The Ploughman's Lunch Page #10

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We find PHILIP standing by the bulletin desk, He is a

graduate trainee, 23 years old. Earnest in manner, slightly

ingratiating.

Immensely pleased with what he has just read, he moves

towards the summaries desk with a piece of paper in each

hand.

PHILIP:

James, look at this. At last.

James is standing by a secretary dictating.

JAMES:

Wait...and with talks at the United

Nations still making little

progress, tension and anxiety

settled on MPs of all parties in

Westminster. Speaking on the Jimmy

Young Show earlier today, Mrs

Thatcher said the prospects of a

peaceful solution did not look

encouraging. What is it?

PHILIP:

Take a look at these.

James glances over the sheets.

JAMES:

Not bad.

PHILIP:

Fifteen news items. I got exactly

the same running order as the

bulletin desk. They're all old

pros.

JAMES:

Terrific.

Philip moves on to show someone else nearby. We hear him

explain his triumph again.

James makes a gesture and expression of contempt for the

benefit of the secretaries.

A group of journalists passes through. James catches one

of them by the arm.

JAMES:

Can I use the phone in your office?

JOURNALISTS:

Sure.

INT. OFFICE - LATE MORNING

A small bare office. A few minutes later, James is speaking

on the phone to Susan.

JAMES:

(into phone)

You're being very elusive...tell

them you're ill...or leave early

then...do it properly, tell them a

lie...Okay, come when you can.

You've got the address...yes, it

will be nice. 'Bye..

INT. JAMES'S FLAT - NIGHT

Susan sits cross-legged in the centre of James's bed.

James lies along one edge, head propped on elbows. They've

been drinking coffee. We have the sense of a long evening

of talk, but not much else so far. A pause before Susan

speaks.

JAMES:

Why not stay?

SUSAN:

I have to be up early.

(She stands)

JAMES:

Me too.

SUSAN:

(straightening

herself at the

mirror. James

standing close)

Two or three years ago I would

have stayed. And f***ed you.

JAMES:

Too late. Just my luck.

He stands behind her and kisses her neck. She turns and

they kiss. Susan pulls away. She taps James's nose with

her forefinger.

SUSAN:

Now I'm more wary. I must be

getting old.

She reaches for her coat. James helps her.

JAMES:

You don't trust me.

SUSAN:

I don't trust anyone. That's what

comes of working in television.

JAMES:

In radio we're different.

SUSAN:

I bet. Thanks for the drink.

He opens the door.

JAMES:

I might see you in Norfolk over

the weekend.

SUSAN:

(smiling)

You just might.

She closes the door on her smile.

INT. SQUASH COURT - DAY

A day later. A glass-fronted Squash Court. James and

Jeremy are into a game. Both are inept and very unfit.

We COME IN on a rally. Jeremy misses an easy ball and

let's his racket drop. James sits down with his back to

the wall. Jeremy gets his cigarettes from the corner of

the court. They inhale smoke as if it were fresh air.

JEREMY:

That's enough of that.

JAMES:

We've been playing ten minutes for

Christ sake.

JEREMY:

Far too long.

A pause. Some keen SQUASH PLAYERS appear at the door,

peer in and go away.

JAMES:

What have you been up to?

JEREMY:

Well, everyone's desperate for a

new Falkland's angle. Purdy's

come up with a real dog. Worker's

rights in Argentina. So I've been

running round getting people to do

things. But no one's keen. Workers

rights. When did anyone on that

paper give a damn about workers

rights? I said to Purdy, "Look,

tits, bingo, jingo, horoscope,

sport, celebs, gossip and the

occasional firm stand on--"

JAMES:

The torture of small children--

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