The Heart of Things

Giles Cole

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781783198665
• eBook ISBN: 9781783198672
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Over a weekend in May 2010, in the aftermath of the general election, the political parties are wrangling over who will form the government. Meanwhile, in a village near the Norfolk coast, a disillusioned English teacher and part-time election volunteer comes home for a rare visit and tries to put his life in order.However, the politics of family life can be every bit as vindictive and unpredictable as the Whitehall variety, and alliances can be made or broken without warning.The Heart of Things examines the conundrum that exists in sexual identity and the 'minor disturbances' that have far-reaching effects in people's private lives.

ACT TWO

SCENE ONE

Music.

The clutter of the earlier food preparation is still in evidence. The murmur of dinner conversation from the dining room can be heard. PETER and JACQUI are no longer wearing aprons, and are in almost the same positions as at the end of the last scene. PETER has a glass of red wine to hand, to which he occasionally pays attention, and a paper party hat on his head. JACQUI has no drink or hat. Music fades.

PETER: What would persuade you to say yes?

Pause.

What would persuade you to consider marrying me?

JACQUI: I don’t know.

PETER: But something could?

JACQUI: It’s not a question of that –

PETER: What is it a question of?

JACQUI: It’s a question of…gut feeling, Peter.

PETER: So you have no gut feeling for me?

JACQUI: I didn’t say that. I have a gut feeling about getting married again.

PETER: When we first met, in one of our very first conversations, you mentioned the fact that you probably wanted to get married again. Because you thought it was worth another try.

JACQUI: Early conversations don’t count. They’re just skirmishing, aren’t they? It’s like being allowed out to play again.

PETER: If I could say something to make you change your mind, what would it be?

JACQUI: Oh, Peter, stop! Please. I’m sorry, I’m truly sorry, but it isn’t going to work.

PETER: Is it because of my past?

JACQUI: No.

PETER: I’m over all that, Jacqui. I’m not like that any more.

JACQUI: Well, you say that, Peter, but I can’t see how you can just decide to be different.

PETER: Why not? If that’s what you think you should have been all along.

JACQUI: Are you afraid of women?

PETER: No. (A beat.) Well, possibly. When I was young. Not afraid exactly. I just got all tied up in knots. You would’ve got me tied up in knots too, I expect, but now it’s different. I’m older, I’m forty-seven. I’m…more experienced.

JACQUI: Forgive me, Peter, but you don’t strike me as being very experienced. Forty-seven or no.

PETER: That’s a very harsh judgment.

JACQUI: It’s part of your charm.

He is momentarily at a loss.

Peter, I’ve…been through several relationships, with different men – before I was married to Douglas – well, one during, but that’s another story – and I’ve had to learn to be – well, harsh is one way of putting it, but I’d prefer to say careful.

PETER: Careful?

JACQUI: About my feelings. About how far I commit myself.

PETER: Doesn’t sound very romantic.

JACQUI: Precisely. It guards against unlikely, or unsuitable, romances.

PETER: And am I unsuitable?

JACQUI: For romance? No, not at all. You’ve been very sweet and considerate. If a little unworldly.

PETER: So you won’t marry me, but you’ll carry on having a romance with me?

JACQUI: No.

PETER: But you just said –

JACQUI: I know what I just said, Peter. But I can’t carry on a romance with a man who really, underneath it all, wants to be married, and who – underneath that – has spent much of his life being gay. I mean, it sounds ludicrous, doesn’t it?

PETER: Jacqui, many things sound ludicrous, but when you analyse them –

JACQUI: No! No, I refuse to analyse anything. You’re a sweet man, and we’ve had a lovely time, but I’m not going to marry you – not because you can’t make your mind up about your sexuality – I’ve got no problem with that – sex is sex, and what the hell – but because I am not at all convinced any more that marriage is necessarily the next step to take. Certainly not the next step I want to take.

Pause. PETER tries to take this in.

Do take that silly hat off, Peter.

He does so, having forgotten he was wearing it.

Although I must say it’s rather intriguing to be courted by a gay man finally coming out as straight. That’s never happened to me before.

PETER: And what if I said I was perfectly happy to carry on with the romance, and forget about marriage?

JACQUI: I wouldn’t believe you.

PETER: Why not?

JACQUI: It doesn’t accord with the evidence, does it?

PETER: Live with me then.

She turns away, smiling, but exasperated.

Live with me.

JACQUI: I have other items on my agenda now.

PETER: Oh, you mean, politics…

JACQUI: Nothing wrong with a little ambition, Peter. And I am ambitious.

PETER: So am I.

JACQUI: Yes, your writing. I know. Well, why not?

PETER: Can I ask you something?

JACQUI: Of course, you silly man. As long as it’s not another proposal.

PETER: When you agreed to come up here with me…

JACQUI: Yes?

...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Characters
• Act One
• Act Two