debbie tucker green

plays: one
bom bad
dirty butterfly
generations
stoning mary
trade
random

with an Introduction by the author

m
B
NICK HERN BOOKS
London
WWW .nickhembooks .co .uk
A Nick Hern Book
debbie tucker green plays: one first published in Great Britain as a paperback
original in 2018 by Nick Hem Books Limited, The Glasshouse, 49a Goldhawk
Road, London W12 8QP
This collection copyright © 2018 debbie tucker green
Introduction copyright © 2018 debbie tucker green
born had copyright © 2003,2018 debbie tucker green
dirty butterfly copyright © 2003,2018 debbie tucker green
generations copyright © 2004 debbie tucker green
stoning mary © 2005,2018 debbie tucker green
trade copyright © 2005,2018 debbie tucker green
random copyright © 2008,2018 debbie tucker green
debbie tucker green has asserted her right to be identified as the author of
these works
Cover image; debbie tucker green
Designed and typeset by Nick Hem Books, London
Printed in the UK by Mimeo Ltd, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 6XX
ISBN 978 1 84842 763 1
CAUTION All rights whatsoever in these plays are strictly reserved.
Requests to reproduce the texts in whole or in part should be addressed
to the publisher.
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fxi Cathoc, CapuiW paper

Nick HERN BOOKS
 trade

August Wilson
(1945-2005)
Thank you
Peace
This version of trade was first performed by the Royal
Shakespeare Company as part of the 2005 New Work Festival
in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, on 25 October 2005.
The cast was as follows:
THE LOCAL Loma Brown
THE NOVICE Nadine Marshall
THE REGULAR Tanya Moodie
Director Sacha Wares
Designer Miriam Buether
Sound Designer Paul Arditti

An earlier version of trade was performed by the Royal

Shakespeare Company as part of the 2004 New Work Festival
at The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, in October 2004, and
Soho Theatre, London, in March 2005. The cast was as follows:
THE LOCAL Noma Dumezweni
THE NOVICE Karen Bryson
THE REGULAR Claire Benedict
Director Sacha Wares
224 225

Characters LOCAL Me.

Three LOCAL women LOCAL 1 Meh.
LOCAL2 Me.
Also: LOCAL I Her.
The REGULAR woman LOCAL2 Her.
The NOVICE woman
LOCAL Me - mi juss -
BUMSTER
HOTELIER 1 LOCAL2 mi juss -
HOTELIER 2 LOCAL 1 we’re juss -
BREDRIN {Guesthouse Staff and friend ofBumster)
LOCAL MAN LOCAL2 ‘there’.
AMERICAN TOURIST LOCAL Local. All a we.
LOCAL 1 All a we three. Local.
All characters are played by three Black actresses. LOCAL2 Local to where them -
Names appearing without dialogue indicate active silences LOCAL tek their holiday.
between those characters.
LOCAL2 To where them -
/ punctuates the rhythm of a sentence.
LOCAL 1 haf their ‘fun’.
{Bracketed words) are the intention, not to be spoken by the
LOCAL2 To where them -
character.
LOCAL 1 tek a break -
LOCAL 1 or LOCAL 2 indicate ‘LOCAL woman’ characters,
but are played by the same actress who would play NOVICE or LOCAL from who they are. From who they is.
REGULAR respectively.
We ‘local’ to that. ‘There.’
LOCAL 1 Me.
LOCAL2 Meh.
LOCAL Mi juss -
LOCAL2 mi juss -
LOCAL 1 we juss live - ‘there’.
Local like that. ‘There.’
‘There’ like that.
226 debbie tucker green
trade 227

LOCAL But them - ‘the Novice.’ LOCAL like you

NOVICE ...What? So what? REGULAR are / are -
LOCAL Them - ‘the Regular.’ NOVICE like you
REGULAR What? So what? REGULAR are / are / of / of / relationships that haven’t
LOCAL Them touriss them: Regular, Novice. They worked / marriages maybe - maybe.
bein that. maybe...
NOVICE ‘The Regular.’ LOCAL like you.
LOCAL Old- REGULAR They’re not / not gonna be young... very
NOVICE She looks young / people.

I’m not NOVICE and LOCAL

REGULAR
...No.
LOCAL she is
REGULAR Are they?
REGULAR I’m not that -
LOCAL
NOVICE old.
NOVICE
REGULAR I’m not that -
REGULAR Yeh. No / yes... Older -
LOCAL ‘old’ to me -
also known as - LOCAL old.

REGULAR depends what REGULAR Yes. 1... ‘older’. I am.

LOCAL she is NOVICE sniggers.
REGULAR what! what’s meant by - But at least I’m not... her {Re: NOVICE.)
LOCAL you are LOCAL The Novice.
REGULAR meant by ‘old’. NOVICE What?
‘Older’, yes - REGULAR You.
LOCAL The old! ‘older’ / white woman. NOVICE What?
‘The Regular Tourist.’ REGULAR Least I’m not / no / not (that) -
She bein that. LOCAL ‘that’
NOVICE See. REGULAR that’s right.
Beat. LOCAL ‘The Younger White Woman.’
REGULAR I think-
The first-time-over-‘there’ - tourist. ‘The
LOCAL see. Novice.’
REGULAR I /1 /1 think to myself... yeah / no /1 /1 / She bein that.
people that are -
Her.
228 debbie tucker green trade 229

REGULAR See. See with her, it’s - NOVICE I’m not at home -
LOCAL it’s the - LOCAL no y’not
NOVICE iss a holiday / what? NOVICE why would I wanna do that? Why would
I do what I do back ‘here’ when I ain’t
LOCAL The -
‘here’ - don’t make no sense - I’m not at
NOVICE iss my holiday. What. home / am I / am I?
LOCAL The - REGULAR {Unimpressed} No.
NOVICE I paid for it. LOCAL You’re ‘there’-
LOCAL The- REGULAR on holiday
NOVICE only I paid for it. NOVICE I am
LOCAL The- LOCAL she is
NOVICE so I can do what I want. REGULAR yes. She is.
Beat. LOCAL kisses her teeth.
Beat. NOVICE I’m not ‘here’ / I’m ‘there’. Yeh? Why
What? And why would I do - what? Why - would I do what I always do? Why would I
what? W/iiJf about me? So what about me - - would I not do what I wouldn’t do at
so fuckin what? home? I’m ‘there’ /lam/ I’m ‘there’ -
LOCAL nah mek no fockin sense -
Fuck you / fuck off.
REGULAR great. I go ‘there’ / on holiday ‘there’ / to
REGULAR Young.
get away -
NOVICE Remember do ya?
NOVICE from ‘here’
REGULAR See! young
REGULAR to get away from -
NOVICE remember that far back do yer? ‘Regular.’
Does she / bet she - NOVICE ‘here’
REGULAR to get away from -
REGULAR see.
LOCAL people like -
LOCAL Do yer?
REGULAR her. People like -
NOVICE Bet she don’t.
NOVICE who?
LOCAL
LOCAL People like -
REGULAR
And why would I do what I would do at REGULAR that.
NOVICE
home? LOCAL People like -
REGULAR What do you do at home? NOVICE what?
230 debbie tucker green
trade 231

REGULAR People like - NOVICE Local Styles at Local Prices.’

