1

sound
Scene 1 - The Woods
Farmer
Billy

KES

Now then whats tha doing ?

Nowt
Well bugger off then - don't tha know it's private
Farmer
property?
Billy
Can I get up to that kestrel's nest?
Farmer
What kestrel's nest?
Billy
Up wall.
Scene 1a The Paper Round
(Billy runs to the paper shop to begin his newspaper
round...)
Paper Shop Manager
I thought you werent comin
Billy
Why Im not late, am I?
Paper Shop Manager
Very near.
Billy
I nearly was, though...
Paper Shop Manager
What do yer mean...?
Billy
Our Jud hes taken tbike...
Paper Shop Manager
Well, what you goina do, then?
Billy
Walk it.
Paper Shop Manager
Walk it!? How long dyer think thats goin t take...?
Billy
Itll not take me long...
Eh! theres a waitin list a mile long for that job o
Paper Shop Manager
yours...!
Good lads, too, most o em...from up Firs Hill, round
there...
Billy
I havent let you down, have I?
(Customer comes into the shop...)
Paper Shop Manager
Mornin
Customer
Mornin. sir!

2
Paper Shop Manager
Customer
Paper Shop Manager
Paper Shop Manager
Customer

Milk Float Man

Billy
Milk Float Man
Billy
Milk Float Man
Billy
Milk Float Man
Billy
Milk Float Man
Billy
Milk Float Man
*
Paper Shop Manager
Billy
Paper Shop Manager
Billy
Paper Shop Manager
Billy
Paper Shop Manager

Billy
Paper Shop Manager
Billy

Not very promisin again...!

A bit on the nippy side as well, I think...
Aye.
Twenty Players Tipped, please...
Oh, right..Ive not got 20. Will two tens do...?
Yes that will be quite all right, thank you...!
(Manager serves him...Billy sets out...steals eggs and
milk
from milk float before addressing the milk float man
cheerfully. They are clearly old friends...)
Eh-up young man how tha goin on?
Not so bad.
[You} want to get one of these, though
this is better than walking
Ooh ah only just I could go faster on a kids
scooter...
Well tha knows what I always say?
What?
Third-class ridins better an first-class walkin any day...
You call that first-class riding in that ramshak...?
What dyou mean, a ramshak...!? This is one of best
models
tdairys got...! Cheeky young un! Sithee tomorrow...!
It can only go twenty mile an hour as it is...
Yeah theres not too much rattle, then...!
(Billy steals another bottle of milk as a parting gesture)
*
(Back in the newspaper shop...)
Evening...!
I told you it wouldnt take me long...
How many times dyou want telling where to put that
bag?
[What] time is it...?
Time you were at school...
Is it that late...?
I wouldnt be your teacher for all the coal in Barnsley...!
(Mr Porter, the newspaper shop owner is on so steps so
Billy
plays a small trick on him by shaking the steps to
frighten him..)
Oh, Mr Porter! Watch it, Mr Porter!
Yer clumsy young bugger! What yer tryin to do...? Kill
me...!?
I lost me balance...!
(Mr Porter comes carefully down the steps, rather
shaken up...)

Paper Shop Manager

Billy
Billy
Paper Shop Manager
Billy
Paper Shop Manager

I wouldnt put it past yer either...! I fair felt me heart go

then...!
Just sit down ere and relax a couple o minutes...
Are yer all right now...?
(He feels his heart...) Im bloody champion...!
Ill be off, then!
And dont be late tonight!

Scene 1 B: The Classroom

Class
Boys
Class
Boys
Class
Boys
Class
Class
Billy
Class
Boys
Class
Billy
Class
Billy
Class
Billy
Boys
Class
Billy
Class
Billy
Class

Teacher
Teacher
Teacher
Teacher
Teacher
Teacher
Teacher
Teacher
Teacher

Teacher
Teacher
Teacher

Billy

Class Teacher
Billy
Class Teacher
Billy
Class Teacher

Allott?
sir
Barter?
sir
Bridges?
Absent, sir!
(to himself) Absent...Bridges.
Casper?
sir
Clegg?
sir
Fisher?
German Bight...
Did you say something?
Yes, sir...I didnt mean to, sir...
Stand up! I didnt get it... What did you say...?
German Bight, sir...
...German Bight?? ...Hes daft, sir...
Is this your ridiculous idea of a joke..?
No, sir.
Well what is the idea, then...?
Well, when you said Fisher, sir.
And what about it...?
It just came out: Fisher, German Bight: its the
Shipping
Forecast, sir: I like to hear it every night, sir
I like tnames...
Huh! And so you thought youd enlighten me , and the
rest
of the class, with your idiotic information!?
No, sir.
Blurting out and making a mess of my register...!!
It just came out, sir!
And so did you, Casper! Just came out from under a

Class Teacher
MacDowell
Billy
Boy
Billy
Boy
Billy
MacDowell
Billy
Guthrie
Billy
Guthrie
Boy
Guthrie
Boy
Guthrie

stone...!
(laughter)
(to one of the girls...) Pamela! Youre talking! Cut it out!
*
Eh up, Billy....what dyou mean: Germans bite...?
Oh, shut it, lad...! Im fair sick o hearing about
Germans bite...
Are yer comin nestin tomorrow?
Aye Ill come...
What time...?
About six...
Dont be late!
Coming, Guth...?
Where?
Nestin
What time?
About six...
Cant
Why?
Taking tgirlfriend to Sheffield...

