KNOT HEART - Almeida Theatre

15Plot SummaryLisa Dillon and Margot LeicesterPhoto: Keith Pattisonleave. Barbara asks if the need that Lucy had once talked about was actually the need for a father, butLucy says it isn’t. Lucy describes experiencing paralysing nerves before going in front of the televisioncamera and the need to be perfect for her mother, the fear of letting her down. She says that therehas always been a part of her that wanted to destroy things and that the heroin quietened that. Lucysays that while detoxing from heroin has never killed anyone, detoxing from alcohol quickly can killpeople. She then confesses that she knows how her father died, of how Barbara threatened to leavehim if he didn’t stop drinking, as Angela told her. Her father was addicted to alcohol and had aseizure and died from a heart attack by stopping drinking so quickly. Angela found out from thefamily doctor and Lucy asks if this is why Barbara was too afraid to stop her using drugs. Barbara saidshe wanted to stop any darkness in Lucy’s life and love her enough for two parents.Lucy feels that Barbara turned Angela away from her; suddenly Barbara throws her wine over Lucy,before apologising. Barbara emphasises her own need for love and insists she tried to do better withLucy than with her father. Lucy says she is not sure if she will see her mother again, that if she said itwas just a break she would have to come back and she’s not sure that is the best thing. Lucy saysshe is angry with them both for hiding the truth about her father; she knows her mother has tried todo her best but now needs to go. Barbara feels that it was her fault that Lucy’s father died andtherefore did not want to burden her daughters with it. Again, they confirm their love for each other.Lucy reveals that she is moving to South Africa, that Angela has given her some money to go and seewhat she can find. Barbara remarks on how ‘extraordinary’ Angela is, and Lucy asks her mother to tellthat to Angela.Scene 14The top of Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa, some weeks later. Lucy is looking out acrossthe ocean towards Robben Island when she is joined by Oscar, who is South African. He tells her thehistory of Robben Island and asks if she would like to visit. Lucy feels that South Africa is the closestplace to heaven she can think of, and that she is glad she came: like her, it is a place trying to find anew beginning despite its past difficulties. Oscar too is pleased that she came, as otherwise he wouldnever have met Angela, and they are now together. Angela appears and she and Oscar kiss. Lucy asksabout their mother and Angela tells her she is fine. Angela asks Lucy if she is OK and, after a pause,Lucy replies confidently: she says she is, and she is content.Resource Pack: The Knot of the Heart