Revelation
(A drama for radio )
Setting: London, Tottenham Court Road tube station entrance and surrounding streets.
Time: Friday night/early Saturday morning; Autumn; present day.
Cast
CASSIE: A teacher in a comprehensive school, about 30 years old. She is wearing quite noisy high-heeled shoes.
JAMIE: A mature 16-year-old boy, a pupil at Cassie’s school. He is wearing trainers.
GEMMA: A colleague of Cassie’s, similar age to her.
A young man. He is wearing shoes.
Background voices: people in pub, streets and cafe.
Scene 1: a busy pub
Ambient FX: pub sounds – quite loud but not boisterous. Background muzak.
CASSIE
Oof! Thought I’d never get served – everyone else is about six foot six!
GEMMA
Did they have Rioja?
CASSIE
No such luck! ‘Random Red’ I think this is.
FX: glasses clinking together and on wood.
GEMMA
Oh well – it’s alcohol, it’s Friday, it’s only two weeks to half term – cheers!
CASSIE
(Teasing) I thought school was off the menu for tonight – your idea, too!
GEMMA
Sorry! Mark’s always complaining I don’t talk about anything else when we all go out together. So tonight he’s getting a blow-by-blow account of the film, followed by a full technical interpretation in glorious symbolism. That’ll show him - and it’ll save me having to listen to his blow-by-blow etcet’ra account of the match! (They laugh)
(Very short pause)
CASSIE
I wish Jamie Mulligan’d go back to playing football. Gemma, I’m worried about him –
GEMMA
No. Sorry Cassie but no Jamie Mulligan tonight – you may be his form tutor but you can’t solve all his issues for him. Let him be – it’s only growing up stuff. You’ve said that to me loads of times, so what’s so different now?
CASSIE
I don’t know. It’s just something...he’s changed lately, sort of withdrawn. I’m worried it’s drugs...but I don’t want to push him – he trusts me, I think, and he needs someone to trust.
GEMMA
Look – forget it. There’s nothing you can do now and you’ll only spoil the evening by worrying. Time for one more?
CASSIE
Ok – you’re right. Just a small one for me, thanks.
Scene 2: Outside Tottenham Court Road tube station, 12.15 a.m.
Ambient FX: Cheerful, chatting crowds going into station and passing on street; some traffic.
FX: Cassie’s and Gemma’s footsteps approaching.
GEMMA
...or we’ll miss the last one!
CASSIE
Hang on, Gemma – isn’t that Jamie? Jamie Mulligan? Over there in the grey hoodie. (Aside) Sorry!
GEMMA
You and your Jamie Mulligans – so what if it is? Come on.
CASSIE
But –
GEMMA
You’re not his mother – we’re s’posed to be human beings tonight, ‘n’ get away from school for once! Cassie –
CASSIE
Look – you go. See you Monday. I’ll just...
FX: Cassie’s footsteps hurrying away.
GEMMA
Cassie – . (Mutters) That girl. (Aloud) Ooh, sorry!
FX: Her high-heeled footsteps moving from pavement to tiles of station.
Scene 3: a quiet back street
Ambient FX: A slight, gusty wind. Very faint street sounds from distance.
FX: Jamie’s footsteps slightly distant, ahead of Cassie; her footsteps following.
CASSIE
(To self)
Brrr! I must be mad! Gemma’s right, it is time I stopped worrying about Jamie ruddy Mulligan. Wandering the back streets of Tottenham Court Road on a Friday night after some kid – he can just as easily get drugs outside the school gate!
FX: Heavy male footsteps sound behind Cassie. She stops; they stop. She starts walking again, more briskly; male footsteps follow.
CASSIE
(Sharply draws a breath.)
FX: Rustle of coat as she hides in a doorway.
FX: Slight fade of sound, to indicate Cassie’s internal monologue.
CASSIE
(Internal monologue) Stupid, stupid, stupid – you’re the one who needs looking after!
FX: Sharp return of sound – footsteps close by her. They pass and dwindle.
CASSIE
(Sighs with relief.) That’ll teach me to watch stalker movies! Now pull yourself together, Cassie.
FX: Her heavy footstep as she steps off doorstep.
CASSIE
Now where is he? Oh (drawn out in annoyance and frustration. Pause.) There!
FX: Cassie’s footsteps, hurrying a little but trying to be quiet. Both her and Jamie’s footsteps continue for a short time then first Jamie’s, then Cassie’s stop.
FX: Sound of a cigarette being lit a short distance away. Rustle of clothes as Cassie steps into a doorway again. Faint bump of elbow on shop window pane.
CASSIE
(Under her breath) Ow!
(Pause)
FX: Cassie breathing. Sound of her rubbing her arms and hands to get warm.
CASSIE
(Under her breath)
Come on Jamie – what now?
FX: Male footsteps approaching. A brief snatch of rock music and the sound of a window closing at a distance, cutting off the music.
