Silence.
SAMFuck. Fuck, this isn’t about you, is it?
JENOf course it’s about me. (SAM laughs)What?
SAM (continues laughing) I’m such a dick.
JENWhy?
SAM (composes herself) Shit, I have spent months torturing myself that I’ve not supported you enough to be ready. Fucking torturing myself that I was pushing you into something and feeling guilty about it. But that’s not what this is about.
JENWhat?
SAMYou’re holding out for the Year 8 job, aren’t you?
JENI don’t follow.
SAMI thought it was odd.
JENWhat?
SAMWhen you heard Ian was leaving, at the pub, your eyes practically popped out of your skull.
JENSam…
SAMI thought you were just shocked to see him go. ‘Why would Ian want to leave after all the hard work he’s put in with them since September?’ you said.
JENI was shocked.
SAMWhen really you wanted to know if you could go for it.
JENI was shocked, Sam.
SAMHave you made an application?
JENSam, I’m not…
SAMHave you made an application?
JENDarling…
SAMHave you, Jen?
Silence.
JENWhat difference would it make?
SAMIt would make every fucking difference. Every difference because you think if staff and senior leadership know about us, they’re not going to give it to you. Because you think it makes a difference. Section 28 is over you know?
JENFuck off.
SAMIt’s the truth. (Beat) It’s been repealed, Jen. You’ve forgotten? Section 28 is over. It’s about us showing them that–
JENWhy does it always have to be this ‘us and them’ bullshit?
SAMBecause that’s what you make it when you pretend to be something you’re not.
JENI’m not pretending.
SAMHave you applied for the job then?
Silence.
JENI could do it, Sam. I could do it a hundred times better than the shambles Ian made of it.
SAMYou’re unbelievable!
JENYou know I could! Tell me I couldn’t do that job…
SAMThat’s not the point. (Beat) The point is you are choosing to… You know what… This conversation is over.
SAM opens the door to leave the room.
JENSam.
SAMWhat?
JENIt’s different. It’s different for me. (SAM closes the door.) I love this school. I love it so much. I’ve never come somewhere and had people respect me like this — parents stop me in the street to thank me. Do you know how that feels? I never had that. I’ve never had that. Parents stop me in the shop to tell me the difference I’m making. The difference I’m making to their kid’s life.
SAMYou still can.
JENThen let me.
SAMYou still can make a difference.
JENCharlie Pike.
SAMWhat about him?
JENHis mum shook my hand. Ran straight up to me shouting and shook my hand to thank me for… What did she say again? ‘Miss Miller, thank you for turning my son around… turning him into a new person’. (Beat) I really feel like I can do that here.
SAMYou still can, Jen. You’ve been doing that since you arrived.
JENThen let me.
SAMI am.
JENYou’re not. You’re pushing me. You’re pushing me ahead.
SAMBecause I want them to know about us.
JENWho?
SAMStaff.
JENWhy? What business is it of theirs?
SAMIs that a serious question?
JENWell, yeah. (Beat) What business is it of theirs?
SAMWell, some of these people are my friends for a start. I’ve known them a lot longer than you.
JENBut once they know, everyone knows. The staff know. The parents know. The kids… I phrased that wrong… I meant-
SAMNo, I think you said it perfectly.
JENI meant–
SAMNo, I heard you.
JENJust hear me out for one moment. (Beat) I love you Sam. I love you. But I don’t see why other people need to be involved in my life. And if I’m honest, it changes things. It really changes things. It’s hard enough getting them to work every day, let alone having to defend who I am. I think it gets in the way, all that. I’m their teacher.
SAMFuck, would you listen to yourself?
JENYou agree. Deep down you agree with me. A part of you agrees.
SAMNo, I don’t.
JENYou do.
SAMI really don’t. Because you’re making me lie. You’re making me live in secret. I promised myself I wouldn’t live like that again, but here I am lying for you. Joking with Ian that I should be charging you petrol money for driving you home every other evening. (Beat) I see us as more than flatmates… more than girlfriends. Maybe one day we might get…
JENWhat?
SAMChrist… I feel a bit ashamed. I feel like I’m going back in time. I don’t know if you feel ashamed… but now I certainly do.
