SCENE 1: SOMEWHERE ON THE COAST OF ENGLAND

RAIN FALLS DOWN AS WE HEAR THE SOUND OF SOMEONE WALKING UP THE BEACH, SAND AND PEBBLES UNDERFOOT.

JIM PRICE SPEAKS AND TELLS US HOW HE GOT HERE.

PRICE:(vo)	It was still raining when I reached the coast of England. I really didn’t need anybody asking awkward questions, so I left the ship quietly and walked away, alone, along the beach. On the waterfront I could see men dressed much the same as myself: seaman jerseys and army jackets. Thankfully nobody seemed to take any notice of me and I began to feel at ease for the first time in days. Somehow, I had made it.

I lit a cigarette and fished out the dirty bit of paper which bore the address of David Tanner from my pocket. I read the letter again.

“Jim, sorry to hear things didn’t work out for you underground in Italy. If you're getting tired of it all and what a change of air, I can fix you up with a job in England. No questions asked. It's another mining job and will be right up your street. Your old chum, Dave.”

Even though I’d been lucky so far, I knew I’d be taking a chance if I went given the type of people Davey worked with. But I was out of options and out of money. Not a great place to find myself in at the end of a war. So for better or worse, I decided to go meet my old friend at number two Harbour Terrace.

SCENE 2: A COASTAL VILLAGE

LATER IN THE DAY. THE RAIN HAS LIGHTNED. JIM WALKS UP TO A DOOR AND KNOCKS. A WOMAN ANSWERS.

SAM:			Yes?

PRICE:		Mr. Tanner in?

SAM:			Who?

PRICE:		Tanner. Mr. Dave Tanner.

SAM:			Nobody of that name lives here.

PRICE:	Well he’s an old friend of mine. I've come a long way to see him. Look here's the letter he sent me.

HE GETS OUT THE LETTER. TRIES TO SHOW IT TO HER.

SAM:			Well I'm sorry...

THE WOMAN TRIES TO CLOSE THE DOOR. PRICE PUTS HIS FOOT IN THE WAY.					

PRICE:	Look you don’t have to be afraid. Don’t close the door. I'm not with the police. No one’s in trouble. (Thinks for a moment) He’s tall, dark hair and dark eyes. A bit of a limp.

SAM: 	(thinking) Oh... Maybe its Mr. Jones you're wanting, but he's not here right now either.

PRICE:		You know when he'll be back?

SAM:			No I....

PRICE:		Hello? What’s that? Are you hurt?

SAM:			Oh no I...

PRICE:		But that's blood on your hands?

SAM:	Oh no, it’s just one of the lodgers here. He’s cut himself on some glass. That’s all.

PRICE:	Davey is here isn't he? He’s here and he's hurt?

SAM:			No.... you can't come in.

					PRICE FORCEFULLY COMES IN.
			
PRICE:	Move over.

SAM:	Oh!	

PRICE:	Sorry to force my way through, but he’s my friend. Where is he?

SAM:	I tell you, you're mistaken. You have to leave now.

DAVEY: (off)	What the devil are you doing Sam? Come and help me fix this arm before I lose any more blood. Who was it anyway? The police?

PRICE: 	(shouting) It's all right Davey it's me, Jim Price.

DAVEY: (off)	Jim Price? Fine time for visiting you've chosen. But come on up, I'm bleeding to death here.

SCENE 3: UPSTAIRS INSIDE THE VILLAGE HOUSE

THE SOUND OF GOING UP STAIRS AND ENTERING A ROOM

PRICE:(vo)	We went upstairs and inside his room. Dave was sitting white faced on the edge of a bed. He winced as the girl dabbed iodine onto what was obviously a bullet wound. Then the bandage went on.

DAVEY:		Careful. Not too tight.

PRICE:		What happened?

DAVEY:	Nothing. Really, It’s alright, I’ll tell you later. I'm glad to see you back. (beat) Sam?

SAM:			Yes Davey?

DAVEY:	Go downstairs and wrap up some food. And find us another raincoat.

SAM:			But you can't go out.

DAVEY:	Don’t argue. I’m running out of time. They’ll already be looking for me. I have to go now.

SAM:			All right. I’ll be as quick as I can.  

SAM LEAVES THE ROOM AND GOES DOWNSTAIRS.

DAVEY:	Okay, it's better now, we can talk safely. You've come over for that job I take it?

PRICE:		Yes.

DAVEY:	And you got ashore with no questions asked?

PRICE:	I managed. Somehow. It cost me my last farthing though. Means I've got no papers and if anybody finds out...

DAVEY: 	(interrupting)	You got ashore and that’s all that matters. Anyway, it's a mining job as I told you in the letter. Here, help me get up and get this coat on...

PRICE HELPS DAVEY GET UP. HANDS HIM A COAT WHICH WAS ON THE BACK OF A CHAIR.

PRICE:		Here...

DAVEY:		(Discomfort) Hey, easy, easy

PRICE:	I’m being easy. Are you okay? Can you stand?

