Miranda rushes into her house, drops everything, and props herself up infront of a screen.

Miranda: James?

Screen springs to life.

Miranda: What do you know about Richard.

James: 24, lives on a comune near Loughborough. He's alternative so there's not too much info on him.

Miranda: Not that Richard. The one that pestered me for all those years at college.

James: Richard Rose?

Miranda: Yeah.

James: Living in a two bedroom flat in Newnham (address printed on screen.) Do you want a full rundown?

Miranda: Er, no I'll try and get that off him meself. Where does he work?

James (printing up some guff): you know where it is?

Miranda: Yup. When do they have lunch there?

Cut to Miranda sat on a bench dressed up pretty smartly in town with a fair number of people around. She's watching a door past the end of the local shops. A group of geezers pile out laughing. Miranda stands up immediately and starts walking towards them. The blokes have past a couple of shops by the time she gets up to them. They're all looking her up and down (as you do.)

Miranda: Richard?

Richard: Miranda?

All the other blokes look at him as if to say 'How the bloody hell do you know a bird like that?'

Miranda: How you doing?

Richard: Great. What about you. I've not seen you on the news yet. I always look.

Miranda: Well, I'm in research rather than reporting now, it's a bit more interesting really. You get to choose vetoes and stuff. You know

Richard: You always did like to be in control.

Miranda: Listen, I'm actully doing some work at the moment. Why don't we meet up sometime?

Richard: I'd love to. Any time.

Miranda: Next Tuesday?

Richard: Sure, where?

Miranda: Oh, we can decide then. Tell you what, you come round to mine and pick me up. OK?

Richard: Great. Well, see you then then.

Miranda: Yeah, see yea.

Other blokes: See ya!

As they walk apart various of the blokes turn around at various stages to watch her walk away (her curves!)

Other blokes: Who's she?
 

K/O-a 3 Richard ace - letter
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Dear James,

Am I still pissed? Well, I was completely off my face last nighty and I haven't got a hangover. I just feel really happy and I nearly fell out of bed. I remember leaving the house last night and saying to myself that I wasn't going to get off with him and settle for someone I don't really fancy. I felt quite bad about it at the time - what a load of crap, it didn't stop me tarting myself up and going out. God knows what the score is, but I feel great!

I wish he was in my room now, and I was out in the kitchen making toast for him. Why? I could nick off to the corner shop and make idle chat with the assistant. Why? What is so satisfying about doing something for him that would be a chore for almost anyone else? What is it about him that leaves me in a state of confidence such that I can do things like go round to the old lady next door's to see if she wants anything and generally have a chat?

Several pints down he agreed to move in with me. I believe him. We can decorate the place and have it exactly as we want. Fill it with coarse earthy furniture and ornaments. And have loads of crockery and cutlery - none of it matching eachother. Not have much stuff, just keep it simple and clean. God I can start buying paintings and sculptures. God it'll be ace. I can even do the garden. The whole world of gardening is there, established, just waiting for me to have somewhere with a mandate for me to work on it. We can stay in loads and watch documentaries and natural history programs together, and bring up our kids how we like. And they'll love us and we'll love them.

Oh God, it just feels great to enter into the whole new world of couples. The whole of society is structured around couples and now I'm part of it. I suppose it's fairly similar to having a best friend except they're the opposite sex. (Anyone who claims their best friend is of the opposite has sadly never had a best friend.) You do loads together and have a relationship so close as to exclude others from you to a certain extent.

The basis for couples is fear of lonelyness, giving enough to eachother so you're both secure. Couples have love too though, sex uniting them, reinforcing commitment to eachother and consolidating the security. Best friendships don't have that. This huge physical gap that, not forgives all, but brings everything into perspective and in giving commitment receives security, is only bridged by homosexual best friends and that really must be something: someone you're completely selfish with and both feel they're doing exactly what they want with sexual forgiveness and security.

Couples evolve though into families, which must also be something very special, having new entities (but very much part of you) to chat with. Can't wait. Can you really be a successful half of a couple after so long as a whole entity yourself? You'll be expected back home at a certain time, you'll loose your capacity to change your mind at the drop of a hat. Can you cope with that: having to confer about everything, all that loss of personal freedom. It's a high price to pay, is it worth it? You've not made full use of it in the past because you've always felt too insecure.

Communal life must be pretty ideal. Getting your security from the group, being selfish with your best friends, releasing your lust in whichever direction you wish (and as many directions as you wish too,) and the community being the family too. Why do all the communes seem to be alternative, it's just not the way I want to live. I need society - it works.

It's funny when you think how random it is who you marry, and how much of an impact who you marry has on you. There's hundreds of thousands of blokes who have the right sort of interests, personalities and bums. But there's only a fraction of them that you syncronize becoming availiable with, and who happens to meet you in the 'correct' circumstances, and you get far enough together to justify arranging a date. The first bloke you meet under these criterion and is at the same stage of life as you is almost certainly the one you marry.

Me and Richard, we need eachother. He's been crazy about me ever since college. I know he should be 'growing up' and coming to terms with it all, and I know that he found someone else but she's obviously not fulfilling him, and I'm sure he's been leaving the door at least slightly ajar for me. He really only started going out with her because he thought that there must have been something he was missing, why didn't he find almost the entirity of the female population attractive? It seemed as though everyone else did. Well he's got his experience now, he's done the crap job with no prospects and little pay. 'This time, this time I want it to count,' so he told me. It's obvious he'd spent alot of time thinking about it since we met the other day. He told me that you can fuck anything up and put it down to experience indefinately. This was to be the last time he turns his back on a problem, this time it's forever.

God knows I need love. Every time I go to a country house, or to the theatre, or a lecture, I don't concentrate on all the wonderful things around me, I just think 'Why am I doing this alone?' Everyone shares those things, a bunch of mates, a family, but worst of all: couples. Not couples that have their arms around eachother and kiss all the time - they could be anywhere, they just want to be with eachother. No, what really brings tears to my eyes are the couples that go out and fully enjoy what they have gone to see. They are so at ease with (and without) their partners that they just take it for granted.

Richard adores me so much that he'd never hurt me, that's very comforting. Right now I feel I've been so cut up I don't want any of that mutual crap. I want to be loved.

Some would look upon it as the worst possible reason for getting married, but it's better than some - probably most other reasons.

Ah, it's not as bad as I make out. The memory of him (us) when we first met is wonderful. There must still be a fair amount of mutual attraction.

It was under really bizarre circumstances that last night was arranged. I felt so much pressure about men and that, I couldn't go out with anyone I didn't totally believe that our relationship had the potential to develope indefinately. I just hated the idea, it was all so pointless. I couldn't go out with any bloke I really fancied, I just couldn't get physical to the state of snogging, the first of the set of truly sexual acts. To bring sex into it would have been to force me to think, where I only wanted to be loved and hugged and loose everything else a relationship provides. So I turned off my dateline. That must seem to absolutely everyone the most paradoxical thing to do: for someone who needs to be loved to cut off the only source she is likely to find it when you consider her resounding negative body language, but it made sense to me. In the end I remembered Richard and called him up.

It sounds really bizzare, but I could feel my baby during that emotional well. Physically and mentally he was there in my stomach, being fed and protected by me and growing slowly. Gradually taking all I can give him, completely dependant on me. It was something so wonderful in a miserable time in my life. I was only like that for about six weeks and then I had my period and the illusion was shattered and I fell to pieces again. God knows what I was like. I mean there was no father ar anything, it was all just a figment of my imagination, but all I felt was real.

