The Gate EscapeMark Wheeller

The Gate Escape was first performed in a co-production by the Haymarket Theatre and Solent Peoples Theatre, in Spring and Autumn Terms 2003.

The play is about truancy, which addresses a social issue relevant to a contemporary audience. Wheellers intentions were to inform and educate his audience, thus making this a Theatre in Education piece. From this my group and I decided that our target audience should be Year 8 boys at our School, as the characters themselves are in Year 10, we thought a slightly younger audience would look up to the characters and would be able to learn from their mistakes. Therefore, when developing my skill as actor it was important for me to present a convincing portrayal of [character name] that Year 8 pupils would relate to.

Cast List

Chalkie WhiteA boy in Year 10M1AliA boy in Year 10M3BeetA boy in Year 10M2Corey HudsonA new boy in Year 10M4(BertieA boy in Year 10M5)Truants 1- 4M2, M3, M4, M5Coreys TeacherM5VoiceOff stage recordedM5Year 11 StudentM3MikeCoreys DadM2Chalkies TeachersM2, M3, M4Mrs PicklewitchChalkies English TeacherM3Peter PerformerStar of School PlaysM2Deathwish OConnorYear 10 school bullyM2Big BeanieDeathwishs sidekickM3Little BeanieDeathwishs sidekickM4Terry GaleSuperstar guitarist, Year 10M2PoliceM2TV Film CrewM2, M3, M4

Section 1: Chalkies Final BunkMusic plays loudly. Chalkie, Ali, Beet, Berty run on followed by Corey, who remains slightly behind the others as they arrive on stage and play with a range of discarded objects. These might include a lampshade, an old tyre, a ball, a torn and muddy office chairs on sheets, fold-up chair, a work out suitcase, a rolled rug and a plastic milk crate.They use these objects in a range of imaginative ways setting up a high energy start to the play with mini scenarios generating an idea of the fun they are having. Finally they use this rubbish to set up their home/den (cotchment). They settle.

Chalkie:Id love to be in a Big Brother for teenagers, you know, our age!

Ali:Youd be funny.

Chalkie:Id love it.

Beet:Chalkie, whod want to watch you for 9 weeks?

Ali:Itd be a laugh.

Chalkie:I bet you would watch it Beet

Beet:Id vote you out mate!

Chalkie:Thanks a lot.

Ali:70,000 just think what you could do with that!

Beet:They wouldnt have a big prize like that, itd be more like

Berty:a ten quid WH Smiths voucher!

Chalkie:Id do it for thatno probsId do it for nothing!

Chalkie:Ive got the video all sorted out.

Beet:What video?

Chalkie:The one you have to send off for Big Brother.

Beet:Youd do a strip or something.

Chalkie:Nothey dont accept them if theyre porny!

Chalkie:Mined be a laugh.Chalkie hands a hand held camcorder to Ali who films him as he talksthe film is projected on to a screen live.

Ali, Berty, Beet:Youre going to tell us all about it, arent you Chalkie?

Chalkie:You bet I am! Id be on a unicycle.

Beet:(Laughing) You cant ride one!

Berty:You cant even ride a bike!

Chalkie:I can learn.

Ali:Shut up, let him do it.

Beet:Its minging!

Ali:Its funny Go on Chalkie

Chalkie:Id be on my unicycle and I'd sayId like to be in the Big Brother House cos I know Im gonna be a celebrity and this seems a good way of making it big time! Im a singer in a band

Beet:Since when?

Chalkie:Summer holidays.

Ali:What are they called?

Chalkie:The Ghostly Grasshoppers

Ali, Beet, Berty:Seventies or what?

Beet:You sad git Chalkie!

Chalkie:When I was five I had my palm read..and this old woman said that by the time I was 24 Id be famous

Ali:Seriously Chalkie?

Chalkie:Nobut they wont know that

Beet:They don't like people going in just to get famous

Chalkie:Well I aint gonna lie!

Beet:What about the fortune teller?

Chalkie:Thats different!

Ali:Ignore him Chalkie

Chalkie:Big Brother is my first opportunity to make people laugh

Beet:Thatll be a first!

