Radio Script. One Through the Hoop

One through the Hoop
Opening scene.
Social committee meeting, group discussion on the entertainment side of the club. Those present were… Jim, Roy, Colin, Ted, Paddy, Elaine, Ivy, Joan, Marg and Sally.
Chairman, first meeting.
Ted
Now that our club has been going for nearly twelve months I think it is about time we also had a social side to enjoy. I would like you all to think of ways that would include all the members and not cost a lot of money.
Elaine
I would like to suggest we hold a Saturday night dance in the Waitoa hall. I’m sure if we booked them early enough the Satellites Band would play for us.
Jim
Don’t you think that it would be risky as Te Aroha has a dance every Saturday night?
Elaine
I’m sure all the basketball players would support us. Maybe we could add some extra entertainment, we could ask around if anyone can play country and western music as a recital, or perhaps persuade Rickey Manson to perform some of his magic acts plus do some of his hypnotic performances.
Marg.
That sounds pretty exciting; let’s have some time out to think about different things to make our dance attractive
Ted
Good idea, this meeting was to get ideas and it looks like everyone is getting excited, we need to meet again as soon as possible if we decide on a dance so the band can be booked. Lets make it next week.
Another Meeting.
Ted
Well, everyone seems to be full of enthusiasm, where do we start? Roy, you seem to be excited, what are some of your suggestions?
Roy
I have been talking with some of the chaps in the Te Aroha Brass Band, they have been practicing a novel display of jazz music set to an action routine, looks good and they are willing to perform for us free to get up some confidence, also I have spoken to Rickey Manson, he is also very keen to perform for us without cost to help get our social club going.
Ted
That’s amazing, what luck, anyone else got any more good news?
Marg
Sally and I have talked to the Satellites singer Ivor Fisher and he said he was interested in learning how to play basketball and would be happy for us to hire his band at a much-reduced rate.
Ted
Everything seems to be falling together, now we had better set a date and start booking the hall, band and items, I can do the hall, let’s get all this information down with our secretary Ivy,
Much discussion, suggestions and allotted jobs.
Ted.
Okay everybody, we seem to have covered most of the important things, let’s see?? We have the bookings covered, Jim and Elaine to organise the decorations, Ivy, Joan and Sally to do up a list of what we should have for supper, Colin will help everyone and Paddy will be our M.C. for the night. Now what about applying for a permit to sell beer and spirits.?
The morning of the dance.
Jim.
Are you ready Elaine? Sorry I’m late, at least the ferns will be dry now after the rain.
Elaine.
Won’t be a minute, I will bring some old covers to protect the car, want a cuppa?
Jim.
No thanks, it’s late, better put on your gummies, it will be sloppy in the bush, the broom will be flowering now so that will give us a nice yellow colour contrast for the stage.
In the bush.
Jim
Have you ever heard about the ghost story here on Curtains Hill?
Elaine.
I don’t believe in ghosts, do you? Anyway what is it?
Jim.
No, me neither, this story is pretty convincing with the locals around the hill. A five year old girl disappeared about fifty years ago, went wandering into the bush and after a extensive search she was never found, disappeared without trace, some people reckon they have heard her some nights crying out Help! Help! I want my mummy!
Elaine
That’s a lot of rubbish; don’t expect me to believe any of your stories.
Jim.
Okay, don’t say I never warned you .Ha! Ha!
While gathering fern fronds there is the sound of someone crying
Elaine
Did you hear anything? Sounds like someone crying, must be other people in the bush?
Jim.
What have I just finished telling you? It’s the ghost of that girl. Better watch out, she may be looking for revenge.
More crying
Elaine drops the ferns and ran as fast as she could to the road
Jim
Heh! Come back here, thought you never believed in ghosts? How am I going to carry all these ferns?
Elaine (from a distance)
Get your own dam decorations, I’m off.
Jim. (Now by himself)
Sally and Marg, you can come out of hiding now! Elaine has taken off like a rocket, and I think our joke worked.
No answer!!
Back at the Hall
Jim.
So, there you are Sally, why didn’t you answer me in the bush, I needed some help with the ferns seeing Elaine ran off in a hurry.
Sally.
Marg and I never made it to the bush, some of our cakes were a disaster so we had to make some more.
Jim
Gees, wonder who was in the bush? If it was what I’m thinking, bugger the rest of the ferns.
The Dance.
Ted.
