Scene Two ‘Bold Girls’

Summary Setting= A night club. Marie wins a chance to play ‘The Price is Right.’ In Marie’s absence, Nora and Cassie argue. Nora is critical of her daughter’s behaviour and dress. They also argue about Cassie’s brother Martin. It is revealed that he was a ‘womaniser’ who fathered an illegitimate child. Cassie reveals more about her childhood. This further reveals the reason for the friction between Cassie and her mother. Deirdre is a waitress in the club. Marie asks for her earrings back but not her jeans and top. Cassie confronts Deirdre who reacts by revealing her knowledge of Cassie’s infidelity. This enrages Cassie who has to be held back from attacking Deirdre.

Cassie’s Soliloquy Look again at Cassie’s soliloquy (starting at the bottom of page 43) before answering the following: 1- Why was Cassie unhappy with her upbringing? 2- What did Cassie’s mother expect from her? 3- Throughout this scene, Nora shows that she does not approve of her daughter’s sexualised behaviour and dress. What evidence is there that she does not apply the same standards to Martin? To what extent does this support Cassie’s claims?

Marie and Cassie -Timid and non-confrontational. -Confident, confrontational and extroverted (outgoing). Which of these descriptions best fits Marie? Support your answer using evidence from the play (HINT: Think about how she reacts to being the centre of attention and her conversation with Deirdre) Marie is _____________________________________. We know this because _____________________________________________. Which description best describes Cassie. Provide evidence from the play to support your answer. (HINT: Think about her dress, how she responds to being centre of attention and the way she treats Deirdre.

Close Relationship Cassie feels that she can trust Marie with her most personal thoughts and fears. She reveals that she isn’t looking forward to her husband getting out of jail: ‘I tell you Marie I can’t stand the smell of him. The greasy, grinning, beer bellied smell of him. And he’s winking away about all he’s been dreaming of., wriggling his fat fingers over me like I’m a poke of chips- I don’t want him in the house in my bed, Marie.’

Typography- By writing the word ‘smell’ in italics, Munro draws attention to the force with which the word was uttered. We understand the extent to which Joe repulses Cassie. Alliteration- Harsh sounds draw attention to Joe’s negative qualities and help us to understand Cassie’s reasons for hating him. Imagery- ‘like I’m a poke of chips’ shows that Joe treats her as a commodity. He feels he can do anything he pleases to her as she is his possession. Builds to a climax- By placing Cassie’s disgust at the thought of sharing a bed with her husband last, Munro effectively conveys the depth of her distaste. It is also worth noting that she sees it as her bed and not a shared marital bed.

Marie Is a caring and dutiful friend. She reassures Cassie by saying: ‘I’ll just be across the road, I won’t let you go crazy. You just see what you’ll get if you try it.’