Fade lights up on Frederick reading letter in ‘trench’
Frederick: “Dear daughters and mum,
I sincerely hope that you are all safe and well. Thank you ever so much for the newspapers mum, they are more than worth their weight in gold here. Our mail has been in a chaotic state, letters posted over a fortnight ago are just reaching us. The next morning looked like the aftermath of a party, with paper littered all over the place. Soon after arriving in France I became well acquainted with the River Orne and Caen itself. I remember you saying to me dad, “I wonder what a gas raid must be like?” I’ve seen the gruesome evidence of such attacks, men gone blind, men suffocated to death, horrible, just horrible.
We suffered from a plague of mosquitoes which bite us night and day alike. It grew to such an intensity one night that I arose, lit a cigarette and blew the smoke between my blankets to relieve the irritation. But, I haven’t no more time to write as I am training, talk to you again soon.
Yours hopefully Frederick Parsons. ”
Black out
Fade lights up on Military Inspector at train station and Greggory, David and Francis on Train. Leonard walks up salutes and takes a seat, shortly followed by Archie. Sound of the train whistle heard, Frederick rushes up to train, half dressed and is spotted by the Military Inspector
Military Inspector: “What the hell do you think you’re doing, your representing your country, are you trying to flash the whole goddamn train”
Frederick: “N..”
The Military Inspector slaps him across the back of the head and pushes him onto the train
Military Inspector: “We got a smart one here”
Greggory stands up
Greggory: “Ha look at this idiot”
David, Francis and Archie laugh.
David: “Ha yeah, what an idiot”
Greggory: “David, shut up. So, you think your gonna turn up all messy and not properly dressed, huh?”
Leonard: “Shut up”
Greggory: “What are you gonna do about it if I don’t?”
Leonard stands up
Greggory: (Sarcastically) “Aaaand”
Francis and Archie start to laugh again.
Military Inspector: “What’s going on here!”
Archie and Francis go instantly silent and Leonard and Greggory turn to face the Military Inspector.
Leonard & Greggory: “Nothing”
Leonard and Greggory sit back down, Frederick sits next to Leonard.
Frederick: “Thanks”
Leonard: “It’s alright. What’s your name anyway?”
Frederick: “Frederick Parsons, what’s yours”
Leonard: “Leonard James. Where you from?”
Frederick: “Kensington”
Leonard: “Me too”
Frederick: “How come I’ve never seen you”
Leonard: “I live in the south end of Kensington”
Frederick: “Oh that explains it I’m from the north end”
Leonard: “You got any family”
Frederick: “Two daughters and my mum”
Leonard: “A wife?”
Frederick: “She died”
Leonard: “Oh sorry”
Frederick: “Oh no, it’s fine. How about you?”
Leonard: “Just my parents. Oh, and my fiancé”
Frederick: “Congrats”
Leonard: “Thank you”
Frederick: “So why did you join?”
Leonard: “To give my life purpose. You?”
Frederick: “To make my daughters proud”
Leonard: “Oh ok, sounds like a good reason”
Frederick: “It sure is beautiful, hey look the station”
Black out
Exit
Frederick: “Dear daughters and mum,
I sincerely hope that you are all safe and well. Thank you ever so much for the newspapers mum, they are more than worth their weight in gold here. Our mail has been in a chaotic state, letters posted over a fortnight ago are just reaching us. The next morning looked like the aftermath of a party, with paper littered all over the place. Soon after arriving in France I became well acquainted with the River Orne and Caen itself. I remember you saying to me dad, “I wonder what a gas raid must be like?” I’ve seen the gruesome evidence of such attacks, men gone blind, men suffocated to death, horrible, just horrible.
We suffered from a plague of mosquitoes which bite us night and day alike. It grew to such an intensity one night that I arose, lit a cigarette and blew the smoke between my blankets to relieve the irritation. But, I haven’t no more time to write as I am training, talk to you again soon.
Yours hopefully Frederick Parsons. ”
Black out
Fade lights up on Military Inspector at train station and Greggory, David and Francis on Train. Leonard walks up salutes and takes a seat, shortly followed by Archie. Sound of the train whistle heard, Frederick rushes up to train, half dressed and is spotted by the Military Inspector
Military Inspector: “What the hell do you think you’re doing, your representing your country, are you trying to flash the whole goddamn train”
Frederick: “N..”
The Military Inspector slaps him across the back of the head and pushes him onto the train
Military Inspector: “We got a smart one here”
Greggory stands up
Greggory: “Ha look at this idiot”
David, Francis and Archie laugh.
David: “Ha yeah, what an idiot”
Greggory: “David, shut up. So, you think your gonna turn up all messy and not properly dressed, huh?”
Leonard: “Shut up”
Greggory: “What are you gonna do about it if I don’t?”
Leonard stands up
Greggory: (Sarcastically) “Aaaand”
Francis and Archie start to laugh again.
Military Inspector: “What’s going on here!”
Archie and Francis go instantly silent and Leonard and Greggory turn to face the Military Inspector.
Leonard & Greggory: “Nothing”
Leonard and Greggory sit back down, Frederick sits next to Leonard.
Frederick: “Thanks”
Leonard: “It’s alright. What’s your name anyway?”
Frederick: “Frederick Parsons, what’s yours”
Leonard: “Leonard James. Where you from?”
Frederick: “Kensington”
Leonard: “Me too”
Frederick: “How come I’ve never seen you”
Leonard: “I live in the south end of Kensington”
Frederick: “Oh that explains it I’m from the north end”
Leonard: “You got any family”
Frederick: “Two daughters and my mum”
Leonard: “A wife?”
Frederick: “She died”
Leonard: “Oh sorry”
Frederick: “Oh no, it’s fine. How about you?”
Leonard: “Just my parents. Oh, and my fiancé”
Frederick: “Congrats”
Leonard: “Thank you”
Frederick: “So why did you join?”
Leonard: “To give my life purpose. You?”
Frederick: “To make my daughters proud”
Leonard: “Oh ok, sounds like a good reason”
Frederick: “It sure is beautiful, hey look the station”
Black out
Exit