We both lost our fathers the same year. Mine died, his walked out.
DOYLE:
Anything else?
CLARE:
No.
DOYLE:
Sure?
CLARE:
It was over thirty years ago. Why are you even asking this?
DOYLE:
To limit the number of things that can bite us on the ass.
CLARE:
It was nothing.
DOYLE:
There is no such thing as nothing. Everything piles up and adds on. It conspires and backfires. No scar completely disappears. No story is ever completely buried.
CLARE:
You’re so dramatic. I’ll do it.
DOYLE:
I’m warning you. He can be ruthless.
CLARE:
So can I. Set it up.
DOYLE:
(shrugs) Your call. Five minutes ’til Question Period.
CLARE:
(tenses) Oh God.
DOYLE:
Who’s being dramatic now? Just relax. Take a deep breath. Soften your gaze. And smile. You’ve got a great smile.
CLARE softens her gaze, lets her shoulders relax, smiles.
DOYLE:
Remember to thank everyone. Often. Don’t let anyone goad you into snapping at them. Pierre Guy says you’ve got to watch your temper.
CLARE:
Sorry.
DOYLE:
And don’t apologize. Never apologize. Or say “I don’t know.” Instead, you will “seek an interpretation,” you’ll “consult with your department.”
CLARE:
Right.
DOYLE fixes her collar, removes strands of hair. DOYLE produces some antacids. CLARE gulps them down.
DOYLE:
Loosen your shoulders. Deep breath. And remember, this is fun. This is extreme fun. You are a Minister.
CLARE:
How did you get so smart so young?
DOYLE:
It’s a limited bandwidth. The car’s out front. Laura is waiting at Members’ Entrance to go in with you. Remember lipstick. Powder your nose in the car. And smile!
CLARE takes a deep breath, collects herself, smiles broadly, heads out the door. DOYLE sighs, sits down at his desk, satisfied. He has got his Minister off to the House.
The sound of Question Period comes up.
In his office, ROY puts down the pile of press releases, checks watch and turns on his TV.
ROY:
It’s showtime.
DOYLE begins watching Question Period on a screen as well.
1/6 HOUSE OF COMMONS
The television camera lights are on the House of Commons. CLARE and FANNING are in their places.
SPEAKER The Member from White Cloud.
FANNING:
Mr. Speaker, it is always a pleasure to see what bright new creations the new Minister of Justice will blind the TV cameras with.
ROY:
The girl with the red-hot hair.
FANNING:
But in a more serious vein, last night I received some very disturbing information.
MEMBERS:
Whooah!
FANNING:
Is the Minister aware that not five miles from this House, in Nepean, a scientist is injecting human embryonic stem cells into gorillas, creating something called— (stumbles) chi ... chimeras?
MEMBERS:
Whooah! Shame!
MEMBERS:
making monkey sounds.
DOYLE picks up phone.
DOYLE:
What’s he talking about?
ROY:
(watching CLARE on screen) She has no idea.
SPEAKER The Honourable Minister of Justice.
CLARE:
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Member opposite for his question. However, sometimes I wonder if the Honourable Member and his colleagues have evolved very far from the jungle themselves.
MEMBER:
Whooah! Low blow!
CLARE:
And that is why I am particularly proud that our government passed the very progressive piece of legislation—The Human Reproductive Technology Act—one year ago today.
MEMBERS:
Hear! Hear!
CLARE:
... an act which provides a framework for all of the new fertility technologies, that forbids the selling of babies and embryos, and protects women and children and the most vulnerable as we go forward with the genetic revolution.
MEMBERS:
Bravo! Hear! Hear!
ROY:
Always was good on her feet.
