Lamb to the Slaughter 

15 Minute Radio Drama 

by 

Louis Bimpson and Oliver Horsfield

[email protected]
[email protected]

Adapted from a short story by Roald Dahl

First Broadcast 4th February 2021

Produced by
Louis Bimpson and Oliver Horsefield

Characters.

Patrick Maloney, white 25

Mary Maloney, white 25
Jane, white 24
Justin, white 26
Shopkeeper, 37 white
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SCENE 1: INT. JANE’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. MORNING 

Jane is lying in bed 

Fade in - Footsteps walking up the stairs

1. JANE: Breakfast in bed, it must be my lucky day. What’s up with you today?

2. PATRICK: I’m just treating the woman that I love and the woman that I am starting a
family with. How are you feeling this morning?

3. JANE: I was up in the night but only a few times. I can’t believe in less than a month
we will have a child together. The last eight months have flown by and we still
haven’t decided on a name.

4. PATRICK: I love the name James if he is a boy or Jenny if she is a girl.

5. JANE: I was thinking the same for a girl but not James for a boy. My cousin is called
that and he is always rude.

6. PATRICK: Well let’s hope that she is a girl then but until then I will keep on thinking of
different names. That’s what I normally do when I’m at work anyway because
there isn’t much crime in Warrington at the moment.

7. JANE: (SARCASTICALLY) Officer Maloney I hope you’re not skiving at work. What
would your boss say about that?

8. PATRICK: (LAUGHS) I would never do such a thing. Talking about work, I need to get in
the shower and get ready.

SFX: Footsteps and door shutting

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SCENE 2: INT. JANE’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. MORNING

Jane is downstairs making a cup of tea whilst Patrick is getting ready for work.

1.JANE: Patrick I’ve made you a cup of tea. Do you want me to put it in a flask?

2.PATRICK: (OFF) Yes please. I’ll be down in a minute.

3.JANE: It takes him longer to get ready than it takes me. What is he doing up there?

SFX: Phone ringing

4.PATRICK: Why can’t she leave me alone?

SFX: Footsteps onto hard floor

5.PATRICK: Sorry about that love, I couldn’t find my belt. I should be back later on but I still
don’t know what time because I've got a lot of paperwork to catch up on.

6.JANE: No worries. I will make your tea and I will leave it for when you get home but
don’t be too late please, you do too many night shifts.

7.PATRICK: Thanks. I will try to not be late but you never know what will happen. There
could be a tragic event that will take place.

8.JANE: Don’t say that Patrick. Just make sure that you stay safe.

9. PATRICK: I will do. Goodbye love.

10.JANE: Goodbye. Don’t forget your tea.

SFX: Door shutting

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SCENE 3: INT. PATRICK’S CAR. WARRINGTON. LATE AFTERNOON.

Patrick is driving on his way home from work.

SFX- fade in the sound of a car running.

1.PATRICK: (V.O.) What a long day at work. When there is no call outs to go to, there is
only so much paperwork you can do. Now I’m returning home to someone
who I don't even love anymore. How have I got myself into this position?
I’m meant to be a police officer who is a good man (PAUSE) but not
anymore. My whole reputation will be ruined after this.

SFX: Phone rings

3.JANE: (DISTORT) Hello Patrick.

4.PATRICK: Hi, What’s up? I’m just working at the moment.

5.JANE: Oh, sorry I thought I would just check up on you. See what time you were
home?

6.PATRICK: I should be home later. I still have a lot of work to do.

7.JANE: Okay. See you then.

SFX: End of Phone call

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SCENE 4: INT. MARY’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. LATE AFTERNOON

Mary is at home waiting for Patrick to return from work.

FADE IN – heavy breathing.

1.MARY: (V.O) Patrick, where are you? Work can’t be keeping you for this long.
How would you want to be away from someone you are meant to love for
this long. I’m always second best in his life and that shouldn't be the case.
No one should be working for this long. He has been away for over 24
hours and he isn’t picking up his phone. This isn’t the first time this has
happened over the last couple of months either. I am going to ring him for
the last time.

SFX: Phone ringing down the line

SFX: Voicemail.

3.PATRICK: Hi, It’s Patrick. Sorry I can’t take your call. Leave a message and I’ll get back to
you.

