Loose Lips, Sink Ships
This play was written by participants from the Phase Two Group at The Star Project, in Ballymun, Dublin over three creative writing workshops in June 2026.
Characters
Jackie, 27, tracksuit, permed hair, blonde with root long roots showing, recovering substance user, tough but kind and fair, was unhinged in the past, respected in her local community, she wants to get her kids back. She has a day programme scheduled for herself.
Murphy, 36, big lad, intimidating, bald head, scar on his head, has a few hits under his belt, drives a Range Rover, rules by fear, he’s on the coke, has lost family members through addiction.
Julie, 32, she is married to Murphy. Wears fancy jewellery and nice clothes, comes from a middle class background, educated and smart, loves the money and doesn’t want to know where it came from. She is struggling trying to get pregnant, is trying IVF.
Slasher Brown, 36, works as security for Murphy and is always around when Murphy isn’t.
Garda
Mid Wife
SCENE ONE
Jackie comes out of Dóchas after a 4 year stretch. 2015. Murphy is waiting for her.
Murphy
How are you? You’re only out.
Jackie
I wasn’t expecting to see you!
Murphy
It’s been a long time.
Jackie
It has. Four years, two months/
Murphy
/You know why I’m here!?
Jackie
Yeah.
Murphy
I need that money.
Jackie
I’ll get it for ya.
Murphy
You can work it off.
Jackie
I’ll sort it out.
Murphy
I’ll give you two weeks.
Jackie
Okay. Whatever.
Murphy
Do you want a lift into town?
Jackie
No.
Murphy stares at Jackie and gets into his Ranger Rover.
SCENE TWO
At home with the Murphys. Julie hands Murphy a pregnancy test.
Julie
Great news!
Murphy
What’s this a covid test?
Julie
No the IVF has worked silly.
Murphy
No way or . . . deadly!
Julie
Are you not over the moon?
Murphy
Yeah.
Julie
Well you don’t look it.
Murphy
Yeah love I’m just shocked.
Julie
It could be twins!?
Murphy
For fuck sake it would be hard enough with one.
Julie
A girl and a boy would be lovely.
Murphy
Give me a drink.
Julie
Can we go out to celebrate?
Murphy
No you shouldn’t be drinking. We’ve waited a long time for this.
Julie
I love you honey, maybe we could go and get a nice meal.
Murphy
Yes, but I can’t tonight I have to sort something out.
Slasher
Murphy, we need to go and sort that thing out.
Murphy
Slasher, you’re not going to believe this we’re going to have a baby!
Slasher (in shock)
Congratulations mate!
SCENE THREE
McGlinchy’s Bar, Ballymun.
Murphy
Maybe that rat went off to Marbella.
Slasher
I think he jumped ship alright.
Murphy
We’ll find the cunt!
Slasher
We’ll make a few phone calls.
Murphy
Make sure everyone knows we’re looking for him.
Slasher
Maybe we could send Johnny over to look for him?
Murphy
Yeah Johnny and two of the lads.
Jackie walks into the bar and Murphy looks over at her.
That tramp owes me aswell.
Slasher
Well there’s a few jobs that need to be done. Why don’t you get her to move that package?
Murphy
Can I trust her?
Slasher
Yeah, she’s good.
Murphy
Right sort it out.
We see Slasher walking over and talking to Jackie.
SCENE FOUR
Blue lights come on an undercover Garda car pulls over a Jackie in her car.
Garda
Licence and register, Jackie.
Jackie
Me Da has me on the insurance as a second driver.
Garda
You’ll have to produce it at the station, you have 28 days.
Jackie
Yeah. Thanks.
Garda
Behave yourself and keep your nose clean.
Jackie close’s the window.
Jackie
Pigs.
Jackie’s car pulls into a car park.
The eye is on me. The old bill have spotted this car.
Slasher
It’ll be grand. Here’s the google pin to where you need to go.
Slasher hands her a phone and a package. The car drives off.
SCENE FIVE
Murphy and Julie are shopping for baby stuff.
Julie
I’m having a baby shower.
Murphy
Ah hang on that’s going to ruin the surprise.
Julie
You’re not the one having the baby.
Murphy
Who’s going to it?
Julie
Old friends from school and family.
Murphy
Old friends from school?
Julie
Yeah Samantha, Simone, Mary and Jackie.
Murphy
Jackie who?
Julie
Do you not remember Wackie Jackie, she was at the wedding?
Murphy
I thought she was locked up.
Julie
She’s out on TR.
Murphy
I don’t really trust her . . .
Julie
She’s always been a good friend to me and she was there long before you.
Murphy
Can we have a gender reveal instead.
Julie
I’ll think about it.
SCENE SIX
Murphy and Slasher.
Murphy
How did it go with the package?
Slasher
It’s done.
Murphy
Have a word with Jackie and make sure she doesn’t say anything to Julie.
Slasher
Why would she say anything?
Murphy
Just make sure she doesn’t, she’s been locked up a long time and you never know who she’s been talking to.
SCENE SEVEN
Slasher and Jackie.
Slasher
Murphy told me that you need to keep your mouth shut at this baby shower, about his business.
Jackie
Slasher I know everything and I haven’t opened me mouth so far.
Slasher
Loose lips sinks ships.
SCENE EIGHT
Pillow talk. Slasher lights a joint.
Jackie
I was talking to Julie.
Slasher
What did she have to say.
Jackie
The baby’s yours.
Slasher
Bollix.
Jackie
Murphy doesn’t know. The gender reveal is on Sunday. Will you be there?
Slasher’s phone rings. It’s Murphy.
Slasher
Yeah no brother bro.
Jackie
What’s that about?
Slasher
Your not going to believe it, he’s asked me to be Godfather.
Jackie
Murphy tried to whack my brother and he thinks I don’t know. Where you involved
Slasher
No, he asked me to and I said no.
Jackie
We’ll have to get that cunt.
SCENE NINE
A gender reveal. Julie holds the ballon and Murphy pops it. The ballon pops and we see blue confetti. The crowd screams. There are also little bits of black confetti.
Guest
What’s goin’ on with this?
Guest Two
What is it?
Guest
Some of the confetti . . . it’s black.
Guest two
So what?
Murphy
I’ve got news for every one Slasher is going to be the Godfather!
Jackie (whispers under her breath)
The Daddy more like.
SCENE TEN
Slasher drops Murphy off at the Rotunda hospital.
Slasher
I hope it all goes well. Do you want me to hang around?
Murphy
Stay close by.
Murphy walks into the labour ward.
Julie
I’m nervous Murphy.
Murphy
Everything will be alright. I’ll be here with you holding your hand.
Murphy goes out to get a coke.
Julie
Can you tell when I’m dilating the colour of the baby?
Mid Wife
It depends if he has a head of hair or not. Let me check now?
Julie
If the baby is black you will need to get him out here.
Mid Wife
Okay.
Mid Wife starts to check. Muprhy comes back into the room.
Murphy
Is everything alright, it’s very quite in here?
Mid Wife
Will you step out for a minute.
Murphy
What’s goin’ on?
Julie
Do what your told.
Mid Wife
All I can see is a head of black hair?
Julie
Is it an afro?
Mid Wife
I can’t tell.
Julie
I can’t do this.
Mid Wife
Of course you can, keep breathing, keep pushing, the baby is on it’s way.
Murphy sticks is head in the door.
Julie
Get the fuck out!
Mid Wife
Security.
Murphy
This is my child been born.
Julie screams a loud scream and baby comes out.
Jackie wants sweet revenge.
