Next Lesson

by Chris Woodley

  MICHAEL reluctantly gets out his copy of The Tempest and hands it to GAIL.

  GAILWhich bit?

  MICHAELThe highlighted bit.

  GAILThis top bit?

  MICHAEL‘Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises…’

  GAILWait, wait! You’re rushing.

  MICHAEL closes his eyes.

  MICHAEL

  ‘Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises.

  Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.

  Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments

  Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices

  That, if I then had waked after long sleep,

  Will make me sleep again. And then, in dreaming,

  The clouds methought would open and show riches

  Ready to drop upon me that, when I waked

  I cried to dream again.’

  Silence.

  MICHAEL opens his eyes.

  GAIL Right. That was good. (Beat) So, what is it you are saying exactly? (Beat) It’s a fair question.

  MICHAELI knew you wouldn’t understand, you just don’t get it… Sometimes you don’t always have to understand what it means in order to get it. You just… get a feeling.

  GAILI got some of it.

  MICHAELNo, you don’t get it.

  Silence.

  MICHAELI’m gay.

  GAIL slowly places the script of The Tempest to one side.

  GAILO-kay.

  MICHAELWhat do you mean, ‘ok’?

  GAILI mean ok.

  MICHAELDid you hear me?

  GAILYes.

  MICHAEL Aren’t you going to say something?

  GAIL I have.

  MICHAEL Well aren’t you going to–?

  GAIL Aren’t I going to what–?

  MICHAEL I don’t know. Are you going to say something?

  GAIL What would you like me to say?

  MICHAEL Well, say… what you think.

  GAIL I think you’ve got it wrong. And don’t think for one single second that this idea in your head is something your father would… tolerate. You’re fourteen. Christ, you’re still a child, Michael. What would you know about–?

  MICHAEL I was in Brighton, Mum. (Beat) I’ve been in Brighton.

  GAIL What? When?

  MICHAEL Last week.

  GAIL How?

  MICHAEL I caught the train. (Beat) From Bromley North–

  GAIL Yes, I know how to get there! Christ. And what were you doing there?

  MICHAEL looks out of the window.

  GAIL Sick. (Beat) Worried sick we’ve been.

  MICHAEL I know how I feel, Mum! I’m going to tell Dad tonight–

  GAIL Don’t you dare! (Beat) You’re not, you’re rushing.

  MICHAEL You don’t get it.

  GAIL Like you said… Sometimes you don’t always understand. But you get a feeling. But my feeling is… (MICHAEL gets up to leave.) Michael wait! If you do this… If you tell your father… It will kill him. He’ll be destroyed. Do you understand me?

  Strobe light begins. Music begins. ‘Lesson 1 1999’ is written on the wall. ‘Michael’s a bender’ is written on the wall. DAVE a caretaker wearing a vest and shorts comes in and places a desk in front of CHRIS with books on it. Music ends. Strobe ends.

  Scene 2 - Lesson 1: 1992

  DAVEOh sorry, mate. I didn’t see you there.

  CHRISNo worries. You carry on.

  DAVESorry, the timetable said you were teaching over in C block. You ok for me to dump these chairs here?

  CHRISSure. No worries.

  DAVE turns down his headphones and places them round his neck. He exits and then brings in one more chair. DAVE organises the chairs in a line facing CHRIS. DAVE walks over to the door.

  DAVEThat’s your lot.

  CHRISThank you.

  DAVEYou’re welcome mate. It’s nice to see someone take some pride in their classroom for a change. Have you seen the state of History block? I feel like I need a vaccination stepping into some of those classrooms. No, you have really made it your own. It’s great, Chris… It looks great. Makes my job easier anyway. (Beat) You feel like you are settling in?

  CHRISYes. I think so.

  DAVEMarking?

  CHRISYes, more marking.

  DAVEDoesn’t look like fun.

  CHRISBelieve me, it’s not. I’ve got an enormous amount to catch up on.

  DAVEBurning the candle at both ends I see.

  CHRISYes. Something like that.

