SCRIPT SAMPLE, CAST LIST
ACT ONE
SCENE ONE.
The Family Room, a kitchen-cum-sitting room, decorated in suburban style. HAZEL comes and goes; she puts some fast food in the microwave then stuffs some washing into the washing machine. She moves briskly and efficiently; she is a modern Mum. She does everything noisily; she’s irritated that no one's helping her, but it’s less trouble to do it herself.
DANNY is playing a violent game on his computer.
SUZIE is on the phone. She is awkwardly a teenager; her hair is up in a towel. She swivels a lot on her chair, posing and pouting as if a million people are watching. HAZEL and DANNY take no notice of her.
SUZIE
(on the phone)
Oh, he’s such a pain! I can’t think why you go out with him!
(pause; then loudly, because HAZEL is walking past)
I can’t talk about that now; Mum’s in the room!
(HAZEL takes no notice. DANNY turns up the volume slightly on his computer game.)
HAZEL
Danny, turn that thing down!
DANNY
Mum! What’s the use of having a computer if I can’t turn the music up?
(turns it down a bit)
HAZEL
(carrying HOUSEPLANT across the room to water it at the sink)
This bloody thing, it's dying!
SUZIE
(hand over the phone)
Hey Mum, can’t I go out tonight?
HAZEL
No!
(angrily turning on SUZIE)
Is just one night a week at home too much to ask?
SUZIE
All right Mum, keep your hair on!
(down the phone)
She wants me to stay at home and pretend we’re a happy family!
HAZEL
(to no one or everyone as she busies about)
Pretend? A happy family? Wouldn’t that be a fine thing!
SUZIE
You just like to spoil people's fun!
HAZEL
Don't talk to me of fun! What fun do I get? Working day and night just so you lot can complain!
And as for your father, Jack the lad, I don't know why I don't chuck him out and have done with it!
SONG No 1: THE DEVIL IN JACK (HAZEL)
Verse 1
I’ve got a good job, it pays pretty well,
A husband called Jack, and healthy kids too,
I was looking for heaven when I came across hell,
And I tell you Jack, the devil is you.
Verse 2
Just switch on the TV, it's easy to see
So many people much worse off than me.
But when the angels were dishing out fun
They took one look and gave me none.
Refrain
Let’s pretend we’re happy
Let’s pretend we’re all right
Let’s pretend we’re in a family
Like the ones in the adverts every night.
Like the ones every night, every night.
Verse 3
Jack messes around, while Danny runs wild,
While I’m out at work, Suzie runs free.
I used to dream a lot when I was a child
Of a man who'd care for me, care for me.
Verse 4
Something went wrong, so terribly wrong
What happened to hope, to love and to life?
The sky had a sparkle, when I was young
But dreams have all left me, now I'm a wife!
Refrain (as above)
Verse 5
I go out to work, to help pay the bills,
I buy for the children things I never had
But Jack you have to go out looking for thrills
And all the good we're making - you turn to bad!
I was looking for heaven when I came across hell
And I tell you Jack; (spoken) the devil is you!
(JACK has entered through the front door. He looks gloomy; he bangs his work down on the table.)
CAST:
DANNY, a boy of twelve. A dreamer.
HAZEL, his mother. Tough, no-nonsense, full of energy, a contender.
JACK, his father. Good-looking, charming, a bit selfish, weak character.
SUZIE, his sister. Stroppy adolescent, challenging, says what she thinks.
FRED, Suzie's boyfriend in the dream.
GIRLFRIENDS of Suzie's.
THE SPIRIT OF LOVE.
COMPUTER
SOLDIER
FRIDGE
VACUUM CLEANER
TOASTER
TELEVISION
OVEN / WASHING MACHINE
GHOST OF PLANT
MONKS
MEN-IN-SUITS
ARMED ROBOTS who accompany men-in-suits.
BERYL }
HORACE } Tramps
BORIS }
MAN-IN-CROCODILE
ACT ONE
Scene One. The family living room.
Scene Two. Desolation - ruins, rubble, broken asphalt.
ACT TWO
Scene One. The family living room.
Scene Two. Darkness - Danny and his Computer.
Scene Three. The bank of a stream.
Scene Four. The family living room.
DANNY'S DREAM
SONG LIST
ACT ONE
SCENE ONE
1: THE DEVIL IN JACK (HAZEL)
2: RESPECT (SUZIE and JACK)
3: LOVE BRINGS NOTHING BUT PAIN (HAZEL AND CHORUS)
4: BANISH LOVE! (JACK, HAZEL and SUZIE )
5: LOVE MUST (Light Your Pathway) (THE SPIRIT OF LOVE)
SCENE TWO
6: MOON SONG (DANNY)
7: I DIDN'T WANT TROUBLE (JACK, and MEN-IN-SUITS VERSES 3 & 4).
8: OVER ROLLS THE SUN (HAZEL)
9: FRIDGE SONG (FRIDGE and DANNY)
10: NATURE'S FINEST PRODUCTS (APPLIANCES)
11: MOTHER'S WORDS (DANNY)
12: JACK'S LAMENT (JACK)
13: HA! HA! HA! (You Stupid Fools!) (APPLIANCES and MEN-IN-SUITS)
ACT TWO
SCENE ONE
14: BOYS AND MEN (SUZIE)
15: WHO'S STOLEN OUR WORLD? (HAZEL)
16: WHERE GIRLS ALL GROW ON TREES (JACK)
SCENE TWO
17: HUSHED IN NIGHT (DANNY, and SPIRIT OF LOVE)
SCENE THREE
18: QUIETEST PLACES (JACK)
19: YOU MAKE LIFE WONDERFUL (FRED and SUZIE)
20: LOVE'S A HUNGRY BIRD (JACK and HAZEL)
21: IT TAKES ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE (PLANT)
22: THE KING OF DERRY'S DAUGHTER (HORACE)
23: I'LL TELL YOU OF A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN (BERYL)
24: SLEEP GENTLY, LOVE (HAZEL)
SCENE FOUR
25: FINALE: MOTHER, FATHER; into PROTECT THE CHILDREN; then, reprise of MOTHER'S WORDS (DANNY, JACK, HAZEL, SUZIE)
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