Sweet Hearts

by Jo Cotterill

  ‘Ow!’

  ‘Sorry.’

  Fliss sighed. When they had gathered for this rehearsal of Act I Scene 5, she had had butterflies in her stomach. This was the scene where Juliet first meets Romeo! And they kiss! She had hardly slept the night before from nervousness.

  But instead Candy had so far devoted the rehearsal to the group feast scene, which involved a certain amount of dancing in an old-fashioned courtly style. Candy had brought in Corinne, a friend of hers who taught dance, and so for the last forty minutes, all anyone had done was to shuffle around the floor in a vain attempt to be graceful. Fliss was trying not to feel disappointed, but every now and then she glanced over at Tom, and her stomach flipped again.

  ‘Right,’ said Corinne. She was immaculately attired in tracksuit bottoms, leotard and legwarmers, but her long hair was escaping from its ponytail due to all the frustrated head-clasping she had done. ‘I think that’s enough for now.’

  ‘Thank God for that,’ muttered Sean. He let go of Fliss’s hand and sank to the floor. ‘I need a rest.’

  ‘Some of you,’ said Corinne, looking around, ‘have made really good progress. Some of you’ – she glared at Sean – ‘need to put in a bit more effort. It’s you who’s going to look stupid on the stage if you can’t do it – not me.’

  ‘Thank you so much for coming in,’ said Candy. ‘I really appreciate it.’

  ‘No problem,’ said Corinne. ‘I’ll pop back in a couple of weeks to tidy it up.’

  Sean groaned.

  ‘OK,’ said Candy. ‘This is what’s going to happen next. We’re going to do the early bit of the scene between Capulet and his cousin. And then we’ll do the middle bit when Tybalt overhears Romeo talking about Juliet and gets angry. Then I’ll send all of you away to practise your lines whilst I take Tom and Fliss for the first meeting. Everyone got that?’

  ‘What about me?’ asked Mari. ‘I’m in that bit too.’

  Candy consulted her script. ‘So you are. OK, Mari, you stay.’

  Samantha stood up and said loudly, ‘If Candy doesn’t need you in here, then come next door where I’ll be taking people through their lines.’

  ‘We don’t have to know our lines for ages yet,’ objected Sean.

  Samantha looked down her nose at him. ‘The earlier you know your lines, the better the rehearsals will be.’

  By the time they had finished rehearsing the Capulet and Tybalt sections, it was getting late. Fliss looked anxiously at the clock – would Candy call a halt before they got to the most important bit?

  ‘That’s looking good,’ said Candy to the group. ‘Make sure you write your moves into your scripts. I don’t want to have to block the scene all over again next time. It’s complicated enough as it is.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘It’s getting late but there’s still a bit to do, so maybe I should send those of you who aren’t in this section home.’

  There was a general murmur of approval to this. Candy nodded. ‘All right. So everyone except Fliss, Tom and Mari can go. Samantha, you can go too if you like.’

  Samantha looked as though she’d bitten on a lemon. ‘That’s all right, Candy, I’d prefer to stay. So I can write down the blocking. You know.’

  ‘You sure? All right then. Check your rehearsal schedules,’ called Candy, raising her voice as the rest of the company started to chatter their way out of the door. ‘I’ll see some of you tomorrow, same time, same place. And no excuses. There’s no school, so be here on time, please.’

  When the room was quiet, Candy turned to face Fliss and Tom. ‘Right then, you two. Let’s get on with it, shall we?’

  Tom nodded, though Fliss noticed he was glancing across at her. ‘I – um,’ he said. ‘I was wondering. You know where it says they kiss?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Candy.

  ‘Well, is that – would they do that? Really, in those days? I mean, they’d only just met.’

  Candy smiled. ‘They’re young and in love. People do things that aren’t socially expected when they feel strongly. Don’t worry, Tom, you’ll be fine. We’ll take it step by step.’

  ‘Oh, it’s not me,’ Tom said hastily. ‘I just thought, since Fliss and I don’t really – um – know each other, it might be hard for her. You know.’ He looked apologetically at Fliss.

  Fliss felt a blush creeping up her face. She would much rather Tom hadn’t said anything at all about the kiss – she was feeling nervous enough about it as it was! ‘Oh, I expect it’ll be all right,’ she croaked.

  Candy smiled. ‘I’m guessing you two haven’t even had a conversation before, right?’

