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turning to page one
In the middle of dinner, the two eat in silence a while.
PADRAIC
Do you think I’m dull?
SIOBHAN
No!
(pause)
Because you’re not dull. You’re nice.
PADRAIC
That’s what I thought! I’m a happy lad!
(pause)
Or I was. Till me best friend started
acting the gilly-gooly!
SIOBHAN
It’s him, Padraic. Maybe he’s just
depressed.
PADRAIC
That’s what I was thinking, that he’s
depressed.
(pause)
Well if he is, he could at least keep
it to himself, like. Push it down,
like. Like the rest of us.
The little donkey peeks her head round the open front door.
SIOBHAN
(to the donkey)
No, Jenny! Out!
PADRAIC
Ar she just wants a bit of company,
Siobhan...
SIOBHAN
Animals is for outside, I’ve told ya.
PADRAIC grimaces, and the donkey retreats.
PADRAIC
And... people don’t be laughing at me
behind me back, do they?
SIOBHAN
No. Why would they be?
PADRAIC
I don’t know. Because of me miniature
animals?
PADRAIC nods towards the donkey, whose nose and eye are still peaking round the door.
SIOBHAN
No. They think it’s nice. I think it’s
nice. Just outside.
PADRAIC
And they don’t think I’m dim, or
anything?
SIOBHAN
Dim?
(beat)
No.
PADRAIC
SIOBHAN
Of course I’m sure about it.
PADRAIC
Dominic’s the dim one on the island,
isn’t he?
SIOBHAN
He is, aye. By miles.
PADRAIC nods, then thinks about it some more.
PADRAIC
Hang on. By miles, and then who’s the
next dimmest?
SIOBHAN
Well I don’t like to judge people in
those terms, do I?!
PADRAIC
In what terms?
SIOBHAN
In the order of their dimness.
PADRAIC
I know you don’t, and neither do I, do
I? But try, like.
SIOBHAN
No, I won’t try. There’s enough judgey
people on this fecking island. So, no,
you’re not dim. You’re a nice man,
alright? So move on.
SIOBHAN clears the dishes away, as PADRAIC cheers a little.
PADRAIC
I’m as clever as you, anyways! I know
that at least!
SIOBHAN
Yeah, don’t be (fecking) stupid. *
PADRAIC
Hah?!
She washes the dishes without response, & he just sits there.