Secret Weapon

by Paul McDermott

© June 2007

Ext. night. Streetlamps, urban setting

Jimmy & Pat carry simple fishing tackle

Pat                   Leave it out, Jimmy! It's only five pee!

Jimmy             Yeah, burrit's my five pee, innit?

                        Coin rolls, Jimmy chases it, stoops

                        See? Told yer!  Dizzy, staggers as he stand up again

Voice               Ow! Gerroff!

                        Hand open flat: coin hops, jumps, spins, Jimmy looks closely

Voice               Are you deaf? Put me down! Who said ..!"

                        Fist clenched, cut off sentence.

Jimmy             D'you 'ear that, Pat? Or am I ………?

Looks round. He is alone on scene. Muttering from coins unintelligible, muffled, but increasing in volume Disgorger from pocket, grips coin

Jimmy             Heads …….. but that's not the Queen! Looks like a King ………!

                        Turns it over, looking for date

                        (disbelief in voice)    "three pence: 1932 "  but – it looks                                         brand-new!

Voice               Depends on what you mean by 'new', boy: it's been around the country several times since it was minted! I'll wager it's almost as old as you are!

Jimmy             Hey, watch it! I'm nearly thirteen, but if this coin's from 1932 it's a lot older than me: that makes it seventy-someth…!

Voice               (interrupting)  Unimportant, boy: do you know who you're interrupting?

                        Do you? Look at the front of the coin again, now!

Jimmy             You mean, this is you? George V … King George the Fifth?

George            There's only you and me, sonny: your friend isn't anywhere in the here-and-now, by the looks of things! But I'm actually number Six: that coin was minted during my father's reign.

Jimmy             (looks around) Pat? You there? (beat: no response)

                        And isn't is … darker than it was before?

George            That's quite possible. There's a war on, you know, and such things as blackouts and night curfews!  (beat)

                        Listen, Jimmy: open your fist, and look at me when I speak to you: that has to be the minimum courtesy and good manners expected of a subject being addressed by their monarch!

                              Jimmy obeys. Gazing hard at the coin on his open palm

George            That's better! Now, as I said, there's a war on. What are you doing out during Curfew hours?

Jimmy             I can guess you're talking about World War Two: we were learning about hat in school last week. And I remember Miss told us that Curfew meant you weren't allowed to go out at night ………….!

George            That's twice you've hinted that you've somehow come from a time which for me is still an uncertain future. But the fact that we're both speaking English and understanding each other suggests that, against all odds, we managed to beat the Hun in the war which, as far as I'm concerned, is still being fought. That makes what I need you to do for me – and for the country we both love! – of vital importance! Do you understand me, Jimmy? It's crucial that you do exactly what I ask of you! We've been fighting Gerry, as far as I'm concerned, for over two years now and things aren't going as well as the Press would like people to believe!

                        (sudden change of tone: sounds angry, frustrated) And while I think about it, where'd you get that uniform? You're too young to be in service!

Jimmy             It's only an ordinary parka, I always use it when I go fishing 'cos it's got lots o' pockets for keeping tackle in!

George            Looks like Army issue to me. And you can put me down somewhere: you're starting to hurt me with those pliers!

                        Jimmy whips off his woolly hat, placing it on top of his tackle box and the coin in the middle of the hat.

George            Do I assume you believe me when I tell you this is your King speaking: that we're in a country at war: and that I have a vital job I have to trust you to carry out?

Jimmy            I don't really understand what's happening, Sir, but of course I believe you! Why wouldn't I? And, Sir? While I think about it, is "Sir" the right title? Shouldn't I be calling you "Your Majesty" or something?

George            (short laugh) You appear polite enough, young man! I don't intend having you slung in the Tower for being impudent, anyway! But what I said about this job I have for you: it really is important, and there isn't anyone else I can ask: it simply has to be done today, right now! Do you understand?

Jimmy             I'm ready, Sir: and listening carefully.

George            Good, Now, I may have sounded a bit … harsh, before. I'm sorry, but I'm not very experienced with children, I'm afraid! Now, tell me your name: I assume you're carrying your ID Card?

Jimmy             My name's Jimmy: Jimmy Docherty. And as for ID cards, well ....I've heard about them, but that's something else we don't have …. in my time! Tell me: do you know if I'll ever get back there?

