The Wheelers, a working-class East London family rocked by the First World War and now living
through the agony of the Second World War, their only son Ted has now been called up to join the
fight. Bob, Ted’s father a veteran hero of the 1st World War knows only too well what his son will be
facing in Europe. They live within a close-knit community of family and friends that have all been
affected by the death of so many young men, we follow their lives leading up to the end of World War
Two.
Cast
Sylvie
Bob
Ted
Sally
Elsie
Dave
Rita
Charlie / Soldier
Pat
Mo
Roger / Cohen
Barry / Sergeant Smith
Joyce / Flo
Edward / Jones
Georgy / O’Conner
An Excerpt from Worlds Apart
ACT 1 SCENE 1 The Wheeler House
A typical mid 1940’s living room, dark wooden furniture 2-piece sofa and sideboard with radio on it, its
8.30am and Sylvie is sat at the dining room table busy getting ready to go to the market and Bob’s
sitting quietly thinking in his favourite chair.
(From behind his chair)
Sylvie: You alright Bob?
Bob: (Daydreaming he Mumbles words)
Sylvie: I said, are you alright?
Bob: Sorry love, I was miles away
Sylvie: Yea, I wish you bleeding were.
Bob: What? …. I was just…thinking, that’s all.
Sylvie: Hurt did it….
Bob: What?
(Sylvie walks past him to the dining table)
Sylvie: Oh, Jesus give me strength, never mind, now you listen to me Bob Wheeler you’ve got to
snap out of this nonsense, its 1945 not bleeding 1914
(Rising)
Bob: Look Sylv.…. I know what bloody year it is thanks, what do ya take me for?
(Crossing to him)
Sylvie: Now, do you really want me to answer that!
Bob: Oh Funny.
Sylvie: Look, I’m just worried about ya, that’s all, I’m allowed to worry aint I, your still my husband
aint ya, (Under her breath) God help me,
(Crossing)
Bob: Look Slyv, I know what it’s like over there for all of them young boys, so much waste, so
much heartbreak and thinking about our Ted going so soon, well I just can’t help it…. I’m just
worried that’s all, I am allowed to worry about our only son aint I.
(Crosses behind him and puts her arms around him from behind)
Sylvie: Yes of course you are luv, but we gotta be strong for Ted’s sake, show him that we’re here
for him if he needs us, that’s all.
Bob: Your right of course…
(Crosses to the table to pick up her shopping bag)
Sylvie: …As always, Now do you want a cuppa before I go.
(Turning to her)
Bob: No ta, by the way where is that lazy git?
Sylvie: Standing next to me…5
Bob: ….Nice
Sylvie: But if you’re talking about your son he’s still in bed, now I’m off up the market,
(Going up close to him) look I know you wanted back in the army Bob, but that was four
bloody years ago, …anyway if you ask me, it’s for the best and you know it is.
(Breaks from her and goes to sit back down)
Bob: Oh yea, you would say that.
Sylvie: Look, you said that it’ll give you plenty of time to do all those little jobs around the house
that needed doing….
Bob: And
Sylvie: AND…they still need bleeding doing.
(Bob Picking up the paper)
Bob: Alright, alright I’ll get them done
Sylvie: I know you will, now I’ve really got to go before the queues get too big, I’ll get ya something
nice for ya tea alright.
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