A TV Script

This is the story of the fictional Liverpudlian Kennedy Family. The full script runs from the death of the father in 1977 to the death of the mother some 15 or so years later. Through poverty, ilness and depression, the family struggles to survive the ravages of what people called 'Thatchers Britain'. The excerpts are from the beggining and end of the script. You will notice the numbers on the scenes. I hope you will enjoy reading the script and have a laugh whilst doing it. I would appreciate feedback on this and my work so please E-mail Jeff, the site's owner. If you know someone in T.V. or film who would be interested in producing the full 90 minute version of my script please let me know.
Thanks and God .Bless you. All,
Colin.

The Main characters
NORMA: Cheeky scouse battleaxe mother for whom you can't do anything but like her. Always moaning, she loves her Strawberry tarts. Forever in debt, and having to get her son JIMMY to raid the telly meter to get by.
JIMMY: NORMA's opnly son. Always arguing and can twist his mum round his little finger, nothing's as important as his next 'Ciggie'
JACKIE: The put upon younger daughter of the clan. Always arguing with JIMMY and always loosing. Is it any wonder she feels as if she's only there to cook clean and carry, especially as she feels JIMMY is hogging his mothers attention and money whilst she goes without.

Note to readers: Wherever you se (V/O)in the script it stands for Voice Over and is used to indicate when Jackie is taliking over a scene, either as an adult when a teenage Jackie is in the scene, or when she not in the scene at all.
OPENING TITLES RUN OVER THE KENNEDYS LIVING ROOM.

1. KENNEDYS LIVING ROOM. A DELIVERY MAN IS BRINGING A 22' BLACK AND WHITE TELEVISION IN TO THE ROOM. HE IS WATCHED BY NORMA, JIMMY, AND A 12 YEAR OLD JACKIE.

NORMA. You're late.They promised you'd be here first thing.

DELIVERY MAN. (PUTTING SET DOWN IN THE CORNER) Sorry 'bout it like, but the fella we had to get this se back off, would he let us in the house? I had to go and get a copper to gain entry. By the time plod'd arrived, chummy'd gone down the boozer. He only came back at closing time. And when I finally got the set back he'd only gone and smashed the box on the back to get the cash out. You're lucky they had a spare meter, otherwise it'd've been Friday before you got this. Plug it in will you chum? And don't forget the aerial.

NORMA. Go on Jimmy, plug it in. Crossroads'll be on in a minute.

JIMMY. Can't Jackie do it?

NORMA. Owt 'lectrical is mans work. We don't want it going wrong on us before we've watched the flippin' thing, do we?

JIMMY. She only has to plug the flippin' thing in. Surely she can do that? I'm off upstairs. (EXITS AND GOES UPSTAIRS. FX)

NORMA. Plug it in Jackie.

JACKIE. Do I have to?

NORMA. Yes, you bloody well have to young madame.

JACKIE GOES AND PLUGS IT IN. NORMA GETS UP AND GOES TO SWITCH IT ON. THE SET ISN'T WORKING. THERE ISN'T A PEEP FROM IT.

NORMA. I want me money back. It's not working. (MOANING) And I wanted to watch Crossroads.

DELIVERY MAN. You'se haven't put any money in it! You won't get owt 'til you do. (POINTS TO SLOT) See that? You'se have to put Ten Bob's in it.

NORMA. (GOING TO DOOR AND SHOUTING UP TO JIMMY) Jimmy! Get yer bum down them stairs and put a Ten Bob peice in this telly. Crossroads'll be starting any minute.

JIMMY. (V.O.) Aw 'ey Mam! I'm saving that for some ciggies. I'll've run out by tonight, and you've only got a couple left. You won't like it if you have to go without.

NORMA. Get that backside of yours in this living room and put that money in the telly. Benny's s'posed to be coming back tonight.

WE HEAR THE SOUND OF JIMMY RUNNING DOWNSTAIRS. HE ENTERS THE LIVING ROOM AND THROWS THE MONEY AT NORMA.

JIMMY. Here! You can put it in yourself! I'm gonna have to go without ciggies 'cause of your bloomin' Crossroads. And don't come cadgin' off've me when you've got none, 'cause I won't have any either!

NORMA PUTS THE MONEY IN THE SLOT. AS SHE'D ALREADY SWITCHED IT ON THE PICTURE COMES ON STAIGHT AWAY.

DELIVERY MAN. There! It's working. I'll be off. They
don't pay me overtime.

WE HEAR JOVIAL BACKGROUND MUSIC AS HE LEAVES. WHEN THE VAN DRIVES OFF, JIMMY (WHO'S SMOKING A HAND ROLLED CIGARETTE) PULLS A LARGE BUNCH OF KEYS FROM HIS POCKET.

NORMA. Jimmy, have you got a fag? And I want a proper one, not a rolly!

JIMMY. (TRYING ALL THE KEYS) You can't have a fag. You've made me spend all me money on your precious Crossroads. (SMILING AS ONE OF THE KEYS OPENS THE METER) Ye-Ess! You flippin' beauty! (TAKES COIN OUT OF METER AND THROWS IT IN THE AIR AND CATCHES IT)

