OCR GCSE Drama

25 On the street, Sammy (Mickey’s brother) and other children tease Mickey, but school friend Linda is protective of him. Mickey introduces Edward to Linda and the three get into mischief, eventually being apprehended by a Policeman. The Policeman visits both the Lyons and Johnstone homes. He threatens Mrs Johnstone with ‘the courts’, whereas he tells the Lyons that the children’s misdemeanour was ‘more of a prank’. Mr Lyons, concerned by his wife’s worries, agrees that they should move away. Edward arrives at the Johnstone house to say goodbye and Mrs Johnstone gives him a locket with a photograph of Mickey in it. The first act ends with the Johnstones discovering that they are being moved to a new area, with Mrs Johnstone declaring it a ‘bright new day’. Act Two Seven years have passed. Mickey and Edward are now 14 and experiencing adolescent worries and insecurities. Linda openly declares her love for Mickey, but a self-conscious Mickey can’t express his feelings. Both Mickey and Edward get in trouble at their schools: Edward for refusing to hand over the locket to a teacher, and Mickey for misbehaving in class. When Edward returns home, Mrs Lyons is upset to discover that Mrs Johnstone gave Edward the locket. Linda and Mickey take a walk in a field, but Linda storms off when Mickey doesn’t respond to her flirting. Edward and Mickey see each other from a distance and each wishes he was like the other boy. When they speak, they realise that they were childhood friends and resume their friendship. Mrs Lyons goes to Mrs Johnstone’s home and accuses her of following the Lyons and spoiling her relationship with Edward. She attacks Mrs Johnstone with a knife, but is fought off. A deeper friendship between Linda, Mickey and Edward develops. This happy period ends when Edward departs for university and Mickey gets a job in a box factory. Although both boys love Linda, neither has declared his feelings. Edward encourages Mickey to let Linda know how he feels. Linda and Mickey finally kiss. Linda becomes pregnant and marries Mickey. Mickey is made redundant. When Edward returns, Mickey and he argue. Sammy offers Mickey money to help with a robbery. The robbery goes wrong and Mickey goes to prison. Some years later, Mickey emerges from prison, depressed and addicted to pills. Edward is now a city councillor. Mrs Lyons sees Edward and Linda together and tells Mickey. Mickey bursts into a council meeting and threatens Edward. Mrs Johnstone tells him not to hurt Edward as they are brothers. Mickey is outraged to learn that he could have been like Edward. He waves his hand and his gun ‘explodes’, killing Edward. The police shoot Mickey. While Mrs Johnstone mourns the deaths of her sons, the Narrator asks what lessons can be learned from this tale: ‘Could it be what we, the English, have come to know as class?’ A Working in a small group, create a two-minute version of the play, making sure that you cover what you all agree are the most significant events in the plot. B Given your understanding of the play’s plot, answer the following questions: 1 What is the effect of the ‘binding agreement’ with Mrs Lyons on Mrs Johnstone’s actions in the play? 2 What is Mrs Lyons’ reaction to seeing the locket Mrs Johnstone has given to Edward? 3 When Mickey loses his job, how is his life changed? 4 What is Mickey’s reaction to discovering Edward and he are twins? TASK 3.1 You might want to consider the playwright’s intentions in writing the play. For example, what might Willy Russell be saying about class, social injustice and family relationships? TIP: bLOOD bROTHERS