What do you reckon on those two girls that have just arrived, are they the one’s who go to the Saturday night dances in Te Aroha?, everyone says they are pretty course.
Jim
Looks like them, hope the Barbarich brothers don’t arrive, they are real trouble, just as well we have some pretty large club members that can handle fights, I think it was a good idea not to apply for a liquor license for our first dance.
Ted.
Bloody hell, talk of the devils, here are two of them, I’ll have a talk with them. First sign of trouble and they will be out.
Jim.
You’re brave, but don’t worry we will be all watching for any disturbance.
During the dance
Roy
The evening looks like it will be a great success, I have worked out our expenditures and looks like we should make a nice little profit from door sales, and hopefully the raffles will sell.
Jim
That’s a relief; at least we won’t have used any money from subscriptions.
Paddy.
There seems to be a lot of noise coming from outside the hall? Better go and check it out.
Ted
I’ll come with you, will you keep an eye on things here Colin, tell Jim to come outside when he gets back from the loo.
Colin.
Sure thing, I’ll tell a funny or two when the band stops.
Outside the Hall, a small gathering standing around.
Ted
What’s all the noise here?
Jim, running to meet Ted & Colin
Bloody Hell! There’s been an accident, I came out a while ago to check a disturbance, a car was taking off in a hurry, it looks like one of those girls we had discussed earlier is lying near the drain, there’s blood everywhere, I ran home to my home and rang the police and ambulance, they should be here in about ten minutes.
A small crowd is forming
Ted.
Okay folks, stand back a bit, we don’t want to disturb any evidence for the police.
Paddy.
I had better get back inside and try to keep everyone from coming outside. I just heard one of Colin’s stories, a bit rude I thought!
Police arrive at the scene; take photos, cordon off the scene and search for clues. The local doctor arrived and he didn’t take him very long to pronounce her dead. The body had stab wounds near her throat; a huge area of her scull was just one bloody mess. They decide to question everyone in the hall on completing their examinations and sending the body away.
Paddy. Back in the hall
Attention everyone, there has been a horrible accident outside, a girl has been attacked and badly bashed, the police wants to speak to everyone in the hall, just gather around and wait your turn to go and see them in the supper room.
Ted.
This is bad for our club, and the evening was going along so smoothly. Hope they get it over fast so we can get on with the evening.
Jim.
Well, they seem to be doing a good job; I guess their experience and knowledge of dealing with people are far better than we could do.
Nearly half of the people in the hall had been questioned when the chief of police came out and made a statement.
Police Chief.
Attention, everybody, thank you for your patience, we don’t need to hold up your dance any longer, we have arrested a suspect back in Te Aroha who is helping us with our enquiries and it is certain we will not be looking for anyone else.
Ted
Struth, that was swift, wonder who they have?
Jim
I never saw them with anyone outside, the two Barbarich brothers have returned and are in the hall. Guess we will have to wait till the police tell us.
Roy
I have a feeling the oldest brother Ben was hanging around but never came into the hall. There were some fights at last Saturday’s night dance at Te Aroha but nothing was proven that connected to any of the brothers.
The dance continued, a huge success even though there was a sad tragedy
The next committee meeting of the social club a week later
Ted.
I suppose you have all read the local paper about the trouble we had at our first dance, I have received a letter from the Te Aroha chief of police confirming what the paper printed. Ben Barbarich has been formally charged with Mary Foster’s murder, they say this will make headlines around the country being the first real crime ever in our small community. They state that Mary had stolen Ben’s stash of marijuana
Jim
The newspaper said Barbarich was waiting in his car, his brothers were in the dance hall, Mary came out to talk to him, she took his stash and ran off, he caught up with her and assaulted her, knowing his violent nature he just didn’t stop till he killed her. What a waste of a young life. He then drove off in a hurry.
Elaine.
I know Mary was not a very nice lady but I would like us all to attend her funeral which is next Saturday, It’s about time the Barbariches were all escorted out of town, they have been causing trouble for years.
Roy
Maybe we should invite them to play indoor basketball, they should be excellent for defence!!
Meeting closed; hopefully the sporting club can continue an enjoyable social life for all the players.
Footnote…
Indoor basketball was very popular for many years in Waitoa, when rugby became the main attraction the clubs soon disappeared, it is great to see the sport is coming back to popularity again. I certainly enjoyed the years I played the game and made some very good lifetime friends, what a bonus for a small town with very little other entertainment for the younger generations.

Word Count 1,888