How the Peace was Lost
Play with songs. Scenes portraying the lives of a dozen South Londoners in the years after the Second World War alternate with scenes showing the Cabinet of the Attlee government in action.
Photos
Script Excerpt
(Song)
Now it’s lovely that it’s stopped,
Now it’s lovely that it’s over,
No more giving up your pots and pans for tanks,
No more sucking up to all them cocky Yanks.
We’ve always done our bit, it’s always been the same old story,
Now it’s our turn for rewards, Fair Shares in all the glory!
Yes, it should be lovely now it’s stopped,
Oh so lovely now it’s over,
But like bashing your head against a brick wall,
When you stop it doesn’t hurt less at all!
(As they finish Ted tries to uncork a bottle of champagne)
Jean: Come on, Ted, get it out!
Tony: As the LAnd Girl said to the ARP warden.
Betty: Do you mind?
Ted: I saved this special for victory night, Jeanie. Survived two direct hits, this has.
Mary: We ain even got an empty bottle. I get my Dad’s beer in a jam-jar.
Jean: (Impatient) Come on!
(Ted gets the cork out. No fizz. The champagne is flat.)
Ted: Serves me right fer waitin. Symbolic, that is.
Bob: What a country!
Jean: Shut yer row, yank, If you’d been through what we been through, you’d see the funny side.
Mary: No more doodlebugs… The relief!
Ted: There’s a few won’t be relieved tonight, Mary.
Bob: Like who?
Tony: Bloke who sold him that bottle for a start. (To Ted) Call yourself an entreprenewer!
Ted: I may be slow, Tony, but at least I’m honest. The fast merchants may’ve made a packet outa this war, but they’ll have to look to their laurels from now on.