LOCAL and REGULAR Like your sign. {Dry.) I saw that.
you.
LOCAL ‘Hair on the beach. Getchur hair done on
REGULAR People like you! that are ‘here’. the beach - getchur hair did done good’ -
I go ‘there’ to get away from that. thass mi
NOVICE Least I ain’t /1 ain’t! see... NOVICE plaits for payment - thass you
What? LOCAL ‘the quickest, si mi, Miss Quick Finger - s
REGULAR
mi? Canerow fe cash’ - thass me
What?
REGULAR ‘I don’t know...’
NOVICE 'That: {Re: REGULAR.)
LOCAL ‘a change a style’
REGULAR What?
REGULAR ‘I don’t know... ’
NOVICE Her.
LOCAL {Dry.) ‘try something new’
REGULAR What?
REGULAR ‘I just don’t - ’
LOCAL Yet.
LOCAL (Dry.) ‘live a likkle... iss juss hair.’
NOVICE Nah - never /1 just -
REGULAR ‘I don’t /1 mean - ’
LOCAL yu ‘juss’ is juss enough -
LOCAL {Not convinced:) ‘it could suit - ’
REGULAR exactly.
NOVICE nah it couldn’t.
NOVICE What?
REGULAR {Not convinced} ‘You think - ?’
REGULAR is amused.
NOVICE nah it couldn’t
LOCAL See. /just-
REGULAR {Not convinced.)' - well... ’
REGULAR I know
NOVICE No
LOCAL I juss - mi juss
LOCAL {Lying.) ‘Y’noh - ’
REGULAR and NOVICE
we know NOVICE nah
I saw yer REGULAR ‘maybe and like / like / like how - ’
NOVICE
I saw you - LOCAL like -
REGULAR
mi juss... mi juss / live here. REGULAR ‘like how Bo Derek - ’
LOCAL
The Local. NOVICE like how Becks -
NOVICE
'The Local.' LOCAL {Weary} like how we do.
REGULAR
She busy been bein that. NOVICE ‘Quick Finger.’ You do what you do.
NOVICE
I saw you. Si yu. Them. LOCAL Mi do what mi do.
LOCAL
232 debbie tucker green trade 233

NOVICE You do that. NOVICE (As BUMSTER.) 7... see yu / saw you
from before... and... and tho’t unoo
LOCAL Mi do what mi do -
was... ’
mi do what mi do well.
LOCAL What?
Mi noh mi do hair well.
REGULAR (As BUMSTER.) ‘tho’t you was — ’
Even your something that straight
NOVICE What?
something.
LOCAL Tho’t them was what?
Straight up.
REGULAR He thought I was... (As BUMSTER.)
A straight-up-and-down... h’economic
' ...nice...’
transaction.
LOCAL
Like that.
NOVICE
LOCAL
NOVICE (As BUMSTER.) 'Barman! Mek mi order
NOVICE Like a drink.
the lady a...’
REGULAR Like that. REGULAR {As BUMSTER.) 'Waiter! Mek mi order
LOCAL the lady a...'
REGULAR Like a meal. NOVICE {To LOCAL.) A straight-up-and-down
Like that. economic -
NOVICE
LOCAL emotional
REGULAR Like -
like / see / uh / like like a drink - a drink in NOVICE economic transaction. Yeh?
NOVICE
a bar. Like that.
REGULAR Like the offer of a drink in a bar - Yeah?
NOVICE like a meal - And ‘Nice’?
LOCAL kisses her teeth. Beat.
REGULAR like the offer of a meal - REGULAR I /1 / it’s not that... I haven’t! y’know -
NOVICE like the - NOVICE no
(As BUMSTER.) 7... y ’know - mi see REGULAR y’know
yu-’ LOCAL no
Like the - NOVICE what?
REGULAR (As BUMSTER.) ‘Mi see yu... y’noh...
LOCAL Know what?
saw you from before — .’
REGULAR I/uh-
Like the -
NOVICE (As BUMSTER.) 'nice - ’
234 debbie tucker green trade 235

REGULAR been called - for... (ages)... haven’t been Nu’un nice about that. Is there.
called for... ages NOVICE {Re: REGULAR.) For years...?
LOCAL so him call yu -
Beat.
NOVICE (Ai BUMSTER.) 'nice - ’
You ent - ‘nice’ - not for no years?
LOCAL yu let him call yu -
REGULAR
NOVICE nice
NOVICE
LOCAL it sweet yu to be called -
NOVICE Really...?
REGULAR ‘Nice’ /1 / uh / haven’t been called for...
Really?
years.
Beat.
Shit.

I haven’t been called anything for years. NOVICE is amused.

REGULAR I haven’t! I haven’t got (anyone)...
I haven’t called myself / even / well you
(don’t)! for! uh! for! for... for... years. NOVICE {To LOCAL.) Ere what - she ain’t got -
NOVICE ‘Nice’? REGULAR got... anyone -
‘Nice’ came with the drink? NOVICE (7b LOCAL.) ere what -
‘Nice’ came with the drink did it?’ REGULAR who is there to say it?...
LOCAL ‘Nice’... ice and a slice - NOVICE (^ LOCAL.) She ain’t — not for no years\
NOVICE ‘Nice’ was what did it was it? REGULAR I have no one to say it... So / so why
LOCAL Transacted / executed! and accepted - would I feel it?
the drink. And the compliment. NOVICE Say it ’bout myself all the time! say it to
myself all the time -
Easy.
LOCAL I’d tell yu ’bout -
NOVICE Nice and easy.
NOVICE geddit said ’bout myself all the time -
LOCAL She is.
LOCAL I’d tell yu ’boutchu self-
Emotional.
NOVICE gettem to tell me ’bout myself / all the
Emotionally easy.
time -
You are.
LOCAL I’d tell you boutcha self -
REGULAR I-
NOVICE you wouldn’t be who I’d be askin.
LOCAL Juss too easy -
LOCAL Yu askin the wrong people then -
{Re: NOVICE.) you are.
NOVICE don’t think so darlin / but you... {Re:
NOVICE ups middle finger to LOCAL and
REGULAR.) y’know / if you want summat
REGULAR.
236 debbie tucker green trade 237

to feel / feel yourself - feel it yourself! NOVICE

you want someone to say it! waitin on REGULAR
someone to say it! say it yourself! say it to
NOVICE I just paid you a compliment.
y’self - what?
Y’know ! cos y’know ! you / uh /1 / you! Or don’t my compliment count (then) - ?
you look... suppose / you ! y’know... LOCAL As much as his musta.
maybe - y’know / you could -
Beat.
LOCAL what part? The drink.
NOVICE You do look... sorta... REGULAR A drink.
LOCAL She don’t. NOVICE {As BUMSTER.) 'Barman! Ah said-
NOVICE She could look sorta - lemme order the lady a...’

LOCAL she don’t tho LOCAL highballed glass a flattery.

