All About 'Abigail's Party' Page #9

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- Don't be silly, we haven't had a coffee yet!

Sit down.

- Beverly!

- We're going soon, anyway.

- Beverly, don't bring that picture down.

- Sod off, Laurence!

- Beverly!

- Drop dead!

You just can't keep your big mouth shut!

GET UP!

Sit down! ...Please.

(MUSIC:
BEETHOVEN'S FIFTH SYMPHONY)

Laurence!

- Laurence!

- What's the matter?

(ANGE) Just a minute!

- Ange, what's wrong with him?

- I don't know yet!

Tony, help me get him on the floor!

(LAURENCE GASPS FOR AIR)

Get me something for his head.

Get his feet up higher!

- Here you are.

- That's too big.

- Here you are.

- What's going on?

What's the matter with him? Laurence.

- What's happened? Has he passed out?

- Tony, could you lift his feet?

Tony, do you mind?

Sue, get him a glass of water, please.

- Laurence, come on.

- No, leave him.

- Leave him!

- Leave him!

- Angela, he happens to be my husband, OK?

- We've got to let him breathe.

- He is breathing, for Christ's sake!

- Get an ambulance, don't sit there!

- Ambulance?

- Yes!

OK, Angela, what is the matter with him?

- I think it's a heart attack!

- Where's the phone?

- Heart attack?

- Where's your phone?

Under the bar, Tony.

Oh, Christ, Ange, are you sure?

- He hasn't got false teeth, has he?

- Of course he hasn't got false teeth!

(BANGING)

- Ange, his lips are going blue!

- Don't worry.

- Ange, his hands are going freezing!

- Get him something to keep him warm.

- A blanket?

- Yes.

(BEVERLY) Laurence!

- Can he hear me, do you think?

- Yes.

- Laurence, come on!

- Leave him, he's got to lie still!

- Christ, Ange.

- Have you got through yet?

I'm trying to get a bloody line!

- Ange, Ange, his face is going all blue!

- Ambulance!

- Tell them it's urgent.

- Turn that bleedin' record off!

What? ...5- 0-3-9-0-4-1.

- (MUSIC STOPS)

- (TONY) That's right, yeah.

- Ange, listen to that noise he's making!

- An ambulance, please!

- Ange...

- What's the house number? What's the number?

- 13.

- 13 Richmond Road.

Yeah.

- Angela.

- A heart attack.

- Angela, I told him this would happen.

- 5-0-3-9-0-4-1.

I said, "Laurence,

you're gonna have a heart attack."

But he wouldn't listen to me, Ange.

But I never thought it would happen at this age.

I thought it would be when he was 50 or 60.

- (LABOURED BREATHING)

- Oh, Christ!

- Sue, listen to that noise he's making.

- Is there anything we can do?

We must just wait for the ambulance.

What happens when they get him to the hospital?

Will they give him oxygen to revive him?

- They've got everything in the ambulance.

- Yeah? Great.

- Sue, drop of brandy?

- No, thank you.

- Tone?

- No, thanks.

- Angela, do you want a drop...

- No.

Now, listen to me, Ange.

Ange...

Would it be a good idea

if I put a dab of brandy on his lips?

- No!

- I don't mean for him to drink...

- How about a dab of water?

- No, he must just lie still.

- Or shall I get a cold flannel and lay it across...

- He'll be OK if he lies still!

- The thing is, Ange, I'm very fond of him, I am.

- Keep that cigarette out of his face!

- All right, Tony, lay off me, please!

- You're flicking ash all over him!

- That'll do from you as well!

- Calm down!

It's all right for you.

Your husband isn't lying here with a heart attack!

- Angela, is there nothing we can do?

- No, just sit down.

(WHEEZING)

- It's my fault, isn't it?

- No.

I know it is.

But I didn't mean to upset him tonight, Sue.

I wouldn't do that.

But he is argumentative with me, Sue.

When he starts shouting at me,

I can't help but shout back.

But I didn't mean to upset him tonight.

You see, the thing is, Ange, when

he started going on about his pictures,

I should have kept quiet, but I couldn't.

I shouldn't have brought that picture down,

'cause he hates it.

Christ, this is ridiculous!

Tony, where's that ambulance?

- Ange, shall we give them a ring again?

- Beverly, we've only just phoned them!

I know we've only just phoned them, Sue,

but you don't know what goes on in these places.

They could have taken the address down wrong.

Or they could have got the wrong road.

- Tony, just phone and check what's going on.

- Shall I ring again, Ange?

Never mind her.

I know she's a nurse but I'm his bloody wife!

- All right!

- Get on that phone!

- How is he?

- He's all right.

Mind you, Sue... he's brought this on himself.

I'm sorry, Sue, but he has.

Sue, if you knew the number of times I have

pleaded with him to take a day off and rest,

and he wouldn't listen to me, Sue,

he wouldn't take any notice of me.

And do you know why? Because basically

he is stubborn and pig-headed.

Ambulance!

- Er, 5-0-3-9-0-4-1.

- 13 Richmond Road, tell 'em, Tony.

- It's off Raven's Way, make sure they know.

- That's right, yeah.

- Hello. We phoned for an ambulance earlier...

- Tony!

- We've waited 10 minutes and there's a man...

- SHUT UP!

- BE QUIET!

- I beg your pardon, Sue?

- Will you shut up for a minute?

- Look, I'm telling you now.

- It's my house and if you don't like it, piss off!

- Shut up, please!

Sorry. 13 Richmond Road.

5-0-3-9-0-4-1.

That's right, yeah.

Ta.

Thank you.

- What did they say?

- It's on its way.

(MUSIC THUDS OUT FROM PARTY)

For Christ's sake, Sue,

would you go and tell Abigail?

- It's not my fault they're making a row!

- I know, but she's your daughter.

- I can't help that. Can I use the phone?

- Yes.

(ANGE) No, you're all right. Just lie still.

- Is he coming round a bit?

- Yes. Keep still.

Laurence!

Laurence...

It's Beverly speaking.

Now, listen to me, Laurence. Look...

Laurence, I'm just putting my cigarette down.

We don't wanna blow smoke in your face.

Now, Laurence, listen to me.

Laurence...

You're not well, but we're taking you

to hospital. Listen to me, Laurence...

Laurence, I promise I'm not gonna leave you.

I'm gonna stay with you all the time.

Listen to me, Laurence.

Angela is looking after you.

You'll be all right. There's no need to worry.

Ange...

- Ange, what are you doing?

- Can I speak to Abigail?

Abigail! ...Abigail Lawson.

- Tony, can you hold my hair out of my face?

- Eh?

Tony!

Oh, Tony!

Oh, Tony!

- Tony! Tony!

- What's the matter?

You haven't got cramp again? Come here.

Give us your leg.

Stretch it! STRETCH IT!

Abigail, it's Mummy here.

Abigail?

Abigail!

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