3. Characters
Grace - White British. Age 47/ Age 21
Jude - Aboriginal Australian. Age 39
Harriet - Mixed (White/Ghanaian) British. Age 40
John -White British. Age 50
Lily- White Italian. Age late 20s
4. Abridged.
It is 1944 at 3am on Hornsey Lane Bridge over Archway Road in London. Grace and Jude
are frozen in a tableau on the bridge. Grace is sitting precariously on the rim of the bridge
holding tightly with both arms to one of the wrought iron ornamented griffin lamps. Her legs
dangle over the 80ft drop. The bridge glistens with snow. It is misty.
Grace is slim, regal with blonde hair. She is wearing a fox fur which has legs, head and a
tail; a Fedora hat with a feather and a fitted trouser suit with high heels.
Jude is standing close by. He’s wearing a heavy overcoat with the collar up and a newsboy
hat. He wears a gas mask bag. His gesture alludes to backing away so not to frighten Grace.
WW2 sky searchlights intersperse, illuminating the backdrop. The characters break from
freeze once a nightingale is heard singing.
Jude: (Nervously) Well, I didn’t realise you could see St Paul’s Cathedral from here. It’s a
wondrous sight even at this time in the morning.
Grace: (Ignores him).
Jude: (Reaches into his inside coat pocket retrieves a packet of cigarettes). Would you like
one?
Grace: (She narrows her eyes. She attempts to move an arm away from the lamp Jude is
acutely aware that by moving her arm she is at a higher risk of falling)
Jude: (Calmly) its okay don’t move. I’ll put it in your mouth, please don’t move your arm.
Grace: (Removes one of her arms from the lamp to take cigarette). No. I’m fine. (Shakily)
Thank you. (Pause).
Jude: I could help you down. Just to have your cigarette?
Grace (Gently shakes head)
5. Jude: O.K. (Pause). (Whispers aside) God knows how she got up there without falling.
(Smiles at Grace).
Grace: (Big sigh, sweetly smiles).
Jude: I couldn’t sleep. I reckon I’m missing home. Snow is a bit of a novelty to me. Don’t
you just love it at this time in the morning? It can be so peaceful. The snow makes everything
look just like a Christmas cake. I’ve never spent Christmas in England before.
Grace: (Pulls fox fur from shoulder and throws it).
Pause.
Jude: I dunno, what you must think of me. I haven’t even introduced myself.
Grace: Please. You don’t need to worry yourself. You don’t need to worry about me. (Near
to tears gently pleads softly) Please.
Jude: (Ignores her, leans on bridges rim). My name is Jude. Yes I know I’m named after a
saint. My mother is very Catholic. I think my birth was a bit traumatic. To say the least. I
came along a bit late, bit of a mistake I reckon (laughs. Looks over edge, takes deep gulp) it’s
a long way down there darling, it’s at least 80 foot. You’re very brave.
Grace: (Gently shakes head. Aside) Brave ha! I’m a coward!
Jude: My poor old mum wouldn’t be able to cope with this cold. It’s as cold as a Nazis heart!
Grace: (Hangs head)
Dogs bark in the distance.
Jude: I’m from Bondi Beach. Do you know where that is?
Grace: (Takes big sigh, struggling to keep one of her shoes on).
Jude: Well it’s on the East Coast. I mean Australia of course you probably guessed I’m an
Aussie. (Moves closer to her)Oh come on girl. Please get down. You’re making my tummy
all funny. Blimey do those searchlights ever give up?
Grace: You don’t have to stay here you must be tired (thinks for a moment) Jude.
Jude: Ah I’m all right girl. I had to stay up a whole week once. (Pause deep breath).I was in
a POW camp. Blimey that wasn’t easy. Best thing about that place was going out and having
a beer. A lovely cold, ice cold beer. Funny how the little things make the big things fade
away.Eh girl?
6. Grace: (Releases one of her arms and rubs her eye).My brother Bertie was in a Japanese
POW camp.
Jude: (Big gulp) Yep they were the worst. Poor old sod is he still very skinny? How long he
been back?
Grace: We thought we’d lost him. Then we get a telegram out of the blue.
Jude: Where is he sweetheart?
Grace: He sent me a beautiful silk scarf. God knows how he hid it. (Pause).He speaks fluent
Chinese. Love’s the Chinese.
Jude. Oh that’s reminded me, I’m a dog in the Chinese horoscope, Dogs are supposed to be
loyal and the most saintly (nods his head as if to laugh. Smiles. Takes deep breath). Now
what would Billy think about this sweetheart? Hmm?
Grace: (Struggles with trying to keep her shoe on but it plummets onto road below). Oh! Oh
no! (Shuffles, starts to shiver, grabs the lamp tighter)
Jude: Why don’t you let me lift ya down, go on girl. I’m not leaving ya. Shame I haven’t got
my parachute with me. Look you could shuffle around slowly and get on my back.
Grace: I can’t. It’s too icy. I can’t breathe.
Jude: Just listen to me (starts to breathe slowly, deep breath in deep breath out)
Grace: (Starts to breathe in and out with Jude) I I I
Jude: Don’t worry sweetheart. Keep breathing. Good girl
Grace: I don’t think I can do it.
Jude: Yes you can sweetheart. (Forcefully) Now what’s your name?
Grace: Grace Sumner
Jude: Okay Grace (Moves into position that would be safe for her to climb on to him.
Suddenly the air raid sirens start. Grace panis. She falls back, Jude grabs her but starts to
lose grip. They struggle).
Grace: Please don’t let go!
Jude: (Calmly) Use your stomach muscles Grace!
An ambulance can be heard in the distance. The lamps go off. The searchlights stop. There is
blackout. Bombs fall. Fire engine sirens ring below the bridge. A Zeppelin hovers.
