David Hare Plays 2

by David Hare

  Isobel gestures to the door.

  Isobel So, shall we go?

  Suddenly Marion speaks with unpredicted vehemence.

  Marion I’m not going to forgive you.

  Isobel What?

  Marion You’ve tried to humiliate me.

  Isobel Marion …

  Marion You’ve made me feel awful. It’s not my fault about the ring. Or the way I feel about Katherine. You make me feel as if I’m always in the wrong.

  Isobel Not at all.

  Marion Oh, yes. Well, we can’t all be perfect. We do try. The rest of us are trying. So will you please stop this endless criticism? Because I honestly think it’s driving me mad.

  Marion turns and rushes out of the room. She is beginning to cry uncontrollably. Tom looks down. Isobel stands, pale.

  Tom Well, goodness.

  Isobel Oh, dear.

  Tom I’m sorry.

  Isobel No. It’s not her fault. You lash out in any direction. Marion’s in grief. It’s her way of grieving. She chooses to lash out at me. (She smiles, shaken.)

  Tom All the time, I must say, we were driving, she was sitting there seething. She kept saying, ‘I hope we’re not late.’ Late? I didn’t know what she meant. Then she said, ‘I’ll never forgive myself if I get there and that ring has gone.’ I was rather shocked. But you’re saying, what, it’s because the death was such a blow?

  Isobel I think so.

  Tom And that’s her reaction?

  Isobel It’s a way of coping.

  Tom Gosh, well that’s interesting. I do hope you’re right. (He frowns, thinking about it.) You see, it happens quite often. She gets angry. Why? I mean, she’s got everything she wants. Her party’s in power. For ever. She’s in office. She’s an absolute cert for the Cabinet. I just don’t see why she’s angry all the time.

  Isobel Don’t you?

  Tom Well, no.

  Isobel Do you ever get angry?

  Tom Angry? I don’t think so. There’s no need to, since I made Jesus my friend.

  Isobel nods slightly.

  Isobel I suppose that does make things easier.

  Tom Oh, incomparably, yes. He transforms your life if you’ll let him.

  Isobel Really?

  Tom Oh, yes. And he’ll do it for anyone. That’s what I like. He’ll save anyone. I mean on the surface I was completely unsuitable …

  Isobel You were never very sinful.

  Tom Oh, God, yes, I was. Oh, yes. Perhaps you didn’t notice but I was genuinely disgusting. Still am, of course.

  He thinks a moment. Isobel is staring at him.

  I’m the most horrible sinner. But he forgives me, and that’s all that counts. (He suddenly shakes his head.) This morning Marion was already on her way to the Department. She’s incredible, she’s on her way at six, so I get the children’s breakfast before I go off to work. Anyway, you called and told me what had happened, I thought, I don’t want to break this to Marion on the phone. I’ll drive in and tell her in person. I go to the car. Won’t start. I open the bonnet. Spark-plug leads have perished. I can’t believe it. I think, what on earth am I going to do? Then I think, hey, six days ago an old mate called in and left, in a shopping bag, a whole load of spare parts he’d had to buy for his car. (He smiles in anticipation of the outcome.) And, you know, as I go in and look for it, I tell you this, I don’t have a doubt. As I move towards the bag. I’ve never looked inside it and yet I know. It’s got so I know. I know that inside that bag there is going to be a set of Ford Granada leads. And then you have to say, well, there you are, that’s it, that’s the Lord Jesus. He’s there when you need him. I am looked after. He wanted Marion to hear the news from me. So that’s when he’ll decide, right, I’m going to help this person, I’m going to get hold of a few people and just … pick them up and move them around.

  Isobel What, you mean you think that’s why your friend dropped by in the first place?

  Tom Certainly. No question.

  Isobel Six days earlier.

  Tom You’re right.

  Isobel Well, well.

  Tom Of course my friend didn’t know. He didn’t drop round knowing. None of us know when we’re part of God’s plan.

  Isobel Who perished the rubber?

  Tom Oh, that’s different. That’s a natural thing. (He smiles.) People are so full of anger. Really it mystifies me.

  Isobel is looking at him nervously.

