Tusk Tusk Read online

  Eliot We didn’t go to Nobu – what’s all this stuff about Nobu?

  Maggie I hear it’s a very nice restaurant. Perfect for love-monkeys and their oily dates.

  Eliot Enough. Take Finn to bed.

  Maggie FINN!

  Eliot Stop shouting.

  Maggie ELIOT’S home.

  Eliot Would you just –

  Maggie He wants to play.

  Eliot (to Cassie) I’m sorry.

  Maggie He wants to play with his new friend and he wants us to go to bed. That’s not fair, is it?

  Finn (baffled) Who the bloody are you?

  Cassie Wow. You guys just keep popping up.

  Finn Who is she?

  Cassie My name’s Cassie, I’m a friend of your brother.

  Eliot Maggie’s going to take you to bed.

  Maggie Am I?

  Eliot So you can get a nice quiet sleep.

  Maggie He wants us to go to bed so he can play with her.

  Eliot That’s not true.

  Maggie It is though, isn’t it?

  Finn I want to play. I’ve been to sleep. For ages and ages.

  Maggie Finn sailed the world.

  Cassie Really?

  Maggie And look where he’s ended up? In a monkey jungle.

  She mocks monkey behaviour again.

  Finn laughs.

  She heightens her performance, jumping above Finn on the sofa. He jumps with her.

  Eliot Christ.

  Maggie ’Cause monkeys have the best time, don’t they? They get to go wherever they want.

  Maggie and Finn scamper among the boxes.

  They get to climb all over the place. They get to climb all over each other.

  She lifts Finn onto a stack of boxes.

  They get to swing from the –

  She reaches up to the light.

  – trees.

  She touches the glass.

  Eliot Don’t –

  Finn tries to touch the light. His balance begins to go.

  Maggie From the jewelled trees.

  Finn stretches out to touch the light. The stack of boxes collapses from under him. He falls to the ground. A box falls on top of him. There is the sound of breaking china and glass. Finn lies motionless on the floor. Shattered china spills out around him.

  Eliot springs up and kneels next to Finn.

  Eliot You idiot. You fucking idiot!

  Maggie stands a little way away, mortified.

  Help me! Christ, he’s bleeding. He’s bleeding. His head is bleeding. HELP ME!

  He pulls Finn upwards into his arms. They are now sitting on the floor, with Finn awake, yet dazed and limp between Eliot’s legs. Blood runs down his face from a cut above his eye. It is bright, bright red. Stunning.

  Get something, anything. NOW!

  Maggie pulls off herT-shirt and hands it to Eliot. He holds it against Finn’s face, trying to staunch the blood. It is at this moment that the shock wears off and Finn begins to scream. The sound curdles the atmosphere of the room.

  It’s OK. You’re OK. TELL HIM HE’S OK!

  Finn screams again.

  Help me. Maggie. Help me carry him.

  Louder screams. More of the pain is dawning on Finn.

  Loud banging from above.

  Together they carry him to the table. He screams.

  They lay him down. He wriggles like a kitten caught in barbed wire.

  Hold his feet. HOLD HIS FEET!

  Both girls hold his feet down.

  Keep still, keep still. Finny, please. Stop wriggling. I need to see. Shhh. Please. Shhh … Please … shhh. Please … Brave boy. Isn’t he? Brave boy. Shhh …

  More screams, followed by banging from the flat above and sounds of the Man telling them to shut up. Eliot puts his hand over Finn’s mouth.

  You have to be quiet Finny. Shhh… You have to be quiet. Shhh …

  Beat.

  Ah… he bit me.

  Cassie That’s a good sign, it could mean he’s not concussed –

  Maggie But people can get concussed, can’t they, later / when they fall asleep.

  Eliot Shut up, Maggie. He’s fine. Aren’t you? He’s fine. Shhh …

  Cassie Keep his head up. If it’s his nose / you must keep his head up.

  Eliot It’s not his nose. I don’t think. There’s too much blood. I can’t see for the blood. Keep still, baby. Keep still. It’s his head. It’s his fucking head.

  Cassie You should take him to A and E. If it’s his head.

  Finn is beginning to calm, beginning to whimper and stop thrashing.

