I know some of you might have come here after reading Unite and Take Over vol 2. Here's my original script for London. Enjoy!
LONDON
By Russell Hillman
(Inspired by the
song by Morrissey/Marr)
PAGE 1:
Page
1, Panel 1:
Establishing
shot of Manchester Piccadilly station. A reasonably crowded platform. Our cast
are there, but we cannot make them out among the throng.
CAPTION
MANCHESTER
PICCADILLY STATION. OCTOBER, 1962.
BILLY (FROM CROWD)
It's not fair!
Page
1, Panel 2:
Stan
is talking to Billy. He has crouched down slightly so he can look Billy in the
eye. Billy is wiping away a tear.
BILLY
Why do you have to
go to London now, Stan? We haven't finished making the Messerschmitts yet!
STAN
You can do those
yourself. It's like I told you - -
Page
1, Panel 3:
Close
up on Stan. He is standing now, looking down at Billy.
STAN
- - Dad got me a job
with Mr. Delaney. A good one.
STAN (CONTINUED)
You're getting so
big now, Billy - you don't need me to help you anymore. And our Rita's still
here.
Page
1, Panel 4:
Stan
has moved on to Rita now. He reaches out to hug her.
STAN
You'll come down and
visit, won't you Reet?
RITA
Of course we will.
Page
1, Panel 5:
Stan
is hugging Rita. They whisper to one another.
STAN (WHISPERING)
I mean it. If you
need to get away...
RITA (WHISPERING)
We'll be OK, but
thanks. That's... thank you.
PAGE 2:
Page
2, Panel 1:
Stan
has pulled away from Rita, and tentatively offers a hand to Vic.
STAN
Victor.
VIC
Stanley.
Page
2, Panel 2:
Vic
shaking Stan's hand. He is crushing it, but Stan is taking the pain.
VIC
You won't catch me
going to that London - nowt but nig-nogs and nancies down there.
Page
2, Panel 3:
Vic
is still shaking Stan's hand. They look one another in the eye.
STAN
You’ll take proper
care of our Rita, won't you?
VIC
I always do.
Page
2, Panel 4:
On
Vic. He is staring right into your soul.
VIC
She’s a smart girl,
that one. Knows her place.
VIC (CONTINUED)
Most of the time.
Page
2, Panel 5:
Stan
and Vic looking directly at one another, still shaking hands. Vic is still
staring at Stan. No dialogue.
Page
2, Panel 6:
They
break their handshake, and Stan turns to Phyllis.
STAN
Bye mum.
PHYLLIS
Come here, little
soldier!
PAGE 3:
Page
3, Panel 1:
Stan
hugs Phyllis.
PHYLLIS
My little baby's
going away!
STAN
Oh, Mum!
Page
3, Panel 2:
Stan
and Phyllis part. She wags a finger at him.
PHYLLIS
You make sure you
eat properly - I don't want you wasting away.
STAN
They have roast
dinners down in London too, mum.
Page
3, Panel 3:
Stan
has stepped back, and Alf has stepped in from the side.
PHYLLIS
Have you got a vest
on?
STAN
Yes mum.
ALF
Don't smother the
boy, Phyllis!
Page
3, Panel 4:
Alf
and Stan shaking hands. Body language very stiff, no strong emotion from Alf.
ALF
Bye lad. Be sure and
write to your mother.
ALF (CONTINUED)
She'll only worry.
Page
3, Panel 5:
Alf
and Stan break their handshake.
STAN
Yes Dad.
ALF
You see that you do.
Page
3, Panel 6:
Colin
steps up, he is smiling.
COLIN
You'll be back in a
fortnight.
STAN
Shut your face, you!
PAGE 4:
Page
4, Panel 1:
On
Colin.
COLIN
...there's the
Christmas do at the Bell, Archie’s birthday, the darts club dinner and dance...
COLIN (CONTINUED)
We'll see more of
you than we do now!
Page
4, Panel 2:
Colin
and Stan.
COLIN
I never did show you
how to play "His Latest Flame", did I? You'll have to come back for
that.
STAN
No, you didn't.
Page
4, Panel 3:
Stan
looking down at his shoes.
STAN
I'll see what I can
do, Col.
STAN (CONTINUED)
I'll see what I can
do.
Page
4, Panel 4:
Stan
hugs Audrey. She is in tears.
AUDREY
I'll write to you
every week, Stan.
Page
4, Panel 5:
The
hug continues.
AUDREY
You’ll hurry back
for me, won't you?
