Kevin Elyot
JIMI
He told me . . . he told me this morning . . . before prayers that . . .
That that’s it. It’s over.
Poppy. The cunt I’ve fallen in love with.
It’s a nickname. We’ve all got them.
I’m sorry. Forget it. I didn’t mean to—
Well—he appeared about—six months ago—exactly six months ago—and we hit it off, just like that. I’d played around, as you do, even had a few girlfriends, but Poppy—well . . .
It was him started it all. He made the first move. We were doing a cross-country run, jogging along together, having a bit of a chat, and he suddenly stopped and said, ‘Why don’t you kiss me?’, so I did, and from that moment to—to this morning, we haven’t stopped.
He’s kind of completely taken me over. It’s been incredible; the best—the very best time of my life, and now . . .
It doesn’t make sense. When he spoke to me today, there was nothing—nothing in his eyes—nothing to acknowledge what we’d . . . He’s the only thing, Horace, that’s meant anything. If that is it, then I don’t see the point.
People always let you down, don’t they? Give up on you, die on you, always fucking let you down.
Analysis: The Day I Stood Still
Type: Dramatic
Synopsis
Judy shows up unexpectedly on Horace’s North London doorstep. They haven’t seen each other in four years. Horace was best friends with Judy’s husband, Jerry. Horace was, in fact, in love with Jerry. Once Jerry and Judy married, they saw Horace less and less frequently. Jerry died unexpectedly of blood poisoning when he cut himself on a piece of metal binding, reading Horace’s manuscript.
Judy has arrived with her new French boyfriend, Guy. She has left her young son, Jimi, with his nanny. Horace is awaiting the arrival of a rent boy. Judy keeps calling the nanny to check on her son and finds out that he’s missing. She and Guy run back to their hotel. Horace finds himself opening up to the rent boy but unable to sleep with him. They have an intense conversation, and then Horace is left alone.
The second scene jumps forward in time some twelve years. Jimi, now a young man, appears at Horace’s door. He’s run away from boarding school. Jimi is here because Horace knew his father. Jimi had a dream the night before and his father appeared to him. Jimi wanted to come here and find out more about Jerry. And so, Horace tells him about his Jerry. As the two men get drunk and high, Horace tells Jimi he used to have a chain of his father’s but lost it a long time ago. Jimi’s foot goes through a floorboard, uncovering the chain and closing the scene.
The final scene of the play flashes back thirty years to when Horace, Jerry, and Judy were seventeen. It’s the last perfect day that Horace can remember.
Character Description
Jimi, 17 years old
His mother lives in Australia now, but he goes to boarding school in Hampshire. He’s been in England for eighteen months. Jimi has run away from school. He thinks school is a waste of time. Judy thinks he’s not motivated, merely drifting through life. Jimi was born with a big lump on his forehead that eventually went away, but he had no idea about it until Horace tells him. He does cocaine. He’s looking for something to fight for, something to believe in.
Given Circumstances
Who are they? Horace is Jimi’s godfather, but they’ve never met.
Where are they? Horace’s apartment.
When does this take place? The late 1990s.
Why are they there? Jimi has run away from boarding school.
What is the pre-beat? Horace tells Jimi he thought he was his father.
Questions
1. Can you state your objective in a simple, specific, and active way?
2. Whom are you talking to? Be specific and have a clear image.
3. Can you think of three adjectives to describe your character?
4. How did you find Horace?
5. How much do you know about him before you get here?
6. Other than the picture you have of him from the 1960s, is this what you expected him to look like?
7. What would you like Horace to tell you about your father?
8. How much exactly do you know about your dad?
9. Do you like your mother? Do you miss her?
10. Why couldn’t you tell her about your broken heart?
11. Is this the first time you’ve been in love?
12. Where do you feel the love in your body?
13. Where do you feel the pain of heartbreak?
14. What does Poppy look like?
15. How intimate has your relationship with him been?