  Isobel Tom, I wonder … I wanted a favour. I’ve no right to ask this.

  Tom Go on.

  Isobel It’s just, you know how much I love Marion. I wondered if you’d let me know if you sensed … (She stops.)

  Tom Please.

  Isobel If you felt she was seriously angry with me. If you felt it was serious.

  Tom No problem.

  Isobel I don’t want you to feel you’re betraying her.

  Tom I’ll make that promise. I’ll let you know.

  He smiles, full of reassurance. Isobel looks away.

  Isobel Is the undertaker here?

  Tom I should think so.

  Isobel looks a moment to the bed.

  Isobel Then we’d better go down.

  At once we hear Katherine’s voice. The set parts and we are on the lawn at the back of the house. There is a little garden furniture, seemingly at random. A table with a couple of chairs, then a couple more chairs set further away. Bright sunshine. A warm English day. Katherine is coming in, in a black suit, with a tight skirt. She is dark-haired, in her early thirties, thickset, pale, quick. Her voice is quite loud.

  SCENE TWO

  The lawn of Robert’s house.

  Katherine The priest was awful. It was clear he never knew him. (She sits in one of the chairs.) To be honest, I was relieved. When the coffin came in, I thought, oh dear, this is going to be unbearably moving. And then mercifully the vicar opened his mouth.

  Marion appears at the back, now also in black. She walks on and remains standing, thoughtful.

  It’s quite extraordinary. The church must send them on some sort of training course. Called Trampling on People’s Feelings.

  Tom appears, dark-suited.

  Tom Do we want a drink?

  Katherine Yes, please.

  Tom There’s lemon squash. Orange squash. Coffee. Marion?

  Marion Squash. (She looks significantly at Tom.) Squash would be nice.

  Tom turns to go out, as Isobel appears from another direction, already changed back into blue jeans and a red shirt.

  Isobel That was my fault.

  Katherine It’s all right.

  Isobel I feel terrible. Dad never spoke to a priest in his life. So I tried to give that man some sort of briefing.

  Katherine When he said … what was the word?

  Isobel ‘Mr Glass was respected as a local cricket umpire. A task he performed adequately.’

  Katherine I mean, really!

  Isobel ‘Adequately’! It’s pretty grudging.

  Katherine You might expect better when you’ve just died.

  Marion turns, disapproving.

  Where’d he get that thing about ‘known as Ginger’?

  Isobel I have no idea.

  Katherine He was never known as Ginger. Was he?

  Isobel No.

  Katherine Not since I’ve known him.

  Marion He was doing his best. I thought he was very sincere.

  Katherine looks at her a moment.

  Isobel I stressed forty years of opposition to nuclear armaments. Typical Gloucestershire village. Of course the vicar never used any of that.

  Marion I asked him not to.

  Isobel Oh.

  Marion I thought it would be inappropriate.

  Katherine It’s what he believed.

  Marion Maybe. There’s such a thing as a suitable time. Funerals shouldn’t have politics dragged into them.

  Isobel Is anyone hungry?

  Katherine What d’you mean, ‘dragged’?

  Isobel is standing, trying to distract them
. Katherine does not turn to look at Marion behind her.

  He didn’t want a funeral. The only thing dragged in was him. He wanted to be burnt and scattered. He said, ‘Shoot me from a cannon into the English Channel.’ I’d have done it. It was only at your insistence …

  Tom appears, holding a tray.

  Isobel Ah good, everyone, look, here’s the squash.

  Tom sets it down.

  Tom I don’t know what to do. There’s a whole lot of people … (He trails off, gesturing towards the house.)

  Isobel I’ll go. (At once she goes out to deal with them.)

  Marion I thought the family made it clear. We wanted some privacy.

  Tom They’ve just drifted up.

  Katherine Fuck them.

  Marion Katherine, please.

  Katherine Fuck them. Let them go somewhere else. Go to the Drum and Monkey. They can all claim him. It’s safe. Now he’s no longer there. (She turns.) Well, it’s true. There’s nothing people like more than claiming great friendship with people who aren’t in a position to deny it. It’s this immediate appropriation that I find so disgusting. (She is suddenly quiet.) Robert wasn’t anyone’s.

