A Hard Day's Night Page #17

centre stage. The JUGGLER is as before but the spaghetti is

covering his head, having slipped off the third plate.

The FLOOR MANAGER is bustling around, trying to help.

We CUT BACK to back-stage. GRANDFATHER has finished being

measured and goes to the green table where he put his plate

down. He picks up the only remaining plate, looks at it,

wondering where his food has gone, shrugs and heads back

towards the exit door as we hear the DIRECTOR's VOICE.

INTERIOR T.V. STUDIO FLOOR

CLOSE-UP on the distraught DIRECTOR.

DIRECTOR:

Where are they? I said, where are

they? Where are they?

FLOOR MANAGER:

(placating)

They're coming, I promise you.

DIRECTOR:

(fiercely)

Now look, if they're not here on

this floor in thirty seconds there's

going to be trouble... understand

me... trouble!!!

Two STAGE HANDS are walking disinterestedly past, they look

at the DIRECTOR.

1ST STAGE HAND

What's he on about, Taff?

WELSH STAGE HAND

Well... he's being the director. Of

course, he lives in a world of his

own, mind.

At this moment the boys, NORM, SHAKE and GRANDFATHER appear.

The BOYS grab their instruments and prepare to play.

JOHN:

(to the director)

Standing about, eh? Some people have

it dead easy, don't they?

The director is about to blow his top but manages to hold on

and mutter to the heavens.

DIRECTOR:

(to himself)

Of course, once you're over thirty,

you're finished. It's a young man's

medium and I just can't take the

pace.

RINGO:

Are you as young as that, then?

BOYS:

Shurrup!

GRANDFATHER:

Isn't it always the way? Picking on

us little fellas.

PAUL:

(to Shake)

Shove the gentleman jockey in the

make-up room or something and keep

your eye on him, will you?

SHAKE:

I'm an electrician, not a wet nurse,

y'know.

PAUL:

(threateningly)

I'll set John on you!

SHAKE:

(hastily)

Oh, anything you say, Paul.

He leads GRANDFATHER away.

The BOYS are placed in position, instruments ready. The boom

moves in near them. There is a mike hovering just over JOHN'S

head. JOHN starts attacking it.

DIRECTOR'S VOICE

(over Tannoy)

Run through the number and try not

to jiggle out of your positions.

The BOYS start the number, as the stage hands adjust their

settings.

When they've finished, they stand about spare.

INTERIOR T.V. CONTROL ROOM

The room is crowded with the usual personnel, P.A., elecs,

racks, etc.... make-up supervisor and wardrobe mistress.

DIRECTOR:

That was more or less all right for

me. I'll give them one more run

through then leave them alone until

the dress...

(to make-up woman)

Oh how about make-up?

MAKE-UP WOMAN

Not really, they don't need it any.

We'll just powder them off for shine.

DIRECTOR:

Good. Norm, get them along to make-

up will you?

NORM:

(rising)

Sure.

DIRECTOR:

(looking into the

monitor)

And hurry, they're not looking too

happy.

From the director's P.O.V. we see into the monitor. The boys

crowding around RINGO. We cut through the monitor into the

same position in the studio.

INTERIOR T.V. STUDIO FLOOR

PAUL:

(to Ringo)

What's the matter with you? You were

bashing away like a madman.

RINGO:

(briefly)

You were twanging too loud.

JOHN:

How'd you like a dirty great drum

roll giving you a clout right in the

middle of your solo?

GEORGE:

You're getting out of hand. I don't

know what's come over you today.

RINGO:

That's right. It's always me, isn't

it?

JOHN:

Since you ask, yes.

(he laughs)

Aah, come on, Ring, we love you.

He puts his arm around Ringo's shoulder.

RINGO:

Well!

JOHN:

He'll get over it.

NORM appears down the ramp speaking as he approaches.

NORM:

All right, our lot, make-up.

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