August 7th: Turtles 2 (1) -  Miramar Rangers 1 (0)

By John "Boy"O'Donnell

SCREEN PLAY FOR “LORD OF SCORING”

The fourth part of the “Lord of the Rings” story series. Set a couple of generations after the “Return of the King”.

In this story the forces of darkness defeated many generations previously are regaining their strength. A new Fellowship must be formed from the descendants of the original fellowship. They must gather together and travel to the distant lands to fight on the fields of the enemy. This time though it is not a ring that is the cause of the problems. It is a ball that can wreck havoc and devastation on those who have it trapped in their net that they must bring onto the battlefield. Hence the two great armies must confront each other on the battlefield, and by scoring the ball into the other sides goal, leave the opponent trapped with the implement of their own destruction.


THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE TURTLES

The new Fellowship is known as The Fellowship of the Turtles. They have taken the Turtle as the symbol of their endeavours due to their slow and deliberate movements, their staunch and reliable nature, the strength of their shell that they carry as protection, and their ability to pull their heads in at the first sign of trouble. The Fellowship wears white - as symbol of their pure intentions and hearts – and black – as a reminder of the darkness that will follow if they should fail in their quest.


WAS-HARDS
(descended from the WIZARDS)

GrandDuff the Copper (descended from Gandalf the Grey) [played by Murray Coppersmith]

The wizened old master of his trade. The head honcho of the fellowship. The last line of defence. The Big man. Known to get his hardened and whittled staff out every so often, presumably to produce a piece of magic. Sometimes though he brings it out as a prop for the sagging old body that has seen so many a battle, and occasionally just occasionally at the “Was-Hards” Christmas party to really impress the latest Personal Assistant (was it Candy or Mandy or Randy or Handy ?) with the power and potency of the tricks he can do with his mighty staff.

GoalDolf the Green (also descended from Gandalf the Grey) [played by John O’Donnell]

Reluctant apprentice of the “GrandDuff”. Still very green in learning any of the skills or talents of the revered master of this trade – such artisanial specialities as “the Harbour Bridge Profiling”, “the Thin Air Grab”, “the Third Ball through the Legs”, and “the Stuck to the Line”. Has not been given access to the wonders of the use of the magic staff by his master. Expect the worst when the GoalDolf is around.


WHORE-BITS
(descended from the HOBBITS)

Phildo BigUns (descended from Bilbo and Frodo Baggins) [played by Phil Langridge]

When the ladies get to see him from side on, they are always heard to remark that he’s got a “big un”. It is assumed that they are referring to his proboscisal extremetalia.

Zildo Buggings (also descended from Bilbo and Frodo Baggins) [played by Darrin Wilkinson]

Can be a pesky little critter as he nibs around the legs and ankles of the opposition, where they find themselves unable to swat him away. Stays low to the ground then on attack, and sometimes in the bogs and swamps of the fields may disappear from view.

Slimwise Gangly (descended from Samwise Gamgee) [played by Chris Lavis]

Tall, lean, angular, athletic. Everything a “Whore-Bit” isn’t supposed to be. May have been on some form of cross-breeding program with the “Spent trees” (refer later). Doesn’t know whether to promise to never leave the side of “Phildo” or “Zildo” - who themselves seem to have some sort of kindred attachment to “GoalLame” and his goal scoring travails - so can often be seen to stray to the farthest corners of the field in search of one of his two promised ones.

PopIn (descended from Pippin) [played by Steve Langridge]

Appears every so often. You never know when he will pop in for another game.

Merely Murray (descended from Merry) [played by Murray McIlraith]

Enough said.

GoalLame / ItsMeGoal (descended from Gollum / Smeagol) [played by Paul Kyne]

A dual personality, excised from the typical “Whore-bit”, by unabashed cravings for sco-ring. Proved as impotent as a transvestite in scoring, for a length of time that would be ascribed to other players whole careers. In regards to goal scoring in this time, could be heard to say such things “We wants it”, “My precious”. When he was gifted a goal by the beneficence and inscrutability of “TheOddOne” (refer later), was heard for the next eternity to be running around screaming, again and again “Its Me Goal”. The taste of scoring seems only to have deepened the wanton licentious cravings for more, as he has been known to run around large lakes non-stop in some frenzied mania to find again “What we wants”.