  At once lsobel returns.

  Isobel They’re going to the pub.

  Katherine What did I tell you?

  Isobel They asked us if we’d like to join them.

  Marion Later. I think we should look after Katherine right now.

  Her tone is so threatening that Isobel shifts uneasily.

  Isobel Look, Marion, why don’t you leave me with Katherine?

  Marion I mean, have you decided?

  Katherine About what?

  Marion Tom and I were wondering what you were going to do.

  Katherine Oh, that.

  Marion I’m not saying you need to make your mind up immediately. Perhaps you should go on a holiday first.

  Katherine I mean, sure, I’d be happy anywhere, I wouldn’t mind where I went if I could just go somewhere and not have to put up with me.

  Marion Oh, God …

  Isobel Please, Marion …

  Katherine Look …

  Marion Let me …

  There is sudden heat in all this, until Katherine rides in decisively.

  Katherine All right, look, I know, you all think I’m hopeless. I’m not hopeless. I’ve had time to think. I do have a plan. I’m not going to stay in this house for the rest of my life. I decided. I’m going to work with Isobel.

  Marion So.

  There’s a pause. Isobel doesn’t move.

  Isobel?

  Isobel What?

  Marion You didn’t mention this.

  Isobel Didn’t I?

  Katherine I want to sell up and, with the money I get, move to London. I think I’ve got a pretty good business head.

  Marion What does Isobel feel?

  Isobel does not turn.

  Katherine It’s just for one reason or another I never had a chance. I left school so suddenly.

  Marion Mmm.

  Katherine I wasn’t ready. I had this ridiculous relationship with drugs. Which, thank God, I got over. But while that was going on, it was fucking hard to hold down a job. Then I put on four stones. I couldn’t concentrate. I was fat and spotty and all over the place. So I never got going. Before I met Robert. And then down here with him, what was there? I helped out in the shop. But that’s not really work. I know I’m ready now.

  Marion If Isobel’s happy.

  Isobel Actually …

  Marion What?

  Isobel is about to say something, but changes her mind.

  Isobel No.

  Marion I thought your firm was very small?

  Isobel Yes, it is.

  Marion Just the three of you.

  Isobel Yes.

  Marion Can you afford another?

  Isobel just looks at her, not answering.

  When did you two decide about this?

  Katherine For God’s sake, Marion, we haven’t decided. There’s been a funeral.

  Marion (to Isobel) Has she even asked you?

  Isobel is silent, reluctant to speak.

  Isobel Not in so many words.

  Tom Marion, I think …

  Marion Well, what do you feel about it?

  Isobel Nothing. For the moment. I need time to think. We’re all in shock. It’s too hard. You think you’re ready. Over and over you tell yourself it’s coming. But when it happens, it cuts you off at the knees.

  There’s a pause.

  Katherine Yes, that’s right.

  Isobel Why don’t we talk later?

  Katherine God, I need a drink.

  Tom Squash?

  Marion We all need a drink. It’s only out of consideration for you that we’re not all having one.

  Tom It was Marion’s idea. She felt if we all abstained from alcohol, it would be easier for you.

  Katherine Well, thank you. (She pauses a second, savage.) Any chance of a Scotch? (Before anyone can respond, she puts her hands up.) All right, well fine, I didn’t ask Isobel. No, I didn’t. I assumed. That was wrong. I apologize. However, thank God Isobel is a generous person. I think she knows what I can contribute. She isn’t going to say no.

  At once there is a ringing noise from Marion’s handbag.

  What’s that? Is that your handbag?

  Marion is getting a phone out of her handbag.

  Marion Sorry, everyone, I had to turn it back on.

  Katherine Can’t you leave it off the hook?

  Marion There is no hook. (She speaks into it.) Hello, yes, it’s all right. The funeral’s over. Hold on, I’m going indoors. (She walks off towards the house.)

  Katherine I see there’s no chance of escaping this Government.

  Isobel I heard it all night.

  Tom I know.

  Katherine How do you put up with it?

  Tom Oh, I’m not interested in politics.