2. JACKIES FLAT. JACKIE (30) IS AT THE KITCHEN TABLE WEARING A LEATHER JACKET AND A DENIM SHIRT WHILST SMOKING.

]ACKIE. The things we all had to put up with. And if you think that was bad.. it were normal for us. Mind you, compared to most folk, an Ethiopian famine was normal to us. Usually, Me Mam were shouting at our Jimmy, Jimmy were shouting at Ma, and there was poor old me stuck in the middle, shouting at them both to shut up. The rows we had. That was one of the quieter ones. The bad ones were worse than the Eagle and Child at chucking out time. That's one of Liverpools Roughest pubs. (CUTAWAY TO OUSIDE OF PUB. A ROOKIE POLICEMAN IS WALKING TOWARDS THE PUB. A DRUNK IS HURLED OUT OF THE DOOR, FOLLOWED BY AN LARGE METAL PUB CHAIR THROUGH THE WINDOW. WE HEAR THE FIGHT. THE COPPER TURNS AND SCUTTLES AWAY, TOO SCARED TO INTERVENE, THEN BACK TO JACKIE) If a stranger goes in there they say he never comes out alive. Oh, I am sorry, I haven't introduced meself. I'm Jackie. Jackie Kennedy. Don't worry, I'm all right, not like some've the bloomin' meffs round here. They're druggies, we call them that 'cause they're on the Methadone. Oh, whatever you do, don't tell our Jimmy you've seen me smoking. He doesn't know. If he did, I'd never have any fags to meself, he'd be forever cadging them off me. He'd start an argument, and he wouldn't stop 'til I'd so called "lent" him half a packet. I'd never get them back. As it is he's always going on at me to lend him the money to buy him some. He's still paying me off Twenty quid I lent him to get his ring out've Miltons. At Two Pound a week. And that's only when the fancy takes him. Mind you though it's not for want've trying on my part. Two month it's been, and I've only had one lot of it in all that time. (TAKES HEAVY DRAG ON CIGARETTE AND BLOWS SMOKE OUT) Is it any wonder I haven't told him I smoke? I'd be sitting there gasping away, while he'd be smoking his rollys. Oh, he'd say I could have one've them, but I think they're awful disgusting. Give me a proper fag any day. He does think I smoke, though. Several times he's accused me.

3. KENNEDYS LIVING ROOM. JIMMY IS HAVING A GO AT A 17 YEAR OLD JACKIE.

JIMMY. (VENEMOUS) You've got fags. Admit it, you do smoke. Where are they you little weasel?

JACKIE. I'm telling you Jimmy, I don't flippin' well smoke.

JIMMY. I can smell it on your breath. C'mon, where've you hidden them. What kind of Sister lets her own brother go gasping for a fag when she has her own hidden away somewhere?

JACKIE. You can smell your own breath! I don't smoke, I never have done, and I never will. I'm not as stupid as you and me Ma!

4. JACKIES FLAT. AS 2. JACKIE TAKES HER JACKET OFF.

JACKIE. He never believes me. He always thinks I'm keeping things from him. He thinks he's a right to know everything that goes on in my life, yet he won't tell me his little secrets, though I know most of them, I can tell you. He's always been like that for as long as I can remember. He didn't like it when I was born, it took me mam and dads attention from him, and he's been whineging ever since. He's got worse since me dad died. Come to think've it, (TAKING A DRAG ON CIGARETTE) I s'pose that was when the troubles really started, 'cause after he died we were all -well 'cept for our Lisa, and she got out and went to Skem - well, thought of as the Village Idiots. "It's them dozy Kennedys" Folk'd say. Not that we were dozy, like. I just reckon folk didn't like us. They knew we were a soft touch. Not like when me da were stil living. No one dared try it on when he were around. And after he died, well our Lisa had her Dennis, and he were a big Six foot body builder. I can't imagine anyone wanting t'ave a go at him. No, I s'pose the trouble only really started after they were married, and had shoved off to Skem. It wouldn't have if dad'd still been living, I can tell you'se. It fair broke mams heart when he died. Cancer. From smoking all them fags. It were that that finished me ma an'all. And yet we're all martyrs to the weed, 'cept our Lisa. She's got more sense. Though I'll never understand why I started in the first place. After all, it did put me dad in an early coffin. Coffin nails's what they call them. Not only do they put you in one, from the moment you start smoking, you do nothing but.. They never did us any good, only burnt holes in our pockets faster than you could say Bruce Grobbellar. Me dad were in a lot've pain, all 'cos've the ciggies. Mind you, he didn't know he had cancer at the time, so he just kept on smoking them faster than they made them at the British American factory over the road from Soames. Y'know, the Casino down town. When he did die, we were all gobsmacked to learn it were Cancer. I'll never forget that day. It were the day before Queens Jubilee in 77.

5. CATHCART ROAD. OUTSIDE THE KENNEDYS HOUSE. JACKIE 12, JIMMY, A STREET PARTY IS IN PROGRESS AND A 12 YEAR OLD JACKIE, AND A 17 YEAR OLD JIMMY ARE SEATED AT A TABLE. ALL AROUND CHILDREN ARE PLAYING HAPPILY. JACKIE HAS AN UNTOUCHED PLATE OF FOOD IN FRONT OF HER, AND JIMMY IS TUCKING INTO A CHICKEN LEG. WE SEE THE OTHER KIDS ENJOYING THEMSELVES.
.
JACKIE. (V.O. NARRATION) We weren't s'posed to have been going, we couldn't afford it. But 'cause've me dad dying, Mrs. O'Shaugnessy from number 49 who was organising it, thought it'd help take our minds off things. Her friend Mrs. Mc.Ardle, took a bottle've gin and sat with ma. It didn't work, like. All our Jimmy was bothered about was filling his pockets with grub, cause we wouldn't be getting a Giro 'cause me dad'd died. He made sure he collared a few chicken legs for our Scrounger. We called him that 'cause he was always being chased out've other folks bins. Jimmy didn't seem to care about how I were feeling, not that he ever has. I could've won Miss World for all he cared. He still wouldn't've noticed me picture on the front've the Sun.

JIMMY. (STUFFING A CHICKEN LEG INTO HIS POCKET) Will you bleeding well cheer up, girl. You look well cheesed off.

JACKIE. And you're brassin' me off.

JIMMY. You shouldn't be coming out with that sort've language at your age. If me ma hears you talking like that, you'll be for the flippin' high jump.

JACKIE. (DEPRESSED) I'll talk to you how I flippin' well like.

JIMMY. (LIGHTING A CIGARETTE) Well bleeding well cheer up then.

