georgiataylor.co.uk Christmas Is Miles Away

March 1991. CHRISTIE’s bedroom. JULIE is putting bits and bobs into a plastic bag: tapes, a couple of books, the odd item of clothing. CHRISTIE is lying back on the bed, staring into space. JULIE holds up a T-shirt, chucks it to CHRISTIE.

CHRISTIE. Yer can ‘ave it.

He chucks it back.

JULIE. S’yer favourite.

CHRISTIE. Yer wear it all the time anyway.

JULIE. Cos it’s your favourite.

She folds the T-shirt and places it on the chair.

Where’s that box o’tapes?

CHRISTIE. Top drawer.

JULIE opens the top drawer of the chest and gets the box out. She sets it on the floor and starts dividing the tapes into two little piles.

D’yer have to do it like that?

JULIE. Like what?

CHRISTIE. Like that. Two little piles. Yer can have whatever yer like.

JULIE. Just sorting through ‘em.

CHRISTIE. Take them all, I’m not bothered.

JULIE. Don’t be stupid, Christie.

CHRISTIE. Not arsed.

JULIE. Yes yer are. Only a few are mine anyway.

Pause.

JULIE starts to put some blank tapes into the cassette player to see what they are. She does this three times before putting in a tape that CHRISTIE has made for LUKE. It comes on for a few seconds before CHRISTIE reaches down and turns it off.

If yer find me Smiths, will yer post it … drop it round or somethin’?

CHRISTIE. Yeah.

JULIE puts the pile of tapes into a bag, along with the other items she has gathered.

JULIE. Doesn’t look much, does it?

CHRISTIE. No.

JULIE. Thought I had loads here.

JULIE sits on the bed.

Can I lie with yer?

CHRISTIE. Yeah.

She lies down next to him. They do not touch.

JULIE. It feels funny, doesn’t it?

CHRISTIE. Hilarious.

JULIE. Yer know what I mean.

Silence.

I don’t want things to be all weird, Chris … I want to – it isn’t just me but I feel like I’m the bad one … like I’m tryin’ to get round yer and it isn’t like that … it’s not what we said. It’s both of us … and I don’t find it easier than you, yer know. I’m just makin’ a fuckin’ … effort.

CHRISTIE. I haven’t said anything.

JULIE. Exactly. Just lying there. Are yer not upset or what?

CHRISTIE. Yeah.

JULIE. I can’t tell.

Silence.

CHRISTIE. I don’t know what to talk about.

JULIE. Forget it.

CHRISTIE. We could go the same uni. You pick. I’m not arsed. Anywhere but here.

JULIE. Don’t be daft.

CHRISTIE. I’m not.

JULIE. Yer don’t love me.

CHRISTIE. Yes I do.

JULIE. Not in the right way.

CHRISTIE. What’s the right fuckin’ way?

JULIE. Yer know what I mean. I’m tryin’ to be sound here, Chris … why d’yer have to be like that? I’m sayin’ yer don’t have to pretend or anything.

JULIE stands.

Where’s me jacket?

CHRISTIE. I’m not fuckin’ pretendin’.

JULIE. Alright.

JULIE spots her jacket and puts it on.

I’m gonna go, Christie.

CHRISTIE. Hang on a minute.

JULIE. There’s no point.

CHRISTIE. There is … I just –

JULIE. There isn’t, Chris. I just wanna –

CHRISTIE. Please.

JULIE. Please what?

CHRISTIE. I want yer to forgive me.

JULIE. What for? What’ve yer done?

Pause.

CHRISTIE. Everythin’s endin’.

JULIE. No it isn’t.

Silence. CHRISTIE stares ahead.

Chris –

CHRISTIE. I got a letter.

JULIE. From who?

Silence.

CHRISTIE. Off Luke’s mum. Few days ago.

JULIE sits back on the bed. She takes CHRISTIE’s hand but he pulls away.

JULIE. What’s happened?

CHRISTIE fetches the letter from the box under the bed. He hands it to JULIE. She takes it out of the envelope but doesn’t read it.

Just tell us.

Pause. JULIE unfolds the paper and read. When she has finished, she folds the letter carefully and puts it back in the envelope. They sit, side by side, in silence.

CHRISTIE. He meant it, yer know. He wanted it. It wasn’t about –

JULIE. I know –

CHRISTIE. Attention –

JULIE. It’s OK. He’s comin’ back. It’ll be –

CHRISTIE. I’ve had that for days. I’ve known for days and not done anythin’ about it. I’ve not –

JULIE. He’ll be –

CHRISTIE. I have not done anything.

CHRISTIE lies face down on the bed and pulls a pillow over his head. JULIE sits with her back to him, holding the letter.