Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Scene Three
SCENE 3. THE COLLEGE, MAIN HALL
F/X: LOW CONVERSATION, CUPS AND SAUCERS
BARBARA: I told you we'd be late. I really have to get organised - I'm doing the introduction.
ALAN: I'd forgotten that parking was going to be even harder than usual. It's bad enough now all the students drive. Are you having drink?
BARBARA: Yes, just quickly. I'm supposed to be meeting and greeting really.
ALAN: Do I know anyone? Apart from Charlotte - she's busy too.
BARBARA: Well, there's my lot from the Council, the arts people, then youth offenders workers and so on. Here's the list. (TO WAITRESS) Coffee, please, black.
ALAN: White coffee, please. (PAUSE) You're off , then?
BARBARA: Yes, I want to check on the microphones. See you later.
ALAN: See you. (PAPER RUSTLES) (LOW) Let's see…
F/X LOUDER CONVERSATION
ED: Hi- it is Alan, isn't it?
ALAN: Yes, Ed- haven't seen you for years. What are you here for?
ED: I'm a solicitor now - just joined a local partnership, and they're involved in this thing - "Making Faces", is it? Sounds a bit weird. Is that Charlotte's choice?
ALAN: Yes. She's up on the stage over there.
ED: You're doing the supportive husband bit?
ALAN: Sort of- Charlotte and I split up. But Barbara's my wife now- she's there too.
F/X ONE PERSON CLAPS FOR ATTENTION; CONVERSATION QUIETENS AND STOPS
BARBARA: (OFF, THROUGH MICROPHONE) Thank you. It's good to see so many people coming together for this event, celebrating the Making Faces project. The Council has supported this work and is pleased that it is having a real impact on people's lives. (FADES)
ALAN: Here comes Charlotte now.
BARBARA: Whew, well that's over. Did it sound ok?
ALAN: Yes, very good. Charlotte, this is Ed.
BARBARA: Oh, from Brett and Barnstaples? Barbara Stevens, head of Community Services.
ED: Pleased to meet you. Excellent talk, by the way.
ALAN: Ed was at university with me and Barbara. Small world, isn't it?
ED: (LAUGHS) Compact and bijou, perhaps.
BARBARA: Sorry to drag you away, Alan: I need to touch base with your College people. Nice to meet you.
ALAN: Yes, see you again.
FX LOUD CONVERSATION
ED: Hiya Charlotte. Long time no see!
CHARLOTTE: Oh, it's you, Ed! I didn't recognise you in a suit!
ED: No, well, solicitors have to look the part. No client is going to trust their legal work to someone who can't be bothered to look smart. And it's not just the businesses - it's everyone.
CHARLOTTE: So you're still on the side of the oppressed?
ED: Potentially oppressed, perhaps. The way I see it is that the law can only deliver justice if everyone can use it. So I suppose I am helping social equity somehow.
CHARLOTTE: People seem more worried about negative equity these days.
ED: Yes. So you and Alan did get married?
CHARLOTTE: Yes, but it didn't work out. Like that statistics joke of yours: the population was broken down by age and sex.
ED: I hope you don't remember too much about our student days; I try to forget it!
CHARLOTTE: It's funny, though; everything seemed so exciting then. Parties, music, even studying.
ED: Yes, they ought to warn you when you're 18 that you are forming your musical tastes for life. I've just been buying the Dylan remasters. It's not the same, though. There's something about vinyl. You HAD to respect it- no finger nails, keep it clean, put it away. Not like CDs - Is that a CD or a coffee mat? Answer: both. And the little booklets in one-point type. No substitute for a lyric sheet.
CHARLOTTE: Still, all my vinyl records are unplayable: scratched and warped.
ED: Oh, if you want to be practical! Spoil my Nick Hornby moment! It was a good time for albums, then, wasn't it? I still go back to them: Neil Young's Comes a Time, Nils Lofgren's Cry Tough, Gerry Rafferty's City to City. Not exactly concept albums, but with a clear mood and a vague narrative. More recent stuff just doesn't measure up.
CHARLOTTE: I find myself becoming interested in classical music. Must be a sign of age. I keep trying to like jazz, too.
ED: They say that with modern jazz they're trying to make music that's as hard to play as it is to listen to. (LAUGHS)
CHARLOTTE: (PAUSE) So what have you been up to?
ED: Well, in a snapshot: law degree, as you know; qualified as solicitor, joined firm; single; happy. You?
CHARLOTTE: (LAUGHS) Umm, let's see: art degree; children; divorced; developed art pottery business; happy too, I guess.
ED: And single now?
CHARLOTTE: Yes. (LAUGHS) Open to offers.