4.MARY: (V.O) Not again. He is normally always on his phone but when I ring him
he doesn’t answer. What is he up to? For all of these months, he has been
working but I don't see any more money in our account. Patrick has some
explaining to do because I can’t do this anymore.

Fade to silence.

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SCENE 5: INT. MARY’S AND PATRICK’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. NIGHT TIME

FADE IN – door opening

Patrick has returned home.

1.PATRICK: Hello. Mary are you home?

SFX: Footsteps and Door closing

2.MARY: (BREATHLESS) Patrick! I’ve been worried sick about you. You haven’t
answered a single phone call of mine and you’ve been gone for a lot longer
than expected.

3.PATRICK: Sorry, I’ve lost my charger and my phone died when I was at work. You
shouldn’t be stressing (PAUSE) it could affect the baby.

4.MARY: Don’t worry the baby is fine but what about me? You have left your wife all
alone for over a day without getting in touch but you only ask how the baby is!

5.PATRICK: I’ve said I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. Work is busy at the moment and I
want the money so I can support our baby.

6.MARY: Yes, I’m grateful but just next time buy a charger or use somebody else’s phone
to ring me.

7.PATRICK: I will do. It’s been a long day. I’m going to get a shower and then I’ll come back
down.

8.MARY: Okay. I’ll start making your tea now. We are having lamb.

SFX: footsteps.
Fade out to silence.
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SCENE 6: INT. MARY’S AND PATRICK’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. NIGHT TIME

Mary is cooking tea.

FADE IN: Chopping up food.

1.MARY: (V.O) Not once does ask how I’m feeling. All he cares about is our baby. I
feel like I’m his surrogate parent not his wife. Why do I even try with him?
He obviously doesn’t care. I’m too good to him. He is ignoring me for a full
day and now I’m making him this lovely piece of lamb. He needs to open
his eyes and realise how much I do for him. This is the third time this
week where my husband has left me alone. I’m going through the pain of
having a baby. I’m getting up in the middle of the night and I'm expecting
my husband to comfort me but instead I am ringing him all the time,
seeing where he is. If I knew he was going to be like this throughout the
pregnancy, I would never have gone through with it.

Fade to silence.

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SCENE 7: INT. MARY’S AND PATRICK’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. NIGHT TIME.

Patrick returns downstairs.

FADE IN: Foot steps

1.PATRICK: Is the lamb nearly ready?

2.MARY: It’s still frozen but don't worry it will be ready soon enough.

3.PATRICK: No worries, I will watch some TV while I’m waiting.

4.MARY: Before you do that, could I ask where have you been all night?

5.PATRICK Not again! I’ve told you I’ve been at work. Do you not believe me?

6.MARY: I didn’t say that but it's hard to believe because you always text me when you're
working and you're never off your phone.

7.PATRICK: My charger broke, I can’t keep saying this over and over again. I’m going to
watch TV now.

Fade to silence.

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SCENE 8: INT MARY’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. NIGHT TIME.

Patrick is watching TV.

FADE IN: TV on in background.

1.PATRICK: (V.O) I think it’s time I told her. Living a lie is now catching up with me and
I can see it’s affecting Mary.

SFX: Phone rings.

2.PATRICK: (DISTORT) Hello Jane.

3.JANE: Hi Patrick. Are you coming back here tonight?

4.PATRICK: Yes, I should be later on. But before that I am going to tell Mary about us.

5.JANE: Great! It's about time. We need to get on with our lives and stop sneaking
about.

6.MARY: (OFF) Patrick are you on the phone again?

7.PATRICK: I’ll be there in two minutes. It’s just work.

8.JANE: How has she been with you tonight?

9.PATRICK: She is just very stressed and it's not fair on her. I just think it’s time I tell Mary
about us.

10. JANE: Okay but as soon as you do that come straight round to my house.
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Fade to silence.

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SCENE 9: INT. MARY’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. NIGHT TIME.

Mary is cooking tea

1.MARY: (V.O) Why is he always on the phone at this time. Work would not
consistently ring him every night at the same time. I need to get to the
bottom of this.

2. PATRICK: (DISTANT) Just a second Mary, I’m on the phone to my boss.

I’ll come through in a second! So, as I was saying, we need to
tell Mary.

