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Act One
Onstage are four bikes, two fixed to each side of the stage on rollers. The stage is set up like a garage full of odds and ends that will later become props. Behind is a screen which reveals the time period of the scenes.
The lights are out and we hear a mix of cheering and commentator footage of Beryl Burton’s various wins from around the world. It swells to a climax.
Lights go up to reveal four actors on the bikes. They are pedalling.
Tom Beryl –
Sue Burton.
Jo Wife –
Jim Mother –
Jo Yorkshirewoman –
Sue Cyclist.
Sue There’ll be some of you out there who have never heard of Beryl before tonight, some of you who may never have heard of quite possibly the greatest sportswoman who ever lived –
Tom I know I hadn’t.
Jo Eh?
Tom I hadn’t heard of her. I had no idea who Beryl Burton was before I got this job.
Jo To be honest, neither had I heard of her before the job. Well, before Googling her before the audition for the job.
Tom Jim?
Jim (catching his breath) Yeah?
Tom Beryl? Had you heard of her?
Jim I’d barely heard of exercise before all this started.
Sue Why have we never heard of the sporting legend that is Beryl Burton? Why had this country’s greatest cyclist eluded the limelight for so long?
Jim Will we find out?
Tom I bloody hope so.
Jo Shall I begin?
Sue If you wouldn’t mind.
The lights go out and the actors leave the stage apart from Jo, who gets a tennis ball from her pocket and begins to bounce the ball, catch it and throw it against the wall. Counting . . . She is now young Beryl.
Beryl 97, 98, 99 – (The ball drops.) No! (Scrambles for the ball.) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, etc.
Sue as Beryl’s Mum appears. In a coat.
Mum Beryl Charnock! In now!
Beryl drops the ball.
Beryl Arrgh!
She bites the ball in frustration.
Mum Take that ball out of your mouth! You don’t know where it’s been.
Beryl carries on throwing and counting.
Mum Have you become hard of hearing all of a sudden? I said in! Now!
Beryl No!
Mum No? Your father will be home soon and I haven’t started his tea. So unless you want to get us both into trouble get in and start peeling some veg.
Beryl continues, focused on her game.
Mum He’s been working all day. Please, Beryl! (Losing her rag.) Right, that’s it! Give me that.
Beryl Mum!
Mum Give it me.
They fight over the ball.
You and that flaming ball.
Beryl I’m nearly there. Please?
Mum Why do you want to spend all your time playing on your own?
Beryl I’m not playing. I’m competing.
Mum Who with?
Beryl Myself.
She continues, focused on her game.
Tom appears as Beryl’s Dad.
Beryl and Mum freeze.
Dad What the bloody hell is going on?
Silence.
Beryl?
Mum Answer your father.
Beryl Mum was trying to get me in to help make the tea, but I wouldn’t.
Mum She’d rather be out here throwing that tatty old ball for hours.
Dad Get in.
He goes to clip her round the ear. She dodges.
In!
Beryl leaves, bouncing her ball.
Dad Beryl!
Beryl stops bouncing.
Dad What is the matter with her?
Mum Stubborn.
Dad Well, it’s not from my side.
Mum In’t it?
Dad I’m not stubborn.
Mum You are.
Dad I am not!
He storms off.
Mum (to herself) Oh you . . . bloody well are.
Jo goes on bouncing the ball.
Morley, 1947. A school bell rings loudly. The noise of children running. Tom and Jim leap off their bikes and charge around with outstretched arms like aeroplanes. They set up three desks and chairs, grab ties and bags. They dress. They are now Jeff and Bob, aged ten.
Sue Coldcotes Junior School.
Tom 1947.
Jo Beryl is ten.
Jeff You scared?
Bob What of? You?
Jeff No, exam. Eleven-plus.
Bob I suppose. I’m scared about what me mam and dad will say if I don’t pass.
Jo enters as Beryl, bouncing her ball. She is counting to herself.
Jeff I don’t care, I hate school, it’s rubbish. I bet smartypants Charnock over there isn’t scared. ‘Miss, I know the answer,’ ‘Oh look at my swimming certificate,’ ‘Oh, I’ve won another swimming race.’ ‘Oh, look how far I can swim underwater, I’m like a female Johnny We...
