English Notes

Edward pleads with Mickey and tells him that they are Blood Brothers but Mickey responds saying that that was just kids stuff. He then tells Edward that he is just a kid and he says that they are both the same age, but it’s clear that Mickey’s life has forced him to mature much quicker. He tells him to leave before he really hits him. Edward leaves and the audience are presented with two storylines that are happening simultaneously on stage with the spotlight alternating between Edward and Linda and Mickey and Sammy.

Edward, annoyed at what has happened with Mickey, decides to tell Linda how much he loves her, unaware that she has just married Mickey. This highlights how much life has changed since Edward left for university.

The other scene shows Sammy trying to convince Mickey to take part in an armed robbery. He plays on the fact that Mickey has no money to take Linda out for New Year’s Eve. He tells him that the guns that they will be carrying are only used to frighten people and that they won’t be using them. He agrees and runs home to tell Linda to get ready to go out. Linda is delighted but the fear in her voice is obvious when he tells her that the work is with Sammy.

The scene moves to the robbery and Sammy roaring at an unseen man, who refuses to do what Sammy was asking. Sammy shoots him and runs off and Mickey is caught by the police and dragged off stage.

We learn that a jury has found him guilty and he was jailed for seven years but he reacted life he was given life and would not stop crying. The song shows the passage of time, as Mickey is diagnosed as being chronically depressed and prescribed pills to make him feel better. We see Linda beggi

ng him to stop taking the pills as it is changing him as a person. He gets out of jail early but he is not the same Mickey as the one who went to jail. His speech is slow and he has no energy and looks lethargic on stage. 

Linda tells Mrs Johnstone that she has got a job for Mickey and a house for them to live in but refuses to say who helped her to get them. The scene then cuts to Mickey searching desperately for his pills as he gets ready for work. He tells Linda that he can’t cope without the pills and she tells him that they have a new start and that he needs to get off the medication. Mickey gets angry with Linda and tells her that he knows that it was ‘Councillor Eddie Lyons’ that helped them with the job and the house. Mickey says that ‘it used to be just sweets an’ ciggies he gave me…now it’s a job and a house.’ He tells Linda that the reason he takes the pills is because he can be ‘invisible.’

At the end of this part, we see a fed up Linda deciding to ring Edward. The narrator tells us that there’s a girl inside the woman waiting to break out. He says that Linda wonders, ‘what the price would be for letting the young girl out.’

1. Why does Mickey tell Edward, ‘you’re just a kid.’ What does he mean by this?
2. Why does Edward tell Linda how he feels?
3. What does Sammy want Mickey to do for him? Do you think this is a good idea? Why?
4. Why do you think Mickey agrees to help Sammy?
5. What happens during Sammy’s robbery?
6. What happens to Mickey in jail? Explain in detail.
7. Why is Linda so excited when she sees Mrs Johnstone?
8. Who do you think sorted the job and house for Mickey and Linda?
9. Why do you think Linda rings Edward after Mickey leaves for work?
10. Do you feel sorry for Mickey? Explain why/why not.