Sofia You think so?
Pierre Of course … Trust me. It’s not going to change anything in our lives. I promise you.
She smiles. She’d like to believe it.
Everything’ll be fine. You’ll see, darling. Everything’ll be fine.
But, like a mental image, Nicolas comes slowly into the room. He approaches a chest of drawers or a cupboard, then, with a violent gesture, tips all its contents on to the floor, as well as everything he sees in front of him – as if he wanted to wreck the place completely. Sofia stands, appalled, in front of her destroyed flat. As for Pierre, he doesn’t seem to notice. Blackout.
FOUR
The flat. The things are still all over the floor, books, a lamp, a piece of furniture, etc. But everyone behaves as if everything is normal. Morning. Nicolas is sitting on the sofa. He’s staring into space. Suddenly, Pierre comes in. He starts, seeing Nicolas.
Pierre Ah, you’re here! Did you sleep well?
He kisses Nicolas’s hair.
And there’s your mother telling me you never get up before noon …
Pause.
All right? I didn’t expect you to be up so early …
Nicolas I woke up and then I couldn’t get back to sleep.
Pierre Always takes a bit of time getting used to a new place, haven’t you noticed?
Nicolas shrugs his shoulders.
Sacha didn’t wake you, did he?
Nicolas No.
Pierre He cried a lot last night … You didn’t hear him?
Nicolas No.
Pierre Good.
He makes himself a coffee.
You want anything? A coffee?
Nicolas shakes his head.
You don’t have anything in the morning?
Nicolas Why was he crying?
Pierre Your brother? He doesn’t sleep through yet. He was hungry, that’s all.
Pause. Nicolas bites his nails. Pierre notices.
You were the same, you weren’t a great sleeper. I mean, when you were a baby …
Pierre notices that Nicolas is elsewhere.
Are you listening to me?
Nicolas Mm?
Pierre What’s the matter?
Nicolas No, it’s just … I was thinking about … about the set-up. And I … I mean, I’m not sure …
Pierre What?
Nicolas seems reluctant to answer.
What are you not sure about?
Nicolas I’m feeling a bit uncomfortable here … I feel I’m disturbing you both …
Pierre Of course not! What makes you say that?
Nicolas And Sofia … I don’t think she likes me. Did she really agree to my moving in here?
Pierre Obviously, Nicolas. Obviously.
Pause.
Nicolas But it’s not only that. There’s this school as well … I don’t know if I feel right about going there.
Pierre Sorry?
Nicolas I’ve been thinking about it this morning. Everyone’s going to wonder why I’m showing up like this in the middle of a year …
Pierre So?
Nicolas I won’t know what to say to them.
Pierre You can say anything you like … Why are you worrying so much about what other people think?
Nicolas They’re bound to look at me strangely …
Pierre No, they won’t … On the contrary … Someone who arrives in the middle of a year, they’ll be interested in you, curious … Wonder where you come from.
Nicolas Exactly. I don’t want to answer a lot of questions. I don’t want to have to tell them what’s been going on.
Pierre Listen, Nicolas … You’re not the first person to change schools in the middle of a year … It happens all the time. I understand it might make you a bit anxious, but that’s the way things are. All you have to do is not get thrown out.
Nicolas I know, but I was thinking … I’ve missed so many lessons this year … Because of being absent so often … I’m full of gaps … I’ll never be ready in time to take the exams. And it’s April already … It’s almost the end of the school year … I’m stressed about it, you know? And I was wondering if it might be better to start again in September with less pressure and –
Pierre (interrupting him) You’ll go back on Monday, Nicolas. It’s not negotiable. We’ve already discussed this.
Pause.
Why are you worrying like this? It’ll be fine.
Nicolas I don’t know.
Pierre You asked me if you could come and live here. I agreed, and that’s fine, but it won’t work unless you make an effort. Understand? We can’t go on like this indefinitely … Going round in circles. Hanging about. Things have to change. And stop biting your nails, you’re going to make them bleed!
Pause. Pierre pulls himself together. He comes and sits next to Nicolas.
(More gently.) You’ve been depressed. It can happen to anyone. That they end up on their knees … Understand what I’m saying? To anyone. And now, it’s time to stand up again.
Nicolas Yes.
Pierre I want this to be a new start. I want to see you smile again … the way you used to smile.
Pause.
You’re an extraordinary boy. With a bit of work, you’ll have no difficulty catching up … I have confidence in you. I’m sure one day you’ll look back on this whole period … And you’ll say …
Pierre appears to hesitate.
Nicolas What?
Pierre You’ll even have forgotten the reasons you weren’t well.
Nicolas I don’t know.
Pierre You will! Trust me … We’ve all been through this. We’ve all had difficult moments. You just have to accept it.
Nicolas Other people don’t feel like this. For them, everything’s easy.
Pierre How do you know?