Chalkie:To give the girls something to get excited about

Ali:Go Chalkie!

Berty:Yeah, right!

Chalkie:But more than anything Ill guarantee to increase the viewing figures with me I dont quite know what Ill say herebutwell what do you think?

Beet:Chalkie it sucks!

Chalkie:(Introducing Beet. The camera focuses on Beet) Then Ill have a bit where Ill introduce my mates First Beet.

Beet:I aint a mate Chalkie dont flatter yourself.

Chalkie:Beet is a moany old gitalways complaining about something

Beet:Thats better!

Chalkie:Most people who meet Beet think his name is spelt b.e.a.t but no b.e.e.t. Adam, that was his real name, was the only boy we know, who liked beetroot he had loads at his sixth birthday part (Beet actsout what Chalkie describesthe others react) and then spewed a vibrant purple vomit all over his cake when he was blowing the candles out!

Beet:Wicked, eh?

Chalkie:From them on, Adam was known as Beetroot but it got shortened to Beet. (He takes the camera from Ali and turns it on him.)Ali Top lad of our school, of out neighbourhood of the world!

Ali:Shut up Chalkie!

Chalkie:He got into drugs and stuff and I didn't really want to get involved.This is Berty. His real name is Joe, and his surname is Bassett, so we call him Berty Bassett. Hes been my mate since we were born. We have the same birthday.

Berty:Alright Chalkie, dont broadcast it.

Chalkie:This is their cotchment. They come here when theyre bunking off school it's just a bush but theyve put types, crates and stuff, like seats in it

Beet:We even double glazed it!

Ali, Beet,Berty:Double glazed!

Chalkie:And this is Corey. Its his first day here.

Berty:Hes a new boy!

Beet:(To Corey) how come to you changed school them?

Chalkie:Not like ours is worth changing to

Beet:You got kicked out for causing trouble, dint ya>

Corey:No!

Ali:You did!

Ali, Chalkie,Berty, Beet:What happened then?

Corey:Nothing

Ali:Must have done.

Corey:It didnt!

Beet:No one comes to this school unless something bads happened.

Chalkie:And no one bunks on their first day

Corey:Well it hasnt!

Ali, Chalkie,Berty, Beet:It was so obviously not the truth!

Chalkie:(Melodramatic American accent) And.. with my secret powers I could see straight through this tissue of lies. Corey had left his school because he had done some

Ali, Chalkie,Berty, Beet:Something dreadful!

Chalkie:(Enacts with Ali, Berty and Beet) poisoned his best friendfallen madly and passionately in love with

Ali, Chalkie,Berty, Beet:the School Nurse!!

Chalkie:Covered the Senior teachers in earwax and gently set fire to them(sighs and suddenly reverts to normal voice delivering the line fairly quickly for comic effect.)..or was it simply because he had an unusual name and weird hair. Anyway.. thats it.. I hope you choose me for Big Brotheryou wont regret it if you do. Trust me! (the camcorder is switched off at this point.)

Ali:You going to apply then?

Chalkie:Youve got to be eighteen.

Ali:(to Chalkie) I wish I was like you!

Beet:What do you mean?

Ali:Clever.

Beet:He aint clever,

Ali:Yeah, but good at school

Chalkie:Well I wish I was a bit moreI dunno nothing seems to bother either of you you dont care what people think.

Beet:Im glad Im me. Wouldnt want to be either of you losers. I just wish I wasnt leaving!

Ali:Its gonna be weird without you Beet. Well weird.(Offering Corey a joint.) Come on Corey

Beet:Leave himits a waste!

Corey:(Refusing politely) 's alright. I got fags. (He takes out a cigarette [mimed] and lights it up.)

Ali:Dont you do these them? (Corey shakes his head.)I thought youd be a laugh.

Beet:Chalkie catch this!(he hurls an object at Chalkie and it develops into a game [or stylised movement sequence] denoting the passage of time, with Chalkie, Ali, Berty and Beet throwing something around and Corey watching on his own)

Chalkie:My moment arrived in a year 7 lesson to ask a highly charged and original question. I moved with confidence to a place where everyone could see me. And stood up erect like a like an erect thing! Miss Whats circumcision?

