Literacies in the Community

Girls Night Out by Julie Duff (THE HEN NIGHT: Scene 3)

Cath is getting married to a guy called Maurice, a holiday romance in Corfu two years ago celebrating Senga's 21st. Maurice (Mo to his pals), hails from Paisley. He is four years younger than Cath and has been affectionately termed as her "toy boy". The girls are living it up in traditional hen style, dressing up the bride- to -be, her friends, Dot, Senga and Babs, colleagues from work, Mum and Auntie Susan.

(Scene: In the ladies)
Cath: (Drunk) I love you Senga.

Senga: (Drunk) I love you too.

Cath: I love you Babs!

Babs: (Really drunk) I love you! Have you got any loo roll anybody, please? (Toilet roll flung)

Senga: Solgon, thank you. (Toilet roll flung again)

Babs: Good throw, cheers. Any chocolate?

Dot: Are ye in for the night like?

Babs: Nah, I'm goin for a kebab. (Crying noise)

Babs: Who's that crying?

Senga: Cath, is that you? What's wrong?

Cath: Nothing, I don't know. I cannae dae it. I love him but I cannae marry him.

Babs: How no. What's wrong wi him?

Dot: C'mon tell us, we're yer pals.

Cath: A know, it sounds really silly but he's asked me to move to Paisley.

Babs: No way!

Cath: That's no it, he wants us to live with his ma.

Senga: Yuk, di ye get oon with his ma?

Cath: Aw, she's nice enough but she does everything for him, washin, cookin, makin his bed …

Babs: Wiping his bum!

Cath: She would if she could get away with it (blowing her nose).

Dot: So he's a mummy's boy then?

Cath: I can see it, me and her sittin watchin t.v. and he's oot with his pals.

Babs: At the BMX track!

Cath: Naw! At Johnny's amusements, he's obsessed with bloody fruit machines. His mum doesnae take dig money, then hinted at me having a good job so I can treat him.

Dot: Huh, what a cheek. So he's a spoilt mummy's boy?

Babs: What aboot the father, could he no toughen him up a bit ?

Cath: Walked oot when he was five.

Senga: De ye love Maurice, Cath?

Cath: Yes I do, to be honest.

Senga: Well, I suggest you sit down and talk about it.

Babs: Tell him to move here.

Dot: Or if you have to move to Paisley, get a place of your own.

Senga: Just tell him what you feel Cath, ask him do you want a wife or a mother?Babs: That's exactly what he wants, I'd be telling him to run and jump.

Cath: (Blowing her nose again) It's not that simple. My mum and dad have paid a lot of money for this wedding and I don't want to let them down. I'll need to take the dress back to Glasgow.

Babs: Your mum and dad will be fine. They'd be more upset if you were not happy, it's not that silly.

Dot: You know we'll always be here for you.Cath: I know, I wish I had told you before. I feel better now, you all ready for more!

Babs: I'm ready for a kebab, the full works!

Senga: You and your kebab!

The four cubicle doors open at the same time, four friends smile and hug and head for kebabs and home.

Carnival Day | South Edinburgh Students