Scene 1c The Field

Billy
Farmer
Billy
Farmer
Billy
Farmer
Billy

Farmer
Billy
Farmer
Billy
Farmer
Billy
Farmer
Billy
Farmer
Billy

There it is!
Aye.
That big ole.
Its nested there for donkeys years now.
Just think and I never knew!
No theres not many that does.
Been watching from up twood here. Goes onto tpost,
then 'overs, then swoops down onto tprey;
carries it off tyoung uns. It looks great!
Ive been going to knock that wall down for ages
What for?
Its dangerous. I wont even let her play near
(indicating his little girl)
If I lived round here Id train a young un
Would yer?
You can train em
Dyou know how?
Do you know?
No. Theres not many that does: theyre hard to train
if theyre not kept properly its criminal.
Do yer know anybody whos kept em?

Billy
Farmer
Billy
Farmer

One or two. But better let em go...because theyre hard

to train
Where can I find out about em, then?
Well...probably tpublic library.Theyll have some books
on em
Wheres that?
Down in tcity
Wheres that?
Down in tcity

Scene 2 The Library

Scene 2 The Library

Librarian
Billy
Librarian

Hey, are you a member?

What do yer mean?
Are you a member of the Library?
I dont know about that: I only want a book on Falconry
thats all.
Well you have to be a member, to take a book out.
Well I only want one...
Well have you filled one of these forms in..?
No.
Well, youre not a member, then.
You have to take one of these home, first, for your
father
to sign...
Me Dads away...
Well, you can wait till he comes back home, cant you?
I dont mean that I mean hes left home...
Oh I see. Well in that case your motherll have to sign it
for you
Ah, but shes at work and shell not be home till tea
time
and its Sunday tomorrow...
Theres no rush, is there?
Me mum knows one of the people who works here.
Thatll help, wont it?
No that doesnt count at all: you still have to have the
back
signed. To be a member, you have to have somebody
over 21,
who is on the Borough Electoral Roll, to sign it for you...
Im over 21.
Youre not over 21
Ah! but I vote...

Farmer
Billy
Farmer

Billy
Librarian
Billy
Librarian
Billy
Librarian
Billy
Librarian
Librarian
Billy
Librarian
Billy
Librarian
Billy
Librarian

Billy
Librarian

6
Billy
Librarian
Billy
Librarian
Billy
Librarian

Ah! but I vote...

You dont vote: youre not old enough to vote...!
I do, I vote for me mam...She dont like voting so I do
it...
Just have to wait for it, wont you?
Where would I find a book then? In a shop, like...?
Well, youd have to go down the street. Theres a
second-hand
bookshop there. Youll find some down there..

Scene 3 Second-hand Bookshop

Second Hand
Can I help you?
Bookshop Lady
Yes, Im rather interested in Noel Cowards
Customer
autobiography,
Present Indicative...Its a complete book...
(Billy steals the Falconry book)
Scene 4 At Home
Jud
Whats tha got this for? And tha cant read.
Billy
Give it ere. Come here!
Get off! Falconry! What dyou want to know about
Jud
Falconry?
Billy
Give it here?
Jud
Falcons...one bob...whereve you got this from?
Billy
Ive lent it..!
Jud
Stole it, more like..! Whereve you got it from?
Billy
A shop in town..
You must be crackers. I could understand if it were
Jud
money,
but chuff me, not a book! Have it! (throws book
roughly)
Billy
Look what youve done! Im looking after this book!
Jud
And what better off will yer be when youve got it?
Billy
A lot - because Im going to get a kestrel and train it...
Train it? Yer couldnt train a flea! Anyway where
Jud
would
you get a kestrel from?
Billy
I know a nest...
Jud
Yer dont...
Billy
All right then I dont
Jud
Where?
Billy
Im not telling.
Jud
I said, where?
Billy
Ah! Youre hurting me arm!
Jud
Where then?

7
Billy
Jud
Billy
Jud
Billy
Jud
Billy

Monastery Farm.
You right git! You could have broke me arm then!
Ill have to see about going round there with me gun...!
If you do Ill tell the farmer on you!
Why? Whats he got to do with it?
He protects em.
Protects em? Hawks are a menace to farmers.
Theyre only small...they eat mice...insects....some
little birds sometimes...

Scene 4 Billy and Mother (who is going out)

Mother
Mother (to Billy
Billy
Mother
Mother (to Billy
Billy
Mother (to Billy
Billy
Mother (to Billy

These could have done with a bit of a polishaw, still

never mind, its going to be dark soon...
What you going to with yerself tonight, love?
Read me book!
Ooh! Look at ttime. Five to seven. Im going to be late
again...
Listen Billy, theres two bob ere, chuck... Want tget
yerself
some pop... some crisps? Dyou hear?
Yes.
And dont still be up when I come in, will yer...?
No.
Gnight then...