FX: Footsteps stop. A murmur of two male voices. A rustle of money.
CASSIE
(To self)
What’s he – oh, not dealing. Oh Jamie.
FX: Both sets of male footsteps move away, echoing slightly as Jamie and the young man go into an enclosed alley. They stop. Slight sound of shuffling feet.
CASSIE
Right – enough of this!
FX: Her footsteps tiptoeing to the alley.
(Pause.)
CASSIE
(Gasps in shock)
Oi! Oi you!
FX: Scuffling, followed by running footsteps going away.
FX: Heavy, striding male footsteps towards Cassie, slight echo reducing as Jamie reaches the street.
JAMIE
You stupid, nosey cow!
FX: Sound of heel scraping as she turns to run.
CASSIE
(Whimper of fear) Jamie!
JAMIE
(Loud sigh) It’s ok – I’m not going to hit you. (Impatiently) Why can’t you just leave me alone? What are you doing here anyway?
CASSIE
I – I was on my way home. I saw you. You’ve been so strange lately I was worried...
JAMIE
You’re my teacher, not my mother (viciously) and even she leaves me pretty much alone.
CASSIE
Yes! And look what’s come of that. She-
JAMIE
(Wonderingly) Is that what you think?
CASSIE
(Suddenly no longer certain of herself)
I – Oh God. (Sniffs back tears) I was worried it was drugs...
JAMIE
That was a condom. D’you think I’m that stupid?
CASSIE
But... prostitution – Jamie you’re worth better than that. And it’s so dangerous – haven’t you listened in PSHCE at all? Watched the news?
JAMIE
(More gently) Look, let’s get some coffee. (Pause) Here.
FX: Sound of tissues being passed. Cassie blows her nose. Their footsteps together. After a short time, gradually increasing sound of other footsteps strolling, voices chatting – perhaps six or so people, some in couples.
JAMIE
Here...
Scene 4: a small, basic cafe.
FX: Entrance door swishes.
Ambient FX: Quiet conversation of a few customers, hissing of espresso-type machine, quiet sounds of crockery being used, etc.
FX: Sounds of chairs scraping as Cassie and Jamie enter and sit down. Jamie goes to counter.
JAMIE
Two teas, please. Thanks.
Pause.
FX: Rattle of cups and saucers as Jamie carries them to the table.
FX: Sound of Cassie rummaging in handbag; coins clinking.
JAMIE
No – it’s ok.
CASSIE
But –
JAMIE
Just drink it – it’ll warm you up.
CASSIE
(Laughing shakily) You sound like my mother.
FX: Long pause, except for sound of sipping, and of spoon stirring in cup.
JAMIE
Look, Miss...
CASSIE
(Very gently) Jamie, you don’t have to feel embarrassed – (pause) you’re not embarrassed...
JAMIE
No. Look, I know you mean well, you’ve always been nice to me and you think I’m just a kid, -
CASSIE
- But you are –
JAMIE
- I’m sixteen. I don’t know if you’d noticed but that’s an adult. It’s only in school you lot still see us as kids.
CASSIE
(Whispers slowly to self) You lot...
JAMIE
It’s - I – I’ve never known, not for sure, if I’m gay. I-
CASSIE
- Lots of people go through that Jamie, there’s no need to treat yourself badly because of-
JAMIE
(Loudly)Will you just listen! (Lowers voice again) I wasn’t ashamed; I just didn’t want to mess up someone else while I found out. You know what girls are like – at school, I mean - you sleep with them once and they think they’re in love -
CASSIE
(Draws in breath sharply, ready to protest.)
JAMIE
- You know it’s true, never mind equality and all that – And as for the real gays, well they’re too busy covering themselves, hoping no-one’ll find out. They’d never dare and if they did, it’d hurt them more than the girls to be guinea pigs.
FX: Slight fade of sound, to indicate Cassie’s internal monologue.
CASSIE
(Internal monologue) And there’s me thinking some girl will strike lucky getting Jamie in a few years. Wonder how many of our boys are gay – we really need to do more about homophobia in school. But -
FX: Sounds return, sharply.
JAMIE
...this.
CASSIE
Sorry? No, I do want to know. I want to understand, to he-
JAMIE
I don’t need help. I figured if I tried it out this way no-one’d get hurt. The money’s part of that... nobody’s going to expect hearts and flowers from a rent boy (smiling wryly). Anyway, this was my last night. I’ve met someone I like, someone I’m comfortable with. He understands me and he doesn’t judge (faintly accusing).
(Long pause)
JAMIE
Look, Miss, just go home. Don’t worry about me. I won’t drop out you know. I haven’t caught any nasty diseases and I’ve learned something about myself.
FX: Slight fade of sound, to indicate Cassie’s internal monologue.
CASSIE
(Internal monologue) And so have I – something I won’t forget...
FX: Scrape of chair as Jamie rises.
JAMIE
See you Monday then, Miss.
FX: swish of door opening and closing.
THE END