The Ploughman's Lunch Page #5

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JAMES:

Freshman and sophomores...

GOLD:

You know the lingo. Jolly good.

So your language will have to be

simple, not stupid, mind, but

simple, very, very simple, and

always remember it's an American

readership.

JAMES:

Like I was saying, the American

angle in Suez is very important.

I wouldn't want to say they let us

down. I think that's wrong. A

good ally is one who doesn't back

you up in your mistakes, who tells

you when to pull back. And the

Americans were good allies. Simple

as that.

James is immensely pleased with his own performance during

this speech. Gold, however, is more interested in something

he has seen in a shop window. As soon as James finishes,

Gold mumbles an apology and plunges into the shop. James

follows him in.

INT. NEWSROOM - DAY

A lull in the action. Most of the journalists are eating

out. A few eat sandwiches, smoke, chat, read. A background

television shows crowd scenes from Argentina.

James sits with a plastic cup of coffee reading intently.

He stands at the window looking out over the roofs. Then

he turns abruptly, picks up a telephone and dials.

JAMES:

Is that London Midweek? Susan

Barrington.

EXT. A SUBURBAN STREET - NORTHWEST LONDON - DAY

James turns off the street up the front path of a

nondescript per-war semi.

INT. JAMES'S PARENTS HOUSE - DAY

MR. PENFIELD comes into the hall to answer the door. He

is tired-looking man in his sixties. James enters. The

two men fumble awkwardly between a handshake and an embrace.

It is James who favours the former.

MR. PENFIELD

Hello, Jimmy.

JAMES:

Dad.

MR. PENFIELD

Come into the kitchen. I'm just

making your mother's tea.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

Mr. Penfield fusses inexpertly at the stove. James leans

in the doorway.

JAMES:

So how is she?

MR. PENFIELD

Well, she doesn't complain much.

You know what she's like. She

keeps asking when you're coming...

JAMES:

I'm sorry about Saturday, Dad. It

was just impossible to get away.

MR. PENFIELD

Oh she knows you're very busy,

especially now, with everything

going on...the doctor said to try

her on solids, but she's been right

off her food...You take this up to

her. Tell her you made it. She'll

like that.

James picks up the tray - tinned tomato soup, buttered

bread, and a cup of tea.

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

MRS. PENFIELD lies on her back, dozing. She is plainly

very ill. James sits at the bedside. The tray of food

cools on a bedside table. We have a sense of time passing.

Mrs. Penfield opens her eyes. James kisses her on her

cheeks.

MRS. PENFIELD

Jimmy. I knew you'd come today.

I said to Dad this morning, that

boy'll be here this morning, just

you see. He said don't get your

hopes up, but I knew...

This speech appears to exhaust her. Hey eyes close. She

keeps hold of James's hand. She murmurs.

MRS. PENFIELD

Have you got to do straight off?

JAMES:

No, not yet.

MRS. PENFIELD

Good...stay here a bit.

James sits. His mother falls into a deep sleep.

INT. LIVING-ROOM - EVENING

Mr. Penfield sits drinking tea and watching TV. He stands

when James enters and turns the set off.

JAMES:

She's asleep.

Mr. Penfield indicates a seat to James.

MR. PENFIELD

Everyone's been marvellous really,

Jimmy. The neighbours come and

sit with her while I'm at work.

JAMES:

That's good.

MR. PENFIELD

And Joe Ramage - do you remember

him? He comes and helps out in

the shop.

JAMES:

Yes, you said.

MR. PENFIELD

Now, are you going to have some

more tea?

JAMES:

No, thanks Dad.

MR. PENFIELD

Or a beer. I've got some in.

James shakes his head. There is a long awkward silence, a

hopeless silence that is particular to both father and

son. Finally James gets to his feet.

JAMES:

I've got to be going. I've got a

meeting tonight.

MR. PENFIELD

The bed's all made up if you want

to stay.

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