Ricahard's not my idea of the ideal man, maybe it's better that I smash the illusion that there is such a thing. Anyone you initially think's ideal will have some floor or other, that's the fun part: the little things that are 'wrong' with them, that none the less are them. These are the things that you love about your long term partners.

Am I going to love the way that he completely misreads situations? Maybe so, I mean it gets embarrassing when he says and does things that are inappropriate, but when he oversteps the mark in his na"ive fashion it often bears unlikely fruit - usually it's the start of a conversation with a stranger, sometimes he asks the wrong person to do something for him and surprisingly often he eventually gets what he wants. There again, unsurprisingly often he sees a slightly dark side of man. Still, it's a damn sight more interesting that being right all the time.

It'd be nice to start off with someone you think is ideal, and have that initial craziness gradually dwindle as you find out their faults. Why is that craziness so short? It's such a wonderful feeling. Even saying I'm going to marry and enjoy being married to Richard, I'm still going to grab any opportunity to get that rush when you see 'that man'. Your heart pounding, adrenalin, going red when you speak to him and speaking complete crap. Oh I look forward to that day, I know that nothing concrete will come from it, I'll stay with Richard, but it'll be a couple of months of fun when it happens.

Any really successful relationship is free from any financial or geographic pressure, both parties must have a similar outlook on life even if they have opposing views, and of course: love, sex and lust. I suppose I, like countless scores of others will have to accept life with all but one of these: accept second best. Richard is great: he's intelligent, easy to talk to, likes my kinds of music, going out and getting pissed. What an ideal boyfriend he'd be. So why is it that I don't fancy him? Why doesn't his presence make me want to rip select items of clothing from him and get straight down to it? The thought almost repels me. I could go for it but it would be unfair on him and me. I could maybe last a couple of years, but then I'd've had enough. If we'd started a family, things could get bad. What avenues would I have left four years and a kid on? It'd really mess things up.

No, no. I'm not going to give up right at the start of this relationship. I've rejected every other prospect of a life companion because odd things weren't right. This time I'm going to go with it, I'm going to face the problems and work with them. It's not that I'm not going to be able to love him, I'm sure I will. Maybe I'm mistakeing misunderstanding of love for lack of it. He is security, but that doesn't explain why he makes me happy.

I know some day, exactly the right man for me will come along, but what am I expected to do until then? Should I remaing a virgin like in the dark ages? I need love and companionship now, not in an unspecified length of time. Will I be deceiving Richard? Will I act like Paul, Richard, Jez and Gary when the better but harder option comes along? I need to be loved right now.
 

K/O-a 4 Police
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Miranda is sat at her desk working. A letter from James forces an NMI.

James: You've just got a letter from James.

Miranda (pushing the button to print up the letter): Ace.

Dear Miranda,

I remember one of my mates on his twentyfirst birthday. Throughout his teenage years he had obviously told himself not to worry about the fact that he'd not yet lost his virginity, since statistically almost everyone had had it by the time they were twenty one. He would just bide his time. On his twentyfirst he was noticably disturbed by something (was I the only one who worked out what?) Anyway he made a tit of himself trying to screw seemingly anyone. About six months later he had a girlfriend. Rather than doing 'the usual' he claimed celebacy for religious reasons (I think his mother was involved with some ancient church order.) He had set himself an unachievable target, and then changed the ground rules to suit the outcome.

I too have recently found myself in a situation where I have been set an unachievable goal. Rather than change the ground rules and fit the outcome posthumously to the target, I've kept the ground rules the same, but changed the target.

As she continues reading it her excited happy face goes off. Her eyes bulge out. The face of disbelief. She's almost motionless for the duration of the letter. Stumped.

Miranda: Are any of the interview rooms free?

James prints up a couple of room names.

Miranda: Book me the broom cupboard for the next hour. Clear this screen.

She gets up. Cut to her in a small room with a comparatively large screen.

Miranda: James? Can you get me Sarah Black at the Cambridge Police station.

Frame.

Sarah: Hello Miranda. How's tricks?

Miranda: OK. OK. Listen, we've got a little bit of a problem here. We're going to have to work out what the best way of handling it is. Unfortunately I can't really tell you what it is yet, but it is something that'd have to involve you in your professional role. If anything does happen it'll be almost five years before you'll have to do anything so giving me a couple of weeks hopefully shouldn't be a problem. I'll show you my report before we release it anyway. All I want is some hyperthentical information on proceedure.

Sarah: Slow down Miranda, five years?

Miranda: It's a bit of an odd case, but I'm not about to compromise your position. I'll give you the complete suss in a couple of weeks whatever, but there honestly is nothing anyone can do for five years.

Sarah: Most intriging, well police proceedure isn't confidential anyway. What do you want to know?

Miranda: What's likely to happen to someone who's probably slightly mad and came into the station and confessed to working against his employer, compromising a very large project and all those who are involved in it, perhaps putting their lives in jepordy.

Sarah: Obviously since they've come to us there's no question of high security, restricting their freedom in one of the special villages would probably be reasonable, just so we know where they are really. A carer, like me, would be put in charge of them right from the outset and would manage their progress and basically be their representitive within the policing system.

Miranda: OK.

Sarah: Putting a 'very large' project in jepardy and other employees. We'd have to find out as much as poss about the crime and what can be done to reverse it. This could require alot of time with the carer and with specialists in the area.

Miranda: That's OK there's not much that can be done there.

Sarah: Sounds serious. You sure we shouldn't know.

Miranda: It's not that bad. What then?

Sarah: Then they'll just be councilled, educated etc. at their own rate under instruction of the carer. Until they're ready to actively contribute to society. Sometimes takes a month, sometimes they never get better and spend the rest of their life, if you can call it that, inside. We've got to provide the best life both for them, and society in general.

Miranda: What's average for someone who's slightly mad.

Sarah: Several years, ten plus often. The problem is that there isn't any reason to appeal to, and you find yourself going around in circles.

Miranda: Ah, yeah. How did you become a carer then?

Sarah: Well, there's a three year training course. As long as you get onto it alright and do well at it, then you should get a client straight away.

Miranda: What qualifications do you need?

Sarah (pause): You're almost over qualified. I'd put a good word in for you too.

Miranda (stumbling verbally): I er, it's not ...

Sarah (interrupting): It's alright, I'm trained remember. We could really do with more like you, think about it seriously.

Miranda: OK, thanks. Thanks alot.

Sarah: No trouble. Do call me in a couple of weeks though, I'm trusting you here.

Miranda: Yeah thanks, I appreciate it. Speak to you soon. I won't let you down.

Sarah: I know.

Together: Bye.

Miranda stays sat alone thinking: What d'you reckon? Do I really care about journalism that much? Do I really need to be famous? Other people can do all that. Not everyone can be in the Police. To care for people directly. If you were famous you wouldn't be able to do it well anyway. Would James be better off with someone he didn't know? (Pause) Lots of people are carers for just one person, full time for their husbands and mothers. I could just be a little like that.

You've always admired people who've sat down and made hard decisions to or not to completely change their life. It's your turn now. Take the rest of the day off and just stay on a bus, see where it takes you, and think.
 

L/P 2 Zero speed
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Dream. All based around an empty Newcy Brown bottle with a pink carnation in it. Make it as disjointed as you like, with whatever else you like in it. But keep either returning to the bottle and flower (pub name?) or make it central to the dream. Make it as long/short and as meaningful/otherwise as you like, you've got a free hand.

James is awoken by a pleasant sounding alarm. He comes round sat in a loungey sort of area. It's very clean and tidy. He looks up at the screen in front of him.

Puter (writes): Progen will be travelling at zero mph in five minutes.