JACKIE. Dad's just died, and all you're bothered about are your bloomin' ciggies, and making sure our Scrounger gets fed. You heard what the Doctor said, all that pain he was in could've been Cancer. And you get that from your ciggies. Aren't you bothered that you might get it?

JIMMY. (NONCHELANTLY) Nah! You can't blame ciggies for that, causing Cancer. Millions've people smoke in this countrty, and they don't bloomin'well die've cancer do they? (FEEDS A CHICKEN LEG TO SCROUNGER, A LARGE MONGREL) And anyway, in case you're wondering, I'm taking this food 'cause ma won't be getting any money from the dole and I'm darned if I'm spending my dole on flipping food. That's for me ciggies and cans.

MRS O'SHAUGHNESSY COMES OVER TO JACKIE.

MRS. O'SHAUGHNESSY. Cheer up Jackie, you've not eaten your butties. There's best boiled ham on them, and there's jelly and ice cream for afters. I bet you'd like some of that eh?

JACKIE. 'M not hungry.

MRS. O'SHAUGHNESSY. What'll yer ma say if you don't eat owt? She'll go up the bloomin' wall.

JACKIE. Let her. I don't care.

MRS O'SHAUGHNESSY SPOTS MRS Mc.ARDLE COMING OUT OF THE KENNEDY HOUSE WITH AN EMPTY GIN BOTTLE.

MRS O'SHAUGHNESSY. How's she taking it, the poor soul? Her Jackie looks as if she couldn't care if she lives or dies, the poor little mite.

MRS Mc.ARDLE. She's taking it really bad. (HOLDING BOTTLE UP) She polished that off in no time. I don't think she's in a fit state to be left on her own. You can't call the kids company for her, and that Lisa, well fancy leaving her mam on her own and going off with that boyfreind've hers.

MRS O'SHAUGHNESSY. I 'xpect she needs Dennis to get her through all've it. Y'know, It's a shame young Jackie hasn't any friends her own age she can play with. They just don't seem to want to know her. It'd've helped her cope if she had. The poor little mites taking it bad.

JACKIE. (NARRATION) That were no picnic for me. I was really worried how we'd all cope without me dad. Me mam took it real bad.. I don't know how she coped that week. We all pulled together, and the neighbours popped in to make sure she was allright..

6. CHARLIE KENNEDYS FUNERAL. (CUT TO GRAVESIDE) THE MOURNERS, NORMA, JACKIE 12, AND JIMMY 17. NORMA'S HYSTERICAL. EVERYONE THROWS A CIGARETTE INTO THE GRAVE AS A MARK OF RESPECT FOR CHARLIE. NORMA THROWS HIS LIGHTER IN AND THEN TAKES A LUMP OF EARTH FROM THE PALL BEARER AND THROWS IT IN. SHE SUDDENLY JUMPS IN THE GRAVE ON TOP OF THE COFFIN SCREAMING THAT SHE WANTS TO GO WITH HIM

JACKIE. (V/O) The Vicar said she was the worst widow he'd ever seen, and I'm sure I heard some cruel person saying she should've been locked away in the Nut House. Mind you, after what happened at the Cemetary I'd say just about every one there were saying the same thing.......

NORMA. Don't worry Charlie love, I'm coming!

JIMMY JUMPS IN TO TRY AND PERSUADE HER TO GET OUT.

JIMMY. What the heck're you doing in there mam? Don't be silly, Dad's gone. and no matter what you try and do, you can't bring him back!

NORMA. (IN A HUFF WITH HANDS ON HIPS) I know that. I'm not trying to bring him back, (POINTS) I'm going up there with him.

JIMMY. You can't stay in here, they'll be covering dad up in a minute.

NORMA. And me an'all! You'll be dragging me out've this hole over me dead body

VICAR. (POKING HEAD DOWN THE HOLE) Can we get a move on please? I've a Wedding at Three!

JIMMY. It's only Half Past Twelve Vicar. I'll have her out in a sec. (LIFTING NORMA OVER HIS SHOULDERS) C'mon ma. We've a wake to go to.

NORMA WAVES HER ARMS AND LEGS SCREAMING

NORMA. Put me back! I'm going with my Charlie! Put me down! (PUNCHES JIMMY SCREAMING AS JIMMY DRAGS HER OUT) No! No! I wanna go with Charlie!

JIMMY EMERGES FROM THE GRAVE.

ONLOOKER. If you ask me it should've been her in there instead've poor Charlie.

WE SEE LISA, JACKIE AND JIMMY IN TEARS THE CAMERA PANS AROUND ALL THE MOURNERS.

JACKIE. (V.O.) I know folk say that us Kennedys know no shame, but all of us were wishing the ground'd open and swallow us up that day. I think me ma thought it had, 'cause that's the only thing that'd explain why she jumped in the hole. Half the folk there wished she could go with dad, while the rest were cursing the fact that she couldn't. Half the neighbours in church'd only came to say "Good riddance." If they'd 've followed us on to the Cem they'd've been shovelling that dirt back on top've her before anyone else'd've had chance to drag her out. At the wake it were them that were saying that it were the only time they'd ever gotten owt off've any of the Kennedys, until someone said the Social'd paid for it all. Mam just sat in the corner staring. She never uttered a single word. She were that bad we had to get Doctor Nasreem to come and sedate her. Looking back, I s'pose it should've been expected, really. She'd been bad all week. It were the start've her first nervous breakdown. She wouldn't eat, wouldn't sleep, and she most definitely wouldn't do a tap've work round the house.

58. JACKIE'S BATHROOM. JACKIE'S IN THE BATH AND HER BODY IS COVERED IN BUBBLES. SHE'S SMOKING, AND HER CIGARETTES AND LIGHTER ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE BATH, NEXT TO A SPONGE. SHE'S LAID BACK AND HER RIGHT HAND IS HANGING OVER THE SIDE OF THE BATH. SHE BLOWS SMOKE OUT.

