Gorilla Blanket, Act II

Act Two

Curtain Rises

Seven o' clock. The pub is filled with smoke and chatter. The volume of the jukebox has been turned down but dance tracks and 80's anthems are still thumping in the background. Two young women are now working behind the bar.

Tempathy and Lisa sit drinking at a table.

Tempathy: He's definately coming then?

Lisa: He said he would.

Tempathy: Well I hope he doesn't wear those hideous shell suit bottoms he had on today.

Lisa: Don't worry. And listen don't embarrass him if he says or does anything that you don't like. I know you think the love bug is a daft thing but I really like this guy.

Tempathy crosses herself

Tempathy: Swear to God, my lips are sealed.

Lisa: You don't have a God.

Tempathy: Okay then I swear on croissants and my editors eyesight that I won't sting him. Happy?

Lisa: Oh much. Anyway I reckon your heart has already soaked the magic flutters.

Tempathy: Explain.

Lisa: Jet? By your side? Forever and ever? Amen.

Tempathy lights a cigarette

Tempathy: I am fond of him its true. He's so different, away from the crowd and blokes like him are rare. There isn't one living in every town but as for us two getting together goes, well I think we've messed it up.

Lisa: How?

Tempathy: By becoming friends. I feel more like his sister now, it wouldn't feel right.

Tempathy suddenly pulls out from her thoughts

Tempathy: Don't dare leak any of this!

Lisa: Of course I won't.

Tempathy: These are fragile bones we're dealing with.

Lisa: Funny how things turn out. How long have we known the boys? Since fourth year school?

Tempathy: Yep.

Lisa: And in all that time you and Jet could have been together.

Tempathy: No I didn't fancy him in school.

Lisa: Oh?

Tempathy: Jet wasn't himself in school, he was too polite and geeky. And that pudding hairstyle he had didn't help.

Lisa: I remember it! Aweful!

Tempathy: The odd thing about it is ive only been attracted to him for a few months, around the same time I realised I couldn't act on it because it would feel strange like dating a brother. But at least l now have our friendship for life, which couldn't be guaranteed if we became lovers.

Lisa: True enough. Still your brother does have a cute bum!

Tempathy drains her glass

Tempathy: Oh its state of the arse!

Both giggle

Across the floor the pool table is now being used to hold glasses and an ashtray. A small crowd gathered around laughing and smoking. A young cub in late teens noticed Tempathy and Lisa giggling and breaks from the mob to join them

Cub: Hello ladies! Having a good time?

Tempathy gives him a quizzical look then winks at Lisa

Tempathy: Yes its ten past seven.

Cub looks bemused

Cub: Eh?

Tempathy: I said its ten minutes past seven, now bugger off home before you worry your mother sick.

Lisa giggles and slaps Tempathy's arm

Cub: Hey I was only....

He looks at Tempathy, realising she's in no mood for banter

Cub: Enjoy your evening.

He shrugs his shoulders and heads back to the group

Tempathy: Typical boy racer. I bet he's drinking Hooch and saving for a Golf GTi. Probably even got the fluffy dice above his cot at home.

Lisa: Watch he doesn't run you over in it when he gets it. Remember the scene in Wizard of Oz where the house lands on the Wicked Witch? That'd be you, two Jimmy Choo pumps sticking out from under the car.

Both laugh knocking one of the empty glasses over

Tempathy: Oops! Time please ladies! Time for another, another glass of time!

Lisa gets up and fetches another two drinks

Enter Luke, Ben, Jacob, Louie and Jet
They go to the table

Ben: Here you are!

Tempathy does a model like pose

Tempathy: In the flesh!

Lisa: Hi guys, where have you been? We thought you'd be here all day.

Luke: We have, we only popped out to get something to eat, then little shakes here

He squeezes Jacob

Luke: got all misty eyed and wanted to take one last stroll down the harbour before going back to uni.

Tempathy: Are you sure its university and not a firing squad you're going back to J?

Jacob: Both.

Jet claps his hands

Jet: Right! Who's for that cider we promised ourselves before getting rudely interupted by food?

Tempathy: Ye olde gut rot eh? Yuk.

Luke: She's right, I think i'll skip the cider. I quite fancy a beer now.

Jet: Well whatever, someone shout 'em in.

Ben: Its not my turn.

Jacob: Me either.

All look to each other

Ben: Aww sod it, lets just buy our own.

Louie: I'll second that.

They fetch drinks through a small throng gathered around the bar

Luke: What a scrum! Talk about barflies!

Jacob nods in the direction of one of the women behind the bar

Jacob: That will be Daisy in her short skirt. The beers just a bonus. And thats not all either, i've heard her skirt gets even shorter if the price is right.

Tempathy: Oh bullshit J! Thats just some blokes fantasy! This town is built on bloody rumour and goss.

Jacob: You can't know that for certain though, a few of the rugby lads have..

Tempathy cuts him off

Tempathy: Changing room tall tales by posing insecure wankers! I thought you had more sense than to believe those neanderthals Jacob.

Louie raises a hand

Louie: Okay time out guys, chill.

Ben rubs his stomach

Ben: Anyone know a cure for a dodgy gut?

Jet: You're not going to start shouting rainbow devils all over the floor are you?

Lisa: Eh?

Jet: Throw up.

Ben: Nah I don't think so.

Luke: All day sessions must be too much for you Benjamin. You were like this when we first came in.

Ben: Its not the booze, its the batter on that fucking cod I had earlier.

Louie: Try a rum and pep.

Ben gets up to go to the bar

Ben: Rum and pep?

Luke: Aye, if you don't fancy that then go for a Guiness with a dollop of greasy lard. And an egg of course!