The Quays: Keys
Fighting Words and Irish Red Cross came together to deliver a programme of creative writing workshops for Ukrainian teenagers staying at Deer Park Hotel in Howth.
The participants created a setting, characters, dialogue and a plot for their own screenplay called The Quays: Keys. It was written over four workshops in February and March 2023.
A Screenplay by
Ariadna, Valerii, Seva and Daria
Captain Joe. Irish. Over 52. Beard. Smokes pipe. Wife died suddenly. Grieving but hiding it.
Carl. 21. Needs money, many different jobs. Clumsy. Talks a lot. Hyperactive. Skinny and tall.
Michael. 48. African American. Very big man. New Yorker.
Violetta. 25. Swedish. Great at fishing. Physically and mentally strong.
Scene 1
West Pier, Howth. Present Day.
Captain Joe
Hey you! Lost something?
Carl
Have you seen my keys I dropped them somewhere?
Pause
Carl
Sorry I’m nervous. My keys. I need them for my flat. I only have one key. If I don’t find them …
Ughhh!!
Captain Joe
Maybe I could help you?
Carl
Maybe not. I’m living with my mother; she has an illness. I cannot pay for her and me.
Captain Joe
You need money? I could help with that.
Carl
I just need to find my keys first.
Carl notices that Captain Joe has his keys in his pocket.
Carl
Hey!!! They are my keys.
JESUS, is it you? How did you have my keys?
Captain Joe
Do you want a job on my boat?
Carl
Does it smell like dead fish?
Captain Joe
It smells like big money!
Carl
Big money…er I’m not sure.
Captain Joe
Do you want to cure your mother or lose the chance to make your life better?
Carl
Of course, I want to make it better, but I don’t think I’m built for the boat life.
Captain Joe
Once I had this opportunity, but you know I lost it. I would give you the best rod on the boat.
Carl
The best rod?
Carl has a flashback of his father.
Steven
Hey Carl, did you take my favourite fishing rod?
Carl
Oh! Daddy sorry, I forgot to bring it back.
Scene 2
On the boat at sea on day 2.
Carl
I don’t know how to use the rod, how do you do that?
Violetta
Hey boy, be a man! What are you doing? Let me show you!
Carl
Yes, I’m really nervous, I don’t know how to use it?
What should I use?
Which one?
Violetta
No, I know what you’re doing wrong. Do it this way! I will show you and then you will memorise.
Carl
Sorry, it’s my first time on the boat, I really am so nervous, and I can’t remember.
Violetta (shoving Carl)
I’m making you a man!!
Michael
Chill, chill….take it easy!
Ok Violetta take a seat, you’re not in a good humour today.
Pause
What is your name?
Carl
My name is Carl (falling as he catches a hammerhead shark)
Oh no!!! It’s too heavy!!!
Michael jumps on the rod and Violetta does too.
Michael
Oh, there it is, the most heavy assed fish I’ve seen this year!
Violetta
Luck to you Michael, you’d love a double fishburger!!
Scene 3
Day 5. They’re sitting in the galley eating the shark.
Captain Joe
It’s good fish, good beer, a perfect evening.
Violetta
Delicious. As always Michael.
Michael (the cook)
Did you taste my special sauce? My mum, grandma, they all cooked this sauce.
It starts to rain. The waves swell.
Carl
I’m still thinking….where are my keys?
Captain Joe (nearly chokes)
What? Follow me kid…..
They walk to Captain Joe’s cabin.
You thought we were here only to fish……..
Pause.
I knew your Father. He was a good man.
Carl
Sure, I know. Wait what? You knew my Father?
Captain Joe
We worked together.
Carl
What were you doing with my Father?
Captain Joe
We were smugglers.
Carl
Holy shit! What were you smuggling?
Captain Joe
Diamonds.
Carl
Well then why don’t we have enough money?
Captain Joe
Our ship got wrecked and the diamonds sunk.
Carl
I don’t know what to say.
Pause.
When did this happen?
Captain Joe
On your 14th birthday.
Carl
My Mum said that he was away travelling then.
Captain Joe
Your Dad went to the bottom with the diamonds.
Carl
What the fuck?
Captain Joe
Do you need the money? Are you in or not?
Carl (shocked)
I’m confused.
Captain Joe (aggressively slaps the table and shouts)
Are you in or not?!
Carl
I never liked my Father.
Captain Joe
I don’t give a shit what you think about your Father. This is the last time I’m going to ask you. Are you in or not?
Carl
No.
Scene 4
Back in the galley.
Violetta
Did you hear that, Michael?
Michael
No, was it the wind?
Violetta
The strange sounds coming from the captain’s cabin.
Michael
No, I think it’s just my rumbling belly.
Violetta
Let’s go check it out.
Michael
Let me finish my tasty shark.
They hear glass breaking.
Violetta
Oh, I think something more interesting is happening than you eating your shark!
Michael
Don’t worry my tasty shark I’ll be back. Okay let’s go you’ve persuaded me.
Scene 5
The storm gets worse as Michael and Violetta go towards Captain Joe’s cabin.
Captain Joe
I believed in you Carl . . . I took you on my boat. Get out, get off the boat!
Carl
You didn’t tell me about the smuggling, and I don’t want to follow in my father’s footsteps and be at the bottom of the sea!
Michael
Hey hey guys calm down.
Michael falls over as a large wave hits the boat.
Violetta
Are you okay . . .
Another wave hits the boat and Violetta falls over.
Captain Joe
I’m going to kill you little boy.
Carl
Stop . . . stop think about your boat. It’s going to go down.
Captain Joe
If I go down, you are going to go down with me. We’re all going to die together.
Violetta
Come to your senses Captain Joe! You’re a big mature man and what are you doing?
Michael
I’d rather be still eating my fish in the galley!
The boat crashes against the rocks. Carl wakes up on a beach and sees his keys in the sand.
Carl
Oh . . . here are my keys.
Scene Six
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