Kelly McErlean - Phd Research - 'The Last Hurrah' Primary Narrative


	The Last Hurrah. Scene 1 Sarah stands by the edge of the road waiting for her son Jack to catch up. Sarah “Jack. Will you please hurry up? You’ll be late for school.” Jack “Look at this Mum” Holds up a stone “Can I keep it?” Sarah “Jack put that dirty thing down” Grabs stone out of his hand and fires it in the direction of house. We hear shattering glass. “Ah Jack, look what you’ve made me do.... Run quickly. I’m not paying for that.” The two run – laughing Sarah “Do you have your lunch?” Jack Nods...they see another mother and daughter Sarah “Hi Martha...you’ll never believe what I’ve just done.” Whispers Martha “Ah Sarah that’s terrible...” Outside school gates Sarah “Bye love.” Gives Jack a big kiss and tightens his scarf and tucks in his jumper “I’m going to the supermarket to get a few groceries. Are you on for a quick coffee?” Martha “Can’t today Sarah have to fill in for Carmel. She’s sick.” Supermarket Sarah is looking at the notice board A notice reads ‘cleaning job’. She takes down the name and telephone number. She phones the number on her mobile. Sarah “Hi my name’s Sarah Johnston. I am just ringing about your ad for a cleaner. Irish? Yes of course. I’ve a lot of cleaning experience. I could get you a reference. Sure. That’s no problem. I’ll just ring to make sure that’s ok. Anytime. Tomorrow morning is perfect. 9.15. Okay. Looking forward to meeting you too and I’ll get that number to you as soon as I can. It’s Mrs. D. O’Reilly. That’s right. D O’Reilly.” She makes another call. Sarah “Hi Mrs O’Reilly? Sarah Johnston here. Very well thanks. Oh yes. I’ll be there on Wednesday. Ah not at all don’t worry that’s fine. Look I was just ringing to ask you a favour. I’ve been offered a couple more hours cleaning on Tuesday morning and the woman, a Mrs Jacob, said she would need a reference. No no he said she would much prefer to talk to you so would you mind if I gave her your number? Oh thanks Mrs O’Reilly that’s great. So I’ll see you on Wednesday.Bye.” She takes down the ad from the notice board and walks to the supervisor. Sarah “This position has been filled.”

	Scene 2 At home. In the kitchen. Sarah is setting the table Jack “Can I play my playstation?” Sarah “After dinner Jack now go and wash your hands. Jack obeys The clock on the wall says six o’clock. We hear a door opening. Enter Jack and Dad – Martin. Martin “Never got a chance to eat all day. A large order came in before lunch and that was it” Sarah “Nearly ready.” Martin goes to the fridge. Takes out a beer, slugs it and burps. Sarah is serving out the dinner. Sarah “Martin just sit and eat will you. I have to rush. Martha and I are heading to yoga and I’m running late.” Martin Martin sits at the table. “Sarah this is shite. You’re never here in the evening.” Takes another drink – burps and waits at the table to be served. Sarah “What are you talking about? I’m here every evening.” “Anyway I’m going...oh and Martin, I’ve landed a new job with the Jacobs in Riverdale. A few more cleaning hours.”Jack enters and shows Sarah his hands.“That’s a good boy Jack. Lovely clean hands. Now sit down with your Dad and eat all your dinner.” Martin “No you’re not. You’re not cleaning. It’s embarrassing you cleaning other people’s houses. We have enough anyway....clean your own house first, have you seen the state of this place? I’m sick of it Sarah and if I find out you’re still with the O’Reillys well I’m warning you...ever since you started hanging around with that arsehole Martha you’ve really changed. You’re never satisfied.” Sarah walks out. Sarah “Piss off Martin! We don’t have enough. We haven’t been on a holiday since Jack was born and I’m sick of it.” Sarah walks out slamming the front door.

	Scene 3 Early morning. Tuesday. 9.00am. Sarah holds up a piece of paper checking the address, she walks to the door of the house. You can see by her expression she thinks the place is very nice. She looks at her watch, 9.05am, switches off her mobile, quickly tidies herself up, pulls down her skirt, buttons her shirt, she takes out her make-up mirror, has a quick look and nods approvingly. Then she checks her breath. She takes a deep breath and walks up the staircase.She rings the doorbell. No answer. 30 seconds go by. She rings the doorbell again. No answer. After another 30 seconds she turns to walk away. It is obvious she is quite disappointed. She walks away. The door opens. Mrs. Jacob “Dear. I’m terribly sorry.” Sarah looks delighted. Sarah “Mrs. Jacob I presume. Hi I’m Sarah Johnston. I’m here about the cleaning job.” Mrs. Jacob “Come in. Sorry about the delay. My hearing is not as good as it used to be.” Sarah and Mrs. Jacob walk in. Sarah follows Mrs. Jacob into the kitchen. The house is quite dark, Edwardian. All the furniture are antiques – lots of landscapes on the wall. The colour of the house is very suppressing. Dark green and blue with lots of silver and brass. The kitchen is very old and dingy looking with some lovely china cups and saucers. There are some candles on the table. Mrs. Jacob “Would you like a cup of tea? I’ve just made it.” Sarah “Oh thank you that would be nice.” Mrs. Jacob hands her a cup and saucer. “Call me Ada dear, they were my mother’s. The only thing we managed to take with us during the war. Mr. Jacob, my husband, broke one the other day. I nearly died. He’s not very steady anymore, bedridden now. It’s terrible really, he used to be so athletic, but with me minding him and cleaning the house, well it all got too much for me – he suggested I get help, ‘a nice young girl to help you Ada, that’s what we need.’ Those were his exact words. Poor Mr. Jacob, he is always thinking of me.” Puts on coat, scarf and gloves. Checks bag. “Now my dear, I’ve left a list of things I need doing on the cabinet in the drawing room. Jacob’s asleep. He may wake at 11.00. If he does make him a horlicks. I have a bridge morning so I have to rush. I’ll pay you every second week. See you later. €10 per hour yes?” Sarah nods. Sarah “Thank you Mrs.. I mean Ada and you don’t have to worry about a thing. I’ll have this place ship shape in no time.” Ada closes front door. Fade to black.