Scene 4a In The Pub

Pop Group

Jud

Mother

Mother
(to a girlfriend sitting
nearby)

I came home unexpectedly, and found her crying

grievously,
in the middle of the day"
And it was in the early spring, when flowers are in
bloom
and robins sing - and she went away
And, Honey - I miss you! (And Im being good)
And I'd love to be with youIf only I could
I just like to come home, get me meal, bath,
change and out me not a care in the world...
You see, when youve been married once and yer
marry
wrong un, it makes you a bit apprehensive towards
getting...
Well you know, dont yer? Cos he were never good...

8
But it makes you a bit more wary about getting
married again..
Jud

If she wants to go with a different bloke, I mean,

its not up to me to tell her what to do
I mean shes old enough to...

Mother

Pop Group

...together...[perhaps if he had had been] brought up in

different environment and had a better education, he
probably
would have made more than what he as done...
At the moment hes just hopeless -hes hopeless case,
isnt he?
I wanna be yer man.I wanna be yer man

Scene Six: The Woods

(Billy climbs to the Nest and get the Kestrel chick)

Scene Seven: Billys Interior Monologue about Kes

Three good meals a day Ill give him for about a fortnight: if a piece of meat,
held between the finger and thumb of the gloved hand is offered to the hawk, it
will probably bend down and pull at the meat with its beak
Billy

As soon as the hawk will come on a leash length

indoors, she may be tried off a fence or gatepost
out of doors...It is quite likely that although she must
come into the first fist promptly indoors, she will now
refuse to come at all...she will stand looking fearfully
around her, and ignoring the meat and the fist
thrust in front of her...

Scene 8 Flying Kes

Scene 8a The Football
Match
Football Teacher
Boy
Football Teacher
Boy
Football Teacher
Boy

Right...! Well play with the wind downhill,] ...this way.

Paget,
you're inside right. Come on.
Who are you today, sir? Liverpool?
Dont be a slacker...Know your club colours?
Manchester United strip this...
Are you playing Denis Law, again, striker?
Speed striker! No, Charlton today, lad. All over the
field!
Too cold for a...striker...
Of course, er, Charltons not as good on the turn as
Law, is he?

9
Football Teacher
Boy
Football Teacher
Boy
Football Teacher
Boys
Football Teacher
Boys
Football Teacher
Billy
Football Teacher
Billy
Football Teacher
Football Teacher
Boy
Football Teacher

Billy
Football Teacher
Football Teacher
Boys
Football Teacher
Boys
Football Teacher
Boys
Football Teacher
Boy
Football Teacher
Football Teacher
Boys

Are you trying to tell me about football?

No...Im just telling you...
Are you trying to tell me...?
No, sir
Anyway, Denis Laws in the wash this week...
Nobodys in goal, sir ... Havent got a goalie...No goal,
sir!
Whos in the goal?
Casper!
Casper! What position are you supposed to be playing?
Dont know, sir. Inside left?
How can you be inside left back there, idiot? In the
goal!
I cant go, sir...Im cold!
Nows your chance to learn: in the goal! Quick about it!
Right were Manchester United who are you?
Well be Spurs, sir, then theres no clash of colours...!
Right then its Manchester United versus Spurs in this
important fifth-round cup tie here at Old Trafford... And
its the fair-haired, slightly balding Charlton to kick off!
Come on, Speed! What are you playing at, lad? You
should be on the move, lad it was at your feet!
Cross it, Ryder, quickly! Wheres the rest of me team?
Casper! [Score is: Manchester United O, Spurs 1)
Come on quickly, Casper! Ive never seen such slack
work in my life! Ive never seen such slack work in my
life!
Whats that for?
Slack work, lad! Slack work! Kick that ball up the field,
Parker.
Cross the ball..! And Charlton goes through...!
Ahh! Never, never!
Penalty!
Never!
Who dyou think you are Bremner?
Penalty! Outside that semicircle!
No it werent sir!
Outside that semicircle!
Shall I take it, sir?
I take the penalties, on this team... No-one moves
till this balls kicked!
Just watch this, Guthrie! Right, Clegg?
You moved. He moved! Put it back!
Not fair! He hadnt moved!

10
Football Teacher
Tibbut
Football Teacher
Boy
Football Teacher

Penalty. Behind the eighteen-yard line! He moved.