3. JANE: (DISTORT) This is the best thing for us and the baby. This is the first
step towards us having our own family. It’s meant to be!

SFX: The sound of footsteps

4. PATRICK: (DISTANT) You’re right. Tonight, is the night. I love you Jane!

SFX: The sound of a door being slammed open

Mary enters the same room as Patrick

5. MARY: (SHOUTING) Who the hell is Jane? I knew something wasn’t right. I
think you have some explaining to do Patrick! How could you do this to
me, what about the baby?

6. PATRICK: (STUTTERING) Mary! It’s not how it seems, I can explain!

SFX: The sound of a glass getting smashed

Mary throws a glass in anger 

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1. MARY: (SHOUTING) You are so arrogant and selfish, I’m not surprised in the
slightest that you’ve done this to me!

2. PATRICK: Stop making assumptions Mary, I’ve not explained anything yet. It’s not
you, it’s me. I want to be a part of our baby’s life no matter what happens
between us. 

SFX: The sound of heavy breathing

Mary has a mild panic attack 

3. Patrick: Mary, are you okay?

SFX: The sound of heavy footsteps 

Patrick runs to get Mary a chair

SFX: The sound of a chair being dragged across the floor 

Patrick pulls a chair out for Mary to sit down 

4. PATRICK: Sit down Mary, you look very lightheaded. 

SFX: The sound of heavy breathing and crying

5. MARY: Just get it over and done with Patrick! Tell me the truth, don’t lie to me.
That’s the least I deserve.

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SCENE 10: INT. MARY’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. EVENING

SFX: The sound of a deep breath

Patrick composes himself before explaining to Mary

1. PATRICK: I promise you that everything that I’m about to tell you will be the truth.
I’m mentally drained from the constant lies in our relationship.

2. MARY: (SIGHS) Stop with the small talk and get to the point!

3. PATRICK: I love you Mary. However, I love someone else too.

4. MARY: I knew that you were up to something. So, does this mean that all the
times that you said you were doing overtime was a complete lie and that
you were with another woman? You make me sick.

5. PATRICK: It gets worse. She’s pregnant.

6. MARY: (SIGHS) How selfish can one person possibly be? You do realise that
our child is already at a disadvantage.

7. PATRICK: Why’s that Mary?

8. MARY: (LAUGHS) Hmmm I wonder why. Maybe because they aren’t going to
have a father figure in their life. I don’t know what I ever saw in you in
the first place. You couldn’t even do the mature thing and tell me. You’re
a coward!

SFX: The sound of footsteps onto a hard floor.

Patrick walks into the kitchen

1. PATRICK: (APPROACHING)I have to be a part of our child’s life Mary. I know I’m in
the wrong, but our child needs me just as much as you.
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SFX: The sound of footsteps

Mary follows Patrick into the kitchen

2. MARY: Patrick. Stop. I know what you’re trying to do. I can read you like a book.
You can’t cheat on me and get another girl pregnant and then be nice to
me. It doesn’t work like that.

SFX: The sound of footsteps

Patrick slowly walks over to Mary

3. MARY: (V.O.) I want the floor to swallow me up. Why am I in this house
with him? I hate him. How did I ever fall in love with him?

4. MARY: What are you doing? Don't even think about taking one step closer.

SFX: The sound of footsteps

Patrick proceeds to get closer

1. PATRICK: Mary I know you are upset but I didn’t mean for things to end up like this.

2. MARY: I mean it Patrick, don’t take one step closer.

SFX: The sound of footsteps

3. PATRICK: Come on Mary. Let's speak about this.

4. MARY: I told you not to take another step closer.

SFX: The sound of a loud thud

SFX: The sound of a body hitting the floor

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Music:

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SCENE 11: INT. MARY’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. EVENING

Fade in – Mary crying as Patrick’s lying on the floor unconscious

SFX: The sound of something heavy hitting the floor

Mary drops the leg of lamb on the floor

SFX: The sound of heavy breathing

Mary starts to panic and guilt starts to show

1.MARY: Patrick. Patrick. Patrick!

