Monday 24 June 2013

“Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm” said Winston Churchill. And he's got his own insurance company. So he knows.

So yeah third to last Writers Group tonight and again, an absolutely amazing display of talent from everyone there. I'm immensely proud to be part of that group.

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