James thinks: Well, zero relative speed eh? For the first time in almost three years, for each second that passes, exactly one second passes on Earth too. I'm half way there, I'm now heading home. Mind you, I'm the furthest away from Earth that I'll ever be. Everyone I know and love are so remote. Miranda's reply to my letter'll be hurtling somewhere through the sky to me now. I wonder how she's taken it. She might be married with three kids by now for all I know! She might have felt relieved that you went. That's right James, try and convince yourself that you didn't really make that heartless and stupid decision. Oh get real James, do you really think she can't cope perfectly well without you, you arrogant git. Whatever, it's still a good exclusive for her, should up her already high standing in the journalistic community. A meteorite might have struck Earth and rendered the human race extinct. Miranda might have died in a freak accident.

Maybe now's an apt time for you to ask yourself the same question. Half the way home, a third of your four and a half year solo journey complete: how have you taken it James? Keeping yourself occupied? Well, there's quite a lot to do, you know growing and making food. I was so worried at the start that the food wouldn't grow that I made far too much. I've learnt alot about agriculture since then. I've got a much smaller surplus under control now. Still get up early to try and stop becoming an idle bum, and/or going mad. I really got into art and biology. They're two subjects that never really appealed much when I was younger, but now there's just so much interesting stuff to learn about them. Like, you know all those songs I used to listen to. Most of them are really saying something. I don't know how it used to pass over me cos it seems so obvious now. I just used to like the sound of the music and the sound of the voices. What a pleb. I was going to learn French too. That's something that's seriously lacking from my knowledge, but I've sort of lost interest in all that at the moment. It all seems a bit naff and common place. Maybe it's just a phase, maybe I ODed on it. There was one day a couple of months ago when everything seemed wank and I couldn't be bothered about anything. But that was just a day, and this has been going on for nearly a week. First sign of madness?

I keep asking myself continually if I'm going mad. It's almost like I'm obsessive about it, and looking for madness is itself the first signs of it. I try to stop looking for it and to try and act natually, but you just can't, you keep on checking.

James is playing with a peice of paper throughtout his thoughts. He eventully gets a pen and writes 'Chair' on it. He folds and tears the paper, and places the word on the arm of the chair he's sitting in.

James thinks: There, (laughs out loud) I can't be mad. (Chuckle.) I can still see and act on the multileveled wit of labeling the chair. I could make an instellation out of this place. Ace! That'll keep me busy and stop me going mad. Yeah, and I'll grow some carnations too.
 

K/O-b 1 End of David's night out
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David and a couple of friends are in a bus. They're all in their late teens/early twenties like.

David: I think we're slowing down for me now. OK then. Who's giving the sermon d'you know?

David's friend 1: Rev. Parsons from Haslingfield.

David's friend 2: Oh, God. He really goes on doesn't he.

All three of them get up together and David gives both of them big hugs.

David: Yeah, he does doesn't he. Ugh, see ya tommorrow.

David's friend 2: Ugh (simultainously natch.) Have a good one.

David's friend 1: Ugh

David: Ugh, see ya tommorow.

David's friend 2: Yeah, stay fresh.

David walks to the door and it opens for him. He steps out onto the wide pavement and starts to walk up a road perpendicular to the way the bus is travelling. The door closes behind him and then starts accellerating away (the bus like not the door - natch.) As it maglevs past the end of David's road he turns round and waves to his mates.

Follow David walking up his road for a fair way (you don't need to waste too many frames but you could do if you like, like.) Maybe make him make a v poor attempt at singing along to some fictitious sounds. He walks a reasonable distance, say 100 yardsesque before he passes a dark walkway on the left (Oh no, something's going to happen.) He turns to the door at the bottom of a small group of flats and talks to a screen.

The door opens and he walks up some stairs to the first floor, and along the corridor past a couple of doors.

David: Jesus Christ the Lord: there's a street light not working down the road, tell them would you. Oh, and catch the door eh?

The door clicks and David uses the handle to push the door open. Finish with a frame with the door open at about 60 degrees to the frame. Put an eye in the darkness at about, well at about eye level behind the door at the hinge, not so as you'd notice, not if you weren't looking for it.
 

K/O-b 2 Break in
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This geezer's dressed in warm old dirty clothes. He's just walking slowly down a residential road looking dead dodgie, checking for lights and windows left open. You could zoom in on a window that's ajar (what a poor, poor joke), but with lights on behind the curtain, maybe even shadows. Anyroad up, there's a little path off the side of the street which is pretty dark. Which, after checking to see if anyone's around, he darts into. The path leads through to the next parallel road, but about halfway between the two an even darker path to the left runs along with accesses to the back doors of the houses on both roads. Natch our geezer is rubbing his hands at this opportunity and sets off looking at the backs of all these houses. A room on the 1st floor of a 3 story block of flats has got a small bathroom window open a fair but reachable distance away from a small balcony which has a 3' brick barbeque just under it. Oh yeah and there's no one in below this flat. Unsurprisingly Geezer walks through the archway made out of bushes that is the flats' access to the back passage. You know like when they make penguins out of the bushes, the arch is sort of like that. Geezer gets a good hand hold onto the bottom of the balcony from the top of the barberque (bless it.) The balcony has got 3 horizontal wooden rungs up the edge of it, which the boy manages to pull himself up with his hands. His feet then follow. A frame to look around. The open window is about 1'6"x8", hinges at the top and is above another fixed window that's about twice the height of the small one. Geezer, with one foot and one hand on the balcony, facing the wall can just reach the frame around the top of the fixed window with his hand, leaving the other leg dangling freely. He lets loose his grip on the balcony and swings down on the one hand. The other hand joins it shortly and he pulls his feet up onto the ledge. One hand is then free to sort the catch out, open the window, and enter head first. Have a final frame with his legs waving about trying to get in.
 

K/O -b 3 Miranda meets Fred
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Miranda is sat down at a table in a police station. The table is full (people sqeezing in?) and they're all talking and drinking tea etc. The rest of them are all wearing uniform, but Miranda is dressed normally (nothing too outrageous) as is the person sat next to her who stays behind later. A PC comes through one of the doors and walks up to the table and they all seem to pay some attention to him, but background conversation carries on.

PC: Ah, you must be Miranda. I'm Bill.

Miranda: Hello Bill.

Bill: Hi, I suppose you know more about what's going down toinght than I do. They given you the suss?

Miranda: Yeah.

PC: We told her a load of rubbish. She won't have a clue what's going on when something happens!

Bill (smerking): How much training do you have to do these days?

Miranda: Oh I started about three years ago. But we've had loads of practice. I'm really looking forward to it.

Bill: Good. Don't get too excited though, it can be days before anyone needs help. You might get something tonight, but don't exptect to. Mind you, our last new social officer got one in the first couple of hours.

Miranda: Yeah, they were telling me.

<Bing bong bing bong> or some such sound effect coming from a screen on the table or wall or something. Half of them start to stand up and get their coats.

Bill: Well that's quite quick. It's just a warning that the phone has rung, but most of them need some action.

Miranda (in the throws of putting her coat on): Yeah.

<OK Assult at 76 Waterloo Road, White Male about 20>

Bill: Good luck.

Miranda: Cheers.

Girl sat next to her: Good luck.

Miranda: Thanks. See ya.

Some of the PCs troop out into about four cars. Miranda gets into one with two others. They are all talking to the screens and looking around.

PC1: OK, we're heading straight there down the IDR.

The screen has a map of the area, which he zooms in by touching the screen. The four cars are marked on the maps, and a row of the officers' faces (including Miranda) participating appear along the bottoms of the screens.

PC2: How long ago did it happen max?

Screen: 5 minutes max.

PC2: Give me a circle with a mile and a half radius. OK Miranda? Ready?

