This plot invites you to participate in composing a dramatic monologue by a (fictitious)Trevor Hiliyard.

Trevor's speech is about losing his job. It is, in effect, his farewell speech. He addresses himself and his work companions. Who knows, he may also have something to say to his employer too.

A dramatic monologue should reveal both the situation and the character.

We don't know where he worked, what he did, how he lost his job, how old he is .... nothing .... do you?

All we know is that he begins by shouting,  "I'm off!"

This plot is a continuum.

'Im off!' He shouted, 'I've ad enough! I'm sick of it all, the constant prattling an gossipin, the snipin and the bickerin. I've been doing this for nine years and ow many of you fank me for my efforts?' He stood up and faced them all.

'I slog my guts out, I ave to concentrate for hours on end, I ave to keep stopping and starting on your behalf, going at your pace. I'm better than this, I dint wanarend up ere. From now on you can find your own way, I aint carryin you lot no more!'

He opened the doors and left the bus sitting at the traffic lights with a que of cars behind impatiently honking their horns.

Later that same day, Trevor arrived back at the bus station whistling. No-one mentioned his earlier finale on his East End run, so he got in first.

"Fanks for rescuin mi bus, but to be 'onest you cud ave left mi passengers," then he winked at everyone, and continued..

“Thanking you very much for turning up, all of you, to see my squirm. Really good of you!

One of the weird things I’ve noticed about retirement send-offs, is that you see faces you’ve never seen before. We’re do you work Lad? Accounts? I’m sorry but I thought you’d got to be sixteen before you started work these days. You're how old? Nineteen? Sorry, my mistake, when you’re over sixty anyone between fifteen and twenty looks around ten. You wait until your older, you’ll see; and that’s the thing, you’ll all get older, every smug one of you!

Anyway, before you all start with the eye-watering speeches, I’m going to get in first, and kick-this off, whilst I’m still sober. Don’t worry about health and safety at work Jack, I haven’t been safe driving them buses for years, well 'mi passengers' haven't been safe more like!

Speaking of years, as some of you know, I’ve been here for years, too many years in fact. That’s the thing about years they just come and go, and before you know where you are you’ve got to go too.”

"Time passes too slowly when things get you down, and too quickly when you're enjoying yourself, " Trevor continued ignoring the interruption.
.
"Day after day on the bus, doing the same route, same people getting on and off, most of them not even giving you a second glance let alone a smile; cars not letting you pull out, people parking where you're supposed to pull in, bastards using the bus lanes.

It wasn't always like this though. I remember better days, when me and Dorothy went out as a team. No hassle for me, just waiting for Dorothy to ring my bell! Even though I was up-front, we still had a rapport going with everyone. Take when we did the school run; now that was something. Kiddies used to ask their parents to lift them up so they could see the driver. One little girl bought me a bunch of flowers - honestly - she did. It brought tears to my eyes. We just had the two years before every bus on our patch became a 'one-man' jobby. Poor old Dot was devastated and I was the same. Just who's benefited I want to know. It added at least ten minutes on the 65 and twenty on the 130! How much has it saved the buggers I want to know? It's always the same these days. Sod the customer, sod the customer service, sod the employee. It's always the same."

Trevor paused. No-one appeared to be listening. They'd turned-off, and were chatting away with each other and drinking their glasses of sickly sherry (the done thing at send-offs). Trevor flushed.
They're not bothered, he thought. None of them. I'm nothing to them. I'll walk out of here and no-one will bat an eyelid. This is what life is all about. He took a swig of his 'cream' and piped up again.

"You're all dispensable you know. And it will be you before you know it; stood here; nothing to show for it; nothing to look forward to; nothing."

At this point Mr Shaw stepped in, a card in one hand and a gift-wrapped parcel in the other.

"Excuse me everyone", he shouted, "excuse me! Could I have your attention? Could I have your attention P L E A S E? I'd just like to say a few words....." he managed to draw the dutifully assembled crowd's attention. They had all previously signed the card with the assorted, typical one-liners which Mr Shaw proceeded to read out.

Bye Trev - Happy Loafing Around - Gary
So long buses - Hello bus pass! Love from Carole xx
It won't be the same without you. It will be bettter! Dan
How many years? You get less for robbery. PJ ....