NOVICE could - nice. REGULAR He bought me a -
REGULAR Do I? NOVICE (Ai BUMSTER.) ‘Barman! I said mek mi
order the lady a - ’
LOCAL No.
LOCAL highballed glass a attention.
NOVICE Yeh... in... aserta­
REGULAR So what.
REGULAR do I?
LOCAL Laced with sweet talk?
LOCAL She don’t
REGULAR Sweetness.
NOVICE sorta ‘old’ - sorta way.
LOCAL Lyrics?
REGULAR REGULAR Loveliness -
NOVICE LOCAL loveliness? Bullshit.
REGULAR ... Should I thank you?
And she still looks -
NOVICE You tell me.
REGULAR I looked how he made me feel -
REGULAR When I need some self / self-help -
LOCAL still looks old to me.
NOVICE just sayin - REGULAR How I felt for once -
REGULAR when I need some life lessons / uh /
NOVICE once?
lessons in life -
Look like she loved it! ere what / don’t
NOVICE tryinta be helpful -
she - looks like you’d love it / looks like
REGULAR when I need some advice - you love it / loved it.
NOVICE I geddit - Y’look like you landed / landed somethin /
I won’t come to you. and lovin it - ere what - focus on a
REGULAR
238 debbie tucker green trade 239

female’s face long enough - can feel how REGULAR the sand -
long since she been - ‘felt’ / how long LOCAL ’bout ‘the sand’.
since you been ‘felt’? / How long since you
felt / felt since you been - been since you NOVICE Thass right / the bein over ‘there’ -
been (fucked) - since she been (fucked) - REGULAR the sun -
REGULAR excuse (me) - what LOCAL ’bout ‘the sun’
NOVICE focus on this one’s face long enough - NOVICE thass right / the I gotta tan to work on.
REGULAR excuse - no - REGULAR The -
LOCAL {As BUMSTER.) "Yu noh si how yu look NOVICE the that -
“nice" - ’ REGULAR the -
REGULAR look - don’t - NOVICE the what?
NOVICE give it that - and look how this one looks - REGULAR The -
REGULAR look I don’t - LOCAL the age gap.
NOVICE you do LOCAL
REGULAR don’t need you to - REGULAR
NOVICE you do / ere what! she does! this one -
REGULAR Before I could / y’know! tell myself-
y’know what - you do / you look... this
one looks - NOVICE what? ‘Nice’?
REGULAR I /1 / you know / uh - REGULAR Before I would -
NOVICE -fresh! Fresh. LOCAL ‘tell yourself’ - what?
REGULAR Is this more of your / is this more of her REGULAR It does /1 just / uh / y’know... he could tell
philosophy? - he could tell -
NOVICE Focus on her for a minute - LOCAL what hotel you was stayin in
REGULAR she can! you can keep it - REGULAR he did tell me -
NOVICE focus on you for a minute! can see that! LOCAL high end, low end
can see something / can see someone’s REGULAR tell me / before I would tell myself-
been freshly... fucked.
LOCAL before your highball glass a bullshit was
NOVICE is amused.
drained dry he could tell that - if he’d done
REGULAR .. .The sea - him job right / was doin his -
LOCAL ’bout ‘the sea’. NOVICE job?
REGULAR The sea - LOCAL Job right.
NOVICE thass right! the not bein ‘here’ - NOVICE {To REGULAR.) Bitter.
240 debbie tucker green trade 241

LOCAL Bitter? He said.

NOVICE Bitter. Leave her. Go on. ‘Too much like hard work.'

REGULAR ... Before I would tell myself - ‘nice’ / nice. Ent they?
He... uh / did. And I would /1 wouldn’t tell
And why struggle wid that when what he’s
myself / that / and that’s the / prob / part of
got before him is more likely to give...
the problem / but — and — he could tell
give it up.
LOCAL what flight unoo drop out the sky from
REGULAR Not nice.
REGULAR and did before anyone would tell me / he
LOCAL (As BUMSTER.) ‘Fefree.’
told me
NOVICE Not nice
LOCAL package or charter
LOCAL y’not
REGULAR he told me in two days ‘there’ what nobody
‘here’ has said in - years... REGULAR not true
He could - LOCAL for the price of a highball glass of su’un
tell if yu was a credit-card or cash kinda / sweet then, right?
LOCAL
high-end / low-end kinda / t’ree-week or Ice - slice an’ a ‘nice’ -
two kinda / single or not kinda... REGULAR it’s not like that.
h’investment.
LOCAL No?
NOVICE He could (tell) -
REGULAR No.
LOCAL tell if you was German or Canadian or
Canadian or English or... English or NOVICE Maybe she’s not like that. She said -
American - LOCAL before you even finished your first straight-
NOVICE he could tell you was a (good un) - up-and-down-highballed-economic-
transaction-of-a-drink! he had you sussed.
REGULAR do I look American? /1 don’t look Sussed - clocked an’ categorise. Thass
American... what that was for. Thass what you were
NOVICE You don’t look American for.

LOCAL - is what he musta thought.
Americans give too much -
(As BUMSTER.) ‘The American dem -
dem gi it too much - too much of the...
mout / too much a the h 'attitude - ’
he said.
‘Ent really givin when it comes to givin is
if is they?
And yes - ‘job’ - and yes - him could tell -
NOVICE thass what / ere what - thass what / right!
what holidays is for. What getting away is
for - getting away from it is for - takin
time out is for - vacations is - breaks is for
-yeah?
Begrudgin me / us - begrudgin us a little a
-1 work - we work -
242 debbie tucker green trade 243

LOCAL s’mody employ you? Who paid for the third?

NOVICE Wfe work - REGULAR
REGULAR you know nothing about me - NOVICE
NOVICE work hard for this - and you! you! see! LOCAL laughs to herself.
you - LOCAL Wha? Yu noh haf nu’un f’seh? Cyat ketch
REGULAR yes, you yu tongue?
NOVICE you’re juss playin - Or su’un else.
REGULAR you are NOVICE Fuck it! me? I juss took the drink and
NOVICE playin bitter drank it! so what?

REGULAR you are .. .Do it over ‘here’ / so I’m not gonna not
do it over ‘there’ am I?
NOVICE bitter and backward wiv it - ain’t she? -
Ain’t she - REGULAR You said.
REGULAR nods. NOVICE Thass right - what? I’m on holiday ‘there’ -
and when did somebody last tell you / you REGULAR you’ve said.
/ see! you that you / huh? / You looked NOVICE Thass right.
‘nice’?
LOCAL Yu said.
REGULAR Yeh. NOVICE He offered -
NOVICE Right. LOCAL who paid for your second drink?
REGULAR Yes. REGULAR {To LOCAL.) Anybody ever offer you
NOVICE See anything?
REGULAR yes LOCAL Who paid f’the second drink?
NOVICE see! NOVICE He said / (Ay BUMSTER.) ‘This is for
you.’
REGULAR
I said / ‘I never asked for no drink.’
NOVICE
He said / (As BUMSTER.) ‘Yu not gonna
LOCAL When he did.
not drink it now / y ’know? ’
Before him tell you... that you did.
I said / ‘I never asked for no drink tho.’
Beat.
(He) givin it / (As BUMSTER.) ‘Now that
NOVICE I bought it / bought itfi yu - ’
REGULAR (I) said / ‘But did I ask for a drink - ’
LOCAL Who paid fi yu second drink? (Ay BUMSTER.) ‘I know yu not gonna do
me like that.’
244 debbie tucker green trade 245