Beet:(they all laugh) I cracked up when you asked that Chalkie!

Chalkie:It was in the Bible you hardly expect

Ali:Chalkie it was a Maths lesson

Ali, Berty,Beet:Circumference! (they laugh)

Chalkie:Surprised you were there Ali what was it?

Berty, Beet,Chalkie:First Maths lesson of the year?

Ali:Shut it!

Corey:I wish Id stayed in school!

Beet:Go back then!

Berty:No one is stopping you from leaving.

Corey:I might just unless

Berty, Chalkie,Beet,Ali:Unless what?

Corey:Dunno but this is stupid!

Berty, Chalkie,Beet,Ali:What?

Corey:Babyishthis den

Ali:What do you want to do then, Corey?

Chalkie:Now, I dont consider myself to proper bunk like regular.. my problem was being easily led you could say I suffered terminally from that,., and I had a bad dose of it on this day.. because before I know where I was,,,, we were all off, including me out of the cotch and on our way into town. Not what I intended to do at all I was trying to avoid trouble not create it!

Berty, Corey,Beet,Ali:Chalkie come on! Don't you ever stop narrating! (they exit)

Chalkie:As we made our way to town youd be amazed at what wed see armies of truant

Truants 1, 2:Halt! (they pull up to attention)

Chalkie:Well, not a uniformed gun slinging army exactly, but a lot some in groups like us

Truants 3-4:Welike terrorising people, throwing things, and if we see anything good we nick it!!!

Chalkie:(Adopting the manner of a TV reporter) And what do you do if anyone annoys you?

Truants 1-4:We start a bit of aggro!!

Chalkie:So there we were.. in the town centre not by any stretch of the imagination the only ones whod bunked off which made what happened next all the more bizarre!

Voice:(Amplified with echo and high volume)Hello Chalkie.

Chalkie:Hello?

Voice:How are you today?

Chalkie:Im fine. Yeh good. Well, OK.

Voice:How do you feel about what the group is doing at the moment?

Ali:Chalkie? Did you hear a voice?

Chalkie:No.

Ali:Chalkie you did cos I heard it too.

Berty, Beet,Corey:And me!

Corey:Hello there disembodied voice hos can we help you?

Voice:Hello Corey.

Corey:How the?

Voice:I am here to forewarn you of a dramatic end to your mornings truancyChalkie:Well, well go back them. (they all turn to leave, but are stopped in their tracks.)

Voice:Too late.

Chalkie:What do you mean?

Voice:Theres no turning back fate has decided.

Beet:Ive been caught loads of times before it never bothers me all that happens is:

Teachers 1-2:Where were you?

Teacher 1:Where did you go?

Teacher 2:What on earth were you doing?

Teachers 1-2:You could have been killed!

Teacher 1:People get into all sorts of rouble when they truant.

Teacher 2:All sorts of trouble!

Teacher 1:And, if theres a fire in the building, we dont know youre out of school

Teacher 2:Someone may go risking their lives searching for you..

Beet:Was there?

Teachers 1-2:Thats not the point!

Teacher 1:Now, just to show you how angry I am,m Im going to ask you to.

ALL:Dun dun dahr!!!!

Teachers 1-2:Give me your planner!!!

Teacher 2:And if you think you are going out at Break and lunchtime

Teachers 1-2:Youve got another think coming!! (add appropriate laugh!)

Beet:And thats all that happens just a little bit of bother.

Voice:Oh no! Today will be. Big Bother!

ALL:Big Bother?

Voice:Big Bother.

Beet:Well it wont bother me.. Im leaving!

Corey:Were all going to get really done?

Voice:Not all of you.

ALL:What?

Voice:One of you shall face this Big Bother alone.The members of the group should make thir nominations.

Chalkie:Beet, cos hes really annoyed me today..and hes leaving. And Corey, cos hes new.

Berty:I would so vote for Corey and Ali. They are well dull.

Ali:Chalkie, not because of anything hes done.. its just that I dont want anything to happen to Beet, hes like my best mate.. and this is his last day. And Corey, cos hes new.

Corey:Beet and Berty cos theyve been horrible to Chalkie, and he aint that bad.

