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Across The Universe Script
Across The Universe Script
Curtains open to reveal a blank stage with gauze as a projector screen directly behind the curtain, this should be able
to be raised and lowered. The front of the stage should be able to be projected onto also.
Act 1 Scene 1
Helter skelter is played whilst on the projector is a series of videos and images showing the context of the 1960’s.
After which the gauze is removed and we are met with a Jude’s street.
During all my loving we see Jude arrive in America and arrive at Princeton University. Max enters the
stage in a rush to somewhere.
Max: Sorry. Excuse me. Drops his books. Shit! Goddamn it. Jude helps him. Thanks, man.
Jude: Excuse me, you don’t know where I could find professor Huber, do you?
Max: No Such person, not that I’m aware of.
Jude: Professor Wesley Huber?
Max: Listen pal, I’ve pissed off every professor in Princeton … and he’s not one of them. Beat. Oh wait there’s a
Wes Huber? That’s him over there.
Max exits still rushing. Jude walks over to Wesley Huber
Jude: Can I have a word?
Wes: If you’re looking for work here, check with administration.
Jude: I got a job, thanks.
Wes: You sound like a limey.
Jude: I am, yeah.
Wes: I was stationed there during the war, had some good times.
Jude: Yeah, I know, At Rainhill, right?
Wes: How would you know that?
Jude: I … I believe I’m your son.
Wes: I don’t think so.
Jude: Me mother’s Martha feeny.
Wes: How’s you track me down?
Jude: Through army records.
We move into the janitor’s quarters.
Wes: If I would have known about you …
Jude: What? You would’ve come back, is that it? You know, she said that wouldn’t have proved that you loved
her … only that you felt obligated.
Wes: Well, it would have been better than raising a kid on her own.
Jude: Yeah, well, she wasn’t the only one in those days. You could excuse a bastard by saying his dad was killed
in the war.
Wes: Did she find someone else?
Jude: There were a few hopefuls over the years, yeah. I think I scared them off.
Wes: Listen, kid I …
Jude: It’s Jude.
Wes: Jude, I got a family. I got a wife, I got two kids …
Jude: Yeah, look. Mr Huber, I didn’t come here to derail your life you know? And I’m not here for your love or
your approval. I’m just here so that we both … both know that the other one exists.
Jude steps outside for a smoke as off stage where we see Max with his friends hitting golf balls
shouting off stage .
Voice 1: Who hits golf balls in a courtyard? You asshole, get here!
Max: go back to bed, you ain’t got nothing.
Friend 1: Yeah, they’re going back into …
Friend 2: They’re not going back to bed.
Max: No they’re not.
Friend 1: Go, go, go
They break up and run.
Max: [to Jude] you gotta hide me man?
Jude opens up the door and follows Max in.
Max: You’re the guy who was asking for the janitor, right?
Jude: Yeah.
Max: So What’re you? Like the assistant janitor?
Jude: I’m Just bunking down here, you know, temporarily.
Max: Why?
Jude: Why do you need to know?
Max: you’re wanted by the cops, huh? FBI?
Jude: You know, its like to me as though you’re the one who’s on the run.
Max: Yeah. Thanks for that, by the way.
Jude: What would they’ve done if they caught you?
Max: I don’t know. Something involving genitalia and shoe polish?
Jude: Nice.
Max: Painful. So where’s that accent from?
Jude: Same place as me. Liverpool.
Max: You got a name?
Jude: Yeah, Its Jude.
Max: Max
Jude: Pleased to meet you.
Max: Well, Jude, as a stranger to our shores, the least I can do I offer you some ivy league hospitality
Max hands Jude a hipflask
Jude: Cheers
Max: What would you do if I sang outta tune, would you stand up and walk out on me?