SCENE 8: DOWN BY THE FENCE - FOREST HILL GROUNDS
The sound of Spud chanting 'Ten
German Bombers' can be heard as
the boys enter, he is absolutely
leathered. Tom and Dylan are
trying to 'shh' him. Digital watch
readouts on the TV inform us that
the time is now 23:00.
SPUD
(Entering)
Then the RAF from England shot one down! Then
the RAF from England shot one down! Then the
RAF from England...RAF from England, RAF from
England shot one down!
DYLAN
(Aggressive whisper)
Shut the fuck up Spud! The caretaker's house is
right there, if he wakes up then this whole
thing will be fucked!
SPUD
Shit, yes, sorry Dyl. I'm so sorry.
(Beat)
I love you.
DYLAN
What was he drinking?
TOM
His own invention apparently. A mixture of
cider, vodka and desert wine or something.
SPUD
So sweet and delicious.
Spud closes his eyes and lets out
a burp.
DYLAN
Fuck me.
Pause as it looks like Spud is on
the verge of falling asleep. Ideal
for Dylan and Tom.
DYLAN
That's it...go on Spuddy...shhhh. Good boy.
Dylan quietly gets the spray
paints out of his bag and he is
about to spray when Tom
interrupts. He keeps interrupting
him before every attempt to spray.
TOM
What are you going to spray?
DYLAN
Dunno. Hadn't really thought about it. Probably
just a cock or something.
TOM
Yeah, yeah, nice.
(Beat. Dylan goes to spray)
How big?
DYLAN
What?
TOM
How big will the cock be?
DYLAN
I don't know, just a big fucking cock on the
fence, why does it matter?
TOM
Just wondered. What does it say about you, you
know?
DYLAN
What?
TOM
I just thought, if you're going to leave your
mark, what do you want it to say about you?
DYLAN
I dunno, I'm just drawing a big fucking cock
for a laugh Tom. What are you talking about?
TOM
Nothing, nothing. Maybe you could write 'Mrs
Chandry is a...' above it.
DYLAN
'Mrs Chandry is a...cock'. Not bad actually.
TOM
Are you sure you want to do this? You could
give the test a go tomorrow? You never know?
DYLAN
There's no fucking way I'm taking that test.
They want to see me fail, that's the only
reason I'm still at the school.
TOM
Nah, yeah, of course.
DYLAN
So I go out with a bang instead, like we
agreed, yeah? What are you being such a pussy
for all of a sudden anyway?
TOM
I'm not being a pussy, I just, I think you
could pass the test, that's all.
DYLAN
(Keeping his voice down but running out of
patience)
For the last time, I am not taking that fucking
test!
TOM
Ok, ok! I'm sorry/
Spud suddenly rouses. Tom 'sssh's
him but with no effect, Spud just
keeps babbling louder and louder,
Tom and Dylan shake him to try and
get him to stop but to no avail,
eventually Tom gives him a short
sharp slap around the face and he
stops instantly.
SPUD
Don't do it! Don't take them away from me!
Without them I am nothing1 NOTHING YOU HEAR
ME?! Your hair is like straw! The straw is
going to prick me! Ouch!
Silence. Spud stares Tom out.
TOM
Thank you.
SPUD
My face.
TOM
I'm sorry, Spud. You forced me into that.
SPUD
No problem. I love you.
TOM
Cool, yeah.
SPUD
What are you going to paint Dyl?
DYLAN
We had decided on a cock, Spud.
SPUD
Beautiful. I love you.
DYLAN
I love you too, mate.
SPUD
What are we going to do tomorrow? Smash the
windows all up and stuff, everywhere?
DYLAN
We'll decide on that tomorrow mate. Right now,
I just need a chance to paint this fucking
cock.
SPUD
DANGER BURP!
(He does a small burp)
The moon looks so bright. So beautiful.
DYLAN
(Looking up)
Honestly man, what are you on?
SPUD
Almost like I can reach up and touch it!
Before they have a chance to
react, Spud is off and climbing
the fence to get closer to the
moon.
HELLO MR MOON! ARE YOU MADE OF CHEESE??
TOM
For fuck sake, shut up!
SPUD
So bright, so...soo...
He pauses, a stunned silence.
DYLAN
Spud?
SPUD
No.
TOM
Do you wanna come down mate?
Spud is looking back and forth
over the fence at Kevin and back
at Dylan.
SPUD
No...no...
DYLAN
What's wrong mate?
SPUD
How?! You are there and there?! Impossible.