Miranda has been staring at her screen looking at details about the location and nature of the incident.

Mirnada: Ready.

PC2: Good luck.

Change to a home scene with a family sat around the tele watching 'Kinkie Queenie.'

The same actor as played Richard before dressed however you like: If you ask me you're just a fat git.

Then Miranda appears on the screen.

Miranda: Sorry to interrupt you, this is the police. There has been an assult on a man in his first story flat at 76 Waterloo Road. The attacker was a man aged about twenty who looks as if he was disturbed whilst breaking in. He gained access and probably left from the back of the flats. Do not approach this man, but a quick look out of your window would be appreciated. Thanks.

All members of the household spring to life some look out the back and we follow some kid to the front window. (S)he pulls the curtain wide open and already several curtains are drawn on the other side of the road with various people looking out of their windows. Then loads more curtains open and a dark figure (our man) darts down the path seeing all the lights flashing on as all and sundry want to get a look at some real action - something that is a tad lacking in this society (it works too bloody well!) The light from our window lights up the garden in front of us , but next door's garden is dark. The boy wonder makes a dead impressive dive over the wall into the unlit garden and under a bushy tree with its trunk just inside the garden, but hanging over the path. Our little kid being slightly bright acts dead cool.

Kid: Mum. Don't come over and look, just get the police on the dog and tell them that he's hiding in the Gizzard's front garden.

Back to Miranda in the car.

PC2: Well done, that's the hardest bit. The rest is all plain sailing from here.

One of the people on the row of faces starts talking.

Tom: Reports coming in of someone running down Elgar Road.

PC1: Right everyone converge.

Tom: Someone checkout the front garden of 41 Alpine Street.

One of the faces : We're closest, ETA 30 seconds.

PC1: You're half a minute ahead of the rest of us. Try and force him towards Southampton Street. Two of us are coming that way.

Couple of frames of the map with cars, sightings, and 41 Alpine St. marked. Two faces leave the row of faces on everyone's screens when the car reaches Alpine St.. A couple of frames of maps (each PC has a transmitter on him.) People at windows. Excitement and anticipation on Miranda's face. Her car suddenly comes to a halt. (NB. all previously travelling vehicles are now stopped at the side of the roads.) They all get out of the car and run about 5 houses worth before the target house. The other car is parked about 2 doors the other side and another car stops very shortly behind Miranda's. Miranda allows the 2 PC's behind to pass her. Miranda is the seventh officer through the gate of the house. It is taking four of them to control our man on the floor and one of the others has steped back and is holding his arm, he was one of the first to get there and has been injured.

The other PC (not involved or injured) to Miranda: I'd wait until we've got him in the van.

Miranda: OK.

A PC: We've been given info that suggests you've just assultad someone and we're going to take you to the police station to speak to you. Look, we don't want to hurt you, but you're coming with us whether you walk there or the four of us each grab a limb and drag you down. Our man stops struggling for a second, turns and faces the officer, stares at him for a frame, and then gobs at him right on the cheek.

A PC (leaving his cheek): Come on then. Lets get him into the van. (Which has just arrived.)

The trip to the van involves kicking in the bollocks and spitting. Draw it out as you like.

The man is sat down in the van flanked by PCs with another one opposite and Miranda next to him. The van heads off back to the Station.

Miranda: Hello, I'm Miranda, I'm going to be your social officer. Basically what that means is that you'll see me almost every day. I'm on your side.

Our man just stares straight at her spitefully.

Miranada: We're going down to the station now. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to, but if you don't then you can't get anything you specifically want. We will try to accomodate you as far as we can. After all we have just dragged you forcibly out of freedom. It's the least we can do isn't it. (Said with a smile trying to lighten the occasion.) If you need any medication, or if you're addicted to any drugs then you'd better tell us so we can get you some.

He stares comtemptibly for a couple of frames and then spits at her. She just closes her eyes before it hits one of them.

Miranda (Wiping her eye): You can do that as often as you want, but you can't get rid of me. I'm going to help you even if we're both eighty by the time you accept it.

Two more frames of staring with the whole scene ending with a greenie.
 
 

Miranda is sat in a fairly bare looking room. It has a toilet, shower, sink and a mirror, toothbrush etc. A bed with a 'quite nice actually' duvet, and a couple of screens around the place. One next to the bed and one fixed to the desk (oh and a seat too.) Miranda is sat at the end of the bed away from the door. The man is brought in with two PCs.

Miranda: Hello.

Nothing.: Take a seat.

He stays standing just moves away from the pigs further into the room.

Miranda: Just a quick word about the room before bed. Well, these two don't get to go to bed, but we do (smiling into the face of contempt.) Right, This is quite a nice room really, there's not much here and it's certainly not home, but it'll do for a couple of days. Thing is, if you trash the joint, obviously we're not going to do it all up for you for tommorrow night. If you deliberately damage it then you'll be taken out and put into an almost completely bare room. If your trying to upset me then trashing the room would be a good way because I really hate to see people living in those conditions. Now I know your pretty gutted being here, but the food's good and I'll try to get your stay here to be as short as poss. OK, the screens haven't got the normal preveledges, but you can still get them to do almost anything all at our cost. Just push one of those buttons and it'll give you instructions from there. You will be monitored, people will be watching you all night. I'm sorry about that but I can't swing privicy for you quite yet. But that'll be one of the first things I'll try to get done for you.

Right then. Any Questions?

He turns away.

Miranda: I thought not. Right, try and get some sleep if you can. I'll come in and see you at say ten? I think we both deserve a bit of a lie in don't we. Oh, and if you want anything just tell the screen or shout out, the people watching you will sort it for you, food, drinks, games, softer pillows. See you then.

Blank face.
 

K/O-b 4 Start of councilling
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Miranda is sat in a small interview room. When he is brought in by a bloke in uniform.

Miranda: Hello.

He looks at her and sits down. The bloke sits down behind him.

Miranda: Have you told anyone your name yet?

From looking away from her he slowly turns and looks straight at her and then away again.

PC: No, you haven't said anything really have you.

Miranda: OK. Well I can't call you ' Him' and 'You' so I'll call you Fred. When you've had enough of Fred then just tell me your real name and we'll sort it. Anyway, I quite like the name Fred.

Right then, I'd best start by expaining why we've locked you up, and what we intend doing. Last night a young man was killed by a hit on the head. Other parts of the police have good reason to believe that you had something to do with it. From our society's point of view, we can't have someone going around hurting and even killing fellow members of society. Quite irrespective of whether you killed this bloke, we're going to keep you here under force until such time as we believe that we can return you to become an alternative, or introduce you to our society with minimal risk of you harming yourself or anyone else.

Now there will be a look into the killing along with all the red tape associated with it, but only when I think you're ready for it.

How long will it all take? How long will it be before we let you free? Well that really depends, some people try to deceive us and make out they've made lots of progress by just agreeing with us all the time so they can get out quickly. That is really quite easy to spot and although we have been fooled on a few notable occasions, it generally adds six months to a year onto your time here. On the whole alternatives probably like yourself spend anything from one to three years with us, but if you've made no progress after three years then you've got to stay here until you have, however long that takes. Before you're completely released though you'll be spending an increasing amount of time outside on the run up to release. Generally getting back into everything gradually.

Right then, I'm Miranda and I'll be one of the most important people for you during your time here. I'll see you most days. I'm the person that ultimately gets you released. Jim behind you is a nice guy, although I'd often rather he weren't here, because it's much harder for us to have a decent conversation with someone else around. But he's really here for my safety. I'm sure you can understand that alot of people who find themselves in your situation with their freedom taken from them are very upset, and often attack their carer (me), but he should go before too long. Anything that is said within these walls will go no further. Anything you tell me is strictly confidential, you can tell me you've slaugtered the royal family and I'll tell no one, Jim likewise. Jim has no contact with anyone on the case - I'm your only representative and I'll only mention things you want mentioned.

