INT. FREIGHT TRAIN CARRIAGE - DAY 39 39

TOMMY

(surprising everyone) Hey! 26.

TOMMY

What’s your name?

GEORGE

George...

TOMMY

(sing-song) Georgey, Georgey, pudding and pie, kissed the girls and make them cry.

GEORGE

(sing-song) Little Tommy-Tucker sang for his supper. What shall we give him, brown bread and butter. Touché. Tommy grins.

TOMMY

These are my brothers, Archie and Ian.

ARCHIE

Do you want to see my beetle? George makes his way over to them. They shuffle aside and make room. Archie puts his hand into his pocket and retrieves a small match box. Opening it we see a live beetle.

ARCHIE

It’s name’s Gerry. Do you wanna hold it? George sticks out his hand and Archie puts it onto his palm. The beetle begins to move up his arm towards his wrist. Archie picks it up and puts it back into the matchbox.

IAN

Tommy, I’m hungry.

TOMMY

Stop whining. (at George) When we got to Wales, they were going to separate us. Put us each with a different family. That wasn’t going to happen - in our family it’s one for all and all for one. (MORE) 27.

GEORGE

I’ve got a sandwich. Ian’s eyes light up.

GEORGE

We can share it. He hands it to Tommy who unwraps the greaseproof paper and divides it up.

IAN

Strawberry jam. My favourite. Silence for a few seconds as they scoff it down.

TOMMY

(mouth full, at George) How did you get away?

GEORGE

I jumped off the train.

TOMMY

Jeepers! They regard him, impressed.

GEORGE

My mum sent me away... At the station, I told her I hated her and I didn’t even say goodbye. Tommy regards George with an empathy and intelligence greater than his years.

TOMMY

She’s your mum, she’ll forgive you. They always do.

GEORGE

(low) I just want to say sorry. The boys are quiet for a moment. Then...

ARCHIE

Do you know what happens if we get caught, George? George shakes his head. TOMMY (CONT'D) 28.

ARCHIE

I’ll tell ya. They march you to the nearest station and stick you on the next train and then they gag you and tie you to the seat with straps. They don’t give you anything to eat or anything and they hang a sign around your neck that says ‘DANGEROUS ESCAPEE’ so you can’t escape again. George takes that in.

GEORGE

What happens if you want to go to the bog?

ARCHIE

I dunno, I suppose they let you wet yourself.

GEORGE

Maybe they give you a nappy or something. They giggle.

TOMMY

Let’s play dares. They gather round.

TOMMY

Alright, rock paper scissors. First up me and George. Tommy and George shake their fists three times.

TOMMY

One, two, three. Paper wraps rock. I win! Ian and Archie next. (to George) You play the loser. One, two, three. Ian and Archie shake their wrists three times.

TOMMY

Archie, you play George. The loser has to do a dare. Alright, here we go! One, two, three. (beat) Ahhh unlucky George. Scissors cuts paper. 29.

TOMMY

(pointing at George) I dare you.. I dare you to climb up onto the roof of the train. George, not wanting to look cowardly, nods.

GEORGE

Easy. Hiding his apprehension he climbs up onto the stacks of freight and makes his way up to the hatch on the top of the carriage. It’s stiff and he struggles with it for a moment. Giving it one final shove, it swings open with a loud thud. The sound of the air funneling past fills the carriage. George pokes his head out. His cap is blown clean away. He’s petrified. He looks down at the boys who look back expectantly.

TOMMY

Go on then! Putting on a front, fearful and unsteady on his hands and feet, George crawls his way up onto the carriage rooftop. The train turns a slight bend and George looks scared as his grip loosens, he steadies himself. Sitting on the middle of the roof he finally gets his bearings, his eyes widen, he looks around at the beautiful green landscape zipping past, the country air filling his lungs. With George’s help the brothers precariously clamber out, Archie and Ian first. In all the excitement George is suddenly distracted in the moment and loses his balance. Alerted, Tommy grabs his jacket and pulls him back to safety. Relieved and exhilarated, George acknowledges Tommy with a nod. Tommy grins. There is a silent bond. The boys sit in a row on the top of the train, hands in the air waving, shouting and laughing. It’s a real feeling of freedom. We see a young girl with a sheepdog walking in a field near the train tracks. The dog barks excitedly at the sight of the four boys sitting on top of the train. The girl is alerted, not believing what she sees, she waves in wonder. The boys wave back. 30.