Saturday Night and Sunday Morning Page #6

What the hell have you been doing?

They busted me, right enough.

Still, I'd had my bit of fun.

It ain't the first time

I've been in a losing fight.

It won't be the last, either, I don't suppose.

How long have I been lying here?

A week?

I can't think.

Mum called me barmy when I told her

I fell off a gasometer for a bet.

But I'm not barmy. I'm a fighting pip

that wants a pint of beer, that's me.

But if any bastard says that's me...

...I'll say I'm a dynamite dealer waiting

to blow the factory to Kingdom Come.

I'm me and nobody else.

Whatever people say I am,

that's what I'm not.

Because they don't know

a bloody thing about me.

God knows what I am.

Come in.

Come in, this is a surprise.

I came to see how you were.

I'm not bad,

I'll be as right as rain in a day or two.

Take your coat off and sit.

This is a nice room.

Are all the clothes yours?

Just a few rags.

They must have cost a pretty penny.

I get good wages.

I've been worried about you all week.

You were in a state when we brought

you home. What happened?

I got knocked down with a horse and cart.

I didn't see it. I thought I was a goner.

You even told your own mum you fell off

the gas works for a bet.

You won't tell anybody, will you?

Why should I?

It pays to keep your trap shut.

No, it don't.

I've just told you, haven't I?

I told you I got run over

with a horse and cart.

You are a liar.

You won't like it if I tell you.

I won't mind.

I got beat up with two soldiers.

What for?

I was seeing a married woman

and her husband set them on me.

Two on one, so they beat me.

I'd have flattened them

if it had been one at a time.

That's why you left us at the fair?

It wasn't. I saw a mate on the Dodge-'ems,

owed me five quid, I went to collect it.

I didn't see you after that,

what happened to you?

You talk to me like I was a bit of muck.

Don't look at it like that, I'm sorry.

You look it.

Come here.

Come on, come here.

I'm glad you came. I'd have been

down in the dumps if you hadn't.

I wondered how you were.

- I bought you some fags.

- Thanks.

What's it like outside?

- It's a bit cold.

- Not in bed.

It's warm under the blankets. Come try.

- What do you take me for?

- We're courting, aren't we?

You might call it courting.

You're a nice girl, I like you a lot.

I'd like you to stay with me for good so

I don't get run down by any more horses.

The trouble with me is

I'm always bumping into things.

It's not much of a paying game.

You'll have to watch where you're going.

I've never seen anybody look

as nice as you.

I'll buy you a ring next week if you're nice.

Come on, give us a kiss.

Come in, Bert.

Hello, Aunt Vera. All right, Uncle Harold?

All right. How's things at the pit?

Black, but I can't grumble.

Where's the lad?

Still in bed. Take his clean shirt up

while you're about it.

Right-o!

It's time he got up.

What's up, the telly's broke?

Here comes the laundryman.

- Sorry, I didn't know you were here.

- Hello, Bert.

- How are you feeling, Arthur?

- I'm all right.

Your mum sent this shirt up.

Thanks, I suppose it's time

I was getting up.

I'll be going now, Arthur.

Don't go! I just popped up.

I have to go now, my mum's expecting me.

- How's Betty these days?

- She's all right, thanks.

- Okay, I'll see you later.

- Okay.

- So long, Bert.

- Ta-ta.

Ta-ta, love. I'll see you at your house.

Goodbye.

Smashing nurse. I'm sorry.

I didn't know she was here.

- Come plodding in here.

- Nobody told me downstairs.

- Are you two going steady?

- What does it look like?

- What do you think?

- She's lovely, I must say.

- How are you feeling?

- I feel fine, now.

- Fancy fishing this afternoon?

- No, I'll go tomorrow.

- Why not this afternoon?

- I've got a date with Doreen!

You were born dead lucky.

Your mum takes all night

to read the paper.

Does she read slow

or is she looking at the adverts?

She reads every word.

She loves the newspaper

more than a book.

Mum, your kettle's boiling.

I heard it.

I thought she was never going

to get out of that chair.

She won't be a minute. She's just

filling her hot water bottle.

I'm off to bed.

Don't be long yourself.

I won't be. Arthur's just going in a minute.

He's got ever such a long walk home.

I have and all. I'll get cracking in a bit.

Don't be late.

It's after 11:
00 now.

I'll wash cups up before I come.

I'll take these cups...

Let's make as if you're going first.

- Good night, then, Arthur.

- Good night.

We'll have to do it a bit louder,

you know she's deaf.

Good night, then, Arthur.

Good night, duck. See you soon.

What are you doing round this way, then?

I'm just going to press shop.

I'm on days now.

I thought you might be coming to see me.

- No good in that, is there?

- Isn't there?

You thought the swaddies had killed me?

- I don't know what you're talking about.

- I didn't think you would, you're that sort.

Until you get bashed in the face,

then you squeal like a stuck pig.

You caused a lot of trouble

between me and Brenda.

You can't deny it, neither. It wasn't right.

You don't have to tell me

what's right and what isn't.

How is Brenda, anyway?

She's okay.

She'll be all right with me.

I'll look after her.

Keep that between you and me.

If you ever try to see her again

you'll get more trouble from swaddies.

They won't find it so easy next time

whether I'm on my own or not.

You're too much of a trouble maker.

You should take things as they come

and enjoy life.

I do enjoy life.

Just because I'm not like you,

don't think I don't.

I'll see you sometime.

Yeah.

Give over.

I thought you weren't going to get

married till you were good and ready.

I hadn't met Doreen then.

- What's the score with Brenda?

- Finished. We packed it up.

I reckon it was time. Don't you?

Maybe.

She's a good sort, though.

I've given her lots to put up with.

What's her husband like?

A bit of a dope.

He's not a bad bloke.

I told you to lay off weeks ago,

not that you took a blind bit of notice.

You've got to enjoy yourself.

You've got to keep

your feet on the ground.

I can't see much use in that.

People settle down, before they know it,

they've kicked the bucket.

It ain't altogether like that.

I know.

It would be, if you didn't watch it.

Easier ways of getting things

than lashing out all the time.

You think so? If I get mixed up

in what goes on, that's my business.

- I suppose it is.

- You bet it is.

I've got some fight left in me,

not like most people.

I'm not saying you ain't.

Where does all this fighting get you?

Ever see what not fighting's got you,

like Mum and Dad?

What do you mean?

They've got all they want.

They've got television and a packet of fags

but they're both dead from the neck up.

I'm not saying it's their fault.

Their hash has been settled for them

so all the bloody gaffers...

...can push them around like sheep.

I've seen you in some funny moods...

...but I've never seen you like this before.

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