ARTHUR, EDNA, OLD HARRY, ETHEL, are pushing a battered piano, on a market barrow.

ARTHUR
Not far now. You all right Mum?

OLD HARRY
Course she is, aren't you mate?

ETHEL
(smiles grimly)
EXT. OUTSIDE TUBE STATION, DAY

Two or three beefy blokes help lift the piano down the stairs

ARTHUR
Careful with that Steinway. We'll have to get it tuned after all this
battering.

INT. MORRIS HOUSE DAY. NOVEMBER 1939

ARTHUR shows his Mum, ETHEL, and his Dad, OLD HARRY, a letter from the War Ministry

ARTHUR
Category C. Says I've got to do factory work. They'll train me, it says. I can
choose from one of these trades

ETHEL
Well, at least they won't be sending you miles away to get shot at.

ARTHUR
(reading)
"idiopathic scoliosis; renal malfunction" - the doc said twisted spine, so I'm
unfit for marching. And only one kidney. (does imitation of Charles Laughton as
Quasimodo)"The bells, the bells. You cannot love me because I am so ugly"

ETHEL
(laughs)
You'll be better working here, and it's all important work. We nearly lost you
once, and we don't want to lose you again.

OLD HARRY
Go for engineering, Arthur, you'll never be out of work as an engineer.

ARTHUR
You was out of work, though, wasn't you, before this lot started. Do you want
me to end up as a caretaker like you?

INT. TUBE STATION PLATFORM. DAY

The piano is now on a stage at the end of the platform. Arthur plays a few bars of
Chopin's Revolutionary Etude.

ARTHUR
Needs a tune-up. Can we get Wally?

INT. TUBE STATION PLATFORM. NIGHT

CAMERA PANS FROM WALLY TUNING THE PIANO, AROUND THE PLATFORM, EMPTY BUNK BEDS, TO
THE WELL, NOW EMPTY.

Cross-fade to tube full of people, Sound of distant bombs. Woman cheerfully selling
tea, coffee, pies, chocs from a tray. Women in the well on blankets knitting or
sewing. kids, soldiers, sailors. Pan to Arthur on the piano accompanying small girl
singing a music hall song."Lonely little petunia"

INT. DAY, MARSHALL'S FACTORY OFFICE. MARCH 1940

Mr MARSHALL looking at ARTHUR's papers.

MARSHALL
This all looks satisfactory Arthur. We've had a good record from your training
so I expect good work from you. I'll show you to your work station

They stand up and leave the office, but stop at the notice board. it's full of War
Office notices and posters, and fussy notes from Marshall.

MARSHALL
The notice board Arthur. Keep your eyes on the notices. Things change fast in
wartime. That reminds me

adds a notice saying 'Remember; procrastination is the thief of time. If it needs

doing, do it now.'

A scruffy little board with one or two old faded notices

ARTHUR
What's this one?

MARSHALL
Oh that's the women's notice board.

INT. DAY MARSHALL'S FACTORY FLOOR MARCH 1940

Music playing, but hardly audible over the factory noise. 2/3 men working at
lathes. Marshall has to shout to Arthur.

MARSHALL
You'll be working lathes 8 and 9, Arthur, and the task at the moment is to turn
these bolts.

hands Arthur a tech drawing.

MARSHALL
George here will show you where everything is.

INT. DAY MARSHALL'S FACTORY FLOOR MARCH 1940

George is a middle-aged Jewish refugee, with a sparkle in his eye.

GEORGE
It's Arthur isn't it? We met before now. (lowers voice) at a Party meeting?

ARTHUR
Wotcher George

GEORGE
 so you'll want to join the union? It's the Amagla..

ARTHUR
Amalgamated Engineering Union. Yep I'll sign up for that. George, what's this
I'm making here?

GEORGE
No idea, son. ours is not to question why, ours is just to boil and fry.

INT. DAY MARSHALL'S FACTORY CANTEEN, LUNCHTIME.

Men and women sit eating indescribable grey mush. Arthur with George.

GEORGE
(mutters)
It's shit, but very nicely cooked.

His neighbour is eating a sandwich.

GEORGE
What you got in the sandwich, Herry?

HARRY
Got ham today, George, got it from Old Ted's stall under the arches.

Shouts of 'ham'! Arthur finishes his meal, spots the piano in the corner. Looking
round first, he goes over to it, lifts the lid, and starts playing 'In the Mood'.
Workers cheer, one or two get up and go over to the piano, playing pretend double
bass, trombone etc. MARSHALL comes in, looks at his watch. Arthur stops playing.

