Ricky and Jenn

Act 1 Scene 1

Jack and Anthony, servants of the McAllister family, enter carrying swords and small shields.

Jack: Anthony, I swear, we can't let them humiliate us. We won't take their garbage.

Anthony: (teasing Jack) No, because then we'd be garbagemen.

Jack: What I mean is, if they make us angry we'll pull out our swords.

Anthony: Maybe you should focus on pulling yourself out of trouble, Jack.

Jack: I hit hard when I'm angry.

Anthony: But it's hard to make you angry.

Jack: One of those dogs from the Dillon house can make me angry.

Anthony: Angry enough to run away. You won't stand and fight.

Jack: A dog from that house will make me angry enough to take a stand. If I pass one of them on the street, I'll take the side closer to the wall and let him walk in the gutter.

Anthony: That means you're the weak one, because weaklings get pushed up against the wall.

Jack: You're right. That's why girls get pushed up against walls-they're weak. So what I'll do is push the Dillion men into the street and the Dillon women up against the wall.

Anthony: The fight is between our masters, and we men who work for them.

Jack: It's all the same. I'll be a harsh master to them. After I fight the men, I'll be nice to the women-I'll cut off their heads.

Anthony: Cut off their heads? You mean their maidenhead? (Virginity)

Jack: Cut off their heads, take their maidenhead-whatever. Take my remark in whichever sense you like.

Anthony: The women you rape are the ones who'll have to "sense" it.

Jack: They'll feel me as long as I can keep an erection. Everybody knows I'm a nice piece of flesh.

Anthony: It's a good thing you're not a piece of fish. You're dried and shrivelled.

Andrew and another servant of the Dillons enter.

Anthony:Pull out your tool now. These guys are from the house of Dillon.

Jack: I have my naked sword out. Fight, I'll back you up.

Anthony: How will you back me up-by turning your back and running away?

Jack: Don't worry about me.

Anthony: No, really. I am worried about you!

Jack: Let's not break the law by starting a fight. Let them start something.

Anthony: I'll frown at them as they pass by, and they can react however they want.

Jack: You mean however they dare. I'll bite my thumb at them. That's an insult, and if they let me get away with it they'll be dishonoured. (Jack bites his thumb)

Andrew: Hey, are you biting your thumb at us?

Jack: I'm biting my thumb.

Andrew: Are you biting your thumb at us?

Jack: (aside to Anthony) Is the law on our side if I say yes?

Anthony: (aside to Jack) No.