by Evan Placey
FREDDIE. I know it’s hard to believe, or to understand if you haven’t… But I need people to know, whatever the consequences for me. So that she can’t hurt someone else.
JAKE. And this hurt, this is a realisation that you’ve suddenly come to a million years later.
FREDDIE. Seven years.
Beat.
Don’t you read the paper ever? Most people don’t, at the time, but then later – like the footballer, or the. It’s later when all these people remembered.
JAKE. I remember too. Do you know what I remember?
I remember innocent Freddie bragging about he could get away with anything at school cos he had this young eager teacher who’d follow after him like a loyal dog. That you bet you could get her number to prove it. That she was gagging for it and you could take her any time you wanted.
But you know what I remember more clearly, little brother. The night I caught you kissing my girlfriend. And walloped you.
FREDDIE. That wasn’t the same night.
JAKE. And you said you didn’t want some little frigid sixteen-year-old anyway when you could have a real woman, could have her. And I told you you were full of shit, like always.
FREDDIE. It wasn’t – and it don’t matter if it were, the point is –
JAKE. And you came back early in the morning, woke me up and stuck your fingers under my nose. Now who’s full of shit? you said.
FREDDIE hits a wall. Starts hitting it over and over like an angry toddler.
Come on, Freddie.
FREDDIE. You don’t believe me.
JAKE. Freddie.
FREDDIE. I know what happened to me. And you don’t believe me.
JAKE. I believe you.
FREDDIE. You’re just saying that.
He goes and holds him, stops him banging the wall. It’s suddenly very tender.
JAKE. I believe you, Freddie. And I’ve got your back. Always had your back, haven’t I.
He strokes his hair.
Come on, have a doughnut.
There’s a good chocolate one you’ll like.
Gives him the bitten one.
FREDDIE laughs. Takes the doughnut.
How I’d calm you when you were a kid too. Mum was worried you’d be diabetic.
FREDDIE. Say one of these is like three Big Macs.
JAKE. You could do with putting on some weight.
FREDDIE. You sound like Mum.
JAKE. Yeah well. Someone’s gotta take care of you.
FREDDIE. So you’ll support me. With the police.
JAKE. No.
FREDDIE. But you said…
JAKE. You’re right about the footballer. And those politicians. But she’s not a footballer, Freddie.
And neither are you.
Not gonna be in any papers. Not gonna make a difference to no one.
FREDDIE. I can’t just
JAKE. Yes you can. You will. You’ve managed the last seven years.
FREDDIE. Jake.
JAKE. Some of these parts, lots of the parts, at least when we started, my guys got from different places. Unofficial places. Tax office start auditing me, my whole shop, everything I built up for us gonna be finished. Don’t know who she knows or what you did but you pissed off the wrong person. So you go tell the police you made a mistake, then you go tell her you made a mistake. And you make this go away.
FREDDIE.…Don’t know if I can do that, Jake.
JAKE. Yes you can.
Cos any taxman or police come by here, I gonna tell them I don’t have a brother.
Your mum died, and your dad died, and you won’t have a brother neither. You’ll be an orphan, Freddie.
You think Dad gave it to you bad? I always made sure I took the worst. For you. I’ve always had your back, and I need to know you have mine.
Freddie?
Scene Five
The humanities office.
MARY is alone in the office with GEORGIA.
GEORGIA. Can I give a fake name?
MARY. I’m not entirely sure, Georgia.
GEORGIA. It’s actually really personal, and I don’t want someone like actually looking at my fanny and knowing my name, you get what I’m saying? Making all small talk, ‘Georgia, how was your weekend?’ as she like stickin’ her gloved finger inside me, cos it’s just really personal.
MARY. I don’t think uh they’ll necessarily need to uh –
GEORGIA. Or how was that science test, Georgia? My dentist is always doing that and it’s like how am I meant to answer when your fingers are in my mouth and what test are you even talking ’bout cos it’s been six months and am I supposed to actually remember, like did she put that in my chart, and I’m not having it.
MARY. So here’s the card for the clinic.