Music begins. Strobe begins. ‘Hometime 2006’ is written on the wall. A school hall. Music ends. Strobe ends.
Scene 10 - Hometime: 2006
MICHAEL’s classroom. MICHAEL is packing a box on his desk in his English classroom. He holds a copy of The Tempest in his hand. He takes a moment and places it in the box. STEVE sits waiting.
MICHAELHometime?
STEVEThere’s no rush.
MICHAELI’m not rushing.
STEVE kisses MICHAEL on the cheek.
STEVEThere’s time.
MICHAELTime to go. Home.
STEVE wraps his arms around MICHAEL. They take a moment. STEVE leans in to kiss MICHAEL.
MICHAELHmm, it’s end of term, let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
STEVEYou’re leaving, it doesn’t matter.
MICHAELYou’re not… yet.
STEVE kisses him. SAM enters.
SAMThere are laws against that, don’t you know?
MICHAELSteve, I told you!
STEVESam, I thought we were meeting at The Stag?
SAMNope. Jen wants one final hurrah together before you bugger off for good. Looks like you were having your own hurrah without us if I’m honest.
STEVEWell, I was just explaining to Mr Turner the importance of cross-curricular study between English and Drama.
SAMI see.
STEVEWell, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
SAMI thought you said Drama and English should never mix?
STEVEI’ve never said that, she’s winding you up, Michael.
MICHAELSo where’s the Mrs?
SAMShe’s coming.
STEVEKids just go so mental at the end of the school year. So much drama.
MICHAELSays the Drama teacher. Anyway, I’d like to get to the pub!
SAMYou’d think you want to get rid of us. I thought you loved this place?
STEVEHe does.
MICHAELI do.
SAMThen don’t leave.
MICHAELWe’ve gone over this.
STEVEI hope you’re this needy for me to stay when I finally jump ship.
MICHAELI’m not jumping ship. I’m relocating.
STEVE (coughs deliberately.) Erm…
MICHAELWe’re relocating.
STEVEHmmm…thank you.
MICHAELI know you’re yet to forgive me, but… we want a fresh start. Somewhere new. One day you’ll want the same.
SAMSteve, it’s a long drive, you know?
STEVEThe things we do for love, eh? (Beat) Something tells me next year this will
be my leaving day.
SAMWhat does Brighton have that Bromley doesn’t?
MICHAELSun, sand, sea. Haddock.
SAMYou bloody traitor. And, what about those that are left behind? (Beat) What about…
MICHAELYou can say it.
SAMWell. What about your mum?
STEVEHe hasn’t told you?
SAMTold me what?
MICHAELOk, I was trying not to tempt fate, or rock the boat but...
SAMWhat are you talking about?
MICHAELShe’s been in touch.
SAMOh…
MICHAELOk, I’ve been in touch. (Beat) It seems she’s keen for maybe a day out at the seaside. (Silence.) She wants to see me. (Beat) She wants to see us. (Beat) I want her to see us.
SAM walks over to MICHAEL and gives him a hug.
SAMI don’t know what to say.
MICHAELYeah, one step at a time.
SAMDon’t fuck this up alright?!
MICHAELThanks. Come on, pub!
STEVEDrinks are on me.
MICHAELThat’s rare!
SAMNo wait. Jen’s on her way, she said I had to stay here and not let him leave.
MICHAELI’m in detention?
SAMYes.
STEVEWhen did you start letting her tell you what to do?
SAMI’m her wife. We’re a team.
MICHAELSpoken like a true PE teacher.
STEVEShe’s changed you.
JEN arrives with a bottle of wine.
JENDon’t worry folks. I’m here. I’m ready to party.
STEVEOne bottle of booze does not a party make.
JENYou’ve clearly never seen In Bed With Madonna.
SAMNeither have I, I don’t get it.
MICHAELWhy did we need to wait?
JENWell, a special someone wanted me to pass this on. At registration, she comes to me and tells me she’s got to give me something important. I come to find her at break-time, she’s nowhere to be seen. Not even the canteen. Then at afternoon registration I find her crying her eyes out in the disabled toilet.