  Fliss shook her head. Not a conversation, she thought. But I can remember every single word he’s ever said to me on the school bus. Mostly, ‘sorry’, ‘is this seat taken?’ and ‘did you want to get off?’

  ‘We take the same bus to school,’ said Tom. ‘Fliss gets off two stops before me.’ He grinned suddenly and stuck out his hand. ‘Hi, I’m Tom.’

  Fliss felt her mouth curve into a smile. ‘Hi,’ she said, and shook his hand. Her fingers tingled at the contact. ‘I’m Fliss.’

  Candy looked amused. ‘Very nice. And as rehearsals go on, you’ll get to know each other a lot better. I know it can be intimidating to play opposite someone you don’t know very well. But I chose you both for these parts because you’re good at acting. When you’re in character, I think you’re matched perfectly.’

  What about when we’re out of character? Fliss couldn’t help wondering. Are we a perfect match then too? But that thought made her blush even more.

  ‘Let’s get on with it,’ said Candy. She gestured to Fliss. ‘Fliss, you come and stand over here. Now, your father has had parties before, but this time you’re a young woman. No one has ever said these kinds of things to you before. You’ve spent time with boys like your brother Tybalt, but he’s always wanting to fight people. This boy isn’t like anyone else you’ve ever met.’

  ‘Right,’ said Fliss.

  ‘So when he talks to you,’ said Candy, ‘you are completely focused on him and what he’s saying. You’re swept along.’

  Fliss nodded.

  ‘And you,’ said Candy to Tom. ‘You’re a romantic at heart.’ Tom pulled a face. ‘Romeo is a romantic,’ said Candy firmly. ‘He falls in love with girls every day. He writes them love poems. He sees a pretty girl on the street and that’s it – he’s in love. But this girl – she’s different. She’s pretty, but there’s something about her. Maybe it’s just something in the air. But you’re hooked. You can’t stop staring at her. And maybe it’s because you shouldn’t be here, or maybe it’s the wine you’ve had, but something makes you take risks you wouldn’t normally take.’

  Tom nodded.

  ‘Can you do this scene without the script?’ asked Candy.

  ‘Yes,’ said Fliss. She knew every word of this scene off by heart already.

  Tom looked less confident. ‘I don’t think so,’ he said.

  ‘All right,’ said Candy. ‘Well, hopefully you’ll learn it as you go along. This scene will be easier without books.’ She sat back. ‘Let’s give it a whirl, shall we? Just do what comes naturally and we’ll worry about blocking it later.’

  Fliss took a breath. She was dimly aware of Mari sitting quietly in the corner, and Samantha, a scowl on her face, pencil in hand ready to make notes. But gradually they were vanishing into the distance, as the ballroom around her took shape. She opened her eyes, and she was Juliet. Sure of herself in the environment, but noticing a young man coming towards her. She curtsied slightly. He was staring at her – staring with a strange kind of intensity. Then he reached out to touch her on the shoulder. She felt warm suddenly, and her fingers tingled.

  ‘If I profane with my unworthiest hand,’ said the boy, ‘this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this.’ He sneaked a glance at the book in his hand. ‘My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.’

  Juliet blushed as she replied, ‘Good pilgrim, y
ou do wrong your hand too much which manerly devotion shows in this; for saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch.’ She took his hand in her own. ‘And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.’

  The boy put his head on one side and a teasing light came into his eyes. ‘Have not saints lips and holy palmers too?’

  Juliet laughed. ‘Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.’

  ‘O!’ said Romeo, his mouth also curving into a smile. ‘Then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; they pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.’

  ‘Saints do not move,’ said Juliet, ‘though grant for prayers’ sake.’

  Romeo leaned forward, glanced at his book and said, ‘Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take . . .’

  Juliet closed her eyes in anticipation . . .

  A tinny version of ‘Love Machine’ suddenly broke out, and Fliss and Tom jumped in shock.

  ‘Oh, God!’ cried Candy. ‘So sorry, guys, it’s my phone. Hang on.’ She dug around in her bag, whilst Fliss and Tom stood awkwardly together. ‘What a moment for it to ring!’ She looked at the screen and frowned. ‘Sorry, I think I’ll have to take this. It’s my sister.’ She tapped the keypad and said, ‘Hey, what’s up?’

