gel sen script - musiclinedirect.com · gel senior script by malcolm sircom 1/110112 isbn: 978 1...

GelSenior Script

by Malcolm Sircom

ISBN: 978 1 84237 003 21/110112

Published by

Musicline Publications P.O. Box 15632

Tamworth Staffordshire

B77 5BY 01827 281 431

www.musiclinedirect.com

No part of this publication may be transmitted, stored in a retrieval system, or reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, manuscript, typesetting, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owners.

It is an infringement of the copyright to give any public performance or reading of this show either in its entirety or in the form of excerpts, whether the audience is charged an admission or not, without the prior consent of the copyright owners.

Dramatical musical works do not fall under the licence of the Performing Right Society.

Permission to perform this show from the publisher ‘MUSICLINE PUBLICATIONS’ is always required. An application form, for permission to perform, is supplied at the back of the script for this purpose. To perform this show without permission is strictly prohibited. It is a direct contravention of copyright legislation and deprives the writers of their livelihood.

Anyone intending to perform this show should, in their own interests, make application to the publisher for consent, prior to starting rehearsals.

All Rights Strictly Reserved.

© Musicline Publications 2002

CONTENTS

Act One Scene One The Meadowlands Arts Centre (This may be changed,

if wished to Local Name) Song One Forward to the Past Youth Group Music Two Dance Routine Youth Group Song Three Getting it Together Youth Group Song Four So Much Better Youth Group Teenagers Song Five Don’t Want to be a Teenager Youth Group Youngsters, and Teenagers. Scene Two The Street Outside Song Six Trouble The Gang Boys Song Six A Reprise: Trouble The Gang Boys Song Seven Here We Go (Unaccompanied) The Gang Girls Song Eight Australian Soap The Gang Girls Scene Three The Meadowlands Arts Centre Song Nine You are my song (False Start) Michael and Debbie Song Ten Marching Song (Unaccompanied) Roman Soldiers Song Eleven Boadicea Youth Group, except Roman Soldiers, Michael, Debbie, Narrator and Emily. Song Twelve Single Mother Emily Scene Four The Street Song Thirteen Reprise: Trouble The Gang Boys and Girls Scene Five The Meadowlands Arts Centre Song Fourteen All Over Again Youth Group, Andrew, Sue, Chris, Mrs Fletcher


CONTENTS, Continued

Act Two Scene One The Meadowlands Arts Centre Sequence Fifteen Sequence: Martial Arts* Mr Weng & Youth Group Song Sixteen Walking Tall Youth Group Scene Two Emily’s Home Song Seventeen Someone Emily Scene Three The Street Song Eighteen The Force is with Us P.C. Baxter & W.P.C. Morrison Song Nineteen Friday Night The Gang Boys & Girls Sequence Twenty Sequence: The Fight* Youth Group Teenagers & The Gang Song Twenty-one Something Good Youth Group Teenagers, Gang, P.C. & W.P.C Scene Four The Meadowlands Arts Centre Song Twenty-Two You Are My Song Michael & Debbie Song Twenty-Three This World Of Ours Youth Group Song Twenty Four Finale: Gel The Company


DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Adults

Male ANDREW MORTON, the Youth Group’s Director (Could be female with

name changed to ANDREA) P.C. BAXTER MR WENG, the Martial Arts instructor. (Or name corresponding

to the nationality of the actor) Female SUE, the Choreographer MRS FLETCHER, the Refreshments Lady W.P.C. ANGIE MORRISON Either Sex CHRIS, the Musical Director.

