Making It Right
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CHAPTER 4:
It is late in the day at the photography shop, and SARAH comes round the counter and into the back room, where STEVEN and GRAHAM are clearing up some boxes.
SARAH: Hello boys. How are my two favourite men this evening?
GRAHAM: Hi love.
STEVEN: Hi Mum. [Looks at his watch] Shit! I have to get home.
SARAH: You just go love, I think John is cooking you dinner before Jessica’s party.
STEVEN: Oh Christ, there goes the kitchen!
SARAH: Don’t be cruel, he’s just not very experienced. Go on, off you go. I’ll help your father finish up here.
STEVEN smiles, and then rushes out of the shop. SARAH starts clearing up some of the boxes.
GRAHAM: So what brings you here then?
SARAH: Graham, I think we need to have a talk. About John.
GRAHAM: Can’t it wait until we get home?
SARAH: Well yes, it could, but I thought we could do it over a drink at the pub. It’s a lovely evening.
GRAHAM: Yes, OK. Sounds nice.
They continue clearing up boxes.
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STEVEN hurries into the house, where he finds music playing loudly in the kitchen, with JOHN singing along. He goes in with trepidation, to find JOHN putting a dish in the oven. There is some mess, but STEVEN looks impressed.
STEVEN: Hi.
JOHN has not heard him, and turns round in shock.
JOHN: Jeez Steve, you nearly gave me a heart attack.
They hug each other and have a kiss.
JOHN: How was it today?
STEVEN: Boring, as usual. My Dad told me all about the different colours the Daleks are painted.
JOHN: Wow.
STEVEN: Anyway, I see you’ve been busy. What’re we having?
JOHN: Chilli lasagne.
STEVEN: I’m impressed. Look, I’ll just go and change.
JOHN: Before you go…
JOHN pulls STEVEN towards him again, and they share a much longer and more passionate kiss.
JOHN: OK, I’m done.
STEVEN smiles adoringly at JOHN, and then turns and goes upstairs. As he enters his room, JOHN starts singing along to the music again, which makes STEVEN smile and shake his head.
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SARAH is sitting at a table outside the pub, watching as GRAHAM approaches with their drinks.
GRAHAM: Here we are.
SARAH: Lovely, thanks.
GRAHAM sits down, takes a big sip of his beer and sighs with satisfaction. Then he changes to looking serious.
GRAHAM: OK, fire away.
SARAH: Well, it’s just that I was speaking to Veronica again today. She seems to be having no more luck with that idiot of a husband of hers than before.
GRAHAM: Oh dear.
SARAH: She says she needs to have a long chat with John about the future, because she’s not sure Ray will ever back down.
GRAHAM: Poor John.
SARAH: She told me that she’s making arrangements to use his trust money for Oxford, and that she’s going to talk to an accountant friend of hers about finding ways of keeping John funded. She sounded very upset.
GRAHAM: This all sounds serious, but what can we do?
SARAH: Well, nothing about the money. But I know that Veronica is finding it hard to see John more than a couple of times a week.
GRAHAM: So…?
SARAH: So I think that you and I need to start thinking about taking on a slightly more involved role.
GRAHAM: What do you mean?
SARAH: Graham, he needs parents. He’s a big lad with a lot going for him, but he’s still young. He needs guidance. He needs discipline. He needs love.
GRAHAM: Yes, I see what you’re getting at. But surely it’s not our place to take over.
SARAH: I’m not suggesting we take over. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting quite attached to him now. Not only is he a really nice boy, but he makes Steven so happy. He needs stability, and I think we may be the only ones who can give it to him at the moment.
GRAHAM: So what are you saying we do? We can’t just say to him ‘John, we’re your parents now. Do as we say.’”
SARAH: No, of course not. We shouldn’t really do anything at all. We just need to accept that as things develop, as he grows up, we’ll have to be there to offer him everything a parent would.
GRAHAM: I see. Well, I suppose we have no choice.
SARAH: [Hesitating] I think you may have to start being a little more, well, fatherly with him.
GRAHAM: Meaning?
SARAH: Well Graham, he’s leaving Basingstoke at the end of the summer to start a new life in Oxford. He’s bound to be thinking about it, and I expect that he’s probably very nervous. He’ll miss Steven, he’ll miss his friends, and yet he’ll be expected to make new friends and find a new place for himself in life up there. I think you need to talk to him about it, reassure him. [Touching GRAHAM’s hand lightly] It’s more of a fatherly thing to do.
GRAHAM: [Hesitantly] Er, well, yes. I suppose I can do that. [Smiles] It’ll be good practice for when Steven’s off.
SARAH: I suppose so, though try to be sincere.