STEVEWho?
JENChloe Hirst.
SAMCrying?
STEVEActual tears? The only water I’ve ever seen leave that girl’s body is when she was so excited she pissed herself on a school trip to The Lion King.
JENYeah, I think she might have been drunk.
SAMNice. That must have been a real proud moment for you as her old form tutor.
STEVEI’m teasing. I like the girl, she’s ballsy.
JENWell, she’s more man than you’ll ever be. (She hands MICHAEL a folded piece of paper. He unfolds it.) A goodbye. (Beat) I’ve not read it. Not much anyway.
STEVEWhere’s Miss Hirst off to next, now she’s all grown up?
JENShe’s going to be a hairdresser…apparently.
MICHAELThis letter’s epic.
SAMYou know what I love about end of term? When those kids finally go, there’s really no need to be nice anymore. There’s no need to bloody pretend. The exams are done. The lessons are done. Anything that’s got to be said can be said.
JENLook, Michael. I know you want to get going, but this is it. (Beat) This is it. This is us. It’s nearly–
MICHAELI know! (He sits at his desk and reads.) ‘What’s up, sir? Thank fuck I didn’t get kicked out of school. I made it. I’ve got some things I want to say’.
STEVEChrist, I’m bored already.
JENGo on.
MICHAEL‘I never really got you when I started this school. You were always really strict, like proper strict. I’m not a pussy-hole but sometimes you could be really scary, you know. You had something we all called ‘the death-stare’. You would shoot a look and we would shit ourselves a bit. (They all do a ‘death-stare’.) When you’re at school you forget teachers have lives, you know. They’re people. They don’t just sleep in the book cupboard when everyone goes home after lesson. Imagine that, fucking gross. Anyway, I hope you don’t mind me saying this, sir, it might seem really out of order, but when your partner passed away I realized something. (MICHAEL takes a moment. STEVE walks over to MICHAEL and sits beside him.) At first I was well worried you were going to leave school for good. I never said it back then but I thought your lessons were wicked. When you came back, I felt like we lost. You were proper sad. A year or so later you started showing a bit more of yourself. You put photos on your desk. You never used to do that. And then one day I noticed you weren’t always stuck in the English block. (STEVE giggles to himself.) You know what I’m trying to say sir…. I’m a kid, but I’m not blind. Love changes a person, right? I used to think I didn’t give a shit what people thought about me. I think it was the fact my dad didn’t give a shit. I’d fight. But now I think it’s about showing up, being seen and waiting for things to change. You showed up, sir. You were seen. You waited for something to change. Not everyone makes it to the end. I’m going to visit my dad soon. It’s time. I learnt that lesson from you. The value to wait for a change. Never give up. Cheers sir. Have fun in Brighton. Mr Watkins is one lucky bugger. Lots of love. Chloe’.
Silence.
JENThis is it. Just us.
MICHAELI think I’m donating this to the drama department.
MICHAEL hands STEVE a copy of The Tempest.
JENYou don’t want to keep it?
MICHAELNo, someone else might need it. (He hands JEN a paper cup.) Jen you’re absolutely right. This is it. What’s left to say? Jen, I think you know what it’s like to change. For something to change in you. Sometimes you just get a feeling, right? We share that. I wish you a world of happiness together. (He hands SAM a paper cup.) Sam… Thanks for always being there. Thanks for endless cups of tea. Thanks for holding my hand when things were tough. Thanks for wiping tears off my face in the drama cupboard. (He hands STEVE a paper cup.) Mr Watkins… Steve. You are possibly one of the most infuriating and loving men I’ve ever met, thanks for bringing me back to life. (Beat) There used to be a time when… this classroom was my hiding place. Chloe was right, I hid. I hid in my cave.
STEVELike Caliban?
MICHAELEven before that, before teaching. I hid. (Beat) But, now I’ve stepped into the light. You’ve shone a light on me, do you know that? In fact, you’ve shone a light on this school…you have. (Beat) You, sir are the light, guiding a ship out of the past and into the present. Let there be you. (Beat) Let there be me. (Beat) Let there be us.
Blackout.
End of play.
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