A DICTATORSHIP FALLS

INTERIOR HOUSE AT AYS GIANNIS KITCHEN MORNING 2009

Stella (15 years old) comes down to the kitchen for breakfast while looking at her mobile, receiving and sending text messages.

Her father Deme puts some clothes into the washing machine. His shirt is covered in bloodstains while her mum Frances is making tea and toast. Deme picks up the newspaper and starts reading. They look agitated and upset.

DEME

They’re all about peaceful demonstrators, including MPs and police officers attacked by communist radicals!

FRANCES

Has the media mentioned anything about the fascists knifing people and attacking anyone who looked foreign?

DEME

Of course not! They’re too busy interviewing right-wing libertarians denouncing the left as anarchists who don’t respect the rule of law and accusing us of starting a riot.

They sit and have breakfast without talking. Afterwards, Stella turns round to Deme and says

STELLA

Shall we make a start then dad? Have you got the recorder?

DEME

What for?

STELLA

You promised to tell me about your experience in Athens in the Summer of 1974. I need to write something for my school project.

DEME

Oh yes, that. Good idea, I need something to take my mind off yesterday’s events.

Stella goes upstairs to get the voice recorder and then sits down with her dad by a table in the inner courtyard under an umbrella. Potted plants surround them and the sun is strong. An upright fan blows refreshing air towards them. A tantalising jug of water, ice-cubes and slices of lemon and three glasses decorate the table.

STELLA

OK, let me press the start button… it’s on. Why don’t you start by telling me what you remember of the events leading up to the invasion and what happened afterwards?

DEME

I was a young naïve 18 year old travelling to Greece for the summer break. If I had any politics then it was liberalism, like anyone reasonably well off, my politics was live and let live and enjoy life, as far as I was concerned only boring people were interested in politics.

FADE TO BLACK:

EXT: KARPATHOS – EARLY JULY – 1974

DEME (VOICE OVER)

I was on holiday on the Greek island of Karpathos when the coup and invasion happened. I was with some friends. A young local, Stathis, came and spoke to me and told me about the coup in Cyprus.

INT: COFFEE SHOP – MORNING

The coffee shop is typically Greek, a single storey building, open windows and doors, a large room full of tables and chairs, everything painted white with framed photos of the military looking pompous. It is about 20 metres from the sea with a large patio shaded by a grapevine.

Deme, eighteen, is having breakfast with his friends.

STATHIS

Hey Demetris, you’re from Cyprus aren’t you? I just heard the news on the radio! There was a coup there at dawn, have you heard?

DEME

What? What are you saying? What happened?

STATHIS

The army led by Greek officers are taking over but there is some resistance. They announced that Makarios is dead but other reports say the old fox slipped through their hands. No one really knows what’s happening exactly.

DEME

I must contact my family! Where can I get hold of a phone?

STATHIS

Forget it! All lines are blocked. There’s no way you can make a call.

DEME (looking anxious)

I must get in touch with my family and find out how they are!

STATHIS

Your best bet would be the post office where the telephone exchange is. Kyria Eleni is a good woman and sympathetic to us- she’s in charge and will try her best. Come with me!

They leave Alan and the others behind and make their way to the post office.

INT – POST OFFICE – SAME

A large sparse but clean room with a desk and a telephone exchange operated single-handedly by a woman. She is not very busy and recognises and greets Stathis as he and Deme enter.

STATHIS

Kyria Eleni, this is young Demetris from Cyprus. He wants to ring his family there and find out what’s happening. Is it possible?

ELENI

I’m really sorry but all the lines are down. These bastards do the same thing each time they try and take over! In April ‘67 no one could ring Athens when the Colonels took over and again last November with the Polytechnic, when they killed all those young students. Now with Cyprus, they’re controlling all the lines.

DEME

But I must get in touch somehow! Who knows what’s happening to them!

ELENI

I’m very sorry young man but there’s nothing I can do. It’s not in my power.

DEME

Then I must make my way back to London.

ELENI

The quickest way is to get the next ferry to Athens, there’ s one arriving tomorrow first thing in the morning… go and buy a ticket and pack.

EXT: BOAT – EVENING

A large ferryboat carrying passengers from Athens to Santorini, Crete, Karpathos, Rhodes and then back to Athens waits in the port.