BOTTOM SHELVES
(descended from the ELVES)

Legless (descended from Legolas) [played by Gary Spratt]

Used to be the sharp shooter, firing away at great speed with great accuracy. These days it is a mute point as to whether he can’t run on his legs anymore, whether legs were ever there to start with, or whether the local beverages have finally won their battle over him.

AahWho? (descended from Arwen) [played by Tim ?]

Who was that man ?


DWARFS
(descended from the DWARFS)

Gamely (descended from Gimli) [played by Andrew Watson]

The smallest chap in the fellowship, but courageous and swift. Has a stout heart, ale-ing stomach, good beer-ing, and is lager than life.


LATE NIGHTS OF GONE-DOWN
(descended from the KNIGHTS of GONDOR)

AridGlen / Striker (descended from Aragorn / Strider) [played by Glen Wilkinson]

Used to be a great goal scorer in his former days as “Striker”, but seems to be having a bit of a dry run on the goals front.

FairHairMare (descended from Faramir) [played by Simon Law]

The bronzed and brutal one with the golden locks flowing in the breeze, terrorising the opposition with the power, potency and vigour of his defences. For the opposition stallions that roam the fields of battle, it is as if he was something from their worst night-mare, as he kicks and bucks away the unfortunate suitors who wish to mount his throne.

BareItMore (descended from Boromir) [played by Terry Hills]

The second part of the Bronzed Warrior Duet that shuts out the opposition, either using the direct approach with their brutal vigorous defence, or the indirect approach by flaunting their Adonis-like physical perfectitudes in a way that bedazzles the opposition into a wimpering cocooned state vested of a physical inferiority complex. “BareItMore” has been known though to go too far on occasions, fairly much baring it all as he flexes and flaunts to vast crowds left spellbound by the experience.

DonAFur (descended from Denethor) [played by Steve Hambleton]

Was gifted a cloak for displays of great courage and strength, by the Orangutan tribes of Borneo which he has donned ever since. They made the cloak in his honour from the ginger coloured fur pelt of some creature prized for its virility and intelligence, that hides out in the jungles in their distant lands. At least that is his story. Confounds his compatriots by obstinately refusing to ever take the cloak off, as he believes it may diminish the powers that have been bestowed upon him.


ROUGH RIDERS OF RAW-HAND
(descended from the RIDERS of ROHAN)

AyeOimEre (descended from Eomir) [played by Gordie]

The celtic accented one, who wants every one to know where he is, so that he can get the ball from them, and not give it back.

AyeOiWin (descended from Eowyn) [played by Gordie]

Presumed to be the sister of “AyeOimEre” given the similarity in looks, only discernibly different due to the tartan dress she wears as she dances around singing the praises of her victory.

SquirmTongue (descended from Wormtongue) [played by Roger Kinsella]

Renowned through the lands, as the purveyor of the most asinine astringent verbal repast available in any situation. Has been known to reduce those of tenderer constitutions to squirming quivering wrecks. Any lashing from this verbal repastor is to be avoided at all costs. Even the mighty “BareItMore” and “FairHairMare” have been known to writhe upon receiving a lashing from his tongue when they have been parading their wares in front of him.

TheOddOne (descended from Theoden) [played by Glenn Tims]

Apparently was a prominent and respected Ruler at one time, but as a result of an inadvertent and unfortunate meandering into the firing sights of the aforementioned “SquirmTongue”, was observed to change skin colour, to sprout baby worms from the chin, and to develop a squint in the eyes. Now he spends his days in a daze, drifting from one position to another to another out on the field, never finding a home, but always trying to distance himself from the laconic lair of the mighty “SquirmTongue”.

SPENT TREES (descended from the ENT TREES)

ThreadBared (descended from TreeBeard) [played by Grant Coppersmith]

Was once himself on the field of battle, though unfortunately for him was threadbare in the skills department necessary for requisite performance on the field. In his playing days, he was part of the tall timber at the back, but tended to be rooted to the spot. Finally he manage to twig to the fact he needed to branch out and leave the field, to a place where now he has managed to log up more games on the sideline than all the players actually on the field bar one. Unfortunately again, his skills here as a medicine man, come trainer, come, manager, come drinks maker are yet again threadbare.

 

THE FORCES OF DARKNESS

Most of the old adversaries have reappeared on the battlefield for the forces of darkness. They are coloured black and blue from the pains of their previous battles. They are gathering for battle in the wastes of MordorMar.