Now we've got a vast amount of facilities here for you to be taught absolutely any vocation you want, play sport etc. etc. It may surprise you to know that 83% of the people that come here, once they've got over the initial shock, consider this to be the turning point of their lives. It is the perfect place to get a good education, and believe it or not, some of it's even fun. If only everyone had these opportunities... What we're going to do is to help you address the problems you have so that you can go out and live with everyone else in the world without any risk of hurting them.

Did you understand all that?

I see you used your screen last night. We don't monitor exactly what you ask it, but some little bits of info give us a good idea of how you're getting on.

Fred: You just go out and take people straight off the street and say 'I'm going to bang you up for five years and make me the same as all of you (pointing at the two of them). Why do you think that everyone should fit in, just the way you want them to. You all just make me want to ram my fingers down the back of my throat. So superiour with your hairdressers and pretend wood fires. I takes two of you to even have a chat with me, that's civilized is it?

Miranda: I don't want you to fit into a mould, I just want to be sure you won't injure yourself or anyone else.

Fred: Well thanks for the concern, you must feel really big 'helping' poor little alternatives out. You're all just so sad all walking through life and 'not injuring yourselves.' So what if I don't change eh? You keep me in until my dying day. I'll bet you'll be dead proud then. I kept that horrible man off our streets. Just think of all those people he'd of injured.

Miranda thinking whilst Fred's talking: Nice move Miranda, are you trying to start a fight or council someone? Calm down. He's not an ungrateful git, he just needs help.

Miranda: Do you like being an alternative?

Fred: You're the bloody alternative, I'm normal. But there's no way you'd ever understand that.

Miranda: How do we stop you doing what you'd like to do?

Fred: WHAT! Walking down the street being bundled into a van and in clink for five of my best years? Can I swap you for someone with a bit up top?

Miranda: No, I'm sorry you're gong to have to put up with me I'm afraid.

Fred: Great!

Miranda: What would you rather be doing now then.

Fred: Getting off my face with Dog and Git, and then going out on the rampage. Trashing your house. Get you back for this.

Miranda: Tell me about Dog and Git then.

Fred stares at Miranda slowly shaking his head
 

K/O-b 5 Fred opens up
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Miranda is walking down a corridor at the prison on her way to see Fred. The rep for society sees her walking past her room and dashes out.

Rep: Miranda!

Miranda turns around.

Miranda: Hiya, how's tricks?

Rep: Oh pretty good, you know. We've not had a disagreement with you boys for ages, it's excellent.

Miranda: Yeah, you're right there. If you don't watch it you'll be out of a job soon!

Rep: Oh, yeah? Why don't you suggest a release for Fred then? Should stir up my cronies.

Miranda: I'd love to, but I don't think he's really up to it yet. Could be two or three years.

Rep: Yeah? Can you go to court with him yet?

Miranda: No, not yet. He still hasn't started talking again yet. He's going to crack really soon though. Yesterday he came so close after about 40 minutes. He really wanted to speak. We spent 20 minutes of desparate sympathy for eachother. It was really exhilarating.

Rep: It must be impossible to suddenly start speaking after 40 minutes of not speaking.

Miranda: Well that's what it is, they often resign themselves to speaking right from the start of the next one, psyc themselves up for it. So hopefully today or tommorrow.

Rep: Great.

Miranda: I'm not going to push him though. We shouldn't have any trouble at court. I don't think there's any doubt that he did it with all the forensic stuff. It'll be much better for him to get that behind him. Then everything'll all be settled and he can start getting some real security.

Rep: Yeah.

Miranda: Anyway, I must get off and see him. I'll come and see you in the next couple of days even if he doesn't crack.

Rep: OK. Cheers.

Miranda: See ya then.

Rep: See ya.

Rep's door closes and Miranda walks along the corridor for a way, then turns and knocks on one of the doors. She is let in by Jim. Fred is sat with his back to her

Miranda: Hello Fred.

Fred looks at her and slowly knods his head at her.

Miranda thinks: My God, he's acknowledged me. Come on make this one the biggie.

Miranda: Hello Jim.

Jim: Alright Miranda.

Miranda (to Fred): Sorry I'm a little late, someone wanted to chat. Still its (looking at her watch) only a couple of minutes isn't it.

Miranda: I'm sorry that Jim's still here Fred. I want us to be left alone as soon as possible, but they claim that there's no evidencwe that I'm not endangered by you. They're after some real evidence that you're getting on well.

Miranda thinks: That's a good enough face saver to get him speaking just to loose Jim. Smart move M.

Fred thinks: Go on, now. You'll have to sit through an hour of hell if you don't talk now.

Frame pause.

Fred: What do we talk about?

Miranda thinks: Get in!

Miranda: Well anything you want to really. Are we treating you OK? Is there anything you want?

Fred: No. Not really.

Miranda: Food OK?

Fred: Yeah, it's not that bad.

Miranda: Great. OK. Why do you think we're keeping you here?

Fred sits there blank for a frame or so. Then shrugs his shoulders: Dunno.

Miranda: Really? I've told you myself our excuse for keeping you here.

Fred: Cos I hit that bloke.

Miranda: Well, you know he died. Did you mean to kill him?

Fred: No.

Miranda: Why were you in there Fred?

Fred: Looking for food or money. Anything I can live off.

Miranda thinks: What are you doing M? Get a grip what if he's got children? They could be dying right now.

Miranda: Do you support anyone? We can get them looked after if you like, bring them in to see you. We won't do anything you don't want.

Fred: No. I live alone now.

Miranda: What about family? Is there anyone we should tell? Your parents?

Fred: No chance. They're not bothered about me.

Miranda: Why do you think that? I'm sure it's not true.

Fred: What do you know? They're bone idle pissheads. They don't do anything. I had to go out and support them before I left.

Miranda: Were they alternatives then?

Fred: Oh yeah they were alternatives. They were forced into it. They couldn't be bothered to earn any money, and just cadged off society. They both got forcefully made into alternatives by society on the same day (that's how they met), you lot of tossers eventually worked out you could do better without them. Apparently they 'gave nothing to any aspect of society' they were always proud of that. I got pissed off with having to work three times as hard as them just so they could piss about all day so I left. Haven't seen them since.
 

K/O-b 5 Attack
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Miranda is sat down in the councilling room. Fred is brought in by Jim.

Miranda: Hello Fred.

Fred: Right there?

Miranda: Thanks Jim.

Jim: That's alright Miranda. See you in about an hour then.

Miranda: Right oh then.

The door is closed.

Miranda: What d'you do yesterday then?

Fred: Same as always. Had a game of squash with one of the others I suppose.

Miranda: Yeah? You getting on alright with everyone else then?

Fred: Well, alright I suppose. They seem to spend all their time talking about women and watching porn.

Miranda: And you don't like that?

Fred: I like porn, but I'm not really bothered about the slags in them.

Miranda: They're all slags then are they?

Fred: Well what else are they then eh? Showing themselves off to everyone. Yeah, their all slags.

Miranda: I suppose you think they'll sleep with anyone too don't you: a photo session is just an excuse for sex.

Fred: Probably, they'd go for anyone. Have you never seen any?

Miranda: Oh yes, I watch quite a lot of porn.

Fred: Uh?

Miranda: Yeah, I enjoy it. It's erotic. There's nothing wrong with that. It's perfectly normal. It's more abnormal to surpress all your sexual feelings. Do you not think that women in porn might take pride in their bodies and quite like the idea of people finding them attractive?