  Fliss felt as though someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over her. Juliet’s world had gone and she was back in the room with Samantha and Mari, who was giving her the thumbs up from the corner. Tom suddenly noticed he was standing very close to Fliss and took a step backwards, giving her a lopsided grin.

  Candy’s voice changed. ‘Oh no, when? Are you sure? OK. You go with her and I’ll be there as soon as I can. If I set off now I can be with you in an hour. Yeah? Tell her not to worry.’

  She hung up and looked at the others. ‘I’m so sorry. My mum has fallen over and my sister thinks she’s broken her hip. I need to get to the hospital.’

  ‘Don’t worry about a thing,’ said Samantha, standing up. ‘You get going.’

  Candy made a helpless gesture to Fliss and Tom. ‘I’m so sorry, guys. I thought that was looking really promising. We’ll have to work on it another time.’

  ‘No, no,’ said Samantha. ‘That’s why you have an assistant director. For times like this.’

  ‘Samantha, that’s very kind of you, but I don’t think . . .’

  Samantha pushed her hair back. ‘Don’t be silly, Candy. I’ll rehearse it for you. At the very least, we can get through the blocking.’ She saw Candy hesitate. ‘And if you don’t like it, you can just change it next time. What’s the harm?’

  Every cell in Fliss was screaming: No, not Samantha! Don’t put her in charge! By the look on Mari’s face, Fliss could tell she felt the same.

  ‘Guys?’ said Candy. ‘Fliss? Tom? Are you happy with that?’

  Tom shrugged. ‘Sure.’

  Fliss nodded helplessly, ignoring Mari’s frantic head-shaking. What could she do?

  ‘All right,’ said Candy. ‘But just play it straight, Samantha. Nothing fancy. This is a simple scene. The words should shine through.’

  ‘Of course,’ nodded Samantha. ‘Don’t worry about a thing.’

  The door banged behind Candy, and Samantha turned to look at Fliss. ‘Right,’ she said, picking up her script. ‘Let me show you how it should be done.’ She walked over to Tom. ‘Take a seat, Fliss,’ she said. ‘Watch me for a bit.’

  ‘Uh . . .’ said Fliss.

  ‘Go on.’

  Fliss went meekly to sit beside Mari, who turned on her in astonishment. ‘What are you doing?’

  Fliss shrugged.

  ‘Sam . . .’ said Tom. ‘Maybe Fliss should . . .’

  ‘Off we go then!’ said Samantha brightly. ‘From “If I profane”, Tom. Now watch, Fliss. Watch how I use the space.’

  They began the scene, and Fliss and Mari stared as Samantha flounced around the stage, tossing her hair during Juliet’s speeches and flirting outrageously with Tom. When she said, ‘Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer,’ she leaned forward and put her finger on his mouth. Tom looked taken aback. And before he had even got to the end of the line, ‘Then move not’, Samantha had grabbed him by the shoulders and kissed him full on the lips.

  Fliss looked away. Mari’s mouth dropped open. ‘What is she doing? That’s not how Juliet would do it at all!’

  Samantha pulled out of the kiss looking extremely pleased with herself. ‘No interruptions, if you don’t mind,’ she told Mari. ‘Never interrupt the actors.’

  Tom looked a bit dazed, but not, Fliss was disapointed to see, in any way unhappy. Samantha turned back to him. ‘Where were we?’

  ‘Uh . . .’

  ‘Your line,’ she prompted.

  ‘I can’t watch this,’ said Mari, and got up. ‘Come on, Fliss.’

  Fliss felt all twisted up inside. ‘I can’t.’

  ‘This isn’t a rehearsal,’ said Mari. ‘It’s a disaster.’

  Samantha shot her an evil look. ‘If you can’t watch quietly then you’d better go,’ she said. ‘I’m just demonstrating to Fliss.’

  ‘Yeah, demonstrating how not to act,’ said Mari.

  Samantha narrowed her eyes. ‘You said you were leaving?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Mari. ‘Come on, Fliss. Leave Samantha to her private snogging session.’

  Fliss glanced at Tom, who was looking bewildered at Mari’s outburst. She couldn’t just walk out of the rehearsal, could she? What would Candy say? ‘You go,’ she told Mari. ‘I’ll be along soon.’

  ‘Fine,’ said Mari. ‘If you want to watch the Samantha Ego Show, it’s up to you.’ She picked up her bag and walked out.

  Tom gave Fliss a look. ‘You OK?’ he asked.