George            I can't promise anything, Jimmy: but since you came here from the future, there must be a 'future' to go back to, don't you think? And surely that can only mean ……..

Jimmy             … that I managed to do …. whatever it is you're going to ask me to do?

George            Seems that way, doesn't it? Now, listen! (beat)

                        Look around you: does this look like the Liverpool you know?

Jimmy             Beat. He looks around.  No, Sir. I mean, this is the corner of Prescot Road and Green Lane, but the supermarket I knew, the Kwiksave …. over there where the rail lines lead into that big shed …. is that a tram depot? Only I think my Grandad's mentioned trams, not buses, at the time ………?

George            That was very observant of you! And completely right, by the way! Anything else?

Jimmy             The streetlights ………

George            …. reduced by blackout rules, don't forget, so not as bright as perhaps you might have expected?

Jimmy             …….. and they're gas lights! I remember my parents talking about them, as well as my grandparents!

George            I wish we had time to talk more, but I'm afraid that won't be possible ……. Tell me! Where were you and your young friend going at this early hour?

Jimmy             We were just going fishing, down to Newsham Park

George            Pick up your tackle and carry on. I'll tell you more on the way…..trust me?

Jimmy             I suppose I've got to trust ….. my King? Well, p'raps not my King – we've got a Queen, she must be your daughter, Elizabeth. She's been Queen since before I was born …

George            genuine laughter   If, as you say, you’re from another time, you'll have one of my descendants on the throne, I suppose …. And no, I don't want to know when she became Queen: that would mean learning the date of my death, and I don't think I particularly want to know that!

Jimmy             Understood, Sir! There's not many would want to know that!

George            Good! Now, as King I need you to tell me what you think today's date might be: can you do that?

Jimmy             When me 'n' Pat left home to go fishin' it was about five o'clock – morning, that is! – and the date was May 1^st: a school holiday, so we weren't bunking off or anything!

George            That's fine, Jimmy: but you needn't worry about me telling your teacher about your reasons for not being in school … in fact, I doubt very much if any of your teachers have even been born yet, in 1941! But I hope that means it's the same date: if you see an adult, or an open shop, ask!

                        SFX. Clip-clop of hooves, rattle of milk bottles in crates on a 'float'

Jimmy             'Scuse me, Mister! Can you tell me the date, please?

Milkman          First of May, Sonny – and the coarse season don't start 'til June 16^th, you oughta know that! Still, I won’t tell the beat bobby: anything to make the ration book stretch a bit further, eh?! Best o' luck!

                        SFX. As above, diminishing as the float is led away >pp

Jimmy             Why's the date so important?

George            I'll tell you when we get to the park lake. I don't want any further interruptions, because what I need to tell you is Top Secret

Jimmy             Now, hang about! First you tell me you're the voice of a King what died before I was even born, now you tell me you're going to trust me with Top Secret information? I don't think so: and didn't I read somewhere that most royal families are right nutters, anyway ….?

George            Stop! You can stop, right there! (beat. G continues, angily) I wouldn't have chosen a child to pass on this vital message, but I don't seem to have much choice! And there's too muck talk in books about royal madness, from writers who really ought to know better!

Jimmy             I never meant …….!

George            Oh? And what did you mean by "nutter", then? (beat)

                        Never mind, it's not important! (beat)

                        Change of mood, urgency in voice

                        Jimmy, I'm giving you a vital job to do, one which will save countless lives.

Jimmy             What can I do, Sir?

George            Listen. Four days from now, Germany plans to bomb Liverpool into submission, hoping to force the country to surrender. You must persuade somebody to listen to you, to take note, and to act. (beat. Raised voice)
Don't ask me how I know! You'll just have to take it on trust that, as King I sometimes get to know …. certain things in ways I could never hope to explain to anyone else!

                            (Beat. Continues in a calmer voice)

                        I'm sorry to spoil your fishing trip, but time is short. Go to the police station at the top of Derby Lane on your way home. Tell the Desk Sergeant what I've told you, and tell him it's vital that nobody is sent to the air-raid shelter in St. Luke's church at the top of Bold Street on the night of May 4^th. It's too late to prevent the raid, but the church is going to take a direct hit.