‘You’re blockin my sun - ’ In a right state from touchdown to

departure -
REGULAR yes, alright-
he said / (As BUMSTER.) 'You was I don’t do that.
NOVICE
blockin mi view - ’ Ere what - off your tits - happy to be
REGULAR I think we (get it) - hungover for me whole of me holiday? See
//don’t do that...
NOVICE ‘I was tryinta top up my tan’
...Any more.
(He) gives it! (As BUMSTER.) ‘improvin
on mi view / blockin an ’ improvin - ’ REGULAR raises her eyes to the skies.
REGULAR alright - And she don’t look the fuckin type -
NOVICE I said - REGULAR er / excuse me but -
LOCAL I’m sayin who paid for the next drink! NOVICE ere wot / y’know what - trust me. You
who paid for your drink after that? don’t.
NOVICE How’dya know there was one? LOCAL laughs to herself.
REGULAR One? LOCAL After your first glass a flattery / he ent got
NOVICE ...Some. no intention a payin fe the rest. Bet you
offered... bet him get you to offer - bet
LOCAL There would be. you tho’t you was offerin off your own-ah
Wu’udnt there. back - bet him get you to do that - bet you
said -
If he was doin his ‘job’ - right.
NOVICE you don’t know what I said -
Cah, yu h’English like a drink. Don’t it.
REGULAR you don’t know me
Tek a drink. Don’t it.
LOCAL betchu said -
Like the taste a drink...
REGULAR you wouldn’t know what I said / she
Don’t it -
wouldn’t -
REGULAR excuse me - NOVICE nah she won’t / no one gets me to say
NOVICE nah I’ll deal wiv her - see I - / I’ll deal nuthin I don’t wanna -
wiv her — see 1 — ain’t one a them / ain’t LOCAL yu sure
one a them Faliraki-out-on-the-piss-out-
for-days-out-of-me-head-all-night-type-a- NOVICE no one gets me to do nuthin I don’t wanna -
traveller. REGULAR nothing?
I don’t do that. NOVICE Nuthin.
Vomitin up the place! embarrassin REGULAR Never?
yourself - NOVICE Nah never.
I don’t do that.
 trade 247
246 debbie tucker green

Young. I told you. thass askin a bit too much of the bit too
REGULAR
much! but t my point is -
LOCAL Young. She is.
REGULAR oh God
NOVICE Nobody’s gonna tell me nuthin / nobody
can tell me nuthin / no man can tell me NOVICE where we’re from -
nuthin / them days is over. REGULAR we’re not from the same place -
Where we’re from. Yeh? NOVICE country - not manor / no -
Yeah? REGULAR we couldn’t be from the same place -
regular What-? LOCAL glad we not from the same place -
NOVICE Where ‘we’ from (yeah) - so don’t be
sayin ’bout what I said! cos you wouldn’t NOVICE where we ’re from... no man can’t tell!
can’t tell me - we - us -
know / how would you know?
You don’t know / see - quiet - see? REGULAR well
NOVICE ’bout our business / and what to-fuckin-do.
Be quiet. See?!
Right.
Where we are from - dunno ’bout here -
darlin - but where we been! where we LOCAL Ev’ryting equal - where you’re from -
come from / we been thru the women s NOVICE thass right
thing! wt don’t get bossed it no more —
LOCAL man and woman equal-righted - where
where we’re from, yeh?
you’re from
Yeah.
NOVICE thass right
We / past all that / we been thru - well -
I never went thru it meself / that was more REGULAR well -
like her generation / her lot - / runnin up LOCAL equal-righted / human-righted - a he an’
an’ down the place marchin an shit / we she same-way-righted / right?
been thru that / you bum your bra didja?
NOVICE Right.
Chain yourself to the fences and shit -
LOCAL Where you’re from.
REGULAR What / for / uh t your benefit?
See! bet she did / tits hangin low as she NOVICE Yep.
NOVICE
was battlin ’gainst the pigs / bra burnt to REGULAR Well-
bits as she’s chained to some fuckin... LOCAL so righted ! so right! so righteously right-
REGULAR suffragettes on yu ha fe find yu’self alfway round the
I suffer too ! we / our generation have our fockin world to find back the kinda man
NOVICE
own sufferin - you equal-righted right outta h’existence.
which were a / uh / different battle to — ...Right?
REGULAR
NOVICE I know / history /1 know - our history! an’ Beat.
I couldn’t be lettin my shit go / my tits go /
248 debbie tucker green trade 249

NOVICE ... Right! you deal with her - LOCAL Real likkle feminiss
REGULAR what? NOVICE cos I wanted to.
LOCAL Right. Cos I can.
REGULAR Equality - Cos -
NOVICE right - LOCAL ‘you’re on holiday.’
LOCAL man is man an’ ooman iss ooman ’cept yu {Amused.) He is good / gotcha thinkin that.
noh satisfied wid that - noh satisfied wid NOVICE Cos he bought me one first - cos I could.
what yu fought for -
Cos I said ‘I’ll treat yer’ —
REGULAR equal rights -
LOCAL is amused.
NOVICE right-
What?
LOCAL be careful whatchu h’ask for -
Beat.
NOVICE no - now what / see what - now! look - LOCAL
what / look what she’s doin - she’s lookin {To REGULAR.) After your first glass a
flattery... Bet you offered... betchu did -
to confuse -
REGULAR I offered because I could.
LOCAL noh hard
I paid / because I could.
NOVICE lookin to confuse the -
Because I wanted to.
LOCAL noh hard
Because I can.
NOVICE lookin to confuse me -
Because — and / I’m not / I — I’m not going
REGULAR isn’t hard.
to—
LOCAL Yu there lookin the kinda man you lookin NOVICE nah don’t.
to like! like to like ! like likin our man’s
dem... right. REGULAR I’m not going to justify -
Thass your... human right. Right? NOVICE nah don’t -
Where’s mine. REGULAR I’m not — to you -
NOVICE NOVICE nah don’t -
LOCAL REGULAR I’m not going to ridicule the
NOVICE ... A fuckin drink! right. LOCAL what?
REGULAR Right. REGULAR ... Romance -
NOVICE And I offered cos I could NOVICE what?
LOCAL equality... LOCAL ‘Romance’?
NOVICE I paid / cos I could. REGULAR ...Romance of it.
250 debbie tucker green trade 251

NOVICE Get your romance at home - fuck that LOCAL and NOVICE eyeball.
REGULAR there is no romance at home NOVICE And romance ain’t my reality.
LOCAL not our problem LOCAL You said.
NOVICE fuck that. REGULAR That’s you.
REGULAR The romance - I’m not like you - He bought me an unasked-for appreciated
drink.
NOVICE I’m not like you
you couldn’t be like me. We ate together - that’s me.
REGULAR
LOCAL Who did pay?
NOVICE
REGULAR He bought me a -1 asked -
REGULAR When did you last -
LOCAL who did paid (for) -
LOCAL walk by the water?
REGULAR that’s not the point.
NOVICE So no.
LOCAL That is the point.
REGULAR Stare at the stars -
That was his point.
NOVICE so fuckin no
Thass business.
LOCAL (Dry.) hand hold?
Thass his business / thass good business /
REGULAR While he held you! yes
ent that good business, lady?
LOCAL {Mocking^ and dance?
If thass all the business he got?
NOVICE Dance? You! dance? LOCAL
REGULAR And... yes /1 / uh... dance... REGULAR
NOVICE Fuck - NOVICE
REGULAR when did you last - LOCAL What - yu noh able to be the women yu
NOVICE that. Right. Off. I carne to - wanna be over your ‘there’ or what?
REGULAR do that? That why you come over to our ‘here’ is it?
NOVICE I carne to - To be what you think you could be / not
admittin to what you are?
LOCAL fuck?
NOVICE Iss a holiday / yeh?
NOVICE
LOCAL Or you still workin on who you are ‘there’
LOCAL / haveta come over to ‘here’ to flex it -
NOVICE I ain’t a one to get fucked over, darlin. REGULAR it’s a / (holiday). That’s (all) -
Trust me.
LOCAL tekkin a break from who you are ‘there’ by
LOCAL What? That how somebody did do you comin over to my ‘here’ - what - you
back home then? disappoint yourself ‘there’?
252 debbie tucker green trade 253