2. MARY: (V.O.) Mary, what have I just done. I’m so stupid. I didn’t mean it. I
think he’s dead.

SFX: The sound of footsteps

Mary walks over to Patrick lying on the floor

3. MARY: (V.O.) He’s not breathing. There’s so much blood!

SFX: The sound of heavy breathing

4. MARY: (V.O.) I can’t go to prison. I have a child on the way. What will
happen to my baby? I have to sort this out. I have to be there for
my child.

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SCENE 12: INT. CORNER SHOP, WARRINGTON. EVENING

SFX: The sound of a shop bell

1. SHOPKEEPER: Hello.

2. MARY: Hi, What wine do you have?

3. SHOPKEEPER: I’ve got red and white wine.

4. MARY: I’ll have a bottle of white.

5. SHOPKEEPER: I’ve got a lot to choose from.

6. MARY: You choose. I’ll have a bottle of your favourite.

7. SHOPKEEPER: Okay.This one’s expensive but tastes amazing.

8. MARY: That’s fine, it’s for my husband. He’s had a long day at work and I
thought I would treat him.

9. SHOPKEEPER: He’s a lucky man.

10. MARY: I know he is.

SFX: The sound of a shop bell

Mary leaving the shop

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SCENE 13: INT. MARY’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. EVENING

Fade in – The sound of Mary pouring a glass of wine

SFX: The sound of a fan

SFX: The sound of the oven door shutting

SFX: A beeping sound

1.MARY (V.O.) I can do this. Don’t mess this up. All I have to do is call
the police and sound believable.

SFX: The sound of a phone number being dialled and the phone ringing

2.JUSTIN: Hello. What is your emergency?

3.MARY: I’ve just got home and my husband is on the floor! There is blood
everywhere and he isn’t breathing. I need help!

4:JUSTIN: Okay. We already have your location. Stay calm. We’ll be at your
home in 5 minutes.

Fade out – silence

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SCENE 14: INT. MARY’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. EVENING

Fade in – Police Sirens

1.JUSTIN: How did this happen Mary?

2.MARY: (OUT OF BREATH) I have no clue. I’d just been to the shop to treat him
to a bottle of wine and I came back to this.

3.JUSTIN: I’m going to need you to tell me what happened. Patrick was a dear
friend of mine and this is upsetting for us all but I need you to cooperate
with us.

4.MARY: I’ve been to the shop and then I come back to him dead on the floor with
a puddle of blood around his head.

5.JUSTIN: Are you sure Mary?

6.MARY: Yes, I’m sure. I went to the shop to get some wine for
dinner. I came home and found him lying on the floor.

7.JUSTIN: Okay. We’re going to have to look around your house

and we are going to have to take away the body.

8.MARY: Do you have to? I can't be in this house without him.

9.JUSTIN: I’m sorry but we have to. I can't understand the amount of pain you are
going through but we have to do this.

10.MARY: (CRYING) Goodbye Patrick. I love you.

Fade out - Silence 19

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SCENE 15: INT. MARY’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. NIGHT TIME

Fade in – Mary pouring a glass of wine

1.JUSTIN: Mary we have searched your house and everything looks good. You
have a nice house.

2.MARY: Thank you officer. How will you get to the bottom of this?

3.JUSTIN: We will be in touch and we will find who has done this to your husband.

4.MARY: Thank you. Please keep me updated.

5. JUSTIN: Don't worry we will. It’s going to be horrible not working with Patrick.

6. MARY: Everyone will miss him.

Fade out – Silence

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SCENE 16: INT. MARY’S HOUSE, WARRINGTON. NIGHT TIME

SFX: Beeping noise from the oven timer

1. JUSTIN: What’s that noise Mary?

2. MARY: Oh no! That was the lamb that I made for me and Patrick.

3. JUSTIN: Oh sorry Mary. We will leave you too it and we will be in touch.

4. MARY: No, no, no. There’s too much here for me. Would you boys like
something to eat?

5. JUSTIN: Do you know what, we’ve had a long day. we’ll happily take that offer if
you don’t mind.

6. MARY: Okay, I'll take it out of the oven now.

Music:

SFX: The sound of cutlery tapping plates

7. JUSTIN: Thank you Mary, I know it’s been a stressful day for you. You didn’t have
to do this.

8.MARY: You all have helped me so much, so it's the least I can do.

Music:

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