AUDREY (CONTINUED)
You’ll hurry back
for us.
Page
4, Panel 6:
Stan
has stepped back from Audrey. The train is arriving.
STAN
Of course I will.
STAN (CONTINUED)
You know you're my
girl.
PAGE 5:
Page
5, Panel 1:
The
train has arrived. Stan has stepped on the train with his bag. Alf is handing
him the suitcase.
ALF
Here you go, lad.
Now, you look after yourself.
Page
5, Panel 2:
They
shake hands again.
ALF
Mr. Delaney runs a
tight ship down there. But you work hard, he'll treat you fair.
STAN
I know, Dad.
Page
5, Panel 3:
On
Alf. He looks wistful.
ALF
I could have gone down
there, you know. When the office opened.
ALF (CONTINUED)
Delaney wanted me to
help train the London lads.
Page
5, Panel 4:
On
Alf. He is lost in thought.
ALF
I could have been
running the place by now...
Page
5, Panel 5:
Continued.
He has snapped back to reality.
ALF
But there was me and
your mother, and you kids had your school....
ALF (CONTINUED)
It wouldn't have
worked.
Page
5, Panel 6:
Stan
has closed the train door, and is leaning out of the window.
STAN
Goodbye Dad.
ALF
Bye, son.
Page
5, Panel 7:
Stan
in the carriage, alone with his thoughts. No dialogue.
PAGE 6:
Page
6, Panel 1:
Dennis
comes in to the carriage. He is smiling. Stan is still thinking.
DENNIS
Here you are - I
thought you'd missed it!
STAN
No chance. I
wouldn't miss this for the world.
Page
6, Panel 2:
Dennis
has sat down next to Stan He lights two cigarettes, one for each of them.
Dennis is smiling, Stan is not.
DENNIS
Are you happy?
STAN
Of course I am.
Page
6, Panel 3:
Dennis
hands Stan the cigarette. Dennis is still smiling, Stan is still looking
reflective.
STAN
I'm finally free.
Page
6, Panel 4:
Stan
and Dennis hold hands, their eyes lock. Dennis is still smiling. No dialogue.
Page
6, Panel 5:
Stan
turns to look out of the window and lets go of Dennis’ hand. Dennis' smile
fades. No dialogue.
Page
6, Panel 6:
Stan
and Dennis sit turned slightly away from one another. Smoke lingers around
Stan’s fingers, the train heaves on to Euston...
-
- - - - - - - - -
Stan Marsden
22.
Medium height. Neatly trimmed dark brown hair parted on the left, dark eyes.
Long pointed nose. White shirt, dark tie, thick dark grey suit. Has a small
suitcase and a big haversack, and carries a dark overcoat under his arm.
Billy Marsden
9.
Short for his age. Like a miniature Stan, with scruffier hair. Striped tie,
short light grey shorts, light grey blazer, white shirt.
Rita Kent
26.
Short. No makeup. Rounded face. Big eyes. Dark brown hair under a scarf. Rough,
styleless fringe is all that’s visible. Thick brown eyebrows. Heavily pregnant.
Big overcoat worn over faded old housedress. Dull, flat shoes. A black eye may
be too obvious, but a little swelling and the hint of darkness over one eye
could work. She is pushing a pram containing hers and Vic’s first child.
Vic Kent
28.
Tall, broad, muscular, burly. Brown hair side parted but swept back. Lantern
jaw. Big hands. Broken nose. Thick white rollneck jumper worn with dark
trousers.
Alf Marsden
53.
Medium height. Light grey hair under a flat cap. Light coloured scarf , dark
overcoat. Thin, weathered face. Small oval glasses, slightly wonky.
Phyllis Marsden
46,
medium height, short mid-brown hair in a perm. Light jumper, darker sensible
skirt, plain blouse. Cat’s-eye glasses.
Audrey Clark
21.
Short, but looks taller because of heavily back-combed hair. Long thin flat
nose with wide nostrils. Almost pretty. Thick light coloured knitted jacket,
plain white blouse, skirt just above the knee, dark shoes with a slight heel.
Not much make up.
Colin West
23.
Medium height. Slim. Curly hair piled on top of his head, slicked back at the
sides. Big thick black glasses. Big nose. Thin face. Small mouth. Light
coloured thick suit, white shirt, dark tie.
Dennis Barnes
25.
Tall, painfully handsome. Thick blond hair, side parted but a little windswept.
Light coloured jumper worn over a shirt with no tie. Mid-brown trousers.
Carries a small suitcase.