  Eliot examines the injury.

  Eliot It’s deep, just above his eye.

  Cassie I’ll call an ambulance.

  Eliot No. He’s OK.

  Cassie They need to check him.

  Maggie She’s right.

  Eliot Just give me the water.

  Maggie does.

  Eliot takes it and wets her T-shirt. He dabs at Finn’s face, cleaning the blood away.

  Cassie He might need stitches. Seriously.

  Maggie We could, we could take him.

  Eliot No.

  Cassie Why?

  Eliot We can’t, OK? Its complicated, but we can’t.

  Cassie Your brother’s hurt. He needs to go to hospital. I’m calling them.

  She reaches for her phone.

  Eliot NO!

  He grabs it from her.

  Maggie Let her.

  She tries to grab it off him. He pushes her away.

  Eliot You’ve done enough.

  Maggie I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. But we need to take him. Look at him. Look at him Eliot. We’ll get away with it somehow. We’ll say she’s on holiday. They won’t ask too many questions –

  Eliot If some kids came in with a bleeding seven-year-old without a parent in sight I’d ask bloody questions. They’ll think we hit him. They’ll think – God knows what they’ll think –

  Maggie Are you blind – none of that matters!

  Eliot You don’t get it, do you? We’re on a register. They told her that. We’re already at risk. If any nurse gets a sniff of this and types our names into a computer, we’re screwed, we’re –

  He suddenly realises he may have said too much in front of Cassie.

  (Quieter.) We’re not going.

  Maggie I think you’re wrong. I’m going to take him.

  Eliot Stay away from him.

  Maggie You can’t stop me.

  He takes a step towards her, aggressive.

  Eliot I can.

  Pause.

  Eliot busies himself in tending to Finn.

  Cassie Do I call?

  Eliot No.

  She looks to Maggie for an answer, there is a pause.

  Maggie (quietly) No.

  Cassie takes off her hoodie and gives it to Maggie to put on. She does. She comes to the other end of the table, to her brothers, leaving Cassie at the other end observing, still holding Finn’s legs.

  Finn is now still, crying softly in gulps.

  Maggie I’m so sorry, Finn, I’m so sorry.

  Eliot We should get him to count or something. Isn’t that what we should do? Get him to count to ten. Count, Finny. Like hide and seek. One. Two … Come on. Help me…

  They both pull him up, leaving Cassie redundant at the other end of the table.

  Maggie Come on, Finny. One … two.

  Finn Three.

  Maggie Four.

  He starts to cry harder.

  Maggie kneels in front of him.

  Maggie Five. Come on, baby. Five…

  Finn (gulping that turns into a hoarse scream) My mummy. MUMMY, MUMMY!

  Maggie I know you do, baby. I know.

  Finn (a scream that disintegrates into sobs) MUMMY!

  Maggie tries to pick him up, but can’t quite manage it. Eliot helps and they stand, holding him between them. All their heads are close. They murmur to him. He kicks out; they hold him, and soothe him. Cassie can sense the privacy of the moment, bu
t steals a few seconds of watching it. Then as Finn begins to calm, she slowly backs away, takes her bag and makes to leave. She exits. The door clicks shut.

  Eliot notices but says nothing.

  Finn has calmed. They lay him down on the sofa. They wrap him in a blanket. They cling to each other. There is a lull.

  Maggie We need to keep him awake, in case …

  Eliot In case what?

  Maggie In case – (Points to her head and mouths ‘concussion’.)

  Eliot With what … We can’t play music. He’ll – (Points to the flat above.) go mental. Maybe we should sing or something.

  Maggie pauses, then clears her throat.

  Maggie Do you remember this from home, Finny, the one you like … The one Mummy would play …

  She hums the first refrain of ‘I’m on Fire’ by Bruce Springsteen.

  Finn shakes his head.

  You know it. You told me you liked it. You told me it was the only one you liked.

  Finn shakes his head.

  Fine.

  She sings, imperfectly, a capella, from the first verse.

  Finn giggles a little.

  You know it don’t you… yes you do.

  Shyly both boys join in.

  Finn laughs.

  As Maggie sings the song, little by little they all join in, imperfectly, like a school assembly.

