Okay. Here’s something that you…Jack Thorne
WHO David, his age is unspecified, but we assume mid-twenties to early thirties. His father was the victim of racism. It is best, therefore, if David is played by an actor who looks as though his father could be other than white British.
TO WHOM His partner, Marian, a similar age.
WHERE In the bath.
WHEN Present day.
WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED Taking place during the course of one day and set solely in the bathroom, the play tells the story of David and Marian. At first it appears an ordinary morning as we watch the couple perform their usual ablutions. He is shaving in readiness for an important pitch at work; she has a pee and then later shaves her legs. However, when she says to him, ‘We just need to get through today’ and he adds, ‘I shouldn’t be going in today, should I?’ we sense something is wrong. Then, as David is alone in the bathroom getting ready, he inadvertently finds some contraceptive medicine in the bathroom cabinet. We are given to assume that this is another clue to the complexity of their troubled relationship. It is not until the evening, however, that we find out what is wrong. As the couple share a bath together Marian wants to know when was the first time David had his heart broken. What starts out as a sharing of information ‘game’ (she tells him about her first love, Pistol Pete, he tells her about university girlfriend Rachel Annes) soon becomes a bitter argument as he demands to know why she is taking birth control when they had agreed that they would try for a baby. It is at this point that we understand today is the anniversary of the death of their daughter and that Marian does not feel ready to replace her. She is angry at David and asks him, ‘When was the last time you went to her grave? I had to go with my fucking mother.’ He accuses her of lying to him by letting him live in hope. She then retorts, ‘No, I let you fuck me. You did all the hoping by yourself.’ He is momentarily stunned into silence before he delivers the following speech.
WHAT TO CONSIDER
• | Marian went to a public school. David did not. In certain ways he feels inferior. He tells her, ‘I’m not as clever as you. Well educated.’ |
• | The pitch at work was unsuccessful. To what extent does David feel emasculated both professionally and personally? |
• | Later in the scene David tries to drown her. |
• | The feeling of helplessness he experiences at his loss of control. |
• | The anguish that he too feels at the death of their child. |
• | His inability to express his grief. |
WHAT HE WANTS
• | To confess to something very personal. |
• | To prove that he too has suffered and can feel pain. |
• | To relive another episode which broke his heart and made him feel hopeless and inadequate. |
KEYWORDS big/bigger mattered shit willing elegance broke heart
David
Okay. Here’s something that you…
Pause.
Okay. Here’s information…
Pause.
When I was at school – I got picked for my – can’t have been more than twelve – got picked for my school’s football team. Right-back.
It was a big moment for me.
Even bigger one for my dad. Because – um – because he was my dad and that’s what they… He always said the reason why he didn’t play football professionally was racism, he went for a few trials – he was shit.
The reason why he didn’t play football professionally was – he was shit. But anyway, me being picked for my school football team. That mattered.
I was pretty shit too.
But I was willing and would run around a lot. And that’s pretty much all you need to be a right-back. […]
Anyway, I arranged to meet my friend Tony before the game. We said we were going to warm up together. He was making his debut too.
We went to the chip shop and bought a packet of chips which we shared. I remember it quite clearly. He put too much salt on the chips.
They tasted like shit.
Tony was a midfielder. Quite good. Sort of a midfield marauder but with a bit of elegance. Sort of Paul Ince-like. […]
Anyway, after about five minutes, these girls came over and started talking and, uh… We talked back. And then they left.
And then a couple of older lads with their own car – came over and gave us a couple of cigarettes… […]
And they said, we’ve heard about this thing – there’s this old car up the rec and some kids are going to set fire to it you want to come watch?
We were due at school in about five minutes but Tony said ‘yeah’. Immediately he said ‘yeah’. And I said nothing. We drove up there. There wasn’t anything on fire. The older boys said ‘fuck it, that’s annoying’ and we said ‘yeah’.
They didn’t offer us a lift back. So we missed the football.
My dad asked afterwards whether I’d been ill. He was working nights at the time – couldn’t get a better job – he took the night off to watch me play. I never made the team again.
Actually, Tony was eventually made captain.
You want to know when I first had my heart broke? Then. I was… I broke my own heart. That’s what – that’s what. I broke my own heart. 