JACKIE. Ah, Bliss! If only I could've forgotten all me troubles over a nice hot bath and a ciggie back in Cathcart Road. We couldn't even afford the hot water for the bath then. Mam was getting even worse. Everytime the window got broke she took a fit. If it didn't start a coughing fit, she needed a ciggie to calm her 'Shattered nerves', and that did! It got so bad Dr. Nasreem diagnosed Emphysema, and said she'd have to go into a home. Me and Jimmy were dead against it, so we brought her bed downstairs instead. I s'pose looking back she would've been better off in one, what with all the pain she went through. She never packed in smoking, which I thought was stupid, but I'm not her, and she had been smoking all her life. She just kept deteriorating. It was like having a tree in yer front garden and watching all the leaves slowly dying, waiting for the last leaf to fall off the branch 'till you're left with nowt.

60. CATHCART ROAD. JIMMY, JACKIE, NORMA, AMBULANCE MEN. AN AMBULANCE IS OUTSIDE WITH LIGHTS FLASHING, AND TWO AMBULANCE MEN ARE CARRYING NORMA OUT ON A STRETCHER WHILE JIMMY AND JACKIE ARE IN TEARS.

JIMMY. (ALMOST IN TEARS) Will she be all right, Jackie?

JACKIE. 'Course she will, you watch!

61. KENNEDYS LIVING ROOM. JACKIE, JIMMY. JIMMY'S RETURNING INTO THE ROOM FROM ANSWERING THE FRONT DOOR.

JIMMY. (V.O. FROM HALL) All right. Thanks Mrs. O'Shaughnessy.

WE HEAR THE FRONT DOOR SHUT AND MRS. O'SHAUGHNESSYS FOOTSTEPS. JIMMY ENTERS THE ROOM.

JIMMY. Get yer coat on girl, we've gotta get down the hospital. The doctors wanna see us.

JACKIE. (ALMOST IN TEARS) She's dead, isn't she?

JIMMY. I don't flippin' well know.

JACKIE TAKES HER COAT FROM A CHAIR BACK, AND PUTS IT ON. SHE LEAVES THE ROOM WITH JIMMY AND THE CAMERA STAYS ON THE EMPTY ROOM, PANNING AROUND IT AND STOPPING ON NORMAS EMPTY BED WITH THE SHEETS TURNED BACK AS JACKIE NARRATES OVER THIS.

JACKIE. (30) (NARRATION) We really thought she'd gone without us saying a proper goodbye. The doctors told us that there was a massive blood clot in her leg which'd turned septic and her foot'd gone black. they only gave her three days to live. There was nothing more they could do 'cept make her comfy, so we brought her home. We didn't want her dying in hozzy.

MIX TO NORMA (WEARING AN OXYGEN MASK) BEING STRETCHERED INTO THE LIVING ROOM BY TWO AMBULANCE MEN AND PUT INTO BED, THEN TO A MONTAGE OF PEOPLE VISITING HER AT DIFFERENT TIMES. NORMA HAS AN OXYGEN TANK, AND IS WEARING AN OXYGEN MASK, AND CAN'T MAKE OUT WHO'S VISITING HER. OVER ALL THIS JACKIES NARRATION CONTINUES.

JACKIE. (NARRATION) Folk say some people know when they're dying, but I don't I don't know if mam did. The Doc at the Hozzy said she'd only got Three Days left, but she seemed to be hanging on like grim death. It was heartbreaking seeing her like that.

MIX TO THE DISTRICT NURSE BATHING NORMA.

JACKIE. (NARRATION) I half wanted her to go quickly, with no suffering like, but me other half wanted her to get better, so we could look after her. I knew that when she went I'd go to pieces, 'cause all our hardship'd brought us really close as a family. Jimmy'd take it harder than me, and I wondered how we'd cope with actually being there when she died. As it happened wasn't the case..

MIX TO NORMA LYING IN BED WITH HER OXYGEN MASK ON. SHE'S STRUGGLING TO BREATHE.

JACKIE. (NARRATION) Jimmy was having his usual afternoon nap, and I was in the kitchen cooking some chips to go with me Pot Noodle. We were all right for stuff 'cause some of the neighbours brought us bits in when they came to gawp at mam..

MIX TO JACKIE COMING IN TO THE LIVING ROOM WITH A PLATE OF CHIPS AND A CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM POT NOODLE.

JACKIE. (EXPECTING A GRUNTLED BREATH) Are you all right there mam? (PUTTING FOOD DOWN AS SHE REALISES SOMETHING'S WRONG) Mam? (RUSHING OVER) Mam! No! You cant've? (PUTTING HEAD ON NORMAS DEAD BODY) Oh mam! (BREAKING OUT IN TEARS) I love you! Why'd'you have to go and leave us? I should've been here when you went..

WE SEE JACKIE LYING WITH HER HEAD ON HER MOTHER.

62. JACKIES FLAT BEDROOM. JACKIE'S IN BED SITTING UPRIGHT WITH HER HEAD IN HER HANDS SOBBING WITH A CIGARETTE IN HER HAND.

JACKIE. (IN TEARS) Why? Why'd she have to go? Why couldn't've been one've them druggie meffs, eh? (TAKING LARGE DRAG ON CIGARETTE AND EXHALING IT) Mam! I miss you! Mam! I want you to know I'll always love you. (TAKING QUICK DRAG AND EXHALING QUICKLY SHE TURNS TO THE CAMERA) Oh, I'm sorry, I was thinking about me mam. I never got to say 'I love you mam.' It's amazing but when I found her dead I thought I heard her talking to me after she died telling me she was with dad in heaven and not suffering anymore, and had gone when she did to save us the pain of watching her go, It's odd, but Jimmy said he'd dreamt more or less the same thing in his sleep. She shouldn't've left us like that. I mean I understand it all, but I were never able to accept the fact. And it were a fact. She weren't coming back ever.

