Electricity

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1

Can I have twenties and tens, please?

You got a name?

Might have. Who's asking?

- It's me asking.

- Well, who's "me"?

No, you first. I took the initiative.

Well, I took it back

and I've got your money.

So are you asking for change

or do you want to know my name?

Gotta be the change then, really.

- Lily. My name's Lily.

- See you later, Lily.

Here's the breath.

Here's the breeze.

Here's the shimmer.

And I'm Alice

falling down the rabbit hole.

Are you with us'?

Get off. Get...

Let me out of here.

Are you OK?

- Where am I?

- Nearly home.

- Just leave me, I'll be fine.

- Come on, you're alright.

Nearly there.

Every time...

Every bloody time I get a date...

"some bastard calls an ambulance."

I could stay

and help clean you up, Lily.

Cheers.

Not like I'm short of practice, is it?

- You sure?

- Yeah.

Safe now.

Home, sleep, safe now.

When I was a kid, I used to

think I turned invisible during a fit,

like Houdini.

But I can't remember what happens.

An electric storm starts in my skull

and my brain just takes a detour.

The bright sparks scanned my head

for the first time when I was a baby.

I had this large lump

just behind my left ear.

That's where Mam chucked us

down the stairs when I was two

cos I wouldn't stop crying.

I wanted to be out there

in the cold wet sand

running with the kids

and screaming my head off.

Looking for a target to hit.

Something to dig

my nails and teeth info.

I drew my face and I was this giant

with the children in my mouth

and I was eating 'em up.

The little bastards kept on screaming.

I put it all down in my head book,

to help me remember.

To keep me safe.

I hope you're feeling better.

Yeah.

Anything you need, you know,

you just ask. OK?

Thanks, Al.

You see this?

It's yours.

Anytime.

No need to hurry back to work.

Hello?

Your mum passed away

peacefully, love.

I can't remember her face.

How am I gonna know it's her?

You'll remember, don't worry.

It comes to you.

Roll on, babe

Don't you roll so slow

When the wheel don't turn

You don't roll no more

I dreamt last night

Ole Lola was dead

I saw the apron string

All around her head

Roll on, babe

Don't you roll so slow

When the wheel don't turn

You don't roll no more

Fit-tastic spastic.

That's what the kids on the estate

called me.

Our Mikey picked 'em off, one by one.

- That's a bit fancy, innit?

- No way. Proper nice that is.

Barbara, have you seen Sharon?

My older brother Barry,

he used to tell everyone I was adopted.

HEY-

So go on then.

- What have I gotta do, Barry'?

- Who's that in the cat'?

Al. Like it's any of your business.

He's me boss. And a good, good mate.

He's here to protect my interests.

We should have done more

to help her, you know.

So anyway,

what's up with your hand?

Badge of honour, baby.

It's howl make a living.

- What, you do tattoos?

- Do I bloody heck.

Play poker. Live by the night.

Slick O'Connor. Thought you

might have heard of me.

Er, no. Sorry.

Look out! Bloody hell, Lily!

It's alright. Lily.

Mikey, look.

This is the Big Dipper.

I put them there.

Seven stars.

The one with the red's a red dwarf.

Don't you like it? What's wrong?

It's ace. Love it.

Mikey.

Right, hands on buzzers.

What would you do, Lily,

if you had money?

Never thought about it.

Well, think now. Think big, think fast.

I've worked it all out.

Intestacy rules state

we apply for administration

and we distribute the proceeds.

To who and what f***ing proceeds?

This lot's worth sh*t.

To her next of kin. Us.

This luxury, four-bed f***ing apartment

with the ocean views now belongs to us.

Agent just left.

Got a mug lined up already.

Sixty bags of sand.

Even in this f***ing state.

That's thirty grand each.

What about Mikey'?

What about Mikey'?

No one's seen him in years.

But he's got a right, too, ain't he?

He's still family, too.

Oh, way I see it, Lil,

is he made his choice.

What choice? Like he told you

he didn't want the money?

No, Lily, that's not what I'm saying.

But you're saying you've seen him, yeah?

No. No, I haven't, no.

Not in years, like I said.

- Why, have you'?

- Why d'you think I'm asking?

Ah.

OK. I'll leave the papers with you.

Think it over.

I'm taking the f***ing crab.

Keep me clean

Keep me warm

away from harm

Keep the night

Keep the day

Keep the in between away

- Hold that second.

- Mikey!

- Hold the time

- I'll come back for you.

- Hold that picture in your mind

- I love you, Mikey.

- Hold the smoke.

- Just f*** off, Barry!

Hold the fire

Hold all that you desire

Mikey.

Mikey.

Mikey.

Have you gotta be back?

Not specially. Why?

Our Barry must be bloody

desperate for that money.

I wanna go see him.

- Strike while the iron's hot. Hmm?

- Yeah.

This better be f***ing good.

Who is it?

- Oh, Lily. It's Lily.

- Alright, come up.

Poker night, baby.

Game on next door as we speak. Shh.

Oh!

Come on, come on, come on, come on,

come on. Come on, you bastard.

So I've looked over the paperwork

and I'm signing nothing

till we agree Mikey's share.

Whoa, chill out, we'll talk

business when I'm done.

- Well, why not now?

- Poker night, baby.

I told you,

this is how a man makes a living.

We'll talk business when I'm done.

Well, how long's that gonna be?

As long as it takes for me

to beat these dozy bastards.

And I will.

- Got mates in Saltbum, you know.

- Yeah?

- Thought I saw you once or twice.

- Sh*t.

- You used to drink in The New Inn.

- Yeah.

You used to dye your hair jet black

from time to time.

F***ing hell, Barry.

I wanted to talk to you. Course I did.

You know, you were just a kid when

I left home. I didn't know what to say.

Weren't much of a family but, f*** it,

I want you and me

to get to know each other.

Now come here. Come here, bring it in.

Bring it in.

Call. Looks like you lads

have come prepared.

Spin the f***ing card.

There's a fifty.

Don't get any ideas.

Mikey went to London

last I heard.

- Yeah.

- Mmm.

Owes me money. Owes every f***er.

I gave him a helping hand

when he came out of prison,

like a big bro should.

F***ing lovely little Mikey? He ain't

f***ing lovely little Mikey no more,

let me tell you that.

And the way I see it

is the past, right...

The past is best left in the past.

Leave it there. That's my old saying.

I wanna believe in you, you know.

I hope you do.

Don't want you to be a stranger.

Eh?

And I'm finding him, OK'?

Mikey kept getting in fights,

mainly sticking up for me.

Then he got taken away for good.

Mam washed her hands of me an' all.

Rang Social Services

and then I was gone, too.

I wrote to Mikey when he was in juvey

but if was like he'd disappeared

off the face of the Earth.

OK.

OK, my opinion, right.

Hand to the magic maker

and all that shite.

I reckon Mikey's dead.

Nah. No f***ing way.

I went looking for him

once or twice meself.

Missing Persons Helpline and all that.

Nothing.

Not a word in four f***ing years,

and he knew where to find me.

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