NOVICE ups middle finger to LOCAL. NOVICE

NOVICE Not as much as your mother mus be LOCAL
disappointed with you.
NOVICE eyeballs LOCAL.
LOCAL
What? You is like her?
NOVICE
You favour ar?
LOCAL You got a mudder?
She muss be like her... don’t she.
NOVICE NOVICE
LOCAL She like you?
LOCAL
NOVICE You ain’t talkin ’bout my mum -
NOVICE I’m not like her.
REGULAR Ladies -
I’m not.
NOVICE she talkin ’bout my mum?
REGULAR
LOCAL Look like it don’t it -
NOVICE
NOVICE you bringin my mum into this?
LOCAL
LOCAL Well - look like it don’t it.
NOVICE Why don’t you take a break from your
REGULAR Ladies - mouth... Yeh? Why don’tchu take a break
LOCAL ‘ladies’ where? Not what they call yu (Re: from who you are Miss Canerow-for-Cash
NOVICE.) - not what they c^l y’mudder - / why don’tchu take a break from your
‘getchure hair done on the fuckin beach’
NOVICE you fuckin! like you’d fuckin! she wants
bullshit - and. See. I come ‘there’ cos I
to leave my fuckin mother - can.
REGULAR I don’t think you should talk about her
And I come ‘there’ cos I (can) - / ere what
(mother) -
/1 come ‘there’ cos it’s beautiful / and I
LOCAL (To REGULAR.) you tellin mi what mi can come ‘there’ cos I ain’t been before / and I
and mi cyant (say) - come ‘there’ cos I worked hard! saved up /
NOVICE she don’t know! know nuthin ’bout my - and me and my girls wanted to. Right. I
come there cos it looked propah picture­
LOCAL (To REGULAR.) yu - tryinta censorise perfect in the catalogue / and I come
meh? ‘there’ cos it read that the ‘locals’ is...
NOVICE Mention her again / make her mention! let so... fuckin... friendly.
her mention my fuckin mother again - NOVICE
LOCAL mention your fuckin ‘what’ again? LOCAL
NOVICE Fuckin do it - fuckin / go on / go on / do it NOVICE Iss a holiday / recommend you take one.
LOCAL ‘fuckin mudder’... mother fucker... LOCAL ... I would / if I could -
 debbie tucker green trade 255
254

I ent joinin your pity party so don’t invite NOVICE Ere what /1 don’t care -
NOVICE
me. LOCAL thass my point -
REGULAR Why would you want to go on holiday? NOVICE care boutcha ‘points’. There is no point.
You don’t need to go on holiday... You have no point.
You don’t need to go anywhere else... She has no - .
When where you are is so lovely... Bitter.
LOCAL LOCAL What?
REGULAR Er.../Uh... NOVICE (To REGULAR.) See what I said? Bitter.
NOVICE I done scuba-dived ‘there’! which I REGULAR What?
wouldn’t do at home /1 done windsurfin
LOCAL Bitter.
‘there’ - which I wouldn’t do at home!
I been on a boat / which I wouldn’t do REGULAR I moved hotels.
at home ! I ate things! I drank things! I LOCAL and NOVICE
seen things what I wouldn’t do at home / What?
and I -
Beat.
LOCAL fucked a local
REGULAR Because 1... (could.)
REGULAR which you wouldn’t do at home.
Because 1... / uh... could...
NOVICE {To REGULAR.) Pot. Kettle. Black. Yeah?
NOVICE
And I ain’t one a them sand slags! come
over ‘there’! what?! Come over ‘there’! LOCAL
and fuck whatever /1 ain’t one a them NOVICE Y’moved hotels? She moved hotels?
‘different-one-every-nighters’! nah / yeh?
What for? / Summat wrong with it?
I done what I didn’t do at home -
Something wrong with her? It never had
LOCAL what she wouldn’t do at home nuthin or summat! never had no air-con or
I knew what I was doin / an’ I dunnit / so nuthin -
NOVICE
what- LOCAL You get -
LOCAL or didju get done? NOVICE what you movin for?
NOVICE Toldja. People don’t do me, I do them. LOCAL Y’get throwed out?
REGULAR Philosophy. Mind! uh / mind you don’t NOVICE Didja?
hurt yourself - LOCAL Heh.
LOCAL Do the drinks tho dontchu? NOVICE (As HOTELIER 1.) ‘ Y’know / this my
That’s the point / thass my point. business / our business / ourfambily
business - ’
REGULAR What?
256 debbie tucker green trade 257

LOCAL yuget-?! REGULAR What type of hotel was I in?

NOVICE (As HOTELIER I‘ - most of the peoples LOCAL (As HOTELIER 2.) 'Nujfa them...
that come to this place! my place! my
...But. We still - nah - tek - yu.
place that is our place! this place that
is our - h’establishment / y’know! our We can’t take you. Here.
hotel - ’ Doin that.
LOCAL (Amused.) yu did! Here.
NOVICE (Ai HOTELIER I.) ‘They is! they are - Wid him.’
couples! um! they are married! er
REGULAR What type of hotel are you in - .
fambilies! y’know.
What type of hotel are you in / that won’t
LOCAL (Amused.) Them dash yu.
let / let their own in?
REGULAR Er- LOCAL Dash out.
NOVICE (As HOTELIER I.) ‘Y’know III uh... REGULAR What kind of place is that?
can’t have you here... both of you here.’
NOVICE Thrown out?
REGULAR
REGULAR What kind of-
LOCAL laughs.
NOVICE thass why I stayed put.
NOVICE (As HOTELIER 1.) 'If you’re gonna be /
uh... doin that.’ REGULAR I moved hotels -
LOCAL to one that would?
Go on.
REGULAR
LOCAL Go on.
LOCAL To one that would.
NOVICE Go on.
REGULAR
REGULAR .. .1 moved hotels! what /1 /1 mean! what
! but what - LOCAL To one that would letchu...
LOCAL (As HOTELIER 2.) Tear roan! year NOVICE Don’t do them ones what let them locals
roun! year roun - year round we get the! in.
bookins that we get year round - ’ LOCAL (To REGULAR.) On whose
NOVICE (Amused.) ‘but what’ - there ain’t no ‘but recommendation?
what’ - Beat.
REGULAR I just - we wanted to /1 mean! but / what -
LOCAL smiles knowingly.
type of hotel was I in -
NOVICE I paid to be there / the air-con / the room
LOCAL (As HOTELIER 2.) 'Canadian an’British!
service / that’s where I’m stayin / I’m
German an ’ British / British an ’ - year
stayin put -
roun year - ’
REGULAR
258 debbie tucker green trade 259

LOCAL NOVICE (Dry?) Great.

