, but we all have to grow up some time. AIDEN. To become what though? DEE. Right Thats the cue to get my arse in gear. AIDEN. Seriously though what happens to us now? That were grown up and its all done and dusted? DEE.

We knuckle down, love. Start out on a long road of getting our heads back above water. AIDEN. Spend the second half of our lives paying for the first, yeah? DEE. Otherwise known as providing for our children as best we can. AIDEN. AIDEN.

Its the only one I have left at this stage. AIDEN exits out the door, pulling the briquettes behind him. DEE s mobile phone rings and she answers. DEE. Howya. ) Just putting the finishing touches on now. ( Pause. ) Not half bad if I do say so myself. ( Pause. ) Give over, you dirty fecker you. ( Pause. ) Ahhh thanks very much, Ill need it. ( Pause. ) Well give it a good shot anyway. ( Pause. ) Hes not the best to be honest. No. ( Pause. ) Just very down on himself. ) Just very down on himself.

Cant get his head around whats happened, you know. How it ever got to this. ( Pause. ) Dont take it too personally, JP hes not talking to anyone, sure. His father has the place haunted ringing day and night to see if hes alright and he wont call him back. ) Just says hes embarrassed to speak to him with the way things are and he hasnt the energy to pretend so AIDEN has re-entered. ) Just says hes embarrassed to speak to him with the way things are and he hasnt the energy to pretend so AIDEN has re-entered.

No I dont know what Im going to do with him either but if I dont get this job today ( Sees AIDEN.) I have to run here. Ill chat to you later. Okay. Thanks. Bye. AIDEN.

Who was that? DEE. Just JP. AIDEN. Oh. DEE. Pause. AIDEN. AIDEN.

Whats he want? DEE. Just wishing me luck. AIDEN. For today? DEE. Yeah. AIDEN.

I thought you didnt want anyone knowing about it. DEE. I know, but sure its different, isnt it. AIDEN. Is it? DEE. Its JP. Its JP.

Its its our friend. So. You know what I mean. AIDEN. Of course, yeah. DEE. DEE.

Right before I go ( Produces a page. ) I got these online. I want to go over them. AIDEN. What are they? DEE. AIDEN. So DEE. So DEE.

So lets go. AIDEN. Lets? DEE. Ask me them. AIDEN. What, now? DEE.

Well, I have the interview in half an hour when do you think the best time would be? AIDEN. But sure Im busy now. DEE. Busy with what? AIDEN. Customers. DEE looks around the empty shop.

You know what I mean. DEE. Honey, if we were busy with customers I wouldnt be out looking for a job, would I? AIDEN. You dont have to go out looking for a job, Dee I keep telling you DEE. We are not going back over that. I havent time now.

Its work Im going back to not a prisoner-of-war camp. AIDEN. Things will pick up round here soon they have to. DEE. No they dont, love. They dont and they wont and we will lose the last roof over our heads if we dont open our eyes.

Cant keep throwing unopened envelopes in the bin, Aiden. Time runs out on that nothing surer. Ask me the questions I want to know I can answer them out loud. AIDEN starts to role play. AIDEN. DEE. Mizzz. AIDEN. AIDEN.

Mrs Farrell. DEE. Whatever. AIDEN. Please sum up for us who you are in no more than two minutes. ) Seriously? DEE. ) Seriously? DEE.