I didn't feel my script was brilliant but what was much more fulfilling was learning two lessons;
1) It really doesn't matter if you make mistakes because to quote Alan Partridge, it's all about how you bounce back. Unlike Alan Partridge, it's worth making mistakes in life so you can learn how to not make them again (if anyone manages to actually do that, please let me know. But you can't. Because you don't exist)
2) I also learnt a valuable writing lesson that I feel I should have known already really. Like Alan Partridge it's all about the characters. Ok you can have a clever or original or wanky (as my friend Graham says) concept but it doesn't work if you haven't got really good characters.
You can however have an entertaining experience if you have really interesting characters without a clever concept. That's why Big Brother is still popular. Except the characters aren't really that interesting are they, you Channel 5 faithful!
So of all the scripts i've written so far for the group, the ones I was most proud of were the ones where the characters really shone through and had a story to tell. And again, I should have known this as it's writing 101 but sometimes it takes me while to realise the obvious. Like Alan Partridge.
So as always please find this weeks script here -
Remember
By
Amardeep Singh Sandhu
Characters
Suzie –
Any age, thoughtful, fed up
Andy –
Any age, oblivious, hopeful
Keith –
Casual, friendly unless you cross him
Memory
Suzie – Same as Suzie above but played by a different actress
Memory
Andy – Same as Andy above but played by a different actor
SUZIE and ANDY are in bed together, asleep. Suzie suddenly jolts up. She rubs her face, clearly thinking,
and starts tapping Andy
SUZIE
Andy, wake up. Wake up, come on, I’ve been having a
think and I need to discuss something with you.
The stage fades to black and when the lights come back up, we see a dinner party in full swing.
Suzie and Andy walk on from the right of the stage, still dressed in their
pyjamas. They stand at the front of the stage while the action happens behind
them.
ANDY
Where are we?!
SUZIE
Don’t ask me, this is your imagination
ANDY
Is it? Oh yeah, you wanted to talk to me. I’m not
going to lie i’ve got a feeling i’ve gone back to sleep while you nipped to the
bathroom
SUZIE
Typical
ANDY
What did you want to talk to me about?
SUZIE
No idea. It’s your brain. I’m not actually Suzie,
just how you remember her.
ANDY
Really? In which case I’m surprised I didn’t
remember you as a really hot blonde
SUZIE
Lovely. So what’s this?
ANDY
I think it’s the night we first met. Our beginning.
Suzie points to a couple, flirting over by the sink.
The man is doing the washing up and the lady is talking to him, while rubbing
his back, seductively.
SUZIE
Is that us?
ANDY
I think so.
SUZIE
How come they don’t look like us?
ANDY
I guess my imagination is struggling to remember
how we looked back then. My memory’s never been brilliant. Look at you, you couldn’t
keep your hands off me those days.
SUZIE
That’s not how I remember it Andy...
ANDY
I was so nervous. I know you’d agreed to go on a
date with me, but I didn’t think it would be at your mate’s house.
One of the guys stands up and shouts over to the ’Andy’
at the sink
KEITH
Thanks for washing up mate, I think Suzie’s got a
good man on her hands there!
MEMORY ANDY
Ha! Bit presumptuous! Maybe I’m the lucky one
MEMORY SUZIE
Well, you may just be later. Thanks for inviting us
KEITH
Any time. You might want to head home soon though
by the looks of it...
SUZIE
Is that genuinely how you remember that night Andy?
ANDY
Yeah...
SUZIE
I think you’ll find my memory a bit better than
yours
The lights go down on stage and come back up. People are still sat around a table but the man
at the sink is throwing up into it. The lady stood by him is
rubbing his back. The man stands up and shouts over to the ’Andy’ at the sink.
KEITH
Are you joking mate?! That’s my bloody sink
MEMORY ANDY
Get lost mate, I can’t help it.
MEMORY SUZIE
Oh god, i’m so sorry Keith. So sorry.
KEITH
I think it’s best you take him home, jesus.
ANDY
What? I remember having a few drinks but it was a
great night. Everyone loved me!
SUZIE
I think you’re remembering more than you realise
Andy.
The lights fade down and then come back up. Andy and Suzie are still stood at the front of the
stage. Behind them, a woman sits at a table, candles lit, waiting. A
man walks in with a bouquet of flowers.
ANDY
Our one year anniversary. You surprised me with
dinner and I surprised you with flowers. Remember how we danced to Barry?
The man walks over to a radio and turns it on. Barry White
starts playing so he whips the woman to her feet and they start dancing. He
kisses her and then walks her out of the room.
ANDY
I love you so much you know
SUZIE
I know. I know you do. But you loved something more
than me Andy...
The lights fade down and then come back up. The woman is sat at the table and then gets up and
blows the candles out. The man drunkenly stumbles into the room and
goes to hug the woman. She pushes him away.
SUZIE
You didn’t get that promotion, remember. One quick
pint after work you said, just to take the edge of. One year Andy, one year we
had been together. Did we have to lose the romance so soon?
After the woman pushes the man away, he gets angry. He walks over to the radio, turns it on,
and starts dancing by himself. He pulls the woman towards him, she
tries to break away from him, so he angrily pushes her away. She falls
on the floor, he looks at her and then storms out. Heartbroken she
stands up, looks at the front door for a second, but then reluctantly
heads after him.
ANDY
Is that...is that how it happened? I remember
coming home and we danced and the next day you were angry but I thought that
was because I haven’t got you a card or something stupid
SUZIE
It’s been too long Andy. Come on, let’s see how
this ends.
The lights fade down and then come back up. An old couple is sat in bed. They’re surrounded by
five men and five women.
ANDY
They’re all ours you know. Well two of the boys and
two of the girls. I only want one of each, but I reckon you’ll make such a
great mum we won’t want to stop!
SUZIE
Is that how you see our future? Old together
surrounded by a huge family
ANDY
Yeah. I always wanted a big family. You know what
my dad was like, the piss head, I want to do the best job I can. I can make
myself better honey, I can fight this
SUZIE
Andy....
ANDY
Don’t...
SUZIE
Andy, this is how I see our future.
The lights fade down and then come back up. There is nothing on stage.
ANDY
Where are we?
SUZIE
The end. How I see it.
ANDY
Why would I think this up then?
SUZIE
Because this has never been your head has it Andy? This
is mine. How I remember things. I’ve been so unsure recently but I think i’ve
just answered my own question. The start, the middle and now, the end.
The lights fade down and when they come back up, Suzie and Andy are in bed together, asleep.
Suzie suddenly jolts up. She rubs her face, clearly thinking, and starts
tapping Andy
SUZIE
Andy, wake up. Wake up, come on, I’ve been having a
think and I need to discuss something with you.
The lights fade down.
THE END