NOVICE without them stayin over - what - what? / LOCAL ‘Lovely.’ From the ‘nice’ / to the / ‘lovely’.
What - .
(Dry?) Wicked.
REGULAR
NOVICE is amused.
LOCAL REGULAR And how did /1 / uh / I’m not being funny
NOVICE What? You two havin a moment? / but... how... how did you afford to /
LOCAL (To REGULAR.) On whose could you afford to... buy anybody a
recommendation? second and third anything? / Look at you -
NOVICE enjoy the view -
(As BUMSTER.) ‘Bredrin. Tings cool?'
(As BREDRIN. guesthouse staff who
REGULAR look at her.
NOVICE
knows BUMSTER.) 'Ungs cool. Busy.’ NOVICE Hard currency baby -
LOCAL (As BUMSTER.) ‘Yu manager?’ LOCAL look ’pon ar
NOVICE (As BREDRIN.) ‘Him cool. Busy.’ NOVICE hard currency (baby) -
LOCAL (As BUMSTER.) ‘Still cool wid me?’ REGULAR you’re playing at being what you’re not -
NOVICE (As BREDRIN.) ‘Still cool widyu. Dollars NOVICE and you are...?
dem ah talk! bullshit still ah walk. Paid
REGULAR You’re playing at what you could never be
room is a paid room. We gotta guesthouse
at home.
to fill... dollar?’
NOVICE And you are?
LOCAL (As BUMSTER.) ‘Strickly US’
REGULAR You’re playin at what you could never
NOVICE is amused.
afford to be -
REGULAR He! well! he obviously! y’know... NOVICE I’m only bein what I’m perceived to be
knows... the place! places... better than I
do. REGULAR you’re playing at what you can’t afford to
be ‘here’ / ‘here’ / at home
LOCAL Exactly.
NOVICE I’m bein what I’m perceived to be ‘there’ /
REGULAR We. 1. Rented a guesthouse... it was -
‘there’ / on holiday / not my fault / what?
NOVICE what?
What are you perceived as?
REGULAR It was -
What / see / what? So - cos you have more
LOCAL cheap? than me ‘here’?
REGULAR It was - So what?
NOVICE cheaper? I got more’n they got! ‘there’.
REGULAR It was lovely. REGULAR (Dry.) Make you feel important?
260 debbie tucker green trade 261

NOVICE Makes me feel like you... REGULAR No.

REGULAR LOCAL No?
NOVICE NOVICE Heat, hotels and hard currency baby. Least
NOVICE And ain’t that what a holiday is for? I’m honest.

For feelin better’n you did. LOCAL kisses her teeth.

LOCAL Betta than you are. Andju can do your that as long as you
want. Kiss your whatever as much as you
NOVICE -1 feel good about feelin good! you might want / yeh?
be feelin bad but -
LOCAL kisses her teeth.
REGULAR How is how I’m feeling any of your
business? Carry on with your that -
LOCAL I will.
You know what? It is none of your
business. LOCAL kisses her teeth.
LOCAL How you’re feeling is - NOVICE Cos - he said... ‘You’re not like the local
women.’
REGULAR nothing to do with you
Beat
LOCAL how you’re feelin is his business -
He said! ‘You’re not like the local women
REGULAR and none of yours.
/ you’re better... ’ {Baiting^ Y’know.
LOCAL
(As BUMSTER.) ‘Not beggin mi anytin
REGULAR and everythin every two minutes... ’
REGULAR Thank you. You know.
Beat. LOCAL and NOVICE eyeball.
NOVICE Livin like this for the little weeks I can. (I) think I know what he means.
...I like your life. LOCAL Yu n’noh nu’un ’bout what him (seh) -
Plastic fuckin fantastic fuckin - NOVICE don’t I?
REGULAR it’s not about - LOCAL
NOVICE pound to the dollar ! dollar to the shekel! NOVICE
carryin the cash! su-fuckin-perb -
LOCAL ... Him said him want fe study / over inna
REGULAR it’s not all about - your ‘here’.
NOVICE money? Beat.
REGULAR No. LOCAL watches NOVICE.
NOVICE No? Him seh...
262 debbie tucker green trade 263

‘Mi gone go beach / gonna find myself a LOCAL The fool’s fockin philosophy -
somebody’ NOVICE least I’m (honest) - you (Re: LOCAL.) say
(Ai BUMSTER.) ‘Noh matter which type a something?
what touriss! what piece a which kinda LOCAL Mi?
touriss! mi a go beach an’find a piece a
that.’ No’un.
LOCAL and NOVICE eyeball. REGULAR What I have / we / uh / is honest
Y’know. LOCAL no iss not -

'Gonna find mi a som’ady! som’ady who REGULAR I/uh / we -

will get me to their “here” from my LOCAL and NOVICE
“there ” / lam! m’gonna - so mi cyan no iss not.
study...’ Beat.
... He was top of his class... REGULAR We had a good two weeks.
You know.
We have a good two weeks.
NOVICE So I fucked him! so what... NOVICE You had a holiday -
REGULAR ... I would’ve moved hotels anyway - REGULAR I have a - friendship.
LOCAL and NOVICE NOVICE You just about have a fuckin friend -
no you wouldn’t.
REGULAR I have a relationship
REGULAR I might have moved hotels (anyway) -
LOCAL you’re havin a fuckin laugh.
LOCAL and NOVICE
NOVICE ‘Friends’ don’t rent recommended
no you wouldn’t.
‘guesthouses’.
REGULAR ...Honest.
LOCAL Not none that mi know.
LOCAL Honest?
Friends don’t leave for fifty weeks a year.
NOVICE Honest?
NOVICE Not none that I know.
Ere what.
Friends don’t fuck...
At home / ‘here’ / a - he buys you a drink /
what? ‘Honestly’ - a - he buys you a drink Well.
- a meal / so what? Suited and booted / LOCAL Friends don’t fiick well / or friends don’t
starters / the lot. He lyrics you / you giggle fuck?
/ you coy it! you laugh! you body NOVICE {Amused^ I like you.
language you like him / you like him! you
leave / you fuck him! so what? LOCAL {Not amused.) Mi n’like yu.
Honest. Beat.
264 debbie tucker green trade 265

NOVICE (To REGULAR.) And it ain’t big. And it REGULAR It’s not charity -
ain’t clever! so you can cut your fuckin NOVICE you this patronising at home? Pound to the
foul language right out - dollar?
REGULAR I / we’ve been / I’ve been his ‘friend’ for LOCAL ‘Dollar to the shekel.’
years
NOVICE (To LOCAL.) What do you think?
LOCAL ...‘years’?
LOCAL You still send him back hard currency / or
REGULAR I’ve been /1 / uh / coming here for years
yu did stop?
NOVICE and LOCAL REGULAR ...You tell me.
‘years’?
Beat.
REGULAR I’ve been / uh... coming to see / him / for
years... I’ve been - LOCAL (Dry.) Nice touch. Says a lot / says a lot
aboutchu.
NOVICE rentin-recommended-guesthouses! for
years - Says a lot about your kind... ness.
REGULAR I’ve been coming / back /1 come back! REGULAR You wouldn’t know. You! uh / you don’t
I’ve been back to - know / you wouldn’t / you wouldn’t know
! you both -
NOVICE see your fuckin ‘friend’.
NOVICE don’t wanna (know) -
LOCAL ...For years...?
REGULAR both of you / uh / you know! you just -
Beat. don’t -
NOVICE (Dry.) That what a ‘friend’ is for? LOCAL want to -
REGULAR I’ve been back -1 / uh / sending back - REGULAR know. You don’t know.
NOVICE what- Beat.
REGULAR nothing NOVICE You with who you would be / at home?
NOVICE what? You that?
REGULAR Nothing. Know that.
LOCAL Money...? Know that much.
REGULAR (I) know I know thatchu’re not that.
LOCAL REGULAR Are you the person ‘there’ that you are
‘here’ at home?
NOVICE Shit.
LOCAL (Re: NOVICE.) Know she’s not that.
REGULAR ...Because I (can) -
NOVICE You ‘here’... strugglin to get a second look
NOVICE ‘Hard currency’ is it? God, you this
charitable at home? ‘here’ / you - who can’t buy no attention
‘here’ / couldn’t get it given to yer - ‘here’
266 debbie tucker green trade 267