It is spacious and comfortable with plenty of seats for the passengers, two bar areas, a canteen and a dance floor with a stage for evening entertainment. It’s well maintained and the crew are well trained and helpful.

DEME (VO)

On the boat I came across a group of Cypriot students and tourists making their way to Athens for the same reasons. That evening we sat on the deck of the ferry and had a heated discussion. I was on the edge, listening, as politics was new to me.

LUCAS, mid 50’s, is in full flow. Among the listeners are KYRIAKOS and his girlfriend ANDROULLA, both students in their early 20’s, NICOS in his 50’s, friend of Lucas, dark-haired and short beard. KYRIA MAROULA, in her mid 70’s dressed in black holding a rosary with tearful eyes, MARIANNA in her 30’s, well dressed and well educated, speaks in a slow, assured voice.

LUCAS

It’s all Makarios’ fault! He lost his way and decided he didn’t want Enosis anymore! He got a taste of being president and the privileges that go with that; he abandoned Enosis completely.

KYRIAKOS  

Rubbish! How can you support those who took up arms in order to destroy democracy? Killing people because they don’t agree with you politically and imposing military rule is no way to run a civilised country.

ANDROULLA

Careful what you say Kyriako, you don’t know who’s listening!

KYRIAKOS

I’ve said my piece. If it’s illegal to speak in support of your legally elected president, so be it.

NICOS

Cyprus is Greek! It’s always been Greek. The only thing stopping us was the strong Empires like the Ottomans and the British but throughout the centuries Cyprus has always been Greek. We gave the world philosophy, drama and civilisation for God’s sake! All we ask is that we’re left alone so that all Greeks can live united in one country as one nation.

KYRIA MAROULA

Makarios is a saint, God bless him. How dare you say a bad word against him! He saved us from the English and is a godly, holy man, leading us like a shepherd in government and the church.

MARIANNA

The whole thing is a CIA plot! They control everything! They imposed the Junta in Greece and are behind the ousting of Makarios in Cyprus too. If I had Kissinger in front of me, I would spit in his face.

ANDROULLA – (sarcastically)

Blaming everything on the Americans is easy, everyone else is innocent and none of this is our fault. It’s the CIA and there’s nothing we can do, we must go home and accept our bad luck as victims of the evil American imperialists!

NICOS

You don’t know what you’re talking about! Of course it’s the Americans. They’re behind everything in the Middle East, with their friends in Israel, nothing happens without their say so.

KYRIA MAROULA

Nasty Americans and that Kissinger is such an evil person. Just because our Makarios upset them! Look what they did to us!

INT. COURTYARD HOUSE IN AYS GIANNIS

DEME (to Stella)

I’d never heard people talk with such passion and conviction before. The discussion went on for hours and got very heated… it almost came to blows. Later that night I ended up talking to Kyriako and Androulla. We found a quiet spot in the bar, bought some beers and continued the conversation. What they had to say was interesting and once they realised I was genuine and was not a police spy, they opened up.

INT: BAR FERRY – EVENING – 1974

Deme has a beer with Kyriako and Androulla.

KYRIAKOS

I had to bite my tongue earlier. You never know who’s listening. We are AKEL members but think our leadership got things wrong and serious mistakes were made.

DEME

My dad and brother Stelio are in AKEL.

Kyriakos and Androulla nod.

KYRIAKOS

It’s like in Chile when Salvador Allende refused to arm the people and he and millions of his supporters paid for it with their lives

ANDROULLA

And are still paying for it, living under a dictatorship.

KYRIAKOS

We knew the coup was very likely so perhaps AKEL should have been better prepared. This failure is a major and costly mistake. Unfortunately, we relied on Makarios too much.

DEME

What about imperialism? Everyone knows the Americans didn’t like Makarios. They called him the Castro of the Mediterranean. Now the Americans control Greece AND Cyprus. And the English sowing the seeds of division, playing Turks against Greeks, you know, divide and rule.

KYRIAKOS

For someone who claims to be non-political, this observation is very sophisticated, but things are not as simple as that.