DAVEY:	I can do anything I need to. I wanna be shot of this place quickly. Your way is the same as mine. I'll tell you about the job as we go.

PRICE:		Go? Where? 

DAVEY:	Local tin mine. But there's more to it than that though. Much more.

PRICE:		Oh?

DAVEY:	Come on, we'll meet the girl downstairs. I've got to get out.

THEY HEAD DOWNSTAIRS, DAVEY IN DISCOMFORT.

SCENE 4: DOWNSTAIRS INSIDE THE VILLAGE HOUSE

SAM:			Davey, here’s an old raincoat of father’s.

DAVEY:	Give it to him. Jim put it on. This rain isn’t going to stop anytime soon. Now listen Sam. Those clothes upstairs? Burn them. Clean everything up. If anybody comes around asking questions, tell them you haven't seen me. Not for three days. Understand?

SAM:	Will you be okay? Where can I get in touch with you?

DAVEY:		You can’t.

SAM:			You’ll come back? 

DAVEY:	I will. But remember... you haven't seen me and you don't know where I've gone.

SAM:			You can trust me. 

DAVEY:	I hope so. You'll hear from me again. You will. Now go open the door and see if anyone's about.

SAM:			Okay.

THE DOOR OPENS. THE RAIN CONTINUES. THE WIND PICKS UP. 

SCENE 5: OUTSIDE WALKING AWAY FROM THE VILLAGE

PRICE:(vo)	The street was deserted and the rain began to fall heavily again. We kept to the mean badly lit streets as we made our way slowly out of the village. Leaving the lights behind us as we reached the top of a hill. We hadn’t said a word to each other up till that point.

DAVEY:		We’ll separate at the next village.

PRICE:		How far is that?

DAVEY:		Oh, eight, nine miles.

PRICE:		And where are you going?

DAVEY:	A farm I know. I need to hide up for a bit.

PRICE:		Is it the police Davey?

DAVEY:	In a manner of speaking. I had a fishing boat working off a local island, carrying goods.

PRICE:		Liquor?

DAVEY:	Of course. Picked it up from an Italian boat. But a Revenue Cutter boarded us and insisted on taking the hatches off. I tried. I did. I warned them not to. So it was their own fault as far as I can see. I had to jump for the other boat. That's when I got this bullet through the arm.

PRICE:		How did you get away?

DAVEY:	We booby-trapped the hatches. When they opened them, everything went straight up. It sank. All of it.

PRICE:		How many were killed?

DAVEY:	What does it matter? What’s done is done. They’re after me now though.

PRICE:		And what about me?

DAVEY:	Oh, the job. I told you. If you want it, it’s yours.

PRICE:		Where do I go? Who do I see?

DAVEY:	Ripples Ease. Just down the road from Turlock. Ask for Captain Manack. Tell him I sent you. Show him my letter.

PRICE:		That all?

DAVEY:	That's all. He'll tell you what it's about (beat) and Jimmy? (beat) about Italy (beat) what you did for me? 

PRICE:	(dismissive) It was nothing. You would have done the same.

DAVEY:	(hesitant) Maybe but... (pause) Come on, let’s keep going. But I’ll need to rest again soon with this blasted arm.

SCENE 6: RIPPLES EASE MINING VILLAGE

PRICE:(vo)	Must have been nearly midnight when Davey and I parted. He pointed the way to Ripples Ease, a mile further along, then turned away and disappeared into the driving rain.

Half an hour later, I found the huddle of abandoned mine buildings. Then against a crackle of lightning, I saw a house. I had reached Ripples Ease and the job that awaited me.

KNOCK AT THE DOOR. DOOR OPENS.

MANACK: 		And what do you want?

PRICE:		I want to see Captain Manack.

MANACK: 	I be captain Manack. What business you here on?

PRICE:		Dave Tanner sent me.

MANACK: 		Who?

PRICE:	Dave Tanner. He told me to show you this letter.

PRICE GETS OUT THE LETTER AND	 HANDS IT TO MANACK.

MANACK: 		Hmnnn come in then.

PRICE:	My name’s Jim Price. Davey said you had a mining job for me? I’m a miner, I was working in Italy.

MANACK: 	Come through then. I’ve got a fire. You can get dry from the rain..

DOOR CLOSES

MANACK: 	How long have you known Dave?

PRICE:		We were in the army together.

MANACK: 		Where?

PRICE:		Italy mostly.

MENEK:	Hmmn. Sit down. You’re that deserter chap aren't you? 

PRICE IS SHOCKED THAT MANACK KNOWS THIS.

PRICE:	Look I....

MANACK:	(Interrupting) Oh, it's all right. Dave told me all about you. We don't ask any questions around here. Does anyone know you're back in England?

PRICE:	No only Davey. So this job you've got, how long will it take?

MANACK:	Not being a miner I wouldn't know. Might take a week I guess. I'll give you a flat rate of 50 pounds and another hundred if you can do it in two days.

PRICE:		So what you got? A big tin strike?

MANACK:		No. Nothing like that.

PRICE:		Then I don’t see why...