  DAVEYeah, I don’t envy you.

  CHRISWell, it’s what we sign up for, right?

  DAVERight.

  CHRISI best get on.

  DAVENo rest for the wicked, ay?

  CHRISExactly.

  Silence.

  DAVECool. Erm, I’m off. Don’t work too hard yeah?

  CHRISThanks, Dave. (DAVE stands and waits.) Did you want something?

  DAVE stops the music on his Walkman and walks to CHRIS’ desk.

  DAVEErm, Chris I just wanted to ask you something.

  CHRISOh. (Beat) Go on.

  DAVEErm, have you got any plans Saturday? I mean are you free Saturday night?

  CHRISOh. (Beat) Not really… why?

  DAVESo you are free?

  CHRISYes. I can be.

  DAVEI wondered if you fancied a pint?

  CHRISI see.

  DAVEIf you’re busy, no worries.

  CHRISYes. (Beat) I can go for a pint.

  DAVECool. Great.

  Silence.

  DAVEWhat’s up?

  CHRISNothing just…

  DAVEJust… I feel like you want to say something.

  CHRISSorry, as in a pint with you, Kelly and the others… Or as in?

  DAVEA date.

  CHRISAs in a date.

  DAVEYeah.

  CHRISRight. Oh.

  DAVEWhat’s up?

  CHRISNothing, I just... (Beat) I’m… I’m not into guys.

  DAVEYou’re not into guys?

  CHRISI’m…. sorry.

  DAVERight. (He laughs.) Right. Erm. (Beat) Ok, enjoy your marking.

  DAVE continues to laugh.

  CHRISWhat’s funny?

  DAVEWhat?

  CHRISWhy are you laughing?

  DAVEI’m not laughing I’m just…er, bemused.

  CHRISExcuse me?

  DAVEWhy? (Beat) Why do you think?

  CHRISI don’t know, Dave. But I have to say I find it a little bit rude.

  DAVEI’m being rude?

  CHRISYes.

  DAVEHow have I been rude?!

  CHRISI just said I’m not into guys and now you’re laughing at me.

  DAVEYou’re not being…

  CHRISNot being what?

  DAVEYou’re not being… honest.

  CHRISExcuse me! Who do you think you’re talking to?

  DAVEDon’t speak to me like that, Chris. Like I’m–

  CHRISWho do you think you are to talk to me like that?

  DAVELike what?!

  CHRISTo assume to know me. To assume to know anything about me–

  DAVEOk, whatever. I was wrong, I’m sorry, it touched a nerve.

  CHRISNo. Don’t assume to know me. Don’t assume that because you come in here on random visits to fix my blind, to move some chairs that you know anything about me or my personal life. You don’t.

  DAVERandom visits?

  CHRISYou know what I mean.

  DAVEHow is doing my job a random visit?

  CHRISYou know what I’m saying.

  DAVEI saw you, you know?

 
CHRIS Excuse me?

  DAVEThis weekend, I saw you.

  CHRISWhat? Saw what?

  DAVEAt Pride. I saw you at Pride… you walked right past me. Don’t you remember? You touched my shoulder to squeeze past. I guess you didn’t see me, I think it might have been the blond guy you were snogging the face off that was the distraction. Fair enough, he was beautiful. You seemed to be having the time of your life. Lots of beautiful distractions… Sadly, I wasn’t one of them. But maybe you and your intellectual book reader teacher friends don’t go for caretakers or mechanics. You wouldn’t want to lower yourself to that, right? Bit random? But you never know, you might’ve had fun, Chris. (Beat) I know that when you were crying your eyes out it might’ve felt like the more fun option.

  CHRISExcuse me I was not–

  DAVEYou were crying. He’s a dickhead. He was all over everyone, like piss on a toilet seat. (Laughs) He’s scum. Wasn’t that what it was all about? Everyone saw it. Stumbling all over the show, starting on the bouncer. He’s a waster. He’s pretty, but you’re wasting your time, mate.