Jimmy             But, how will I get him to believe me? I'm just a kid ….!

George            You'll find a way. For some reason, I just know you won't let me down. And if there's a problem ………. (beat)

                        (continues in a 'whisper')  …. The Sergeant's name is Arthur Todd. Tell him from me that his son, Johnny, is on his way home with a 'blighty' – which he'll understand: I don't suppose it means anything to you, does it?

Jimmy             No, Sir

George            It means "lightly injured, return home to recover". And if Desk Sergeant Todd asks who told you, you can tell him you got it from his "Ultimate C.O." –    as Monarch, I can claim that! Courage, Jimmy! I know you can do it!

                                    SFX. Volume decrease/ slight echo & distortion effect       
                                   during  delivery of final line Pause. Fade IN background
                                   'office' sounds e.g. typewriter, quiet radio, etc. Door creaks
                                   open, closes with a 'click'

Desk S             You're out early, sonny! Got lost looking for the park, have we?

Jimmy             No, Serge, I'm not going fishing: that is, I was going to but … (beat)

                        I've got something to tell you, and you're not going to believe me

                                             SFX:  Fade OUT, Fade IN

Jimmy             (concluding) … an' he said, if Sergeant Arthur Todd finds it hard to
            believe, I should say that his son Johnny is on his way home with a             "blighty injury" and he'll be here soon. He called himself you son's
            "Ultimate C.O." and said that, as King, he could claim the title.

Desk S             Won't be a minute, Jimmy …. Jimmy Docherty, is that how you
            spell it? I just have to make a phone call, but I'm not going to
            leave you alone ….. Hello? Switchboard, I need a DI down here
            and a secure outside phone line ….

                           SFX. Door opens, closes

Desk S            One moment, switch …. Jimmy, you're not in trouble, okay? And you could easily have done something more important than … anyway, go with DI Peters and tell him what you told me …. Yes, switchboard, go ahead ….

Jimmy             hesitating ….. er…. Sarge? Just one thing …..?

Desk S            Go on, then … I have to wait for a connection ….

Jimmy             Thinking of what we learnt in sch … I mean, what we will learn … anyway! (beat) … if Mr Churchill and the Government are using Western Approaches HQ, they'll also be in danger, won't they?

DI                    interrupting  It's okay, Sarge: this is more my business than yours, I think! Jimmy, tell me a bit more ……… (fade)

Jimmy              ….. and that's about it, really. It's just as hard for me to understand, probably, as it is for you to believe, but as sure's I'm sitting here – an' wond'rin' what's happened to my mate, Pat! – that's all I know. For me it's been like livin' through a hist'ry lesson in school. I keep thinkin' I'm gonna wake up with a teacher yellin' at me f'r fallin' asleep in class! I wish I had something ……..! (beat) Hang on! (beat. Rustle of paper) Look what I found in my pocket: will this convince you? It's a bus ticket, see? And look at this: time, date, everything, see? Now d'you believe me…… ?

    Gradual fade. SFX mood music 'link', echo, distortions,
                        then gradual volume increase

Voice               Jimmy? Jimmy! You alright? Christ, our kid, you had me worried there!

Jimmy             Leave it out, Pat! Where'd you get to, anyway? I looked all over for you!

Pat                   Dunno what y'r on about, Jim! That bang on y'r head must 've scrambled y'r brains, or something! You took one helluva tumble for the sake o' five pee, and there's a lump the size of an egg on yer for'ead orreddy! I;ve been right here, lookin' after yiz, since it happened – 'bout five minutes ago? Ain't been nowhere, me, an' there's been nobody else round: but at this time o' the mornin' that's no surprise! (beat)  Nah, don't touch it, Jimmy: yer 'ands are filthy, it'll only get infected ….

Jimmy             Ow! Look, no blood, it's not even broke the skin! (shows hand)

Pat                   Anyway, it was a total waste: look! It isn't even a five pee! Some sorta foreign coin, I reckon …. See here! (beat) got English writing on it, all the same …. Some geezer called "George" on the Heads side …. And when I turn it over, it says "three pence" … in good nick for a coin minted in 1932, though, don'tcha think….?

FINIS