Another Talking Head
Disclaimer: This is a work of imitation. The style and composition belong to Alan Bennet.
A/N: This was, or possibly will be, my As english coursework. "Write a monologue in the style of Alan Bennet's Talking Heads", so I did. And here it is. Enjoy.
Blue Lipstick
(Alicia is in her early twenties. Her clothes are creased. She is standing in a kitchen, her back to the door, washing up. Sounds of a television come from the next room.)
Late this morning, no Katlyn to wake me up, don't think he noticed though. "Saw another one today," Soon as I came through the door. "All toffed up like a bleeding queen. Should be put away, the lot of them." I kept my mouth shut, went into the kitchen to make his tea, opened a new bottle of semi-skimmed, stirred in his two tablets of Candarel. I thought again that I would not be introducing him to Katlyn.
Pause.
Put the television on when he had his tea. He needs distraction or he gets himself worked up. They were showing the football highlights. Katlyn wanted me to go to Manchester to see the match but I had to work. No rest for the wicked. Anyway, it's all Greek to me. She took Matthew instead. He's mad about football, Matthew. Bet she misses me though. We're very close.
Now he was complaining that one of the players was wearing a headband. "All the same, that European lot." Off again. "You know, Alison," He knows my name's Alicia. Not a proper name for a nice young girl, apparently. Does no good to argue. I keep my mouth shut. Better to keep the peace.
"I said, you know, Alison, he only difference between that one and a pair of tights is that the tights have got a damn sight closer to a woman's…" I asked if he was seeing his daughter this weekend and learnt that Jenny now had bright red hair and sometimes wore blue lipstick.
"At least she's a proper girl, not like some of these today. Up to all sorts. Disgusting." He stared into his tea and took a swig from it. "Lovely cup of tea that." Looked at me, in that way he does, and said, "You're a proper girl, Alison." I kept my mouth shut, and went to fetch his slippers.
Blackout.
(Alicia is sitting on the edge of a double bed in pyjamas and a dressing gown. Her feet are bare. Discarded clothes are dumped over a chair and on the floor.)
Quiet when I got in. Katlyn still in Manchester with Matthew. She likes Matthew. They go swimming on Fridays. He always asks if I'll go along, but I don't. Three's a crowd, I say.
Four letter waiting on the mat. Katlyn's usually sorted them earlier. Another polite refusal. Laringsgate this time. Thought hospitals were meant to be understaffed. The lady wrote me such a nice letter. Couldn't be upset. Sure to be others. No use crying over spilt milk, is there?
Two bills, something for Katlyn… they can wait for tomorrow.
Blackout.
(Alicia is sitting at the kitchen table in the dark. There is a plastic food box in front of her. She holds a note in her hand but does not look at it.)
Note on the fridge when I got in at last. She'd gone to Galaxy with Matthew and Elizabeth. Waited as long as they could of course. Said sorry, lasagna in the fridge, love Katlyn. Kiss, kiss, kiss. Thoughtful of her. Don't bother to cook, when I'm on my own.
Pause.
Coat was soaking wet. Don't know how, only walked from the car. Should get it washed really. It can wait for tomorrow now.
I wondered what time they'd gone. Probably for the best that I got stuck in traffic. Only have cramped their style. Stuck out like a sore thumb, I would have, stood at the side watching them have a whale of a time. PS. At the end of her note, I spotted. Don't worry about Milcombe, she said, bound to be others.
That was right, they'd phoned yesterday. Another no. Funny, though. Didn't even remember mentioning it.
A/N: Read and review, my darlings. xxx ttfn.