Nicolas I watch them … All they think about is having a laugh, having fun.
Pierre You’re not in their head. Believe me, everybody has problems and fears and … You just have to get past them. That’s why you’re going back to school, starting Monday. Do you understand?
Pause.
Nicolas, do you understand?
Nicolas Yes.
Nicolas stands up. He looks upset. He heads towards his room.
Pierre You don’t want anything for breakfast?
Nicolas No.
Pierre Where are you going?
Nicolas Back to bed.
Pierre sighs. Nicolas heads for his room. Just before he leaves, he turns back to his father. Brief pause.
Dad?
Pierre Yes?
Nicolas Thanks for everything you’re doing for me.
Pierre is surprised by the sincerity of this remark. He smiles at him. Nicolas has a go at a smile. He goes out. Blackout.
FIVE
Pierre’s flat. Morning. The things are still all over the floor and, in the same way, everyone behaves as if this chaos didn’t exist. Sofia is preparing breakfast. She moves towards the door to Nicolas’s room.
Sofia Nicolas? Are you ready? It’s time to go.
A buzzer goes off in the kitchen. She hurries to deal with it.
(On her way.) Nicolas? Do you hear me?
She disappears into the kitchen for a minute.
(Offstage.) I’ve made your coffee. You just about have time to drink it.
She comes back into the room.
Nicolas?
She crosses the room and knocks on Nicolas’s door.
Nicolas? You’re going to be late.
Pause.
Nicolas, I must have called you at least ten times. We can’t do this every morning … Do you hear me?
Pause.
Nicolas, I’m speaking to you! Open the door …
Pause.
It’s time. You can’t be late every day … You were yesterday … Do you hear me?
The door suddenly opens.
Why don’t you answer me?
Nicolas I do answer you.
Sofia It’s time. You have to go.
> Nicolas I know.
Sofia Come on. I made you a coffee. Sit down. You have just enough time.
Sofia goes into the kitchen to fetch the coffee. Nicolas sits down.
(Offstage.) I have to prepare your little brother’s bottle as well. I’d better not keep him waiting. I’ll hear about it if I do.
Nicolas buries his face in his hands.
Nicolas Where’s my father?
Sofia (offstage) He’s already left. He had a very early meeting this morning.
She comes back with a coffee.
Here’s your coffee. Do you want anything else?
Sofia notices Nicolas has his head in his hands.
What’s the matter?
He doesn’t answer. Sofia goes to him.
Nicolas? What’s the matter with you?
Nicolas Nothing.
Sofia Is … Are you in pain?
He doesn’t answer. You might think he was crying, but you can’t see his face.
Nicolas, what’s going on? Tell me.
Nicolas I don’t know.
Sofia Are you unhappy?
He doesn’t deny it.
Why are you unhappy?
Nicolas I don’t know.
Sofia You don’t know?
Nicolas No.
Sofia Do you often start crying like this for no reason?
He doesn’t answer.
Nicolas? Does this often happen?
Nicolas I’m not crying.
Brief pause. Sofia is confused. She doesn’t know what to do.
Sofia What’s the matter?
Nicolas I can’t seem to understand the point of it!
Sofia Of what?
Nicolas Anything … Life …
Sofia The point of life?
She seems confused.
Sometimes, you have to decide not to ask yourself that question. Don’t you think? You have to be content with moving forward … And not brood about things too much.
She puts an arm around his shoulders, as if to console him.
You’re all right here, aren’t you? In your new room? You wanted to live here. And see, we organised everything to make it possible. That ought to make you feel better … Doesn’t it? Look how fond your father is of you. He never stops talking about you. Mm? Come on … You have to be brave.
Nicolas Yes.
Sofia And there’s your brother as well … He’s only little now, but soon you’ll be able to teach him stuff and play with him … Mm? You’re important to him. Come on …
Nicolas Yes. Sorry. I’m really sorry. I don’t know what came over me.
Sofia Don’t apologise, it can happen to anyone …
Nicolas dries his tears and takes his coffee.
Better?
Nicolas Yes. Thanks.
Sofia Come on …
Nicolas Yes. I have to go.
He stands and picks up his bag.
Can I ask you a question?
Sofia Of course.
Nicolas When you met my father … Did you know he was married?
Sofia Mm? I …
Nicolas Did you?
Sofia Yes.
Pause.
But he told me straight away that …
Nicolas That what?
Sofia Perhaps it’s better if you talk to him about this, don’t you think?
Nicolas I don’t know.
Sofia I think it’d be better. Especially as it’s time to go now …
Nicolas You know, when he left, my mother took it so badly … She really suffered. And she never stopped saying awful things about him … Whereas I worshipped him. I mean … It was as if I’d been chopped in half. And from then on, I didn’t know what to think any more.
Sofia I understand. It’s not an easy situation …
Nicolas You think she’s angry with me? I mean, for coming here …
Sofia I think she respects your decision.