! you - ‘here’ - ain’t never asked yourself NOVICE

why you gettin what you getting ‘there’?
LOCAL is amused.
Why you gettin what you get ‘there’ so...
REGULAR No. Yes. See.
easy / so soon! so much -
REGULAR
REGULAR what?
NOVICE If I was you - know I’d need to ask myself
NOVICE When so much a that so much! is so much
above your station - something - cos what kinda one-sided
‘friend’ - sorry - 'relationship’’ you got /
LOCAL what? got goin on?
NOVICE (Dry.) Sorry to break it to ya - attention! Beat.
so outta your league - so beyond whatchu
coulda clocked - andju ain’t never asked I’m listenin.
yourself why you getting what you got? Beat.
‘There’?
REGULAR .. .There’s a / we have a mutual -
LOCAL Yu nevah ask yu’self -
NOVICE whass he mutualise you back with?
NOVICE that?
LOCAL Not y’wallet.
See. Least me an’ he is on the same sorta
NOVICE At your age - whass mutual about
level -
anything?
LOCAL no.
REGULAR I don’t need to explain anything about
NOVICE We the same! same sorta shit - myself to you -
LOCAL no. LOCAL if yu shit worked you’d still be at home
NOVICE Someone like him likin someone like you? workin it.
Someone like him with someone like you? Wouldn’tcha?
Know you need to ask yourself that / know REGULAR Or you.
you ain’t asked yourself (that) -
NOVICE You got a fuck-buddy and you know it.
REGULAR and what have you -
Beat.
NOVICE - how you haven’t! I don’t (know) -
LOCAL (If) your shit worked you wouldn’t be
REGULAR and what have you asked (yourself)? travellin to my ‘there’ an’ tryin to wo’k
NOVICE She hasn’t - so’un where yu not wanted.
or don’t you draw breath for long enough / REGULAR Oh I was wanted -
REGULAR
your mouth doesn’t stop for long enough LOCAL whatchu had was wanted - not whatchu is
for your ears to listen to anything anyone / truss mi -
else might have to say?
REGULAR how would you know?
268 debbie tucker green trade 269

LOCAL If yu handled y’self right you’d still be REGULAR a fucking-about thing

at home rightin it - wu’dn’tcha? Truss mi. NOVICE I bought the drinks
NOVICE Yeh she would
I hired the rental
LOCAL white woman over ‘there’ on her own at
He’d show me the sights / I’d take the
your age! say again what it was yu ha fi view / so what
bring to the table...?
LOCAL while he was taking time-outs with! her.
REGULAR How would you know?
NOVICE
Because... You seem to be the last to! to
LOCAL That part a yu ting?
know! I don’t mean to be... but you do
seem to! to be the last! to know. NOVICE I didn’t -
About a lot of things. REGULAR part of your ‘so what’ thing?
Beat. NOVICE I didn’t know about -
Don’t you. REGULAR you’re no different
REGULAR NOVICE I didn’t know about you.
LOCAL LOCAL Didju know ’bout me?
LOCAL Is what yu tink him sees in yu? NOVICE Why would I ask?

REGULAR REGULAR You’re no different -

LOCAL Is what it is yu tink anybody could see in NOVICE to who?

yu? LOCAL To her.
REGULAR REGULAR I’m not like her / she’s like them / those
LOCAL sand / beach / barely -
NOVICE I’m not (like) -
LOCAL Really?
REGULAR barely clothed brazen things -
REGULAR
NOVICE no! I’m not them
LOCAL (To NOVICE.) And yu tink him see -
whatl - In yu? REGULAR I’m not them.

NOVICE NOVICE You’re a -

REGULAR Keep telling yourself that. If you need to. REGULAR liar.
REGULAR NOVICE And you / we know it -
LOCAL REGULAR liar.

NOVICE See. I had a thing / a me-and-he thing NOVICE Liar? Hypocrite.

REGULAR Hypocrite? - Prostitute
270 debbie tucker green trade 271

NOVICE prostitute? - Whore. Inna yu “fresh an ’fancy ’’ tings...

REGULAR Whore - A joke mi ah joke.
LOCAL tourist. How’s Mummy / fambily?
Beat. Y’woman.
NOVICE How much respect he got for himself? Beat.
How much respect you got for his self Prouda their bwoy?
then?
Know their bwoy... ?
How much respect you got for him, Local?
Know where their bwoy get him “fresh and
Shame. fancy’’ tings from?
Beat. Nah. Mi nah tink so.
Where’s your man? Shame.’
Where’s your man at? Beat.
Shame. LOCAL Did he even tell you about me?
REGULAR Where is he? REGULAR What is there to say about you?
Beat. What do you have to say?
NOVICE That’s my answer. NOVICE ‘Plaits for payment’! ‘Canerow for cash’
REGULAR Shame. REGULAR that’s you
NOVICE Right. NOVICE ‘beauty on the beach’ / ‘shekels for a style’
Shame. REGULAR that’s you -
Right shame. NOVICE kisses her teeth badly trying to
(Baiting.) You must be well proud / well mock LOCAL as she had done it.
prouda him. that’s you.
REGULAR (Dry.) You must be proud. NOVICE And by the way ! you plait too tight.
NOVICE You must feel great. LOCAL Your scalp’s too soft.
REGULAR (Dry.) You must feel great. NOVICE You’re too rough.
NOVICE He must feel great / feel great about LOCAL And you’re too easy.
himself...
NOVICE
Feel great about you /1 bet.
REGULAR And why would I want to know about a
REGULAR I bet. woman that lets her man / fuck! other
(As a LOCAL MAN looking BUMSTER women... what would that make me? What
up and down.) ‘.. .Koo-ya... Y’lookin sharp. does that make you?
272 debbie tucker green trade 273

LOCAL 'It could suit - ’

REGULAR What does that say about you? REGULAR (As AMERICAN TOURIST.) 'Y’know I
don’t know...'
LOCAL
I wouldn’ta said nuthin boutchu neither LOCAL 'A change a style’
NOVICE
REGULAR (As AMERICAN TOURIST.)' What did
LOCAL you ask ’bout me?
you say?’
REGULAR I wouldn’t have said anything if I was you.
LOCAL 'Live a likkle - ’
NOVICE I wouldn’ta said nuthin if I was you -
REGULAR (As AMERICAN TOURIST.) 7 dunno - ’
LOCAL did yu ask over me
LOCAL 'y’noh it could - ’
NOVICE you don’t come outta it lookin that lively
REGULAR (As AMERICAN TOURIST.) ‘... Well... ’
do yer?
You don’t come out of this looking that LOCAL 'Go on.’
REGULAR
good. REGULAR (As AMERICAN TOURIST.) ‘ Well -
LOCAL ...Didyou ask...? Y’know - like - could you - like! like...
you could make me look like / like how -
NOVICE ...I like your sign. Bo Derek - ’
Beat. LOCAL you saw the sign! saw the sign! that sign!
(Dry.) I do like your sign. you stopped / you did! you stepped up.
'Local Styles at Local Prices.' Thass what I got.
(Dry.) Lovely. Look what you got. NOVICE (Dry?) That much.
Look what you got. LOCAL More’n you got.
...Lovely. REGULAR I don’t think so. Dear.
LOCAL Mi? Mi nah work the beach - LOCAL And he paid.
NOVICE (Dry.) hmm lovely - Him did pay.

