INDISTINCT CHATTER
GIGGLING AND CHATTER
Oh, come on, not today.
Sam!
There go my eardrums.
You're not dressed!
Oh, ten out of ten for observation, Mother.
Know what? If this teaching thing doesn't work out,
the Met would be lucky to have you.
It's your first day. I thought we could go in together.
I think I would rather set myself on fire. No offence.
But I'm not giving those trust-fund babies another reason to hate me.
You sound like your father.
They're all gonna know that I'm only there cos of your staff discount.
So?
So, do you really think that they're gonna treat me like an equal?
That attitude won't help.
This is supposed to be a fresh start. Hm.
New opportunities, new friends. Whole new dating pool!
Who knows, you might find the girl - or boy - of your dreams.
Yeah, that's doubtful.
SHE SIGHS
"Good luck, Mum."
"Thanks, sweetheart, so nice of you to remember."
BELL RINGS
INDISTINCT CHATTER
Morning, Miss. Morning.
Oh, thanks, you're a life-saver. You need a new coffee machine.
Just needs a bit of TLC. Hasn't been serviced in a while.
Are we still talking about the coffee machine?
Morning. Morning! Hi, lovely.
What's the new name again?
Dee. Come on, Hel. I know, I know, I'm trying.
So, we'll be running a number
of Equality and Inclusion seminars this term.
Please, please, sign up as soon as you can.
And finally, congratulations to Ms Simpson
on your promotion to Head of Drama. Hip-hip...
Hooray!
Right.
Good luck.
Here's to a wonderful summer term at Cheetham Hall.
Helen.
Incoming...
I was wondering if we could have a chat
about the Year 12 syllabus for the coming term?
Is this about Shakespeare?
I gave you my answer before the break.
Well, I promised the students I'd bring it up again.
A handful of them feel his work is...
Pioneering? Seminal?
...outdated and offensive.
Their words, not mine.
A few don't feel represented.
Shakespeare is a huge part of the end-of-year exam.
Well, I thought maybe we could speak to the exam board.
And say what?
"Our precious little snowflakes don't feel seen"?
They're not cancelling Shakespeare, not on my watch.
OK... What if less focus was given to...?
It's my department. I've made my decision.
Understood.
BELL RINGS
Hi, Miss. Good morning.
Morning, Miss. Good morning.
Take your seats, please. Settle down.
Oi-oi! Teacher got an upgrade, eh?
Yeah, still not paying me enough to put up with you lot.
Miss, that hurt.
You'll live.
STUDENTS CHATTER
Good morning, Ms Simpson. Congrats on the promotion.
Thank you, Cressida.
There are two significant events happening in a few months' time,
the end-of-year exams and the summer show.
I've decided to kill two birds with one stone
by selecting Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream...
GROANING ...for the performance.
I know it's not the most popular choice,
but you will thank me when you open that exam paper.
Yes...
Daphne.
STUDENTS GROAN Did she just...
Their name's Dee now, actually.
Yeah, you just deadnamed them, Miss. Oof!
I'm sorry.
I've known you as Daphne for two years.
I can't just flick a switch. I am trying.
You shouldn't have to try.
You either see them or you don't.
I think you should apologise.
I just did.
I'm sure she can fight her own battles.
It's they, not she.
It's fine.
It's not fine, though.
It's about respecting other people's identity.
Take a seat, Bancroft! You made your point.
STUDENTS LAUGH
Forgive me... Dee.
Er...
I was just wondering if it has to be A Midsummer Night's Dream?
You're not a fan? Well, there's a consent issue.
Titania is drugged before sleeping with Bottom.
Oh, red flag! It's also anti-feminist,
portraying women as submissive and dependent on men.
Sorry, was the spotlight off you for too long there, princess?
That sort of thing might have been glossed over in the 15th century,
but to a modern audience, it could be quite triggering.
Firstly, it's the 16th century.
Womp womp!
LAUGHTER
Secondly, is it triggering for you personally?
Not directly, no, but... Then why are you talking?
Shade!
Because she's awake.
Excuse me?
I think Ms Simpson would like you to stop trolling and pipe down.
Oh, I'm just expressing an opinion, as is my right. Duly noted.
Mr Blake said we should talk to you about our concerns.
Well... If anyone else has any genuine objections
that go beyond virtue signalling, come and see me after class.
If not, let's move on.
CHATTER, GIGGLING
Out of my way, chav!
Bro's a sex pest, for real.
No means no, sicko!
