Between the Sheets © Copyright 2014 by Jordi Mand
Playwrights Canada Press
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Cover design and illustration by Leah Renihan
Book design by Blake Sproule
Author Photo © Will O’Hare
The Alegreya serif typeface used was designed by Juan Pablo del Peral. The typefaces is used under the SIL Open font license version 1.1.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Mand, Jordi, author
Between the sheets [electronic resource] / Jordi Mand.
A play.
Electronic monograph in multiple formats.
Issued also in print format.
ISBN 978-1-77091-211-3 (pdf).--ISBN 978-1-77091-212-0 (epub)
I. Title
PS8626.A519B48 2013 C812’.6 C2013-908001-5
C2013-908002-3
We acknowledge the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council (OAC)—an agency of the Government of Ontario, which last year funded 1,681 individual artists and 1,125 organizations in 216 communities across Ontario for a total of $52.8 million—the Ontario Media Development Corporation, and the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund for our publishing activities.
Between the Sheets was first produced by Nightwood Theatre from September 18 to October 7, 2012, in the Tarragon Theatre Extra Space, Toronto. It featured the following cast and creative team:
Marion: Susan Coyne
Teresa: Christine Horne
Directed by Kelly Thornton
Dramaturgy by Erica Kopyto
Set and costume design by Kelly Wolf
Lighting design by Bonnie Beecher
Music and sound design by Richard Feren
Between the Sheets was first developed as part of Nightwood Theatre’s Write From the Hip Program from February 2010 to February 2011. The play received a public reading with the same cast and director as above.
Between the Sheets received a workshop production as part of Nightwood Theatre’s New Groundswell Festival in November of 2011 with the same cast as above. It featured the following creative team:
Directed by Kelly Thornton
Dramaturgy by Erica Kopyto
Set and costume design by Camellia Koo
Lighting design by Sandra Henderson
Music and sound design by Richard Feren
Characters
Teresa
Marion
An elementary school classroom.
The room is filled with colourful class projects. Small desks and chairs are set up neatly in rows. The words “Parent Teacher Interviews” are written on the blackboard. Pieces of decorated construction paper hang from the front of every desk with a student’s name on it. There is a garbage can near the front desk. The room is spacious but intimate.
We see TERESA in her class. She is in her late twenties. She wears a warm-coloured dress, tights, shoes with a bit of a heel, and a thin gold necklace. There is a sweater draped over the back of her chair. She is naturally beautiful and wears very little makeup.
TERESA is tidying the room, repositioning some of the chairs and desks. There are two chairs set up at the front of the class where parents have sat. She moves them to the back of the class.
She walks to the blackboard, grabs an eraser, and wipes the board clean. There are a few piles of file folders neatly stacked on the corner of her desk. She puts them into a filing cabinet. She returns to her desk and takes a long sip from a mug.
She moves a few more things around. As she does, she knocks some papers to the floor.
TERESA
Shit.
TERESA gets up out of her chair to clean the mess.
Beat.
As she picks up the last piece of paper from the floor she stands and sees MARION in the doorway.
MARION is in her early fifties. She wears a tailored grey suit with a crisp white blouse. She carries a large purse over one shoulder and drapes a coat over her arms. She wears pearl earrings and a diamond wedding band. She is meticulous about her appearance.
TERESA and MARION stare at one another.
MARION
Miss Stewart?
Beat.
TERESA
Yes.
Beat.
MARION
I’m Alex’s mother.
TERESA
Of course.
MARION
I hope I’m not too late. I got held up at the office.
TERESA
Late?
MARION
For the interviews. They’re tonight, are they not?
TERESA
They are but… I just held my last one.
MARION
Oh.
TERESA
I was just finishing up, actually.
MARION
Well I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if I grabbed the last slot then.
MARION enters the room.
I just have a few quick questions for you about Alex… about his report card.
MARION goes to close the door.
TERESA
Leave it open.
MARION looks at her.
If you don’t mind… it’s school policy.
MARION
It’s school policy to keep the door open?
TERESA
During school hours, yes.
MARION
But your students aren’t here.
It’s still considered school hours… please.
Beat.
MARION
Well… it’s your class.
MARION smiles.
TERESA tentatively smiles back.
Beat.
MARION goes to place her coat and purse on one of the student’s chairs. She pulls out a leather binder and glasses case from her purse.
She walks towards TERESA’s desk.
Where would you like me to…
TERESA
Oh.
TERESA goes to get a chair for her.
I apologize. I’m a bit tired. It’s been a long day.
MARION
Well, I won’t keep you long.
TERESA
Thank you. I would appreciate that.
TERESA pulls up a chair for MARION, placing it fairly far from the teacher’s desk.
MARION sits.
TERESA takes a sip of water from the mug and then sits behind her desk.
MARION notices how far she has been placed from TERESA and shimmies her chair towards the desk.
MARION
So?
TERESA
So.
MARION
Do I just ask you my questions or… how do you normally like to start these things, Miss Stewart?
TERESA
Yes. Please. Ask your questions.
My preference is always for parents to ask their questions first.
MARION
You’re sure?
TERESA
Yes. Please… go ahead.
Beat.
MARION
All right.
MARION takes her glasses out of the case. She opens her binder.
TERESA stands and walks to the filing cabinet. She pulls out a folder.
What is that?
TERESA
Alex’s file.
MARION
His file?
TERESA
I have a file for all of my students. I keep track of past reports, academic history—
MARION
You’re very organized.
TERESA
You have to be.
MARION
It helps, doesn’t it?
TERESA
What?
MARION
Being organized. Knowing where everything is. Knowing how to find everything that’s yours.
TERESA
Yes. I suppose it does.
Beat.
MARION
I have been looking over Alex’s report card…
MARION holds up the report card.
