English Notes

As the montage continues, it shows the three of them hanging outside the chippy late at night and they are now seventeen. They are aging as the song and narration progresses. The narrator finished the montage telling us that they are now eighteen years old and wishing that they could just stay like this forever but that like the weather, we can’t predict how life will turn out.

Linda and Edward are on stage and Edward asks where Mickey is and Linda says that he must be working overtime. He then tells Linda that he is going away to University the following day. He asks Linda if he can write to her and if Mickey would mind. Linda tells him that Mickey still hasn’t asked her out. Edward tells her that if he was Mickey he would have asked her years ago. It is clear that Edward likes Linda but feels he cannot tell her out of loyalty to Mickey.

He sings a song about what he would do if he was Mickey and it is clear that he wants to say all these things to Linda but can’t. It is also clear that Edward has the ability to express his feelings as he has had a very different education and life experience to Mickey. His song includes the lines, ‘but I’m not saying a word, I’m not saying I care,’ showing that he won’t voice his feelings to protect his friendship with Mickey.

As the song finishes Linda is about to ask Edward about what he means when Mickey enters telling us that he hates his job at the factory and Edward tells him that he is going away and won’t be back until Christmas. He then proceeds to try to set Mickey and Linda up before he goes. The fact that he has just told us that he is in love with Linda shows what a good friend he is. There is an awkward moment on stage as Mickey and Linda kiss and Edward stands to the side unsure about what to do. Mickey then tells him that he’s going to work lots of overtime between now and Christmas and that he will pay for the Christmas party.

Things take a dramatic turn for Mickey as he reveals to Mrs Johnstone that Linda is pregnant and that they are getting married. As the couple’s wedding plays out on stage, Mr Lyons, who owns the factory where Mickey works, is dictating a letter to his secretary explaining to the workers that they are losing their jobs. As the wedding finishes, Mr Lyons hands Mickey his letter and he finds out that he no longer has a job. Mickey is seen walking around looking for a job but with no luck. As the music stops, Edward is back after three months of university and finds a very different Mickey on stage. 

Edward is keen to get the party started but it is clear that Mickey is very angry as he explains how he has lost his job. Edward asks him why he needs a job, highlighting the different worlds that the boys inhabit. Edward can’t understand why Mickey is so angry and tells him that he has lots of money as he takes a wad of notes from his pocket. Mickey gets really angry telling him that he doesn’t want his money.

1. Why does Edward have to leave the following day?
2. What do you think Edward’s song really means about his feelings for Linda?
3. How does Mickey feel about working at the factory?
4. Edwards forces Mickey to ask Linda out, do you think this was difficult for Edward? Explain why.
5. Why do Mickey and Linda have to get married? Would this be expected in today’s world?
6. While the wedding is taking place, the owner of the factory (Edward’s father) is dictating a letter to the factory workers, what does it tell them?
7. What happens to Mickey at the end of the wedding?
8. Why do you think Mickey is so angry at Edward?
9. Why does Edward not understand the importance of a job?
10. Why do you think Mickey refuses Edward’s money?