Danny, The Pink Soldier

DANNY,

The Pink Soldier : 

There's a bit more to modern soldiering than just shooting people. 

I like to think there's a moral dimension. 

CLARA: 

Ah, you shoot people then cry about it afterwards? 

QUINTUS = ‘FIVE’ = GRACE

GRACE :

A People Should Know When They’re Conquered.

Maximus Decimus Meridius 

The Pink Soldier :

Would You, Quintus?

Would I?

Soil?

The Elder :

No, I’m fine, Ta.

Maximus Decimus Meridius 

The Pink Soldier :

Strength+Honour

SECRETARY: 

So, Mister Pink, did you have a good weekend? 

DANNY

The Pink Soldier : 

Yeah, I did, thanks. 

SECRETARY: 

Yeah, I'll bet you did. 

What did you get up to? 

DANNY

The Pink Soldier : 

Er, you know. 

A bit of reading. 

SECRETARY: 

Oh, I bet you were reading. 

DANNY

The Pink Soldier : 

I was, yeah. 

SECRETARY:

 Yeah, I bet you were. 

DANNY

The Pink Soldier : 

Well, yeah, I was. 

SECRETARY:

 I know your type. 

(A schoolgirl, The Damsel, is listening at the public counter.)

COURTNEY,

The Damsel : 

She wishes. 

SECRETARY: 

Be quiet, you. 

[Maths classroom]

DANNY: 

So that's all the questions on page 32, 
except the last one, and then everything on page 33. 

All that in for Thursday. Any questions? 

FLEMING: 

Sir? Have you ever killed a man? 

(Groans from the rest of the class.)

DANNY: 
I was a soldier. 
There were other soldiers 
and some of them weren't on our side. 
I shall leave the rest to your imagination. 
And, please, think of another question? 

FLEMING: 
Okay. Have you ever killed anyone who wasn't a soldier? 

DANNY: 

Just to repeat, that's all the questions on page 32, except the last one, and then everything on page 33. 
All that in for Thursday. Is everyone clear? 

CLASS: 

Yes, sir.

(The class watch a lone tear roll down Danny's cheek.)

[Staff room]

(The staff are putting on their coats to leave. Clara is discussing timetables with the headmaster.)

CLARA: 

Fine, I'll take that class and then, they can do some of the test. 

ARMITAGE: 

I know. Oh, Clara, you've not met Danny Pink yet? 

New fella, maths. Danny? 

Clara Oswald. 

CLARA: 

Hey.

ARMITAGE: 

English. 

DANNY: 

Hey, nice to meet you. 

CLARA: 

You too. 

ARMITAGE: 

Want to watch yourself around him. 

Bit of a lady-killer, but always denies it. 

DANNY: 

I am not a lady-killer. 

ARMITAGE: 

See what I mean?

Oh, Beth, can I have a word? 

BETH [OC]: 

Yeah, yeah, sure. 

CLARA: 

Er, was it you that I saw outside doing the soldiery thing? 

DANNY: 

Ah yeah, probably. 

The Coal Hill Cadets. Just a bit of fun. 

CLARA: 

What, teaching them how to shoot people? 

DANNY: 

There's a bit more to modern soldiering than just shooting people. 

I like to think there's a moral dimension. 

CLARA: 

Ah, you shoot people then cry about it afterwards? 

DANNY: 

Ah. 

CLARA: 

Something wrong? 

DANNY: 

Nothing, no. Sorry, no, nothing. 

I just. I didn't think they'd say anything, that's all. 

CLARA: 

Sorry? 

DANNY: 

Have they told everyone? 

CLARA: 

No, no, no. 

As far as I know, nobody has told anybody anything. 

What are you talking about? 

DANNY: 

Why did you just say the crying thing? 

CLARA: 

I was being funny. 

DANNY: 

Why? 

CLARA: 

I just do that. 

DANNY: 

Why? 

CLARA: 

I don't know. 

DANNY: 

Anyway I, er, 
I've left some stuff in my class. 

CLARA: 
Okay, see you. 

DANNY: 

See you. 

CLARA: 

Er, are you going to the, er, leaving thing tonight for Cathy? 

DANNY: 

Um. 

[Maths classroom]

DANNY: 

Yeah. I wasn't going, but I am now, because you're going to be there, and suddenly it seems like the best idea ever. 

[Staff room]

DANNY: 

No, I'm not. 

CLARA: 

Oh, okay, never mind. 

DANNY: 

Good night. 

CLARA: 

Change your mind. 

DANNY: 

Excuse me? 

CLARA: 

I'm going. Er, I'll give you a lift. 

Why not? 

[Maths classroom]

DANNY: 

Actually, now that you mention it, seems like the best plan ever.

 Thank you. 

[Staff room]

DANNY: 

No, I've got some reading. 

CLARA: 

Ah, okay. Maybe some other time, then? 

[Maths classroom]

DANNY: 

Thank you!

(He bangs his forehead on his desk.) 

CLARA: 

Ahem. 

Is the wooden sound you or or the desk? 

DANNY: 

How long have you been there? 

CLARA: 

Longer than you would like. 

DANNY: 

Okay. 

CLARA: 

Are you going to look that terrified when you take me out for a drink? 

DANNY: 

I, I absolutely promise I won't. 

CLARA: 

Play your cards right and you might.



Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to brutes — 
men who despise you — 
enslave you — who regiment your lives — 
tell you what to do — what to think or what to feel! 
Who drill you, diet you, 
treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. 

Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men — 
machine-men with machine minds 
and machine hearts! 

You are not machines! 
You are not cattle! 
You are men! 

You have the love of humanity in your hearts. 
You don't hate! Only the unloved hate — 
The unloved and the unnatural! 


Soldiers! 
Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! 

In the 17th Chapter of St. Luke it is written: 
"the Kingdom of God is within Man" — 
not one man nor a group of men, 
but in all men! In you! 

You, the people have the power — 
The power to create machines. 
The power to create happiness! 

You, the people, have the power 
to make this life free and beautiful, 
to make this life a wonderful adventure.