ANDROULLA

Sure Makarios was a thorn in the side of the Americans, being one of the leaders of the Non-aligned countries…

KYRIAKOS

…. Nasser, Indira Ghandi, Tito of Yugoslavia and Castro.

ANDROULLA

They hated that movement while the Cold War was going on and therefore were happy to see the end of Makarios.

DEME

Exactly the point I’m trying to make.

ANDROULLA

But you forget, Turkey is also part of the equation. We saw Turkey ready to invade in ‘64 and ’67. The Americans held them back with difficulty, yet they still flew warplanes over and bombed us then.

DEME

Do you think Turkey will invade?

KYRIAKOS

Now no one knows what‘s going to happen. If Turkey invades this time and Greece goes to war, it’s the last thing the Americans want to see happen. Two NATO member countries, going to war in such a sensitive region the Middle East. It’s an outcome that horrifies the Americans.

ANDROULLA

I think the CIA had very little to do with the coup in Cyprus and are now very busy carrying out damage limitation.

KYRIAKOS

As for the British divide and rule tactic, sure this is what they do. But think, this is not the only seed sown in Cyprus. Why this seed should take hold and grow but not democracy and workers’ solidarity?

DEME

But behind the coup is Greek officers, behind them is the Greek Junta and behind them the Americans.

KYRIAKOS

By talking about the ‘bad Americans’ and the ‘bad British’ we fail to see the bad Cypriots, the politicians who failed to act or who acted the wrong way for their own interests.

DEME

What do you mean?

ANDROULLA

Attacking Imperialism sounds left but it hides the mistakes and crimes committed by the Cypriot elite, the rich, the nationalists and those in charge of the government. If we blame the Americans, there is not much we can do about it and it lets our lot off the hook.

KYRIAKOS

And another thing, it allows the mistakes made by the left to be overlooked. If we blame the Americans and the British we’re not asking why our party, the party of the Cypriot working class, has supported ENOSIS for so many years?

CUT TO:

INT: COURTYARD – 2009

STELLA (to Deme)

Hang on I’m getting confused. When did all this take place?

DEME

The coup took place on the 15^th July 1974. I got the news the same day but had to wait a day for the next ferry to Piraeus.

STELLA

Where’s that dad?

DEME

It’s the port of Athens. The boat stopped in Rhodes for a day or two to drop off and pick up more passengers and unload goods. When I finally got to the port of Piraeus …

EXT: HARBOUR – MORNING – 1974 – Day Turkey invaded Cyprus

Deme disembarks and hugs Kyriako and Androulla.

KYRIAKOS

What are you planning to do now Demetri?

DEME

Not sure. I’ll try to make contact with my family and make my way back to London. What about you two?

ANDROULLA

We’ll stay here and see how things go. We know Athens well so we’ll try and get work. If things go well, we’ll make our way back to Cyprus.

KYRIAKOS

We’ll stay with Androulla’s cousins for the time being. Here’s the address and telephone number.

Kyriakos hands Deme a piece of paper with their details.

DEME

Thanks. I’m thinking of going to the Cyprus Embassy tomorrow to see if I can ring from there. I’m bound to get some news either way. Why don’t we meet there, say about 3pm?

Both Kyriakos and Androulla laugh.

KYRIAKOS

I don’t think we’ll be very welcome there, they know who we are! Let’s meet the day after tomorrow in the Cypriot café in Omonia Square. Everyone knows it. Come and join us about 3pm.

DEME

Sure, Cypriot café, Omonia Square. See you then.

They shake hands and leave. As Deme walks from the port towards the main road, there is a huge commotion.

People are talking in an agitated manner and gesturing, their faces reveal they are worried. Deme approaches a tall, thin man in his late 40’s/early 50’s; he’s standing alone, staring anxiously into the distance.

DEME

Excuse me sir, what’s happening?

TALL MAN (in a rude manner)

Where have you been young man? Everyone knows. It’s been in the news non-stop all day. Turkey invaded Cyprus.

 Deme tries to take it all in, his mind spins, he feels faint and sick at the same time. He cannot comprehend it and all he can say is ….

DEME

What? Invaded? When? Why? I don’t feel well.

TALL MAN

Take it easy young man. Take a deep breath. Are you a Cypriot?

