Our class was tasked with writing two pieces of 500 word dialogue without the use of any narrative. Each piece had to tell a story and clearly show place, time and characters. My first piece is called Girl Talk. The second, which was to be called ‘The End’ and had to be based around the break up of a relationship – I chose father and son – follows. The latter does not contain the characters’ names.
Girl Talk
Chanel: ‘That social worker thinks she knows my kids better than I do.’
Liberty: ‘They’re all up their own arses’
Chanel: ‘It was only an hour outside ‘Hair Slut’. Mum did the same with me when I was a kid and it never did me no harm. They should’ve had room for her buggy in there. No-one never thinks about us do they Lib?’
Liberty: ‘No.’
Chanel: ‘I said: “Be a good Princess Paige while Mummy has her hair weave, then we’ll get your ears pierced.”
Liberty: ‘She’s gorgeous. Don’t look like you though.’
Chanel: ‘Takes after her Dad.’
Liberty: ‘Big for her age.’
Chanel: ‘She’s not fat Lib.’
Liberty: ‘I know.’
Chanel: ‘Other two are dark like me.
Liberty: ‘Ever see her Dad?’
Chanel: ‘Wouldn’t know him if he bought me a drink. It was dark behind the Kentucky.’
Chanel: ‘Fancy another Breezer? It’s two for one.’
Liberty: ‘No. I’m gasping for a ciggie though.
Chanel: ‘Here – me stepdad brought me 200 back from Spain for my birthday.
Liberty: ‘Cheers.’
Chanel: ‘I likes it out here. You can have a fag and a drink in peace.’
Liberty: ‘Did I tell you about our Rocky? Teacher came round to ask why I’d kept him off. I said to her: “Would you send your kid to school with a cold?” I told her – Rocky’s got rights.’
Chanel: ‘Is he still off now?’
Liberty: ‘Yeah.’
Chanel: ‘How long’s that been?
Liberty: ‘Three weeks.’
Chanel: ‘Oh.’
Liberty: ‘I likes having him at home with me.
Chanel: ‘Where is he now?’
Liberty: ‘At his Nan’s’
Chanel: ‘On his own?’
Liberty: ‘Only til she gets back from Bingo.’
Chanel: ‘Oh.’
Liberty: ‘Where’s your Paige?’
Chanel: ‘Over there in her buggy.’
Liberty: ‘Who’s that bloke looking at her? With the tattoo and the blond hair.’
Chanel: ‘Which one? They’ve all got tattoos.’
Liberty: ‘The fat one with ‘Best of British’ on his neck. He’s looking at you now.’
Chanel: ‘Wouldn’t shag him. Not unless it was dark.
Liberty: ‘Oh my God Chan he’s well staring now.’
Chanel: ‘Dunno who he is. Might have seen him around with his missus and little’lun.’
Liberty: ‘Looks a right cocky twat.’
Chanel: ‘Oi – you mate. Yeah – with the fag. Keep away from my daughter.’
Liberty: ‘Good as gold isn’t she? Not a peep out of her.’
Chanel: ‘I know – even when I shouts at her she never says nothing.’
Liberty: ‘Soaking wet too poor little sod – are you gonna put the cover down on her buggy?’
Chanel: ‘No – it’ll get wet and I’ll have to dry it on the balcony.’
Liberty: ‘He’s just flicked ash on her Chan.’
Chanel: ‘You – dickhead – that’s right you. That’ll burn a hole and trash her top. No – I don’t want a drink – ’
Liberty: ‘What’s he say Chan?’
Chanel: ‘Come over here and say that. And stop staring at my daughter or her Dad’ll break yer legs you – ’
Liberty: ‘What’s that he’s saying Chan?’
Chanel: ‘Say’s he thinks he is her Dad.’
The End
‘Why did you not trust me?’
‘It is not that I did not trust you father.’
‘Then why did you do as you did?’
‘I did not want to.’
‘Then why?’
‘It was something of the moment. Unplanned. But now much regretted.’
‘There is always a reason my son. You much search your heart for the answer for that is where it lies. You cannot hide from the truth. Your actions leave their mark upon your soul. And upon mine.’
‘I am so ashamed. I have betrayed you – my own dear father.’
‘I understand your shame – see it in your face – hear it in your voice – feel it in your breath.’
‘I did it because she –’
‘Blaming another is a sign of weakness. You must take responsibility for your own actions and desires.’
‘But father – ‘
‘Why? Why did you not trust me? All your life I have given you everything you needed. Brought you into this world, gave you shelter, food to eat, wrapped you in my love. Yet you choose to disobey me.’
‘It was a mistake. I will never err again – I give you my word.’
‘And what is your word to me now? How can I trust you? You are my son and I loved you. Yet to talk of trust…’
‘I could not help myself – I wanted – ’
‘Were you hungry?’
‘No.’
‘You are right to hang your head, like that of the lowly mule. To steal to satiate a full stomach is sinful.’
‘Can you not forgive my sin?’
‘Perhaps I expected too much of you.’
‘No father – you did not. You made me what I am to-day. But I beg of you – think again. Please do not turn away from me. I know nothing else but my life here.’
‘You have given me no choice. You stole from me. You stole food when your table was already filled to abundance. You disobeyed my rules.’
‘I did it for her – not me.’
‘I am afraid.’
‘Why father?’
‘Of what I have to do.’
‘But father – ‘
‘And afraid of what you will now become.’
‘What are you saying? Father, please, one more chance I beg of you.’
‘You must prepare to leave. Both you and her. You must find your own way in this world. I gave you so much. Bound you so tightly to my heart – the both of you. You were my children and I gave you all that I had. But you have sinned against me and by doing so, you have chosen to follow a different path from that which I had planned for you.’
‘You are angry with me – I have never seen you this way.’
‘I fear that once you have departed I will be left with nothing but anger and sadness and betrayal. You have changed everything. Take that harlot and go and every time you are tempted remember your shame. You have forsaken all at the call of a forked tongue. Now be gone from my garden Adam.’