Fred looks a bit blank.

Miranda: Alright then, I'll turn it around. If someone came up to you and said 'You've got a great body. Would you like 200 Dracs to be an extra in a film as a bloke lounging around a swimming pool?'

Frame of silence.

Fred: Well that's different.

Miranda: How?

Fred: Well, I'm not taking my clothes off for starters.

Miranda: Yeah, but you're still enjoying displaying your body off and having women acknowledge that you're a bit of a looker. It's still sexual even though you've got clothes on. Surely you'd agree that it'd be a great feeling, why stop there?

Fred then stands up looking straight at Miranda. He is between Miranda and the door.

Fred: Come on then.

Miranda thinks: Oh God.

Miranda: Now that's not what I meant Fred and you know it. (Fred walks slowly towards her with an excited smile). Just sit down and carry on the conversation. You're doing really well. FRED! (Agressively.)

Fred: I know when I'm doing really well thanks.

Miranda (now shying backwards and being defensive): Please don't Fred.

Miranda now has Fred stooping over her. She makes a violent kick at his bollocks and screams: HEL...

But Fred quickly lunges at her face with his hands. One of them grabs her behind the head, and the other muffles her mouth and almost totally stops her from getting any air through her nose too. His thigh gets the full force of Miranda's kick. Fred pulls Miranda out of her seat by her head, and forces her to the ground with him. His body is very close to hers and her kicking and thumping seem not to affect him. On the floor he rams her head into the wall which gives her a big blow. Fred now has one hand both holding her head firmly to the floor, and muffling her; his other hand is now free. He uses this hand to pull her skirt right up. They struggle for some time as he trys to force open her legs and keep them open with the weight of his body. Then he rips her knickers off and throws them to the corner. Tears are now streaming out of Miranda's eyes and her thumping seems almost half hearted now. Fred fumbles with his flies and pants for a short while before he pulls his body up hers. As he is much bigger than her, his arm is straight and holding almost all of his weight onto Miranda's face. He is using the other hand to balance himself by the side of her.

It is all extreamly painful physically to Miranda. The act is very fast and furious, and Miranda has given up all her attempts to physically overcome the enevitable. Also she is finding it extremely hard to breathe.

This is a very ugly scene and should be treated as such. Even if you're producing a porn version of it, this scene must not be erotic. Throughout the whole book, the only part that I don't want to be reinterpreted is the violence of this scene into anything other than violence.

Draw it out as you feel appropriate. After the climax, Fred stays there almost motionless for two frames. Then he draws backwards and gets up watching out for any physical attack from Miranda that might come. But she's way beyond that. Fred sorts his trousers out and leaves the room closing the door behind him without saying a word, or looking back at Miranda curled up in a ball quitely crying with her knickers strewn in the corner.

Wait several frames.

Miranda (quietly from the floor): James. James (Slightly louder). James (Still only a bit louder).

James: Yes Miranda.

Miranda: Get me a taxi for one home, to meet me out the front straight away. And cancel everything I'm doing.

James: For how long?

Miranda (helplessly): James, just do it please.

James: A car will be outside in thirty seconds for 70 pence if that's OK.

Miranda: OK get him to wait if I'm not there by then.

She slowly sits up and wipes her eyes as best she can.

Miranda: Oh God.

Then she gets up and goes to the desk and gets a tissue from her handbag and deals with the mess, leaving a piece of tissue up there. She pulls her skirt down, gets her knickers from the corner and wraps up the wet tissues in them. Then she bursts out crying again. Spend a few frames at first crying, then trying to stop and wiping her eyes.

She grasps the knickers so that they can't be seen in her hands, and leaves the room leaving the door open.
 

K/O-b 7II Shower
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The taxi pulls up outside Miranda's terrace town house. Miranda gets out and straight to her door mumbling at the screen for longer that normal. It has trouble recognising her voice which is very soft and helpless. It starts to distress her.

Miranda: James. James. Oh just this once (bursts into tears). James!

It eventually lets her in. She closes the door and then all the curtains downstairs. Then she goes upstairs and does the same. Then she goes into the bathroom, locks the door and throws her knickers into the corner. Then she takes all of her clothes off adding them one by one to the pile. Then she has a shower with the shower water mixing with the tears that are still flooding. The whole of her body is cleaned so hard it looks like she's trying to take the whole outer layer of skin off.

Next, she's got completely changed (wet hair) and opens the drawer below the cutlery draw that's full of odd and ends. There's a box of matches there. She goes to the sink that's now full of all her clothes earrings, watch and shoes, and torches them all. Spend many frames with the fire at different stages with her watching it in a trance, watching the flames and standing back. The flames get up as high as her head, when it's at its peak. When the last flame dies leaving only embers Miranda bursts again into tears. She turns the tap on using a cloth to sheild her from the heat of it and the embers fizz and steam. Every effort is made to get all the ashes down the sink, but no attempt is made to get the soot off the tiles behind the sink.
 
 

Later she's lying on her bed with red eyes but not crying. Spend some time just looking at her from different angles showing that she's thinking alot. Then out of the blue.

Miranda: James.

James: Yes Miranda.

Miranda: No visuals. Can you find one of these independent councillors for me. Don't give them any info about me.

James: OK. This is centre 33.

Frame wait.

Andrew (with a soft, caring voice): Hello, I'm Andrew.

Miranda: Hello.

Andrew: Hello. We're on an encoded line, and everything you say to me is absolutely confidential. So basically you can say what you like and it'll go no further than this phone line. We're completely independant of the police force. OK? I just like to make that clear before we get going.

Miranda: That's OK.

Andrew: What do you want to talk about then?

Miranda: I've just been raped. I was happy with the way that everything was like before and I don't want anything to change. I don't want him to have that much influence on my life. It's my life and I should choose what I do, the choice should be mine. I want nothing to change.
 

K/O-b 8 Miranda meets Fred outside
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Miranda is in the prison garden dressed down as she is for the whole of the rest of the book. She has shades on and although her hair isn't in a complete state, it isn't exactly well groomed.

Fred is let out into the garden by Jim who then stands on the outside of the door watching for the rest of the time Fred's out.

Spend a couple of frames with Fred approaching Miranda, and then a couple with them standing side by side in silence. Miranda then starts walking and Fred walks alongside her. They continue looking forward and making no eye contact, just walking side by side looking into space.

Miranda: Why.

Miranda: Why did you do it? I just don't understand.

Miranda: Did you want to get rid of me?

Miranda: Well it doesn't work like that. I told you the first time I met you that I'm going to see you every day you're here, and I'm going to.

Miranda: I know you're used to just leaving problems as soon as they arise, but you can't do that any more.

Miranda: I'm going to stay with you whatever happens.

Spend three frames with them just walking and with Fred's eyes getting redder and redder. He starts snivelling, which gradually turns into fully blown bawling.

Miranda thinks: Got you you bastard.

Miranda stops walking.

Miranda: That's enough punishment from me, you can do the rest yourself. You've got alot of thinking to do. I'll see you tommorrow.

Miranda then walks off towards Jim.

Fred: Miranda

She turns around and they look at eachother for the first time.

Fred: I want to join society.

Miranda: OK. I'll get Jim to leave you out here until you want to go back in.

She then walks off and Fred watches her.
 
 

There's now a large gap in time. Make everyone look a bit different, maybe even start a new page.
 

K/O-b 9 PE
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Fred and Miranda are outside in the cold and wet with Geoff, another inmate, and his councillor. All four of them start off just running between two points to start off. There's lots of avoiding hitting eachother as they turn around 'n that. Giggling all round.