  End of Act One.

  Act Two

  SCENE FIVE

  Eight days later. Nearly midnight.

  The room has a twisted domesticity to it now. The children have unpacked a little in a haphazard way, bringing out only the objects they need. We must get the sense that they have really tried to make the place a home, but haven’t been sure how. There is evidence that they have all been sleeping in here. The walls are covered with Finn’s drawings. The den under the table has been exaggerated with a makeshift flag rigged to the side.

  Today is Eliot’s birthday. The room has been decorated in cheap party streamers. Eliot, Maggie and Finn sit at the table wearing paper party hats. They are using boxes as chairs. There is an unlit birthday cake in the centre. Finn’s cut is now crusty and infected. There is a half-empty bottle of whisky on the table. As the scene begins Eliot pours it sloppily into a paper cup. There is an empty box-chair next to him.

  Finn has his head on the table, Maggie stares straight ahead; Eliot looks down at his whisky. They are waiting. We must get the sense they have been waiting a long time. Conversation has been tried, but they have run out of things to say to each other and now sit in silence.

  A few moments pass. Eliot pours another drink. Finn kicks the table. Maggie looks at the floor.

  There is a knocking at the door. The children look at each other. Another knock. Eliot’s face splits into a drunken grin.

  Eliot I told you! Didn’t I tell you? I told you all.

  He stands unsteadily.

  Maggie Ellie, the cake you’ll knock it –

  Eliot No, wait. Let’s turn out the lights. Shhh … candles.

  He turns off the lights; Finn is jumping around in excitement.

  Another knock, Eliot lights the candles.

  They start singing ‘Happy Birthday’. Eliot guides them to the door; Finn’s excitement is at fever pitch. Eliot flings open the door.

  It’s Cassie, holding a gift.

  Silence. Maggie turns on the lights.

  Cassie Happy birthday, Ellie.

  Eliot says nothing.

  I wanted to drop this off. Sorry I’m so late. I came after work. I tried calling but …

  She holds out her present. He turns his back and walks away from her.

  Am I interrupting something?

  Eliot is trying very hard not to cry.

  Finn Can we start the party now?

  Eliot Why not? Why the devil not?

  Cassie wanders in. She takes in the state of the room. It shocks her.

  Finn Can I give you my present now?

  Eliot Give the girl a hat.

  Finn Presents … let’s do presents.

  Cassie I’m all right, you know.

  Maggie forces a hat on her.

  Eliot Right then. Party time. Let’s play a game or something. Let’s just get on with it. If you’re late you’re late. Eh, Finn…

  Finn proffers Eliot a very badly wrapped present the size of a shoebox.

  Finn Open it! Open it!

  Eliot rips the paper off the box and peers inside. He begins to laugh.

  Eliot Aw, Finn, you shouldn’t have.

  Cassie What is it?

  Eliot pulls a dead mouse out of the box, holding it by its tail. Both the girls scream.

  Eliot Hitler.

  Cassie Oh my God, that’s disgusting.

  Maggie Get rid of it, please get rid of it.

  Eliot Finn, you’ll go down in history. You killed Hitler.

  Finn It’s not dead, it’s a pet.

  Eliot It’s pretty much dead, Finn, look.

  He swirls the mouse around by the tail. The girls cower.

  Finn I put holes in the box and everything.

  Eliot But then you wrapped the box.

  Finn Oh, yeah.

  Maggie Please, please, please get rid of it. I’m begging you.

  Cassie I feel sick.

  Eliot Ladies… ladies, no need to cower, it’s only a teeny tiny teeny wee mousey thing. (He takes a few steps closer, enjoying their fear.) Look …

  Finn laughs.

  Finn Is it really dead?

  Eliot See.

  He hands it to him.

  Finn I’ve never seen a dead thing before, it’s all hard.

  Cassie Eliot, if you don’t get rid of that thing I’m going. I mean it.

  Eliot grabs the mouse off Finn and puts it back in its box.

  Eliot The mouse is back in its house. Coffin closed.

  He wipes his hands on his trousers.

  Soooo, party time. What do we do now?

  Finn Games.

