The "Who's that Little Old Man" Scene

 

PAUL, JOHN, RINGO, and GEORGE file into the compartment and sit down. PAUL

looks over at the little old man as if to say, "Everything all right?" and

gets to looking out the window. GEORGE notices the little old man and elbows

RINGO, who takes notice and elbows JOHN.

 

JOHN

(leaning over towards PAUL) Hey, pardon me for asking, but who's that little old man?

PAUL

Uh, what little old man?

JOHN

That little old man.

PAUL

Oh that one, that's my grandfather.

GEORGE

Your grandfather?

PAUL

Yeah.

GEORGE

That's not your grandfather.

PAUL

It is you know.

GEORGE

But I've seen your grandfather, he lives in your house.

PAUL

Oh that's my other grandfather, but he's my grandfather as well.

JOHN

How do you reckon that one out?

PAUL

Well everyone's entitled to two, aren't they? And this is my other one.

JOHN

We know that, but what's he doing here?

PAUL

Well my mother thought the trip would do him good.

RINGO

How's that?

PAUL

He's nursing a broken heart.

JOHN

Oh. Poor old thing. (to GRANDFATHER) Hey mister, are you nursing a

broken heart? (to PAUL) He's a nice old man, isn't he?

PAUL

(considering) He's very clean.

JOHN

(moving to sit beside GRANDFATHER) Hello, Grandfather!

GRANDFATHER

(gruffly) Hello.

JOHN

(to PAUL) He can talk then, can he?

PAUL

Of course he can talk, he's a human being isn't he?

RINGO

Well if he's your grandfather who knows hahahahaha. (this is received

with a pitying, almost dirty look from PAUL)

JOHN

(to PAUL) And we're looking after him, are we?

GRANDFATHER

I look after meself.

PAUL

(standing up) Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of.

JOHN

He's got you worried, then?

PAUL

(combing his hair in front of a tiny mirror on the wall) Yep! He's a villain,

a real mixer. And he'll cost you a fortune inbreech of promise cases.

GEORGE

Gerron!

PAUL

No, straight up.

SHAKE

(entering) Hi all.

PAUL

Hello, Shake.

GEORGE

Hello, Shake.

SHAKE

(distributing rolls and cola) You getting on all right then?

JOHN

No.

SHAKE

(disappointed, then recovering) Oh. Well, we're here, and Norm will be along in a minute

with the tickets. (noticing) Hey. Who's the little old man?

GEORGE

It's Paul's grandfather.

SHAKE

(confused) Oh I uh thought ah

JOHN

No, that's his other one.

SHAKE

(mollified) Oh that's all right then.

JOHN

Clean though, isn't he?

SHAKE

Oh why he's very clean.

NORM

(entering) Morning lads.

ALL

(variously) Hi Norm etc

NORM

Good, you're all here. Now look, I've had a marvellous idea. Just for once,

let's all try to behave like ordinary respectable citizens. Let's not cause any trouble, pull any strokes, or

do anything I'm gonna be sorry for. Especially in that television theatre. Becau- (stops short,

noticing JOHN fooling around, "sniffing" the Pepsi bottle) Are you listening to me, Lennon?

JOHN

(looking up) You're a swine. (to GEORGE) Isn't he, George?

GEORGE

(eating a roll) You're a swine.

NORM

(sarcastically) Thanks. (noticing) Hey!

ALL

(in imperfect unison) Who's that little old man?

NORM

Well who is he?

RINGO

He belongs to Paul.

NORM

(with a verbal shrug) Oh, well. I'm going down to have a cup of coffee. Anyone coming?

PAUL

We'll follow you down.

GRANDFATHER

(standing up) I want me coffee!

NORM

Well you can come with Shake and me if you like.

PAUL

(protectively) Look after him! I don't want to find you've lost him.

NORM

Don't be cheeky! I'll bind him to me with promises. (looks at

GRANDFATHER) Very clean, isn't he? Come here Granddad. (exeunt )

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