On the Tube & Arriving at Judy's House

Christopher on the Tube

Stephens heightens the drama as Christopher approaches the final obstacle which stands in the way of him being reunited with his mother.

Ed's encouragement

As the Tube train approaches, Ed is used again by Stephens, but for a different dramatic purpose.
He now encourages and reassures Christopher, acting as a guide: “Count the trains. Figure it out. Get the rhythm right.”
Ed’s ‘appearance’ here may symbolise what Christopher has learned from his father, presenting their relationship in a more positive light and foreshadowing their reconciliation at the end of the play.

Emphasising rhythm

Productions of the play tend to emphasise the rhythm of Ed and Christopher’s mantra (“Count the trains. Figure it out. Get the rhythm right”) as they wait for the train to arrive, using lighting, music and the body movements of the actors on stage.

Tension - missing rat

Stephens then creates a moment of high tension when Christopher discovers that Toby, his pet rat, is missing.
Christopher climbs down onto the tracks, causing panic among the bystanders on stage.
The tension is heightened by Stephens’ use of sound effects, as the “rumbling” noise of a Tube train starts to build.

Use of voices

Once Christopher is on the Tube, Stephens again uses pre-recorded voices to recreate the signs, advertisements and graffiti that Christopher sees on the carriage walls.
The final voice provides a countdown of Tube stations on the Bakerloo line until Christopher finally arrives at Willesden Junction.

Christopher arrives at his Mother's House

Christopher completes his quest, arriving at 451c Chapter Road, London NW2 5NG.

A-Z map of London

After another amusing exchange with an adult, this time a shopkeeper, Christopher buys an A-Z map of London, memorising the route to his mother’s house.

First sighting: Judy and Roger

Revealingly, the first time the audience sees Judy and Roger (Mr Shears) together on stage, they are arguing. This short exchange of dialogue foreshadows their eventual separation.

Reunion Christopher and Judy

The moment of reunion between Christopher and his mother is almost an anti-climax.
Judy goes to embrace Christopher, forgetting that Christopher will not tolerate being touched.
Christopher “pushes her away so hard that he falls over”. Once Christopher gets up, both fan out their fingers to touch hands with each other.

Judy resumes motherly role

Judy resumes her role as Christopher's mother, bringing Christopher inside and providing him with a change of clothes.
However, she reveals the hurt she must have been feeling when she asks Christopher why he has not responded to her letters.
Christopher’s explanation is typically blunt (“Father said you were dead”), leading to Judy breaking down in tears.

Significance of Judy's tears

Judy’s tears at first seem to provide a cathartic moment: a moment of emotional release.
But Christopher’s autism again intrudes as he turns down Judy’s invitation to hold her hand.

1Introduction & Context

1.1Novel & Play

1.1.1Mark Haddon's Novel (2003)

1.1.2Simon Stephens' Adaptions (2012)

1.2Christopher's Autism

1.2.1Christopher's Autism

1.2.2End of Topic Test - Introduction & Context

2Form, Structure & Language

2.1Dramatic Devices

2.1.1Writing About the Text as a Playscript

2.1.2Dramatic Devices

2.2Genre & Structure

2.2.1Genre

2.2.2Structure

2.3Language

2.3.1Language

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Form, Structure & Language

3Text Summary & Analysis

3.1Part One

3.1.1Discovering the Dead Dog & Christopher's Autism

3.1.2The Policeman & Siobhan

3.1.3The Police Station & Ed's Entry

3.1.4Mother's Death & Beginning the Investigation

3.1.5Ed's Frustrations & Revisiting Mrs Alexander

3.1.6Remembering Judy & "Fight" Scene

3.1.7Judy's Letters

3.1.8Ed's Confession

3.1.9End of Topic Test - Part One

3.1.10End of Topic Test - Part One 2

3.2Part Two

3.2.1Preparing to Run Away & Train Station

3.2.2On the Train & Arriving in London

3.2.3On the Tube & Arriving at Judy's House

3.2.4Policeman, Ed Visits & Tensions

3.2.5Back in Swindon & New Beginnings

3.2.6The End & Maths Appendix

3.2.7End of Topic Test - Part Two

3.2.8End of Topic Test - Part Two cont....

4Themes

4.1Themes

4.1.1Independence

4.1.2Parenting

4.1.3Order & Disorder

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Themes

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