MANACK:	(Interrupting) Take a look at this chart.

HE OPENS A DRAW AND GETS OUT A MAP. HE LAYS IT OUT ON THE TABLE.

MANACK:	See all these mines around here are done for. There's nothing worth working in them anymore. But I've got another use for them. You see that long gallery running down under the sea.

PRICE:		Yeah.

MENEK:	It's called The Mermaid. Nearly half a mile long out to sea. Now then, what I want you to do is blow a passage into the seabed at the end of it.

PRICE:		(shocked) Blow a passage into the seabed?

MANACK:	Yes. You see the slope of the gallery? It starts about a hundred feet below the sea level and at the end rises to oh, by my reckoning, about 20 feet under the seabed.

PRICE:	So my job is to drill through that 20 feet and let the sea in?

MANACK:	Yes. You see it's getting risky running liquor into England through the usual channels these days. Far too many boats patrolling the coast. Far too many.

PRICE:	(wearily understanding) So that’s the reason.

MANACK:	This will be much safer. Our boat spots the buoy which marks the entrance at the underwater mine. They lower the cargo down to the cage and we haul it up through the mine back to the shore.

PRICE:		How?

MANACK:	Underwater carriage drawn by hawser cables at the mine entrance.

HE SEES THE LOOK ON PRICE’S FACE AND THAT HE DOESN’T BELIEVE HIM.  

MANACK:	Oh it’ll work... even under water it’ll work. I've had other men working on the shaft for a year now. Straightened it dead out. All we need is a miner to finish the job. That's you.

PRICE:	It's nasty. Suppose the entrance gets jammed with rock after she blows?

MANACK:	Then I’d send men down in diving suits to clear it..

PRICE:	I don’t like it. I don’t. Haven't done under-sea stuff like this before.

MANACK:	You’re a miner? You know explosives and rock don’t you?

PRICE:		Yeah.

MANACK:		Then they’ll be nothing to it. 

PRICE:	Hmmn. What about Davey? Was he doing a job for you too? That boat which exploded? Suppose the police catch him and tie it to you? What happens to me then?

MANACK:		Don't worry. Tanner wouldn’t say a word.

PRICE:	I’m not sure about any of this.

MANACK:	Be sensible, you're a deserter from the British Army. You’ve returned to England without any papers. If not here, where else would you work? Where would you go? I’m offering you 150 pounds for your services.

PRICE:		I should have stayed in Italy

MANACK:		But you didn't, did you?

PRICE:	No… I wanted to see England again. It was a mistake.

MANACK:	Not at all. Do what I ask and I'll see that you get a safe passage back to Italy.

PRICE:	No. No it’s too dangerous. I'm sorry I'll take my chances somewhere else on another job.

MANACK:		Well then. You leave me no alternative.

PRICE:		What do you mean?

MANACK:	I shall have to telephone the police and inform them a deserter has shown up here looking for a job.

PRICE:	After what you just told me? Don’t make me laugh!

MANACK:	I’ll have you know I'm quite a respectable man around these parts. I doubt the authorities would take your word against mine.

PRICE:	You’re bluffing! Nobody can force me to do anything I don’t want to.

MANACK:	You think so? 

THE SOUND OF ANOTHER DRAW OPENING. MANACK PULLS OUT A PISTOL AND COCKS IT. PRICE TRIES TO MOVE FROM HIS CHAIR.

MANACK:	No no... Stay where you are Mr. Price. You better believe I wouldn't hesitate to shoot you. See I'm in rather a desperate position here. It's taken me a long time to find a miner like you to do this job, so I couldn't bear to see you refuse. (beat) Just like I couldn’t bear Davey failing to find me someone for the job. I have a way of persuading people you see.

			MANACK PICKS UP THE PHONE.

MANACK:	You still have a moment to change your mind. (pause) Hello, would you ring the police station for me please?

PRICE:(vo)	He wasn't bluffing. I knew I’d only have a few seconds to decide. It was a choice of arrest, conviction as a deserter, or doing a job which might mean my life.

I’d run away from death once before, run away from a war. It was then I suddenly realized I'd been running ever since. I had to stop.

I looked back at Manack, smiling and sure with his pistol pointed directly at me.

MANACK:		Well?

PRICE:	Alright! Hang up! Hang up! I'll do it. I'll blow up your bloody mine!

MANACK PUTS DOWN THE PHONE.

PRICE:(vo)	Manack put down the phone, opened a desk drawer and took out some pound notes. He handed me ten and suggested I get some sleep.

We were to start work at five in the morning. I was just pocketing the money when the door behind us opened. I looked around and saw an old man enter.

OLD MAN:		I didn't know you had someone here Henry. 

MANACK:	It's all right father, this is Jim Price. He's going to work here for a bit. He's a miner

OLD MAN:	A miner is he? Well my boy, it’s good to know they’ll be another miner working here at last. I knew you’d see it my way sooner or later. Anyway, at least we can make a decent start now.

MANACK:		Price is working for me, father. Not you.