(Shouting to Kevin)
Dylan!
DYLAN
Oh here we go. Shut up Spud! Please!
TOM
I'll go get him.
SPUD
Arghhh! Dylan? And Dylan Dylan?!
TOM
Alright mate, come on, that's it.
Spud is gingerly climbing down off
the fence.
SPUD
The things these eyes have seen.
TOM
I know mate.
SPUD
I think I'm going to be sick.
DYLAN
Not on me you're fucking not!
SPUD
Ooooooo I don't feel good.
DYLAN
Get him out of here.
TOM
Cool. You gonna be alright here on you're own?
DYLAN
'Course. Probably safer without that absolute
mess next to me.
SPUD
My tum tum!
TOM
Alright mate.
SPUD
It's going to explode.
TOM
We're going home now Spuddy, OK mate?
SPUD
Ok. I love you.
TOM
If you change your mind about tomorrow, that's
fine mate. Whatever you want to do, yeah?
DYLAN
Just meet me outside C block at the start of
first period alright? Don't be late.
TOM
Nah, 'course. In a bit, Dyl.
SPUD
There were nine German bombers in the air...
Spud and Tom exit.
DYLAN
IF YOU DON'T DANCE, DANCE TO THEIR TUNE,
DO THE OCEANS DRY UP AS THE SUN TRIES TO BURN OUT THE MOON?
SOMETIMES THAT RISK, BEATS THEIR REWARD,
WHEN THERE'S NOTHING TO LOSE THERE IS NO LOSS THAT YOU CAN'T
AFFORD.
Scene on the TVs of intimidating,
looming adult figures pushing a
small Dylan from pillar to post.
Back into song.
DYLAN
IF I CAN SHOUT, SHOUT TO THE SKY,
WILL THEY ALL DISAPPEAR AND WOULD THAT STOP ME WONDERING WHY?
TURN UP WITH HOPE, LEAVE WITH DESPAIR,
SO IT'S BETTER TO DISTANCE YOURSELF AND ACCEPT THEY DON'T
CARE.
Chorus.
FORGET I EXIST AND I'LL GET WHAT I'VE WANTED,
THE FREEDOM TO BREATH AND A PLACE I CAN KEEP FROM THE WORLD,
STUCK ON REPEAT, THE SINS OF THE PAST LINGER ON
BUT THE HOPE IS ALL GONE,
I'M JUST PASSING THE DAYS LIKE A RAT IN A MAZE
AND I'M SICK OF MY WHEEL BEING SPUN!
SO I'M DONE!
Home video footage on TVs of
Dylan's 10th birthday intercut
with doors opening up to nothing
and Dylan being pushed towards
them before they slam shut.
DYLAN
I LET THEM IN, THAT IS MY CRIME,
IS MY LIFE ON A LOOP? 'CAUSE IT'S HAPPENING TIME AFTER TIME.
ANOTHER DOOR, SLAMMED IN MY FACE,
AND I SEE ALL THE SIGNS BUT STILL STRUGGLE TO PICK UP THE
PACE.
FORGET I EXIST AND I'LL GET WHAT I'VE WANTED,
'CAUSE TRYING AND FAILING IS WORSE THAN NOT TRYING AT ALL.
NOTHING CAN LAST, THE SINS OF THE PAST LINGER ON
BUT THE HOPE IS ALL GONE,
AND WITH TIME RUNNING OUT, I AM LEFT IN NO DOUBT
THAT THE RACE THAT I'M IN CAN'T BE WON,
SO I'M DONE!
The TVs start to show impossible
sums and star formations; a real
time look into Dylan's head as he
frenetically continues spray
painting the fence. Into song.
FORGET I EXIST AND I'LL GET WHAT I'VE WANTED,
'CAUSE TRYING AND FAILING IS WORSE THAN NOT TRYING AT ALL,
LOOK AT THE STARS, THE DARK OF THE NIGHT LINGERS ON
BUT THE HOPE IS ALL GONE,
AND I KNOW HOW IT GOES, 'CAUSE I'VE TAKEN THE BLOWS,
I CAN LIVE IN THE NIGHT, 'CAUSE I'M USED TO THE FIGHT
AND MY LATEST DESENT HAS BEGUN.
...SO I'M DONE!
Finishing touches to the wall, on
the button of the song, the
artwork is revealed and it is
brilliant, a spectacularly
creative depiction of the
confusion Dylan feels but can't
articulate. End of Song. Dylan
runs away and gets off school
grounds as the number reaches it's
climax.