GEORGIA. Maybe it’s just that the wax was too hot cos it’s like forty quid at Oasis Salon, and why am I gonna pay that when I can do it myself for a fiver from Boots.
MARY. I think it’s best to talk about this with the nurse.
GEORGIA. But I like talking to you, miss. You understand, cos you’re practically the same age.
MARY. We’re not the same age.
GEORGIA. Not actually, but practically.
MARY. It’s probably best you get to class now, Georgia.
GEORGIA. Mrs Andrews ain’t even there. It’s Mr Abramovich covering and we’re basically colouring maps. And I’m actually really stressed about this red bump.
MARY. Georgia, after everything you went through in the autumn, it worries me that a fifteen-year-old feels the need to… wax their pubic hair.
GEORGIA. Well, I wasn’t going to take a photo with it looking all Scary Spice.
MARY. Georgia, are you being serious?
GEORGIA. You’re going all adult voice.
MARY. Why are you taking photos of yourself?
GEORGIA. Not for myself, for my boyfriend.
MARY. Georgia, did you not listen to any of that assembly we had last month?
GEORGIA. That copper was clueless. It’s just foreplay. What’s the difference if two people are in the same room naked or in separate rooms and see a photo of each other naked? More safe actually, can’t get an STI.
MARY. Georgia.
GEORGIA. It’s really not a big deal. The phone is just an extension of my sexuality.
MARY. Is that what your boyfriend told you?
GEORGIA. Don’t be stupid, man.
MARY. So you’re telling me it wasn’t your boyfriend’s idea?
GEORGIA. No it was his idea.
MARY. Well, that doesn’t sound very healthy to me, that he’s demanded that you –
GEORGIA. Honestly, you sound like my mum which is how come I never tell her anything. He didn’t demand, he asked. He didn’t like put a leash on me, walk me to Boots and then take me home and rip hairs off my fanny. I did that.
Do you have a boyfriend, miss?
MARY. We’re not talking about me.
GEORGIA. A girlfriend?
MARY. Georgia.
GEORGIA. Cos you’re wearing make-up. And nice clothes. And you got a fake tan. I’m not saying it looks bad, but like I can tell. And why do you do that? Probably it makes you feel attractive. Which actually when there’s people killing themselves with self-esteem issues is probably a good place to be. So if this turns my boyfriend on, it makes me feel attractive. And why is that a bad thing?
Pause.
MARY. Well, you’ve given me lots to think about. As I tell my friends, I learn as much from my students as they do from me.
GEORGIA. Do you really say that, miss? Cos that’s a bit.
MARY. How have things worked out with your friend?
GEORGIA. I don’t know what you’re talking about.
MARY. Your friend Portia.
GEORGIA. Like I actually have no idea what you’re talking about, miss.
MARY. We gave them fake names, from your English text, so that you wouldn’t have to say who they were. You were worried because she wouldn’t let you meet her boyfriend – the o
ne who was getting her alcohol and such? And your other friend – Nerissa – said she thought he was controlling Portia, and you were worried?
GEORGIA. Was I?
MARY. So it’s all resolved itself, has it? I was actually a bit worried when I reflected on it later. For your friend Portia – with this older boyfriend.
GEORGIA. No, he’s fifteen too.
MARY. Oh. Right. Well, that’s.
GEORGIA. How do you know if someone loves you?
MARY. That’s. A difficult question. I suppose they usually tell you.
GEORGIA. Besides words though I mean. Like when we were making those lists in form, people said they thought compromise was most important for a healthy relationship. So like if my boyfriend wants to download Fast and Furious 7 but I want to download Fifty Shades of Grey, like one of us has to compromise cos that’s what you do when you’re in love?
MARY. Yes. And maybe you’ll find that you’re actually rather interested in car films.
GEORGIA. And maybe he’ll realise he’s actually like interested in like tying people up for sex.
MARY. I suppose it would work that way too, yes.
I think the point from form was people in relationships help us try new things. Which is healthy. For example, when I was a Girl Scout we went white-water rafting, and I didn’t want to go, but my leader encouraged me to try it. And so I did. As it turns out I don’t really like white-water rafting but I really wouldn’t have known that if I hadn’t been willing to try.