LOCAL don’t have to work the beach - REGULAR

REGULAR (Dry.) lovely. LOCAL He did paid.

LOCAL Don’t have to tout for the trade. People see NOVICE For what?
the sign! see that sign! an’ people come to LOCAL
me now.
NOVICE ...For what?
People like... you.
LOCAL For the... 'Local Styles at Local Prices.’
NOVICE (Dry^ Business is boomin.
For the sign... For the shelter. For me.
LOCAL No / business is better. Fe us.
274 debbie tucker green trade 275

REGULAR Re­ Back to you?

NOVICE paid. .. NOVICE is amused.
REGULAR I’m glad I ain’t you.
REGULAR REGULAR (Re: LOCAL.) I’m glad I’m not you.
NOVICE With what? LOCAL I wouldn’t wanna be yous.
Beat. REGULAR Shame.
Nervous now entcha. LOCAL Yu n’noh about shame an yu n’noh ’bout
What’s your sent-back-hard-eamed hard me! yu n’noh ’bout me an’ he.
currency been spent on...? .. .You wouldn’t know ’bout them tings
I wonder. deyah...

I wouldn’t be buyin a second and third A big people ting.

LOCAL
drink of anythin for no man I don’t know .. .You wouldn’t know ’bout that...
NOVICE I wouldn’t fuck women off the beach I The me-an’-the-he is a long-term ting.
didn’t know! but he did! does ! with some
This is a long-term ting / y’unnerstand?
old-
The we of it! is inna long (term)! lissen -
REGULAR I’m not that old -
me-an’-the-he of it is long-term tings / me
NOVICE And where is he... where is he now? and he been long-term from time / truss
me.
LOCAL Not ‘here’.
... Over your ‘there’. A trust ting.
Truss mi.
REGULAR
REGULAR Want to know about my trust?
NOVICE Obviously not with you
NOVICE No.
LOCAL or you.
REGULAR How much I trust?
NOVICE I wouldn’t want him.
LOCAL No.
So, what does that make you?
REGULAR How much I trusted him?
NOVICE is amused.
NOVICE and LOCAL
When did he last send some ‘shekels’ back
No.
! back to you?
LOCAL We... Wid no one else.
LOCAL
Before we was -
NOVICE
NOVICE what?
NOVICE (To LOCAL.) When did he last say he was
coming back? LOCAL We never -
276 debbie tucker green trade 277

NOVICE never did what? NOVICE Not that much.

LOCAL Either a we / wid no one else... Flesh to flesh? Forget that. Buy my own -
NOVICE bring my own - British Kitemark the
REGULAR works / mark my words -
LOCAL I ask him. LOCAL thass yu.
Yu noh. NOVICE That’s me.
Y’unnerstan... LOCAL Young.
Truss that. NOVICE Young. That’s me.
Truss mi. LOCAL Yu mother teach yu that?
We truss that much... Beat.
I ask him an’ him prove - how much / how NOVICE My mother taught me...
true / juss what - LOCAL
REGULAR what? NOVICE
LOCAL What kinda (truss) / we have. REGULAR
Truss mi. NOVICE
REGULAR
We never did / y’noh... bare-back / bare-
back it / y’noh / flesh to flesh it / y’noh / NOVICE What?
wid nobody but we self / before. REGULAR
Beat. NOVICE What? What’s the matter with (you) -
An’ iss good. nah -
Feels... well - feels - y’nah? REGULAR
Yu n’noh. NOVICE ...Nah?
Yu n’noh ’bout them tings / a big people LOCAL What?
tings mi ah chat ’bout / a long-term ting mi REGULAR
a chat / a mi and he ting mi -
NOVICE No you didn’t...
NOVICE bare-back.
LOCAL
REGULAR Bare-back?
REGULAR
NOVICE I wouldn’t bare-back with nobody, babe.
REGULAR ... Do you want to know how much I
LOCAL See. trusted...?
NOVICE ‘Trust me.’ Don’t trust nobody, babe. LOCAL
LOCAL See. REGULAR
278 debbie tucker green trade 279

LOCAL ...No... LOCAL

Pause. NOVICE And who’s bein fucked (over) - ?
NOVICE ...We always /1 always / we always used - REGULAR Will you just -
LOCAL and REGULAR NOVICE been fucked over
shut up.
REGULAR be quiet.
Beat.
Long pause.
LOCAL ...You come ‘there’.
LOCAL
... Invite yuself to my ‘there’.
REGULAR
We ask yu! we trouble yu?
NOVICE
NOVICE So what we can’t go on holiday now?
LOCAL Old...
Don’t think so -
NOVICE you look
LOCAL we never trouble yu / never asked yu -
REGULAR I am
NOVICE that whatchu want? Can’t go nowhere
without your say-so! don’t think so! shit - LOCAL she is
no one would be goin nowhere - NOVICE she’s not that -
LOCAL iss what kinda holiday yu lookin? REGULAR old.
NOVICE Thass our business. I am.
LOCAL You juss made it mine. LOCAL ‘The Regular Tourist.'
She juss made it mine. The ‘older white woman’.
Bare-back. She been bein that.
REGULAR REGULAR I /1 /1 think to myself... people that are...
LOCAL are of... they’re not gonna be young — very
young / people.
LOCAL .. .Bess not be bringin your duttiness to my
door. ‘Older.’ Yes. I am. I feel... old.
Beat. LOCAL ‘The Novice.'

REGULAR Likewise. NOVICE Iss a holiday.

LOCAL What? LOCAL The Younger White Woman.
REGULAR ‘The Younger White Woman.'
NOVICE Ooh... Who is fuckin who? She been bein that.
REGULAR NOVICE My holiday.
REGULAR She paid for it.
280 debbie tucker green trade 281

NOVICE Only I paid for it. LOCAL Mi juss -

So I can do what I want - LOCAL2 mi juss -
REGULAR and did. LOCAL I we juss live ‘there’.
NOVICE I didn’t know about you. LOCAL Local like that. ‘There.’
REGULAR How does it feel? LOCAL2 ‘There’ like that.
NOVICE and REGULAR LOCAL I just-
...'The Local.' LOCAL! mi know -
NOVICE, REGULAR and LOCAL LOCAL I just live -
The Locals.
LOCAL land LOCAL 2
LOCAL Me.
we know
LOCAL 1 ...Meh. LOCAL we just... live / live here.
LOCAL2 ...Me. LOCAL2
LOCAL! Her. LOCAL
LOCAL 2 Her. LOCAL !
LOCAL Me - mi juss -
End.
LOCAL 2 mi juss -
LOCAL! we juss -
LOCAL 2 ‘there’.
LOCAL Local. All a we. All a we three
LOCAL! Local.
LOCAL2 Local to where them -
LOCAL tek them holiday.
LOCAL 2 To where them -
LOCAL! haf their ‘fun’.
LOCAL2 To where them -
LOCAL ! tek a break -
LOCAL from who they is.
We ‘local’ to that. ‘There.’
LOCAL 2 Me.
LOCAL ! Meh.