Directed by Catya Neilson and produced alongside other deaf students of the North East Media Training Centre (NEMTC), an adaption of a play written in the 1970s by Newcastle playwright and NEMTC tutor Peter Dillon about the traumas of war. The film concerned an ex-soldier and his long-suffering wife who run a pub in Gateshead. The Publican’s commanding officer, the Major, now working for the brewery arrives with the news that the pub will close. However, following a tragedy on Alamein Day in...

Directed by Catya Neilson and produced alongside other deaf students of the North East Media Training Centre (NEMTC), an adaption of a play written in the 1970s by Newcastle playwright and NEMTC tutor Peter Dillon about the traumas of war. The film concerned an ex-soldier and his long-suffering wife who run a pub in Gateshead. The Publican’s commanding officer, the Major, now working for the brewery arrives with the news that the pub will close. However, following a tragedy on Alamein Day in which a local man is killed by the Major while suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the situation is used to the advantage of the couple and their jobs are saved. Over the opening titles two rifles and a bottle of Bells whiskey rest against a draped Union Jack. Title: BSL Course NEMTC Casualties of War By Peter Dillon Outside the Duke of Cumberland public house on Sunderland Road in Felling Ed Fenwick, the Landlord, attached a large Union Jack to the side of his public house. Watching from a nearby alleyway and not wanting to be seen a second man, Old Henry. Carrying a stool Lee heads back inside the pub and speaks with wife Betty behind the bar. Both are nervous on the arrival of the ‘Major’, they want to make sure everything is in place. From the yard at the back of the pub Ed carries a large cut-out of a figure into the car park, inside Betty pours a bucket of dirty water down a drain and cleans a picture standing behind the bar. Putting the picture back on the shelf she turns and is surprised to find a Henry standing at the bar. He asks for a drink, but she refused as the pub is closed for Alamein Day. The two argue about the anniversary event, he believes Betty is living in the past. A clean white cloth has been placed over some of the tables in the bar with wine glasses and flowers laid out for what Henry calls ‘a bit of a do’. Ed appears in the bar carrying a rife pointing it at Henry telling him to leave, he races out of the pub. Betty complains that with a gun in his hand Ed is behaving like a ‘Gangster’. Back outside Henry hides again in the alleyway beside the pub, a woman pushing a pram walks past. Standing in the doorway of the pub Lee and Betty wait on the arrival of the Major. Betty criticizes the Major for being late, she checks that Lee is looking respectable and ‘on parade’. She looks up at the Union Jack hanging behind them complaining it is crooked, the two argue the point. A car pulls into the pub car park and Ed and Betty chase after it followed by Henry who comes along Sunderland Road. He watches as Ed and Betty greets Major Ransom as he gets out of his car. Ed salutes as does Henry mockingly from behind a nearby concrete pillar. As the Major heads towards the pub entrance Ed collects a second rifle and a pistol from the boot of the Major’s car. As Ed, Betty and the Mayor head inside, Henry watches them through a window. The Major carries out an inspection of the bar area complimenting Betty on her work. She pours the Major a gin and tonic and he toasts the picture behind the bar from the war saying ‘absent friends’. He and Ed reminisce about old times and about their recent loss of one from their regiment. The Major compliments Ed for being a good ‘bat man’ during the war and how he, as an old solider, make good publicans. Ed pours himself a pint of beer and with Betty holding up a gin and tonic, they congratulate the Major on his promotion at the brewery. Back outside Henry climbs over the wall into the pub back yard and begins throwing stones at two large cut-out figures of Adolf Hitler and Erwin Rommel, inside the Major leads a pray of remembrance to comrades who fell at El-Alamein. The pray over the Major, Ed and Betty sit down for a meal with Ed pouring the Major a second glass of wine. Betty and Ed attempt to convince the Major they are running the pub well, but with Betty send away the Major informs Ed that if takings don’t improve, he may be removed as landlord and replaced with a German. Betty watches from the back and is disappointment with her husband for not standing up the Major. With the Major asleep and snoring at the table, Ed and Betty argue about the situation with Betty thinking the Major takes her husband for a fool. She believes he should stand up to him and forget the war. He