Making It Right
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CHAPTER 3:
SARAH is walking towards the Carter’s front door, and opens it to KEVIN and DAVE. Recognising them, her expression turns to one of anger. They both get quite fidgety under the pressure of her look.
SARAH: Yes?
KEVIN: Er, we were, er, wondering if we could, er…is John Dixon here?
SARAH looks at them both for a bit longer, and then stands back and opens the door wide to let them in. They hesitate and then go in.
SARAH: They’re in the garden. I’ll show you through.
SARAH leads them through the house to the patio doors, gesturing for them to go out. KEVIN and DAVE walk out, and then stop suddenly. JOHN and STEVEN have moved onto a rug on the grass, and are lying arm in arm. After a long and awkward silence, DAVE coughs, and JOHN and STEVEN both sit up, looking as shocked as KEVIN and DAVE.
JOHN: Guys! Er…
KEVIN: Boss. Wha…
JOHN: I…
DAVE: Boss, your mum said you would be here, that you don’t live there anymore. What’s goin’ on?
JOHN: I…
KEVIN: Jesus Boss! You’re a fuc…
SARAH coughs, and KEVIN stops speaking.
JOHN: Yeah, I’m…gay.
KEVIN: But…
KEVIN slumps on to the patio bench, staring at his feet. A silence descends on the group, and the camera spirals out above the garden.
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It is the evening, and JOHN, STEVEN, SARAH and GRAHAM are sitting round the kitchen table eating their dinner. JOHN and STEVEN are both withdrawn, looking down while they eat in silence. SARAH and GRAHAM share a few worried looks with one another.
SARAH: John, have you thought about calling your mother?
JOHN: I thought she might call me.
SARAH: Yes, I know love. But if you’re ever going to sort out this mess with your dad then you’ll need your mum’s help.
JOHN: [Sulkily] I don’t want to sort it out.
SARAH and GRAHAM exchange glances.
SARAH: Well, you may feel like that now, but later on…
STEVEN: Mum, do we have to talk about this now?
SARAH: No. I suppose not.
GRAHAM: We need to talk about it some time.
STEVEN: Yeah, but…
GRAHAM: Look, John. You are very welcome to stay here as long as you need to, but…
JOHN: [Sighing] Yes, I know, I know. I have to figure out what I’m gonna do with my life now.
SARAH: No, not necessarily. But you do need to start building bridges. It sounds like your father is not the sort to take the first step.
JOHN: I don’t think he’ll want to ever talk to me again. I’ve never seen him so angry before.
JOHN starts to look quite upset, so STEVEN reaches out and touches his arm in support.
SARAH: Look, why don’t you give your mum a call on Monday and invite her over, when your dad’s in London. I’ll be out at work, and Graham and Steve will both be in the shop, so you can have the place to yourself. It’ll give the two of you a chance to talk.
JOHN: Yeah, OK.
SARAH smiles, but there is a look of worry in her eyes. She shares a warm smile with GRAHAM, and then they all carry on eating in silence.
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JOHN is opening the front door of the Carter’s, revealing VERONICA standing there, surveying the area with a look of disdain. She turns round quickly, sees her son and smiles.
JOHN: Hi Mum.
VERONICA hugs him, and then he stands back to let her in. They go into the lounge and both sit down. They stare at each other for a while, and then JOHN gets up again.
JOHN: Do you want anything? A cup of tea or…
VERONICA: No honey, I’m fine.
JOHN sits back down again, and VERONICA takes his hand in hers.
VERONICA: John, why did you have to hit your father?
JOHN: [Agitated] Mum, he hit me first. Three times. I’m not a kid anymore, he can’t do that!
VERONICA: I know honey, but he was just letting out…
JOHN: Mum, don’t defend him.
VERONICA: I’m sorry. I’m sorry. [Pauses] Look John, he’s still very angry.
JOHN: [Bitterly] About the fight or because I’m gay?
VERONICA: I…I’m not sure.
JOHN: [Suddenly angry] Just because I don’t match up to his fucking ridiculous expectations, he thinks he can…
VERONICA: John, calm down honey.
JOHN: He just makes me so mad. It’s so unfair.
VERONICA: John, just listen to me. You have to understand, your father and I had many plans for you. We thought you would grow up to be such an achiever, date beautiful girls, get into Oxford…[seems to be getting lost in thought, and suddenly returns to reality] and until now you’ve fulfilled every one of our dreams. When you told me about, well, who you are, you took part of that away from us. I suppose I knew there would always be a day when you chose to do things differently from how we’d planned, and I know it’s not your fault. But your father cannot cope with it. He always wanted you to do everything he did, be everything he was, but do it better. He’s always worked harder than he needs to, just so he can make that possible for you. Now it’s not going to happen, and he is blaming you for it.
JOHN: What, so I’m just an investment that’s gone bad?
VERONICA: No! No, not at all. Deep down, your father loves and cherishes you, but you know your father. Deep down is a very hard place for him, or anybody else for that matter, to find. I am trying my best to reason with him, but it’s going to take time.
JOHN: How much time?
VERONICA: [Hesitates] Possibly quite a lot of it.
JOHN: Great! So, until then I can’t come home.
JOHN gets up and goes over to the window, where he stops and stares out. VERONICA watches him for a bit.
VERONICA: John, you really shouldn’t have hit him. It’s made it so much harder for you, and for me.
JOHN: Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now.
VERONICA starts to lightly cry, but JOHN remains at the window.
VERONICA: It’s breaking my heart you being away.
JOHN: Mum, I’m gonna be away at University soon anyway.
VERONICA: That’s different. You know it is.
There is an extended silence, and then JOHN comes back to the sofa to comfort his mother.
VERONICA: I don’t know what else I can do John. I’m going to keep talking to your father, but…
JOHN: I know Mum, I know.
VERONICA begins to get her composure back.
VERONICA: John, I have been speaking to Sarah Carter on the phone several times. She says that you can stay here. I think you’ll need to, at least for a bit.
JOHN nods solemnly.
VERONICA: Your father will be out all of tomorrow, so how about I come round and pick you up in the morning? We can go home and collect some of your clothes and things.
JOHN: OK.
VERONICA: John, I want you to promise me something. I want you to promise me that while you’re here, you’ll help out. The Carter’s have been so welcoming, and I want them to know that you’re grateful.
JOHN: Sure. Yeah, I’ll do…something.
VERONICA: I also want you to promise me that you won’t forget that I love you, and that your father does too. I’ll phone you every day, and I’ll come round to see you. Perhaps you can come back to the house for lunch sometimes.
JOHN: Yeah, I’d like that.
VERONICA gazes at her son, and then starts to lightly cry again.
JOHN: Oh Mum, please don’t cry. I’ll be fine here. Please, just try to talk to Dad.
VERONICA: Oh John…
They share a long and tearful hug, and then VERONICA gets up to leave.
VERONICA: Could you ask Sarah to call me when she gets back. We need to talk about…things.
JOHN: Sure.
VERONICA: Bye sweetheart.
JOHN: Bye Mum.
They hug again, and then VERONICA walks down to her car. She gets in, checks herself in the rear-view mirror, and then drives off. JOHN watches the car go out of sight, and then slowly goes back into the lounge. He curls up on the sofa and starts to cry. The camera fades.
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