The Youth Group

Male NICK DARREN MICHAEL RICHARD WILLIAM KIEREN Female KAREN ANNE EMILY DEBBIE MOLLY TRACEY Either Sex THE NARRATOR


Plus (in the “BOADICEA” number)

4 ROMAN SOLDIERS & THEIR LEADER BOADICEA Plus others (Chorus) ad lib

The Gang

Male LUGGER, the Leader SQUID, the Ideas Man BOOTLICK, the Whinger PROFESSOR, who has an O Level. LAPTOP, the ladies man ARMLOCK, the ‘Heavy’ BUZZER, the Loose Cannon MARY, with the deep gruff voice Female DEIDRE GLORIA HARRIET JULIE LIZ SHARON SELENA VICKY The Youth Group Youngsters Male PETER SHANE DEAN JAMIE


Female ZOE REBECCA SARAH KATIE Plus others (Chorus) ad lib And TWO SMALL KIDS, the children of Mrs. Reed (NB All names may be changed, if wished, to those of the actual actors involved. [Youth group only, and not, of course, in the BOADICEA number])


ACT ONE SCENE ONE – THE MEADOWLAND ARTS CENTRE (The setting is the rehearsal area. Just like any school rehearsal – a few chairs with bags and jackets on and around them. Displayed prominently is the sign “MEADOWLAND YOUTH THEATRE”.) (A group of Older Teenagers [14-18] is lined up to rehearse a routine. They are: - Boys: DARREN, KIEREN, MICHAEL, NICK, RICHARD & WILLIAM. Girls: ANNE, DEBBIE, EMILY, KAREN, MOLLY & TRACEY PLUS optional chorus. (With them is a group of youngsters [11-13, and younger if possible]. They are: Boys: DEAN, JAMIE, PETER, SHANE. Girls: KATIE, REBECCA, SARAH, ZOE PLUS optional chorus.)

SONG ONE – FORWARD TO THE PAST

Youth Group: Forward to the past, that’s where we’re gonna take you. Forward to the past, to see how things were A trip way back in time. Get ready to blow your mind! For wherever you want to go, we’ll take you there. (Music quietly under as THE NARRATOR STEPS FORWARD – or if he/she s a non-singer, enters.) Narrator: Yes, folks, we’re taking you a wild trip, to see how this world of ours

has developed from the primitive savagery of the Iron Age to the sophisticated savagery of the 21st Century. We bring you 5000 years in 90 minutes, so fasten you seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride

(The Narrator joins the rest, or exits)

Youth Group: Forward to the past, that’s where we’re gonna take you. Forward to the past, to see how things were. A trip way back in time. Get ready to blow you mind! For wherever you want to go, we’ll take you there. Forward to the past, forward to the past, forward to the past, Forward to the past! (End of song)

(Youth Group freeze in their positions. Enter ANDREW)


Andrew: Good evening. I’m Andrew Morton, director of the Meadowlands Youth Theatre, and what you have just seen was the opening number of their latest show, “Forward To The Past”, a Historical Pageant, much of which they wrote themselves.

It was the biggest success they ever had, even though, like most theatre shows, putting on involved lots of frustrations, tears and tantrums - mostly from me!

But what made this so different from the many other pieces I directed with the group, was that the kids had to show an extraordinary amount of guts and commitment to come through a crisis that could have scuppered the whole project.

This, then, is their story. Let us begin with a couple of months before their opening night, when they were rehearsing a routine Sue, our choreographer…

(Exit Andrew. Enter Sue)

Sue: Alright, everyone… (The Youth Group come out of their ‘freeze’)

into positions and let’s try the Dance number again. [Moans from the Youth Group as they sort themselves out] I should be the one that’s moaning, you’re ruining my steps. Now, let’s get it together. (Music starts. She counts the tempo) 1...2...3...4...

MUSIC 2 –DANCE ROUTINE

(All go into the routine, with Sue mirroring their actions, and calling out various choreographic instructions. But they don’t do it very well, and after a while Sue calls out “Stop! Stop!”, and the music and routine comes to a halt.)

Sue: That was terrible! Michael, you forgot what you were supposed to be doing. Shane, you went completely the opposite way to everyone else. (The youngsters laugh) William, you were a beat behind all the way through. Debbie and Zoe, your arms were all over the place – and most of you were dancing like it was a vicarage tea party. (Karen Giggles) It’s nothing to laugh about, Karen. I’ve seen you clubbing. Why can’t to dance like you do there?