can’t, he replies, they were the best days of his life. Becoming frustrated Betty leaves for a friend leaving the men to play ‘toy soldiers’. Ed and the Major head outside carrying the rifle and pistol, they begin shooting at the Hitler and Rommel figures as they reminisce about their war experiences. Standing behind one of the figures is Henry who sneaks away not wanting to get shot. Getting excited about his memories the Major fires his pistol and a scream is heard. They head over to the piece of waste land beside the pub looking for what or whom they believe the Major has shot. Suddenly Henry rushes over startling both the Major and Ed, he begins to insult the Major mocking his military service. The Major demands Ed arrest Henry for ‘insulting the 8th [Army]’, but he refuses believing Henry to be a fool. Again, the Major insists Ed fight Herny to ‘teach him a lesson’. Henry laughs and continues to mock the Major who becomes more and more frustrated. Henry jumps on Lee knocking him to the ground sitting on him and placing a daffodil in his mouth. The Major runs away. From an upstairs window inside the Duke of Cumberland the Major looks out onto Sunderland Road. After a blessing to the Queen, he releases the ropes holding the Union Jack up and it flutters down onto the street. Running back towards the yard Ed tries to escape Henry who races after him looking for a fight. Henry calls Ed a coward, but he believes the Major is ‘crazy’ and is afraid of what he might do. The Major suddenly appears carrying the Union Jack like a rope and ties Old Henry up with it. He hands Henry over to Ed and demands to convene a Court Martial. As Ed ties Henry to the Rommel figure, he is called a coward for not standing up to the Major. Henry then begins to antagonise the Major who pulls out the pistol pointing it at him. Ed steps in front of the gun and reminds the Major of the name of the man he had shot for supposed desertion during the war, the Major sees the current situation as the same as he has become delusional. As Ed tries to calm the Major he shoots the Hitler figure. Ed dives at the Major and tries to wrestle the gun away from him, the gun goes off and the Major is hit in the leg. With the Major leaning against his car Ed takes a look at the wound, it’s superficial. The Major asks for their position and Ed realise that he isn’t aware of where he is and that he believes the war is still going on. As Ed leaves find help and with Henry still tied to the wooden figure the Major sees an army that isn’t there attacking his position. Henry falls over and lands on his face as Ed returns with bandages for the Major. With the leg bandaged Ed helps the Major to his feet before checking on Henry laying on ground. On seeing him in trouble having hit his head on a stone, Ed unties him, checks his vitals before starting CPR or Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, Henry is dead and so using his hand closes his eyes covering it in blood. Returning to the Major still resting against his car Ed tells him that Henry is dead; his only comment is ‘that war’. Betty appears and goes over to look at Henry. On seeing him dead she confronts the Major. She tells her husband to go inside as a bargain is stuck. Over a wonky rendition of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ Ed, Betty and the Major work to dispose of Henry’s body placing him into the passenger seat of the Majors car. The Major attempts to put down Henry’s arm which is fixed in a position as if giving a salute. Using the situation to their advantage they place one of the rifles into Henry’s hand to give the impression his is holding it. The Major drives away with Betty smiling and holding an envelope. Back inside the Duke of Cumberland Ed and Betty prepare to open up. As he opens the doors to the pub he chats happily with a window cleaner working nearby. The film ends with Betty appears and the couple embracing. Credit: Cast Major, Steven Hawksby Ed, Joe Caffrey Old Henry, Phil Dixon Betty, Karina Mckinnon Director/Make up Wayne Adams Interpreter Annie Brotherton Cameras/Propmaster Ian Carpenter Props Linda Clarke Interpreter Pauline Coldwell Tutor/Production Rosie Crowson Interpreter Robbie Grieve Props/Sound Rachael Hayes P. Manager/Editor Richard King Props/Sound Diane Lawes Tutor/Director Alan Marsden Director Catya Neilson Sound/Dubbing John Overton Cameras/Propmaster Titles Ranjit Singh Tutor/Editor Jes Benstock Sound Assistant Garry Tague Cameras Darren Valentine P.A./Continuity Iain Wells Tutor P.A. Carol Mackenzie, Pauline Grant Title: Jane Little and Carol Payne Tyne Tees T.V. for props Frank Bell and staff Cumberland Arms GOD for the weather Action vehicle John Overton And Susan for all the hassle for which we are truly sorry End title: NEMTC94©