WRONG-REFS (descended from RING WRAITHS)

They make a screeching sound every so often as they hold rule over the battle, with a tendency to favour their own kind.

GOAL-TROLL (descended from CAVE TROLL)

A large prehistoric creature who fills the goal and batters away all balls that are fired at him.

WALLY-FLAUNTS (descended from OLIPHAUNTS)

Large pendulous beasts who seek to block and smash those of the Fellowship that may venture towards the goal. Act as last line of defence.

DORCS (descended from ORCS)

Loathsome mutants that rampage around the battle field, sometimes defending and sometimes attacking. Not known for their intelligence or conviviality.

IRKSOME-GUYS (descended from IROUQHAI)

The up-front attackers of the forces of darkness, seeking to score the ball into the goal of the Fellowship, so that the forces of good may be destroyed. They are difficult aggressive beasts, hard to stop, and prone to cunning.


THE BATTLE

The Fellowship ventured out of their homes in the West, and gathered for their journey into the Eastern lands. They passed beyond Mount Doom the former stronghold of Lord SourOne, that since has been named Mount VictoryAh to commemorate his prior defeat. They scrambled through the Dead Marshes of KillBurnFlee where scorched earth tactics by the Dark Forces had wrecked the land. Then it bode the Fellowship ill to finally pass through the Black Gates and onto the battle field of MordorMar.

But the travels had been difficult and many had been lost on the way. Phildo BigUns was last seen nosing around the Dead Marshes before disappearing. Legless lived up to his name and got smashed somewhere. BareItMore stumbled upon some Greek temptress with her-ropee and got all tied up as he strutted his stuff to her muscle gorged licentious gaze. AyeOimEre and AyeOiWin ran off together in some incestuous tangle trumpeting each others bagpipes. But worst of all was the sidetracking of GrandDuff the Copper, the leader of the Fellowship. He ran off saying he had problems with his Staff,  leaving the Fellowship none the wiser as to whether he was talking about his Personal Assistant, his Magic tricks, his reproductive prowess, or all three combined.

The battle began with cut and thrust and parry as both sides sought to deliver the ball into the others goal. Early on SquirmTongue tripped over the delivery of one of his epeegrams and caught with his tongue in the marshlands, allowed one of the IrksomeGuys through on goal. GoalDolf the Green remembering the immortal words of his master the mighty GrandDuff, quivered and quavered in a jellified falsetto “You Shall Not Pass”. He wanted to ram a staff into the ground to add impact as his master would have done, but realised there wasn’t time now to dick around. So GoalDolf flailed his arms as though casting a spell to the four winds (and particularly the big Northerly) and as luck would have it the IrksomeGuy hit the ball straight into his left arm. The first signs of danger were over for now.

Meantime SquirmTongue picked up the pieces of his game and his fallen Lingua Lickulator, and thereafter bestrode the defensive end of the field with a performance of assuredness and conviction. PopIn managed to pop up on defence on the left, the right, and sometimes both left and right simultaneously. TheOddOne managed to get the odd one in at the back, in the middle and up front. It was definitely going to be a cameo performance from him as he kept changing positions as fast as a politician eyeing the mid-term election polls. The thought ran through his head that maybe he could remain distant enough from the SquirmTongue. And the mighty FairHairMare reared up against the oncoming Dorcs and IrksomeGuys, kicking and pawing the ground in defiance of their charges.

Zildo Buggings and Gamely were finding some space on the flanks. Merely Murray and AridGlen were involved in hand-to-hand, nose-to-nose and foot-to-foot combat in the middle of the park and hence were building their familiarity with the Dorcs. GoalLame continued to seek his precious. At the other end of the field SlimWise Gangly kept rising up above the WallyFlaunts to use his head on goal. But as with his favourite pornstar Dirk Diggler, he used his head at the critical moment to keep shooting over rather than shoot in.