OLD MAN:	Working for you? Nonsense. What can you want a miner for? You know nothing about it. He must work for me. I’ve been mining all my life.

MANACK:	Father, you might as well know now. I'm letting the sea into the Mermaid Gallery.

OLD MAN:	What? You’re mad! You can't do it. I won't allow it.

MANACK:		That’s what I'm going to do.

OLD MAN:	I won't allow it I tell you. The mine belongs to me!

MANACK:	Yes, but I provide the money don’t I? When I came back the mine was full of water right up to the adit entrance. It’s only because I put up the cash that we’ve got it open at all. Now it’s time to make my money back. 

OLD MAN:	But I found the seam! I found it. There’s a fortune in it!

MANACK:	But not a tax free one. Unlike my own plan.

MANACK TURNS AWAY FROM HIS FATHER.

MANACK:	Mr. Price, perhaps you better leave us now to continue our discussion. Go to the kitchen across the hall, one of the men will show you to your quarters.

SCENE 7: THE KITCHEN INSIDE THE MAIN HOUSE

PRICE:(vo)	I could hear the argument raging down the hall as I walked through to the kitchen. There were a few men in there, sitting by a fire with mugs in their hands. I wondered what Manack had on them... Were they deserters too? Or here by choice? 

A long, cadaverous-faced man looked at me as I entered.

SLIM:	Blow me, another one. Sit down friend, sit down. I say, you staying or passing through?

PRICE:		I'm going to be working here, I’m a miner.

SLIM:	Hear that everyone? A miner! Now we don't have to worry about that ruddy roof falling in on us. My name's Slim Matthews. Good to meet you. 

PRICE:		Jim Price.

SLIM:	So Manack hired you to blow through the seabed then?

PRICE:		Yes.

SLIM:		Does the old man know?

PRICE:		Yes, he just found out.

SLIM:	I thought I heard some argy-bargy. That’s going to be trouble.

PRICE:		I don't understand.

SLIM:	The old man's been working these mines all his life. Now he says he’s found the richest tin strike on record. Captain's right though. It’s too expensive to operate a mine these days, but running liquor is tax free. 

SLIM TAKES A DRINK FROM THE MUG.

SLIM:	I wouldn’t want your job though, Mr. Price. We’ve been sweating down there for over a year. It ends up giving you a funny feeling having all that sea over your head. Not to mention that maze of tunnels. One bloke got lost down there a few months ago. Still ain’t found his body. Not that any of us are too keen to go searching…

SLIM GETS UP FROM HIS CHAIR

SLIM:	Come on mate I'll show you to your digs. Imagine you'll want to be up bright and early.

PRICE:		Thanks. 

SCENE 8: THE BEDROOM OF JIM PRICE

PRICE:(vo)	Slim showed me to my room and wished me goodnight. It was about half an hour later that I heard a tap on my door.

DOOR KNOCKS.

PRICE:		Yes?

					DOOR OPENS.

PRICE:		Mr. Manack? 

OLD MAN:	I was afraid you might be asleep by now. Look, I’ve got something I want to show you. My son tells me you’re an experienced tinner? Have a look at this rock. Maybe you'll believe me.

PRICE WHISTLES AT THE QUALITY OF THE TIN/ROCK.

PRICE:	Hey that's tin all right. Good stuff too! 

OLD MAN:	It’s the richest seam in the history of mining around these parts. Look at it, just look at it! My son, curse him, doesn't see it. He's going to let the sea into the mine and he's brought you here to do it! You're the man who's going to wreck my life!

PRICE:	I'm sorry. It’s just a job. That’s all...

OLD MAN:	You can't. You mustn't. Look I'll give you 50 pounds more than he's offered if you don't do it.

PRICE:	But what difference would it make? He'd only get another miner.

OLD MAN:	But that would take time. Don't you see? By then we could be rich.

PRICE:		I don’t...

OLD MAN:	(interrupting) It's alright, it's alright. Think about it. Okay? I know he holds something over your head. He does with everyone. Think about it, and give me your answer tomorrow. Otherwise I’ll have to.... (trails off)

PRICE:	Mr. Manack. Are you okay?

OLD MAN:	I’m sorry. I have things to arrange… I’ll see you tomorrow. I hope you’ve listened to what I’ve said…

PRICE:(vo)	And with that, the old man left my room mumbling. I didn’t know what he was planning, but I was starting to wonder which Manack I should be more wary of.

SCENE 9: A MINE ELEVATOR HEADING DOWN

THE NEXT DAY. WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE MINESHAFT ELEVATOR. HEADING DOWN TO THE MERMAID GALLERY. 

PRICE:(vo)	The next day I found myself in a vertical mine cage heading down into the dark depths. The one-man elevator was old, rusted and slow, but still worked. As we went deeper I looked out at the rock passing before my eyes and the emergency escape ladder which ran alongside the elevator shaft. The wooden rungs seemed old and were slowly rotting away. I was glad I was in this cage, but still nervous about what I would find at the bottom.     