There’s a noticeable difference from the start of the year.
TERESA
There is.
MARION
His math mark especially.
TERESA
Alex has been making tremendous progress.
MARION
I can see that.
TERESA
It’s been a real pleasure having him in my class. He’s quite the character.
MARION
I’m glad to see that he’s understanding the material.
TERESA
I’ve noticed a real improvement over the past few—
MARION
His English mark is low… still.
TERESA
He’s come a long way in English, actually. He wrote a fantastic book report last month. He got up and presented it in front of the whole class. I asked for a few volunteers and he jumped at the opportunity.
MARION
Was he marked on that?
TERESA
Marked?
MARION
Was he marked on his presentation in front of the class?
TERESA
It wasn’t really a presentation. I asked for a few volunteers to—
MARION
TERESA
He’s making progress. He wouldn’t have done something like that at the start of the year. He wouldn’t have stood in front of the class and read something he worked on… something he wrote. That was a big step for him.
MARION
That may be but his mark is still low.
TERESA
It’s higher then it was last term.
TERESA opens the folder.
MARION
How is he doing compared to the rest of the class?
TERESA
I try not to compare my students.
MARION
Really? You don’t compare them?
TERESA
No.
MARION
I think that’s a bit impossible.
TERESA
It’s not, actually.
MARION
Every time you give them a mark, you’re seeing one student get one grade and one student get another. They’re being compared to one another whether you like it or not.
TERESA
That may be but I don’t go out of my way to… I just find it isn’t a constructive way to teach.
MARION
It’s constructive for them. It helps them know who’s ahead and who’s falling behind. Who’s at the top of the class, who’s—
TERESA
I try not to put too much emphasis on their marks. I want them to feel—
MARION
Their marks determine everything for them.
TERESA
What and how they learn determines—
MARION
You think universities—
TERESA
I think it’s a little early to be thinking about university.
MARION
It’s never too early.
TERESA
They’re in grade three.
MARION
It’s never too early!
TERESA grabs a tissue from the box on her desk. She smiles.
What?
TERESA
No, it’s just…
TERESA gently pats her forehead with the tissue.
You’re the third parent today to mention university.
MARION
Well that’s what we’re paying for here… isn’t it?
Beat.
TERESA throws the tissue in the garbage.
TERESA
I understand the need to be concerned about their marks. I do. But they’re young and they’re going to be students for a long time. They have years ahead of them where all they’ll be asked to think about is their marks.
I’m trying to encourage them to take the time now… while they can… to understand how they learn. To understand what their strengths are, what their weakness are. What their—
MARION
How long have you been teaching?
TERESA
Why?
MARION
I’d like to know a bit about the woman who’s teaching my son, if that’s all right?
TERESA
It’s my second year.
MARION
Second year teaching or second year—
TERESA
It’s my second year here.
MARION
Were you teaching before this?
TERESA
Yes. At Westview.
MARION
I’ve never heard of it.
TERESA
It’s north. It’s a smaller school.
MARION
And how long were you there for?
TERESA
Two years.
MARION
Why did you move here?
TERESA
I had wanted to teach here since I graduated.
MARION
And you managed to sneak your way in?
TERESA
I didn’t sneak my way into anything. It’s quite difficult to find a position at a school like this.
MARION
I’m sure there are all kinds of positions out there for—
TERESA
There aren’t. I know people who’ve been on a waiting list for years… and that’s just to supply. Some of my classmates are serving tables just to—
MARION
Well, you’re young. I’m sure—
TERESA
I’m not that young.
MARION
No? You look it.
TERESA accidentally knocks her pencil off the desk. She begins to search for it. As she does, MARION reaches to the floor and grabs it.
MARION looks at TERESA and extends her arm to offer the pencil. TERESA takes it from her.
TERESA
Thanks.
They look at one another for a moment.
Mrs. Siller, do you…
MARION
Do I…
Beat.
TERESA
Do you have any more questions? About Alex, perhaps… about his report card?
MARION looks at her.
MARION
No. No, I think I’ve taken
up enough of your time.
MARION stands and places her binder on the desk. She puts her glasses back in the case. She walks to the back of the room to collect her things.
I appreciate you sneaking me in, Miss Stewart. I know it’s been a long day.
TERESA
It’s my pleasure.
MARION
I’m sure.
TERESA notices MARION’s binder on her desk.
TERESA
You forgot your—
MARION
It’s funny though…
Beat.
You seemed surprised to see me.
Beat.
TERESA
Surprised?
Beat.
MARION
Yes. When I first walked in. You seemed… surprised.
TERESA
I just wasn’t expecting you.
MARION
Why? Because we didn’t have a time slot?
TERESA
You had a time slot.
MARION
No, I don’t think we did. That’s why I tried to catch you at the end of the day.
TERESA
Everyone received a time slot.
MARION
I’m telling you—
TERESA
I was told you wouldn’t be coming.
MARION
You were?
TERESA
Yes. That neither you or your husband would be coming this term.
MARION
And… who told you that?
TERESA
Alex.
MARION
How would Alex know whether we were coming or not? That’s not something we would discuss with him.
TERESA
Sometimes the only way I know if parents are coming is if their child lets me know.
MARION
You should have checked with one of us.
TERESA
I did.
MARION
You didn’t check with me.
TERESA
No. I checked with your husband.
MARION
With my husband?
TERESA
Yes. He was picking Alex up one afternoon so I asked him to confirm… he said that the two of you knew about the interviews but wouldn’t be coming.
MARION
You said Alex told you.
TERESA
Alex told me initially but I checked—
MARION
With my husband. Yes and… when was this?
TERESA
When?
MARION
Yes. When did you check with him?
TERESA
About a week ago.
MARION