GRAHAM: I will be.
SARAH: Good.
They both take a drink.
GRAHAM: You know, it’s going to be very strange treating our son’s boyfriend like another son.
SARAH: Steven wouldn’t want it any other way.
They smile at each other, and carry on drinking.
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JESSICA is opening the door to JOHN and STEVEN, and there is the sound of a party in the background.
JESSICA: Hi guys!
STEVEN: Hi Jess.
JOHN: Hi.
JESSICA: Well, come on in.
STEVEN and JOHN start coming into the house, but JESSICA pulls them both back from entering the kitchen.
JESSICA: You two have been the main topic of conversation so far. Mark and Wends haven’t said anything, so I think you’re about to create a bit of a stir.
STEVEN: I’m getting good at that.
JOHN: [Nervously] I’m not. Well, not like this anyway.
STEVEN: [Jokingly] Shall we just go all out on the kitchen table?
JESSICA: Ha! Only if you can move Chris and Rachel off it.
JESSICA leads STEVEN into the kitchen, with JOHN nervously following. The room is filled with JESSICA’s friends, who all turn to look. STEVEN goes straight over to MARK and WENDY, whilst JOHN picks his way through to the drinks table, nodding at those he recognises. STEVEN turns to see how awkward JOHN looks, and goes back to him.
STEVEN: Oh, come here.
STEVEN pulls JOHN in for a kiss, which makes a few people stare in amazement and others whistle in support. They finish the kiss, and STEVEN goes back to MARK and WENDY. JOHN looks around, sees lots of welcoming faces, smiles and then takes a little bow. People cheer him on, and someone hands him a drink. He starts chatting to a couple of girls. STEVEN looks on adoringly.
WENDY: Steven!
STEVEN: [Turning back in surprise] Wha…who…
WENDY: Just leave him. He’ll be fine. As I was saying, now that you’ve agreed to a foursome with me and Mark…
STEVEN: [Shocked] What?
WENDY: [Laughing] Ah, had you going.
STEVEN: Oh, right.
STEVEN looks back over to JOHN, who is now talking to a different girl. JOHN looks up, sees STEVEN and smiles broadly. STEVEN smiles back.
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STEVEN and JOHN are walking home.
STEVEN: That was a great evening.
JOHN: Yeah, I had a really good time.
STEVEN: So I saw.
JOHN: It’s funny, it felt weird at first, but after you kissed me, it didn’t seem to matter. [Hesitates] I guess I’m still scared of people finding out. Hard habit to break.
STEVEN: Yeah, I know what you mean.
JOHN: It feels good when they do know, though.
STEVEN: [Carefully, as though touching on a taboo subject] John, what about your friends?
JOHN: What about them?
STEVEN: Well, Kevin and Dave know. They didn’t go mad, but you haven’t called them or anything.
JOHN: I didn’t think you liked them.
STEVEN: This isn’t about me. And what about all your other friends? People who train with you, people from your year. I don’t know any of them.
JOHN: I…I don’t know.
STEVEN: It almost feels like you want to keep me a secret.
JOHN: No, I don’t. I just…I don’t know if I’m ready for all that yet.
STEVEN: Well when? You’ve gotta see them soon.
JOHN: But why?
STEVEN: Because.
JOHN: It’s just that I’m still…scared.
STEVEN: Of what? Everyone important knows now.
JOHN: I don’t know.
STEVEN: Do you really care what people think of you?
JOHN: No! [Hesitates] Well, maybe a bit. But they’ll all know by now anyway.
STEVEN: So what’s the problem?
JOHN: I’m scared they they’ll…reject me.
STEVEN: What, so you’re just gonna ignore them?
JOHN: Oh Steve, stop giving me a hard time.
STEVEN: I’m sorry. But you seem to be alone all day, and Mum’s running out of things for you to do. I’m worried you’re just gonna spend the whole summer waiting for me to get home.
JOHN: [Sulkily] Well maybe I’ll go get a job or something.
STEVEN: Well maybe you should! [Pauses] John, please. For me. Just go and see your friends. I don’t wanna be the person who took you away from them – I know what they must be missing.
JOHN: [Smiles at STEVEN’s compliment] Oh OK.
STEVEN: Do you promise?
JOHN: Yeah, I promise.
STEVEN: Good. Now that that’s done, I want to get home.
JOHN: What’s the rush?
STEVEN: [Smirking] Well, I was thinking I might give you a massage. You must be all knotted up with tension about seeing your friends.
JOHN: [Smiling] Oh. Well, in that case…
JOHN starts running, and STEVEN sets off in pursuit, both of them laughing and shouting as they go.
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