GEORGIA. Is that like a metaphor? The white-water rafting?
MARY. No. It was white-water rafting.
GEORGIA. Oh right. Just you being a Girl Scout isn’t really about relationships.
Portia’s boyfriend is all into like Fifty Shades kinda stuff, but I should just tell her it’s like you said, right, miss, that it’s good to try new things.
MARY. Well. Um.
GEORGIA. Or do you think it’s like actually really dirty?
MARY. I haven’t actually seen Fifty Shades of Grey. But I think that what people – including Portia – do in the privacy of their own home in their own relationship is no one’s business but theirs. And as long as everyone’s consenting and being safe then it’s not for us to stigmatise or judge.
GEORGIA. That’s like actually really helpful, miss.
MARY. I’m glad.
GEORGIA. What did you do in the Girl Scouts? Did you do camping and stuff?
MARY. Yes of course. Were you thinking about joining? I think it might be really good for you.
GEORGIA. No thanks. I just wondered if you could show me how to do a knot. For Portia? Cos she said last time they had to like cut the rope with scissors cos they did it too tight.
MARY. I’m not sure that’s a good idea.
GEORGIA. How come? You said it was fine what she were doing.
MARY. I did say that, yes.
…
GEORGIA. It’s cool, miss. I get it. Not really my problem anyhow. I’ll just tell her to look on YouTube.
DIANE enters.
DIANE. Why aren’t you in lesson?
GEORGIA. I thought I saw you in a meeting.
DIANE. And now you see me here. Telling you to go to lesson.
GEORGIA. I’m just talking to Miss Willis right now.
DIANE. No right now you’re going to room 304 where Mr Abramovich is waiting for you. And button up your shirt, I can see your cleavage.
GEORGIA. You can’t say that, miss.
DIANE. Do you mean I shouldn’t say that? As it seems I can since I just did.
GEORGIA. Miss, I can’t help that I have big breasts. You can’t discriminate against me for that. The buttons don’t do up, there’s nothing I can do.
DIANE. Yes, you can buy a bigger shirt. Goodbye, Georgia.
GEORGIA sucks teeth, goes.
MARY. Sorry, that was my fault. She’s just been going through a lot.
DIANE. She’s running circles around you, you know that?
MARY. Maybe. But it’s just I’ve made such progress with Georgia. She’s passing some of her tests even. But who knows. Some of the stuff she was saying did make me a bit worried, a bit uncomfortable.
DIANE. Did you tell her she was making you uncomfortable?
MARY. No because then she’ll stop talking to me, and I think I’ve built up a real trust with her. She’s really just an innocent girl who people perceive to be naughty so she plays up to it, but it’s all performance.
DIANE. Georgia Miles has many qualities but innocence is certainly not one of them.
She knows you care, so she’s exploiting that.
MARY. She’s really just misunderstood.
DIANE. Don’t say you haven’t been warned. How’s the new unit been going?
MARY. Well. We um started. I just wonder if it’s really better to wait until Ms Rickards is back from sick leave.
DIANE. I’ve prepared all the materials for you.
MARY. Yes, but the students seemed to go off-script fairly quickly. It was barely two minutes in and one of the boys asked what felching was? And I don’t know.
DIANE. Think of Sex and Relationships Education as a war zone and you’re the journalist. Give the facts, show the photos, but don’t get too close unless you want your head blown off.
MARY. So sex is a bomb?
DIANE. No, the students are. Over-wanked fuses and pornified nitroglycerine threatening to detonate at any moment, and trying to take you with them. Think of them as suicide bombers and you’ll do just fine.
MARY. Diane. These children are
DIANE. That’s your mistake, seeing them as children. Your Year 10 form. Connor Maguire was caught masturbating in the disabled loo over a photo of Judas from Jesus Christ Superstar that he’d stolen from the drama corridor; Lucy Matthews discovered one of Samuel Canning’s pubes taped to her locker so responded by taping one of hers to his. They’ll leave their arse-crack on show just to see what you’ll say. They want to see you blush. They already know everything there is to know about sex. Most of them watched porn before they were out of nappies. They’re going to have sex. Most of this lot already are. Don’t try to change their minds. Just listen. Facilitate. They’ll forget most of what you say when they leave the classroom anyway.