MARSHALL
Five minutes, Arthur. Very nice, but don't let it stop production. Production
is the key to Victory.

Murmurs of 'rhubarb'.

INT. NIGHT MORRIS HOUSE. FEB 23 1943

Battle of Stalingrad Day in Britain. Newspaper headlines? Old Harry, Eileen, Ethel
Doris. Round the radio. Doris is twiddling the knob trying to get a tune out of it
'For Me and My Gal'. Very annoying.

OLD HARRY
Do us a favour Doris, pack it in. I wanna get the news.

Radio is tuned, and News from the BBC is about celebrating the victory of Soviet
forces at the Battle of Stalingrad etc etc.

ETHEL
Maybe the war might be over soon. come on the Russkies!

EILEEN
That's why we should be opening a second front. But bloomin Churchill won't do
it. Uncle Joe's doing it on his own.

OLD HARRY
Never mind Uncle Joe. He's a dictator and a murderer, got rid of all the old
Bolsheviks, including Trotsky who we can't mention nowadays, and how come he signed
a deal with Hitler, eh? No it's the Russian people doing it on their own.
 ARTHUR
All right Dad, we all know what you think.

INT. NIGHT MORRIS HOUSE. MARCH 2 1943

Ethel, Tilly, Eileen, Doris playing the violin very scratchily next door

ETHEL
Any news of your Harry, Tilly?

TILLY
Nothing for weeks. I'm really fed up with everything. No sign of spring, the
war dragging on.

ETHEL
Good film on at the fleapit. Alibi, whats her name, Margaret Lockwood. Shall we
go? Cheer you up a bit.

EILEEN
I'll come. I want to see the news reels. Doris might like it (shouts) Dol,
d'you fancy the flicks tomorrow?

DORIS,
(from next door)
lovely! What is it?

EILEEN
(shouts)
It's Alibi.
(normal)
That stopped the noise anyway.

TILLY
yeah, that'd be nice. Girls out for a night together

INT. DAY, MINISTRY OFFICE MARCH 4TH

Anonymous minister or Civil servant on the phone

MINISTER
Good God, how many? That's appalling. I would expect the minister to say no to
any information, in line with wartime regulations. Bad for morale. Absolutely no
statement.

INT. NIGHT THE MUSEUM CINEMA BETHNAL GREEN. 3 MARCH, 7PM

Newsreel shows bombing of Berlin.

EILEEN
Hope that doesn't mean Germans getting their own back.

Siren is heard. Announcement from Cinema manager

CINEMA MANAGER
ladies and Gentlemen, I'm afraid an air raid warning has been signalled. The
film will need to be cancelled. Please make your way to the exit in an orderly
fashion.
 ETHEL
Thank you Adolf. I wanted to see that film. I like Margaret Lockwood. Come on.
It'll have to be the tube. The library's all locked up, Harry wasn't expecting
this.

EILEEN
Told you didn't I?

EXT. NIGHT OUTSIDE TUBE STATION

The road is crowded as people make their way into the tube entrance and down the
stairs.

INT. TUBE TICKET HALL. NIGHT

Three wardens at the bottom of the stairs. A few people come down the stairs into
the ticket hall, then a scream, a shout, we see a head as somebody falls, then
other heads falling on top. Wardens rush to pull people out but the press is too
great. They manage to extricate a small boy.

Then a horrible silence.

EXT. NIGHT OUTSIDE TUBE STATION 3 MARCH

WE see people carrying out bodies. Dozens of people standing watching. a warden
gets them to form a ring, hand in hand, to slow down the vehicles and carts
arriving. Bodies are laid on the ground and those not moving are splashed with
water. They do not move. DORIS is carried out, semi-conscious. She revives when
spalshed with water.

DORIS,
Where's Mum? Where's Eileen?

She's put on a stretcher and then into an ambulance but struggles up and jumps out
of the ambulance

DORIS
Got to tell Dad!
She staggers away.

INT. NIGHT. THE OLD GEORGE 3 MARCH

Old Harry drinking a pint with 2 mates Jack and Sammy. A man rushes in distressed,
shouting

MAN
Accident in the tube, on the stairs, people crushed. need help

OLD HARRY
Bloody Hell. Come on

SAMMY
Sounded like bombing. That was a hell of a noise.

OLD HARRY
No, I think it's those new guns in the park. Top secret. my lad told me about
them.
They leave their beer and rush out.

EXT.EARLY MORNING. OUTSIDE TUBE STATION 4TH MARCH

Ambulances, military red cross wagons, horses and carts. Bodies loaded into
vehicles, while people watch silently or search for missing ones.