I'll come to your dorm in a bit, yeah?
Get a jump on the chem paper.
If you rock up without snacks again, I'm not letting you in.
Such a diva!
Come and see me in a bit, yeah?
All right, guys. How you doing? Slaying, as per.
Dee? Fine, thanks.
I've got a lot of homework to do, though, so I better go.
Is everything OK? Peachy.
Leo. Relax. Dee's got too much to lose.
They won't say anything about what happened.
Good. Cos it won't do either of us any favours if they do.
Look, I know you're disappointed about the promotion,
but when I make a decision, I expect you to implement it,
not weaponise the students to undermine me. Are we clear?
Crystal. Have a nice evening.
'But here's the thing. Names matter. Words matter. Pronouns matter.
'One of our teachers doesn't agree.
'She doesn't think our voices should be heard.'
Why are they always putting on make-up in these videos?
Did she tag you? Make sure I'd see it.
Hey. Hey... How was your first day?
How do you think?
Don't be like that. I'm interested.
Did you make any new friends? Nope.
Look, it-it's early days. Give it time.
Yeah...
SIGHS
'What's in a name?
'That which we call a rose by any other name
'would smell as sweet.
'But here's the thing...
'Names matter. Words matter. Pronouns matter.
'One of our teachers doesn't agree.
'In fact, she doesn't think our voices should be heard at all.
'The woman is so out of touch, it's embarrassing.
'What are we supposed to learn from someone like that?
'She has the audacity to lecture me about traditional values.
'She walked out on her marriage! We all remember the divorce, babes.
'God has given you one face, and you make yourself another.'
Auditions for the summer show will take place
at some point over the next couple of weeks.
I'll let you know
as soon as I've confirmed things with the headmaster.
Teacher. Sorry?
Head teacher.
We're not slaves. Oh, have a day off, Cressida.
LAUGHTER
Since you bring up the subject of vocabulary, Ms Bancroft,
I have marked your essays from the end of last term.
I have deducted marks for anyone
that chose to use the words sigma...
LAUGHTER
...rizz, skibidi, vibe, simp, and other such gibberish.
Yeah. Gen X's low-key pressed cos they can't handle the vibes
with the skibidi rizz. LAUGHTER
Thank you very much.
I would, however, like to congratulate one student,
who delivered an exceptional piece of work.
Well done.
Thank you.
Impressive that you managed to put so much effort into your coursework
when your social media must keep you so busy.
Nice make-up.
LAUGHTER
Bancroft got owned, you know!
Let's talk after class.
I can stay if you like?
I just wanted to check in with you about your essay.
Is everything OK? Yeah, fine.
Well, this isn't the time to let your standards slip, Daphne.
Dee.
The exams are just a few months away.
You lose focus now, it could impact your choices for uni.
Look at my notes on your essay and have another go.
On my desk at the end of the week, OK?
Yes, Miss.
HEAVY BREATHING
SNIFFS
DEE SOBS
Hey...
Are you OK?
SNIFFLES Yeah, fine.
What are you doing here? Oh, just waiting for Sam.
Taking him for some grub. He not mention it?
Oh.
Yeah, he text me at lunchtime, said he wanted a chat.
I don't see why he had to drag you halfway across town.
I'm taking him
to that spit-and-sawdust place down the road.
Make sure he remembers his roots
now you've got him hanging round with these posh twats.
You know your inverted snobbery isn't helping him settle in here?
Sold your sense of humour along with your soul, did you?
Oh, here he is. Ready to go? Yeah.
You all right, love? Everything OK? Yeah, fine.
See you later, then.
Ms Simpson...
Given how much you liked my essay,
I thought you might be open to revisiting our discussion?
Wonderful. Come to my office tomorrow, we can chat.
If we have to do Shakespeare, could we perhaps try
a more modern interpretation of the text
that represents a broader spectrum of identity?
A lot of our conservative donors attend the summer show.
I'm not sure it's the right time for experimentation.
Is trying something more diverse and inclusive really such a bad thing?
I heard your son is queer.
Surely you agree representation matters.
If you actually took the time to engage with Shakespeare,
you would see the myriad ways
the work can resonate with a modern audience.
Social identities, sexual politics, the fluidity of gender...
You're not even trying to see things from my point of view.
The summer show is for everyone.
It's not a vehicle for you to gain likes and shares and go viral
with whichever cause you choose to espouse at that particular moment.
Why do you have such a problem with me giving a voice
to the marginalised and the oppressed?
