The Ploughman's Lunch Page #23

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JEREMY:

General Sir James Penfield ...

services during the Norfolk

campaign.

EXT. CONFERENCE CENTRE - LATE AFTERNOON

The three walk towards the Conference Centre, along the

gauntlet of PROTESTORS and ONLOOKERS. Among them are Carmen

and Betty, holding a placard which says 'Women's Peace

Camp'. They catch sight of James. Some puzzled

recognition. James hurries away from the women and through

the doors into the Centre.

INT. PRESS BALCONY, CONFERENCE CENTRE - DAY

James, Susan and Jeremy come onto the Press balcony and

find their seats while FRANCIS PYM delivers a speech.

PYM:

It was they who rebuffed aggression,

they who struck such a powerful

blow for democracy .. .

JAMES:

(to Susan)

I managed to book us a table at

Wheelers.

PYM:

I believe this will prove of wider

significance even than the event

itself. We were seen to be fighting

to defend principles which are

fundamental to free nations

everywhere, and our reputation has

been enhanced as a result.

JEREMY:

(to Susan)

Francis is in cracking form, don't

you think?

INT. BAR - EARLY EVENING

James, Jeremy and Susan. Journalists, delegates etc.

SUSAN:

(triumphant, excited)

It was incredible. He came back,

made a pompous little bow and said,

'My dear girl you may film me all

afternoon if you wish.' And he's

promised not to talk to the Press.

JEREMY:

It's because he desires you. The

women get all the breaks at these

conferences.

SUSAN:

It's true! I was here last year

doing a piece, remember? I was in

the bar with all these Northern

trade unionists and their sponsored

MPs. They were all incredibly fat

and beery, huge trousers and braces.

And so sweet. They all stood round

me like children saying 'You!

Working for television? You're

just a young thing.' They wouldn't

let me buy drinks even when I told

them the programme was paying.

They kept looking at my pass which

was pinned here and saying

(Mock Yorkshire.)

'Oo, can I?'

JEREMY:

Then one of them was sick all over

your new dress.

SUSAN:

No, he wasn't. He just lowered

himself into a bar stool and said...

(Yorkshire)

'Oo I do feel bad. I 'ad three

pints of lager and six onion

bajees!'

They all laugh.

SUSAN:

I've got to go. See you at dinner.

She kisses them both. They watch her go. Their different

expressions.

JEREMY:

Six onion bajees! Great girl.

(then, confidential)

Did you shake the mother off?

JAMES:

Yes, finally.

JEREMY:

Big mistake, I think. You might

have learned a lot.

JAMES:

(sudden)

Are you up to something?

Jeremy shrugs innocently and shows his empty hands.

INT. CONFERENCE CENTRE - DAY

James wanders through the Centre in search of Susan. He

enters the debating chamber. MICHAEL HESELTINE is

addressing the Conference. James wanders out to the space

below the platform where journalists and photographers are

gathered. He goes up the aisles between the seated

delegates. No sign of Susan. He leaves the chamber.

HESELTINE:

....left-wing councils employ labour

candidates in the paid voluntary

sector. We now face a professional

left financed at the ratepayer's

and tax payer's expense! Just

more money is not a solution in

itself. As we have given more

money to the professional left...

INT. LOBBY, CONFERENCE CENTRE. DAY

Much later. James crosses the crowded lobby, still in

search of Susan.

INT. STAIRS, CONFERENCE CENTRE - DAY

James climbs the stairs to the Press balcony. He hears

Mrs Thatcher's voice, and from the street below, the

chanting of protestors.

THATCHER (O.S.)

This is not going to be a speech

about the Falklands campaign,

although I would be proud to make

one. But I want to say just this

because it is true for all our

people.

INT. PRESS BALCONY - DAY

James passes through the doors and finds a seat.

THATCHER:

The spirit of the South Atlantic

was the spirit of Britain at her

best. It has been said that we

surprised the world, that British

patriotism was rediscovered in

those spring days. Mr President,

it was never really lost!

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