The Story Behind The Script

Below this post is the first introductory pages of a script I wrote back in 07/08. The proposed production was named "The Survival of The Fittest". It followed seven characters trapped in a post-apocalyptic world after an event which is called "The Climax". It was based in one room of an abandoned jail in the city of London which they had makeshifted into a permanent shelter. It was written by myself and was supposed to be directed by a friend of mine named Kerry Rooney who directed a number of plays of which I was part back then and still up to today. Unfortunately after a closure of Kerry's studio and theatre of which it was meant to be played in, as well as lack of funds, the show was cancelled to my great sadness. But Kerry got me in a position to show part of the play as part of a showcase in 09. In which I was able to cast the characters, and make a simplified version of the set. So the script was never fully produced and is now only with Kerry and I.

First Scene in 90 Page Theatre Play

ACT ONE – SCENE ONE: LOCKED UP SHELTER: NIGHT

The moon shines through the small barred window of what used to be a jail before the climax. The outside which used to bring the sound of far away cars, animals and people passing by now gives only never ending silence. Apart from the odd far away scream from either a poor person caught fowl or some horrible unknown creature. Inside a large metal door bars entry to the room. It has a large number of locks and chains across to keep any unwanted presences from trying to gain entrance.

On the floor lies seven makeshift beds made of torn mattresses and withered old blankets. Only three are occupied, two of the sleeping people have the blankets over their heads apart from one woman named MARINA. She is leaning against the wall with the shine of the moon coming down on her. She is staring into space with what seems to be an old book in front of her. Suddenly three slow bangs from the door emanate through the room. They are quiet at first. Marina lies down in panic and puts the blanket over her head. Again three bangs come from the door louder this time.

MARINA – Eddy...Eddy!

EDDY lifts his head from the blanket.

EDDY – I know.

The person on the other end named ANTHONY raises his head.

ANTHONY – Wait...

A few seconds of silence pass then five knocks in a rhythm ring out.

EDDY – It’s them!

All three rise up from their beds and run to the door. They untangle the chains and open the locks. Anthony grabs the big handle and pushes the door open. Four people, TONI, JULIAN, JOE and FARA rush in carrying big bags of what look like food and supplies. The set their bags down on their beds and sit down as the three others lock up the door.

MARINA – What in the hell was that!? You scared us half to death!

JULIAN – Sorry, sorry. This dick forgot the password again!

JOE – For God’s sake would you leave me alone!

TONI – You either remember or die, Joe!

MARINA – She’s right Joe, this is life or death! The least you can do is remember a fucking password for a door!

JOE – OK, OK, you’re right, always right.

There is an awkward silence between the group.

ANTHONY – Anyway... what did you find?

FARA – After about two days we found all of this in a community health centre. You know one of those early care places they had up.

EDDY – But... you’ve been away six days, what happened?

FARA – The route we took out was blocked coming in. They set a trap up counting on us returning. We spent days dodging them. It’s hard when they don’t make any noise. No tell when they could creep up.

MARINA – Man... did you see any of them?

JULIAN – One or two, they’re so fast.

ANTHONY – You know you can’t go back their right? Back to the aid centre.

EDDY – You’re right, that’s exactly what they’d be expecting.

JOE – There was so much stuff we couldn’t bring, there was literally rooms of the stuff.

MARINA – Exactly, just the thing to bring people back.

ANTHONY – We have to be careful guys, this is the best loot we have had. And that scares me.

JULIAN – He’s right guys, we have to be more cautious than ever now. We have to spread the rotation further every month.

There is a resounding sound of acceptance from the group.

EDDY – Anyways. Let’s get some of this out shall we! This is a time to be happy.

They all grab the bags and put them in the centre of the sitting group. They open them to reveal a lot of tinned and dehydrated foods. As well as medical supplies.

A few moments of silence from the opening of tins etc. Suddenly there is a huge bang that comes from the door. The sound of people running around and smashing of glass can be heard. The whole group rises to their feet in fear.

MARINA – They followed you!

JULIAN – No! We checked, we were so, so careful!

The sound outside stops for a few seconds. The sound of scampering feet can be heard outside the door, then a few gentle taps at the metal entrance from an unknown person.

TONI –Oh dear God.

Toni falls to the floor. Anthony and Julian go to help her and lay her on her bed.

MARINA – Go to your beds, they can’t get in, just make sure to stay silent.

They all go to their beds as the big handle of the door turns frantically.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Inspiration

One of the greatest inspirations of my writing and interests. This is a quote from the stunning George Orwell book "1984".

It was always at night -- the arrests invariably happened at night. The sudden jerk out of sleep, the rough hand shaking your shoulder, the lights glaring in your eyes, the ring of hard faces round the bed. In the vast majority of cases there was no trial, no report of the arrest. People simply disappeared, always during the night. Your name was removed from the registers, every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten. You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized was the usual word.

For a moment he was seized by a kind of hysteria. He began writing in a hurried untidy scrawl:

theyll shoot me i don't care theyll shoot me in the back of the neck i dont care down with big brother they always shoot you in the back of the neck i dont care down with big brother --

He sat back in his chair, slightly ashamed of himself, and laid down the pen. The next moment he started violently. There was a knocking at the door. 

This small quote from the 1948 book is an astonishingly and terrifyingly accurate portrayal of the future. Maybe not in terms of the Stalin-esque state of the country but in terms of technology and attitude. This is without a doubt my favourite book and has been an inspiration ever since I read it 2 years ago.

Network

This is one of my favourite monologues in film. It perfectly encapsulates the time period that this film is based and the future of vthe world to come. This speech comes from the film "Network" of 1976.

Listen to the speech and see for yourself.:
The World is a Business

Personal Information Update

Just updated my user information. If you look at the page you will find more information about myself as well as a link to my personal website which includes my recently updated show reel. Enjoy.

Welcome

Hello, and Welcome. This is a blog centering on my workings in my studies. I shall be posting as new events occur and present how I feel about different things relevant to my studies so far.

So, enjoy and have a look at what I have to say.