Beet:Chalkie, I really hope its Chalkie, hell be well gutted! (does a one fingered salute) and Corey cos hes wet!

Voice:The nominations are complete. The decision has been made.

Chalkie:Come on who is it?(silence)

Ali:Come on!

Voice:The two characters nominated to play for the right to avoid the Big Bother are in alphabetical order: (silence)

Chalkie:Get on with it.

Beet:Dont know why youre all getting so stressed it cant be that bad!

Ali:So come on then!

Chalkie:Yeh whos it going to be?

Berty:Come on, tell us!!

Voice:Chalkie and (silence)

Beet:Wicked!

Corey:Please dont let it be me!

Voice:Corey.

Corey:(sarcastically.) Oh great!

Chalkie:Its unfair

Voice:All of you chose to be herefate can only choose from those who present themselves.

Chalkie:I didnt

ALL:You did Chalkie

Chalkie:(To Ali, Beet and Berty) You talked me into it!

Beet:But you chose to come with us!

Ali:Of your own free will.

Berty:No one forced you.

Chalkie: (to Voice) Beet and Alitheyre always bunking anywaywhat is this ending?

Voice:All will be revealedwhen you complete the task.

Chalkie:Come on then lets get this over and done with.

Voice:You first Chalkie!

Chalkie:OK and I hope the Voice notices this Im going first please take that into consideration when making your decision! Right!

Section 2: Chalkies First Bunk

ALL:(adopting new position/characters.)Chalkies first bunk!

Chalkie:I had problems with swimming dating back to when I was fourmy dad decided to teach me.

Chalkies Dad:I just grabbed him and

ALL:Threw him in the deep end!

Ali:Thus a rubber ring became our heros embarrassing companion in the water

Chalkie:So when I heard we had swimming one day in Year 61well I had no choice.

Corey:Bunking

Beet:Skiving..

Ali:Chipping off

Berty:Wagging it

Chalkie:Or to give it its proper handle

ALL:Truanting.

Chalkie:I kept on thinkingIm going to get grounded for this is my parents fine out! but it was worth it my secret rubber ring relationship was safe.I was dependant on bunking it was one super-sure way of avoiding problems.

Ali:Enter Problem (Physically blocks Chalkie.)

Beet:So what does Chalkie do?

Corey:(Chalking hammers at Ali) Try to batter it down?

ALL:No!

Corey:(Chalking converses at Ali) Tries to talk it into submissions?

ALL:No!

Berty:(Chalking makes Ali look in one direction and runs off in another.) Plays a trick on it and runs off?

ALL:No! No! and No again!

Corey:So Chalkie what so you do?

Chalkie:I simply approach the problem (Approaches Ali.) and if I cant see a resolution I side step it and calmly walk away. (The others clap and cheer.) So you see I was lucky nothing to do with my background or whatever it was always down to a situation I found myself in and Id only choose to bunk if I needed to avoid some embarrassment or trouble

Corey:Whereas me

Section 3: Coreys story

Corey:Bunking was my drug. This risk of getting caught provided the buzz if you walk round the corner and see the police your heart does and its like a mad rush.. but when you get away with it its just youre even more determined to do it again.

ALL:(over the top)So Corey, how did it begin?

Corey:In year 6 my friend was doing it but I was so scared of what my mum and dad would say that I didnt do it again. I proper started bunking whole days of at Secondary school.

Ali:Its harder at Junior School cos you only have one teacher so youre noticed more easily.

Corey:But when you get to Secondary School its we its so easy

Chalkie:Nobody knows you

Corey:Its so tempting just to

Chalkie:All it needs is for

Corey:Something to happen

Chalkie:Could be anything

Teacher:Have you done your homework Corey Hudson?

Corey:The bird escaped last night Sir and then, while we were out looking for it, the neighbours dog messed on my homework sirI didnt think youd want it all sticky and stinking of dog-pooh.

Teacher:Dont try and pull the wool over my eyes.

Corey:Do what?

Teacher:You havent done it, have you?

Corey:No Sir.

Teacher:If it happens again, youll have a detention

Corey:OK Sir thank-you Sir.