SCENE 10: UNDERGROUND IN THE MERMAID GALLERY

DEEP IN THE MINE. IT’S HOT AND HUMID WITH WATER DRIPPING DOWN FROM THE CELLING AND WALLS. PRICE AND CAPTAIN MANACK ARE INSPECTING THE SCAFFOLDING

MANACK:		Well that's it, Mr. Price.

PRICE:	And what's that for Captain? Here underneath the scaffolding.

MANACK:	To catch the rock when you make the final blast.

PRICE:		(unsure) Ah, well it might work. I guess.

MANACK:	As I told you, if it doesn't, I'll get someone down in a diving suit to tear it all away. I’ve got plenty of spare men.

PRICE:	You say there's 20 feet to get through?

MANACK:		Yes.

PRICE:	(Looking around) There’s quite a bit of water seeping in now.

MANACK:		Nothing you can’t handle.

PRICE:		Let’s see what we’ve got then.

PRICE GETS A PICKAXE AND HAMMERS IT INTO THE WALL. HE PICKS UP THE ROCKS AND FEELS IT IN HIS HAND

PRICE:	As I thought. Granite. Basalt from the feel of it. 

MANACK:		If you say so.

PRICE:		Hmm, if it cracks anything could happen.

MANACK:	Nothing will happen if you do the job right. By the way, my father spoke to you last night didn’t he?

PRICE:		(unsure) Yes.

MANACK:	Showed you the tin? Probably offered you more than me not to blow the mine? I hope you refused because if you didn't I could still notify the police (pause) Or worse. (pause) A person could easily get lost down here you know.

PRICE:		I didn't tell him anything, okay?

MANACK:	Good, then you can start work immediately. I'll send Slim down to help you. (beat) By the way don't go wandering around too much and stay out of the shaft that parallels this one. It’s called the ‘Come Lucky Mine’. There’s been a lot of holes opening up in her recently. If she caves in, she'd take in the sea and break through here.

PRICE:		I know what I’m doing. I'll be careful.

PRICE:(vo)	I've worked mines most of my life. It gives you a strange feeling standing under the sea, a half mile from shore and protected by only 20 feet of rock. Rock that you're soon going to be drilling and blasting. After that, all you can do is pray to God that it doesn't cave in until you're long on your way out.

SCENE 11: LATER. STILL UNDERGROUND IN THE MERMAID GALLERY

THE SOUND OF DRILLS. PICKS AND WATER DRIPPING IN HEAVILY. IT’S HARD AND DANGEROUS WORK.

PRICE:(vo)	Slim soon came down to join me and I started to drill holes for the explosives. As the rock fell away, little streams of water seeped down, soaking us. I was right, it was nasty work for sure.

SLIM:		Is that it then mate?

PRICE:		Yeah, that's enough for the first blow.

SLIM:	First? How many do you think you’ll need?

PRICE:	Three, maybe four. Depends. Give me the charges.

SLIM:		Right you are.

SLIM WADES THROUGH THE WATER TO HAND OVER THE CHARGES. FROM THE SOUND OF THE WATER, IT’S UP TO HIS SHINS.

SLIM:	Here you are. (hands them over) The water is really starting to rise isn’t it?

PRICE:	There's nothing to worry about. Yet.

SLIM:	If you say so. The sooner the sea’s in this gallery the better though.

PRICE:	You better get up the tunnel for when she goes.

SLIM:	I was hoping you'd say that mate. You know more about all this than I do. I’m just a stone mason by trade. Wouldn’t be here if I didn’t need the money.

			SLIM SCAMBLES UP THE TUNNEL

PRICE:(vo)	Slim disappeared up the gallery and I was left alone to explode the charge. I connected the wires, moved the exploder as far as it would stretch into the tunnel and then... (pause) I pressed the plunger.

A LOUD EXPLOSION AS ROCKS TUMBLE BACK DOWN. THE TRICKLE OF WATER INCREASES.

PRICE:(vo)	The roof still held. A bit more water trickled in but she still held. I knew she wouldn’t give in that easily.

			PRICE SCAMBLES UP THE TUNNEL.

PRICE:(vo)	I went back to the entrance for a much needed cup of tea before I started again with the next blast. But as I approached the cage which served as an elevator to the surface, I saw Captain Manack talking with another man. It was Dave Tanner!

MANACK:	You bloody fool! Why of all places did you have to come here? 

DAVEY:	I told you. The girl talked to the wrong people. I heard it on the wireless. They used my name! But I knew, of all places, they wouldn't think of looking for me here. I knew it’d be safer.

MANACK:	Safer? In broad daylight? Are you mad? Somebody must have seen you. The police will be all over us.

DAVEY:		Nobody saw me.

MANACK:		How do you know? 

MANACK NOTICES PRICE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

MANACK:	Price! There you are. You've got to be through that seabed by tonight!

PRICE:		What? That’s impossible. I can't do it.

MANACK:	Nothing's impossible if I say so. I can get you out of the country as soon as you finish the job, but if you don't finish tonight and the police come...