LAUGHS
You're straight, white, and wealthy. What do you know about oppression?
I'm an ally.
And I'm off the clock. See you tomorrow.
PHONE PINGS
Oh, you piece of crap!
I have changed your filter and descaled you.
The sodding thing...
SIGHS
Erm... So, look, I wanna show you something.
Piercings or tattoos, I'm fine with.
If it's a questionable rash, show your father.
Yeah, you're funny
No, seriously, look. It's a petition.
Yeah, to remove you as Head of Drama.
Less than a week in your new position.
Must be some kind of a record.
You know they want to cancel Shakespeare?
If we jettison every play, every piece of writing
that contains something that injures their fragile sensibilities,
where does that leave us?
Well, do you know who set it up? I've got a good idea.
Then I trust you'll handle it.
SIGHS I've got enough to deal with, Helen.
Last thing I need is a student uprising on my hands. Thank you.
Yeah.
I'd like you to break off into pairs
and pick a two-hander from A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Yes, I am persevering, whether you like it or not.
Good morning. Sorry, Ms Simpson.
Over the course of the next week, you will be creating tableaux
to show the relationships between your chosen characters.
Think about gesture, body language,
what they're saying... and what they're not saying.
SPEECH BECOMES DISTORTED
Who can tell me what proxemics are?
Dee?
Sorry?
Proxemics?
Er... It's the...
You should know this. I-I do.
It's the...
The space between characters and how you use it.
Thank you, Leo.
Can you get the copies of A Midsummer Night's Dream
out of the cupboard and start handing them out, please?
Think about how you can use the space between your characters
to tell the story.
Are they physically close,
or is there a lot of space between them?
Erm... So...
I have a question. Are we going paperless?
Where are the books, Miss?
LAUGHTER
I know Cressida can be challenging,
but it's only been three years since her mum left.
It's got to be hard at that age.
It's hard at any age,
realising you're not enough for someone, especially a parent.
It doesn't mean she gets to make my life a misery at every opportunity.
She's just acting out.
It's the quiet ones you've got to keep an eye on. Like Dee.
Yeah, now, she's struggling this year. They.
Oh, God, don't you start. No, it's important, Hel.
We need to be supportive.
I mean, Dee's been so happy since coming out as non-binary,
living authentically, but their parents...
not so much.
They basically haven't spoken in months.
Don't repeat that. They told me that in confidence.
I won't say a word.
Dee's got so much potential.
Wants to go to art college, study photography at Goldsmiths.
They just need to get the grades now.
I mean, so many of these students
are under an insane amount of pressure.
Hang on...
Oh, I could've sworn I had a tiny violin in here somewhere.
I get it, they're a pain in the arse.
But to them, everything feels seismic.
Life and death.
We're all under pressure.
I'm trying to run a department and educate these kids,
and all they want to do is bitch and moan at me
about pronouns and whatever else.
Yeah, but their parents are paying tens of thousands of pounds
for them to be here.
They're expected to excel.
Unattainable, unrelenting standards.
Would it be so bad to cut them some slack?
Oh, my God!
INDISTINCT CHATTER AND LAUGHTER
As you can see, I've made you all
your own personal copy of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
There will be a test at the end of the week
on all aspects of the text,
so I suggest you study it thoroughly.
Nah, nah. Allow it with the flexing, Miss.
Why you reviving the books? They're gone!
I advise you aim your frustration at whoever destroyed the textbooks.
Nice one, Bancroft.
What if we refuse to sit the test?
Then you will receive a 25% deduction
in your overall coursework mark for the year.
You can't do that.
I'm the head of this department,
and I will not be bullied into changing my views
by a few entitled teenagers.
Excuse me?
You push me, I push back.
Now, I suggest you get your head down and start reading.
Clock's ticking.
WHISTLE
Meters ran out at home, pikey?
LAUGHTER
That filth ain't coming off, nonce.
INDISTINCT CHATTER
Where's your dick, princess? LAUGHTER
What does Mummy do for her discount, giving the head head?
Lazy person, for real.
On your knees, bitch!
Get back to the sweatshop, you fucking nonce.
I'm at work, Terry. What is it?
'We need to talk.'
Sammy called me this morning. It's online stuff, mainly.
Oh, not again!
Fucking cowards hiding behind keyboards.
He hasn't mentioned anything to me.
I had a nervous breakdown, and you left.
You think he wasn't paying attention?
You know it wasn't that simple.
After everything that happened at his old school.
You told me moving back in with you was the right thing.