  Katherine No. But you must hear the phone.

  Tom No. Not really. It’s just part of Marion. She’s just someone who permanently gives off a ringing tone. (He smiles and shrugs.)

  Katherine I just hate it. The idea of what she’s doing. Someone at a party once said to me – they hadn’t met Robert – they said, ‘Oh, I hear you’ve got two step daughters.’ ‘Yes. Marion and Isobel.’ They said, ‘Where are they at school?’ I said, ‘Marion’s not at school actually, she’s Junior Minister at the Department of the Environment.’ They looked at me like I was nuts.

  Isobel I can see.

  Katherine I have to explain to everyone. She’s just my step-daughter. It’s absolutely nothing to do with me. What this Government is. Its loathsome materialism. The awful sanctification of greed. It’s not my fault. That’s what I say to people. I can’t help it. Please don’t blame me.

  Isobel Nobody does.

  Katherine Well, good.

  Isobel looks uneasily at Tom, who is still standing.

  It’s why I love the idea of joining your business. I like what you do. Your designs. There’s something decent about them. When I pick up a book with one of your covers – or a record – I always think, this is something which gives nourishment to people.

  Isobel Some of them do.

  Katherine I thought the best thing would be if I came with you this evening.

  Isobel This evening?

  Katherine Is that all right?

  Isobel looks quickly at Tom.

  Isobel What, you mean … I hadn’t realized …

  Katherine I don’t want to sleep here. The idea … now Robert’s gone. I’d like to start work in the morning. Put this whole thing behind me.

  Isobel I’m not sure. Remember, it’s all very recent. I think you should rest – at least for a week or two.

  Katherine looks sharply at her.

  Katherine What are you saying? You don’t want me?

  Isobel No, of course not. It’s just … it’s difficult. There’s me and Gordon and Irwin, that’s all. The three of us. We’re very small beer.
Each of us knows what each of us does. Inside out. We’ve been years together. We know each other’s ways. And, to be honest, we’re not making a great deal of money. If we wanted to expand, we’d have to be sure of the work to pay for it.

  Katherine But exactly. That’s what I’d do. (She smiles enthusiastically.) I can sell.

  Isobel I’m sure.

  Katherine That’s what I’d be good at. Going to publishers. Getting you new contracts.

  Isobel We know all the publishers. (She smiles, trying to make light of it.) It’s a very small world.

  Katherine Yes, all right. But I’ve got a knack.

  She waits a second, Isobel lost for an answer.

  You’re saying no.

  Isobel I’m not saying no.

  Katherine Isobel, for fuck’s sake, I need help.

  Isobel I know. I know that. I will give you help. So will Tom.

  Tom Absolutely.

  Isobel Please come to London, certainly. For a while. You can sleep on my floor.

  Tom That’s a fair offer.

  Isobel For the moment I just can’t promise you a job.

  There’s a moment’s delay, then Katherine gets up furious.

  Katherine I’m going to the pub.

  Isobel Now, look …

  Katherine I don’t give a fuck. I’m sick of being patronized. There’s only one person who ever believed in me.

  Isobel We all believe in you.

  Katherine There’s just one man who ever gave me a chance. The rest of you – well, yes, Isobel, in a way you’re the worst. The others don’t pretend. But you – it’s all this kindness and tolerance and decency. Then just ask for something, some practical demonstration, just a small act of faith, then it’s no. ‘Fuck off.’ It’s so fucking English.

  She goes out. Isobel puts her head in her hands.

  Tom I’ll go after her.

  Isobel It’s all right. They won’t let her in. She’s been banned for life from the Drum and Monkey.

  Tom (puzzled) Isn’t she English herself?

  Isobel is suddenly exasperated.

  Isobel Oh, God, it makes you feel so powerless. I saw all this coming. I saw it weeks ago. And I just delayed doing anything. I thought, just leave it, I’ve got more than enough. Nursing Robert. I was doing almost nothing. Most of the time I was just holding his hand. Often as he slept. Once in a while, Katherine would put her head in. She’d kiss him on the forehead. I remember thinking, as she bent over the bed: When Robert dies, the trouble will start.