63. CATHCART ROAD. THE FUNERAL PROCESSION IS LEAVING. JIMMY, JACKIE, AND LISA ARE LEAVING THE HOUSE. THEY ARE ALL CRYING, JIMMY IS HYSTERICAL.

JIMMY. (HYSTERICAL) Mam! Mam! Why? Why mam, eh? Tell us?

DENNIS TAKES HIM AND SHOWS HIM TO THE CAR. LISA AND JIMMY GET IN. JACKIE NARRATES OVER THIS.

JACKIE. It were a terrible day for all of us. We all sobbed our little hearts out in that church. The Pastor did her proud. At me dads send off it were me ma who caused a stir, but it were the little yobs who caused the trouble this time round.

MIX TO THE FUNERAL CAR DROPPING JACKIE, JIMMY, LISA AND DENNIS OUTSIDE THE KENNEDYS HOUSE. EVERY WINDOW HAS BEEN SMASHED AND THE DOOR KICKED IN. 'GOODRIDDANCE' AND ' GOOD RIDDANCE SCUM' HAS BEEN SPRAYED ON THE DOOR. UNDER THE WINDOW THERE IS A BLACK SCORCH MARK AND GLASS WHERE A PETROL BOMB WHICH WASN'T THROWN HARD ENOUGH HAD EXPLODED. NO ONE SAW THIS BECAUSE THEY WERE AT THE FUNERAL, AND THOSE WHO DID ARE TOO FRIGHTENED TO SAY ANYTHING.

JIMMY. (GETTTING OUT OF THE CAR IN A RAGE) I'll, I'll, I'll bl.......

JIMMY BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS, AND DENNIS COMFORTS HIM. JACKIE NARRATES..

JACKIE. (30) (NARRATION) What the little mites hadn't realised was that we'd made up our minds to go anyway.

MIX TO REMOVAL MEN LOADING FURNITURE INTO TWO SEPARATE VANS. JACKIE CONTINUES HER NARRATION..

JACKIE. With council houses being like gold dust cos Thatcher'd stopped 'em from being built, the housing officer'd asked us if we'd take a flat. We held out for one each. I was lucky, and got one've these new Housing Association flats near the City Centre, but Jimmy wanted to stay local, and took a first floor flat in a nearby Tower Block.

JIMMY AND JACKIE COME OUT CARRYING SMALL ITEMS WHICH THEY PUT IN THE VANS. JIMMY GOES AND SHUTS THE FRONT DOOR. HE GOES TO THE VAN AND TURNS LOOKING BACK AT THE HOUSE.

JIMMY. I can't say I'm sorry to be leaving. At least we won't be getting any more windows broke.

JIMMY STANDS LOOKING AT THE HOUSE TRANSFIXED. JACKIE NARRATES OVER THIS.

JACKIE. (NARRATION) They say a part've you dies when you move house, but not with me. I weren't sad to see the back've No.7..

JACKIE IS CRYING AS SHE WAITS OUTSIDE HER VAN.

JIMMY. Ey, come 'ed Jax, its not that bad. I thought you wanted to get ou've here.

JACKIE. (PUSHING JIMMY AWAY) I'll be all right. You get off. I'll just be a minute or two here.

JIMMY. Well if that's what you want.

JIMMY GETS INTO HIS VAN AND THE DRIVER MOVES OFF.

JACKIE. (NARRATION) It weren't the house or the kids living round there, but the fact that mam'd lived there..

WE HEAR NORMAS VOICE ECHOING.

NORMA. (V.O.) Have you got a ciggie Jimmy? And I wanta proper one, not a rolly.... Aaaagghhhh! The telly! It's gone.... I wouldn't give you that! And that's only a crumb!.. Aw, ey Jimmy! Me guts're hanging out with hunger.

JACKIE. (CRYING) Bye mam. I'll be all right.

JACKIE GETS IN THE VAN AND IT PULLS AWAY.THE CAMERA FOLLOWS THE VAN. AND IT GOES PAST THE TOWER BLOCK WHERE JIMMY IS MOVING TO AND WE SEE HIS VAN AT THE OUTSIDE. AS THE VAN PASSES IT BEEPS IT'S HORN AND WE SEE JIMMY WAVING. THE VAN CONTINUES ON ITS WAY. OVER ALL OF THIS JACKIES FINAL NARRATION CAN BE HEARD.

JACKIE. (NARRATION) I met Mrs. O'Shaughnessy in town a couple've days after, and she said the little swines didn't even know we'd gone, 'cause they smashed the windows again that night. The only time I see Jimmy' now is when he comes for a sub. He's still as subtle as ever on that score I can tell you, but well, he is me brother, and I can't ignore that, can I? I'll never forget the times we spent in Cathcart Road, cause I can't forget me mam and everything that happened. However much you'd like to, you can't shut the past out'veyour live as if it never happened, 'cause then you wouldn't be left with any've the good times to remember, would you? You cant take owt with you when you go, but you can remember the best bits while you're here.

THE END

Take A Pew.

It's A well known common phrase isn't it? And one we all know the origin of. If our friends asked us to 'Take a pew we'd gladly accept their offer. But if it were a religious minister offering then sadly most would decline. However, what you will not find in this pamphlet is scripture verses or endless testimonies from people about how Christ can set you free. Its aimed at people like yourselves who are under misconceptions about God and Christ, and scripture is not what you want to hear - you've probably been bombarded with too much of that already. And leaflets quoting scripture in that way expect you to read a couple of lines of scripture and say 'Wow! That's ever so true - I really need Jesus!' Most of you reading this won't feel that way inclined - salvation isn't going to come overnight - so this leaflet is designed to get you to make that first step and take that pew.
We wonder why the country is in the state its in today with rising crime, violence and immoral behaviour. And whilst most of us would acknowledge that we accept or believe in a God of some sorts, we do very little to acknowledge him in our lives except when we need him to get us over a crisis.

