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Introduction
How It Began (part of scene 1)
Celia Teasdale enters her garden to have a cigarette. The doorbell rings and
she decides whether to light her cigarette or not.
This leads to either A Gardener Calls or A Visit From A Friend
Scene 1 Options – Five years ago in June (Toby and Celia’s garden)
A Gardener Calls
Lionel Hepplewick appears to help with the garden. Sylvie comes out of the
house and they bicker. Celia returns to announce her husband, Toby, may be
leaving as headmaster and she may leave with him. Lionel is confronted by
Sylvie who asks him whether they are going out.
This leads to either A Gardener In Love or The Self Improving Woman
A Visit From A Friend
Celia goes into the shed and Miles Coombes appears to talk about her
husband, Toby. Celia announces their relationship is failing and Toby has
resorted to drink. Miles urges her to help save Toby’s career, despite his
own feelings for Celia.
This leads to either Dinner On The Patio or Confessions In A Garden Shed
Scene 2 options – Five days later (Toby and Celia’s garden)
A Gardener In Love
Toby, disillusioned and angry, argues with Celia over his drinking and their
marriage. Lionel and Celia fall for each other and plan to open a catering
business together. Toby returns and suggests he and Celia take a walk.
This leads to either Affairs In A Tent or Events On A Hotel Terrace
The Self Improving Woman
Lionel and Sylvie have done a little more than dance together. However, he
criticises her clothing and limited ambitions, so she seeks help from Toby
and Celia. Lionel is impressed and asks Sylvie to sleep with him.
This leads to either A Garden Fete or A Pageant
Dinner On The Patio
Miles has contrived to have dinner with Celia, but has not told his wife,
Rowena. He declares his love for her. If she responds favourably to this,
Toby returns to find the pair in the shed together; if not, she tells Miles
to go back to Rowena. Toby returns and she agrees to try and save their
marriage.
This leads to either A Cricket Match or A Game Of Golf
Confessions In A Garden Shed
Miles and Rowena are out walking. It starts to rain and they take refuge in
Toby’s shed. She confesses to numerous affairs, suggesting Miles should have
one. She locks him in the shed and leaves, only for Sylvie to release him.
Encouraged by Sylvie, Miles asks her to join him on a walking holiday. Her
coded reply – whatever her choice – is sent via Celia.
This leads to either A One Man Protest or Love In The Mist
Scene 3 options – Five weeks later (Any one of several places)
Affairs In A Tent
It is sports day and Celia and Lionel are doing the catering. Lionel is late
and Celia has unwelcome attention from Miles; Lionel arrives with inedible
bread and no cakes. Celia goes for supplies, while Lionel chats with Irene
Pridworthy. Celia returns with half-a-loaf and a packet of jam tarts. Toby
arrives, infuriates Celia with his comments, she becomes hysterical, he
leaves. Miles returns but fails to calm her. Celia attacks him. Miles, in
desperation, ties her up and goes for help. Either he or Toby return and
promise to look after her.
This leads to either A Funeral or A New Woman
Events On A Hotel Terrace
Toby and Celia are at a hotel at the seaside. Toby has been warned about his
health and has sacked Lionel. Lionel is a waiter at the hotel and still
obsessed with Celia. To keep talking, he continues to bring afternoon tea to
her and Toby returns to find Celia with sandwiches stuffed in her bag. He
decides either to confront Lionel or forgive Celia and they return to their
room, not before Lionel pops up to say he will wait for her.
This leads to either A Funeral (2) or A Service Of Thanks-giving
A Garden Fete
Lionel’s wheelchair-bound father, Joe, comes to annoy Celia before trying to
persuade Sylvie to marry Lionel. Sylvie – in stocks for a fete - promptly
endures a haranguing from Lionel in a gorilla suit. Shaken, she tells Toby
she can no longer work with him or at the house. Uncharacteristically, Toby
tries to persuade her otherwise. Stuck in the stocks, Lionel arrives and
Sylvie either agrees to marry him or tricks and abandons him.
This leads either to A Christening or Return Of The Prodigal
A Pageant
Sylvie and Celia have both been asked to play Boadicea at the fete. Toby
wants Sylvie to do it, which leads to a row with Celia. Sylvie forces Toby
to admit he loves her and she reciprocates. Celia returns for Toby and the
role. She and Sylvie fight leaving Toby to decide whom he stays with.
