Tuesday, 9 March 2010

Ten Minute Radio Play


sCENE 1. 
football GROUND in nottingham. jan 1989. sprint TRAINING. Jimmy is Watching cloughie shouting at The players
CLOughie:                       C’mon lad, sprint! Me nan’s faster than that and she’s got two wooden legs. Ten press ups the lot of you!
jimmy(V.O) :            Harsh. Very harsh. I’d rather be squirting jelly into pork pies anyday
CLOUGHIE:            Balls out lads – five a side, two halves of ten (BEAT) Gerra shift on I’m missing “Neighbours”!
five a side match starts 
pippa(off):            There he is. There’s Cloughie. Bring all the gear, John, chop, chop
The Clank of camera equipment being carried from off 
jimmy(V.O.):                      Bloody ‘ell me “Oprah Winfrey” moment an I’m dyin for a slash. ‘Scuse us a second. ….
pippa(OFF) :            Where’s the fan gone?
John(OFF)  :            The gents I think
pippa(OFF):                     What’s he doing there? Get him back. Get him back here John, chop chop
cloughie:            You couldn’t trap a bag of cement!
clanking stops
pippa:            Mr Clough? Pippa Lawrence, “Midlands Today” – pleasure to meet you. And this is our cameraman, John Turner
john:            How d’you do Mr Clough?
pippa:            And here’s the fan…er….what’s your name? I’m sorry I’ve forgotten
jimmy:            (out of breath) Jimmy
pippa:            Jimmy what?
JIMMY:            (still out of breath )Jimmy Wilkinson
beat
cloughie:            Is it April fool?
john:            No it’s January Mr Cl -
Cloughie:                        I know what bloody month it is lad. Do you want a clip round the ear?
pippa:            That’s sort of why we’re here actually  -
cloughie:            You’re on my football pitch young lady
john:            We’ve squared it with the press office Mr Cl -
cloughie:                        And you’re off-side young man
pippa:             It’s basically a “kiss and make up” feature 
cloughie:            Which one’s Tweedle dee?
John:            What Pippa…what my colleague is trying to say is…we’ve brought along one of the fans you…er
cloughie:            One of the fans I…er…what? 
john:            One of the fans you….er
Pippa:                                ”apprehended” - for want of a better word - at the pitch invasion last Wednesday….
john:            and he’s come along this morning to apologise….
Pippa:                          …on television….  
john:                                for “Midlands Today”…
pippa:            ….tonight
jimmy:            Hello Brian. I’m Jimmy. One of the fans. One of the fans you hit on the head
SCENE 2.front room. jimmy and Mam are eating tea. tv is on: BBC “midlands today” theme tune. Jimmy is singing along
mam:            Belt up Jimmy you’re putting me off me tea
JIMMY:            I’m on telly in a minute mam
mam:            And I’m Nora Batty – don’t talk daft lad
tv fades up
Pippa(D) :            …with thirty two year old pie worker Jimmy Wilkinson…
EATING stops
mam:            Bloody Nora
jimmy:            Told ya
PlPPA(D) :            ….to meet Forest manager Brian Clough
mam:            Bloody Nora
pIpPA(D) :            …. for his part in last week’s pitch invasion
mam:                                 What pitch invasion?
jimmy(D) :            I’d just like to say sorry Brian. I don’t think you should’ve hit me but I don’t think I should’ve been on the pitch in the first place (beat) So I’m sorry for starting it
cloughie(D) :            Come here lad and let Cloughie give you a smacker
A loud kiss. Tv continues low
jimmy:                              Kissed by “God” eh? I won’t wash for a week
mam:            Hit by “God” more like
jimmy:                               What’s up mam? I’ve just been on telly with a football legend. I’m famous.
mam:            Famous for being an idiot. How did they find you?
jimmy:            Who?
mam:            “Midlands Today”
JIMMY:            They came in the “Dog and Bear” askin’ if I knew any of the fans
mam:            And you kept your gob shut
jimmy:                               I told ‘em Cloughie hit me
mam:                                  Do you want all Nottingham to know you’re a football hooligan?
jimmy:            I’ve been on telly mam – It was a laugh
mam:            I’m splittin me sides Jimmy – when will you grow up?
JIMMY:                               When you stop naggin me. I’m off to the “Dog” - to find you a sense of humour
scene 3. dog n bear. “me n Mrs jones”(original version) on juke box quiet pub noise
jimmy(V.O.):            Dead as a dodo – what night is it? Tuesday. Darts Night - Sod it. And the telly’s not been on. I checked. No-one’s seen it (BEAT) No-one’s even noticed I’m here
smokers mild coughing fit
JIMMY(V.O.) :            Who was that bloke said we all get fifteen minutes of fame? I reckon he was talking out of his -
Factory hooter. scene 4. PIE FACTORY. hum of processing machines
jimmy(V.O):            It’s like winning “employee of the month”. People keep pointing at me and laughing
Hydraulic gun squirts jelly in rhythm    
TWOPINTS:                      Saw you on the box last night Jimmy
jimmy:            Oh aye      
twopints:            You’re taller than Cloughie aren’t you?
jimmy:            Nothin gets past you does it Twopints?
twopints:            Look, it’s the girls in pastry. They’re starin’ at you. Give ‘em a wave Jimmy
jimmy:                              Hi girls
jelly gun misses a squirt
twopints:            Watch out - you missed your squirt!
