Episode One - BLUE AMENDS - 17/10/12
5.
Thomas slows to allow a line of men to cross the road. They are all blind, walking in single file, each with a hand on the shoulder of the man in front, the leader being led by a dog. (These are men blinded in the war, now begging for pennies). The men sing ‘Molly Malone’ as they walk and the last in line holds a begging bowl. Thomas leans down in the saddle to drop a coin into their bowl. As the line of blind men clears, two policemen walking in the opposite direction see Thomas. They both look nervous and touch their caps. POLICEMAN Good morning Mr Shelby. 1/5 The yard is a fantastic collection. It is ostensibly a scrap metal yard but there is junk and treasure of every kind. The Grand Union Canal runs through the yard and there are stables for dray horses beside the water. A bonfire burns in a corner of the yard. Thomas ignores them and urges his horse on. EXT. CHARLIE STRONG’S YARD - DAY 1 - 17:30 The flames reflect on the high walls that seclude the yard and there is a large corrugated iron gate. The gate is being hammered from outside and a settled Gypsy (a Diddicoi) named CHARLIE STRONG emerges from a small office to open the gate. He is mid-forties, hard as iron, dressed in a fine tweed suit and cap but with a large golden earring in his left ear to denote his race. He opens the gate to find Thomas standing with his black horse. No words are exchanged as Thomas enters and begins to unsaddle the horse. Charlie turns towards the bonfire and calls out. CHARLIE Curly? Get here. From the billowing smoke another Diccicoi man (CURLY) appears. His head is totally bald and he wears a dark suit (and a gold earring). He approaches at a trot and we will learn that he is, (to use the language of the time), ‘simple minded’. However, we will also learn that he has a way with horses like no one else. CHARLIE (CONT’D)
1/5
Curly, come and tell this horse he needs to get on a boat and stand still.
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