Miranda takes Fred off it after a bit

Miranda: Right. You're going to have to trust me for this part. We're going to walk around for a bit, and then walk straight along that walkway (3' wide with a fifteen foot drop either side). You can't open your eyes. Well you can, but you'll loose the whole point of the exercise. OK?

Fred: Yeah, yeah, you want to lead me accross that without me actually knowing that it's there. You want me to trust you.

Miranda: Who's been looking at the curriculum then eh?

Fred: Well, you know!

Miranda starts off by spinning him around a couple of times. Then drags him around no place inparticular, then eventually over the 'cravass path'.

Miranda: Well done. That wasn't too bad now was it?

Fred looks a little blank, but Miranda's enthusiasm makes him feel a tad proud. (A pretty bloody small tad mind!)

Miranda: Right. Now it's your turn to lead, but you're going to lead Geoff.

Fred: Oh right. Should be a laugh.

Oh, by the way Fred and Geoff obviously get on fairly well. Geoff comes up to Fred with his councillor dragging behind.

Geoff: have you heard what they're setting me up for?

Fred: Me too mate, me too.

Geoff: Oh yeah. Except you know where you're going though.

Fred: Sounds like a laugh to me like. He, He.

Geoff: Ha, Ha. Well it would do. Come on then, let's impress them by getting on with it without them.

Fred: Should earn us some Brownie points eh?

Fred then leads Geoff around and about for some time making him change directions frequently. Then he indulges in a straight bit just like the walkway but just over normal flat grass. Suddenly Fred violently pulls his hands from Geoff's grip and leaves him stood there with his eyes closed for a second. Then Fred barges him from the side forcing him over onto the floor. Geoff of course opens his eyes immediately whilst letting out a loud scream as he thinks he's about to drop fifteen foot.

Fred then stands there looking at Geoff on the deck miles away from the walkway, in a state of shock, whilst Fred's wetting himself. Miranda runs up to them.

Miranda: What the fucking hell did you do that for? Huh? What was this exercise supposed to do eh?

Fred shruggs his shoulders ashamedly.

Miranda: You told me. Trust. Trust! Can you think of any experience that is more likely to stop someone trusting anyone than having someone put the shits up you in a fucking trust excercise? Well?

Fred: Girlfriend tapping off with someone else?

Miranda: Oh very quick. You just don't understand do you? Why don't you use your screen a bit more.

Miranda calms dow a tad. Frame of her composing herself.

Miranda: I'm sorry, I know how important it is to have a laugh with your mates. Often that's the real enjoyment of having close mates when you can take the mick out of eachother. But a relationship built only of taking the piss is very shallow. When one of you needs the other, that's when you really become good mates. Would you open your eyes if he took you for a spin now?

Fred shrugs.

Miranda: Oh get real. You'd be opening your eyes all over the shop. You'd expect the same treatment that you gave him. If you'd taken him around carefully you'd expect him to do likewise, and he would. You're bright enough to see psycology at work. Some day you're going to have to face the facts that you know are true already. You've got to do it some day, and you should start thinking about it tonight. Today should be a landmark for you, you're going to have to start acting responsibly.

Fred: Sorry. Just a second.

Fred walks up to Geoff who's now talking with his councillor.

Fred: Excuse me. Look Geoff, I'm sorry about that. I should have been a bit more sensible. Do you want to lead me now?

Geoff: Why don't you make ammense for Miranda, show her.

Fred now leads Geoff off. Miranda looks over to Geoff's councillor with a smile.
 

K/O-b 10 Religion
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Miranda is sat alone in the councilling room.

Miranda thinks: Do you really want to go through with this religion session? I mean, you're sort of playing God a bit yourself here aren't you? You rejected religion youself, by introducing it to Fred do you not think that that's a tad patronizing to both him and the rest of humanity. You arrogant git. No, I've have the chance to make a decision, and he deserves the right to the same decision with the arguements put forward articulately rather than shouted at him by some freako in sandles with a megaphone in town on Saturday. If he became truely religious it would give him purpose in life and would incidentally make my job a hell of a lot easier.

<Knock, knock>

Miranda thinks: It's cool.

Miranda: Come in! Hi Fred.

Fred: Wotcha.

Miranda: How you been?

Fred (chuckling a bit): same as usual you know. Still playing Death Lock most the time.

Miranda: Good. It's bangin in't it?

Fred: Yeah.

Miranda: Right then. This might shock you, but bear with me for the minute. I want you to meet with Mrs Patel, David's mother. No, no it's alright, she's not going to knife you or anything like that. She's had it quite bad herself, you know. Anyway her councilling has come to the stage where she would gain alot from meeting you. But it works both ways, she gets to find out about the circumstances that caused her son's death, and you find out what an impact your actions have had on other people. Meetings like this are always very tense to start off with, but you'll agree afterwards that it's of significant benifit to you.

Fred: I don't think I will.

Miranda: Come on Fred, I know you better than that, you're just afraid of meeting her, who wouldn't be? I think you'll even enjoy it.

Fred: Do I get much say in the matter?

Miranda: Of course, if you stick your foot down and say you won't go, us forcing you to won't do either of you any good at all. You will go though won't you?

Fred: I'd best hadn't I.

Miranda: Good. Right then. Mrs Patel has one paricular interest, the church. She basically orientates her life around it. So I thought we should have a session on religion in general. Out with the classical start to conversations handbook and it says:"What happens to us when we die?"

Fred: Is that a question? We float up into the clouds and look down on everyone and make things happen.

Miranda: Like what?

Fred: Like making people meet, or kick a ball or anything.

Miranda: I see. Is that if you're good or if your bad?

Fred (pause for thought): If you're good. If your bad you have to work for all the people making the decisions.

Miranda: Ah. Do you know if anyone alse thinks the same as you?

Fred: Don't know. Haven't really thought about it.

Miranda: How do you know that that's what happens?

Fred: Err. I don't know, I just know.

Miranda: Have you ever heard of God.

Fred: Oh yeah.

Miranda: Well Mrs Patel believes that he makes all those sort of decisions you mentioned. I'll tell you a little of the history about it. People used to think that God was an all powerful huge ghost sort of a bloke with a big white beard. He created the universe, and passed an ultimate judgement on you when you die as to whether you've behaved good or badly. There were various interpretations of what God wanted us humans to do and how to act. These were generally one person's interpretation followed by huge numbers of people. The original person's interpretations were invariably very radical at the time and also very reasonable social guidelines for people to follow. It was the followers' misinterpretations of these guidelines that caused all those problems that we hear about these days. Anyway God's 'message' was always kept reasonably up to date and in line with current thinking.

The religion that Mrs Patel believes in is now very widespead and by far the largest religion. In fact their beliefs aren't too different from what you believe in. Basically, when you die your soul goes up to heaven. Your soul is what makes you you and stops you just being a lump of meat. Yeah?

Fred: Uh? Like why I 'feel' alive, but I can't 'feel' that you're alive, you could just be a machine.

Miranda: Exactly. Excellent.

Fred: God yeah, excellent.

Miranda: I suppose heaven's just like your cloud but it sort of exists everywhere - in these shoes, Mars, a glass of water, everything. It's part of the fabric of space. God is just the culmination of all these souls, not a particular person, but everyone. People sometimes say that God is the son of man, what is left when man has gone. All those little decisions you were talking about, God makes all of them - it's called divine reduction of wave packets. That's really interesting physics, you can look into that yourself when you've got a spare minute.

Fred: How did the universe start then? No one was alive then, so no one could have died to get cracking on God.

Miranda: I'm afraid that's covered too. You thought you had me there didn't you. Right oh, again this ace physics: you've heard of black holes?

