Showing posts with label Danny Roberts' Heuristic Tales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Danny Roberts' Heuristic Tales. Show all posts

Tuesday, 11 March 2014

Why?Boy Returns

Back, due to no demand whatsoever:

Why?Boy Returns

Scene 18 Int. A stone corridor leading to an iron door.

Two henchmen stand before the door, dressed all in black and armed with sten guns. Why?Boy comes around the corner and stands before them.

Henchman1:

Don’t come any closer Why?Boy.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Henchman1:

‘Cause we got orders to keep you out.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Henchman1:

‘Cause our boss don’t want you in here.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Henchman1 (starting to sweat):

‘Cause you might stop him taking over the world.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Henchman1:

Ah! I can’t takes much more.

Henchman2:

What you waiting for? Shoot him Reg.

Henchman1:

I can’t Larry. It’s his incessant question what’s making me lose me mind.

Henchman2:

Stay back now ya hear Why?Boy? Stay back or I’ll shoot.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Henchman2:

To stop you getting in here.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Henchman2:

‘Cause that’s what I’m paid to do.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Henchman1

See what I mean, Larry? It’s incessant.

Henchman2:

Now look, I was in jail see for robbery. Henchman is the only job I could gets.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Henchman2 (eyes starting to bulge):

It’s the heartless system, see. An old lag like me don’t stand a chance against the, the, the system.

Henchman2 screams and blow his brains out. Henchman1 quickly follows. Why?Boy steps over the bodies and advances through the door.

End Scene.



Scene 19 Int. Study beyond the iron door, wall to wall books and a desk and an assortment of chemistry equipment in one corner. The rooms comes to a point with two window either side.

Fools Top is making the final adjustments to the rocket he will fire into the reservoir to pollute London’s water supply. He doesn’t look up as Why?Boy approaches.

Fools Top:

Somehow I didn’t think it would take you long to get past the guards Why?Boy. I suppose you think you going to stop me.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Fools Top:

Why indeed.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Fools Top(looks up):

You’re not so tough, Why?Boy. The rights answers to your questions are enough to render you powerless. (Why?Boy makes to speak) Why?

Why?Boy:

Why?

Fools Top:

Why?

Why?Boy:

Why?

Fools Top:

Why?

Why?Boy:

Why?

Why?

Why?

Fools Top:

I think he’s caught in a loop.

Fools Top laughs manically as Why?Boy sags and looks crestfallen. Fools Top reaches into a drawer in his desk and takes out a Luger. He aims it at Why?Boy. He makes to pull the trigger, then stops and circles the gun illustratively in the air as he speaks.

Fools Top:

I want you to know that I’m not an evil man, Why?Boy. Usually I wouldn’t kill anyone so young as you, but you’ve delayed my plans too many times and I can’t have you stopping me now. Not when I am so close.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Fools Top:

Nice try Why?Boy. But allow me to answer a question with a question: Why not?

Fools Top levels the gun at Why?Boy just as two more children, a girl and a boy, enter through the door and stand side by side with Why?Boy.

Fools Top:

What’s this? How Do Lad and Whatev's Girl. But I saw you die.

How Do Lad (nods):

How Do Lad.

Whatev’s Girl(shrugs):

Whatev’s.

Fools Top staggers backwards at these words, hands to his temples, gun still in his hand. The three caped crusaders step forward as one.

How Do Lad (nods):

How Do Lad.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Whatev’s Girl(shrugs):

Whatev’s.

How Do Lad (nods):

How Do Lad.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Whatev’s Girl(shrugs):

Whatev’s.

How Do Lad (nods):

How Do Lad.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Whatev’s Girl(shrugs):

Whatev’s.

Fools Top:

Argh! No, stop you fools, stop.

How Do Lad (nods):

How Do Lad.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Whatev’s Girl(shrugs):

Whatev’s.

Fools Top staggers towards a window, topples out and falls to his death.

How Do Lad (nods):

How Do Lad.

Why?Boy:

Why?

Whatev’s Girl(shrugs):

Whatev’s.