This leads either to A Harvest Festival or A Wedding
A Cricket Match
Miles and Celia are now having an uneasy affair. At a cricket match, where
Lionel has sabotaged the pitch, Miles is given out by umpire Toby and they
come to blows. Their wives come to help them, leaving Miles to decide
whether to continue or end the affair with Celia.
This leads to either A Sentimental Journey or A 50th Celebration
A Game Of Golf
Miles is playing golf when interrupted by Irene Pridworthy and Celia. Miles
and Toby are now friends. Celia tries to rekindle Miles’ interest and tells
Toby, Miles has made a pass at her. In return he makes one at Rowena. He
doesn’t follow through, but Rowena attempts to seduce Miles in the bunker.
He now has the chance to restore his marriage or to be left by Rowena.
This leads to either Easter Greetings or A Triumph Of Friendship
A One Man Protest
Miles is still in the shed, being cared for by Celia and Sylvie. Sylvie
wants to go away with him, but he won’t reply. Toby employs Lionel to smoke
him out, but is side-tracked by Rowena and burns his trousers. Miles leaves
the shed, unnoticed to make a decision. Rowena, Celia and Sylvie all find a
love poem Miles has written. Celia, believing the shed is on fire, rushes in
and gets locked in by Sylvie. Toby returns, sees the hut on fire and douses
the fire only for Celia to emerge, clutching Lionel’s trousers, believing
Miles has died.
This leads to either A Midnight Mass or A School Celebrates
Love In The Mist
Miles and Sylvie have gone for a walk together. When the fog comes in, they
take refuge in a hut; she voices her resentments and wanders off into the
mist. Rowena comes searching for them. Miles either returns with her or
insists on walking in the mist and steps over the cliff.
This leads to either A Wedding (2) or A Simple Ceremony
Scene 4 options – Now. Five Years Later (A churchyard)
A Funeral
Celia and Toby are together, he has saved his career and cares for her.
Lionel appears having found success in the fast-food business.
A New Woman
Celia has a successful catering business with Lionel reduced to chauffer.
Celia meets the estranged Toby and pays Sylvie to look after Toby.
A Funeral (2)
Toby has died due to his anger and ill-health. Celia is approached by Miles
and Lionel, now working for the church, who asks Celia whether she would
marry a vicar. She says she would not.
A Service Of Thanksgiving
Toby leaves a service with open contempt and Celia wishes she had taken
Lionel’s offer. He promptly arrives, now a prosperous and married man.
A Christening
Sylvie and Lionel are married, but her affection for Toby is made clear.
Return Of The Prodigal
Toby leaves a thanksgiving service drunk, only to meet Sylvie, now a
successful journalist. She kisses him as a thank-you for all he has done.
A Harvest Festival
Toby and Sylvie, now a couple, return to the village and Sylvie meets
Lionel. They spar again with the suggestion of more to come…
A Wedding
Celia has walked out on Sylvie and Lionel’s wedding. Toby is there and they
realise they hated their own wedding. They kiss.
A Sentimental Journey
Miles and Celia are a couple and unhappy, in contrast with Rowena who has
left an abusive relationship and is content with her life.
A 50th Celebration
Toby has left school due to illness and Celia is supporting him. He goes to
the pub, despite his condition, while Celia rebuffs Miles’ overtures.
Easter Greetings
Miles and Rowena return from new lives in Australia, although it is obvious
to Celia that Rowena is the far happier person.
A Triumph Of Friendship
Toby and Miles marriages have failed and they are living together. Miles
compares notes with Celia; there is a spark between them.
A Midnight Mass
Miles returns and meets Sylvie – now married to Lionel. Rowena also returns,
but has not changed her ways and he is left alone.
A School Celebrates
Miles and Rowena are together, but she is a diminished woman. She meets
Lionel, but Miles asserts his authority and takes her home.
A Wedding (2)
Miles is giving Sylvie away to Lionel at her wedding. Despite still having
affairs, Rowena insists there is still life in their marriage.
A Simple Ceremony
Rowena unveils a memorial tool-shed to Miles and admits missing him. She
leaves and Sylvie expresses the same sentiments to a mystified Toby.
Copyright: Simon Murgatroyd 2006 |