  CHRISI wasn’t crying. (Beat) I’m not your mate.

  DAVEOh and don’t I know it! You know what… Forget I ever said anything at all.

  DAVE walks over to the door.

  CHRISGo on.

  DAVENo, forget it.

  CHRISWhat?

  DAVEYou’re better than that. You’re better than some pissed-up pretty boy. You’re…. It’s just a pint down the pub, yeah…

  CHRISDave, I’m sorry. I’m sorry ok… I shouldn’t have said all that.

  DAVEWhich bit?

  CHRISAll of it. (Beat) All of it.

  DAVEThen why say it?

  CHRISI’m not ready…. My last school… it just wasn’t for me. I’ve learnt my lesson. This is the next chapter. I just want to stay… safe. (Beat) Not for one second have I… Gosh, this is embarrassing... I’ve loved your visits, our chats, your… legs in those shorts.

  DAVE (laughs and does a little jig and a leg lunge) Mr Reed, I am blushing.

  CHRISI’ve said too much! Gosh why did I say that?!

  DAVEGo on, I liked it. Go on!

  CHRISNo, no more.

  DAVE (does a little leg lunge) Why? What are you afraid of?

  CHRISI don’t want to be seen to be… I need to keep things safe and–

  DAVESafe and sound? Lighten up. It’s ignorant kids, Chris. I’m spending lesson two scrubbing off ‘Michael’s a batty boy’ in the toilets. It’s ignorance, mate. Empty threats. There are people here to support you. You just need a friendly face and a pint. (Beat) Kelly can’t be your only mate at this school. Open your eyes.

  CHRISDave…

  DAVE (repeats his little jig) Yes, Mr Reed?

  CHRIS (smiles) A girl’s allowed to change her mind, right?

  DAVEMrs Reed! I didn’t know you had it in you!

  CHRISPlay nicely now.

  DAVEYeah, I am playing nicely.

  DAVE smiles. CHRIS smiles.

  DAVEI’ll be in The Stag from 7pm on Saturday. It’s up to you… mate.

  DAVE exits. CHRIS sits and considers the proposal. Strobe begins. Music begins. ‘Lesson 2 1995’ is written on the wall. Music stops. Strobe stops.

  Scene 3 – Lesson 2: 1995

  KELLYOh go fuck yourself!

  VALI beg your pardon?

  KELLYGo fuck yourself!

  VALMrs Spall!

  KELLYYou know, all this Section 28 bollocks, I promised my husband I wouldn’t bite back… but fuck this! I’ve gone this far I might as well finish. I am going to talk about homosexuality in my lesson, Val. Because you stand there saying that as a school we aren’t allowed to, when really, you won’t listen because... I think you don’t like gay people… It’s that simple. It’s not about how young they are, exposing them to stuff. Exposing them to what?! Cocks? Boys know what a cock looks like… they look down and see it. How is that exposing them?! But they need to know how to… understand their feelings. That feeling in the pit of your stomach when… you really like someone and you don’t know what to do. Boys don’t get it. Or at least our boys don’t. Show me one boy at Beckenham High that is the same. (Beat) I want them to know how to put a condom on themselves, or whoever… to use lube. I can see you wincing. Making that face at me. Lube. Fucking lube, Val! Oh, and you know what? Lesbians… everyone always forgets the lesbians! You talk about boys being exposed to stuff. There’s this other thing, it’s called being a woman and liking a woman. Have you heard of women, Val? They have bits up here and hair down there and sometimes, just sometimes, they love each other. Oh, and I’m ashamed to say I forgot them. Shame on me. Bisexuals, fuck me those poor bastards! Even the gays aren’t a huge fan of them but that’s a separate issue. Bisexuals, they like boys and the girls, sometimes they love boys and love girls, because God forbid I should remind you all this gay shit isn’t about fingers up bums and wet patches. It’s about love Val, it’s about a feeling, it’s about… spending time with a person you care about. It’s about making them a mix tape to play in the car on the way to work. Love.