You're the one that wanted him to move here. What choice did I have?!
And then you go out of your way to make everyone hate you.
Look what this is doing to him!
They must have found out about Jackson.
I will not have my son going through that again.
I swear to God, those pricks at his old school nearly broke him.
Sort it out, will you?
Hey. You're... You're Leo, right?
Wow. Fame at last.
Erm, I'm sorry, just, er...
Look, your... your friend Dee...
I saw them having some kind of a panic attack the other day.
And I just... I just thought I should probably tell you.
I mean, you probably already know... But, like, just in case.
No, right. Yeah, no. Erm...
They've been pretty pressed with school. Just got a lot going on.
Yeah, I'll check in with them.
Thanks. Yeah.
How's the book?
Er...
Yeah, no, it's great. Yeah? Yeah.
Yeah, I've just finished the first one, and it is so good.
Let's have a look.
So, in addition to not feeling seen and respected by you,
some of your students find you threatening.
They no longer feel that your classroom is a safe space.
SHE LAUGHS
You assured me you were gonna handle this.
SHE SIGHS
I am. They just don't like it because I refuse to roll over.
Well, you're gonna have to find a way of connecting with them.
The majority of students here
come from very wealthy, influential families
that pay this school a great deal of money
for their child's education.
Then we should be allowed to educate them.
Prepare them for life outside these walls,
where they can't dictate the pace and the tone
and the fucking words that people use.
If we don't, we're failing them!
You're a teacher, surely you can see that!
I can see both sides.
Well, I hope you don't get a splinter in your arse
from that fence you're sitting on.
HE CHUCKLES
Fix this, Helen.
Your son's place here relies on your position.
I just don't want this reaching the board.
Yeah.
INDISTINCT CHATTER
LAUGHTER Hello, hello, hello.
OK.
So...
In the spirit of having an open discussion
where everyone feels heard,
I want you all to tell me the first word that comes to mind
when you think of Shakespeare.
I'll start.
Genius.
Er...
Visionary.
CHUCKLES Really?
Trying to stay positive here, babes. Thank you, Leo.
Dee? Outdated.
Torture.
Legend.
Let's see.
Fake. Hypocritical. Self-serving.
Don't think she's talking about Shakespeare, Miss.
She doesn't care about our opinions. She just wants an easy life.
In the words of T-Swift, "Girl, calm down."
Yeah, can we just move on? Are you going to take us seriously?
Make meaningful changes to the curriculum
that enable us to be seen and represented?
Are you gonna say less?
Can we just get through this lesson, please?
Dee's right. Can we just...? So you're dodging the question?
I am trying to open a dialogue.
Find some common ground to help you understand my position.
Your... Your position. Not ours?
Yes, my position. Because I'm the teacher.
I'm trying to educate you, for fuck's sa...
STUDENTS WHISPERING
Class dismissed.
INDISTINCT CHATTER
Let's get out of here.
Does it have to be every lesson?
Just conflict and arguments all the time.
So you're happy to let Simpson get away with being ignorant?
I just wanna pass my exams. I can't afford to crash out.
Least your parents would talk to you then.
People talk.
Look, I get it.
My parents suck too.
But Simpson's just like them.
Arrogant and closed-minded. It's not the same.
She misgenders you all the time! You are so fucking transparent.
You don't care about me or my pronouns.
You just want to humiliate Simpson, get her sacked.
Leave me out of it. We're not done.
Don't fucking touch me, you psychopath!
Hey. Hey. That's enough!
You've just earned yourselves detentions for the next week.
I'll have to contact your parents and let them know.
I couldn't even begin to care.
Do you have to? School policy.
Detention room after school tomorrow. Go.
Please don't call my parents, Miss. They don't need to know.
I'm sorry. I don't have a choice.
BELL RINGS
Is it true that you swore in your Year 12 class yesterday?
I was being goaded. Stop!
I don't know why you insist on making things worse for yourself.
I want a full report in my pigeonhole, end of the day.
I have classes. I've spoken to Mr Blake.
He's happy to cover. Yeah, I'll bet he is.
End of the day, please, Helen.
RINGING OUT
BUZZING
KNOCK AT DOOR
Come on, Dee, shake a leg. You're gonna be late again.
That's three times this week, Sleeping Beauty!
HIGH-ENERGY CHATTER, LAUGHTER
Very nice. Yes, just like that. But with a bit more gusto.
All right, all right.
It's complicated, Harper, but I love you, I swear!
Yeah? Yes!
Ah, couldn't keep away, Miss, could you?