  But Samantha didn’t wait for Fliss to reply. ‘Right,’ she said, ‘now before I was so rudely interrupted, I was trying to make a point. Your Juliet is too timid, Fliss. You’ve got to make the scene your own.’

  ‘But Juliet is only thirteen,’ muttered Fliss. ‘And she’s never been in love before.’

  ‘But look at what she says,’ said Samantha. ‘She’s flirting with Romeo. She’s got to capture his heart.’

  ‘He’s already in love with her,’ objected Fliss.

  Samantha put her hands on her hips. ‘Am I the Assistant Director or are you?’

  Fliss bit her lip.

  ‘Kiss me again,’ Samantha told Tom.

  ‘Huh?’ Tom blinked and then grinned. ‘You like giving orders, don’t you?’

  Samantha leaned forward. With her willowy height she was exactly on the same level as Tom. She kissed him gently on the lips. Tom’s eyes closed. Fliss felt a kind of ache around her heart. ‘You kiss by the book,’ whispered Samantha, and giggled. Then she turned to Fliss. ‘See? It’s all a game.’

  ‘A game,’ repeated Fliss miserably.

  ‘I think you should let Fliss do it now,’ said Tom suddenly.

  ‘What?’ Samantha looked taken aback.

  ‘She’s been watching long enough,’ said Tom. ‘You’ve got to let her have a go.’

  Samantha laughed. ‘Well, of course I was going to let her have a go. You didn’t think I was going to keep you all to myself all evening, did you? Though if you kiss like that, I’m not sure I can hand you over.’ She giggled again, and for a moment Fliss felt dizzy. It was as though there were two Samanthas – the real one and the Juliet one – merging and blurring in front of her.

  ‘Come on then,’ said Samantha. ‘Unless you want me to show you once more.’

  Fliss got hastily to her feet. Samantha laughed again. ‘See how anxious she is to kiss you, Tom.’

  Tom rolled his eyes, but he looked amused.

  Fliss took Samantha’s place and they started the scene again. But every time Fliss said a line, Samantha interrupted. ‘No, don’t say it like that, Fliss. It’s got to have more meaning. Remember what Candy said – the lines have to shine through.’ She changed the blocking too. ‘Move around a bit more. It’s too static. Boring to watch.’

  By the time they rea
ched the kiss, Fliss was ready to scream with frustration. Tom was looking more and more annoyed too. When Samantha interrupted just as Tom’s lips met Fliss’s, he suddenly snapped, ‘Can’t you just let us get on with it?’

  Samantha looked taken aback. ‘I was only going to say . . .’

  ‘Well don’t,’ said Tom shortly. ‘I know you’re trying to help, but it’s getting late. Fliss can act, you know. That’s why Candy gave her the part. Let her get on with it.’

  Samantha’s expression dropped. She scowled. ‘Fine. Whatever you say.’

  Tom turned back to Fliss. ‘You OK?’

  She smiled, grateful for his help. ‘I’m OK. Shall we do it again?’

  ‘Yes. This time with no stopping.’ He glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘We haven’t got much time left.’

  They began the scene, and Tom barely looked at his script. Fliss felt uncomfortable. She felt instinctively that Juliet shouldn’t move around too much, but she was aware that Samantha was watching closely, so she tried to incorporate some of the things she wanted. She was relieved when Tom grabbed her arms on ‘Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take.’ Here it comes, she thought suddenly. Here comes the kiss. Tom leaned forward, and Fliss closed her eyes obediently.

  As Tom’s lips met hers, a flash of something like pain shot through her. No – not pain exactly, but so intensely wonderful that it almost hurt.

  Tom pulled away. ‘Thus from my lips, by thine my sin is purged.’

  ‘Uh . . .’ said Fliss, struggling to remember her line. ‘Then – then have my lips the sin that they have took.’

  ‘Sin from my lips?’ said Tom. ‘O trespass sweetly urged!’ He pulled her close again. ‘Give me my sin again.’

  This kiss was even better than the last one. But all too soon it was over. Tom pulled away, looking into her eyes. Fliss stared back. Tom raised his eyebrows. Then he nodded slightly.

  ‘Hmm?’ Fliss was puzzled.

  ‘Your line,’ he said.

  ‘Oh!’ Fliss felt as though she had landed too heavily on the ground. ‘Sorry – of course.’

  Samantha sighed impatiently. ‘Never mind about the line. That was a bit better, I suppose.’