Youd better save it, Cleggie! or Ill drop tha- !
Behind the eighteen-yard line! He moved.
He didnt move, sir!
The referees decision is final!
[Manchester United 1, Spurs 1]

Scene 10 Jud Going to Work in the Mine

(Judd meets a work colleague leaving his shift as
he arrives to start his own...)
Work colleague
Eh! up Jud how are yer doing?
Jud
Rough, man...rough!
Work colleague
Why? You should be on top of the world on
a day like today!
Another ten minutes and Ill be at tbottom of it!
Jud
Scene 11 Billy Speaks Up in Class
Mr Sugden
Students
Mr Sugden

Wolstenholme
Mr Sugden
Guthrie
Tibbut
Guthrie
Tibbut
Mr Sugden

Julie

(something ...you know, has actually happened. This is

a fact.
All right have you got that clear?
Yes, sir
All right.
Tibbut, sit up straight! And I want the rest of you
to look at him, if you can bear it! and tell me
some facts about Tibbut... Wolstenholme?
Hes always tryin to go wi tlasses at night...
Is he? Guthrie?
He smokes.
Do I heck!
Tha does.
Get knotted, Guthrie!
All right! All right! Im not interested in what
he does out of school hours, as long as he doesnt
come into the class smoking a fag. All right?
Come on, you people who arent thinking! Right, Julie...
I want you to think of an incident that happened to you
some time in the past, that is true, and that you think
will interest the rest of the class all right?
Well, er...I went to this all-night party yesterday...and
...er...about three oclock, we were all dancin in
tgarden
me and er and all the rest, cant mention names and
er...this woman came across from troad, and, er, she

11

Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden

Boys
Mr Sugden
Speed

Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy

tells
us to...to make less noise...or shed fetch the police; so
l...
so we said, let her fetch em, if she wanted. So she
fetched them.
Things that have actually happened. How about
another one?
What about you, Casper?...Casper!
What, sir?
What, sir? youd know if youd been listening...!
What have
we just been talking about?
Stories. sir?
What kind of stories? You havent been listening
to a word Ive said, have you?
Yes sir, some of it.
Some of it!? Stand up! Right, now youre going to
tell us a story about yourself.
I dont know any, sir.
You dont know any? Well youll stand there till you do!
Always somebody isnt there? eh! somebody who
wants
to be awkward. Just wont be interested, doesnt
matter what
you do... Just like you, Casper! Come on! Ill give you
two
minutes. two minutes to think of something or the
whole
class comes back at four oclock!
Come on, dont stand there like a nail! He is a nail!
Come on! I say...tell im...Tell im about the awk,
Casper!
If anybody else calls out, thatll be the last call
they make! ...Speed?
Hes got this hawk, sir, and he goes mad over it.
He never mucks about with anybody else, he just goes
wialk
all ttime, ees crackers over it!
Better than thee, any road!
All right, Casper... Sit down. Now come on: tell us about
this hawk. Where did you get it from?
I found it, sir.
Where?
In twoods...
And where dyou keep it?
In a shed.

12
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy

Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden

Billy

Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy

Mr Sugden

What dyou feed it on?

Beef, mice, birds...
But isnt it cruel to keep it in a shed? I mean...wouldnt
it be happier flying free?
I dont keep it in tshed all the time, sir. I fly it every
day.
Doesnt it fly away, I thought they were wild birds...
Course it dont fly away, sir. Ive trained it.
Are you going to tell us about it? How do you train a
hawk?
You have to be right careful wi em, sir, right patient...
Youve got to feed em when theyre hungry, sir you
can
only do owt like...at feeding time, sir...
Yeah?
(Theyve) got these jesses on, sir, all ttime...
These what...?
Jesses, sir.
How dyou spell that?
J-E...
All right...come out here...youd better show us on the
board
... Jesses thats a new word to me... Hands up those
whove
heard of jesses before. Nobody. Go on write it up
there!
(Billy writes) Right, now tell us what it is...
Well, theyre like leather straps, sir. And they attach to
tbirds feet. And...say Ive got tbird on me hand.
Straps
come out here. Then theres tswivel.
Swivel write that on the board.
Then youve got your leash...
Leash... On the board.
I fed it on me and first... Then, when it got to know
me,
I fed it on me glove. And after a while, I put it two
inches away
from its claws. And, er... like that, right? It started to
jump for
tmeat. When it started to jump, I could move me hand
away...
Hold your hand up, so that we can see...
I could move me hand away, like...to four inches and
six inches
and when it were doin that, I started it doing it wi
tleash.

13
Julie

Billy
Guthrie
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Boys
Mr Sugden
Billy

Do...Do they need water, like? You know when youve

got a budgie, you put water in the budgies cage do
you
need water...do they need water like that?
Well, it like has a bath. It has a bath right early
on in tmorning, like.
When do yer feed it? How many times a day?
To start off with three or four times, you know, to get it
plump.
You make it all sound very exciting, Billy...
It is sir. But the most exciting thing [was]
when I flew her free for the first time. sir...
Do you want to hear about that?
Yes sir!
Right. Come on...
Well...it were...Id been using tcreance for about a
week...
an it had been going 30 or 40 yards...And it says when
birds
are going thirty to forty yards it says in book its
time
that it can start to fly free... Well...Id been...you
know...
Id been wanting to fly it free, but I darent, you know...I
were
frit itd fly off or sommat like that...n this had been
goin on
for four or five days n [I] keep on to missen, saying
that Fly
it free next day...Anyway, I got right mad wi
missen...I says,
Right, Ill fly it free tomorrow.. you know, that night
that
Friday night it were I didnt feed her up, so that shed
be
sharp set next morning...And I went to bed that night,
Friday
night then...and I didnt get an hours sleep at all, [I
were]
friting, you know, friting about tbird, that shed fly off
or
sommat like that... Anyway, when tmorning came, I
kept
on saying to missen Well if she flies off, she flies off,
and it
cant be helped! So I took tswivel off, and let her hop
on to
tpost...And there were nowt stoppin her now, she
could fly

