Act 1

• "shove it to the back of your mind."

  Unlike Alec, Davie suppresses his feelings — he bottles them up. He's in denial, unwilling to give into his emotions and confront his grief.
• "Just wan son. Honest!" Wee half at the end of the day. Just helps me tae unwind."

  Davie stifles his emotions with alcohol. He seems to be deliberately underplaying the amount he is drinking.
• "Ah'll see what ah can do... Wait an see..."

  Despite his promise, Davie still hasn't fixed the yacht. He lacks motivation.
• "Maybe ma coupon'll come up this week."

  Davie resorts to alcohol to stifle his feelings, and gambling to resolve his financial woes.
• "Best part ae a week's wages."

  Davie has lost a large amount of money to the bookie. His desperation to escape poverty has made him reckless.
• "It's a mug's game. The punter canny win."

  Billy is more realistic than Davie, and he's frank with him. Gambling will benefit the bookie, not Davie.
• "Soon. Just you wait an see!"

  Once again, Davie puts Off fixing up the yacht. He lacks any motivation, any spark.
• "Ah've seen the day where a could've stiffened the pair ae them."

  Davie recalls his glory days as a man of action. The man he was!
• "What have you got when ye come right down tae it. Nothin."

  After being fired, Davie is crushed. His is a life of loss and rejection. Any optimism he has fades
• "Place is a right mess eh. Amazin how it gets on top of ye."

  The mess shows signs of Davie giving up. Repeated loss has eroded his motivation and hope.