Making Up

'Making Up' is set in the 80s east end amid the gritty, brazen drag scene. Ted is estranged from daughter Cassandra, however, dealing with the diagnosis of a hereditary illness, Ted bombards her with voicemails, imploring her to return his calls. Ted eventually gets through, convincing her to see him. Meeting in a greasy spoon, it gets off to a playfully awkward start, until arguments are raised by Cassandra over their past and his livelihood. While Ted tries to get to know her (delighted to discover he's a grandfather) and warn her of his condition, Cass, bitter from their past, walks out. Pre-show, Ted (half codger, half drag queen) looks over old photos of him and Cass, emotions still raw. Cass also looks through her own photos whilst playing with her toddler, Vinny. Looking to Vinny, and the photos, regret begins to surface. Ted in full drag as Iva Secret, performs in front of a loving crowd. It's so welcoming, so warm; it feels wrong. He breaks down as his set ends and the spotlight tightens. The next morning, Ted practises a speech he intends to deliver to Cass to finally broach the subject of his illness. Midway through his monologue, Cass calls, apologising. As Ted plucks up the courage to reveal the true intention of his calls, he bottles it. Instead, he invites Cass to step into his world; see that drag is nothing more than graft. He wants them to take big steps. When Will I See You Again plays over a montage as Ted metamorphoses into Iva hairpiece by hairpiece, contour by contour, never more nervous in his life. The track also accompanies Cass' anxious journey into Limehouse, where Ted performs at a working men's club. By the time she gets to the club, Iva's in full swing syncing to the iconic vocal. Cass summons the courage to step into his world, but in doing so, a flashback transports her back to a place of confusion and discomfort. We join her in this flashback in which a young Cass discovers Ted in her parent's bedroom cross-dressing. Cass leaves the venue, shaking her head in apology, her bag snagging on the door. Ted races out to the cold winter streets to follow her, but in doing so, begins to succumb to the elements and his illness. Staggering in her direction, Ted fails to locate her, yet spots some of Cass' belongings that have fallen from her bag. Breathless, and bending down to get them, Ted succumbs further to the symptoms of his illness, falling to the ground. Having discovered her losses, Cass retraces her steps, but chances upon Ted being accosted and taunted by a local thug who has chanced upon Ted in a highly vulnerable position. Ted clocks Cass in the distance but discreetly waves her off, not wishing to embroil her in the fracas. Back in his dressing room, Ted, winded and broken, settles down at the dressing room table. Cass enters with two pints of stout, having saved him from the intimidating confrontation. She takes in his frailty; apologies for her struggle to accept him. Ted does his best to explain his side of things. They both recognise one another's differences, and as Cass sees the bigger picture, she begins to clean him up and they both agree to take small steps.