georgiataylor.co.uk Christmas Is Miles Away

November 1989. CHRISTIE’s bedroom. JULIE and CHRISTIE are in bed side by side, a little awkwardly. There is a few moments silence before they begin to speak.

JULIE. I don’t feel any different.

CHRISTIE. Are yer meant to, though? Isn’t that just what people say … like in the magazines and stuff.

JULIE. It didn’t hurt, I mean. It’s meant to kill, isn’t it?

CHRISTIE. I dunno.

JULIE. S’what they say.

CHRISTIE. Is it? (Beat.) That’s good then, isn’t it?

JULIE. Yeah.

Silence.

I don’t feel older.

CHRISTIE. Yer not.

JULIE. I am. Every second. (Beat.) Were yer a bit scared? Not – just a little bit like … nervous?

CHRISTIE. No.

JULIE. Means yes.

CHRISTIE. Means no … I wasn’t.

JULIE. I’m windin’ yer up.

CHRISTIE. Then pack it in.

JULIE. Sorry.

Pause.

CHRISTIE. S’it …. alright like?

JULIE. Yeah … s’alright. Sort of what I was expectin’ really.

CHRISTIE. Right. Sound.

JULIE. Just y’know … I think the first time’s about getting it over and done with more than anything else, isn’t it?

CHRISTIE. Thanks.

JULIE. I’m not being off wi’yer … It’s nothin’ to do with wi’ you … It’ll get better.

Silence.

Say something.

CHRISTIE. What like?

JULIE. I don’t know.

CHRISTIE. You’ve thrown me a bit.

JULIE. I didn’t mean to … I’m just being honest. I think there’s too many lies told about you-know-what.

CHRISTIE. Sex?

JULIE. Yeah.

CHRISTIE. Say it then.

JULIE. Say what?

CHRISTIE. Sex. I’ve never heard yer actually say ‘Sex’.

JULIE. Sex. Sex … sex sex sex sex sex sex. It sounds funny when you say it over and over, doesn’t it? Do yer ever do that with yer name until it scares yer and yer not sure if it really is yer name?

CHRISTIE. No.

JULIE. I do. (Pause.) Say something, Christie, I feel funny.

CHRISTIE. I love yer.

JULIE. Do yer?

CHRISTIE. Yeah, course.

JULIE. Yer haven’t stopped?

CHRISTIE. Since half an hour ago?

JULIE. People do. All of a sudden. One minute me mum and dad were packing to go to Fuerteventura, havin’ a laugh and the next he’s confessed to all sorts and they’re getting’ divorced.

CHRISTIE. Talk about spoilin’ the moment.

JULIE. Sorry.

CHRISTIE. Nothin’s changed … Can’t see how it ever will.

JULIE. Promise?

CHRISTIE. Spit on me life.

JULIE. I don’t wanna go home.

CHRISTIE. Stay then.

JULIE. Thought Luke’s back.

CHRISTIE. He is. See him in the mornin’. Go to the Clough wi’ im. Be with his mam tonight.

JULIE. Since when’s that stopped yer?

CHRISTIE. He hasn’t seen her for ages.

JULIE. Neither have you. Normally on the doorstep before he is.

CHRISTIE. See him in the mornin’.

Pause.

JULIE. Yer won’t tell him, will yer?

CHRISTIE. Shurrup.

JULIE. I don’t know, do I? Tell him everythin’ else.

CHRISTIE. We don’t talk about stuff like that.

JULIE. Oh aye, bet yer don’t.

CHRISTIE. We don’t. Talk about other stuff.

JULIE. Like everything you’re got in common?

CHRISTIE. Shurrup, clever dick.

JULIE. I’m joking with yer.

CHRISTIE. It’s not funny.

JULIE. It’s not funny tryin’ to think of things to say for two hours when I’m sat on me own with him makin’ pointless conversation.

CHRISTIE. Fuckin’ hell. Can we not move on from that night? How long ago –

JULIE. Alright, alright, calm down –

CHRISTIE. I’m meant to ignore the fact that me mum’s havin’ a fuckin’ … cryin’ all over the shop, am I? Just shut the fuckin’ door on her?

JULIE. I know, I know. Please let’s just leave it, eh?

CHRISTIE. I’d love to but you won’t stop goin’ on about it.

Pause.

JULIE. I mentioned it then and I mentioned it now. That’s twice. That’s not goin’ on about it.

Silence.

CHRISTIE. He likes yer. Probably doesn’t show it. That’s the way he is. But he does … he does like yer.

Pause.

I can tell.

Pause.

JULIE. Not bothered anyway. Not goin’ out with ‘im, am I? Have yer written me a song yet?

CHRISTIE. Not yet, I’m –

JULIE. I wrote yer a poem.

CHRISTIE. Did yer?

JULIE. Didn’t take me too long. Been in me head for ages.

CHRISTIE. Where is it then?

JULIE. Yer can’t have it. Not until I get me song.

CHRISTIE. I have to practise it first. I’ll practise until it’s right and then I’ll surprise yer.

JULIE. I’ll love it. You’re a natural. Got it in the blood, an’t yer?

Pause.

You did that mad thing again last night … Where you sit up and look around and yer don’t know where yer are. It scared me at first … it was like you were some zombie or something. Nothing going on behind yer eyes. Just staring. You looked dead sad.

CHRISTIE. I can’t remember. I know what yer mean though. I remember it sometimes. Afterwards. S’like a dream. I forget everything. Who I am, where I am, ‘bout me dad … then I remember bit by little bit but all dead quick over a second or so. Then I wish I hadn’t remembered.

JULIE. S’a lot.

CHRISTIE. Just a couple of seconds.

JULIE. S’a lot of stuff, I meant … to go through in a couple of seconds. Finding it all out again.

CHRISTIE. Yeah. S’alright though. I feel better when you’re ‘ere.

JULIE. I put me arms around yer and then you went straight back off. I held on tight.

CHRISTIE. Me mam’s back on Sunday.

JULIE. S’gone quick, hasn’t it?

CHRISTIE. Too quick.

Pause.

JULIE. Can I stay when she’s here?

CHRISTIE shrugs.

Can yer not ask?

CHRISTIE. S’pose, just … feel a bit weird … askin’. S’like admittin’ to it, innit?

JULIE. Yer don’t have to go into detail.

CHRISTIE. We could get the tent out … stay at the Clough.

JULIE. I don’t wanna stay in a tent, Christie.

Pause.

CHRISTIE. I’ll see … I’ll just –

JULIE. Doesn’t matter.

CHRISTIE. We’ll live together anyway, won’t we? In the end. After college, uni, whatever … Get a dead cool flat. I’ll be selling loads of paintings and I’ll be in a band.

JULIE. Will yer?

CHRISTIE. Yeah.

JULIE. What’ll I be doin’?

CHRISTIE. Yer can come an’ watch me, can’t yer?

JULIE. For meself. What job will I have?

CHRISTIE. Whatever yer want to do.

JULIE. I know … but what do I wanna do, Christie?

CHRISTIE. S’up to you, isn’t it? I dunno.

JULIE. Ask me then.