We're down on our knees praying like mad when our loved ones go into hospital or face a severe crisis, or maybe when we have big debts or a crisis facing ourselves. Yet we don't acknowledge Jesus in our daily lives. How would you feel if your friends started ignoring you except when they needed help? 'Lend us a Tenor Mike' 'Could you run me to the supermarket please Mary?' 'Can you weed my garden for me Bob?' It is said many people can acknowledge other peoples faults whilst remaining blissfully unaware of our own failings. Funny isn't it, but that's what Jesus said almost 2000 years ago. Amazing how its still true today isn't it?
How many of us ask God for help in the simple everyday things life throws at us, like 'Should I buy a new car?' 'Do I take this new job I've been offered?' maybe 'How can I tell Cousin John he's not invited to the party?' or even ask god to help us manage our finances better? And we wonder why our lives are in such a mess. No doubt we all have a trusted friend we turn to in times of crisis, whether its just a shoulder to cry on or someone who will step into the breach and help. God is just like that, waiting for us to turn to him with our cares and worries, yet we ignore him. He even sent his Own Son so that we could be saved. The phrase 'God's not ex directory -Try calling!' has appeared outside many churches up and down the country, yet its simple message goes unheeded - bring your troubles to God and he can sort them out for you. He's not got a magic wand - he doesn't need one - but he has got an answer. Jesus is the way to the Father. It simply means follow Jesus' example in our daily lives and God will work wonders for us.

Your Excuses - Stripped Bare!

So why aren't you giving it all to God? Well there are many reasons and we'll explore some of them now. But in order to understand them you must understand the following: - Sin and wrongdoing (crime, violence, addiction, bemoaning, etc) does NOT come from God, but from the devil. God does not encourage us to lie, cheat, steal or commit any wrong act, and anything that happens as a result of a wrongful act or sin is not from god act is not from God but from Satan.

1). God and the Church have never done anything for me. Well have you ever asked God for anything? Maybe you have and felt a bit 'miffed' that you never got it. But were you asking for selfish reasons, or were you asking for things you really didn't need like a new car or computer, or did it later turn out that what you were asking for was not what was really needed, but something else was? God knows what is best for us and though he grants our wishes according to our desires, if what we want is not right for us we won't get it. How many times have things turned out for the best when we haven't got what we wanted whether we asked God or not? And how many times have we got what we wanted only to find it brings a whole lot of problems with it. Maybe that new girlfriend brings along an unwanted pregnancy, or that promotion brings us an extra workload so that we have no time for our families anymore. It may be January or even July when you read this, but imagine its Christmas time. Your 7 year daughter wants the latest Barbie, your 10 year old son a Sony Playstation or X-box console with all the latest games, your 15 year old daughter wants an internet mobile phone plus all the latest fashions and music, whilst all you want is a pocket big enough to pay for it all. Yet you consent and give your children all that they ask of you, after all what parent wouldn't? God is our Spiritual father and has gifts a plenty to give us, if we ask him in Jesus' name. If we can give our kids what they want, just imagine how much more our father in heaven who is good not evil can bestow upon us if we ask. We're not talking about riches or material thinks here, but about the things money can't buy. And the best thing is they're all free. Now there must be a catch you say, and yes there is the small print. All that small print is that you must follow Gods teaching and laws. Now considering that his teaching is to do what's right proper honest and good - treating others as you want them to treat you - with honesty and decency, its not too much for God to ask of us, is it?

2). Church is boring and for old fuddy duddies not for people like me. It doesn't fit in with who I am or my lifestyle and I don't want to change who I am. Please, wake up and smell the coffee! It's simply a case of horses for courses here. Many elderly people prefer what can be classed a more 'traditional' religious existence, which is quite strict, like the old Catholic, Anglican and Baptist way of life. Younger people see this as being as too old fashioned, whilst today's youth are presented with a vision of the church as unhip and not for them, yet there are churches of all denominations that are firmly in the 21st century. Younger people prefer a service with something more lively, and without the formality of having to conform to a set order of prayers they have to say in a set order. Many churches are now realising this and breaking free from this thus attracting a whole new crowd of people who thought church was too boring and stuffy for them. Christians don't have to abstain from these things, but what God wants them to abstain from (he doesn't force them to - they have free will) is abstain from is sin and things that lead us into sin. Drunkenness for example leads to physical and mental abuse and addiction if untreated, just as narcotics lead to addiction and crime and, and both lead to misery for the abuser (if your taking these to excess you're abusing them) and those around them. Of course most Christians don't let it get out of hand. And when they find that these things are starting to interfere with their lives by becoming excessive or addictive or even just plain destructive - they give it to the Lord and let him help. Look at alcoholics Anonymous. They encourage people to turn to God to help them beat the bottle, and look how successful they are. What God does is show us what parts of our lifestyle need changing for the better, and changes those parts within us, to refine us into better people. Most reformed Christians would agree that their new lifestyle in Christ is far better than their old lifestyle of sin and slavery to Satan. Isn't that something to be proud of, instead of attacking the church as being boring, restricting and domineering? There's nothing wrong with enjoying yourself as long as it doesn't start interfering with the lives as others. These things start to become a problem when done in excess, such as getting drunk and becoming violent or abusive, a single mother going out every night leaving others to look after her child, or someone getting addicted on drugs and needing to steal to feed their addiction. We often only see the side of themselves a person wants or allows us to see, and not the full picture. Perhaps if we could see what goes on behind closed doors after the father returns home from the pub every night, then we would be more willing to accept that unless we ourselves keep a tight leash on our addictions then they might take a strong hold of us. Enjoyment in moderation is fine. Jesus himself who was in our shoes drank wine and mixed with publicans. Whilst we may be in control of our addictions we still need a good circle of Christian friends, so that we are not led deeper into our addictions. If our friends regularly get drunk or take drugs and we continue to mix with them, then the temptation to resist these things is harder. It's a lot easier for 100 abstainers to help one friend overcome his addiction, but just imagine how hard it would be for 1abstainer to help 100 of his drinking or drug taking friends.

