© Chris Port, 1994. All rights reserved.
Scene 16.
Narrator, the Bitches, Brenda.
Brenda confronts the Bitches about her mother.
NARRATOR
Sorry to interrupt. It’s just that there’s something going on inside.
BITCH 1
Did you see Brenda Rowbotham break that fight up?
BITCH 2
Should have left them to it. Stupid little prats.
BITCH 1
None of the blokes tried to stop it.
BITCH 3
She’s always sticking her nose in. Stroppy cow.
(Unseen by the Bitches, Brenda is within earshot, clearing up party debris into a bin liner).
BITCH 4
She’s a bit odd, don’t you think?
BITCH 5
Yeah. So’s her mum.
BITCH 4
In what way?
BITCH 5
You know. (Makes ‘loony’ sign, circling forefinger round her right temple). You know that Saturday job I had down the sweet shop?
BITCH 4
The one they sacked you from? For being mouthy?
BITCH 5
Yeah. Bitches. She came in with her mum once. To get some papers. Her mum started going on about getting this comic and they had this really big argument. Right there in the shop. Right in front of me.
BITCH 1
What were they arguing about?
BITCH 5
I don’t know. Brenda just kept saying they didn’t need it and her mum went really mental.
BITCH 2
Why? What was the comic?
BITCH 5
I don’t know. Some kid’s crap. Science-fiction I think.
BITCH 3
Why would her mum want to get a kid’s comic?
BITCH 5
I don’t know. She’s just mental. Oh that’s right. (Giggles). She’s got this plate in her head.
BITCH 4
A plate?
BITCH 5
Yeah. You know. One of those metal plates. In her skull. (She taps the back of her skull). She should get it stamped. Like one of those plaque things.
BITCH 1
Yeah. Made in Runwell.
(The Bitches laugh. Brenda comes over).
BRENDA
(Calmly). You think its funny, do you?
BITCH 1
(Surprised). What?
BRENDA
My mother. You find it funny, do you?
BITCH 5
We... didn’t know you were listening.
BRENDA
I sort of gathered that.
BITCH 1
We were just talking. You know. You shouldn’t have been listening.
BRENDA
Oh. My fault then?
BITCH 2
Don’t try and make us feel guilty. Just ‘cause your mum’s a bit loony.
BRENDA
Loony? Oh. That business with the comic. Do you want to know what that was about?
BITCH 5
Not particularly, no.
BRENDA
Well you started it so I’ll finish, shall I? About three years ago, my mother was in a car crash. That’s why she has a metal plate in her head. It stops her skull falling to bits. The accident affected her memory. She keeps forgetting things. You see, she wanted to get that comic for my brother, Michael. Only he wouldn’t be able to read it now because he’s been dead for three years. It’s a bit of a shock to keep discovering that your little boy is dead, but I suppose it might look funny to someone as mean and stupid as you. Please tell me if there’s anything else you’d like to know. (Exits).
BITCH 3
That was pathetic. (To Bitch 5). She’s just trying to make you feel guilty. How were you supposed to know?
BITCH 4
(Looking in direction of Brenda’s exit). Stupid bitch.NARRATOR
I just thought that was important. Nothing to do with the plot, of course. The plot? Oh yes. (Indicates garden). Out there. 
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