The Long Day Closes Page #2

- [ Horns Blowing ]

[ Orson Welles ]

And this pageant of the tenantry...

was the last of the great

long-remembered dances...

that everybody talked about.

- What's "kinershet," Mam?

- What's what?

You know, in that song,

"We'll take a cup of kinershet."

Oh.

It's "kindness yet."

- [ Man ] All the best.

- All the best, Mr. Campbell.

Lock the back door, will you, Kev?

[ Kevin ] I already did before we went out.

[ John ] Don't half panic, Mam.

[ Lock Clicks ]

[ Mother ] Good night, Titch.

[ Titch ] Good night, Mam.

[ Mother ] God help anyone with no home tonight.

Well...

I wonder what 1956 will bring.

[ Woman ] Put something cold on his neck.

Like keys.

That'll do the trick.

[ Children Reciting Multiplication Tables ]

Stay here until your nose stops bleeding.

Thank you, Sister.

[ Reciting Continues ]

[ Piano Note ]

[ Children Humming Note ]

[ Piano Note ]

[ Children Humming Note ]

Faith of our fathers

Sanctify my breast

Body of Christ be

Now my saving guest

Deep in thy wounds, Lord

Hide and shelter me

So that I'll never

Never part from thee

[ Boys Chattering, Shouting ]

[ Indistinct Conversations ]

Are you Povey?

- I thought it was Povey.

- Are you from Bernard Street?

No. Canon Kennedy's.

Who's a fruit then? Eh?

[ Thwacking ]

[ Man ] That's just to show you who's boss.

I'm Mr. Nicholls.

You play ball with me...

and I'll play ball with you.

[ Woman ] Seconds!

[ Footsteps ]

I'm from Canon Kennedy.

Who's the fruit then? Eh?

[ Chuckles ]

Povey.

[ Latin ]

[ Shouting, Chattering ]

[ Indistinct Conversation ]

[ Kevin ] So what did he say to you?

It's a bit strong, isn't it?

What do you think of that?

- Have a smell of that.

- It's too strong.

All right, I won't put it on.

- I paid for that!

- Where did you get it?

[ Indistinct ]

Well, did you get me stuff for me?

Yeah, two pairs nylons, 15 denier

American Tan, fully fashioned

pan stick, and nail varnish.

- Majestic Red?

- Yeah.

Imperial Leather, Picturegoer, and Picture Show.

- Evening in Paris?

- They didn't have any.

Oh, what am I gonna do?

I haven't got

Here, Titch. You can have a bit of mine.

Pity it's not Chanel.

- Once in love

- With Amy

[ Both ]

Always in love with Amy

- Leave her alone, you two.

- Take no notice of them, Amy.

They're just lettin' the soft out.

Her lips are much too close to mine

Take care, my foolish heart

Bud, would you go get us a packet of ciggies?

Aah!

[ Man ] Is this 18 Kensington?

- I'm looking for Mona.

- [ Titch ] No, it bloody well isn't!

This is 18 Kensington Street.

Kensington's the main road.

- There's no Mona here.

- Go on, frig off!

Thank you.

[ Excited Chattering ]

[ Children Singing ]

- See ya, Bud, lad.

- Good night.

[ Titch ] See ya, Bud.

Mam said don't be late.

[ Bud ]

If you shine the torch up into the night sky...

the light goes on forever.

[ Mother ] Who says?

[ Bud ]

Our teacher.

[ Mother ] Me and my shadow

Walking down the avenue

Go on up, lad.

I'll bring the cocoa.

Oh, thanks, Mam.

- And when it's 12:00

- [ Liquid Pouring ]

- We climb the stairs

- [ Utensils Clattering ]

We never knock

'Cause nobody's there

Just me

And my shadow

All alone and feeling blue

[ Man On Radio ] This is the BBC Home Service.

Lift up your hearts.

Our speaker this week...

is the Reverend [ Continues, Indistinct ]

Come on, you four. Make a shape.

It's well past 7:00.

- [ Choir Singing On Radio ]

- Jesus tonight, it's cold!

