INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - 1930 - NIGHT 44 44

Small, intimate, a nondescript space that has been converted into a makeshift night club, festooned with Chinese lanterns. A RAG TAG BAND play swing jazz music. Young MEN and WOMEN, a mix of East End Londoners and SEAMEN on shore leave, mainly black, throng the dance floor. Others seated at tables, drinking and chowing down noodles from steaming vats of food and eyeing the local talent. The staff are all Chinese. From her vantage point in the hall, a middle-aged CHINESE WOMAN keeps an eagle eye on the proceedings, tots up earnings in a large ledger. Discretely scattered here and there are a small number of Chinese BOUNCERS, ready to pounce at the first sign of trouble. We make our way through the crowd and find Rita (17) jiving with MARCUS (23). She laughs as he swirls her across the dance floor, lifting her high in the air. This is the first time we’ve seen her like this, so carefree and happy. It’s a raucous fun spectacle. Everyone in unison hand-claps and kicks. 34. -- 35 of 109 -- 35. The band, a mixture of black, white and asian musicians, sets the pace. Partners are swung in the air. This goes on for some time until the number comes to a crashing end and everyone applauds. Rita and Marcus step away from the dance floor, sweaty, out of breath, hand in hand. Sitting face to face, nose to nose with broad grins on their faces. Rita wipes the sweat off Marcus’s brow. Marcus grabs her hand and kisses it gently. They grin at each other as if they are the luckiest two people in the world. Marcus removes a SILVER CHAIN from around his neck and in one movement attaches it to Rita’s. Attached to it is a small pendant of Saint Christopher.