(Needs a story board)

EXT. DAY. OUTSIDE A SCHOOL

Journalist trying to address children coming out, with sweets. Offers a chocolate
bar

JOURNALIST
Would you like a chocolate? Do you know what happened in the tube?

CHILD
We ain't allowed to talk to you.

snatches the chocolate and legs it.

INT. MORRIS HOUSE DAY. 4TH MARCH

DORIS sitting on sofa, shattered. Arthur, Old Harry. Edna, sitting round her.

DORIS,
We went down the stairs together. I was holding the rail, you know the
handrail, and people started falling on top of us. I got, like, pinned to the wall,
see the mark of the handrail
(lifts her jumper to show red weal on her side)
We were all pinned, crushed, and when they got me out, I couldn't find the
others, but there were just loads of dead people, and I think they must be dead.

EDNA
Well, we got to find them. They must be at the London. Come on. all of you

OLD HARRY
I can't do it, I can't go. Can you do it? It's me nerves.

ARTHUR
We'll go, me and Ed.

DORIS,
I'm coming too

ARTHUR
No, Dol, you stay here, you've been through enough

DORIS,
I said, i'm coming too
INT. DAY . LONDON HOSPITAL, OUTSIDE MORGUE

Long line of bodies. Medic meets Arthur, Edna and Doris

MEDIC
Are you all ready?

opens door and leads them in

INT. DAY LONDON HOSPITAL MORGUE

Long line of bodies, covered with cloths. Arthur Edna and Doris are holding hands
as they walk down the line. Medic lifts cloth to show faces one by one. They shake
their heads at each one.

MEDIC
If they're not here they must be in the church, St John's church crypt.
INT. DAY ST JOHN'S CHURCH UNDERGROUND CRYPT.

This time it's an ARP warden that takes them along the line of bodies.

EDNA
it's Tilly!

They stop and stare

WARDEN
What's her full name please?

EDNA
Matilda Beaken

WARDEN
Age? oh never mind we can sort out the details later, if you don't mind. I'll
just note down number 103, Matilda Beaken
Are you alright to go on?

Arthur nods, looks at the other two. They carry on along the line. Next body

DORIS,
oh that's Mrs Thompson from the greengrocer's.

WARDEN
Thompson? I'll make a note. Do you know her first name, dear?

EDNA
I think it's Ena.

WARDEN
(writing)
Number 123, Ena Thompson. You don't have to tell me any more you know. We'll
just look for your own relatives.

Further along the line, another body

ARTHUR
Eileen. My sister

He and Doris hug

WARDEN
I'm very sorry, but is this Eileen Beaken?

DORIS,
Eileen Louise Beaken. Let's go on
FADE TO
Warden lifts cloth on a body near to the end of the line.

ARTHUR AND DORIS

(almost simultaneous)
Mum!

EDNA
It's Ethel Louise Beaken, age 54, 21 Morris House, Roman Road Bethnal Green.

WARDEN
Thank you. Number 151 (writes)....

DORIS,
There's a footprint on her face.
EXT. DAY. MANOR PARK CEMETERY

Around large grave stand Harry in uniform, Old Harry, Edna, Arthur, Doris, Stan,
Den in uniform, Lily....Three coffins are lowered into the grave. Flowers are
thrown, just a few bunches of daffodils, primroses - flowers that would be in
season. (There was a ban on flowers by rail)

INT. DAY. LABOUR PARTY ROOMS

The funeral reception, all in their funeral clothes, plus a few neighbours, kids
etc. Sandwiches, beer. Piano is still there in the corner. Edna to Harry

EDNA
176 people they think Harry. Them stairs were lethal, no rail down the middle,
no white lines. one dim little light. Too expensive to paint lines, the Council
says! Bet your life the West End tubes were better.

HARRY
Doris says Dad wouldn't go to the hospital

OLD HARRY
I couldn't do it Harry. My nerves. Anyway
(makes the speech)
LAdies and Gentlemen and comrades, Well thanks to all for turning up on such a
sad day. It's a shocking and unparalleled event and what makes it worse is not
being able to talk about it to the rest of the world. Let's hope this bloody war
will soon be over. Anyway help yourself to the comestibles. There are ham
sandwiches I believe thanks to Sammy. And beer, and lemonade made by Edna. The
beer's not rationed, thank Gawd.

A rush to get sandwiches. One child takes two only to get a slap and have to put
one back. Ed waits till last and looks at her sandwich. Spam. she laughs.

OLD HARRY
can you play something for us Arthur

ARTHUR
I couldn't Dad.