DEME

Yes.

As Deme says yes, he starts to run like a madman towards the exit and the main road. He wants to get on with it. He doesn’t know what he wants to get on with but whatever it is there is no time to waste.

INT: HOUSE – NIGHT – 2009

STELLA

What happened in Athens?

DEME

Confusion, great confusion! I was only 18 then and had no politics to rely on. I didn’t know what to think. Once in Athens I changed my return ticket to London but still had a few days to kill.  I made my way to the Cyprus Embassy and called Kyriakos and confirmed the meeting with him and Androulla the next day.

CUT TO:

EXT. EMBASSY BUILDING – EARLY AFTERNOON

Deme stands outside the embassy surrounded by about 50 Cypriots, mainly students: Nicolas and Marios both young students; Vasos a middle age man with his wife Margarita among others.

They were all there, like Deme, trying to get the latest news. They talked among themselves in an urgent and agitated manner. A lot of rumours were circulating.

NICOLAS

We captured twenty-five thousand Turkish prisoners and shot down 25 planes!

DEME

How many?

MARIOS

Look, someone’s coming out!

An embassy official descends the front stairs of the Embassy. He has a map of Cyprus in his hands with various coloured lines drawn, showing the section between Kyrenia and Nicosia as their initial bridgehead, occupied by the Turkish army,

OFFICIAL

This is what the Turks managed to get, a small strip between Kyrenia and Nicosia. They have a bridgehead and are uploading supplies. At the moment there is a truce but the Turks are simply getting ready for the next stage and we are busy laying down mines.

MARIOS

Can we go in and use your phones and talk to our families.

OFFICIAL

That’s not possible. All lines are cut except for the one reserved for the Ambassador for strictly official government business.

NICOLAS

That’s bullshit man. Our family members are dying there and you won’t even let us talk to them. It’s not going to cost you anything to let us make one lousy phone call.

OFFICIAL

Who the hell do you think you are talking to me like this? We all have families, we all care! I told you already there is only one line and that is constantly in use for official business.

NICOLAS

You just don’t care. We’re all worried sick here and you won’t let us get any news!

OFFICIAL

I’ve just about had enough of you. If you don’t like it, get lost. We are in a war situation and there are more important things to do than chat with family members.

Nicolas goes quiet but it’s obvious he is still angry, others share his frustration.

MARIOS

Is it true we captured thousands of prisoners and shot down many of their planes?

OFFICIAL

We captured 25 thousand prisoners, mainly in Limassol and shot down over 20 warplanes. At the moment we need blood for the war. We’ve organised coaches to take people to the nearest hospital. You should all go!

VASOS

How do we know this blood will go to Cyprus and not be given to the Greek army.

MARGARITA

Don’t be stupid, it makes no difference, it’s all one army, we’re fighting one enemy.

CUT TO:

INT: HOUSE – NIGHT – 2009

Deme talking to Stella pauses to take a sip of coffee

DEME

The coach came and we all went to the nearest hospital and gave blood; I felt that under the circumstances it was the least I could do. I felt so impotent, useless, confused and angry and a few more emotions all at the same time!

CUT TO:

EXT. HOSPITAL – 1974 LATER THAT DAY

Deme, with a group of other Cypriots, leaves the hospital and as they walk, they enter a shop where the TV is broadcasting news. Thanasis orders everyone a drink as they watch attentively.

T.V screen shows footage of unfolding events.

THANASIS

Wow, 25 000 prisoners! We must be doing very well and all those planes shot down!

NICOLAS

You know why that is? It’s all the hunting we do! We’re all top marksmen in Cyprus!

DEME

Sorry guys but I feel a bit faint, probably giving all that blood. I need to go and rest. See you and hope things turn out OK for you and your relatives.

Deme leaves the group and walks into the streets of Athens. He takes some deep breaths and fills his lungs, as he smells the evening air. He is trying to get things straight in his head and make sense of the events unfolding in Cyprus.

Deme (VO)

I felt fine but somehow all the news was the same, full of unrealistic optimism and ‘good news’. I was fed up with all the hype. Something didn’t feel quite right.