  Eliot Right. We’ve got some age ranges here. But that’s OK, I’m down with that. We can find a game for everyone, ‘truth or dare’ gets a little kinky so let’s rule that out.

  Finn Kinky, yeah.

  Eliot But we can play something nice and fun. Fun for all the family. Something. I don’t know. Come on, Finn, you’ve been to more birthday parties than I have.

  Finn Musical chairs.

  Eliot We don’t have chairs, do we?

  Finn Musical boxes.

  Eliot Not a real game.

  Maggie Musical statues?

  Eliot A banger. On the mark, dear Maggie. On the mark indeed. Musical statues. Vintage. Let’s do it, but on the condition I, as ringmaster, birthday boy extraordinaire, I make up the rules.

  Finn The rules have already been made up, stupid.

  Eliot Well, I’m going to change them a little bit, I’m going to jazz them up. That fine by everyone?

  He is wild-eyed. They nod.

  So. Music.

  Finn turns some on. A completely inappropriate tune, it clashes with the atmosphere.

  Better music.

  Eliot chooses something more dancy.

  Now dance.

  Eliot switches on a cheap strobe.

  Cassie and Finn dance, Maggie seems unsure.

  All of you.

  He watches them. Maggie joins in. Finn is a good little groover. His dancing mesmerises them all.

  (To Cassie.) I taught him that.

  In a sudden snap, Eliot turns off the music and the strobe. They freeze in contorted positions. Eliot wanders around them, taking his time.

  He or she who moves. Is out. Those are the rules as they stand. But in Eliot’s game, Eliot’s version if you will … the first person that moves has to leave the room. They have to go … where do they have to go? Down to the basement perhaps … yes, down to the basement. They have to go and wait down there until they are called to rejoin. That is their punishment.

  Eliot wanders up to Finn. He blows on his neck. Nothing. He st
rokes the side of his ribs, Finn giggles, moving.

  OUT.

  Finn But you’re not allowed to –

  Eliot It’s my game. OUT. Off you go.

  Maggie Eliot, that’s a bit –

  Eliot You playing or not?

  Maggie I’m playing.

  Eliot Off you go.

  Finn But …

  Eliot You go with him, then.

  Maggie Are you serious?

  Eliot Fantastically.

  Maggie Why the basement?

  Eliot You’ll see.

  Reluctantly they go down.

  Eliot waits till he can hear that they are down the stairs then snaps the trapdoor shut and bolts it.

  Cassie That’s horrible, Eliot.

  Eliot You don’t have brothers and sisters, do you?

  Cassie I don’t, but even I know that’s cruel –

  Eliot You never get a minute to yourself. They always need something. One of them. Always, smelling and climbing all over you. Banging on the door. Even when you’re on the fucking bog. Always. They own you. You own each other. There is no such thing as privacy.

  Cassie I don’t understand –

  Eliot Wait till you have a kid. Then you’ll know. You can’t be yourself around them. Sometimes. It’s hard.

  Cassie I’m letting them out –

  Eliot Don’t. Please. Just give me a minute. I just need a minute.

  Eliot has walked up to the door. He stands with his back to her. His shoulders shake.

  Cassie Are you crying?

  Eliot Could you tell me the time, please?

  Cassie Almost twelve. Ellie, what’s wrong?

  Pause. He opens the door. He stares outside.

  Eliot Tick-tock. Come on. Come on.

  Cassie Who are you waiting for?

  Eliot Have you ever wished something so hard it isn’t even a wish any more?

  Come on. Come on.

  Silence.

  Come on.

  His shoulders shake again.

  Cassie creeps up behind him and tries to touch him. He lashes out at her. She backs away, startled.

  Eliot Sorry. I. It’s not. You. I… I…

  Sorry.

  Actually fuck saying sorry. Why is everyone saying sorry the whole time? It’s like they can do what they want and as long as they say sorry it’s all right. Like a get-outof-jail-free card. And it shouldn’t work like that. It doesn’t work like that.

  SOORRRRYYYY.

  Means nothing, does it? You can’t even hold it. You just say it and it disappears. Poof, into the air.

  Cheap word. Cheap words.

  He slumps against the wall.

  Time please.