The three break into a musical routine to the tune of Morecambe and Wise’s Boom, Oo, Yatta-ta-ta (Whatev’s, Why, How-Do-Lad). Why Mother Why? (Cilla Black) released from the dungeon by Whatev’s Girl and How Do Lad appears to sings the main tune.

End Scene

Credits



See Also (click link):

The Further Adventures of Why?Boy

Get it done.



Monday, 10 March 2014

In Our Present Time


The one edition of In Our Time that you won’t find in the BBC archive.

In Our Present Time

Announcer: And now on Radio 4, In Our Time with Simon Brotherington.

Simon: Hello. I’m Simon Brotherington, standing in for Melvyn Bragg, who’s away this week.

Simon: Joining me to discuss the murder of Julius Caesar are, Dr Julie Craig, Visiting Lecturer in Classical Studies at Woking University; Lawrence Schutt, Emeritus Professor in Roman History at Jordan College, Oxford; and Wendy Clarence, Senior Lecturer in Northern English Roman Studies at Northern University, Bradford.

Simon: Julie Craig, if we can start with you. Can you start by giving us a brief outline of the early years of Julius Caesar?

Julie: Certainly. Gaius Julius Caesar is born around 100BCE, before common era, or before Christ. He’s born to Aurelia Cotta and Gaius Julius Caesar. His family are patricians. They have noble roots, though at this time the family isn’t particularly rich or influential. They...

Simon: Sorry, can I stop you there for a moment. You said Julius Caesar is born around 100BC?

Julie: That’s right.

Simon: But is born? Is born? Surely you mean, was born.

Julie: Sorry?

Simon: Look, unless I’ve massively misunderstood the notes you all sent me, we’re talking about events that happened over two thousand years ago, correct?

Julie: Yes.

Simon: But you’re talking about it like it’s going on now.

Julie: It’s academic convention.

Simon: Well it’s weird. Anyway, I interrupted you. Go on.

Julie: Erm, well, ok, so, his father dies in 85BCE and at the age of 16, young Gaius becomes head of the family.

Simon: See, you’re doing it again.

Julie: What?

Simon: ‘Becomes head of the family’. No, became head of the family.

Julie: I’m sorry.

Simon: Doesn’t matter. Lawrence Schutt, if I can turn to you to move things on a bit. As I understand it, Julius became a priest of Jupiter, where he narrowly escaped death in the purges of the dictator Sulla, so he joined the army and went off to fight in Asia.

Lawrence: That is correct, Simon.

Simon: Ok, so take the story on from there.

Lawrence: Ok, so Gaius joins the army and serves with distinction at the battle of Mytilene, where he is awarded the Civic Crown.

Simon: But see now you’re doing it. This is supposed to be a high class discussion programme. We’re supposed to be educating the listeners about history, not recording a DVD commentary.

Julie: But this is how we always speak. It’s never been a problem when I’ve been on here before.

Simon: You mean it’s not been a problem.

Julie: What?

Simon: Never refers to something that’s not ever happened. Something can’t never have happened before. It has either never happened or it has happened. It’s happening now. So  it can’t never have happened.

Silence.

Simon: Sorry, that just really gets on my tits that. And look, I may not have a PhD in History, but I have at least worked out the difference between the present and the past tense. Wendy Clarence, I hope that you’re going to introduce some sanity into proceedings. Talk about when Julius Caesar was captured by pirates.

Wendy: Erm, so this is in the year 75BCE.

Simon: Was in the year.

Wendy: Sorry, was is in the year 75BCE. Gaius is sailing to Greece to..

Simon: Was sailing to Greece.

Wendy: Was sailing to Greece to continue his studies, when he’s captured err, was captured by Cilcian pirates and held for ransom.

Simon: Good.

Wendy: It is said that when he heard the pirates wanted 20 talons for his ransom, he demands, he demanded, he, he demands, demanded [bursting into tears] that they ask for at least 50.