CUT TO:

INT: COURTYARD  – AFTERNOON – 2009

DEME

What we didn’t know then was that those twenty-five thousand prisoners were Turkish Cypriot civilians not Turkish soldiers! They went round all the villages and arrested every man, woman and child. Some unarmed civilians from Tochni and other villages were massacred by Greek Cypriot fascists in cold blood.

Stella listens intently. 

STELLA

Hang on a minute; let’s go back a bit. How did you end up in Greece in the first place?

DEME

I was visiting a good friend of mine who was from Athens. His name was Patroklos but we had a falling out and I decided to go and visit a few islands. When I got back to Athens, I visited Patroklos as I hoped being local he would know more about what was happening.

CUT TO:

INT: PATROKLOS HOUSE – DAY

Patroklos opens the door. The house is situated in a middle class area of Athens; it’s luxurious and well decorated. His parents are separated and he lives with his mother, two brothers and younger sister.

His mother’s parents also live in the same house. When Deme arrives, Patroklos’ two aunts are also present. They are all talking with raised voices, the way Greeks normally talk to each other.

PATROKLOS

Oh hi Demetris! How are you? Come in! Come in! We’re all here talking about Cyprus.

DEME

Sorry about before.

PATROKLOS

…. Don’t be silly man, come on in, and tell us what you know! It’s all hell out there and very little information. We’re all glued to the news on the radio and TV. What can you tell us?

DEME

It’s been hell these last few days. I’ve been trying to find out what’s going on in Cyprus but I have absolutely no news about my family.

PATROKLOS

Come in! We’re all here watching the latest news.

 Everyone, Demetris is here!

INT: LIVING ROOM – SAME

The living room is full of Patroklos’ family, who are quiet and wait anxiously as the television broadcasts the latest news. Deme enters the living room and is greeted by everyone.

PATROKLOS’ MOTHER

Welcome Demitri, take a seat over there. It’s 1940 all over again. Our heroic young men are mobilising and some already fighting the Turks.

PATROKLOS’ BROTHER (about 15 years old)

I wish I were older so I could join and fight for my country. It’s time to give the Turks a good hiding.

PATROKLOS’ GRANDMOTHER

We’re doing well, already shot down 23 warplanes and have 25,000 prisoners. This is what I call our boys making a good start.

The grandfather is attentive and has a bright face. Listening to the others, he gets angry and finally, not being able to contain himself any longer, he bursts out.

GRANDFATHER

What the hell do you all think? Greece hasn’t sent any troops to Cyprus yet!  The Cypriots are fighting the war on their own! Sure, they mobilised the army up in Thrace by the Turkish border and maybe sent supplies to Cyprus, but that’s all! So far, the Cypriots are doing all the fighting!

INT: COURTYARD – 2009

DEME

The penny dropped for all of us. Despite all the news about heroic fighting, nothing was mentioned about any significant numbers of Greek troops either going to Cyprus or doing any fighting.

Stella sits back on her chair and runs her hands through her hair and looks at her mobile.

STELLA

Sorry dad, I need another break….. I need to take this call…

DEME

Sure, I need a break too.

Deme gets up and makes himself a coffee. While he waits, he turns the TV on and catches the news as Epiphanios’ face appears.

T.V NEWS READER

And now we turn back to events in Larnaca that took place yesterday in Phinikoudes. We have a report from our special correspondent Petros Papasavva. Petro good afternoon, what is happening over there in Larnaca?

PETROS

A peaceful demonstration was violently attacked as it marched in support of the rights for local people. I have with me one of the organisers, Chair of the Committee for the missing and local MP Epiphanios Karagyannis. Mr Karagyannis please tell our audience what happened here yesterday.

EPIPHANIOS

It was an outrageous riot that’s what happened. These extreme lefties and anarchists do not respect the rule of law. We were on a peaceful march to claim Cyprus back for the Cypriot people and those thugs tried to block our way. I call upon the police to severely punish those arrested, the organisers and anyone connected with these violent events. The whole concept of democracy and the rule of law is at stake. I demand…

While Epiphanios is in full flow with his index finger pointing in an aggressive, accusative manner, Deme grabs the remote and switches the TV off, but not before he has thrown his coffee at Epiphanios’ face.

