Cut !

Still sound asleep, rehearsing my lines of dialogue for today's takes, I was brutally brought back to mother Earth by our Director, Chris.

If I would be so kind as to hurrying up and appear in my business suit at 'The Bus Stop', where I would meet my fellow actors.

No rain, no trains, it's a beautiful day!

INT. BUS STOP

One drunk, and two young lower class men (’Neds’) sit at the Bus Stop. John sits down next to the drunken man. John is slightly flustered from his experience, but politely nods to the man.

JOHN:
Good afternoon.

DRUNK:
Eh?

JOHN:
Good afternoon.

DRUNK:
Y’alright?

JOHN:
(pause) er... yes, thank you.

John gets out his newspaper from his briefcase. He drops a business card without noticing, which ‘Ned 1’ picks up and wanders off with. John opens his paper, and begins to read.

DRUNK:
How come you’re wearing a suit, mate?

JOHN:
I work in an office.

He unfolds the paper fully, suggesting the conversation is over.

DRUNK:
‘S that the paper you’ve got there, aye?

JOHN:
Yes. And I don’t mean to be rude, but would you mind if I could read my paper in peace.

DRUNK:
No, fine, man... S’it a good paper, but? Who’s on page 3? (nasal laugh)

JOHN:
Sorry? Er, the foreign secretary.

DRUNK:
Quality, man. Foreign secretary and that, man. Ge’es a look, eh?

He grabs at the paper, John pulls it down, now slightly angered.

JOHN:
Now that is just not on. You are behaving in an unacceptable fashion, and I won’t stand for your it, do you hear.

DRUNK:
Whatever, mate, dae’ go off yer nut. (He gets up and totters past out of the bus shelter.) You wantin’ anything fi’ the shop, aye? I’ll get you a buckfast. (nasal laugh)

JOHN:
No, thank you.

John shakes his head as the drunk leaves. He folds his paper and combs his hair. He sighs, normality is restored. He is about to pick up his paper when his cell phone goes off.

JOHN: (CONT'D)
Hello?... Yes, speaking... Uh huh...yes... Wait, who is this? You want what?... What are you talking about? How did you get this number. I ...

The other person has hung up. John looks suspiciously at his phone, when ‘ned 1’ enters, holding a phone.

NED 1:
(Laughs) Hah! We phoned you!

NED 2:
Quality, man!

NED 1:
You’re aw’ like (Mimes phoning in a posh voice) Hello, and that. Who is this phoning my phone, like.

NED 2:
Quality. That’s what you were like, man. (Laughs)

NED 1:
(To other ned) C’mon, man. There’s the bus. Quality, but. Phonin’ him and that, man.

The two neds leave. John angrily reopens his newspaper and checks his watch. Now Ronnie is looking over Johns shoulder at the paper.

RONNIE:
Three across: CLASS

JOHN: (trying to ignore her)
Yes, thank you.

RONNIE:
You shouldn’t let the neds bother you, you know.

JOHN:
Hmm.

RONNIE:
Where are you headed, anyway?

JOHN:
The airport.

RONNIE:
You do know that there’s a taxi rank round the corner, don’t you?

JOHN:
Is there? I thought the only one near here was at the station?

RONNIE:
That one’ll be packed. But this one won’t. They just built it. So I wouldn’t have thought it would be too busy.

JOHN:
Really? Oh, well, that is good news. I shall try there. (Folds newspaper) You know, I’ve had a pretty rotten day, what with one thing and another. But it warms my heart to find that there is still some sense of camaraderie and goodwill in this country; that there are people out there that look out for each other, and that will offer free advice to those who need it. Thank you very much. (He smiles) And thank you, of course, for the help with my crossword.

He gets up.

RONNIE:
That’s no problem. Although... I don’t suppose you have any weed on you, do you?

JOHN:
Er...

[I WON"T SHOW/TELL YOU THE END JUST NOW, THAT'S FOR THE PREMIERE !]

This has been a very productive day of 'shooting'. We have got almost everything we need on tape, clear voices, well-rehearsed lines of dialogue ('camaraderie' is still a difficult word to pronounce), and intimidating acting by all characters in the story. They pulled me, as 'John', through some emotional Roller Coaster rides.



Take a virtual ride on El Toro!
Windows Media Dial-Up 56K | Windows Media High Speed 300K

Emotional slopes of high and low tension are at the basis of a good story.



Although we have many pictures and video, the only behind-the-scenes takes are shown below... our 'wrap' of this weekend.



Chris (Director)



Sandy (Camera) and Vivian (Sound)



Daniel (left) (Instructor)



Willem ('John') and Nelly ('Ronnie)

The mid-scenes at the Waverley Train Station will be shot in January 2006 after permission, followed by editing and submission to the Freshers Film Festival in February 2006.