Teacher:Now be on your wayCorey (sensing danger)...be careful

Chalkie:But he was too lateA year 11 student escaping from a supply teachers nightmare (Enter like an out of control aeroplane) piles down the corridorat what seems like a hundred miles an hour!

ALL:Aaaargh!!!

Chalkie:The crash of year 11 muscle into a fragile year 7s bones echoes along the corridor.

ALL:Coreys first flying lesson.

Chalkie:He soars through the air and falls to the cheap marble effect floor with a mildly entertaining

ALL:CRASH!

Chalkie:Heads poke out of doors to see whats going on as the year 11 turns to speak to our hero.

Year 11:Thatll teach you to watch where youre going!

Chalkie:And Corey Hudson is left alone to moisten the cheap marble effect floor with the wetness of his tears. Then, like a monster emerging from the dust he risesand the silence is shattered by a desperate shrieking

Corey:I hate this bloody placeI hate itnobody cares!

Chalkie:Corey wanted to be anywhere but here

Berty:Anywhere

Chalkie:Home

Beet:Town

Ali:An orchard

Chalkie:Inside sea shell

Beet:Stuck to the slippery floor of an unwahed pig-sty

Chalkie:At his Grans having some rock-hard fruitcake.

Corey:(warning.) Chalkie!

Ali:Corey wanted to be anywhere

ALL:Well almost anywhere

Ali:but here!

Chalkie:He thought things could never get any worse

Corey:(Beet swiftly adopts the role of Coreys very elderly Granny. Corey looks up.) Gran? What are you going here?

Beet:Ive brought you some of that lovely fruitcake you like when you come round to mine!

Corey:Beet!!!

Beet:With cake and fruit in it

Corey:Beet! Take that ridiculous costume off and

Beet:Only having a laugh.

Chalkie:Corey thought things could never get any worse

ALL:but they did.

Chalkie:At the start of year 8, an announcement was made.

Corey:I couldnt believe it we were all being put in different classesgrouped according to our ability Id done well in my SATs back in year 6 so I wasnt worried then..

Teacher:Corey Hudsonyou will be in the Muppet class.

Corey:But Sire I want to be with Dave..Ive been with him since reception!

Teacher:Dave Swottalot, your best friend for the last seven years in to be in the Boffins classwell done Dave but dont worry Coreyyoull probably still see him every now and thenPEDramaif he wants to be seen with a Muppet that is!

Corey:I just thoughtif theyve decided Im a Muppet well whats the point?

Chalkie:So Corey was riperipe for bunkingeverything in place he just needed a a catalystsomething or someoneto trigger it into actionPhone call from school

Mike:Hello

TeacherGood morning Mr Hudson. This is Mr Smith, head of year 8.

Mike:Good morning Mr Smith. How can I help you?

Teacher:Im afraid that Corey has been found taking drugs

Mike:Drugs?

Corey:I didnt take nothing.

Mike:Not what they said.

Corey:No proof theyre lying

Mike:You admit you were there.

Corey:Yeh.

Mike:Why?

Corey:I wasnt feeling well.

Mike:You should have been in the sick room.

Corey:It was too boring.

Mike:And taking drugs was going to make everything alright was it?

Corey:I dont do that stuff. The police found usfound a bongthey took it awaynoted down our names

Mike:I dont know what Ive done to deserve all this?!

Corey:Chuck me out thenI know thats what you want o do go on chuck me out!

Mike:(Quietly) You know thats not what I want.

Corey:But I got chucked out all the same.(Silence)

Section 4: Chalkies Life in Secondary School

Chalkie:When I went on to Secondary School some of the teachers felt that they already knew me as they knew my older brother, Marvin. Miss Picklewitch thought I was my brother but on a really bad day!This made life worse for me because Miss Picklewitch was organising the School Play which would, I hoped, launch me showbiz career! I went to the audition full of confidence to be greeted by:

Mrs P:Chalkie White? You must be in the wrong room!

Chalkie:The auditions Miss?

Mrs P:Yes.

Chalkie:The audition for Stanley Smang Slipped on a Banana Then Got Up Again!

Mrs P:You will be auditioning for my play?