14

Mr Sugden

off. All [that] were on er were er jesses. I thought:

She must
fly off, shes forced to fly off! But she didnt. She
just stood
there. I were terrified...Well anyway, she was stood
there, and
I walked off into tfield, and she were lookin round all
over the
place, and when I got about 70 yards from her, in
middle of
tfield, I called er: Kes...Kes... Come on, Kes! Come
on, then!
Nowt happened. So I thought Well, Id better walk
back and
pick her up. So while I were walking back I saw her
flying. She
came like a bomb! About a yard off floor, like lightning,
head
still and you couldnt hear twings - there werent a
sound from
twings. And straight onto tglove. Wham! And she
grabbed me
for t'meat. Anyway, I were pleased with missen, and I
didnt
know what to do. So I thought, Id better...do it again
just to
prove that it werent luck. So I took her back onto
tpost... and
walked to t'middle of tfield,and called her again.And
she came
just as good as first time straight onto tglove, grabbin
for
tmeat Well that were it, sir.Id trained her, sir. And
that were
all I could do.
I think youve done enough, dont you! Well done, Billy!
Big hand of applause!

Scene 12 The Fight

McDowell
Billy
McDowell
Billy
McDowell

Got owt, Casper?

Nay.
Tha never has, has tha. Tha just cadges, all ttime...
Casper
the cadger, thats what they ought to call thee....
I wouldnt give thee owt if I had, McDowell...
Ill give you summat in a minute... Whats tha goin for?
Dont
tha like company? Thi say thi mother does.

15

Billy
McDowell
Billy
McDowell
Billy
McDowell
Billy
McDowell
Billy
McDowell
Billy
Boys
Students
Mr Sugden
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden

McDowell
Mr Sugden

McDowell
Mr Sugden

Mr Sugden

Thas got more uncles than any other kid.

Shut thi mouth!
Come on and make me!
They wouldnt say that to our Jud, hed murder thee!
Your Juds nowt...
What? Hes cock of the estate, thats all!
I bet I know somebody who could do him!
Who? Thi father?
He int even thi brother!
What is he then me sister?
They dont even call him Casper, for a start!
Course hes me brother! We live in the same house,
dont we?
Get him! Get him!
Fight!
(Mr Sugden arrives)
Right, you lot!
Ten seconds out of my sight! One! Two! Three! Hop it!
Right come ere, you two! Come on...! Whats goin on?
It was him, sir...He started it!
Hes been chuckin coal
Ah! Shut up! shut up! Its always the same tale, isnt it:
somebody elses fault; nobodys to blame... Look at
the mess
youre in look at the state youve made! Dont look so
sorry for yourself, Casper youre not dead yet!
He will be, when Ive had im...!
Oh, yes! Youre a big lad, arent yer? Hes just about
your size,
Casper, isnt he? Eh? Why dont you pick on somebody
your
own size? What if I rubbed your nose in the coke, eh?
What
wd you say about that youd say I was a bully,
wouldnt yer?
And youd be right. Cos Im bigger and stronger than
you,
arent I? Eh?
Ill fetch me dad.
Ah, yes...youll fetch your Dad... And Ill fetch mine...!
My dads eavyweight champion of the world, my Dad
is!
So what will your Dad do then, eh?
Thats what its like to be bullied. You dont like it, do
yer?
Youll like it a bit less if I ever catch you at it again. Do
you

16

McDowell
Mr Sugden
McDowell
Mr Sugden
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy

Mr Sugden
Billy

Mr Sugden
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy

Mr Sugden

understand that McDowell do you understand it?

Yes,sir
Get it shoveled up! Come ere a minute! You been
smoking?
No, sir.
You have! I can smell it on your breath! See me
afterwards
go on get it done!
What's it all about?
He keeps callin me names, sir, and sayin things about
me dad and me mam and our Jud and everythingll
appen...
Allright, all right! Calm down! They all seem to pick on
you, dont they, Casper why is it?
Dont know, sir.
Is it because youre a bad un?
Maybe I am sometimes, but Im not that bad, sir.
I know stacks of other kids thats worse than me, but
but they seem to get away wi it...
Why else do you think, eh? There must be some
reason...
Well, take this morning, sir. I just came in, sir, and just
dozed off.
I werent doin nowt wrong. You see, Id been up since
six.
I had to do tpapers, then I had to rush home to look at
tbird,
and then run to school: I mean to say youd be tired,
wouldnt
yer, sir?
Id be exhausted.
Hows things at home these days?
All right, sir. Usual, I suppose.
What about the police: have you been in trouble with
them
recently?
No sir, not since Ive been...without...McDowells gang,
sir.
You know, they used to go into tcity and go into
tcoffee
bars and tcinema, but since Ive been without them
Ive
been all right.
Its all right now, innit?
Yes sir, but whenever theres trouble on estate, the
police

