1.

A LETTER TO THE TRENCHES.

An original radio drama by

Taye king
 2.

A LETTER TO THE TRENCHES

CAST

ARTHUR (SON) Seth Dennis

MARY (MOTHER) Alexis king
MILITARY SERVICE Rupert francis
PRIME MINISTER Cris matte
 A LETTER TO THE TRENCHES

SCENE ONE: INT. HOUSE- HEAVY RAIN

(ARTHUR, MARY, NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN)

ARTHUR: Hey, mother come quick the radio is announcing

something important.

RADIO: SLOWLY INCREASING THE VOLUME

PRIME MINISTER: (slow pace) I am speaking to you from the

Cabinet room at 10, Downing Street.
This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin
Handed the German Government a final -----------
-------------note stating That unless we hear from them by 11
.............O’clock, that they were prepared at once to
.............withdrawn their troop from Poland a state of war
............ would exist between us. I have to tell you now
.............that no such undertaking has been received, and
.............that consequently, this country is a war with
.............Germany.

SOUND: RAIN HITTING AGAINST THE WINDOW,

RADIO FADES OUT, CLOCK TICKING

MARY: oh my…
MUSIC: COMING FROM RADIO-LOW AND CALMING

ARTHUR: (SOUNDING CONCERNED AND SCARED) What does that

Mean for us mother? (slow) Am I going to war?

MARY: (TONE LOW AND UPSET) Oh dear, I hope it does not

come to that.

ARTHUR: ( panicking tone) But what if it does? Say I

-------------Must go?
MARY: do not panic, breathe. We stick together.

SOUND: ARTHUR TAKES DEEP SLOW BREATHES, CLOCK

TICKING

BECOMES PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AS THE LAST TICK ECHOS

 A LETTER TO THE TRENCHES

2.
SCENE TWO: INT.HOUSE-KITCHEN

SOUND: SOUND OF BACON SIZZLING, PLATES BEING PLACED

DOWN,
FOOTSTEPS COMING DOWN THE STAIRS.

ARTHUR: (Raspy tone) Morning mother.( begins to yawn)

MARY: Morning! Up just in time for breakfast.

MUSIC: LOW UPBEAT SONG

SOUND: MOTHER HUMMING TO MUSIC, STOVE BEING TURNED

DOWN,
CUTLERY BEING PLACE.

ARTHUR: you seem cheery this morning mother.

MARY: Indeed, I am as today we are going to spend

some
time together

ARTHUR: (suspiciously) and why is that?

MARY: (VOICE CHEER) Because I thought it would be fun!

SOUND: OBJECTS BEING MOVED AND PLACED AROUND

ARTHUR: ( low tone) Mum?

SOUND: OBJECTS STIL BEING MOVED AND PLACED AROUND AS

MARY HUMMS IN RESPONSE

ARTHUR: (A PUASE BEFORE TAKING A BREATH) Is this about -

---------------yesterday’s announcement?

SOUND: AN ABRUBT STOP TO MOVEMENT AS THE ROOM

FALLS
SILENT, THE RADIO BARELY AUDIBLE
 A LETTER TO THE TRENCHES

3.

MARY: I- (PAUSE) It’s just (PAUSE, TONE LOWERD)

that I worry about you, and-

SOUND: A KNOCK AT THE DOOR INTERRUPTS MARY,

FOOTSTEPS, DOOR UNLOCKING THAN OPENING.

MILITARY SERVICE: (confidently) We are here to recruit a

(flicks through pages) Arthur Jones.

MARY: W-what? No!

MILITARY SEVICE: Sorry ma’am but we are here for Arthur

Jones, aged nineteen is that correct?

MARY: (STAMMERS) Yes but-

MILITARY SERVICE: Have you heard of the war that was

Announced? We need every man to grant
Glory to our nation’s name!

ARTHUR: Mother? What’s going on?

SOUNDS: STEPS CLOSER SLOWLY

MARY: Arthur, go back to the kitchen.

MILITARY SERVICE: Arthur jones, your involvement is

Required at war

SOUND: THE WORD WAR BEGINS TO ECHO.

.....................GUNSHOTS
FADE IN ALONG WITH FAINT SCREAMS.
SOUND: ARTHURS BREATHING SLOWLY BECOME MORE
PANICY AS HE HEARS HIS MOTHER CALL OUT.

MARY: (FADED) ARTHUR? ARTHUR?

 A LETTER TO THE TRENCHES

4.
SCENE THREE: EXT.BATTLEFIELD- WINDY

SOLDIER: (LOUD AND ABRUPT) SOLDIER? YOU WITH US?!

SOUND: EXPLOSIVES BOMBSHELL/ GUNSHOTS/

SCREAMING OF SOLDIERS.

SOLDIER: (LOUD AND ABRUPT) SOLDIER? YOU WITH US?!

ARTHUR: (UNCERTAIN TONE) Ugh… yes?

SOUND: EXPLOSIVE /FOOTSTEPS/

AEROPLANES/GRENADE

SOUNDS: RUNNING/ OUT OF BREATH

SOUNDS: SCREAMS OF FEAR AND AGONY/ RANOM

ORDERS BEING YELLED.

THE RAIN STATS TO BECOME MORE HEAVIER AS THE BATLLE GOES ON.

(SOUND OF WAR FADES INTO BACKGROUND)

SCENE FOUR: INT/EXT.BUNKER/BATTLEFIELD-RAIN

MARY (her letter to Arthur): MY dear boy Arthur…

SOUND: Pen scribbling on paper

MARY: I pen this letter to you, Burdened by

the weight of your absence amidst the
raging war. It pains me terribly that
you are so far out of reach, Causing
...................... me sleepless night. I sit here, heart
heavy as I anxiously await your safe
return.
 A LETTER TO THE TRENCHES
5.

MUSIC: SUBTLE.

SOUND: SLOWED DOWN

RUNNING/GUNSHOTS/EXPLOSIVES

FLASH BACK TO WAR-

SOUND: SLOWED DOWN RUNNING/GUNSHOTS/EXPLOSIVES

SOLDIER: JONES!

FLASH BACK TO MARY

MUSIC: SUBTLE.

MARY: I find solace in the safety of this

bunker, a temporary sanctuary that
shields us from the dangers, which I
hope gives your mind a sense of ease.
Know that you are not alone-
FLASHBACK TO WAR-

SOUND: EXPLOSIVES/ ARTHUR BREATHING HEAVILY

ARTHUR: ( voiced raised) I… I can’t go on

Anymore!

ARTHUR: I can’t do this (repeating to himself

————————————————————————four times, each getting quieter)

(MARY’S LETTER CONTINUES)

MUSIC: SUBTLE
 A LETTER TO THE TRENCHES
6.

MARY: and never forget the love

........................surrounding you. I eagerly
await the day when this war
is behind us, to be together
again. until then, I’ll wait
for you, with all my love,
from… mum

EXT.BATTLEFIELD-RAIN

SOUND: A SINGLE GUNSHOT/ SILENCE.

SOUND: RADIO STATION-

RANDOM SOLDIER: JONES, DO YOU COPY? OVER.

END SCENE.