	Scene 4 In the bedroom. Clock on the wall says 11.00am. Sarah is cleaning the room. We see the old man asleep in bed. He is asleep sitting up with a nightcap on. He is quite comical looking man. The room is very dark. Blue velvet and dark navy curtains. Dark mahogany four poster bed with very dark navy bedspread. He opens his eyes, stares at Sarah but does not move a muscle. Sarah does not see him wake. Sarah opens the closet. A dark heavy mahogany closet. It is laden with beautiful clothes and lines of shoes, handbags and fur coats. All the clothes are 1940s style. You can see Sarah is very taken by them. She takes out a full length mink coat and holds it to her cheek, breathes heavily and smiles. 1940s music begins. We see old man looking. It is obvious by his breathing he has become aroused. Sarah looks at herself in full length mirror tries on mink coat, puts her hair up with her hands. She puts on bits of jewelery which are on the mantelpiece. Sarah “Oh how frightful. My dear husband bought it for our wedding anniversary.” It is obvious Sarah is enjoying herself. She looks in mirror again and catches Mr. Jacobs’ eye. She is scared and starts to put things back. Mr. Jacobs (Calmly) “Oh dear, don’t stop. I was very much enjoying that.” Sarah “I’m very sorry Mr. Jacob. It’s just they’re such beautiful clothes.” Mr. Jacob “Clothes that have been left in that closet for a long time. Try the coat on again.” Sarah puts the coat on. The atmosphere has become intense. Mr. Jacob “Do you like it? It’s beautiful on you.” Camera is on Sarah but Mr. Jacobs continues speaking. Sarah obeys every command and smiles provocatively throughout. Mr. Jacob “Put your hair up dear. You really are lovely. I never dreamed Ada would get me such a beautiful help. Do you like the feel of the coat? Ada always said it was really beautiful against her skin, ‘empowering’. Would you like to feel it against your skin?” We cut to Mr. Jacob. We can hear the rummaging of clothes. Eventually Mr. Jacob speaks. Mr. Jacob “That’s lovely dear. Don’t be afraid. Take them all off. Feel the power of the mink.” Thirty seconds on his face. He breathes heavily licking his lips. Mr. Jacob “Now that’s much better. Doesn’t that feel good my dear? You never told me your name.” Sarah barely audible. “Sarah.” Mr. Jacob “What a beautiful name. A perfect name for someone so luscious. Now turn around dear. All the way around. Let it fall open. Do you like it like that. That’s good Sarah. That’s just what I wanted. Maybe you could.......(pause).....hoover?Take the handle in your hands. What beautiful hands. Hold it steady, not too fast. We don’t want to miss anything.” He climaxes. We hear the hoover turn on. Mr. Jacob just watches, never moving. Mr. Jacob “Take the coat with you Sarah and I’ll see you next week for a repeat performance.”

	Scene 5 Sarah’s house. The clock on the wall says 6pm. Sarah is sitting at the table looking at holiday magazines. She looks at wall clock, jumps up and puts the brochures away. We hear the door open. Martin “I’m starving. I didn’t get a chance to eat lunch today. Where is Jack?” Sarah “He’s at his friends. His Mum said she would drop him back after football.” Martin “Who owns the manky coat in the hall?” Sarah Looks lost for words. “That’s Martha’s. She will collect it later. Some theatre group she in involved in own it and she’s going to collect it later.” Martin “What’s for dinner?” Goes to fridge. Takes out beer. Opens it and drinks. Burps.

	Scene 6 The Harlequin. Busy city centre shop. Deals with antique clothing. Sarah walks in. Fiona “Can I help you?” Sarah “I’ve got these clothes. They were my grandmother’s. I was wondering if you would be interested in buying them. A friend of mine recommended you.” Fiona takes out a few bits and pieces. She is struck by the clothes, especially the coat. Fiona “These are really beautiful. We would be very interested in taking them. I’ll give you a thousand for the lot! That’s the best I can do. I know they are really rare and the coat is worth a lot more but I only really have one client who buys this sort of stuff.” Sarah is obviously ecstatic. She tries to play it down. Sarah “Well as long as you make sure they go to a good home. Particularly the coat. My grandmother really loved that.” Fiona takes out a cheque book.

	Scene 7 We see Sarah walking with cheque in hand into a travel agency. She makes a phone call on the way in. Sarah “Hi Ada. It’s Sarah. I’m terribly sorry. I won’t be able to come back. Something has come up. I’m sorry to let you down. I just can’t fit it in anymore. Speak soon. Sarah.”

	Scene 8 Sarah and Jack pack their bags. Sarah leaves a note on the fridge for Martin. Sarah “Come on Jack. Hurry. We’ll miss our flight.”

	Scene 9 The wall-clock says 6pm. The door slams and we hear Martin enter. Martin “Hi Sarah. I’m starving. What’s for dinner?” Martin is unaware that no-one is home. He walks to fridge, opens it and takes a beer out. He sees note on fridge. Close up of note. Sarah “Hi Martin, get your own stinking dinner you big fat shite. Sarah.” Martin drops the beer. Fade out Fade in Jack and Sarah on the beach. Sarah drinks a cocktail and Jack has a coke. Jack “You’re the best Mum ever.”