17
Billy
Mr Sugden

Mr Sugden

Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden

always come to our ouse

I shouldnt worry. In a couple of weeks youll be
starting
your new job, getting new friends...looking forward to
that,
are you? ...Eh? Have you got a job...? No, sir Ive got
to
see the employment bloke this afternoon...
What sort of job do you want?
Not bothered. sir. Anythingll do me.
Yeah! But youll want something youre looking
forward to, that youre interested in, dont you?
I dont have much choice, sir. Ill take what Ive got
Thought you didnt like school?
I dont, but it dont mean to say Ill like work, does it?
Still, Ill get paid for not liking it... Thats one thing.
I suppose it is.
I might be able to save up and buy a goshawk, then,
sir.
Ive been reading about em...
Have yer? When do you fly this hawk of yours?
Dinner times.
Where?
Just outside our house, sir.
Wood Lane, is that?
Yeah it is, sir.
Ill come round, then. If its OK.
Mmm.
Go on then. Get yourself cleaned up.

Scene 13 Shooting for

Kes
[Billy finds a note from Jud Five bob double
Crackpot.
Tell Him Hes Dead - Jud. Billy is potting sparrows]
Scene 14 Visit of Mr
Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy

(Billy is flying Kes in the field near their house)

Kes! Come on then, Kes! Come on Kes!
Casper!
Bloody Hellfire!
Hope Im not too late!
No, sir but youll have to stand over there!
Ill go by the fence, eh?
Its all right. As long as you keep quiet!

18
Mr Sugden

Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy

Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden
Billy

Mr Sugden
Billy
Mr Sugden

Billy

I wont say a word...

(Billy flies Kes, with many shouts of " Kes...Come on,
Kes!")
Well done, Casper. Thats the most exciting thing Ive
ever
seen in me life! Great! Thrill of a lifetime, lad!
Thank you, sir.
Lets have a look at it... Isnt it beautifully marked, eh?
Look at the feathers on it! Oh its not going to eat
that, is it?
Yes, sir. This birds full of vitamins.
Oh dear!
Have any more birds before him?
Stacks. Animals and all, sir. Even a young foxcub, once.
Reared it and let it go...A little blinder! Ive had
magpies,
jackdaws...had a young jay once...
Hes your favourite, though isnt he?
Others werent in tsame street. Come on, sir!
O dear me!
Watch that mattress, sir! Its slippy...
OK
Look whats left, sir...! Only tsparrows leg.
Must have been hungry.
Must have been starving...
You hang on ere. Ill put him on tperch.
You know, theres something weird about it
when its flying...
Hawks are tbest fliers there is.
No, I didnt mean that. When its flying,
theres something about it [that] makes you feel
strange...
Is it cos everything goes quiet?
Thats it, aye.
Other folks have noticed that anall, sir. I know a
farmer who says its the same wi owls. You know,
when they get his mice, in his yard, at night...When
they swoop down, he feels like pokin his ears to make
em pop.
Mmm.
Cos it goes that quiet...
Its as if theyre flying in a pocket of silence... Have you
noticed how quietly were speaking? As if were
frightened to
raise our voices a bit like shouting in church.
Its cos theyre nervous, sir.

19

Mr Sugden
Billy

Mr Sugden
Billy

Oh, no. Its more than that... Its instinctive...Its ...a

sort of
respect.
I know, sir. Thats what makes me mad. When I take
her
for walks, somebody comes up to me and says Look,
its Billy
Casper and is pet awk- I could shout at em, sir. It int
a pet.
Or if someone comes up to me and says Is it tame?
Is it
heck tame! hawks cant be tamed. Theyre manned.
Its wild
and fierce and its not bothered about anybody. Not
bothered
about me...right! Thats what makes it great...!
A lot of people wouldnt understand. They like their
pets to be fussed.
Im not bothered about that. I just want it for er looks
and to fly er. They can keep their talking budgies.
Theyre
nowt compared wi er.
You right Billy, youre probably right.
Dyou know summat, sir? I think shes doing me a
favour, just letting me sit here and watch er.

Scene 15 The Betting Shop

TV
Man
Lady
Billy
Billy (to a customer)
Customer
Customer

Billy
Customer

Billy

Same price, 7-1, number 12, Doorkeeper.

Whats ee studyin there?
Can I elp you, son?
No thanks...
Hey mister can you tell me tprices of these...?
What are they?
(Billy gives the Customer Juds piece of paper..)
Crackpot. Crackpot. 100 to 6. Tell Him Hes Dead.
Ive just been lookin for this one meself... Tell Him
Hes Dead. Second Favourite, 4 to 1. 100 to 6;
4 to 1....(gives Billy back the piece of paper)
Would you back em? Tell Him Hes Deads a
Tell Him He's Dead's a good orse. Best orse in trace.
Top
weight. Dont fancy that one, though. No form. Hasnt
even got
a jockey on here. No, [ I] shouldnt bother with that
one...
Do you think theyll win, then?

20
Customer
Billy
Customer
Billy

Scene 16 Fish and Chip

Shop
Billy
Fish and Chip Man
Fish and Chip Lady
Billy
Fish and Chip Man
Fish and Chip Lady
Billy
Fish and Chip Lady
Fish and Chip Lady
Fish and Chip Man

Howve you got them? Doubled?

