Private Peaceful – SF 8-10s
Evie: It was Thomo’s first day at school.
Peter: He didn’t want to go. He wanted to stay at home with Big Joe
and his mother.
Sienna: It was difficult leaving them this morning. He tried his best
not to cry.
Daniel: He wouldn’t have cried in front of Charlie, Charlie never
cried.
Phillys: He didn’t even cry when his father died, and that was a very
sad day.
Daniella: I killed my father, it was my fault.
Milly: If I hadn’t have been chicken, if I had just ran, then father
wouldn’t have had to save me.
Rachel: But it’s my fault he’s dead, and he’s never coming back.
Sophie: Mother and Charlie would think I was silly for thinking it was
my fault, but it was.
Poppy: Since father died, Charlie has been like a father to me.
Seren: Big Joe sang Oranges and Lemons at my father’s funeral.
Jack: We all joined in, we didn’t think it was inappropriate.
Immi: It was still Thomo’s first day at school, and my brother had told
me all the stories about the horrible Mr Munnings.
Sophie: He wanted to run far away. But at least I had Charlie.
Peter: (all) Charlie was never scared. Not even of Mr Munnings or
Jimmy Parsons.
Ben: Come on Thomo, we’re going to be late.
Jago: Do we have to go to school?
Ben: Everything’s going to be ok – I’ll make sure no one will hurt you.
Jago: But what about Mr Munnings?
Ben: Leave him to me.
Jago: I saw all the children lining up to go in. I didn’t want to show
my fear. I rolled up my sleeves, took a deep breath, and walked into
the playground.
Immi: Right, class. Today, we’re going to be learning about Scottish
poetry.
Sophie: Right! You, boy. Sit up straight. You, Peaceful, were late.
Stand up! Why were you late, Peaceful? You’d better have a good
excuse.
Ben: I have no excuse, Sir. I was just late.
*Coming across the back*
Reaction from class
Sophie: Right, Peaceful! 6 lashes!
Ben: It’s ok Thomo, I’m ok.
*all off, apart from Brendan and Gwen*
Milly: Crying won’t do your laces up!
Jago: (sniff) I can’t tie my laces.
Milly: It’s easy, I’ll show you. You get your laces in a loop, wrap it
round, and pull it through.
Jago: Well, that don’t look easy at all.
Milly: You’ll get the hang of it. Come on, let’s go in.
Jack: I’m not hungry. I don’t want to eat. I usually love potato stew,
but I have no appetite for it. Waste not, want not, she’d say. Waste
not, want not.
*Table*
Danielle: I’ve made your favourite. Potato stew.
Siana: (Laugh)
Danielle: With bread and butter pudding for afters.
Siana– Yum!
Tom: Mum, I’ve brought Molly home for dinner. That alright?
Danielle: Of course it is love.
Tom: What’s for dinner Mum?
Sianna: Stew
Danielle: How was your first day school, love?
Peter: I don’t want to talk about it.
Sophie S: Thomo never quite got over his father’s accident.
Sophie: Big Joe nearly died when he was young. Of Meningitis.
Rachel: Thomo had gone into the forest with his father that day.
Phillys Sylvia: Big Joe always liked making rude noises. He was
forever blowing raspberries, and it would make everyone laugh.
*raspberry*
Evie: Once he blew a raspberry at me, and I taught him a lesson, with
my whip.
Ben: But that didn’t stop him. He still loved making people laugh.
Poppy: Thanks again for having me over for tea, Mrs Peaceful.
Siana: It’s a pleasure Molly, you can come over whenever you want.
Seren: Molly’s parents were strict. They didn’t know that she would
eat with the boys, and they wouldn’t approve.
Jack: Mrs Peaceful worked at the big house caring for the Colonel’s
wife. She did this until his wife died.
Siana: *sings Oranges and Lemons*
Poppy: Why does he like that song so much?
Tom: Dunno! He’s just always sung it!
Peter: I really enjoyed the book we were reading in class.
Poppy: Yeah, it’s a great book, Charlie, maybe we should go fishing
soon.
