Ted Shut your mouth!

Arthur Very stupid! Very very stupid!

Ted Shut your mouth!

Arthur laughs.

THREE

Narracott’s farm.

Rose ’N did ya pay the mortgage?

Ted Shut your mouth.

Rose I said did ya pay the mortgage, ’cos he (Albert) won’t tell me if ya did … I know ya didn’t pay the mortgage ’cos ya wouldn’t’ve ’ad thirty-nine guineas cash money ta throw away on this –

Ted If ya know I didn’t pay the mortgage, why are ya askin’ if I did?

Rose What’s your plan, Ted? What’s your plan fer this horse an’ payin’ the mortgage ’cos there’s no way of keepin ’im, is there?

Exit Ted.

(To Albert.) Can ya do summit ta quiet that horse!

Albert tries.

’E’s not even a proper farm horse, is he?

Albert He’s half-thoroughbred, half-draught – hunter.

Rose I know what a bliddin’ hunter is – you, young man, were supposed to be keeping a watch on your vather.

Albert I can’t help it. He gives me the slip. What ya doin’?

Rose Smellin’ your breath.

Albert I en’t been drinking.

Rose Just as well. I can’t whop your vather but I can whop you … Albert!

Albert Look how he holds his head.

Rose I don’t care how he holds his blidding head or any part of him. It couldn’t be worse, could it? Damn yer vather. And Arthur. Right, can’t sell it immediately ’cos we’d get what, twenty guineas for him? Right, so bring him on.

Albert We can keep him?

Rose Feed him up, then when he’s grown, sell ’im. That’s our only hope to turn a profit on him, right? ’N you are going to be in charge of bringin’ ’im on. That means all chores: feeding, grooming, mucking out, exercise. You – all of it. As fer not payin’ the mortgage, I’ll have ta think of something. If ya hear strange noises from the house, don’t worry, it’s me killin’ yer vather.

Exit Rose.

Albert (to Joey) She’s all right. She’s my mum, if ya hadn’t guessed.

Joey won’t let Albert near.

You don’t need to fear me … When was the last time you were fed? I bet you haven’t had a thing.

Joey is tempted by Albert’s bucket of feed.

But Joey doesn’t come for it because he doesn’t like Albert approaching him face on.

Come on, boy.

Albert places the bucket on the floor, but Joey still doesn’t like him being face on.

I won’t hurt you …

Albert picks up the bucket and, at a loss, turns away.

Joey moves in without Albert noticing.

Albert turns back and Joey stops.

Albert offers the bucket, but Joey won’t come because Albert’s face on again.

I promise I won’t hurt you. It’s feed, look. Good feed. Mmmm.

But Joey won’t come in and he moves if Albert tries to close the distance.

Albert turns away and catches Joey moving in the corner of his eye. He turns back and Joey stops.

Albert tests what happens if he turns away but keeps the bucket available. Sure enough, Joey comes in for the feed.