jimmy:            Oh bugger! Some poor sod’s in for a shock tomorrow when he bites into a jelly-free pork pie
twopints:            I never eat ‘em myself. Not after seein’ what they put inside. Pig’s ears, bits of stomach, toe nails -
jimmy:            Alright Twopints I get the picture. Anyway, I’m a vegan
twopints:            I’m a Gemini
break bell. SCENE 5.  works canteen.  Frank an Jimmy are drinking tea in a corner. hubbub under dialogue
frank:            Our Mam was on the phone last night. Says you were on “Midlands Today” making a fool of yourself
jimmy:            Pass the sugar Frank
passes sugar across table while speaking. jimmy stirs under dialogue 
frank:            Then I come into work this morning an everyone’s sayin me brother’s a local hero
jimmy:                              I am a local hero
frank:                             For what? Getting cuffed by Brian Clough?
jimmy:            We kissed and made up though – in front of millions
frank:            You live in a dream world Jimmy
jimmy:            Because it’s better than the real one. Why do you always piss on me bonfire Frank? You’re worse than Mam
FRANK:            I’m not arguing with you
jimmy:            Cos you know you’ll lose
they drink
JIMMY:            How’s Jo and the kids?
FRANK:                             Fine – takin ‘em out for the day, Saturday
jimmy:            Nottingham Castle?
frank:            Macdonalds and Blockbusters
JIMMY LAUGHs
frank:            You shouldn’t be living at home Jimmy
jimmy:            I know that Frank 
jimmy drinks
frank:            Why don’t you go down and see Jo’s brother – he’s got tons of building work on
jimmy:                                I hate Cockneys
frank:            He’s from Kent
bell sounds. SCENE 6. the “DOG AN BEAR”. JUKE BOX PLAYS “billy don’t be a hero” by Paper lace. jimmy is a BIT pissed 
jimmy(V.O.) :            (off) Cheers mate! (to us) That’s me fifteenth free pint. (sings along to juke box)…“Come back and make me your wife…” 1975 that was. Paper Lace. Nottingham’s first number one. I bet they got free drinks an all …”an as Billy started to go”…   
mam:            Can I have your autograph please Jimmy Wilkinson
jimmy:            Mam (beat) What you doing here?
mam:            I needed to get away from that blasted phone – it won’t stop ringing. It’s all your fault you know
(pause)
jimmy:            Do you want a pint – I’ve got a stockpile
mam:            That’d be nice
SHE DRINKs. Beat
MaM:            Found your old boots when I was clearing the loft this morning – they were white once I got the mud off
jimmy:            Not me “Alan Ball’s”? Bloody hell! They’re older than Paper Lace! 
mam:            Who?
jimmy:            Never mind 
They drink. pause
jimmy:            Mam
mam:            What?
jimmy:            I weren’t actually cuffed by Cloughie you know   
MaM:                                  How do you mean?
Jimmy:                               I was nowhere near him when he hit the fans. I was still on the terraces
MAM:            Then why did you say you were?
jimmy:            I thought it’d be a laugh
MAM:            Ask a stupid question……
jimmy:            And it is a laugh mam –  look at all me freebies
mAM:            I’ll keep me gob shut if you give me another
JIMMY:                               Is that a bribe?
MAM:                                  No it’s a Guinness
JIMMY:            I’ll have to carry you home again
mam:            I’m lookin forward to it
Takes drink. beat
mam:                                 Why don’t you play anymore Jimmy? You used to be quite good
jIMMY:            I was quicker than Franz Carr - ooh ah franzie carr
mam:            Who -
JIMMY:            -ah franzie carr…I was better than our Frank anyroad
mam:                                  Spoke to him yesterday – says I can use his season ticket on Saturday
Jimmy:            You never go to Forest mam
mam:            I do now son (beat) You comin? 
SCENE 7. the city ground match day. Chant of “brian clough’s a football genius” then crowd cheers as jimmy an mam take seats
Mam:            Is that for you Jimmy?
jimmy:            I’m a celebrity didn’t I tell you?
mam:            Better keep “mum” then
A huge roar then “we will rock you” over tannoy as players take the field
mam:            It’s like a pop concert. Who’s the player in the mittens?
jimmy:            Nigel Clough, he’s Cloughie’s son – and  they’re gloves not mittens
mam:            You can tell his mam looks after him though can’t you?
Whistle blows for kick off. crowd noise increases under
jimmy:            We’re playin Spurs away next week mam. Thought I might stay down South for a bit after. Stay with Jo’s brother (BEAT) Just for a few weeks 
crowd roar at a near miss. then chant “ooh ah Franzie Carr” under dialogue
MAM:                                 It’s exciting isn’t it?
JIMMY:                              Aye, it is (BEAT) I’ve never been to Kent           
MAM:                                 I can’t hear you if you mumble Jimmy
JImmY:                              Just enjoy the match mam and I’ll talk to meself for a bit
MAM:                                 You’re a funny boy Jimmy Wilkinson
beat
JIMMY:                              Might try those boots on when I get home. See if they still fit
mam:            You goin to start playin again?
jimmy:            Aye mam I think so (BEAT) I might even take them with me
CHANt builds and segues into the chorus of “OOPs UPSIDE YER HEAD” from which it is taken.  end.

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