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Hi David - we read your play sample play of Borstal Boys on Wednesday. The general consensus was that there is a potentially effective piece here. If you are still interested in developing a short scene then we’d like you to focus on the scene in which the police officer calls round to Mum and the boys. In that scene show the tension between Mum and the boys, the police officer and the boys and try to indicate why mum left london and how she is coping on her own. Just stick to the four characters in the one location [the living-room for example] and don’t be tempted to include another scene or more characters. You can include some of the other events via their conversation. We would love to see how you develop this - please pop along to our next meeting on the 20th June at 7.30 in the studio. This would make a smashing 5 minute piece. Hope this helps.
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BORSTAL BOYS
Cast Required Mum, Michael, David and a policemen. Scene A Kitchen at the back of a village shop 1960’s Sam listening to the radio playing a song that provokes his thought Breaking rocks in the hot sun I fought the law and the law won I lost my baby and I lost my fun I fought the law and the Law won I fought the law and the law won David turns the sound down David
There you are Mick we were not the only ones to be captured by the police. Do you remember the first time you got arrested.
Michael
Yes I do and it was all your fault all
David
What to you mean.
Michael
I mean the time that we lived in Wilstone and I was about to leave school. Must be 10 years ago.
David
I can’t see how it was my fault.
Michael Well if it wasn’t for you it would never have Happened. David
No it wasn’t. I cant see how it was my fault.
Michael Don’t you remember. Lets go back and relive the event
Music Play 2nd ‘I fount Th Law’ Michael leaves and returned
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Enter Michael re-enters with a blood on his nose Michael
Bastards,
David
Bloody Hell looks like you’ve been in the ring with Floyd Pattern.
Michael
Don’t worry I’ve got it back.
David
Really I was wondering where you’d gone.
Michael
Bastards must have broken my nose.
David
Was it those boys from Long Marston.
Michael
Yeah. There were three of them but I didn’t let that bother me.
David
How did you manage that.
Michael
They needed a bit of persuasion. Don’t worry they wont bother you again.
David
Why what did you do.
4 Michael
Never mind I’ve sorted it. I’ll tell you later when mum’s not around.
David You had better sort out your nose before mum sees it. Enter Mum from shop Mum
Before mum see’s what. What on earth have you been up too. What has happened to you.
Michael A bit of an accident nothing to worry about, don’t fuss. David sits down at the table to read a magazine Mum
Let me see
Michael Ouch. Mum
Have you been fighting again
Michael No Mum
Don’t lie. I know when you lying to me. Where have you been.
Michael Down the field fixing the moped and it took some time.
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Mum
So how come you have a blood nose
Michael
I just slipped and hit my face on the handlebars.
Mum
Well go and clean your face and I will have a closer look afterwards
Mum
David, the next time Mrs Bishop come to the side door of the shop you must not let her in.
David
Oh why is that, she always comes on Wednes day when you are out.
Mum
She steels cigarettes when you’re serve her.
David
Oh. That why she comes on a Wednesday after noon as she knows you are not there. Next time just won’t answer the door.
Mum Or you can just tell her it is our half day and we are closed.
It not very nice when things happen like this. This village life is so different to living in
Watford and every body seems to know about every body else business.
Michael returns cleaned up
6 Mum
Let me see. That’s better you need to be more careful in future.
Now Dad say’s you have a job at Midwinters when you leave school, what kind of job is it and how are you going to get to work.
Michael
A trainee carpenter. No problem about getting to work I’m getting a motorbike as I can ride that when I’m 16.
David
That’s good what kind of bike are you getting.
Michael
I’m getting a 250 (Beezer). Its a side valve engine with telescopic front forks. That means I won’t be stuck in this village and will be able to ride to where I want to. I’ll be able to ride to Watford and. I get bored in this village as there’s not much to do.
David
And where are you getting it from
Michael From Bob Shera you know at Dunstan farm in Tring. Mum
Is that one of the boys at your school.
David
Yes and his dad owns the farm in Tring and that’s where I learned to ride a motorbike.
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Mum
You never told me about that, when was that.
David
Yes It was after school. Michael has a 350 Triumph on the farm and we ride it on the in the field.
Mum
That sounds dangerous to me
Michael
No, No, not really we ride it around the field ant its not much bigger that the moped.
Mum
Well you must be careful and by the way I hear some of those boys at your school are often in trouble.
Michael
Not really its just that they get board living in Tring. There’s not much to do.
Mum What’s that are you reading about in the magaz ine David
It about transistors and how they work. They are completely different to valves.
Knock on the Door Mum opens the door to a policeman Policeman
I would like to speak to Michael as there has been a report of an incident in the village.
8 Mum
Well why do you want to see him. He’s done nothing wrong you had better tell me what its all about.
Policeman
It would be better to speak to you both in private and not on the doorstep as it is a series matter.
Mum
You had better come in as I don’t want the vil lage to start talking.
Mum brings Policeman into the kitchen Mum
Michael the Policeman want to speak to you
Michael
Oh yeh, what about.
Policeman
We have a report that you assaulted a boy from the next village and two other boys saw you do it.
Michael
Well I don’t know about that I just went to get my brothers moped back that they had stolen from the field.
Policeman
The boy says you hit him with a piece of metal.
Michael
No, No there were three of them and when I
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went to get the moped off them that got awkward one tried to fight me.
Policeman
So why did you hit him
Michael
I wasn’t going to let them get away with it so hit him with something I had in my hand, before they got to me.
Policeman
And what did you have in your hand
Michael A part which I made for the moped to fix the saddle Policeman
Show me the part or go and get it.
Michael
Here its in my pocket. I made it in the metal work class at school. Its to hold the saddle down on the moped.
Policeman
And what is this soft cushioning on the inside of this piece of metal
Michael
Its to stop the seat rattling on the moped.
Policeman
Hum, This fits nicely over the hand and this cushioning on the inside looks remarkable like a home made knuckle duster
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(he puts it on his hand)
Michael
No, No, you don’t know what your talking about I made it for the moped and there were three of them.
Mum
Michael’s just told you he made the part at school for David’s moped.
David
Yes that’s right. Mum tell him. He should be sorting out those boys that took my moped.
Policeman
This is a very serious offence, making a knuckle duster and causing grievous bodily harm and likely to carry a prison sentence.
Michael
No, No its not true, why don’t you sort them boys our for taking the moped.
Policeman Mrs Clarke I am arresting you on a charge of making an offensive weapon and causing Grievous bodily harm and its likley to carry a prison sentence. Michael
No, No, I did nothing of a sort. It defiantly wasn’t me. Mum tell him again.
Lights go dim. Then spot shines on Michael standing in the centre of the floor as though he were in the dock in court facing the audience. Judge
Michael John Clarke you have been found
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guilty of making an offensive weapon and causing grievous body harm. I give you a
custodial sentence you will be detained at Her Majesties Pleasure for a period of 3 months.
Michael turned his back on the audience and walks to the back of the stage and light go out. Sound of the prison door closing (clang) Closing music last few bars of ‘I fought and the Law won’. 7 minutes.