Karen: That’s different, innit? You go clubbin’ to pull blokes.

Sue: It’s the same thing. You’re dancing here to pull the audience.

Karen: Yeh, but we ain’t got an audience, do we? Only Mrs Fletcher wot does the refreshments. (Some laughs)

Molly: And she’s too old to go pulling

Mrs Fletcher: (Off-Stage) Oh, no, she isn’t! (All laugh)


Michael: Can Mrs Fletcher take my place? Can’t seem to get the hang of all this dancing.

Debbie: That’s cos you don’t know your left foot from your right.

Michael: Al least I know where my brain is, stupid!

All: Ooo! (The rising inflection “OOO!” There us obvious tension between Michael and Debbie)

Sue: Alright, alright, cut it out. I can see we’ve when I come back, let’s get down to some real work, shall we? (Sue exits. All relax into casual attitudes)

Nick: hump? I ain’t got the hump.

Tracey: No, you got two humps, Nick ‘cos you were dancing like a camel.

Nick: Yes, and you were singing like one!

All: Ooo! (The rising-inflection “OOO!” again)

Peter: If you’d only got one hump, you’d be a dromedary. Learnt that off, me computer.

Emily: It’s not fair, though. We pay two pounds every week to come here, and all we do is get shouted at.

Richard: We can get that for free at home.

Michael: Sue was right, though. We were terrible.

Debbie: Speak for yourself!

Anne: It’s her choreography that’s terrible. (Some murmurs of agreement)

Karen: Yeh. Makes me feel like a dormitory.

All: Dromedary!

Darren: No, fair dos. Sue knows what she’s doing. We’re just too tentative.

Anne: Alright, Darren, if you’re such a know-it-all, let’s see if you can do any better.

Darren: Why not? Come on, everyone, let’s try it again.

Kieran: But we’ll still make mistakes.

Karen: And my feet are killing me.

Darren: So what? Let’s go for it!

All: Yeh! (They leap to their feet)


SONG THREE – GETTING’ IT TOGETHER All: (Verse 1) Learning a routine, putting it together, Ain’ as easy as it seems. Boys: Needs concentration, Girls: Needs co-ordination, All: Else it falls apart at the seams.

(Refrain) Getting’ it together… Boys: Yeh! Yeh! All: Stepppin’ out together… Girls: Wo! Wo! All: Gotta hit the beat, keep it neat, Gotta keep in line all the time, We’re getting’ it together now! Girls: (Link) How we hate our choreographer! Boys: She gives us a really hard time! Girls: She makes us do it over and over again. Boys: But still we’re a beat behind! William: Beat behind… All: Muscles aching and sore, Yet still she asks for more! More! More! More! More! (Verse 2) Learning a routine, putting it together, Will we ever get it right? Boys: Pick it up faster, Girls: Don’t want a disaster All: When we play our opening night. (Refrain) Getting’ it together… Boys: Yeh! Yeh! All: Steppin’ out together… Girls: Wo! wo! All: Gotta hit the beat, keep it neat, Gotta keep in line all the time, We’re getting’ it together now! Getting’ it together now! Getting it together, Wow! (End of song) (After the audience applause, there is excited reaction from the group as they realise they’ve cracked it.) Darren: That was fantastic!

Tracey: Great!


Karen: I feel like a real star.

(All whoop, whistle, etc.)

Peter: And I feel like some pop.

Zoe: Me, too.

Kieran: All right, tinies. Hop it. Us grown-ups want to chat.

Karen: Get them! (The younger Group Exit)

Michael: Michael: Is that what you want to be, Karen – a star?

Karen: Yeh. A star and a model. (All Groan) What’s wrong wiv that?

Nick: Karen, you have to be a brainless bimbo to be a model.

Emily: That makes her a natural.

All: Meeaow!

Karen: All right, Emily, if you’re so sniffy, what do you want to do?

Emily: Dunno.

Karen: Well my dad works in the media, so he can help me. What does your dad do?