Theyre not mine theyre our Juds.
Oh, hell be all right if they do but I cannot see it
meself...
Great...ta...!

Can I have a bobs worth o chips, and a fish?

Serve him, will you, Mary...
Yes, love. What you aving?
Fish and chips...
Stop kickin We only put that on today..
Got any scraps, missis?
Yes, love. Ill put you some on... Two shilling [s] , love.
Im gettin rid of these chips, Floyd. Its gettin late
now..
Aye, but dont be goin mad...
Sixpence change, love
(Billy leaves without any greeting or words of thanks...)
These kids. I dont know, Mr Glover, theyre all the
same.

Scene 17 The Meat

Stall
Billy
Meat
Billy
Meat
Billy
Meat
Billy
Meat
Billy
Meat
Billy
Meat

Stall Man
Stall Man
Stall Man
Stall Man
Stall Man
Stall Man

Can I have a quarter o beef?

Boy, those smell good! (takes a chip)
Can I have a quarter o beef?
Tha still got that bird, then?
Yep.
Here you can ave them for nowt...
For nowt...?
Aye, theyre only scraps...
Have another chip?
No, Im goin for me dinner in a minute...
Right, then. Ta...! See yer...
See yer...

Scene 18 Maths
Classroom

Maths Teacher

(Billy spots Jud walking up to the school...)

Usual difficulty over concentration. Hm?

21

Billy
Maths Teacher
Billy
Maths Teacher
Billy
Maths Teacher

Three fives are fifteen, eh? We write 15 one,

five. You write, five, one...
(Jud is gesturing aggressively towards Billy
through the glass classroom door..)
Isnt that that illustrious brother of yours, Casper?
Shouldnt have thought he was the type to have paid
a visit to his old school again... Whats the matter?
Dont you feel well?
No, sir.
Do you want to go out and get a drink of water or
something?
No, sir.
Well, open the window, Casper! Make you feel better...!
Im alright, sir.
Please yourself...
(bell)
Right, now just pass your books forward, will you, to
the front?
Front person on each row bring them to my desk,
please

Scene 19 Escape from

Jud
Maths Teacher
Billy
Maths Teacher

McDowell
Jud

Whats the matter, Casper lost something?

Me. sir? No, sir.
On your way. then
*
(Billy edges very cautiously out of the school, and
on his way overhears a conversation between Jud
and McDowell in the corridor...)
Whats up with thee, Jud?
Whats up wi me? Its that little bastard, our Billy.
Hes kept tstinkin money! Ill kill the little git
when I get hold of him! Every day! Ill murder him...!
*

Scene 20 Interview
(Billy, having escaped from Jud, returns to school
for his Youth Employment interview...)
Billy
Tibbut
Billy
Tibbut
Billy

Ey up, Tibbut, has tha seen our Jud?

Theyve been looking all over for thee!
Who has?
Gryce Pudding.
What for? I done nowt.

22
Tibbut
Billy
Tibbut
Mr Gryce
Billy
Mr Gryce
Billy

Youth Employment
Man

Youth Employment. Tha should have gone for

tinterview at half past ten!
Has tha seen out Jud?
Yea. He wanted to know where tha was...
*
Casper! Where the devil have you been?
Nowhere, sir...
Nowhere? Who are you, the Invisible Man!?
I felt sick, sir so I went to the toilets...
(Billy goes off to the classroom where the Youth
Employment Officer is conducting interviews)
(He enters without knocking)
Get out! Go out knock and wait!
(Billy knocks and enters properly)

Youth Employment
Man
Billy
Youth Employment
Man

Billy
Youth Employment
Man

Billy
Youth Employment
Man

Billy
Youth Employment
Man

Well, come in, lad if youre coming...

Sit down, Walker!
Im not Walker, sir.
Well, who are you, then? According to my list it
should be Gerard Walker next. Oliver, Stenton,
then Walker...
Im Casper.
Casper. Oh, sit down, Casper. I should have seen
you earlier, shouldnt I?
Well then, Casper what kind of job had you got in
mind?
(Billy says nothing)
Well?
I dont know, sir. I havent really thought about it.
Well you should be thinking about it! You want to
start off on the right foot, dont you?
(Billy shrugs, and is silent...)
Right, then. Would you like to work in an office?
Or would you prefer...manual work?
Whats manual work?
Oh, it means working with your hands. Things like
farming, engineering, plumbing... Things like that
- as opposed to...pen-pushing jobs...
Id be all right in an office! I have a job to read
and write...
Manual

