A TERRIBLE THING


FEMALE VOICE

[Halfheartedly attempting to hide her grief with defensiveness and indignation, but becoming more rueful as she reminisces]

Of course, we had no idea what my father was doing out there at that confounded laboratory. Something to do with the war effort, that’s what they always said, wasn’t it? Doing his bit. 

On the very rare occasions when he got a weekend off [pron. ‘orf’], he would come home, exhausted, and just sit in his chair, the pipe smoke rising from behind his newspaper. 

And we were all walking on eggshells…

It was all supposed to be kept secret for lord knows how many years; locked away in a box, or something. But now, of course, everyone knows everything, don’t they? Everything is ‘out there’. And because we’re still alive, we’re held to be in some way responsible. Complicit. 

I mean… yes, it was a terrible thing that he created. 

A terrible thing.

But he was… [voice cracking with emotion, but determined to finish]

He was my father.


——————————


MALE VOICE
[Essentially an audio suicide note]

[click]

[clears throat selfconsciously]

This is very…

I’m so sorry about everything; the secrets, not being there for you and the children. 

I don’t think I could’ve survived it without knowing you were there, without being able to come home to … charge the batteries. It was difficult … a difficult time. 

For everyone. 

I couldn’t … I can’t … talk about what we were doing, you know that. I’m sorry. They made us sign all the papers, sworn to secrecy.

Understandable.

Well, I hope you understand. And I hope you’ll understand … God, I hope you’ll understand…

I love you.

I’m so sorry… [click]

A Terrible Thing (sketch)

Originally released on Red Rhino Records early in 1980.
Steve Durkin: Vocal
Alan Riggs: Guitar
Mel Jefferson: Bass/Backing vocal
Kelvin Knight: Drums
Produced by Mel & Adrian Collins
Engineered by John Brierly at Cargo Studios, Rochdale 23.12.79

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Pocket concept: all the clichés but without the padding.
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Fenlandia

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Harpthing 01 (unfinished)

Pompous Intro (unfinished)

4-Prophet (sketch - unfinished)

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Possible theme music for a Hong Kong-based detective series that you wouldn't want to watch, or something. Gangs, drug trafficking, knife fights, piss-poor car chases etc.

antonbukowski