We see his face strained as the screen is switched off. This is witnessed by both Frances and Stella, as they come downstairs; Stella bursts out laughing.

FRANCES

I told you before not to do that! Honestly, how many times? Just don’t watch the news if it upsets you so much. Why don’t you carry on and finish the interview? It would be nice to go out for a walk later, get some fresh air.

DEME

This guy is so nasty and vicious! What a bloody mess. Come Stella, let’s carry on and STOP giggling!

Stella and Deme resume and Stella turns the recorder on once more.

STELLA

How long did this all take?

DEME

Well it was five days from the coup to the invasion and then of course what happened next shocked us all. Two days later I was still trying to get a ticket back to London, it was a hot day and that evening I arranged to meet up with Kyriakos and Androulla in a café, with their friend Nicki. We met outside.

EXT: ATHENS – CAFÉ – DAY – 1974

DEME (VO)

There was a newsagent kiosk nearby and they were reading the newspaper headlines hanging on a piece of string like clothes drying on the line; everyone did this! Everyone was glued to whatever news they could find. There were no mobiles in those days. Kyriakos, Androulla and Nicki were cheerful though I did not understand why.

It’s about six in the evening, but still sunny and hot.

The coffee shop is typical of the hundreds that exist in Athens with a spacious interior, lots of windows but practically empty, as everyone is sitting outside.

A large area outside is full of small, white tables each with four white chairs. There are pots of flowers everywhere, while a large vine provides the canopy offering shade from a hot searing sun.

As soon as Deme, Kyriakos, Androulla and Nicki sit down, a waiter leaves a large jug of water with three glasses. They each order a coffee, which soon arrives.

KYRIAKOS

Yeia sou Demetris! How have you been? This is my friend Nicky. We have some good news, finally!

Deme and Nicki acknowledge each other.

DEME

Oh, what is it?

ANDROULLA

Haven’t you heard? The Greek army is mobilising in the North by the Turkish border and is marching down South to Athens.

DEME

But why?

KYRIAKOS

I’m not sure but there are rumours that when the Greek army mobilised by the river Evros on the Turkish border and opened their supplies, instead of weapons they found the boxes full of stones!

DEME

What!

KYRIAKOS

The colonels, these super patriots, must have sold the weapons and lined their own pockets. The Greek army is in no way prepared for this war.

DEME

It’s a fucking disaster! It’s going to be a massacre. We’re just half a million people and Turkey is several million!

ANDROULLA

According to the newspapers, the Greek general in charge of the Evros army is marching to Athens in order to confront the Colonels.

KYRIAKOS

Their credibility is less than zero.

ANDROULLA

After the Polytechnic atrocities it was obvious the Greek people didn’t want them anymore and are now shown to be nothing but money grabbing gangsters.

DEME

So what! Turkey is still invading Cyprus and now that the Greek army is looking inwards, there’s nothing to stop them from doing whatever they want and taking over in Cyprus.

ANDROULLA

What’s happening in Cyprus is a disaster. However, the events in Greece may change everything. The Junta might not survive, if democracy is restored. This will change everything, even in Cyprus.

KYRIAKOS

Oh by the way did you hear, it was in the news, Zardides made a statement, he is the leader of PEO (Cyprus Left Trade Union Federation), you know who he is don’t you?

DEME

Sure I do, my mum and his wife are first cousins! What did he say?

KYRIAKOS

Well, he criticises the fascists for destroying ENOSIS. Imagine, in these horrible times when the right is completely discredited, here comes Zardides to criticise them NOT from the left but from the RIGHT.

Without realising it, Kyriakos raises his voice, full of excitement. At that moment Androulla notices two policemen looking over towards them.

ANDROULLA

Kyriako, keep your voice down, mpatsi (the police). I think they overheard you. Drink your coffee.

They all keep quiet, drink their coffee nervously as they watch the police sideways. However, nothing happens. After a few tense moments, the police seem a bit undecided, look at each other and move on. They all sigh with relief.

ANDROULLA

Well this is a first.

KYRIAKOS

I’m telling you things are changing. A week ago we would all be arrested and handcuffed and on our way to the nearest police station being spat on, slapped and kicked. Believe me I speak from experience.