Fred: Yup, they're so dense that not even light can come out of them.

Miranda: God, you know your stuff don't you. Well it's so dense that our normal laws of space and time don't work in them. It's completely unknown and there's no way anyone can ever know. There was a similar circumstance at the start of the Universe.

The big bang is completely analogous. So what is supposed to happen is that all the matter (energy) that is collected by a black hole over an infinitly long amount of time is released over different dimensions in an infinitely short space of time. So that the whole of this universe is infact a black hole within another universe, and all the black holes in this universe contain a whole universe each of them.

Fred: They can't have started yet though because they don't know what's going to fall into the black hole.

Miranda: Nice try, but these universes use different dimensions, not x, y, z and ct. It's very technical but in their time scale, the whole duration of our universe effectively occurs instantainously at the big bang. Now I don't know what current theological thinking is about the start of the first universe, I think it's a bit of a grey area.

Fred (let down a bit): Oh.

Miranda: I'll tell you what though, screens are there for things like this. Lets call it a day now and you nick off and find out what you can and tell me what you find out later.

Fred (standing up): Ace.

Miranda: OK. Bye then.

Fred: Bye Miranda!
 

K/O-b 11 Meeting Mrs Patel
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Fairly large interview room. Miranda and Fred enter.

Miranda: Hello Jane, this is Fred.

Jane: Hello Fred, this is Mrs Patel.

Fred: Err, Hello Mrs Patel.

Mrs Patel (offering her hand to Fred): Hello.

Fred looks at Miranda. Miranda nods back. Fred shakes Mrs Patel's hand and they give eachother a wet fish handshake.

Fred: Hello.

Jane: Lets sit down.

Fred watches at Miranda as she sits and then does likewise.

Jane: Right then Fred, why do you think that we've arranged this meeting?

Fred (looking towards Miranda for support): Well Miranda says that it will help both of us.

Jane: In what way?

Fred: It helps me by seeing the trouble I've caused.

Jane: and Mrs Patel?

Fred: Well, when something really big happens - like what did, it disturbs the victims for really long after it. Because they loose all their trust of other people.

Jane nods encouragingly

Fred: Meeting ..., well meeting me and seeing I'm quite nice really helps Mrs Patel start trusting everyone.

Jane: Well done. Miranda's taught you well hasn't she. Do you think that all this theory is going to work?

Fred (looking a bit uneasy): Not really.

Jane: Well we'll see. Mrs Patel, do you think it's going to work?

Mrs Patel: It might do, we'll see.

Jane: What was your life like before and after David's death?

Mrs Patel (to Miranda): Well my husband died when David was about seven, so he never really knew him as anything other than an infant. David used to love going to church, his friends came from there. The best time of the week was the walk to church. We used to leave ages to get there and just used to chat all the way there. Even when he moved up the road we still went off to church together. He had tea with me most weekday evenings. It was great.

When he died. When he died, the church seemed really empty. All our friends there, but not David. I got invited round people's alot to start off with. I still do I suppose, but they all only really invite me round because they feel sorry for me.

Jane: OK, Fred? Can you do the same, tell us what your life was like before and after the incident.

Fred: I was an alternative. On my own just travelling around the country. Getting food where I could 'n that. I didn't really know what you lot were all about, but it was always easy to get food off you.

Miranda: Stealing.

Fred: Yeah, stealing what I could really.

Jane: Did you go around with a group of friends:

Fred: Not really, I used to go around with my parents when I was young. They hated society, and everyone really I think. But then I left them when they really pissed me off once, and I haven't seen them since.

Jane: How long ago was that?

Fred: About five years now, but I've been here alot of that.

Jane: And what about now?

Fred: Well I really hated it to start off with, everyone was really horrible. Except Miranda. Then I upset Miranda. (Frame pause.) I thought I'd sort of make up for it by cooperating a bit, but I suppose I wanted to really.

Jane: and you're getting on well now?

Fred: Oh yeah, I think we are (smiling at Miranda), hopefully making progress.

Miranda: He's quite good really.

Jane: Good. OK Mrs Patel, It's a real trama meeting for the first time. You must have had some idea of what Fred'd be like. Is he what you expected?

Mrs Patel: Not really. I didn't expect him to talk so well.

Fred: Well my parents both came from posh families.

Mrs Patel: You'll have to forgive me, but I expected you to be aggressive, but you seem quite friendly. I thought you'd ...
 

K/O-b 12 Miranda and Fred on Gensim
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Miranda has taken Fred for a holiday on Gensim. Fred is sat in his room watching a bit of tele with the door open. Miranda appears at the door.

Miranda: Knock, knock.

Fred (dead pleased to see her): Hiya!

Miranda (walking in): What you watching?

Fred: Oh just some sad love film rubbish. There isn't really much on.

Miranda: What about Kinky Queenie? That's on now isn't it?

Fred: I don't like that much really. It's not as funny as people make out.

Miranda: Oh. I quite like it.

Fred: Do you want to watch it?

Miranda: Nah, I've come round for a long overdue chat really.

Fred: Oh dear, that sounds omenous.

Miranda: Well. How d'you think you're getting on.

Fred: Pretty good. I've made lots of progress, still a long way to go though.

Miranda: You reckon? You're going to have to face the world sometime you know.

Fred: Not yet though, I don't know how everything works. What if I go and attack someone again.

Miranda: Now come on, that's the last thing you're going to do. You're my best student so far.

They both let out a laugh.

Miranda: You understand exactly what stages you've got to go through, I'm not supposed to be here for you forever. Now you're going to start spending more time on your own, working with Georgeous (his screen) and some of your friends. I'll still be here seeing you through, but just not quite as often.

Fred: Have you got me a job aswell then?

Miranda: Well yes actually. It's one of the one's you wanted: looking after a park.

Fred: Oh right!

Miranda: Now you're not going to be going very regularly when you start, you know that. But if you get on well, you'll be surprised how soon it'll be before you get out for good

Frame silence.

Fred: You missing James?

Miranda: I'm afraid I am. It's the first time I've been away from him for a night, let alone a whole weekend since he was born.

Frame pause.

Miranda: What about Mrs Patel.

Fred: She's ace isn't she?

Miranda: Are you sure it's the best thing to do visiting her socially?

Fred: It seems odd I know, we just get on really well. You should be happy.

Miranda: Oh I am. I'm just worried that you might upset eachother after a while. There'll be nothing to stop you meeting her when you're out, so we might as well encourage it where we can keep an eye on the situation. You sure you want to do it? You don't have to just because she asked you round for tea you know.

Fred: No I really want to.

Miranda: OK. Good. I just wanted to be sure.

Frame pause.

Miranda: I made sure you got this room you know.

Fred looks at her quite puzzled actually.

Miranda: The first boyfriend I moved in with left me to go on Progen. He had this room for real.

Pause.

Miranda: I'm taking a couple of weeks off with Richard and James in a month. When I come back, I'm going to go out with the real police and get another client. I'm going to have to see alot of them, they're going to need much more attention than you do now. I'm not going to abandon you or anything, but you're going to have to do alot more on your own. You'll only really see me when I take you out to work to start off with, and once every fortnight. This weekend in Gensim is a sort of reward for the both of us for getting this far.

You've been a good student you know, very rewarding from my point of view. All that fuss you made to start off with. I knew you'd work out OK in the end when you didn't trash the room on the first night. Showed me that you were reasonable.

Come on it's not that bad. It's not as if you'll never see me again.

Right then, I'll just have a quick wash before tea, I'll be back down in a couple of minutes. Come on then give me a hug before I go.

They both stand up and embrace.

Fred (very quietly through his snuffling): Sorry.

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