The Gate by Jeremy Cooke

This Play is the copyright of the Author and must NOT be Performed without the Author's PRIOR consent

ACT I
INT. MAGGIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
A two-up, two-down house. The living room has been knocked through to the kitchen. The front curtains to the street are open. It is dark outside.
PAVEL and MAGGIE are seated at the kitchen table finishing their meal.
Outside tyres squealing, shouting, a shot, then another.
PAVEL gets up to pull the curtains
MAGGIE
(A tense slender woman in her mid-30s with the marks of living with poverty and disappointment on her. She was a looker in her youth but life has been hard.)
Pavel! Keep back! Keep away from the window!
PAVEL glances out then pulls the curtains and returns to his place.
MAGGIE
(Lights a cigarette)
Crazy place! Why did I ever come to this country!
PAVEL
S'all right Mum. They've gone.
PAVEL
(between mouthfuls, teasing)
So how did the hot date go last night?
MAGGIE
He was...disappointing.
PAVEL
How so?
MAGGIE
He was not so old in his photograph.
PAVEL laughs
MAGGIE
(Laughing, mock angry)
Not so fat I think. Why are you laughing? This is not a laughing matter!
PAVEL
Never mind Mum.
MAGGIE
I need to go home, to find a nice Polish man who will beat you when you tease your poor mother.
PAVEL
(serious)
Would you like to go home Mum? What about Dad?
MAGGIE
Dad made his choice long ago. He's not a bad man but he...he just felt some things were more important than family. Maybe he's right, I don't know. Anyway first you must finish your education. Get a good job. Meet a pretty girl. Then I can go home.
PAVEL
But now? Did you ever think you and Dad could?
MAGGIE
(laughs)
No chance!
(Picks up a dinner knife and waves it, jokingly)
I'd rather die than let him cross my door, to enter our lives again.
PAVEL
(serious)
Mum, who is my Dad? When are you going tell me?
MAGGIE
Pavel! No! Not yet..wait until I see you out of this place. Your education finished. Then you can ask me, if you care, and I might tell you then.
PAVEL
That's quite a list.
MAGGIE
Lists are important Pavel. They...they help keep your mind straight...what's important, what's not. When I came here, met your father I was just a silly girl. No list.
PAVEL
Is there nothing you enjoy about Belfast, about here?
MAGGIE
Oh yes! When I first came here, many things. Don't forget life was hard in Poland in those days. To come to the West, to work and send money home. When I first met your...
(MAGGIE moues)
I had many happy times. Many boyfriends.
PAVEL
Mum!
MAGGIE
Anyway now first is time to see my son grow into a man. Then I will start a new list - for me.
PAVEL
But you had friends? Here? In Belfast?
MAGGIE
Oh yes! We used to meet up near Queens. A real gang of us and we'd go round the pubs and dances.
(laughs)
Maybe too much I think. That's how I met your father.
PAVEL
And do you not keep in touch?
MAGGIE
Most of them moved away, or went home. I haven't heard from any of them in years...except Debs.
PAVEL
Debs?
MAGGIE
She was my best friend. We did everything together and
PAVEL
Give her a bell?
MAGGIE
(gets up and starts to clear table)
Debs. I don't think she ever saw you. She didn't get on with your father. Then she got married. We used to meet up in the city centre sometimes for a coffee, Christmas cards but...I suppose we just got wrapped up in own own lives.
PAVEL
Why don't you give her a call? Do you still have her number?
MAGGIE
Oh I couldn't. It's so long.
PAVEL
Where does she live?
MAGGIE
(laughs)
Not so far.
PAVEL
Where?
MAGGIE
Just on the other side.
PAVEL
Of the...the wall?
MAGGIE
(laughs)
Yes! She's one of Them'uns but she's alright. This silly quarrel didn't mean anything to us but your dad took it very seriously. He didn't like Debs being around. Said it would cause problems.
PAVEL
Well why
MAGGIE
(has finished clearing away and lights another cigarette)
Enough! What are you up to tonight?
PAVEL
I thought I'd do some practice.
MAGGIE
Don't you want to out and meet your friends?
(she rustles in her purse and pulls out a £5)
Here go into the centre and meet your friends for a coffee.
PAVEL
You're not getting me married off that easily Mum. Anyway the exams aren't too far away now.
MAGGIE
You're right. Time for girls later after you get into the University.
PAVEL
(laughs)
I try not to make too much noise. Don't want the neighbours complaining.
MAGGIE
Just you let me deal with the neighbours. You must practice.
There's a sound at the back. A dog barking then a scratching at the door.
MAGGIE stands, looks around for PAVEL.
MAGGIE
(fearful)
Who's that? Pavel is there somebody there?
PAVEL
(moves to the back door)
Hello.
MAGGIE
Be careful. Don't open the door.
PAVEL
(starts to unlock the door)
They could be hurt.
MAGGIE
No! Don't.
PAVEL
(opens door)
It's all right I'll just take a quick look. In case.
A dishevelled and frightened looking young man is revealed. He is slender with long blond hair in a bun and a straggly beard - hipster type.
JOSH
I'm sorry to bother you but could I come in for a while?
PAVEL
What are you doing in our yard?
JOSH
I was hiding. There's boys out looking for me. To give me a hiding. If
MAGGIE
Who is it? Pavel?
PAVEL
I've seen you about. You're that fella that's always hanging around telling us we've got to open the gate and let Them'uns in.