Simon: Oh good grief. You academics, you don’t like being out of your comfort zone, do you? And now look, it’s nearly the end of the program and we haven’t got anywhere near the murder of Julius Caesar. What do you have to say for yourselves?

Mumbles.

Simon: Pardon?

All: Sorry Simon.

Simon: Worst episode of In Our Time, ever. And I do mean ever.

All: Sorry Simon. Wendy blows her nose and sobs.

Simon: Next week on In Our Time, Melvyn and his guests are, err, will be talking about the history of hostage taking. Thank you very much for listening.

Get it done.


Wednesday, 5 March 2014

R.A.I.N.E.


I did write this once, ages ago, but lost everything but the first couple of hundred words and had to start again. Second time around came out a little better:

R.A.I.N.E.

Scene: Any office, anywhere, ever.

Tony: F2. F3. F2. N

Grace: M?

Tony: No, N.

Grace: Ok.

Tony: Then R. F2. shift F2. F5. And enter. And there you have it, that's your product number.

Grace: BCH847391

Tony: Write it down. You’ll need it in a bit.

Grace: What and I have to do that for every case?

Tony: You do.

Grace: I'll never remember all that.

Tony: Refer to your process flow. But trust me, month from now it'll be so natural you'll wonder how you ever lived without this stuff.

Grace: H'm. I remain to be convinced.

Tony: Are you musical at all, Grace? Do you play an instrument?

Grace: Trumpet.

Tony: Great stuff. 'Cause what I always say when I get to train musicians such as yourself is this: Think of it like playing a musical scale. Learn the notes and you'll be fine.

Grace: Right. Bit of hippy really aren’t you?

Tony: What me? Not with my finally shaved scalp.

Grace: Yeah but it was long once. Wore a lot of hemp clothing did you? Got a lot of stoner friends I bet.

Tony: Used to. Their all tied down now.

Grace: You not married?

Tony: Not no more. Divorced.

Grace: I'm sorry.

Tony: Don't be. Best thing that ever happened to me. I get to do what I want now. Get to  stay up late. With whoever I want.

Grace: Anyway, what's next?

Tony: Well now you have the product number, you need the customer number.

Grace: And that’s where?

Tony: Tootie.

Grace: It’s where now?

Tony: On Tootie. You’ll hear it called the Toots system, but I call it Tootie ‘cause it always reminds me of Tootie Fruitti.

Grace: Tootie Fruitti? What’s that, like a gay website?

Tony: No, it’s a song by Little Richard.

Grace: Who?

Tony: Elvis covered it.

Grace: Elvis. I’ve heard of him.

Tony: Heard of him? Heard of him? What are they teaching you in school these days?

Grace: Sorry, I must have been at the dentist’s the day we did granddad music in history, granddad.

Tony: Cheeky get.

Grace: Do you even own an Ipod? Bet you’re still on CDs.

Tony: CDs? Hell no. I’m still on vinyl.

Grace: Vinyl? Mercy. It’s 2014 y’know, not 1814.

Tony [laughs]: 1814, when do you think records were invented exactly?

Grace: Before I was born. That’s all I needs to know.

Tony: The day before yesterday?

Grace: What? Oh, very funny.

Tony: So when were you born?

Grace: I cannot believe you said that. You don’t ask a lady her age.

Tony: If I meet one, I won’t.

Grace: What? I don’t get it.

Tony: It was a joke. Never mind. Sorry, you just look young enough not to mind saying.

Grace: I’m 27.

Tony: Right. Well wait until you’re my age. Wait until you have kids of your own. Then you’ll see. Your kids will take the piss out of everything you think is cool now.

Grace: That’ll never happen.

Tony: Happens to us all, Grace.

Grace: Nah.

Tony: Yes.

Grace: Oh my god, shut up talking. Where’s this Toots?

Tony: Toots. I don’t know, going with the herd, how disappointing.

Grace: Excuse me?

Tony: Nothing, I’m only messing. Go to Start:

Grace: Right.

Tony: All Programs

Grace: Yup.

Tony: Network Programs

Grace: Right.

Tony: Toots.

Grace: Uh huh.