Emily: Nuffink.

Kieran: Yeh, my dad’s unemployed, too. I work Saturdays so I can afford to come to this place.

Tracey: Blimey! Two Quid! Is that all you earn?

Kieran: ‘Course not, stupid! There’s me beer money and what’s left goes on clothes and records, don’t it?

Molly: What do you want to be, then, William?

William: Dunno. Ain’t made me mid up yet.

Debbie: What are you good at?

William: Me mum and Dad say I’m good for nothin’.

(All Groan)

Nick: That’s a terrible old joke.

William: Not as terrible as my parents. Whatever I end up doing, it’s got to be better than my old man. Charge hand at a plastics factory.

Anne: I know what you mean. My dad’s a plumber.

Richard: I shouldn’t worry, Anne. Can’t see you unblocking a loo!

Anne: Leave it out!


Michael: My Dad’s a computer clerk.

Debbie: Must be why you’re such a nerd…

Darren: Do you two have to fight all the time?

Molly: Must be love!

Debbie: Love? With that?

Emily: Well, they sat opposites attract.

Michael: Not on you life!

Tracey: Anyway, my dad’s an accountant. (All go “Ooo!” again) Oh, he earns a fair whack, but it drives him round the twist. I want to do better than that.

Richard: What, like be an accountant’s moll?

Tracey: Oh, very funny!

Darren: Well, my Dad drives a bus, and really enjoys it. But I can’t see me doing that. No way.

Anne: If you dive the way you dance, Darren, you’d be lethal on the roads!

Nick: No, but it’s true, innit? We all want to do better than our parents.

All: You bet, you got it, right on, (etc. ad lib.)

SONG FOUR – SO MUCH BETTER Nick: (Verse 1) Dad commutes to an office, Toiling from nine to five. Debbie: Mum works in a building Society, Comes home more dead than alive. Nick: They’ve got commitments, Debbie: A mortgage, and all that stuff. Both: But for us that’s never gonna be good enough! All: (Refrain 1) We’re gonna have it so much better… We’re gonna make our mark, just you see. Times they are a-changin’ And we’re changin’ with them. There’s a better life ahead for you and me! William: (Link) Each summer we go to Majorca, That’s all very well, But year after year, it’s living hell! Half Group 1: Trekking and back-packing round the world, That’s what we want to do. Half Group 2: Who wants to go to Majorca? When there’s Bondi or Katmandu?


Anne: (Verse 2) Parents don’t understand us, Richard: Think that we’re from Planet X. Michael: They don’t like the music we play, Karen: Of the way we can vex and perplex... Tracey: (Spoken) ‘Specially you, Karen!! Darren & Molly: Much as we love them, And don’t want to give them grief, +Kieran & Emily: They must face it – Never gonna change our belief… All: (Refrain 2) We’re gonna have it so much better… We’re gonna make our mark, just you see. Times they are a-changin’ And we’re changin’ with them. There’s a better life ahead for you and me! (Coda) There’s a better life ahead Half Group 1: For you and me. Half Group 2: For you and me. (End of song) (They break up, and relax, sitting on chairs of the floor. One or two do the odd exercise, Kieran plays with a Game Boy, Richard & Anne cuddle. The Youngsters Enter.) Peter: It’s the Zombies!

Debbie: It’s the monsters!

Katie: Slacking again!

Dean: They’re always slacking.

Jamie: And when they’re not slacking, they’re skiving.

Rebecca: And when they’re not skiving, they’re moaning.

Sarah: Or kissing.

Zoe: Richard loves Anne!

Younger Children: Ooo! (The same rising-inflection Ooo!)

Richard: Shut up, you horrors.

Anne: Haven’t you anything better to do?

Darren: We’re on a break.

Molly Well, so are we, and we don’t want to be pestered by little brats.

Shane: You sound just like my sister. She’s a teenager too.

Katie: I’ve got a teenage brother. He’s impossible.

William: Not as impossible as you lot.

Peter: To think that one day we might grow up like them!

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