ED: Are you, now? (THEY LAUGH)
F/X: LOW CONVERSATION, CUPS AND SAUCERS
BARBARA: I told you we'd be late. I really have to get organised - I'm doing the introduction.
ALAN: I'd forgotten that parking was going to be even harder than usual. It's bad enough now all the students drive. Are you having drink?
BARBARA: Yes, just quickly. I'm supposed to be meeting and greeting really.
ALAN: Do I know anyone? Apart from Charlotte - she's busy too.
BARBARA: Well, there's my lot from the Council, the arts people, then youth offenders workers and so on. Here's the list. (TO WAITRESS) Coffee, please, black.
ALAN: White coffee, please. (PAUSE) You're off , then?
BARBARA: Yes, I want to check on the microphones. See you later.
ALAN: See you. (PAPER RUSTLES) (LOW) Let's see…
F/X LOUDER CONVERSATION
ED: Hi- it is Alan, isn't it?
ALAN: Yes, Ed- haven't seen you for years. What are you here for?
ED: I'm a solicitor now - just joined a local partnership, and they're involved in this thing - "Making Faces", is it? Sounds a bit weird. Is that Charlotte's choice?
ALAN: Yes. She's up on the stage over there.
ED: You're doing the supportive husband bit?
ALAN: Sort of- Charlotte and I split up. But Barbara's my wife now- she's there too.
F/X ONE PERSON CLAPS FOR ATTENTION; CONVERSATION QUIETENS AND STOPS
BARBARA: (OFF, THROUGH MICROPHONE) Thank you. It's good to see so many people coming together for this event, celebrating the Making Faces project. The Council has supported this work and is pleased that it is having a real impact on people's lives. (FADES)
ALAN: Here comes Charlotte now.
BARBARA: Whew, well that's over. Did it sound ok?
ALAN: Yes, very good. Charlotte, this is Ed.
BARBARA: Oh, from Brett and Barnstaples? Barbara Stevens, head of Community Services.
ED: Pleased to meet you. Excellent talk, by the way.
ALAN: Ed was at university with me and Barbara. Small world, isn't it?
ED: (LAUGHS) Compact and bijou, perhaps.
BARBARA: Sorry to drag you away, Alan: I need to touch base with your College people. Nice to meet you.
ALAN: Yes, see you again.
FX LOUD CONVERSATION
ED: Hiya Charlotte. Long time no see!
CHARLOTTE: Oh, it's you, Ed! I didn't recognise you in a suit!
ED: No, well, solicitors have to look the part. No client is going to trust their legal work to someone who can't be bothered to look smart. And it's not just the businesses - it's everyone.
CHARLOTTE: So you're still on the side of the oppressed?
ED: Potentially oppressed, perhaps. The way I see it is that the law can only deliver justice if everyone can use it. So I suppose I am helping social equity somehow.
CHARLOTTE: People seem more worried about negative equity these days.
ED: Yes. So you and Alan did get married?
CHARLOTTE: Yes, but it didn't work out. Like that statistics joke of yours: the population was broken down by age and sex.
ED: I hope you don't remember too much about our student days; I try to forget it!
CHARLOTTE: It's funny, though; everything seemed so exciting then. Parties, music, even studying.
ED: Yes, they ought to warn you when you're 18 that you are forming your musical tastes for life. I've just been buying the Dylan remasters. It's not the same, though. There's something about vinyl. You HAD to respect it- no finger nails, keep it clean, put it away. Not like CDs - Is that a CD or a coffee mat? Answer: both. And the little booklets in one-point type. No substitute for a lyric sheet.
CHARLOTTE: Still, all my vinyl records are unplayable: scratched and warped.
ED: Oh, if you want to be practical! Spoil my Nick Hornby moment! It was a good time for albums, then, wasn't it? I still go back to them: Neil Young's Comes a Time, Nils Lofgren's Cry Tough, Gerry Rafferty's City to City. Not exactly concept albums, but with a clear mood and a vague narrative. More recent stuff just doesn't measure up.
CHARLOTTE: I find myself becoming interested in classical music. Must be a sign of age. I keep trying to like jazz, too.
ED: They say that with modern jazz they're trying to make music that's as hard to play as it is to listen to. (LAUGHS)
CHARLOTTE: (PAUSE) So what have you been up to?
ED: Well, in a snapshot: law degree, as you know; qualified as solicitor, joined firm; single; happy. You?
CHARLOTTE: (LAUGHS) Umm, let's see: art degree; children; divorced; developed art pottery business; happy too, I guess.
ED: And single now?
CHARLOTTE: Yes. (LAUGHS) Open to offers.
ED: Are you, now? (THEY LAUGH)
# posted by Martin Locock @ 4:58 AM 