3). I haven't got the time for God. Really? So you've all the time to race around like headless chickens sorting out the mess you've allowed to happen in your lives, but no time for the person who can take that mess from you and straighten it all out. Imagine if your best friend was a builder and you started a new job where you had to work 12 hour shifts and didn't have the time to go out with him or even phone him to say hello. If the wall of your house suddenly developed cracks in it, which if left untreated could cause your whole house to collapse costing thousands of pounds to repair, would you not make time for your friend? If he then turned to you and said 'If only you'd kept in touch with me I'd've spotted the damage to that wall before it became this bad and could have saved you all that money.' God through his Son Jesus is a builder able to build us up in Him so that we can face whatever this evil world can throw at us, yet we still cannot find the time to go to Him. How bad do things have to get before we realise we need God to pull us through? And there is always the danger that we will fall for Satan's lie that we have allowed ourselves to become so bad not even God would want to save us. Do yourself a favour, Make time for Jesus your Saviour.

4). Christians are all hypocrites! They tell us all to do one thing and go off and do they opposite. They think they're better than anyone else so high and mighty. I'm a better person than most of those to who go to church as I never harm anyone. Well as to the first statement, it's unfortunately true. A lot of Christian's are hypocrites. Even the clergy and those in the service of the Lord are not immune to all kinds of sin. Priests pastors vicars and all kind of ministers (ordained are otherwise) have all fallen prey to Satan's temptations in many ways. And the reason Christians need God is just that. Its because they ARE hypocrites, and need god to keep them on the straight and narrow. If we were all perfect then we wouldn't need gods help would we? But because we are ALL (Christians and non Christians alike) we need Gods help. The committed Christian has realised this and has turned to God for that help. Those that have not yet turned to god are struggling with many of the things in life such as fidelity, crime (stealing small things), addictions sniping, backbiting and gossip, and treating others unfairly. Even today people think stealing from businesses is justified, as they are insured or charge over the odds for their goods. And those people think that that those who moan at the slightest thing are wimps who deserve everything that comes to them, and more importantly have a personal creed that states it is every man for himself in this dog eat dog world so they look after number 1. Oh its alright for them to tread on others on their way to the top, but let anyone else tread on them and the poor unfortunate soul trying to do the same deserves what's coming to them for doing what they themselves are doing. All that attitude does is create a society where no one will do any thing for anyone else because they are all to busy helping themselves. And as for Christians thinking they are better than others they are not. God created us all equal, and while some indeed do think that just because they attend church they are better, most Christians would say they are here to serve whoever the Lord wants them to help, and feel privileged god has enabled them to do so. Too many people refuse to look beyond the end of their noses and see their own faults, instead choosing to point out everyone elses.That is not being hypocritical, but creating an honest and fair world to live in. If you think otherwise then don't you need to examine yourself and admit that like all of us you DO need God in your life?

5). I've done far too many wrong things in my life for God to want to help me. Unfortunately for many they are believing Satan's lie. He knows God forgives sinners who turn to him. So what does the enemy do? He gets us to believe the lie that we are beyond salvation when in fact due to God's faithfulness no - one is ever that bad. God's forgiveness is far greater than any sin. Stuart Hamblem, the 50's songwriter was an alcoholic. One day in a drunken stupor he stumbled in to a broken down shack in the American mountains and find a dead body. This event radically changed him and he found the Lord, testifying that God through Jesus saved him from his Alcoholism and his sin. The comedian Bobby Ball was similarly alcoholic too. As well as not speaking to his partner Tommy Cannon off stage, he openly admits to adultery, violence, stubbornness and rebellion till he realised it couldn't go on. He asked a theatre chaplain to visit him in desperation, and realised he needed Jesus in his life.From that moment on he was a changed man. He stopped drinking, fighting and changed all his bad ways until eventually Tommy Cannon said 'I want some of what he's got!' and became born again himself. If god can do that for sinners like Bobby, he can change you too if you let him. If you think 'Well Bobby wasn't that bad a person in the first place' would the testimony of a self-confessed mass murderer make you change your mind. The apostle St. Paul was a persecutor of the early Christian church and a strong view until one day god called him on the road to Damascus. He took up the challenge and today his letters are the backbone of the latter half of the New Testament, with the words and teachings of God and Jesus flowing from his pen. Its not known just how many people he had executed, but through Jesus' death on the cross God forgave him for every one of them. If he can forgive someone as bad as Paul was, then, as your sins are nowhere near as bad as Paul's were, there is hope for you through Jesus' supreme sacrifice for us on the cross. Do not think you are beyond salvation, as Paul's story clearly shows us no one is. Thanks to Gods unboundless mercy even those tightly bound to sin because of the gift of life Jesus gave us by dying on the cross to take our sins away so we can start afresh with a clean slate. Imagine if the football team you supported was 10 - 0 down at half time. Now imagine they could say to the referee lets start this match again from the beginning as if the first half never happened. Well God is the referee who will do just that if you ask him to. You forget that we ALL are sinners, and god has done exactly that for most committed Christians. Remember, only God and Jesus are 100% perfect, but through the miracle of Jesus on the cross God can transform us into the image of Himself. No sin is beyond the Lord. Just think about your sins and let Jesus take them from you. He died so that God would forgive you those sins, so why not give him the chance to?