Chalkie:Yes Miss

Mrs P:If you must there take a seat at the front by Peter Performer.

Chalkie:Id been ignored completely, but I sat there in silence sharing Peter Performers book envying his every line, and occasionally having to inhale his silent but deadly ones after his dodgy curry last night. Then the unforgivable happenedduring the speech which led to the tragic climax of the play Stanley Smang slipping over

Peter:(Reading) Tiddley Smangcome herenow listenwhen you finish that banana put the skin over there in the bin (Peter then appears to make a loud farting sound. He continues to read as though nothing has happened.) or there could be a most terrible accident.

Mrs P:Chalkie White stand up.Chalkie:(Standing.) Yes Miss.Mrs P:If you think you can come to these auditions to distract Peter Performer by making such a disgusting noise while hes reading the most important speech in my play youve got another think coming.

Section 5: Corey versus the Whole World.Deathwish:Not so fast Corey Hudson.Corey:Deathwish OConnor?Deathwish:The same.Corey:I aint scared of you.ALL:Everyone was scared of Deathwish OConnor.Deathwish:And why was thatALL:Because you was very, very scaryCorey:Deathwish was in the Year below me, and not particularly big..Chalkie:What had you done to upset him then?Corey:He said IdDeathwish:been sarcastic to my mate BeanieBig Beanie.Corey:(Laughing.) Big Beanie? I dont even knowBig Beanie:You do Corey HudsonCorey:All I said was was to stop staring.Deathwish:No-one tells Big Beanie to stop staringCorey:Well I did!Deathwish:You want to say that now cos hes staring at you!Big Beanie:Yeahtell me know!Deathwish:Come on Corey Hudsontell him to stop staring.Little Beanie:Im staringand Im getting really grossed out!Deathwish:Thats cos what you're staring at is..Big Beanie:Gross, DeathwishDeathwish:Hes stupid and if he don't tell you to stop staringCorey:I aint scared of you..Deathwish:Go get him!Corey:I ran out of school.Chalkie:So what happened then?Corey:I went back to MumsWell it was Dad who really pushed to have me back. He said he wasnt happy about me staying at my aunties. It was then that they said I was to move schools and have a fresh start. But it was them that didnt accept that they needed a fresh start! It was trial separation after trial separation. I went along with the plan, as I was just fed up of being in the middle of their petty arguments.

Section 6: When Corey Meets ChalkieChalkie:So Corey came to our schooland there he met Beet, Ali and Berty oh and me of course I didnt really hang round with them much cos by this time my best mate wasALL:Terry GaleTerry:(Enters with guitar) Superstar guitarist(Strikes a chord.)ALL:All round good guy.Chalkie:Wed formed a band is the summer!Chalkie,Terry:Ghostly Grasshoppers.Chalkie:It was... I was just leaving assembly TerryIm going to get really done I havent done the homework for Warrener.Terry:Nor have Idont worry about it.Chalkie:Well get a detention though.Terrry:And?Chalkie:My Dadll go berserkTerry:I cant imagine your dad being like that.Chalkie:You dont know my dad(Ali walks towards Chalkie.) Whats he want?Terry:Who?Chalkie:Ali, lookAli:Chalkie, Beets leavingChalkie:What?Ali:Hes leavinghis brother got done overand well, his mums already gone and hes off tomorrow.Chalkie:What happened?Ali:He wont talk about it at all.Chalkie:Wherere they off to?Ali:London.Chalkie:Blimey!Ali:Were giving him a send offlesson after breakat the woods.Chalkie:Who else is going?Ali:Dont knowthe usual I suppose.Chalkie:I dunnoAli:We wont get another chancewith BeetChalkie:Thats the problemAli:Why?Chalkie:He takes the Mick all the timeAli:Thats BeetChalkie:NoitsAli:Have it your own wayI thought youd be up for itChalkie:AliAli:What?Chalkie:Ill come. Itll be better than facing Warrener. Ill go up to him with the homework tomorrow morning and apologisehell be well impressed!(Exits.)Ali:It was drugs for mewell fags at first thats what started me off bunking couldnt have em in the classroom so I had to get out. Its started to disown us worried that if they hung round with us theyd accused of drugs as wellChalkie was differentthere was a history there but you could see even he was beginning to move awayI hated being on the outside but I couldnt stop itWe wanted others to come along with usto make us feel like better. So when this new guy cameit wastarget!Ali:Do you smoke?Corey:Yeh.Ali:Do you want to come for a fag?Corey:Yeh, alright.Ali:Oh mates leaving tomorrow so were like saying goodbye to him itll bee a laugh theres loads of us goingChalkie:The teachers wont even know youre in the classAli:You wont be on their registers yetChalkie:So they wont miss youAli:Its up to you CoreyCorey:Come on then!ALL:First we had to get out of school.