Tony: Toots Start Up

Grace: Jesus.

Tony: And there, click that icon there.

Grace: This one.

Tony: Yes.

Grace: Ok.

Silence.

Tony: It takes a while. Cardiff server.

Grace: Right.

Tony [shouts]: Phil. Hey Phil. You playing five-a-side after? Cool. Meet ya at Astroturf. What? [laughs] Ha ha, yeah. See ya later pal.

Grace: What was that about?

Tony: What?

Grace: That look.

Tony: What? Oh nothing.

Grace: Was that about me?

Tony: About you? No.

Grace: Better not be.

Tony: Get Little Miss Self-Important here.

Grace: I don’t fuck dirty old men.

Tony: Good to know.

Grace: So tell your pervy friend to keep his eyes to himself, yeah.

Tony: System’s loaded.

Grace: It wants a password. What’s...

Tony: Password123.

Grace: Wow, really keeping security tight.

Tony: S’only the customer’s details on Tootie. Nothing to do with the company, like they could give a fuck. Sell half of this shit to other companies as it is.

Grace: Now what?

Tony: Option 2.

Grace: Ok.

Tony: Er, then 3. 4. And 5.

Grace: It wants the product code. Wait, I have that. I wrote it down. Here we go. BCH847391.

Tony: Hey, I think she’s getting the hang of it.

Grace: Don’t patronise me. Right, the customer code is 1138946.

Tony: Right it down.

Grace: I’ll never remember this.

Tony: Refer to your process flow. I’m just here to take you through it a couple of times.

Grace: What and then I’m on my own?

Tony: In this place you’re always on your own. That’s why they tell you refer to your process flow. It’s a mantra 'round here. Saves them from having to take responsibility for anything. You fuck up it’s your fault for not referring to your process flow. And keep checking your emails, cause they like to change the process flow regular just to screw with you.

Grace: That sucks.

Tony: It’s the sign of a failed organisation, yes.

Grace: Now what?

Tony: So finally, we need load up the R.A.I.N.E. system.

Grace: Rain? Reminds me of Rhianna [hums Umbrella].

Tony: Always makes me think of Purple Rain by Prince.

Grace: Prince, now I’ve...

Tony: Heard of him?.

Grace: Know I mean I’ve actually heard him. My big sister. She lurves her some Prince. And I love my big sister. Prince is awesome.

Tony: Wow, see this? [makes noise of an elevator or something being raised] This is my estimation of you going up.

Grace: Thanks.

Tony: Welcome.

Grace: Still not sleeping with you though.

Tony: Y’know in my day it was considered polite for a woman to wait for a man to proposition her before she told him to shove it.

Grace: When was that? 1814?

Tony: Same year the gramophone was invented, yes. And anyway, you’re old enough to be my daughter. If I’d had you when I was at school. That sounds bad. Can I take that back?

Grace: I know what you mean. You got any kids, Tony?

Tony: A son. Tony, Junior.

Grace: H’m, imaginative. How old’s he?

Tony: 18.

Grace: You not get on?

Tony: Doesn’t want to know me. Not since the divorce.

Grace: Ah, I’m sure it’ll pass. I didn’t want to know my parents when I was that age. Couldn’t wait to get the fuck out of there and off to uni.

Tony: Same.

Grace: Well then. Give him a couple of years, he’ll come around.

Tony: Ya think?

Grace: I did.

Tony: Me too

Grace: Well then.

Tony: Thank you Grace. I think you’ll get on well here. And that’s not a come on.

Grace: I never said a word.

Tony: Most people don’t last five minutes here. You either have to be tough or old and desperate enough not to quit. You seem tough enough that you’ll go far.

Grace: Thanks.

Tony: Welcome.

Grace: So where is this Rain system?

Tony: Right, well it’s another trek through subfolders I’m afraid.

Grace: Ok. Lead on.

Tony: Ok, so, start, then All Programs

Grace [humming Purple Rain]: Yup.

Tony: System Programs. Leeds Server. Now Financial...

Fade out.

Get it done.