The battle continued to rage forwards and backwards, with neither side getting any ascendancy, but both sides having opportunities. Then near the halfway stage of the battle a crucial yet unobvious, incendiary yet quiet, provocative yet calm, quixotic yet reasoned, pervasive yet minor, stupefying yet bland, prescient yet timely, pivotal yet uncomplicated decision was made. DonAFur who had been playing in defence was not feeling himself, not feeling any Dorcs, not feeling part of the battle, and was generally unfeeling. So he felt it was time to take himself off the field, and so he ginger-ly left. But the Fellowship had made him Leader after the staff problems of GrandDuff had removed the WasHard from the battle. DonAFur felt it was time to be decisive, to be the Leader that he could be. So he sought inspiration as he pulled his honourary fur pelt about him, and he fur-nished the plan to return to the fur-nace of battle, in the way that could best fur-ther the cause of the Fellowship. He would be the Refuree.

And true to matters of great inspiration, DonAFur discerned a moment most portentous near the three quarter mark of the battle. The Fellowship had been under siege for a long time, but they made a rare incursion into the opposition area. So it was time for DonAFur to act. He deemed that one of the WallyFlaunts had used a hand on the ball near to their goal. As DonAFur well knew a WallyFlaunt doesn’t have hands, only tusks and a trunk to use on his balls. Hence this must be a penalisable offence, and so countenancing no objection he pointed to the spot, with total conviction that he was the deified arbiter of all things good and pure and wholesome. Cometh the moment, cometh the Dwarf. Gamely gamely stepped forward, and cajoled the ball into the corner of the net.

The Fellowship was finally in the ascendancy, but this merely served to drive the Forces of Darkness into frenzied action. They exerted wave after wave after wave upon the Fellowship. If they weren’t who they were, it would have been possible to admire and respect the quality of their performance. Every time the Fellowship got the ball, they MordorMar beasts would get it back immediately. They would then surge forward on the left, surge forward on the right, and surge forward down the middle. They had more Serge than a French rugby team. Shots reigned in from everywhere and despite the greatest courage and efforts of the Fellowship, a shot snuck through high into the upper corner of the goal.

Would the opposition relax having finally prevailed after so much effort. No. The beasts of MordorMar kept attacking, and it seemed as if they wished to blast the Fellowship to far off over the seas of the West never to return. Even the WallyFlaunts were looking to get involved in the attacks. Then in a moment that stupefied the senses, the senseless, the sensible and the sensational, the Fellowship suddenly broke out of their own half of the field with the ball. Gamely scurried as fast and as far as he could go up the left flank. A WallyFlaunt had finally turned and was bearing down on him. Gamely looked up to just discern the match like figure of SlimWise Gangly had come upfield with him yelling “I’ll never leave you Mister Gamely”. Maybe he’d had enough of Phildo and Zildo by this stage, and was after some other WhoreBit action. Who knows but none the less he was there. Gamely calmly remembered SlimWise Gangly’s efforts with his head in the first period, and so decided to give the ball to him at the feet instead. The Goal Troll was unbalanced – and generally of a fragile mental predisposition – and SlimWise calmly and assuredly slotted the ball past him into the goal.

The delirium amongst the Fellowship was unabashed. Even ThreadBared managed to erupt beyond his normal chortle, only to break down and turn to seed. The Goal would be one of only two times in the second period that the Fellowship would have the ball in sight of the opposition goal and they had managed to score both times. In a fit of pique the Forces of Darkness replaced DonAFur with one of their WrongRefs they managed to extricate from some underground hole, but the damage had already been done.

Yet there was still time for the beasts of MordorMar, and so the Forces of Darkness trammelled forward again. However the Fellowship was now prepared to lay down their lives - and lay down their wives if they ever got out of here. They defended strongly, stoicly, staunchly and - in the cases of some of the WhoreBits - shortly. Attack after attack blasted at their defences. SquirmTongue invoked the Verbal Repastor in himself and let the Dorcs know who they were. GoalDolf flailed and flagellated anything that looked like a ball coming his way. FairHairMare galloped like a mighty Stead into the opposition waves. The Late Nights of GoneDown wouldn’t go down. The Bottom Shelves picked themselves up and made for the top shelves of performance. The WhoreBits wouldn’t prostitute themselves to giving up. And the Rough Riders of Raw Hand got rougher with anything they could lay their calloused and warted hands upon.

Finally to the relief of one and all and all for one, the battle was over. MordorMar was vanguished, though not extinguished. And the Fellowship prevailed. Yet they had to acknowledge the qualities of the opposition. And were left in no doubt that this would not be the final battle. They would have to return, and fight again on these fields. But for now they could relax and enjoy their mead, as they contemplated the extraordinary courage and effort and tenacity they had procured to win the days battle.
 


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