Peace Red or Dead

stage version
ISBN: 978-1-78850-893-3
Verlag: Nick Hern Books
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 144 Seiten

Reihe: NHB Modern Plays

'That's all I ask from anyone. That we try to make the people happy.' Bill Shankly had one aim: to make Liverpool Football Club invincible. As its manager from 1959, he secured the team promotion, the First Division title, the FA Cup and success in Europe. For fifteen years, he defined what it was to be a Liverpool fan, and demanded total loyalty from his players and coaches. A loyalty that Bill hoped would be repaid when he retired... David Peace's iconic novel Red or Dead is the fictionalised story of a game, a life, and a man of two halves. This stage version was adapted and directed by Phillip Breen, and first performed at Liverpool's Royal Court in 2025, with a cast including Peter Mullan as Bill Shankly. The novel was shortlisted for the Goldsmiths Prize and has been widely acclaimed: 'David Peace brings perfect pitch to this ode to Bill Shankly's Liverpool reign' Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Observer 'A love letter to a great manager, an elegy to the beautiful game' Independent 'So hypnotic that even the football-averse might enjoy it' Guardian

David Peace is an acclaimed novelist, best known for his Red Riding Quartet (1999-2002), GB84 (2004), The Damned Utd (2006) and Red or Dead (2013).

Autoren/Hrsg.

Peace, David

Leseproben

ACT ONE

NESS SHANKLY

NESS. O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us

To see oursels as ithers see us!

It wad frae monie a blunder free us

An’ foolish notion:

What airs in dress an’ gait wad lea’e us

An’ ev’n devotion!

'

CHORUS. In the winter-time

In the night-time

They remembered him

And then they came to him

In the winter-time

In the night-time

BILL SHANKLY. BILL

Not cap in hand not on bended knee

Not this sort

But still they came

Here to Leeds Road Huddersfield

Here on October the seventeenth 1959

They came

Liverpool Football Club were in the Second Division

And Liverpool Football Club had never won the FA Cup

They listened to this man cajole his players

They listened to this man encourage his players

They saw the way the players of Huddersfield Town listened to this man

The way they listened to this man and the way they obeyed this man

His every word and his every instruction

His every word the voice of God

TOM WILLIAMS. My name is Tom Williams and I am the

Chairman of Liverpool Football Club

And this is Harry Latham, one of our directors

BILL. I remember

TOM WILLIAMS. I wonder whether we might have a word?

BILL. They’re not for sale

TOM WILLIAMS. We’re not here for Denis Law or Ray Wilson

We’re here to talk to you, Mr Shankly

To ask you a question

BILL. Then ask it

TOM WILLIAMS. How would you like to manage the best football club in the country, Mr Shankly?

BILL. Matt Busby packing it in, is he?

TOM WILLIAMS. Very funny, Mr Shankly

You know what I’m talking about

BILL. I thought you didn’t want me for your football club I thought you didn’t think I was good enough for Liverpool Football Club

TOM WILLIAMS. We never said that, Mr Shankly

BILL. You didn’t need to

TOM WILLIAMS. I wasn’t the chairman then, Mr Shankly

But I am the chairman now

And so now I’m asking you

How would you like to manage Liverpool Football Club, Mr Shankly?

BILL. I thought you already had a manager

What about Phil Taylor?

TOM WILLIAMS. Mr Taylor is, uh, between you and I

Not a well man

CHORUS. Suddenly laughter

Joking

From the Huddersfield Town dressing room

BILL. We might have lost today

But we’re not doing too badly here you know, Mr Williams

TOM WILLIAMS. We know that

We can see that

And that’s why we want you, Mr Shankly

BILL. I’ll not be rushed

But I will consider it

CHORUS. In the winter-time

In the night-time

TOM WILLIAMS. Thank you, Mr Shankly

That’s all I ask

'

BILL NESS

JEANETTE SHANKLY. Where is Liverpool, Daddy?