HE PUSHES DAVEY BACK IN ANGER. DAVEY FALLS DOWN TO THE GROUND.

MANACK:	Which they will now thanks to your friend here. Well... you know what that’ll mean.

DAVEY:	I’m sorry Jim. I shouldn’t have got you involved with this but we didn’t have a choice. We were desperate.	

PRICE:	Look, it can't be done. It’s all too much work for just one man. 

MANACK:	Okay, I’ll send Slim back down to drill with you. It’ll be better than nothing.

PRICE:	I’ll try, but what you’re asking for it’s...

MANACK:		(interrupting) Not if I say so.

MANACK:	And both of you keep a look out for my father. Nobody has seen him all day. He’s up to something, I know it. Here, take my other gun.

HE PUTS DOWN ANOTHER GUN ON A BARRREL. 

MANACK:	And don’t get any clever ideas, alright? This gun has one use and that’s to shoot my father if he gets in our way. Understand?

PRICE:		(upset, angry) All right! All right!

MANACK:		Then get to it!

SCENE 12: LATER. STILL UNDERGROUND IN THE MERMAID GALLERY

PRICE:(vo)	We worked like madmen all day. Drilling. Blasting. We blew the rock three, four, five times. Still it wasn't enough. The water was coming in fast, filling the pit. Manack and Slim went back for new drills and charges while Davey and I remained, sat on the scaffolding. I smoked a cigarette. It was getting dangerous. The rock was getting weaker, but there was nothing more I could do. Water streamed down the slimy walls. I waited for them to return. It was five minutes past when I thought I saw a shadow moving at the cavern entrance.

PRICE: 	(shouts) Slim is that you? Have you got the rest of the charges?

OLD MAN:		No. It’s me Mr Price.

PRICE:		Mr. Manack?

MR MANACK WALKS TOWARDS HIM. THROUGH THE WATER. CARRYING A PICKAXE AS HE DOES.

PRICE:(vo)	The old man walked towards us, through the rising water. He seemed cold. Distant. He was carrying a sharp pickaxe which glistened in the light of the dim torches. Had he been working elsewhere in the mine? 

OLD MAN:	I told you you’ve gotta stop, Mr. Price. But you didn’t listen did you? You and that blasted kin of mine. When you flood the gallery, I’ll never get any of it. Nobody will.

THE SOUND OF GRABBING PRICE ROUGHLY.	

PRICE:(vo)	He grabbed me by the shirt. He was strong for his age. Perhaps the result of a lifetime of striking rocks. Still, I didn’t want to throw a punch against an old man.

DAVEY:	Let go of him you old fool!

OLD MAN:		I won’t let you, do you hear me?

PRICE:		There's nothing I can do.

OLD MAN:	It’s mine and you’re going to destroy it!

HE LETS GO AND STARTS TO RUN AWAY.

OLD MAN:(off)	I’ll kill you. I’ll kill all of you!!

DAVEY:	Look Mr. Manack... you’d better get to the surface. It’s not safe here.

OLD MAN:(off)	Oh you’ll find out! You’ll find out how unsafe this all is!

PRICE:(vo)	He was gone but I knew he was up to something. I wanted to follow but I remembered Captain Manack's warning about the tunnels. The old man knew them well. Every twist and turn. If he wanted to get rid of us, he could lead us through a maze, one from which we would never find our way out. So we stayed there until the Captain and Slim came back.

SCENE 13: LATER. STILL UNDERGROUND IN THE MERMAID GALLERY

CAPTAIN MANACK AND SLIM RETURN INTO THE CAVERN ENTRANCE.			
MANACK:	Price, there’s something wrong.

SLIM:	We can’t find the rest of the charges. They’ve gone. Someone’s taken them.

DAVEY:		Your father was here.

MANACK:		What?

PRICE:		He's up to something.

MANACK:		Why didn’t you shoot him man?!

PRICE:	I don’t know. He was on me before I had chance to pick up the gun from... (looks around) Hold on where’d it go?

DAVEY:	He’s taken the gun!

MANACK:	He probably took the charges as well. Come on, hurry. We’ve got to stop him and get those charges back. Pick up those torches and let’s get this over with before the police come down on us. 

THEY ALL RUN DEEPER INTO THE MINE. 

SCENE 14: LATER. STILL UNDERGROUND BUT NOW IN THE COME LUCKY MINE

SLIM:		What’s he going to do?

MANACK:	He's going to make sure that we can't open the gallery into the sea. He's mad!

SLIM:		The Come Lucky Mine?!

MANACK:	That's what I'm afraid of. He knows those tunnels like the back of his hand. Come on!

PRICE:(vo)	The old man was somewhere in the mine which paralleled ours. If he knew of a fault in the wall, he could allow tons of seawater to rush in, breaking down the walls and flooding our own tunnel. He was going to kill us all and make sure nobody would be able to open up the mermaid gallery to the sea. If he couldn’t have it, nobody would. But as we ran deeper into the mine, I recalled what Slim has said about that person who got lost in these tunnels and never came back. Was it already too late? Had we come too far? Should I have been running to escape rather than deeper into the kraken’s den?   	
THEY STOP RUNNING	

DAVEY:		Stop! Stop! Hey what’s that down there?