[ Continues ]

Hey, Bud, will you do me back for me?

[ Brushing Teeth, Spits ]

[ Mother ] You'll soon be grown up...

won't you, lad?

[ Continues ]

Go on, get washed, and I'll bring you your tea and toast.

Okay, Mam.

[ Mr. Nicholls ]

You're late.

Report to Mr. Bushell,

the headmaster...

and then go upstairs to the nurse in room 10.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Why have you come?

Mr. Nicholls told me

to report late, sir.

Hmm.

[ Long Sigh ]

Come on.

In future be punctual.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Lice.

Clean.

Lice.

- Clean.

- [ Comb Rattles In Beaker ]

Clean.

[ Comb Rattles ]

[ Bud, Titch Laughing ]

[ Water Sloshing ]

[ Utensil Clanging ]

[ Titch ]

Oh! Christ, that's cold!

[ Laughing Continues ]

Okay, you can rinse it out now, Bud.

[ Gasps ]

Oh! God blimey, it's scaldin'!

Oh, you little sadist!

Can we go to the second house, Titch?

Give us a chance, will ya?

I haven't even looked at the Echo yet.

Anyway, what's on?

Can we see Young at Heart?

It's at the Forum.

Oh, I suppose so.

Oh, thanks, Titch.

- Go to Tyrers and get some sweets.

- What sort?

Eh, Mis Shapes. Go on.

The money's in me coat.

- [ Titch ] Are you ready?

- [ Bud ] Yeah.

Get your coat on. We don't want

to miss the beginning, do we?

Argh! Hey, Mam!

- Keep still!

- Aw, Titch!

Aw, it stinks!

- Do you prefer having nits?

- No.

Then you'll have to put up with the stink, won't ya?

There you are. All done.

[ Man ] All right, next.

- First wet, Albie!

- [ Mother ] All right, Edna?

Oh, I'm dead chocka.

Cook, wash, clean that's all I do.

I never go anywhere.

I'm like the bleedin' prisoner of Zenda.

- Look at them hands. Putrid.

- [ Footsteps ]

Hey, Mam, it's me dad.

Tell him his tea's in the oven

and I'll be in in a minute.

Little Billy isn't half going like you, isn't he?

I know, poor little swine.

You could chop wood with my face, couldn't ya?

God blimey, what nature has in store for us.

- Hello, girl.

- See what I mean?

- [ Women Laughing ]

- [ Titch ] Still on the electric, Curly?

- Nah, I spewed it.

- Why?

- He didn't like the fella, did he?

- How are you managing?

- Doin' foreigners.

- [ Edna ] Thank Christ.

Otherwise we'd be eatin' fuse wire.

[ Chuckles ]

He's full of rhythm, though, isn't he?

Yeah, like St. Vitus.

[ Imitating Peter Lorre ]

You must realize I don't even know who St. Vitus is.

Don't start doin' those stupid bleedin' impressions!

He does them good, though, doesn't he?

God blimey, don't encourage him.

If he thinks he's got an audience, he'll do it more.

I'm tormented enough.

[ Imitating Edward G. Robinson ]

Listen, kid, nobody torments you.

But I'm gonna torment you. Why?

- 'Cause I'm Little Caesar.

- Who's that?

Edward G. Robinson.

Sounds more like bleedin' Cardew Robinson.

He does it to annoy me.

Doesn't half get on me nerves.

Come on, girl, where's me scoff?

In the oven.

Steak and onions.

Oh, I had that last week.

If you're not careful, I'll hit you with it.

Isn't it bleedin' lively, turnin'

his nose up at steak and onions?

Some poor bastards never get it.

Tomorrow night it'll be dog food.

Sounds "ruff."

[ Edna ]

See what I put up with?

I should never have got married.

What the bleedin' hell did I ever see in you?

- [ Billy ] Mam!

- Wha'?

- I'm hungry.

- Oh, eat someone!

I'll swing for these kids one of these days.

Come on, soft ollies, we better go.

Have you heard the latest?

They're burying Catholics in Protestant cemeteries now.

- They're dead, like!

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