Nicolas Sometimes I feel guilty about it.
Sofia You shouldn’t.
Nicolas And it didn’t put you off?
Sofia Sorry?
Nicolas When you met him, the fact you knew that he was married and already had a son, it didn’t put you off?
Sofia I … What do you want me to say, Nicolas?
Nicolas Nothing, you’re right. I don’t know why I’m asking you this kind of question … It’s stupid.
Sofia No, it’s not stupid. It’s just …
Nicolas Anyway, I have to go. See you later.
He takes his bag and is gone in a flash. Sofia finds herself alone, disconcerted by the unpredictability of his changes of mood.
Sofia See you later.
Pause. Blackout.
SIX
Anne’s flat. End of the afternoon. Pierre is sitting opposite her. She seems tense.
Anne Well?
Pierre Listen, it’s going well.
Anne Really?
Pierre Yes. Quite well. He started at his new school last week. Did he tell you about it?
Anne He just left me a message.
Pierre He says the atmosphere is quite good.
Anne That’s good.
Pierre Obviously, he didn’t much want to go there. I had to apply a bit of pressure … but I think he’s getting going again.
Anne And was he able to tell you what had happened? I mean …
Pierre No. He doesn’t say much.
Pause.
Anne I don’t understand where this sadness comes from … It’s as if …
Pierre He’s a teenager, Anne. Have you ever seen a teenager radiating happiness?
Anne It’s not just that. He’s different from the others.
Pierre Why do you say that?
Anne No reason. I don’t know.
Pause. Pierre’s mobile rings. He cuts it off.
Pierre Sorry.
Anne What about you? Everything all right in your office? You’re working very hard at the moment, if I understand correctly …
Pierre Yes.
Anne I’m told you’re going into politics?
Pierre Me? No. One of my clients … Signoret, you know him?
Anne (as if this were proving her point) Yes.
Pierre He’s suggested I join his campaign team. He wants to stand at the primaries. And he’s asked me to help him design his platform.
Anne You must be pleased.
Pierre I’d just be an advisor. I don’t even know if I’m going to accept … It’s likely to take up a lot of time …
Anne When I think that when I met you, you were still a promising young lawyer …
Pause. Embarrassment.
Pierre But tell me … I’m sorry, I’m coming back to Nicolas … Why do you say that? That he’s different from the others …
She doesn’t answer.
He just needs a few rules to be laid down. Don’t you think?
Anne I don’t know.
Pierre If you ask me, he’s been disappointed in love …
Anne You think so?
Pierre That’s what I’ve been telling myself. I can’t see any other explanation … He’s had to split up with a girl and … and there we are. There’s nothing abnormal about it, unlike what you’re suggesting … In fact, nothing could be more normal. At his age …
Anne It’s possible. He’s so romantic.
Pierre Yes.
Anne Guess where he gets that from …
Pause. Embarrassment.
And what about …
Pierre Sofia?
Anne Yes. How’s she taking it?
Slight pause.
You can tell me, you know.
Pierre To start with, she was a bit …
Anne Hostile, I imagine?
Pierre No, not really. Unsettled, perhaps. There’s the baby … She’s already quite tired. And she hadn’t been expecting to be living with a teenager … right off the bat.
Anne I can understand.
Pierre But all in all, it’s going rather well.
Anne He’s not making
life too difficult for her?
Pierre No … On the contrary … he’s behaving himself. He’s making an effort. He’s very considerate towards her. There’ve been some quite happy moments. In fact, I think he likes living with his little brother …
Anne Great.
Pierre Yes. I think that side of things is going to work.
Anne Good.
Suddenly, Anne starts crying.
Pierre Anne … Anne? What’s the matter?
Anne Nothing. Sorry.
Pierre Anne?
She’s trying to hold back the tears, but she breaks down.
I’m sorry if I … I didn’t want to hurt you.
Anne I know.
Pierre Why are you crying?
Anne I feel as if …
Pierre What?
Anne I feel as if I’ve failed completely.
Pierre Of course not.
She goes on crying.
What are you talking about? Anne? You haven’t failed in any way.
Anne Sorry. It’s just that …
Pierre That what?
Anne Nothing. Never mind.
Pause. She recovers.
I never imagined he’d leave the house. Him as well … And go and live with you.
Pierre Me neither, you know. He’s the one who asked me.
Anne Why didn’t he want to live here any more? Does that mean the whole problem started with me? Did it?
Pierre Of course not …
Anne Yes! If he prefers living somewhere else … And when I phone him, he doesn’t even pick up. He never gives me any news … It’s as if I don’t exist any more. As if … as if he’s wiped me out of his life.
Pierre Anne … Please … When you came to see me, you told me it was very tense between you, that you couldn’t manage it any more … That he was making your life a living hell.
The Son Page 2