BILL. It’s by the seaside, love

GIRLS BILL NESS

NESS. We’re happy here

We have a nice house

We’ve got good friends

The girls like their school

BILL. But think of all that time lost

NESS. …

If it wasn’t for the war we’d have never met

BILL. I know

…

I’m forty-six

NESS. They’re happy here

I’m happy here

BILL. I know, love

I know

CHORUS. In his car

At the wheel

Driving down this road

Driving up that road

Bill saw a telephone box

And

BILL. I’m interested

But I have a number of conditions

TOM WILLIAMS. Go on, Mr Shankly

BILL. I have to have total control of the playing and coaching staff

I have to decide on the training methods and the playing style

I have to select the team without any interference from you or the directors

And if I feel we need new players then you and the directors must make the money available for me to buy the players

I want

And I want a salary of two-and-a-half thousand pounds

TOM WILLIAMS. The board have always selected the team, Mr Shankly

BILL. If you cannot accommodate all these conditions

Then I’m afraid I’m not interested

TOM WILLIAMS. May I ask what Huddersfield Town are paying you, Mr Shankly?

BILL. Two thousand pounds

TOM WILLIAMS. I understand

And there’ll be no trouble from your end, Mr Shankly?

BILL. What do you mean, Mr Williams?

TOM WILLIAMS. No unforeseen obstacles

At Huddersfield Town

Or at home for example

BILL. No

Everything will be fine at my end, Mr Williams

TOM WILLIAMS. Then I think we can accommodate all your conditions

BILL. Then I accept your offer

BILL

CHORUS. Huddersfield Town were sixth in the Second Division

Liverpool Football Club were tenth

Huddersfield Town won the FA Cup

In the night and in the silence

Bill read what Phil Taylor had said

PHIL TAYLOR. The strain of it all has proved too much for me

And so great as my love is for Liverpool Football Club

I have decided to resign

I strove for promotion with all my energy

But such striving is not enough

NESS. Bill closed his eyes

And Bill remembered his words

CHORUS. Bill waited for the dawn

Bill waited for the light

Bill ate breakfast with his wife and daughters

Bill kissed them goodbye

Bill got into his car

NESS. And Bill drove across the Pennines

CHORUS. Past Manchester

NESS. To Liverpool

To Anfield

TOM WILLIAMS JIMMY MCINNES JIMMY McINNES BILL

JIMMY MCINNES. Bill

BILL. Jimmy

CHORUS. Jimmy McInnes, club secretary

An Ayrshire man

Played for Third Lanark and Liverpool Football Club

Bill knew Jimmy

Bill liked Jimmy

JIMMY MCINNES BILL

BILL. What’s this?

JIMMY MCINNES. It’s your contract, Bill

Sign there and there

BILL TOM WILLIAMS

TOM WILLIAMS. Would you give us a moment, Mr McInnes?

JIMMY MCINNES. Right y’are, sir

JIMMY MCINNES.

BILL. I thought we had an agreement

TOM WILLIAMS. We do

BILL. Do you think I will break my agreement?

TOM WILLIAMS. Not at all, Mr Shankly

BILL. Then why do we need a contract?

TOM WILLIAMS. It’s, uh, an unfortunate part of the modern game, Mr Shankly

BILL. If I cannot do the job

It is up to the people that employ me to do as they wish

JIMMY MCINNES

TOM WILLIAMS. Yes, Mr McInnes?

JIMMY MCINNES. Sorry, sir

It’s just I’m very aware of the time

CHORUS. Jimmy took Bill under the stands

Down a corridor

To a room among the boots

JIMMY MCINNES. The hanging boots

BOB PAISLEY Sporting Life JOE FAGAN REUBEN BENNETT ALBERT SHELLEY BILL

This is Joe Fagan

Joe is in charge of the reserves

Reuben Bennett

Reuben takes most of the training

And this is Albert Shelley

He retired last year

But he still comes in every day

This is Bob Paisley

Bob is the first team trainer

BILL. Bob

BOB PAISLEY Boss

BILL. Me and Bob played against each other on many occasions

I tried to sign Joe when I was at Grimsby

Reuben used to work with my brother Bob at Dundee

And I know Albert lives and breathes Liverpool Football Club

You all do

And I know you’ll all be worried about me coming in

A new feller with new ways

Maybe wanting to bring in new trainers with him

His mates

I’m not going to do that

I will gradually lay down my plans

And gradually we will be on the same wavelength

And in return

I ask for one thing

Loyalty

So I don’t want anyone to...