The Cupboard - A Radio Drama written by Sophie Diver

Sophie's closet

diver

right, that's upstairs ready I wish your mom would leave now I'm not sure okay, well, there's no time look, you're done in the living room I'll start in the kitchen and we'll deal with the closet Under the stairs at the end, do you have enough boxes? Yes, of course, there is bubble wrap and duct tape. The fine transporter will be here in 58 minutes. They are ready. We are making progress. Martin, we're just packing boxes. Mom, where are you? I don't want to go, where are you? Can you come and order your books? Do you want to take some with you?

The world seemed to disappear when you were here with me George, but it seems that after all these years real life has found our little hiding place, have you found it yet? but look, I'm better off here George, nestled between the coats, has my little stool to sit on. She is nice and warm around the pipes. Yes, very happy under the stairs in our closet. Oh, we don't have time for this. It shouldn't get very far. In your sticks here, Iris, we said we'd never leave, didn't we? George said we'd rather die than end up in one of those places.

Well, I'm starting to think you had the right idea after all. Mom, mom, that's Jane. you, yes it's me, where are you in the closet? Yes, honey, what are you doing there? Nothing, saying goodbye, goodbye, to which mothballs and old, moldy boots come out. Mom, I don't want to, how did we let this happen? Jane, oh, not her. there again that's all we need she's okay knock knock knock anyone home oh hi Martin it's moving day we gotta get out of there Iris we're on a schedule how far back do you get there , let me, let me come in and take a Look quickly, no, no, I will, don't rush me, I'm happy here, leave her for a moment, let's join the rest, are you sure we only have 54 minutes now?

Why is she always there? I don't understand. today is our last chance she's fine she doesn't remember your birthday I booked that table at Groves I was ready to leave and we couldn't find it we lost the reservation we had fish and chips it was nice I guess I'm banned Behavior if you Ask me even though I can hear you Martin do you remember that Iris ruined your daughter's birthday by falling asleep there? Oh yes, we have fish and chips. It was nice, that's what I said. Come on, I'll see her. Yes, and I'm here. cleaning the old woman of her filth I can still hear you Martin, it's okay mom, we're on it, calm down, I'm calm.

I'd rather get out of here before the new owners take another look at that horrible kitchen and this carpet, oh yeah. I love that pattern. I used to spend hours playing here. Have you ordered there almost well quickly? Then I'll go get rid of this box, mom, are you okay, where's Martin? He's just putting the things you said he could keep in the car, so will you get out? Just to check that we haven't missed anything. You're rushing me too much now. I am, I am, with my head held high. I'd rather be here, I know, but it won't take me a minute, no, I don't want to.

I know it's hard to see it empty. It's hard for me too. No, I don't want to leave Jane for a minute. No, I mean, I don't want to go. I'm doing it right, right? We've only been there. Through this I can cope with caregivers coming to check on me Mom, we've been through this, you can't keep falling and not asking for help. I can press my red button, it's too late Mom, I would if she needed to go home. is for sale you know you'll be safer in the house but it's our family home Jane I know look I need to break up Martin won't be happy I'm still not clean I'll tell them I don't need to do it see they can give my room to another old stag and where will you will you stay in the closet?

No, I can't think of worse places. The house is not that bad. You said you liked her when we visited. Okay, live your days in the wellies. Don't wait for the new family to find you. You would never feel alone at home. You know, I'm fine the way I am. Wouldn't it be nice to have people to talk to? I know Barbara well. She calls. Sometimes Janice comes over with swap puzzles and your dad talks to dad, yeah, but just here you talked to dad from the closet why it was our favorite place, you wouldn't remember, remember what, well, it was stupid, actually, every anniversary I come. in a closet and waited for him to knock, I opened the door and he was there dressed very elegant with his bouquet of yellow roses, oh, I remember the flowers, yes, he asked me out exactly like he did the first time and every year he does we did it was your dad's idea it sounds like him it was fun if I'm here there's always a chance he's behind this door waiting to take me out again it's St it's no there's not much to do pack it up there your dad kept so many papers on these top shelves that I can barely reach let me come in and help you it will be faster with the two of us no it's okay don't bother I can manage I just need to stretch a little little one oh no no noake Mom what happened oh nothing love I'm fine oh let me see oh mom did you hurt yourself okay it's just old papers why did you keep all this was your dad just in case oh look mom you I haven't solved anything here I've done a little Jam, that shit is in the car I'll leave it, get in me if you want, you want to nag that There's no room, there's no room for both of us, of course, we'll go in Jane Jane You're almost done, shut up, we don't have much time, where are you Jan Jan?