PRICE:		It looks like a light.

SLIM:		It is.

MANACK:		It's him!

PRICE:		He's working on something.

SLIM:		The wall!

MANACK:		Father! Father! Stop it!

OLD MAN:		Stay where you are! Stay there!

PRICE:		Do as he says.

OLD MAN:		Don't come any closer.

SLIM:	Listen to me. Don't do it. You'll be killed! 

DAVEY:	We’ll all be killed!

MANACK:		You’ll drown us all father.

OLD MAN:		Not if you let me have my Tin.

PRICE:	(pleading) Captain Manack, enough! Just let him have the stupid goddamn tin before he kills us all.

			A MATCH IS LIT

SLIM:		He’s lit a match!

OLD MAN:		Say it!

					PAUSE AS MANACK THINKS

MANACK:	No you old Devil! Kill yourself! Go on I dare you! But I’ll shoot you before you do!

CAPTAIN MANACK COCKS HIS GUN.

OLD MAN:		You’re not the only one with a gun, son.

THE OLD MAN ALSO COCKS HIS GUN.

PRICE:(vo)	For a moment time stood still. Two generations of the same family pointing guns at each other. A lit match still burning in the old man’s other hand, perilously near to the fuse charge wires, still stuck in the solid rock wall.

SLIM:	Look none of us want to be here. I don’t, that’s for sure. Everyone just put down your guns. We’ve still got time. (pause) Mr Manack?

			PAUSE

SLIM:	Mr Manack?	

PAUSE.

SLIM LUNGES FORWARD!!

SLIM:	(Angry) GIVE ME THE GUN!!	

					GUN SHOT.

PRICE:(vo)	Slim fell backwards onto the wet tunnel floor. Dead. A bullet hole in his chest. The old man stumbled against the tunnel wall as the match lit the fuse.

FUSE BURNING SOUND. THE OLD MAN STARTS TO LAUGH MADLY.

PRICE:		(Panic) Run! Run!

CAPTAIN MANACK, AND DAVEY .RUN AWAY.

MANACK:	We’ve got to get back to the elevator cage!

THE OLD MAN IS STILL LAUGHING IN THE DISTANCE AS THEY RUN AWAY

OLD MAN:		It’s always been MY MINE!!!

A LARGE EXPLOSION WHICH KILLS THE OLD MAN AND BREAKS THROUGH TO THE SEA. WATER STARTS TO POUR THROUGH.
SCENE 15: LATER. STILL UNDERGROUND. LOST SOMEWHERE IN THE MINE TUNNELS.

PRICE:(vo)	We could hear the water pouring down as though from a great height… and then the more terrifying sound as the sea swept through the maze of tunnels. We ran. Ran for the elevator which would take us to the safety of the surface one hundred feet above. The water followed us. You could hear the roar until it deafened you.

THEY STOP AT AN INTERSECTION

DAVEY:		Which way? Which way?!

MANACK:		Go left! Left!

THEY CARRY ON RUNNING. WATER ROARING BEHIND THEM.

MANACK:		Left again!

					THEY STOP IN A LARGE CAVERN.

PRICE:	There. That tunnel above us. I think it’ll lead us back to the gallery and the cage. 

			A BIG RUSH OF WATER.

DAVEY: 	The ladder!

MANACK:	It’s been washed away. What do we do?!

PRICE:	Climb! Climb!

PRICE:(vo)	Davey went first, making slow progress due to his wound. The water was already up to our waists when I started climbing the cavern wall. Captain Manack wasn’t far behind me. It was hard to grip or find any footing, but I knew I didn’t have far to climb. I just had to pull myself up higher.

PRICE:	(climbing) Arrggghhh!

PRICE:(vo)	Somehow. I managed to pull myself up onto the stone outcrop

MANACK:	Help me!! I’m not going to make it!!

PRICE:	Give me your hand, Captain!

PRICE:(vo)	I reached down, arm outstretched. Manack grabbed onto me and I pulled with all my strength.

PRICE/ MANACK:	(pulling) Arrggghhh!

PRICE PULLS MANACK UP. THEY BOTH CATCH THEIR BREATHS FOR A FEW SECONDS.

THEN THEY BOTH GET UP AND CONTINUE RUNNING.

MANACK:	Come on. The elevator should just be around this corner.

PRICE:(vo)	Manack ran ahead of me, but I wasn’t too far behind. Davey had already gone up in the elevator.

PRICE:	(shouting) Come on Davey! Send it back down. Quickly.

PRICE:(vo)	I could see the descending elevator, so close. So near. But the water was rising and there was only room for one man at a time. 

PRICE IS PUNCHED IN THE FACE BY MANACK. HE FALLS BACK INTO THE WATER. 

MANACK:	Sorry Price, but there’s no point in us both dying. The job’s ruined. We’ll never be able to use the mine how I wanted to now. So you’re just one more complication I no longer need.

