Across The UniverseCurtains open to reveal a blank stage with gauze as a projector screen directly behind the curtain, this should be able to be raised and lowered. The front of the stage should be able to be projected onto also.

Act 1 Scene 1

Helter skelter is played whilst on the projector is a series of videos and images showing the context of the 1960’s. After which the gauze is removed and we are met with a Jude’s street.

Phil: You gonna miss this place?

Jude: I wouldn’t count on it

Phil: Your mad going there, what you gonna do?

Jude: Just got some things I need to do.

Phil: Sure mate, just be careful ey?

Jude: You know me; I don’t look for trouble it finds me!

Phil: Yea, something like that.

We move into Jude’s house

Martha: I’ve ironed your best shirts

Jude: I’ll be shovelling coal in a furnace; I don’t think I’ll be wearing them.

Martha: You’ll be wearing them when you go ashore in America.

Jude: Yea, well, that could be months from now.

Martha: If you wanted a seafaring life … couldn’t you have signed up for the Mersey Ferry? At least you’ll be home for your supper every night.

Jude packs his bag and whilst his mother is making tea quietly goes into her room and takes out photos from a tin in a draw and puts them in his wallet. Outside Jude is with his girlfriend molly.

Molly: I sometimes feel you’re not telling me everything.

Jude: I just need a break from the yard, Molly. I’ll be back before you know it.

Molly: or do you need a break from me? Is that what this is about?

Jude: Come here.

All my Loving

Close your eyes and I’ll kiss yaTomorrow I’ll miss yaAnd remember I’ll always be true

Martha: Pull the other one.

Jude: (Laughing) what?And then while I’m awayI’ll write home every day

Martha: You better.

Jude: and I’ll send all my loving to you

Martha: You Bastard.

Jude: I'll pretend that I'm kissingThe lips I am missingAnd hope that my dreams will come true

And then while I'm awayI'll write home every dayAnd I'll send all my loving to you

All my loving, I will send to youAll my loving, darling I'll be trueAll my loving, all my lovingOoh, all my loving, I will send to you

During all my loving we see Jude arrive in America and arrive at Princeton University. Max enters the stage in a rush to somewhere.

Max: Sorry. Excuse me. Drops his books. Shit! Goddamn it. Jude helps him. Thanks, man.

Jude: Excuse me, you don’t know where I could find professor Huber, do you?

Max: No Such person, not that I’m aware of.

Jude: Professor Wesley Huber?

Max: Listen pal, I’ve pissed off every professor in Princeton … and he’s not one of them. Beat. Oh wait there’s a Wes Huber? That’s him over there.

Max exits still rushing. Jude walks over to Wesley Huber

Jude: Can I have a word?

Wes: If you’re looking for work here, check with administration.

Jude: I got a job, thanks.

Wes: You sound like a limey.

Jude: I am, yeah.

Wes: I was stationed there during the war, had some good times.

Jude: Yeah, I know, At Rainhill, right?

Wes: How would you know that?

Jude: I … I believe I’m your son.

Wes: I don’t think so.

Jude: Me mother’s Martha feeny.

Wes: How’s you track me down?

Jude: Through army records.

We move into the janitor’s quarters.

Wes: If I would have known about you …

Jude: What? You would’ve come back, is that it? You know, she said that wouldn’t have proved that you loved her … only that you felt obligated.

Wes: Well, it would have been better than raising a kid on her own.

Jude: Yeah, well, she wasn’t the only one in those days. You could excuse a bastard by saying his dad was killed in the war.

Wes: Did she find someone else?

Jude: There were a few hopefuls over the years, yeah. I think I scared them off.

Wes: Listen, kid I …

Jude: It’s Jude.

Wes: Jude, I got a family. I got a wife, I got two kids …

Jude: Yeah, look. Mr Huber, I didn’t come here to derail your life you know? And I’m not here for your love or your approval. I’m just here so that we both … both know that the other one exists.

Jude steps outside for a smoke as off stage where we see Max with his friends hitting golf balls shouting off stage .

Voice 1: Who hits golf balls in a courtyard? You asshole, get here!

Max: go back to bed, you ain’t got nothing.

Friend 1: Yeah, they’re going back into …

Friend 2: They’re not going back to bed.

Max: No they’re not.

Friend 1: Go, go, go

They break up and run.

Max: [to Jude] you gotta hide me man?

Jude opens up the door and follows Max in.

Max: You’re the guy who was asking for the janitor, right?

Jude: Yeah.

Max: So What’re you? Like the assistant janitor?

Jude: I’m Just bunking down here, you know, temporarily.

Max: Why?

Jude: Why do you need to know?

Max: you’re wanted by the cops, huh? FBI?

Jude: You know, its like to me as though you’re the one who’s on the run.

Max: Yeah. Thanks for that, by the way.

Jude: What would they’ve done if they caught you?

Max: I don’t know. Something involving genitalia and shoe polish?

Jude: Nice.

Max: Painful. So where’s that accent from?

Jude: Same place as me. Liverpool.

Max: You got a name?

Jude: Yeah, Its Jude.

Max: Max

Jude: Pleased to meet you.

Max: Well, Jude, as a stranger to our shores, the least I can do I offer you some ivy league hospitality

Max hands Jude a hipflask

Jude: Cheers

Get by with a little help from my friends

The set revolves to reveal a living room style kitchen apartment area with friend1 and 2 sat at the table, we can see by the posters etc. that it is a student’s apartment.

Max: What would you do if I sang outta tune, would you stand up and walk out on me?