I should go relieve Mr Abramovich.
Oh, it means sucking out semen from a vagina or anus.
MARY. Excuse me?
DIANE. Felching. In case they ask you again. Let me know how it goes. (Exits.)
GEORGIA reappears.
GEORGIA. You alright, Miss Willis?
MARY. Georgia, why aren’t you in class?
GEORGIA. It weren’t your fault. Mrs Andrews has been a real cow these past few weeks.
MARY. Go to class, Georgia.
GEORGIA. Just wanted to say sorry. If I got you in trouble. I wouldn’t want that. You’re one of the alright ones, you know? Beat.
MARY is moved/flattered.
MARY. Go to class.
Georgia?
Tell your friend a Highwayman’s Hitch. The knot comes out with one pull.
GEORGIA. Okay, miss.
Scene Six
Classroom. On the board it says ‘CONSENT’ in big letters.
BRANDON. But how do you know if a girl’s consenting?
KAYLA. Oh my gosh, you are such a moron. Just go to sleep like Owen.
DIANE. It’s a good. It’s a good question.
KAYLA (to BRANDON). Cos she says yes, you idiot.
BRANDON. Yeah but you’d don’t actually ask her, do you? You’re supposed to say ‘Can I have sex with you?’
RHYS. That’s well gay.
NATHAN. Well, only if you’re saying it to someone of the same sex.
RHYS. You got to be like seductive, put on the moves. It’s not like a contract.
BRANDON. So how do you know?
AMANDA. Well, if they say no, which to be fair will probably happen a lot to you, then you know.
NATHAN. Can I just say that by saying how d
o we know if ‘she’ has consented that we’re not being very inclusive.
RHYS. That’s cos if a guy’s having sex, then there’s some pretty rock-hard evidence that he’s consented.
NATHAN. Not necessarily.
RHYS. Yes necessarily. If I’m standing here with my hard-on. And I’m doing this. (Starts thrusting.) Oh look at me I’m not consenting. My hips are taking on a life of their own. I can’t stop. (Grabs hold of LIAM’s head, pretends to fuck it.)
AMANDA. Leave him alone, Rhys.
RHYS. I’m saying if a guy had sex, then he consented.
NATHAN. That’s sexist.
RHYS. Women’s Hour is at it again.
NATHAN. If a girl wears a short skirt, is flirtatious, but then doesn’t want sex, we – at least those of us who are not Neanderthals and are living in the current century – understand that of course those two things are compatible. That just because a girl appears to be up for sex based on what we’re – perhaps unfairly – reading in to signifiers of her behaviour or what she wears – does not mean that she is consenting to sex.
KAYLA. Heya!
DESTINY. The prosecution rests, your honour!
NATHAN. So just because a guy seems to be up for sex, maybe he goes around the class with his erection pretending to hump other students and on the surface seems highly charged and ready, in fact does not want to have sex at all; in all likelihood the highly sexualised performance is a cover for how unready he is for the real thing.
RHYS. Is he talkin’ ’bout me?
DESTINY. The jury finds for the prosecution!
DESTINY and KAYLA start singing/dancing in celebration.
OWEN. Miss, can I say something?
KAYLA. Oh my gosh, is he awake?
OWEN. I had sex when I was fourteen. And like knowing me, probably everyone here would be like no surprise there. Because I would talk lots about sex and I knew lots of things because I watched a lot of porn and I have three older brothers. But actually I think it’s like Nathan says. I wasn’t ready. Even if on the outside it seemed like I was. And I wish, in truth, that I hadn’t. I wish I was still a virgin.
I just wanted to say that.
Silence. Everyone’s a bit stunned. Both that he’s spoken at all, and by what he said.
Pause. He goes back to sleep.
DESTINY. Hands up, boys, if anyone else said they were ready when they actually weren’t.