Section 7:Chalkies Final BunkSet up as Section 1, re-creating the opening sequence.Chalkie:And before I knew where I was we were all off out of the cotch and on our way into town.Ali, Corey,Beet, Berty:Chalkie come on! Wont you ever stop narrating! (They exit.)Chalkie:So there we were in the town centre when suddenlyVoice:Hello Chalkie Hello Corey. I am here to deliver the Big Bother to end your mornings truancyChalkie:Havent we been here before?Voice:Fate has decided to whom the ending should occur.Chalkie:Come on, who is it?(Silence)Voice:Are you ready?(Silence)ALL:YesVoice:Are you quite sure?ALL:Were certainChalkie:Come onOthers:Shut-up Chalkie!Voice:RememberFate has decided who should face the Big Bother. There shall be no arguments.ALL:Get on with it!VoiceThe one selected for Big Bother this morning isALL:Come!Corey:Its gonna be me I know it is!Chalkie:No, itll be me.Others:Shut up Chalkie!(Silence.)Chalkie:Come on!Voice:(Pause) Chalkie.Chalkie:Oh my!!Others:What?Chalkie:Why? I dont consider myself to be someone who proper bunks really, Id only choose to bunk if needed to avoid some embarrassment or trouble.Voice:Chalkie this has led you to face the Big Bother.Chalkie:Cant I appeal?Voice:No.Chalkie:But you could have found just as many reasons to choose Corey.Voice:That is totally correct.Chalkie:So why me?Voice:Corey has handed himself in big bother before, and will no doubt again Fate is keen to see you having to deal with this situationYour future is still in the hands of Fate we have to see how you react to your first spot of Big Bother.Chalkie:I wont ever bunk again thats for sure.Voice:I dont know if I believe you!Chalkie:I wont. Honest I wont Ill do anything!Voice:Even a stupid dance.Chalkie:Yes anything!Voice:Too late for that ChalkieChalkie:What?Voice:Far too late for that ChalkieAli, Corey, Beet, Berty in a moment you must leave leave Chalkie alone to faceAli:Dah dah der!!Voice:The Big Bother!!Chalkie:Oh no!!! Look!Others:Where?Chalkie:There!(Chalkie is frozen to the stop.)Beet:(Laughing) Its wicked when youre chased by the police you just feel so giggly andAli: and when you get away you just thinkAli, Corey,Beet, Berty:That was BAD! That was rude!Beet:You think youre never going to get caughtAli:You do get awayAli, Corey,Beet, Berty:Most time.Chalkie:(Petrified)Old Bill!!!Corey:Truancy sweepAli, Corey,Beet, Berty:Leg it!!!Chalkie:Theres me just kind of rooted to the spot.Ali, Corey,Beet, Berty:Chalkie!Chalkie:Unable to move.Ali, Corey,Beet, Berty:Chalkie!Chalkie:Thinking this isnt fair!Ali, Corey,Beet, Berty:What are you doing Chalk?Chalkie:This shouldnt be happening to me well, should it? Look at them theyre always bunking why cant they be rooted to the spot like some stupid rooted to the spot thing?Ali:Leave himBeet:This is such a laugh!Berty:Chalkie in the shit! Stuck in the shit!Corey:Were off!Chalkie:Wait please!!! Wait!!Ali, Corey,Beet, Berty:To infinity and beyond!!!(They exit.)Policeman:Nicked! Always wanted to be on telly eh? Weve got a nice surprise for you:TV Crew:The local BBC News!!!!Policeman:Smile for the camera sonny!

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