Blood Brothers - Last Scene  

The previous scene stops abruptly.  We see EDWARD, standing behind a table, on a platform. He is in the middle of addressing his audience. Two Councillors stand either side.

EDWARD: And if, for once, I agree with Councillor Smith.   You're right, Bob, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.   Quite right.   But what we would question is this, how many of us ...

From the audience a commotion beginning.   He thinks he is being heckled and so tries to carry on.   In fact his audience is reacting to the sight of MICKEY appearing from the stalls, a gun held two-handed, to steady his shaking hands, and pointed directly at EDWARD.   EDWARD turns and sees MICKEY as someone on the platform next to him realizes the reality of the situation and screams.

MICKEY: Stay where you are!

MICKEY stops a couple of yards from EDWARD.   He is unsteady and breathing awkwardly.

EDWARD (eventually): Hello, Mickey.

MICKEY: I stopped takin' the pills.

EDWARD (pause): Oh.

MICKEY (eventually): I began thinkin' again.   Y' see. (To the Councillor.)   Get her out of here, mister, now!

The COUNCILLORS hurry off.   EDWARD and MICKEY are now alone on the platform.

I had to start thinkin' again. Because there was one thing left in my life.   (Pause.)   Just one thing I had left, Eddie – Linda, an' I wanted to keep her.   So, so 1 stopped takin' the pills.   But it was too late.   D' y' know who told me about ... you ... an' Linda ...   Your mother ... she came to the factory and told me.

EDWARD: Mickey, I don't know what she told you but Linda and I are just friends ...

MICKEY (shouting for the first time): Friends!   I could kill you.   We were friends weren't we?   Blood brothers, wasn't it? Remember?

EDWARD: Yes, Mickey, I remember.

MICKEY: Well, how come you got everything ... an' I got nothin'?   (Pause.)   Friends.   I've been thinkin' again Eddie.   You an' Linda were friends when she first got pregnant, weren't y'?

EDWARD: Mickey!

MICKEY: Does my child belong to you as well as everythin' else?   Does she, Eddie, does she?

EDWARD (shouting): No, for God's sake!

Pause.  From the back of the auditorium we hear a POLICEMAN through a loudhailer.

POLICEMAN 1: Now listen, son, listen to me; I've got armed marksmen with me.   But if you do exactly as I say we won't need to use them, will we?   Now look, Michael, put down the gun, just put the gun down, son.

MICKEY (dismissing their presence): What am I doin' here Eddie?   I thought I was gonna shoot y'.   But I can't even do that.   I don't even know if the thing's loaded.

MRS JOHNSTONE slowly walks down the centre aisle towards the platform.

POLICEMAN 2: What's that woman doin'?

POLICEMAN 1: Get that woman away ...

POLICEMAN 2: Oh Christ.

MRS JOHNSTONE: Mickey.   Mickey.   Don't shoot him Mickey ...

MICKEY continues to hold the gun in position.

MICKEY: Go away Mam ... Mam you go away from here.

MRS JOHNSTONE: No, son. (She walks on to the platform.)

MICKEY (shouting): Mam!

MRS JOHNSTONE: Mickey.   Don't shoot Eddie.   He's your brother.   You had a twin brother.   I couldn't afford to keep both of you.   His mother couldn't have kids.   I agreed to give one of you away!

MICKEY (something that begins deep down inside him): You!   (Screaming.)   You! Why didn't you give me away!   

      (He stands glaring at her, almost uncontrollable with rage.)   I could have been ...   I could have been him!

On the word 'him' MICKEY waves at EDWARD with his gun hand.   The gun explodes and blows EDWARD apart.   MICKEY turns to the POLICE screaming the word 'No.   They open fire and four guns explode, blowing MICKEY away.   LINDA runs down the aisle.  The POLICE are heard through the loudhailer.

POLICEMAN 1: Nobody move, please. It's all right, it's all over, just stay where you are.