Name: Craig Maguire
Age: 18
School: St David's CBS, Artane, Dublin 5
On the Fringes [Extract]
On The Fringes was performed at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin on April 18th, 2019 as part of Fighting Words' Young Playwrights programme.
Katie (17) and Catherine (74) happen to sit next to each other on a bus home from Dublin city centre. Katie, overwhelmed and spiralling following a regretful fringe (which she is covering with a large headband), is comforted by Catherine.
Katie: Shantalla Road?
Catherine: Ah, that’s still a bit away.
Both characters rock forward slightly.
Catherine: (Pause) About, what? Seven years back. Me husband James passed away. Married 47 years we were. Met him when I was just 18 at one of the dance halls. I went to one every week when I was just a teenager with me friend, Margaret. We'd rob a few smokes from me da's ashtray and we'd sneak out together. One evening, we were standing around, waitin' for someone to ask us to dance, I would get asked by the nice lookin' fellas, and Margaret would usually get asked by their friend. They were all afraid of her, they were, and she had some conker of a nose. So this fella comes up to me one night, gorgeous he was, dressed very well and lovely thick hair. And he starts talkin' to me, and he asks me to dance. And I said to him "Ah, would ye get away" cause I would only usually dance with the fellas that would have a friend for Margaret. Then he just gave me this little smirk, and I don't know what came over me, and I said "Go on then." From then on in, every week, we would dance together. He would come over and help me iron me hair straight before we'd go out.
Katie: (Calming down) Iron?
Catherine: Yeah! Didn’t have the luxury of a hair straightener like you’s have. He would always tell me how beautiful I looked, every single time before we left, every time. We’d get to the door, and he’d just look into me eyes, and tell me right there and then. Sure, we got married then, I was 19. Very young lookin’ back then, but that was just the norm. Three children we had together. We did everything together, I remember we stayed up to watch the moon landing on the telly, and sure didn’t we fall asleep before it happened?
Katie: Were you kicking yourselves over it?
Catherine: Ah no, it wasn’t our fault. Ridiculous havin’ it on so late anyways. And then he had the heart attack seven years go. He was talkin’ about dis pain he had in his chest all day, and I just thought it was a bit of indigestion. Well later on, we got into our pajamas, he loved the pajamas I was wearing, he had bought them for me one day in town, he did. They had these flowers on them, lilies they were. He always loved lilies. And we got into bed, I had just washed the sheets the day before, so they weren’t brand new but they were still fresh enough. He told me I was beautiful and he gave me a kiss. Whenever I was worried or anything, he would give me a kiss to make me feel better. I turned off the light and I fell asleep. In the middle of the night I woke up and he was gone. Just like that. I just thought, alright, this is it.
We had never really been adults without each other, and I had no idea what to do. I couldn't picture waking up everyday without him there next to me, I couldn't picture not being able to give him a kiss when I needed it, (pause) which was right then. It was the only thing that mattered to me. Just to wake up and for him to be back beside me. I didn't sleep on his side of the bed for three years after he left. And I kept havin' these dreams, where I would see him and I would get to talk to him. And I used to hope, every night, before I went to bed, God, let me just have those dreams. And even last Christmas, I had the family over, children, grandchildren the lot. And I was setting the table out for them all, I went around when I had finished, just making sure everyone had a spot, and I realised I set one for him. And even now, seven years after, it took me back.
Katie: (Lost for words) I'm so sorry.
Catherine: Ah there’s no use gettin’ upset, it’s not gonna change anything. And you don’t realise how lucky you are! What happened? You got a fringe. So what? It’s gonna grow back in a few weeks. I know my James isn’t comin’ back. And if little me, two hip replacements later, can get through it, I know this little fringe will be nothin’ to ye.
Katie: Thank you so much. I think I’m fine, I’m fine.
Catherine: You’ll be alright love.
Catherine squeezes Katie’s hand. Catherine looks across Katie.
Catherine: Ah your stop is next, don’t want to miss it. I’ve done that a few times meself I have, runnin’ for the bus I do be, me messages half-way down the road behind me,
Katie: (Laughs) Thanks!
Catherine: And if you need anyone else to talk to, sure I’ll be on the bus tomorrow at about two, pickin’ up a cake for me niece.
Katie: I’ve bothered you enough I’m sure!
Catherine: Hardly! Always lookin’ for someone to talk to, bye now!
Katie: Bye!
Catherine smiles at Katie. Katie begins to walk upstage a few steps but stops suddenly. With her back to the audience, she takes off her headband and begins to walk further upstage. Stage goes dark.