Very nice, everyone.
Thanks for covering.
Just had a lively scene study and discussion
on Angels In America with Year 12.
It was great. They were really engaged.
Marvellous.
Er, I could cover detention for you, if you want. Let you get home.
Thanks, but it's supposed to be a punishment, not a party.
Probably best if I deal with it.
Ms Simpson?
Yes?
How's your son settling in?
Does he miss his old school?
Sam, isn't it?
Fine, thank you.
I see he's finally found a friend.
Little Leo, the bursary kid.
He loves to take pity on all the waifs and strays.
Can't help himself.
He'll get bored soon enough.
Unless Sam falls for his charms,
in which case, oh, they'll make a very handsome couple.
We're not here to talk about my son.
Oh, touched a nerve.
I knew you were a bigot.
I'm not, but my son is off limits.
Not for Leo. Can you just shut up?
So, do you hate trans people as well, or is it just the gays?
I don't hate anyone.
You behave as though you invented ideas
like equality and social justice.
I was fighting the patriarchy before you were born.
Here we go.
The world out there, the real world,
is angry and resentful and bitter.
No-one cares about your woke bullshit.
This fantasy world that you pretend to fight for,
the one where nobody cares who you love or what colour your skin is,
it doesn't exist, and it never will.
Maybe we're not willing to accept that.
You make out like
you're some kind of benevolent defender of the oppressed.
You don't care about Dee. It's all performative.
A desperate, pathetic cry for attention.
You need to remember who you're talking to.
My father basically owns the place. I can have you sacked like that.
He'd have to take your call first. That's out of line, Miss.
You may be money-rich, but emotionally, you are bankrupt.
Starved of love
because your father would rather ship you off to a place like this
than spend any actual time with you. Stop it! Just stop!
You can't fucking talk to her like that.
Are you gonna threaten me too? I don't think your parents
will take your call either.
Not since you decided you weren't their precious little girl any more.
Fuck you! It's about time you lot learned to fight your own battles.
Because out there, in the real world,
there is no-one in your corner. You are alone!
And if you can't handle that, you might as well kill yourself now
because it doesn't get any easier from here!
DOOR OPENS, SLAMS SHUT
PUNK MUSIC PLAYS
This is sick. Old-school Sheffield.
Dee is, like, obsessed with them.
Good taste. My dad took me to the Leadmill to see them
when I was younger.
Fuck off. Yeah.
Dee's gonna lose their shit. They love punk.
INDISTINCT CONVERSATION CONTINUES
Yep.
Leo!
The one and only.
Er, Leo's gonna stay and hang for a bit. Is that OK?
Mum!
Can he stay or not?
We're not really supposed to have students back to staff housing.
It's against school policy.
OK, so how am I supposed to make friends?
As long as you're back by curfew. OK?
Pinky promise.
Thank you.
LAUGHTER INSIDE
You all right?
Mum? Hm? Yeah.
OK.
Thank you for letting Leo hang out last night.
He's, erm... He's a really cool guy.
And his mate Dee seems so sound as well.
Like, they're massively into photography
and design their own outfits and everything. Just really cool.
They actually said they might be getting some food
after school today, so I think I might join them for that.
Turns out you might have been right about me making friends eventually.
Er, I'm gonna head in early.
There's something I need to sort before school.
Oh, can you, erm...
just stick that damned machine in that box
and just stick it in a cupboard?
Good morning, girls! Rise and shine. Good to see you.
Morning, Cressida.
Oh, you're all on a go-slow today. I don't know what's going on.
Dee, come on, you're gonna be late again!
Coming in.
THUD
Can somebody help me, please?
Dee!
Dee, can you hear me?
They're not breathing...
Somebody call an ambulance, now! Go, girls!
Come on, Dee, please. Come on, Dee.
Come on. Come on, please.
Please.
Come on, Dee, please.
Please, please.
SIREN BLARES
Tess, what's going on?
It's Dee.
They took an overdose.
'Starved of love because your father
'would rather ship you off to a place like this
'than spend any actual time with you.'
'Stop it! Just stop!
'You can't fucking talk to her like that.'
'You gonna threaten me too?
'I don't think your parents will take your call either.
'Not since you decided you weren't
'their precious little girl any more.' 'Fuck you!'
'It's about time you lot learned to fight your own battles.
'Because out there, in the real world,
'there is no-one in your corner. You are alone!
'And if you can't handle that, you might as well kill yourself now
'because it doesn't get any easier from here!'