She's gone, it sounds like she's going to the kitchen, well it's not bad because it's bigger than I remember, oh that's daddy's coat, oh would you look at how disheveled he is? Do you remember going out with him when he had that? Oh, it was embarrassing, she was his favorite. What's up with the old Anax charity shop? He won't want them, let me see. It smells like him here. What age are you referring to? No, he's welcoming. It's later. He left when everything got a little heavy I come in here I talk to your dad he would always be here for me what do you say to him oh a lot of things it's boring really you told him we sold the house you're not coming Come on, let's continue, will you tell him about Oakmore Cor?

I wouldn't be happy if he loved this house. Does he know about your fools? Do you tell him about all the trips to the hospital? No, that would bother him. It bothers me too. Dad, no. Jane, no, no dad, I know you might think I'm terrible moving mom into a house, it wasn't an easy decision, enough is enough, I thought we were in a hurry. “I loved this house too when you left us,” Mom continued. she did the best she could taking care of the rose bushes picking up the newspapers every morning you have a paperboy now that's because you're too unstable she's too proud to be seen with the frame I feel ridiculous but then we'd meet her halfway up the stairs or leaning on the side of the bed too scared to make a fuss I said, I press my button I'm scared dad, what if the next time she leaves in an ambulance she never comes home?

I know she doesn't want to go there. Not a moment goes by, she doesn't tell me, but I don't know what else to do. I let you both down, didn't I? Janee Iris, you're still there. Hi Martin, yes, it's time to go out. Well, I am. busy I'll say goodbye as soon as the move arrives you'll have to be ready to go oh oh okay, have you seen Jane? she is with me hello Martin, what are you doing there? I can not believe this. I'm going to open the door no what's wrong with both of you give us a minute let's not go this is stupid no time you're always doing this do what I've never done this let me do everything while you skip what you're doing God knows what's wrong with your mother?

Do you feel excluded? Martin, no, no, I just seem to be the only one who cares about you moving today. Oh, that's not true. You know I don't want to go well. I can enter? no Martin, you won't like it no, maybe you want to see what all the fuss is about, he's joking, he won't, I will, if you're not going out, I'm going in, oh really, Mar, we don't have any. time of this you said it yourself you let him in let me move in you have to bring a box you have to clean out the closet Jane I could do it while I'm here you're being stupid it's pretty big Here I could have even included this as an extra room, not over here, extend a little the front.

It would be good, no, our closet, we wouldn't like it. Can we throw all this away? Can you come up, pass some shoes behind you? come on, we were talking to dad, oh, is it that weird for you? Martin talking to your dad from inside a closet, that's not strange at all, well, I don't think so. I do it every day. Now get up. Iris, let me go. SL, come. could you talk to him? Martin, what would he say? What if you like it? Oh, we won't, please, Martin. I'm not sure if you don't want to then it's not necessary.

Could, could give me. a chance, yes, let it go, Jane George, no, no, I can't, I can't let myself go, I should go, it's okay, Martin, take your time. I thought it would help you know that the quicker everything will be done and everything, and we could be fighting. a little, oh, look at us, you like this, all of us snuggled up in our secret place, I bet you'd be surprised to see me here, this good, George, your son-in-law, sitting between your coats, the last family gathering in the closet It's really not necessary, Martin, I know.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Iris is moving. I'm sorry too. I know Ween was very close and didn't get along very well, but he liked you. I was very happy when you two married, I did, I didn't know, that said you were very practical and reliable, not like the rest of us, we waste brains, really, that's true, George I. I wonder if you could respect this nature practice of mine one last time for Iris. No, no, Martin, we had to sell, you're not here, we're too far away, the bathroom is bad, the stairs are too steep, he's going down them.

I don't like it, it's too big for her to handle alone. I have to pay a cleaner and a gardener now and all those meetings, countless cups of tea around the kitchen table, we can't do that as much these days, yes, I suppose we can get lonely, we don't want to see each other struggle. I don't want to worry anyone, there must be the voice of reason from inside a closet, but we are glad you decided to join us. George, what do you say, what do you say, George, what's missing? Do you know the closet? by Sophie Diver. was a rural media production for new creatives with support from Arts Counseling and BBC Arts.

The assistant producer was Anna Campbell and the executive producer was Paul Dodson.