Bang - Scene 6

Scene 6

Vinnie enters Ste’s room politely, knocking on the door. He is wary after Ste’s last outburst and approaches him like a dog that has been kicked by his master. Ste is lounging casually, shuffling through a handful of papers.

STE (without looking): C’min. (Vinnie enters) Alright?

VINNIE (wary): Alright.

STE: Story?

VINNIE: (shakes his head) You?

STE: Nada. What brings you here so early Vincent?

VINNIE: Half day, ma’s not in and I’ve forgot me key.

STE: Shame that.

VINNIE: Yuh. (Pause) You’ve been out a while now. (Pause) Three weeks in counting. (Pause) It’ll be expulsion if you’re not "

STE: Expulsion? What do I give a f**k about expulsion?

VINNIE: I just thought, like "

STE: So they’re gonna punish me for not going in by… Preventing me going in?

VINNIE: I know but "

STE: They’re thicker than you are if they call that punishment.

VINNIE: Nowhere else’ll take you if you get kicked out "

STE: Why would I want anywhere else? They’re all the f****n same man.

VINNIE (asserting himself for the first time) So what you’re happy to sit here instead? F****n… Wastin’ away like a… f****n…

STE: What?

VINNIE: Y’know man. Y’know? (Pause) It’s just s**t man, I mean, you could like, be a doctor or a fireman or somethin’.

STE (mocking): A fireman?

VINNIE: Somethin good. Somethin you’ll be remembered for like. You could make something of yourself at that f****n school man if you just showed up!

STE: Make something of myself? It’s nothing but a stinkhole Vin! A stinking, rotten, forgotten little corner of the world where no hopers like you and me can slash tyres and plant stink bombs and wait to find out how miserable the rest of our lives are gonna be.

VINNIE: (hissing) My da tell you that did he?

STE: I’ve heard from him, yeah. Wrote to me.

VINNIE: From Mountjoy again?

STE: Nah. He’s Keepin’ a low profile, isn’t he. (Delight) Has he not told you? Strange that.

VINNIE: What’re you stashin’ for him now?

STE: I dunno what you mean.

VINNIE: Listen, man, he’s bad news! My ma knows, she "

STE: Your ma? Your ma knows s**t, Vin. Who’s the one that let him f**k her so hard you popped out half braindead?

VINNIE: You really don’t get it man. You’re f*****g blind to the obvious and you call me half braindead? You’re his f*****g mule, Ste! And if you don’t cop on to yourself you’ll be back page obituary and no one’ll ever feel f****n sorry for ya.

STE: Struck a nerve has it, that your old man trusts me more than his own retard son! He’s a smart man, your da, not just some back alley thug like your ma seems to think, he’s running the whole operation!

VINNIE: Ste, please…

STE: He’s gonna need a second in line isn’t he? An heir to the throne, and Christ knows it won’t be you! And you know what? That suits me down to the ground.

VINNIE: He’ll kill you, Ste.

STE: You are not my mother! I don’t need you scuttling along after me. Now get the f**k out of here, I’ve got somewhere to be.

VINNIE: Where, man?

STE: Somewhere?

VINNIE: Where, Stevie?

STE: An appointment.

VINNIE: Same as this time yesterday?

STE: Yeah, actually. The f**k’d you know that?

VINNIE: I think maybe you need professional help, man.

STE: Bloody genius you are.

VINNIE: No I mean it. The same time every day I’ve come up here to call for you and "

STE: What?

VINNIE: I heard you, man.

STE: Hear me, how could you hear me?

VINNIE: We’ve been friends a long f****n’ time, Ste. There’s no reason to be ashamed around me. If you need to talk to someone you can always "

STE: I have everyone I need without you.

VINNIE: Then why are you talking to yourself?

STE: What?

VINNIE: I came up here yesterday, and you were shouting, and roaring, and you stormed right past me and when I went in the room was f****n empty. Unless you’ve got some mot leavin through the window "

STE’S MAM: Dinner!

Silence.

STE’S MAM: Vincent! Stephen! Dinner!

More silence.

STE’S MAM: For f**k’s sake lads it’ll get cold!

VINNIE: (softly) Just forget it, man.

Exit Vinnie. Ste buries his head in his hands.