OLD HARRY
Go on, son

ARTHUR
Right This is for Mum and Eileen and Tilly
plays Tschaikovsky's 'Chanson Triste'. The room quietens fro a while, then they
carry on eating and drinking

EXT. DAY. OUTSIDE TUBE STATION

Men painting white lines on the stairs and fitting a central handrail. Edna and
Arthur walking past look at it.

EDNA
There. too little too late.
INT. NIGHT LABOUR PARTY ROOMS SPRING 1938

Banner says 'Labour League of Youth' and underneath 'Bethnal Green'. At the table
sits Stan, chairing meeting and beside him Edna, taking notes. Chairs in rows, with
20 or more young people. Meeting hasn't yet started. Den and arthur come in

DEN
Admit it Arthur, you're only here to look at Edna Haynes' legs

ARTHUR
Do me a favour Den.
INT. NIGHT LABOUR PARTY ROOMS

meeting has started.

STAN
next item is the march to protest against Chamberlain giving in to Hitler, and
the betrayal of Czechoslovakia. The slogan is "Stand by the zechs"

EDNA
It's Czechs, Stan!

STAN
Stand by the czechs. We've got a horse and cart promised, by Joe Young's Dad,
and we need ideas for a tableau. Any ideas?
FADE INTO TEN MINUTES LATER

STAN
Next item is our social, to raise money for the branch and anything over goes
to Spain. Next Friday, 6 o'clock onwards. Edna and Beryl are going to be arranging
refreshments. Anybody want to help talk to Edna.
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE, WAPPING. NIGHT

Refugees from houses around sleeping on floor. Sounds of bombs, an explosion

nearby. everybody looking very scared, woman hugs her child.

INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE, WAPPING. DAY

EILEEN
talking to woman. Other women with kids listening.

That's disgraceful. You could all be killed with one bomb! Why aren't they
giving us better shelters? Tell you what, some of us are marching to the Savoy, you
know, the posh hotel in the West End, where they've got an underground shelter for
the rich. It's Max Levitas idea, and we're going to occupy their shelter and demand
the government to open the Tubes up for shelters.

ROSIE, WITH DAUGHTER

You can put me down for that. When do we go?
 EILEEN
It's tomorrow night. Anyone else coming?

One or two shake their heads, but one woman nods

YOUNG WOMAN
I'll go! I like your hat.

Eileen's Tam o' Shanter hat

EILEEN
It's my brother's, from the Labour League of Youth!

SCENE 17. EXT. STRAND LONDON. EVENING

In the twilight a march of about 100 people. two or three banners 'Open the Tubes';
'Shelter for Workers'; 'Give us shelters'; Red flags. Air raid sirens sound, and
they start to hurry.

SCENE 18. EXT. SAVOY HOTEL ENTRANCE. EVENING

Marchers arrive at hotel entrance. Max Levitas at the door, waiting for marchers to
assemble. Eileen, with Rosie and Grace at the front. George from Marshall's is
there.

MAX
Right, in we go!

A waiter behind the door stands aside and as the marchers come in, indicates with
an inclination of his head and a wink the way to the stairs down. Marchers hurry in
with banners and flags.

SCENE 19. INT. SAVOY HOTEL BASEMENT

The basement is set out like a very posh hospital ward, with separate bays, each
one having a bed and a couch with table. Some of the wealthy residents are sitting
on couches or making their way there. Waiters serving trays of tea and sandwiches.

Marchers are heard coming downstairs, shouting slogans with a nice loud echo. Rich
residents and waiters look alarmed. Marchers enter and make themselves comfortable.

WAITER
Would you like some tea and sandwiches?

ROSIE
Oh, no thank you.

GRACE
I would

ROSIE
Say please!

GRACE
I would please

Rosie tries not to smile

SCENE 20. INT. SAVOY BASEMENT. NIGHT

Marchers have made themselves comfortable in various ways. Some residents chat with
them, others stay uncomfortably silent.
Manager or sub-manager enters, adresses Eileen.

EILEEN
You'll have to talk to Max

MANAGER
What on earth is going on? This can't be allowed. You're disturbing my guests,
and there's a very important
meeting of government ministers upstairs.

MAX
You're kidding! What, ministers? Who? Is it Morrison? Churchill? Haha. Well now
they'll know what we're
demanding. We want proper shelters for working class people, especially in the East
End. Never mind their
useless Morrison shelters and Anderson shelters. We want the Tubes opened!

MANAGER
Well you've made your point. Now I insist that you leave.

MAX
We can't, can we? There's an air raid on and we're not allowed out in the
blackout. Besides, I haven't had
my tea and sandwiches. I don't mind ham.