ANDROULLA

He’s not exaggerating Demetri. The only reason he’s out is because Kyriakos has good connections in Cyprus. What just happened has never happened before.

DEME

I don’t know about you but I think we should celebrate. I’m hungry and I noticed they serve kolokasi here. I haven’t had it for ages and with some nice wine to wash everything down it would do the trick. Food and drink, what do you think? The works!

KYRIAKOS

Why not? Let’s drink to the future. We are the future! Raise your glasses! Sto mellon! Segiea! (to the future and to our health).

DEME (VO)

We stayed till late, talking and drinking. I finally made my way back to the hostel where I was staying, half drunk.

INT: HOSTEL – DUSK

DEME (VO)

I didn’t do much the next morning, got up late, had breakfast and went back for a siesta. To my annoyance I was awoken by a lot of noise outside, a lot more than usual. Church bells were ringing and cars blowing their horns. Once fully awake, I realised that something serious was going on. I looked outside the window and then went out into the street where crowds were gathering….

The streets of Central Athens are teaming with people and they all seem to be heading the same way, towards Syntagma Square.

Peoples’ faces are lit up and many are smiling, some are talking to each other with excitement while others concentrate on getting to their destination and simply hurry to get there.

Deme is rather confused but joins the crowd and walks in the same direction as everyone else.

EXT: ATHENS – STREET

DEME (VO)

Still half dazed, trying to make sense of it all, I managed to follow the crowds and ended up in Syntagma Square. Everyone was excited. Loudspeakers were blaring out Theodorakis’ music. I searched for Kyriakos and Androulla and after a few minutes I spotted them and made my way through the crowd towards them.

The people there were delirious with joy when they found out the Greek Junta had fallen. 

Kyriakos grabs Deme by the shoulders. He is very exited and smiling.

KYRIAKOS

They’re finally gone! The plague has lifted! We’re free! We’re expecting the return of Karamanlis and Theodorakis any moment; they’ve been exiled in Paris for seven years!

Deme turns and notices Androulla hugging a woman who is sobbing while everyone else is happy. She is in her early 20’s, dressed like a student and intelligent looking.

DEME

Who’s that woman with Androulla?

KYRIAKOS

That’s Angeliki, a good friend and comrade. She was involved in the Polytechnic last November. When the tanks rolled in, she managed to get out but two close friends never made it.

Deme is caught up in the moment, the mixture of the huge events unfolding in front of him and the sight of a lovely young woman crying next to him create strange and emotional feelings for him.

He approaches Angeliki.

DEME

Yeia sou Angeliki, do you know what’s happening?

ANGELIKI

They’re gone, the Colonels are finally gone! Karamanlis is on his way back from Paris and will take over and form a new civilian government. The Junta is over after seven long years! The sickness we suffered for so long is at last over.

Her face lights up as she speaks and her black eyes shine.

DEME

What about the war in Cyprus? What will happen there now?

ANGELIKI

If Cyprus is to have any chance, this is it.

Crowds were cheering throughout all this while Theodorakis music was blaring out via the PA system.

ANGELIKI

I tell you it was hell for seven years. We had no freedom, had to watch what we said, no strikes, wages plummeted, thousands emigrated. My brother and cousin were arrested just for talking and they were beaten like dogs. They spent months in prison and couldn’t get jobs afterwards. In the end they too got on an express train to Germany. Now we can start breathing again. Listen to this music; it was illegal for seven years. How great it sounds now, the best music ever! Nothing can top this!

DEME

 What about Cyprus?

ANGELIKI

You’re Cypriot aren’t you? Like Kyriakos and Androulla, I have many Cypriot friends. Hey everyone, we have a Cypriot over here!

Everyone gathers round Deme, pick him up and raise him up on their shoulders, cheering. When he is put down, Kyriakos, Androulla, Angeliki and some others start a silly dance.

Deme is confused but soon gets into the spirit of things and dances with them. As they dance, laugh, hug and kiss each other, they spin round and let out wild cheers. After a few minutes Kyriakos stops and makes a suggestion.

KYRIAKOS

Hey everyone, I think there are enough people here to welcome Karamanlis. There must be hundreds of thousands already! No one will miss us. Why don’t we make our way to the Polytechnic and pay tribute to our fallen comrades.

