Radio script:

(Draft)
(Dialogue only)
Junk: Chapter 1

1. Narrator A boy and a girl were spending the night

together in the back seat of a Volvo estate
car. The car was in a garage. It was pitch
black.

2. Gemma I’m hungry

3. Narrator The boy turned on a torch and peered

inside a grey canvas rucksack behind him.

4. Tar There’s an apple.

5. Gemma Nah. Any crisps left?

6. Tar Nope.

7. Narrator Gemma sighed and leaned back in the car.

She pulled a blanket over herself.

8. Gemma It’s cold.

9. Tar Barry’ll be here soon.

10. Narrator He watched her closely in the torchlight,

frowning anxiously.

11. Tar Sorry you came?

12. Narrator Gemma looked over and smiled.

13. Gemma Nah.

14. Narrator Tar snuggled up against her. Gemma

stroked his head.

15. Gemma You better save the batteries.

16. Narrator Tar turned off the torch. At once it was so

black you couldn’t see your own hand.
Surrounded by the smell of damp concrete,
oil and petrol, they carried on their
conversation cuddling in the dark.

17. Tar Come with me!

18. Gemma What?

19. Narrator She was amazed, surprised. It had never

occurred to her. He could feel her staring at
 him even though it was too dark to see
anything. In the darkness, Tar blushed
deeply.

20. Gemma You must be crazy!

21. Tar Why?

22. Gemma What have I got to run away from?

23. Tar Wait till you get home...

24. Narrator The two laughed. Gemma had been banned

a week before from seeing Tar. Her parents
had no idea where she was that night, but
they had a pretty good idea whom she was
with.

25. Tar It’d be something to do.

26. Tar You’re always saying how bored you are.

27. Gemma That’s true.

28. Narrator Gemma was the most bored person she

knew. Sitting in class she sometimes felt
dizzy with it, that she’d pop or faint or
something if it didn’t stop.

29. Gemma What about school?

30. Tar You can go to school anytime.

31. Gemma I can run away anytime in my life.

32. Narrator Gemma would’ve liked to. She wanted to.

But, what for? She didn’t love Tar, she only
liked him. Her parents, and her father in
particular, were totally ghastly but he didn’t
knock her around yet anyhow. Was being
bored a reason for running away to the city
at 14 years old?

33. Gemma I don’t think so Tar.

34. Narrator Tar lay still in her lap. She knew what he
must be feeling because she’d seen it on
his face so many times. Tar’s heart was
painted on his face. Gemma bent down
close.

35. Gemma I’m sorry.

36. Narrator Tar had a reason, plenty of reasons. The

latest were painted on his face, too. His
upper lip swelled over his teeth like a fat
 plum. His left eye was black, blue, yellow
and red. Gemma had to be careful not to
touch his wounds when she stroked his
face. There was a noise at a small door
behind them. Tar and Gemma ducked down
out of sight behind the seats.

37. Barry It’s only me.

38. Gemma Bloody hell - you nearly killed me.

39. Barry Sorry. Here, put that torch on so’s I can see
where I’m going.

40. Narrator Tar shone the beam over to a plump blonde

boy carrying a plastic bag. He grinned and
came over.

41. Barry I suppose we ought to have a secret knock

or something. Here.

42. Narrator He handed over the bag. Gemma poked

inside.

43. Barry It’s only rolls and cheese. They’d have

missed anything else.

44. Gemma Didn’t you get any butter?

45. Barry No. But I got some pickle.

46. Narrator Barry handed over a pot from his coat

pocket.

47. Gemma Branston! Brilliant!

48. Narrator Gemma began tearing up the rolls and

chunks of cheese.

49. Narrator Barry had forgotten a knife: she had to

spread the pickle with her finger. Barry
watched Tar’s face by the torchlight.

50. Barry Christ! He really laid into you this time,

didn’t he?

51. Gemma Looks like a bowl of rotten fruit, doesn’t it?

52. Gemma Not that you’d want to eat it...

53. Barry You haven’t been turning the light on, by the
way, have you? Only...

54. Gemma We said we wouldn’t, didn’t we?

55. Barry Only they might see it through the cracks in

 the garage door.

56. Gemma I told you.

57. Barry All right.

58. Narrator Gemma stuffed a roll leaking pickle into her

mouth.

59. Gemma Wan’ one?

60. Tar Yes please...

61. Narrator He beamed. There was a pause while

Gemma pulled another roll in half.

62. Barry When are you going?

63. Tar Tomorrow.

64. Barry Got everything?

65. Narrator Tar leaned over the front seat and patted
his rucksack. It wasn’t that full. Barry
nodded. He watched Tar eating for a
second and then he blurted out:

66. Barry But what about your mum?

67. Narrator Tar looked stricken. Gemma glared.

68. Gemma His mum’s gonna be alright. She’ll probably

clear off herself once Tar’s gone. She’s only
been staying because of him anyway; she’s
said that thousands of times, hasn’t she?

69. Narrator Tar nodded slowly, like a tormented

tortoise. Gemma glared at barry and
mouthed ‘shut up’.

70. Barry Right…

71. Narrator Barry nodded energetically.

72. Barry Best thing you could do for her, clear off.
She won’t have anything to tie her to the old
bastard then.

73. Tar That’s what I’m hoping for.

74. Narrator It got very cold in the garage later on.

Gemma and Tar snuggled up together and
wrapped blankets around them. They
kissed, Gemma didn’t stop him when his
hand glided under her top, but when she felt
 his hand sliding down her tummy she
slapped his fingers lightly.

75. Gemma Naughty!

76. Tar Why not?

77. Gemma Not here...

78. Narrator She didn’t mind him touching her there. But
she was worried about spending the night
together.

79. Gemma I just don’t want it to go further.

80. Tar You might never see me again after tonight.

81. Narrator Gemma shook her head.

82. Gemma It won’t go any further then.

83. Tar All right.