The play has a rather serious aside about gambling in its comedic approach. Keri is a rather impetuous lad, who never takes telling. He puts most of his weekly wages into the bandit at the local bookies that was once known as the old corner shop. Moses is an old man, who recently lost his wife and lives in a home. Every day he comes to the bookies to do a spot of cleaning to stop being bored. He knows Keri's family and has a few choice words for the lad as he understands the problems he is facing. The one-act play was written by Gareth Rees. I have included an extract below.

The lights rise and Keri, late teens stands, stage right, flicking a coin. He looks anxious as he grips the coin and throws it again. Eyes glazed, he stares around the stage.

Keri:   The chances increase. Heads, I win. (Flicks the coin again, just catching it as it lands on the palm of his hand).  Tails, I lose. I see they have let you out of Colditz, Moses. George Raft has got nothing on me.

He kicks the floor. There is the sound of whistling downstage as the lights slowly rise, revealing Moses, late seventies, whistling O, What a Beautiful Morning as he mops the floor of the betting shop. There is a counter behind him, a fruit machine on the side. He stops whistling and starts to put newspapers up on the boards that are next to the fruit machine. Keri looks anxious as he hears the sound of girls’ laughter behind him. He takes a photograph out of his pocket, looks at it once, and lets it fall to the ground. He walks towards  Moses. Moses puts the mop back in the bucket, muttering.

Moses:  You cheeky young bugger. I can come go as I please from the old peoples' home. We are not open yet, Keri. Walk around the street and come back when you have had time to think. I haven’t even finished my chocolate digestive and tea yet. I wouldn’t say so much if you just thought of betting the nags. That way you would see where your money goes.

Keri:    I saw the light on and I thought that I’d come in and wait for the boys as it’s starting to rain. They shouldn’t be too long. We won’t bother you at all, Moses. You could do with the company.

Moses:   New clothes, Keri? (Keri strolls toward the fruit machine, ignoring him). You  seem to have new clothes and shoes every other week. With the amount of walking you do, it’s no wonder your shoes are not made to last.

Keri:    Very funny. They were new when I had them last week. I haven’t bought a new pair of trainers for at least two months. Did you not once tell me that clothes made a man.

Moses:    That was in my day when proper clothes were made.

Moses put the mop and bucket behind the counter and walks toward Keri. Keri turns sharply.

Keri:  I don’t understand what’s keeping them. Can you put the bandit on? I may as well chance my luck.                                                                                                              

Moses:    You are a fool. It’s far too early for you to be wasting your money. You should have better things to do with your time. I wish that the old corner shop was still here and I would never have to see this folly.

Keri:    One go is not going to hurt.

Moses:  Your father came in here yesterday. Sam told me just before you came knocking the door.

Keri:   What did the hell did he want?

Moses:   Your father demanded that Sam stopped you playing that bloody thing. He said you  were putting all your wages into it. Are you?

Keri:    My God! He’s a bright one to talk. He never holds onto money long. He’s always borrowing money off Gran at the weekend.

Moses:     Could you expect your Gran to do any different? Families help each other out.  Your father's concerned about you.

Keri:    I’ve won the jackpot a few times. I can take it or leave it.

Moses:    Do you call fifty quid a jackpot? You’re putting a pound in there for four spins of the wheel. 

Keri:    So what? I can walk away from it any time.

Moses:    That I would like to see. I’m thinking of a time when we had real money and it meant something. Not like this currency we have now.  A pound in your pocket could get you many things and you would still have change over for a  pint afterwards.

Keri:    I could always go to Corals and have a look at their poker machine. Look, I don’t want a lecture. It’s just something to do. (Puts his hand in his pocket and takes out a ten pound note). Change this for me, will you?

Moses slowly takes the note.

Moses:    How much money have you got left out of this week’s pay?

Keri:    Enough to see me through the weekend. I don't go short.

 Moses walks behind the counter and returns with change. The fruit machine lights up and Keri looks at it eagerly as he takes the money off Moses.

Moses:   You’ll lose every time, Keri. Mitcher’s was the name of the old grocer’s. You could get everything here. They used to call it that because all the kids used to be late for school because they were buying their sweets.

 Keri:     Have you seen Hadrian?

Moses:    No. (He watches as Keri puts the first coin in; then another in). They don’t call them bandits for nothing, you know. Save some money, Keri. Gambling is meant to be a bit of fun. You should never chase your money.

Keri:     I don’t know what you’re moaning about. The betting shop gets more money from these machines than it does from racing. How can you get excitement from picking horses?

Moses:    You don’t lose half as much as you do on that damn thing.

Keri:     I don’t know why my grandfather bets. He never wins anything. All he goes  on about are the great races from forty odd years ago and how he should have won.

Moses:    You shouldn’t begrudge a person their memories. Tommy bets for fun. That’s how it should be. You don’t gamble for the sake of it, hoping to win. You will lose every time. They had jockey's back then and proper trainers. None would beat old Captain Ryan Price.

Keri:     What’s the most you ever won?

Moses:   Five hundred and forty quid.

Keri:    That’s not to be sneezed at.

Moses:   All for a two pounds stake. Three forty pence doubles and a forty pence each way treble. I was excited when the last horse, a three to one shot, romped home at Chester. I thought I deserved a bit of luck that day. Everyone knew I had won because the bookie could not keep his trap shut. I hadn't spoke to the wife after an argument three days' earlier. All was forgotten when I got home that evening.

Keri:    Did you buy your mates' a drink?

Moses:   Do you think I was born yesterday? No bugger gave me any of their winnings when they had a good bet up.

Keri:    Where are you from originally?

Moses:    Kent.