Dancing In The Bathroom

Jamie is alone on the bed, back against the mirror, wearing nothing but a cheap pair of worn out black boots and a silky, pink dressing gown. A gentle light illuminates the dingy room.


He left the toilet seat up. Again. They all do. Pissed on the rim an’ all. I’m not touching it. I’ll just finish this fag. Better get off and walk the streets. Can’t not afford to leave a night. I’ve things to buy.


Jamie is sitting alone at the window. Outside it is dark while snow falls straight past the foggy glass. It is silent apart from the sound of water against tiles in the bathroom.


It’s snowing outside. I can see it resting on my window. It’s over now anyway. You know what? He just gave a muffled grunt and rolled straight off. He’s in the bathroom now. Probably pissing all over the place, even though I left the loo seat up on purpose. The snow is peaceful. Reminds me of something like in the movies…. a typical white winter an’ all. It’s been snowing a lot lately. My best time of year, winter. I love wrapping up warm, all the woolly scarves. Everything looks perfect here too. The trees all bare an’ icy. Reminds me of my childhood, when we played outside, me and my younger brother. We made a huge snowman once. Dad laughed out loud that day…. it was comforting hearing his belly jiggle with giggles. Mother stayed inside…. like normal. She never joined in the fun. Even if she did Dad would send her back inside. Mother had a tendency to fall over….. and then she would be really ill.


Jamie is clutching two twenty pound notes and a tenner, twiddling it and contemplating what joys this money will buy.


Fifty quid tonight. That ought to buy me a new lick of paint for this place. Needs a bit of dragging up, a bit more style. Maybe a hint of purple? What about a nice canary yellow? I’ll head off to B&Q first thing tomorrow. I hear they‘ve a sale on…… I wish that man would hurry up. I need a fag.


Jamie is wearing overalls dripping in purple paint, still wearing the worn out boots. One wall is fused in purple. The brush sits on an old rag, smothering the once clean patch in an unthinkable mess.


I remember when Dad painted my room for me. I was twelve years old. (Pause) I was ecstatic being allowed to have midnight purple. So exciting because all my mates weren’t allowed colours like that. They all had boring blue or dull, mouldy green. Dad did it all by himself. One time Mother did come in, she kicked the pot of paint over. All she could do was laugh. Luckily, Dad had put down old sheets. He was always unhappy after that (Pause). I chose lavender lilac for my new look.... very nice. Bit cold, but it’ll look lovely in my flat. I decided to paint the lounge area this colour. Got a nice cream for the kitchen. A BOGOF, see? I can’t wait to get it finished now. I think I’ll continue in the bathroom. Dazzling lilac. That’ll look nice.


Jamie wears the paint sprawled overalls, now with many more patches of lilac paint. A smile spreads, showing stained teeth.


That bloke next door is blasting his tunes again. Makes me wiggle. I used to love dancing. Danced everywhere. Now I’m restricted to the bathroom. No-one wants to see me dance no more…. not since the accident. Only good for one thing now…. walking the streets. I miss my old life. No more dancing means no more smiling. I still wonder what might’ve happened. You know…. what might’ve been an’ all.


Jamie is sitting in front the telly, watching the opening credits of The Simpsons, covered in paint and not wearing any boots. The bathroom door is wide open. Jamie’s smile turns to tears.


Six o’clock, again. Better get myself washed and ready. Put on my work clothes. Shall I wear the red or the black boots tonight? (Pause) Does it really matter? Men are only after one thing. (Pause) The stars are shining again. Must be a clear night. It’s stopped snowing. I can feel the air in my chest when I breathe, its almost like drowning. I need to go out though, can’t afford not to. I miss the dancing, at least I was in the warm. Then I had to stop, they didn’t want me no more (Pause). When I had to tell mother, she was ill more. Dad blamed me. Said it was all my fault. Said I’d asked for it, being what I was an’ all. I see his point. I was suggestive in my moves. I s’pose that’s why those people hired me. And I can see why they did what they did…. Didn’t bother telling the police. They would’ve got away with it, like they always do. That’s what they said. I don’t regret nothing at all, ‘cause it made me realise what I had to do with life, I s’pose.


Jamie is leaning against a wall outside the flat. Make up smudging a tear stained face. Jamie is wearing her typical work clothes, the worn out black boots and a heart pendant, clutching it tightly.


That guy tonight wanted to go back to his. I’ve not done that before, Mel said you mustn’t never do that. They can do anything to you in their own place. I told him he couldn't.… unless he paid double. He slapped me, dropped a twenty then ran. It’s snowing again now, pissing painful against my swollen cheek. Makes me think of the way those people treated me. Before the fags.


Jamie is in the shower, singing happily, like old times.


I can hear me singing in the shower. I had a call this morning…. from Dad. He wants me to go up and visit him and Mother! I’ve not heard from him in ages It was lovely to hear his voice. I hadn’t spoken to him since I told him what happened. He never approved of none of my dancing. Probably because I was still his little baby. He wanted to protect me an’ all. I’d better not dress too OTT today, just my normal clothes, seeing as he doesn’t like what I do.


Jamie has just returned home, sitting curled up on the sofa. The television is on showing ‘Eastenders’.


It went alright, I s’pose. We sat down for a meal. Mother looked a mess, make up sprawled across her face, the bottle in her hand. She yelled at me, then laughed like she does. I’m surprised Dad is put up with her for this long. It’s got worse over the years. One time she ran away for two weeks. Nobody saw her. (Pause) I’d never been so scared before in my life, Dad went out every day searching for her. It was sad. I heard him crying, and screaming for her. Like today, he was crying after dinner, I went to help him wash up. I hugged him. The strange thing was he never let go. (Pause) We shared our first real father and son moment.