  VALMrs Spall. Believe you me when I say this. This will warrant more than a verbal warning from me. I deem this as extremely aggressive behaviour. The governors will hear about this. That… That was a step too far...

  VAL collects the folders from the floor and goes to leave.

  KELLYFine. (Beat) But let me just get this clear in my mind. You’re telling me at fourteen years old Val, that you didn’t have questions about sexuality?

  Silence. VAL closes staffroom door.

  VALI think that’s a very personal question. Section 28 states: a local authority shall not promote or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality–

  KELLYHow is this promoting–

  VALLet me finish! (Beat) Shall not promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship. So Mrs Spall, these issues are highly personal, you see.

  KELLYThe point is that it’s personal. That’s the actual point. It’s called Personal Social Education! PSE. (Beat) Other schools in the Bromley area are talking about it. Why aren’t we? I know other teacher friends of my husband who are at least discussing it…

  VALMrs Spall, please don’t tell me the schools that are teaching it.

  KELLYYou can’t teach someone to be gay Val, it’s just a discussion. They’re not promoting anything.

  VALThat’s enough. Otherwise I’m going to feel obligated to let their Heads of Department and Heads know.

  KELLYDon’t you think we have a right to talk about sexuality with kids who are exploring who they are and who they want to be?

  VALYou’re just asking me the same question again?

  KELLYThen answer it.

  VALNo.

  KELLYWhy?

  VALBecause I say no.

  KELLYI’m responsible for my own classes, Val.

  VALNo Mrs Spall, you are not.

  KELLYYes I am, it’s my class.

  VALNo, it is not.

  KELLYIt is.

  VALIt is my department... I am your line manager… and I say no. (Beat) Now if you don’t mind, I am sitting in on yet another Head of English interview. The Head is expecting me. I don’t wish to have to explain my lateness was over discussing a matter such as this.

  KELLYVal–

  VALNo!

  Silence.

  KELLYMy husband’s school, Elmers End, are talking about it in all their PSE lessons.

  VALI just said not to tell me, Mrs Spall!

  KELLYAll Key Stage Four and Key Stage Five Lessons.

  VALFourteen-year-olds learning about–

  KELLYYes, fourteen-year-olds learning about sex with people of the same sex as them. Fourteen-year-
olds to eighteen-year-olds! It’s not rocket science.

  VALIt is too young. A fourteen-year-old boy does not know what he thinks at that age. I’ve seen boys at Beckenham High really lose their way with their families on issues like this. In my experience–

  KELLY‘In your experience’. It’s 1995.

  VALAnd in my experience–

  KELLYAs an RS teacher.

  VALI beg your pardon?

  KELLYYou’re an RS teacher.

  VALI am Head of Humanities!

  KELLYHistory, Geography, RS and oh, look out, way back there somewhere over there by the canteen bins… PSE!

  VALI know what PSE is, thank you–

  KELLYYou don’t. You don’t have a clue. (Beat) Back in 1985 you were an RS teacher that… that pushed her way to the front. You’ve landed up here. Stayed the same. Taught the same. Delivered the same lessons… The same, the same, the same.

  VALI have stayed the same?

  KELLYYep, the same.

  VALIn that little speech you forgot something.

  KELLYDid I?

  VALYes, you forgot something. You see sometimes a person can fall in love with the same sex… and then be with them for a good number of years. Then something changes. Something changes and they meet someone of the opposite sex and they fall in love with them. They fall in love with a new person all over again. They get married to them. They have children with them. They go home every night to their husband and complain about the fact their PSE teacher is a complete and utter… disgrace. Sorry Mrs Spall… was that too personal?

  VAL exits. KELLY stands and watches her leave. Strobe begins. Music begins ‘Break-time 1996’ and ‘Mr Turner 14th September 1996’ is written on wall. MICHAEL brings on a big card that has ‘Good Luck’ on the front. He takes a moment and sits on the desk reading it. He smiles. JACOB an eleven-year-old school boy stumbles into the room panicked. Music ends. Strobe ends.