ANGELIKI & ANDROULLA

Great! Come, let’s go, let’s go now.

DEME

Sure, let’s go.

DEME (VO)

We made our way to the Polytechnic; the streets were full of people. This wasn’t a day for anyone to stay indoors, Greece was ours.

Most people are moving towards Syntagma Square and progress is slow. As they near the Polytechnic they see hundreds, maybe thousands already there. The group joins the masses as they walk passed the damaged iron gates.

EXT. ATHENS POLYTECHNIC – SAME

DEME (VO)

I’d heard about the Polytechnic but didn’t know any of the details. My companions knew and for them it was enough to just stand there in silence and let their memories carry them back to the events that had unfolded there only a few months earlier on that fateful day, 17th November the previous year.

DEME

Were you all here? What happened?

ANGELIKI

It was a festival! At the Polytechnic we found peace, freedom and sanctuary for a few days. There was so much potential, we thought this was the end. We managed to broadcast outside, set up our own radio station and talk to the people of Athens and the whole of Greece.

ADROULLA

Angeliki was one of the broadcasters.

ANGELIKI

Ordinary people responded and they came. Sure, we were surrounded by the army and the pigs but somehow nothing could stop people making contact, bringing us food, drinks and cigarettes. They would throw things over the police cordon

ANDROULLA

Or find a gap and come up to the iron fence and pass things through the railings…

KYRIAKOS

… or some back window no-one knew existed.

ANGELIKI

We realised that the junta had lost its support, the ‘Emperor has no clothes’ moment and they knew it. It terrified them but more importantly, we knew it. I was here with my boyfriend Andreas and many friends. We were all convinced that the end of the Colonels had finally come.

DEME

So what happened?

At that moment someone starts singing the Internationale and many soon join in.

ANGELIKI

The bastards reacted the only way they knew how. They brought in tanks and on the 17^th they smashed their way in. We were right there by the gate. Andreas didn’t make it. He was crushed by the tank.

DEME

I’m really sorry!

ANGELIKI

Many who were injured were killed on the way to hospital. We found out that police, dressed as doctors, went into the ambulances and killed them. Hundreds more were arrested and viciously beaten.

DEME

And what happened to you?

Some are gathered round Angeliki, hanging on her every word.

ANGLELIKI

I was lucky. As they broke through there was mayhem and confusion. I couldn’t see clearly what was going on as there were so many people rushing around. I was trying to decide whether to stay and fight but we had nothing and they were armed to the teeth. I didn’t know what to do, suddenly a hand grabbed mine and pulled me along. I turned around and saw Anastasia, an experienced friend. She got us to safety. If it wasn’t for her…

Angeliki’s eyes well up with tears. Deme hugs her and she turned and kissed him on the cheek.

ANGELIKI

You look so like Andreas.

Deme (VO)

That evening we didn’t sleep, we walked and talked to anyone, strangers, it didn’t matter. In the morning we ended up at Angeliki’s. We collapsed on the sofa together.

CUT TO:

INT: CYPRUS – HOUSE – 2009

Deme and Stella sit round the table filled with Stella’s notes.

STELLA

Did you and Angeliki…..  you know….. Did you become an item?

DEME

We remained friends and kept in contact for years. She even came and visited me in London. But Greece under Karamanlis failed to deliver. Angeliki had relatives and moved to Australia. We lost contact.

STELLA

What about Kyriako and Androulla?

DEME

They moved back to Cyprus and remained in AKEL for a few more years. I see them now and then when in Cyprus.

STELLA

And what about you, what happened then?

DEME

Once back in London, I got news about Stelios missing in action. Soon after, your aunt Areti joined me. She was only 15 then, mum followed a few weeks later and a month or two later my dad, having given up hope of finding any more news of Stelios.

STELLA

Oh I never really understood that’s what happened.

DEME

It was then I realised ‘You can ignore politics but politics will never ignore you’.

STELLA

Thanks dad.

Stella presses the off button on the tape recorder.

FRANCES

How about treating ourselves to a nice meal.

STELLA

Oh yes, I fancy some calamari. Let’s go to Zephyros, it’s the best fish restaurant ever.

The three of them get ready and leave the house.