JOSH
That's me always hanging around annoying people. I'm a sort of Social Worker and I seem to have pissed some people off. If I could just sit in a corner for ten minutes, get my breath. I'll be quiet.
MAGGIE
Pavel who is it? Don't let anybody in.
PAVEL
(to MAGGIE)
It's OK Mum. I know him.
(to Josh)
You'd better come in. Just for a wee while mind...if there's any trouble I'll call Us'uns myself.
JOSH steps inside. MAGGIE looks at him, purses her lips, then fetches a towel.
MAGGIE
You'd better dry yourself. Pavel go and get some dry clothes for your guest.
(to Josh)
Sit down and dry yourself. I'll make you a cup of coffee.
PAVEL leaves.
MAGGIE
Or would you rather have tea?
JOSH
I don't want to be any trouble. If I could
MAGGIE
Nonsense. You're our guest.
(busies herself at the kitchen)
Have you eaten? You look hungry. I could fry you an egg, maybe with a bit of toast? Or some
PAVEL enters with a track suit.
PAVEL
(points to side door)
This should fit. Go in there and get changed.
JOSH
You're both being too kind. Look
PAVEL
You're here now so just get changed anyway.
JOSH stands up and takes the bundle of dry clothes from PAVEL.
JOSH
Thank you I can't
PAVEL
Quickly. Before your coffee gets cold.
JOSH exits through the door.
MAGGIE
Pavel who is he? Have you seen him before?
PAVEL
A few times. I think he's one of those do-gooders always going around telling us we have to be nice to Them'uns. He must have pissed Us'uns off if they're looking for him.
MAGGIE
He's only a child. Have you seen how thin he is? I'll make him a bacon sandwich.
MAGGIE puts down two cups of coffee. One for JOSH and one for PAVEL then starts frying.
JOSH enters. He has changed and is holding his wet clothes. MAGGIE bustles over and takes them off him while pushing him into a seat.
MAGGIE
Sit, sit and drink your coffee.
MAGGIE bundles JOSH's clothes into the dryer and continues cooking.
PAVEL sits and grins.
PAVEL
So who've you pissed off now?
JOSH
The usual.
PAVEL
(grins)
Don't you get sick of it?
JOSH
What?
PAVEL
(gesticulates)
This. All of it. Here.
JOSH
Here is just people. With all their flaws and faults. No I don't get sick of it.
PAVEL
You're a better man than me.
(stands, to MAGGIE)
Well I'll leave you two to get on with it. Time for home work.
PAVEL exits
MAGGIE
(MAGGIE puts a meal in front of JOSH)
Eat.
JOSH
Thanks.
MAGGIE
Is somebody after you?
JOSH
You could say that.
MAGGIE
Why what have you done?
JOSH
I think I just annoy them. I try to show people there's a better way to live but some people are quite happy with things as they are.
The sound of music drifts down. PAVEL is practising.
MAGGIE
Is it just you? I mean don't you have anybody who could help?
JOSH
(indicating upstairs)
He's good.
MAGGIE
He'd better be. It could be his chance to make something of himself. Build a better life out of here.
JOSH
So you want him to leave? To drain this place of one more person who could maybe help?
MAGGIE
I didn't say that. Well not like that.
JOSH
No I don't get a lot of help. Some quiet sympathy maybe. A nice meal like this is, I would say, a unique occurrence more's the pity.
(MAGGIE tops up his coffee)
For which I thank you.
MAGGIE
(to herself)
I would like to go too.
JOSH
I know but Pavel needs you, this place needs you. You may not know it yet, they certainly don't but they do.
MAGGIE
(annoyed)
Don't talk silly! You don't know me, me or Pavel!
JOSH
I've annoyed you. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. It's just you can't give up on people, or a place just because you don't want to
MAGGIE
I'm not giving up on anything. I'm here aren't I?
JOSH
Yes, yes you are and that means a lot. I mean that. Not only did you save my bacon you did me a lovely bacon sandwich for which you will have earned your place in heaven if for nothing else.
MAGGIE
(slightly mollified, starts clearing away the dishes)
Well then we all have to do our little bit. Can't you ask for help? The authorities are always going on about how everyone should just get along.
JOSH
(laughs)
There's too many of them with nice wee jobs to actually want to do something and too many of them were complicit in creating the bloody mess in the first place. I'm afraid that if people want to do things then they'll have to do it for themselves in spite of the people who're supposed to help.
MAGGIE
Well I think that most people are good and only want a quiet life without hurting anybody.
JOSH
I'm not sure that's good enough. The Lord gave us free will but too many mistake that as an excuse for passivity. it's not enough to do no harm. We need to try to do good.
MAGGIE
I think you ask too much from people.
JOSH
(laughs)
And I don't think I ask enough. Anyway I think my clothes are dry now.
MAGGIE
Oh! I forgot to turn the dryer on.
JOSH
I'm sure they're fine.
MAGGIE
(MAGGIE opens dryer to check)
They'll not be nearly...Oh!
JOSH
The miracle of man-made fabrics. If I may?
MAGGIE
(Hands clothes to JOSH)
Here.
JOSH
(takes clothes)
Thanks
Josh retreats behind the door. Gets changed and returns with PAVEL's clothes neatly folded.
JOSH
I think the coast should be clear now and the rain seems to have stopped at least for a while.
(to MAGGIE)
Look thanks for letting me in
(gestures)
And for everything.
MAGGIE
Be careful! And
JOSH
I will. And I'm sure I'll bump into you again soon Maggie.
It’s all quiet now so Josh leaves.