6). There is no God. It's a simple statement and is yet another one of Satan's lies. Ask yourselves where we live. How did the Earth get here? You've no doubt seen those ingenious 3 dimensional puzzles of this planet. Imagine someone putting those pieces together to form the model of the Earth. Well at the beginning of time that's what god did - made the Earth, just like we make models of it today. We all live on Earth. Our parents created us and their parents created them. Its probably impossible for us to physically trace our roots to the first ever Human being, but there the trail suddenly stops leaving the burning question, 'Just who did create him?' Many would say man evolved from fish, so who created the fish and the water they live in? And the mountains, the seas and the stars? The scientists say a big bang created Earth and the universe, but again going backwards the only possible answer is God did. Somebody bigger than you or I or even the most powerful man on this planet. And the one that's bigger than you and I can even change the hearts of the most stubborn unbeliever. In the 1960's the lead singer of the pop group Manfred Mann was a leading champion of atheism. However the call of God into the life of someone who had been championing the fact that there was no God was too strong, and today Jones hosts his own Gospel show on radio 2. An even more amazing story is that of the slave trader John Newton, the author of the Hymn 'Amazing Grace'. Cast overboard by his crew in a lifeboat he realised he could have been thrown to the sharks and he was only in the boat thanks to the grace of God.There in that small boat he was saved. The words of that hymn ring clear 'I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see', and recalling his salvation in that storm tossed boat 'How precious did that grace appear, The hour I first believed.' Sometimes it takes extraordinary events like these for God to show himself to unbelievers, but those two testimonies, and thousands more like them show that indeed there is a God. For if he's shown himself to those who steadfastly refused to believe in him then isn't that proof he's real?

7). God has forgotten us. He did all these great things in the past, but not anymore. Everything that's going on in the world proves this. That is nonsense! Its not God that has forgotten the world but the other way round. The world has become very 'Anti - God' and simply refuses to believe god cares for us. People often point to wars as a good example of this. We can take The Second World War as a good example of this. People forget the side that won were the side fighting for freedom and justice, against those seeking to conquer the world for their own purposes. Was it just coincidence that 'The good guys won?' Or was it God moving? We also say that both God and Jesus performed many miracles in times past, yet these simply do not happen today, proof that he has forgotten the world. Stop looking through dark tinted spectacles! Even In these last two centuries there are countless examples of God working miracles for his followers. There are thousands of examples of God through his Ministers healing the sick and lame, even several examples of people being resurrected from the dead, most notably a Nigerian Pastor raised back to life after 3 days. There are also several cases where people have been pronounced dead by doctors but have later have been found to be still alive, some even being in the mortuary or funeral parlour, yet no credit was ever given to God, and these miracles have never been reported for what they are, signs that indeed God is still giving his people miracles. Yet we as humans refuse to acknowledge these as signs that God most certainly hasn't given up on us. One African family recently didn't! They refused to accept the death of their daughter and went into a non-stop prayer vigil asking that God return her to them. That family's faith was so strong that God granted their wishes. Today their daughter is alive and well. And you still say that God has given up on his people and does not perform miracles anymore?
8). How can there be a God with all the violence murder crime, war, famine and evil going on in the world today? Sadly these things are happening in everyday life with too much frequency. Basically they stem from evil and evil is from the devil not God. People have become enslaved in lives of sin, whether its crime, drugs and alcohol, or even gossip and slander. How often do we put it others down without knowing the full facts? Sadly, today's tabloid journalism shows this to full effect. And as for bad things coming from the devil, every time a teenager shoots up with heroin, or someone commits murder abuse adultery or gets abusively drunk, you can be sure Satan's rubbing his hands with glee and shouting 'Gotcha!' And so yet another of Gods creations has become enslaved to Satan's evil ways and cannot break free, yet doesn't realise this. If a drunk driver kills a small child it was his enslavery to the evil of drunkenness that caused it to happen, or if a dictator wages war on the world then its enslavery to the domination of others (which is one of Satan's biggest strongholds - you only have to see it at work in human relationships) which is really to blame.Yet it is God who always unfairly gets the blame for not stopping it. We were all given free will by God, and he's not an indian giver. He won't override that free will if you want to do something morally wrong, but he will protect his followers from the consequences of those acts. Even those tightly bound to sin thanks to Gods unboundless mercy can break free because of the gift of life Jesus gave us by dying on the cross to take our sins away so we can start afresh with a clean slate.

And finally the big one.....

9). No ones going to tell me how I live MY life! Well actually although you might think we are, we're not. God gave us all free will to choose what choices we make in life. He also gives us very clear spiritual guidelines about what to do ensure we go to Heaven not hell. We are free to ignore these guidelines, but at our peril. They're not easy to stick to, and Satan likes it that way. It means too many people will refuse to abide by them. What it also means, however, is if you ignore those guidelines you're actually letting Satan tell you what to do - ignore God? Now you might be under the delusion that hell is just one big party with lots of loud music plenty of free drink and drugs and intercourse on tap. Well, sorry to shatter the illusion, but Jesus actually gives us a vivid description of what hell is really like. He told a story about a rich man who had a beggar sitting outside his gates. He wouldn't even give the beggar the crumbs off his table. Both of them died, the beggar going to the paradise of Heaven and the rich man to the eternal fires of hell. The rich man pleaded that the beggar be sent to him with water to cool his tongue as hell was unbearable. This request was refused so he asked to be sent back to Earth to warn his brothers how bad hell really is. However the reply was this:- 'If your brothers don't believe now, then they won't believe you coming back from the dead to warn them.' What it means is this - we all have our choices to make when we're alive. When we're dead, if we don't like hell tough- it's too late. God's willing to accept our repentance when we're alive if we turn to him through Jesus, but once we've shuffled off this mortal coil there's no way back. Therefore, the choice is yours - the eternal paradise of heaven or the eternal damnation of hell!
What Next? - Life Through Jesus!
This pamphlet should have provided you with all the necessary information to show you just how real God is, and why He sent His Son Jesus to save us. By now you should be in a position to see why there is absolutely no valid reason to reject a Ministers offer of a pew in a Church. For it's there that you'll eventually be convicted and saved. But you have to take that first step. Go on, take up that offer of a pew - you'll be more than welcome. You can be assured you'll never regret a Spirit filled life with God and Christ at the centre of it

Copyright November 2002 Colin Glover.