Daniella: If you’re going fishing, you’d better take Thomo with you.
*Fishing*
Cast line in cannon
Jago: And that’s how it was. The three of them were inseparable.
When they weren’t fishing they were poaching in the forest. And
when they weren’t poaching they were swimming in the lake.
Ben: It was a happy time in the Peaceful household. All except when
she came to stay.
*knock*
Sophie: Quick, she’s here! Hide!
*hide*
Sophie: Ah, grandmother, come in.
Rachel: You kept me waiting for such a long time, it’s freezing
outside! I could have caught my death. Where are the children?
Sophie: Out playing.
*Big Joe - raspberry*
Rachel: What was that?
Sophie: Nothing. Tea?
Rachel: Yes, not too hot.
Rachel: Those boys of yours have been hunting in the forest again.
Sophie: Really?
Rachel: Yes, the Colonel came to me personally. I said I’d deal with it.
Sophie: Well, they’re not here. But you’re welcome to come back
another time, goodbye!
Tom: I haven’t seen a fox for a while. Not since I’ve been out here.
It’s not surprising. I suppose. But I have heard owls. How birds can
survive in this I don’t know. Sometimes I see larks flying over noman’s land. It gives me hope to see that.
Ben: *Gun* I’m sorry, Bertha, you’re no good to me anymore. It’s
time to say goodbye.
Milly: The Colonel had many hounds. When they weren’t useful to
him any more, they got shot.
Ben: Where is she? *whilstle* Bertha?
Poppy: Shhh, be quiet girl, they can’t know that you’re here. It’s ok,
I’m going to take you home with me.
Peter: So the Colonel’s dog became part of the family, but they had
to keep Bertha out of sight.
Tom: What have you got there?
Poppy: It’s a dog, called Bertha,
Tom: Where did you get her?
Poppy: I took her from the Colonel, he was going to shoot her but
you’ve got to keep it a secret.
Siana: Dog
Ben: Her name’s Bertha. You’ve got to keep it a secret.
Siana: Bertha
Ben: Quickly, Joe
Milly: Yes?
Ben: I know you’ve stolen her, Mrs P.
Milly: I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about
WOOF!
Ben: There, I knew it, I knew you had stolen that hound from me!
After I was kind enough to give your boys jobs, be kind enough not to
lie to my face.
Milly: Ok, I’ll pay you for the dog. Sixpence, that’s more than she’s
worth.
Ben: I’ll take your money. But don’t think this will go unpunished.
?: Time passed, and Thomo moved into the upper school with Mr
Munnings.
?: He didn’t like it much, and sometimes he got the cane.
(Three cane hits behind the knee)
?: Molly and Charlie left school, and started work at the big house.
?: Thomo could only watch from afar, as Charlie and molly became
closer and closer.
?: Thomo became jealous, not only of Charlie, but of Molly too.
?: They seemed so grown up, and in contrast, he felt so young.
?: By the time the war started, Charlie was old enough to join the
army, and Thomo was old enough to leave school.
?: It was decided that Thomo would also join the army, and they
were placed in the same regiment.
?: They were posted in Belgium, and much to their disappointment,
the colonel was their commander.
?: They picked up their standard issue kit and headed out to
war
(pick up kit, three steps forward, drops back, from left hip
swing gun upwards aiming at audience, turn to centre line,
cross the stage ending in a line turning to face the stage,
move into the crater)
?: The battlefield was far worse than they thought it would
be.
?: The Rattle of the machine gun haunted the soldier’s
dreams at night.
?: There was barbed wire and craters over the entire field.
?: It was here that Thomo found sanctuary after he was shot
in the leg by enemy forces.
?: He had momentarily lost his older brother in the battle
Seren: Charlie! Charlie! I’m injured!
(Silvia walks behind the crater to the other side of the stage
before coming back to find Immy)
?: Thomo what happened are you ok?
Seren: It’s my leg, I don’t think I can carry on, but you must.
?: I’m not going to leave you Thomo.
Seren: But the colonel is going to be here any second I saw
him just over the hill
?: you leave him to me.