I never deliberately set out to shock, but when people don't walk out of my plays I think there is something wrong.

The schoolteacher is certainly underpaid as a childminder, but ludicrously overpaid as an educator.

And even in the hatred of the majority, there's a kind of triumph because I know that, although they'd never admit it, they secretly respect me.

It is easy to answer the ultimate questions - it saves you bothering with the immediate ones.

I must say it's pretty dreary living in the American Age - unless you're an American of course. Perhaps all our children will be Americans.

You see I learnt at an early age what it was to be angry - angry and helpless. And I can never forget it. I knew more about - love... betrayal... and death, when I was ten years old than you will probably ever know in your life.

There will be a quick rash of hairy American filth, but it shouldn't threaten the existence of decent, serious British filth.