MANACK PULLS THE CAGE SHUT AND THE MECHANISM STARTS TO SLOWLY PULL IT UP. THE WATER RISES.

PRICE:	Wait! You can’t leave me like this. I just saved your blasted life!

					GUNSHOT BLAST

MANACK:	That was just a warning shot. I really don’t want to waste any more bullets. So do yourself a favour and go find somewhere nice and quiet to drown.

THE ELEVATOR CONTINUES TO MOVE UP. 

PRICE:(vo)	Not like this. I wasn’t going to die like this, but I didn’t have long. The water was already rising again quickly. Then I remembered the emergency escape ladder in the shaft! I moved as quickly as I could!  

PRICE JUMPS ON THE LADDER AND STARTS TO CLIMB UP.

MANACK LOOKS DOWN IN THE CAGE AND SEES PRICE CLIMBING UP AFTER HIM.

MANACK:	You don’t know when to give up do you Price?

HE TRIES TO FIRE. BUT IT’S JAMMED. THE PIN JUST CLICKS EACH TIME

MANACK:		Damn gun’s jammed. Everything’s too wet!

PRICE:(vo)	The water was rising as fast as I could climb the ladder and Manack was still in the slowly rising elevator cage. It was a direct vertical trip to the surface for both of us. There was nothing he could do other than glare at me as I drew level with the cage. But then...

THE SOUND OF THE ELEVATOR MOTOR BURNING OUT. THE CAGE SHUDDERS TO A STOP AND DOESN’T MOVE. 

PRICE:(vo)	The motor on the elevator burnt out as the cage shuddered to a stop with Manack still inside... and the sea water continued to rise. 

MANACK BANGS ON THE ELEVATOR CAGE. WATER RISES.	

MANACK:	Price you’ve got to help me! Get me out of this thing!

PRICE:(vo)	I leaned across from the ladder and tried to open the cage door.

PRICE SHAKES THE CAGE. 

PRICE:(vo)	The door was stuck. He wasn’t going anywhere. The rising water came up through the bottom of the cage and up his legs.

MANACK:	Price! 

PRICE:	Sorry Manack, you’ll just have to think of something. Like you said... nothing is impossible.

PRICE CONTINUES TO CLIMB 

PRICE:(vo)	I kept climbing as Manack continued to shout for help. Continued until I heard a gurgling scream from somewhere beneath me. Then screaming no more.

But I wasn’t safe yet. Climbing the ladder was a nightmare and the water a monster that you couldn't escape. I could see the last of the dying daylight at the top of the shaft. I was almost there, almost free when…

		WOOD SNAP 	

PRICE:(vo)	One of the old wooden rungs broke and I almost lost my grip completely.

PRICE FUMBLES AND SPLASHES AND TRIES TO GRAB ONTO ANYTHING.
			  	
PRICE:(vo)	Somehow I managed to hold on, but it was getting harder and harder to keep moving. I was practically climbing through the water as it rose higher and higher. Exhaustion had almost claimed me. Soon the water reached my neck and then rose over my head...
   
			PRICE TAKES A BIG BREATH.

PRICE:(vo)	I tried to climb… or just stay afloat… but my body had given up. (pause) It seemed calmer under water and I began to embrace the peace. I thought back across my life. The warm summer days on the coast with my family. The local girl Kitty who I had fallen in love with and longed to see again. The horrors of the war across Europe and everything that then happened in Italy.

But I had lived long enough. This was where my story ended. I began to sink into the dark depths.    

PAUSE. THE SOUND OF BEING UNDERWATER. BUT THEN...

A SPLASH. SOMEONE ELSE HAS JUMPED INTO THE WATER. THERE IS A LOT OF SPLASHING. TANNER IS PULLING PRICE UP TO THE SURFACE.

DAVEY:		Come on Jimmy! You’re not done yet.

PRICE:(vo)	Dave Tanner had jumped into the shaft and was dragging me back to the surface. The water had finally stopped its terrible deathly rise. It had found sea level.

MORE SPLASHING AS DAVEY HELPS PRICE CRAWL UP ONTO SOLID LAND OUTSIDE.

SCENE 16: DUSK. ON THE SURFACE. NEAR THE MINE ENTRANCE.

DAVEY:	Just breathe slowly Jim. You’re safe! You made it.	

PRICE COUGHS AND SPLUTTERS UP WATER AND IS BREATHING HEAVILY.

DAVEY:	I couldn’t just leave you down there. Not after you saved me in Italy.

A POLICE WHISTLE. DAVEY IS MANHANDLED.

DAVEY:	Okay Constable, okay. You can get off me. I told you I wasn’t trying to escape. I just needed to jump in to save him. I wasn’t trying to go anywhere. I’ll come peacefully.

PRICE:(vo)	It was the Police. They had found us. Davey must have persuaded them to let him dive in to save me.

I crawled up onto my knees, still trying to catch my breath. I didn’t know what would come next or what would happen to me. The only thing I knew was that I had gotten away from that killer...

That killer mine!! 
					
END