The Children Act

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual content, illness, and death.

Fiona Maye is a High Court judge working in the Family Division. She lives in London’s Gray’s Inn Square with her husband Jack. One night, she lies on the couch, drinking Scotch and contemplating her recent court cases and the state of her marriage. Earlier that evening, Jack told her that he wanted to have an affair because he needed a sex life. Fiona had refused to have sex with him because it wasn’t the time, so he suggested he sleep with someone else instead.

Fiona reflects on the evolution of her marriage and all the work that’s busied her of late. She remembers a case involving a Jewish couple’s divorce and the future of their children. The case reminds her of all the cases she’s tried. While they all have the same human themes, she firmly believes “in the provisions of family law” (5).

Fiona’s mind drifts back to her and Jack’s situation. Even before Jack posed the idea of having an affair, Fiona assumed he was seeing his 28-year-old statistician Melanie. She feels frustrated, remembering their argument and tired by the idea of pursuing a formal separation.