23

Billy
Youth Employment
Man
Billy
Youth Employment
Man

Billy
Youth Employment
Man

Tell me, Casper, have you ever thought about entering

a trade as an apprentice? You know, as an electrician
or
a bricklayer or something like that. Of course, the
moneys
not too good while youre serving your apprenticeship,
and
if you do stick it out, youll always have a trade at your
fingertips, wont you?
Well, then, Casper what do you think about it? And,
as youve
already said, youll feel better working with your
hands...
Perhaps this is your best bet. Of course youll have to
go to
Technical College, and sit for various
examinations...Some
lads do. Some do it for years...two or three nights a
week...
Right from leaving school...right up to mid-twenties...
When
they take their Higher National or even degrees....I
say,
lad, are you listening to me?
Yeah.
You dont look as though you are...! Ive other lads to
see
before four o clock, you know... Well then if nothing
Ive mentioned so far appeals to you, if you can stand
a
hard days work and you dont mind getting dirty
theres
a good opportunity in mining...
Im not goin down tpit....
Well dont be put off by what youve heard: conditions
have
improved tremendously...
I wont be seen dead down tpit...
What about hobbies? What hobbies have you got? Do
you
like gardening, or constructing Meccano sets, or
anything like that?
(pause)
Dont you have any hobbies at all?
Can I go now?
Whats wrong with you, lad? Sit down. Sit down. I
havent
finished yet. Well, Ive met some lads in my time, but

24

Billy
Youth Employment
Man
Billy
Youth Employment
Man

Ive never
met one like you, Casper! Half the time youre like a
cat on hot
bricks, the other half youre not listening! Here! Take
this form.
It gives you all the relevant information about leaving
school
and starting work. Things like pensions,
superannuation,
national insurance, wages and so on. At the back,
there's
a detachable form. When you want your cards, fill it
in
(Billy makes to leave...)
Come back here, lad I havent finished yet... When
you want
your cards, fill in that form, send it in to the office.
Have you got that?
Yeah.
Dont forget. And listen, Casper... If you do have any
trouble getting
fixed up, do come in and see me, wont you?
Yes, sir! (Billy makes a bolt for the door and rushes
out...)
Send the next boy in...!

Scene 21 The Death of

Kes

Billy
Neighbour Lady

Billy
Betting Shop Man
Billy

(Billy rushes home to see what has happened to Kes...)

*
(He runs round all the familiar locations where Kes
might be,
but finds no trace of the kestrel...)
(He calls for Jud in the house, and then his Mother;
doesnt
find them; and then ask a neighbour if she has seen
Jud...)
*
Missis, have you seen our Jud?
I havent, love. Sorry.
*
(Billy runs to the Betting Shop)
(to Betting Shop man...) Have you seen our Jud?
Course Ive seen your Jud. But it doesnt look as though
youve seen him, or you wouldnt be all in one piece...
Youve seen him, then...?

25

Betting Shop Man

Billy
Betting Shop Man
Billy
Betting Shop Man
Billy

Billy
Mother
Billy
Jud
Billy
Jud
Mother
Billy
Jud
Billy
Mother
Jud
Mother
Jud
Mother
Jud
Mother
Jud
Mother

Course Ive seen him. Coming in here playing hell!

Going
to pull tcounter down and everything..!
What did you do then?
I had to fetch Eric Clough to prove that hadnt put tbet
on.
They won then, did they?
Both of them! 100 to 6 and 4 to 1...Hed have won a
tenner, I can tell you that!
Bloody hell!
*
(Billy spends half an hour or so searching for Kes,
and calling for the bird, and even goes back Monastery
Farm
where the nest was, but finds nothing, no trace...He
concludes
that Jud has indeed killed the bird...)
*
(in the house...)
(to Jud) Wheres it whats tha done wiit?
Whereve you been till this time? Your teas going cold
ere...
I said, where is it?
Whats tha starin?
Thee, tha little pig!
(Jud lunges at Billy) Dont call me a little pig,
or Ill break your arm to stop it...!
Jud whats all t bloody pushing and shoving?
Ask him. He knows!
Yes, and tha had have known if Id got hold of thee
this afternoon...!
Ah get lost!
Knows what? Whats goin on? Whats up wi im?
What ave you been doin to im..!?
If hed have put that bet on like I told you this morning,
there would have been none of this!
Well hes put it on, hasnt he?
Has he bloody hell!
Well I told him to... (to Billy) I asked you not to forget
before I went away this morning...
He didnt forget ees spent tmoney!
How dyou know?
Cos he has!
Well what are you getting so damned upset for?
Have they won or sommat?

26
Jud
*
Mother

Jud
Billy
Mother
Billy
Mother
Billy
Mother
Jud
Mother
*
*
Jud

Have they won? Id have 16 quid [on] these last uns

if hed kept his thieving hands to hisself...
(Jud gets up to attack Billy...)
(to Jud) Now look what youve done...should have
done it thissen!
(attacking Billy) I could have had a week off work for
that...!
Get lost, you big pig!
Hey! Well whats he upset for?
Because hes killed me hawk instead, thats why.
He never as...
I know he has. Cos he couldnt catch me...
Jud! You ave not killed this kids awk!?
So I have. What yer goin to do about it!?
Killing yourself thats what you want!
(Billy flings himself in a paroxysm of despair onto the
sofa head first, burying his sobbing head in the
cushions..)
It were its own fault. I were goin to let it go, kept
lashin
at me wi tclaws, I had to kill it what else could I
do..!?
*
(Billy tenderly takes the dead kestrel from the dustbin
where Jud put it, and taking an axe digs a shallow
grave for the bird at the edge of a nearby field)
THE END