A Clockwork August

A Clockwork August 

This supporting piece for the work undertaken by Blogos at The Hermetic Lessons blog covers the month of August in A Clockwork Orange mapped to 2022. I'd envisaged doing some shot-by-shot analysis along the way but once I found Julli Kearns wonderful site I junked the idea. In part because it's already been done and brilliantly so, but also because I don't want to spend too much time immersed in the mindset of this movie. I can appreciate the skills on show, but I'm finding myself increasingly repelled by the violence and the imagery, not something I'd have expected, but perhaps related to the times we find ourselves in. Anyway, for this next section here's Julli's thoughts.As before she's drawing on many different sources and making some astute connections. No point re-inventing the wheel... 

August begins with the last we see of Alex's therapy sessions but swiftly transitions to a demonstration of the Ludovicci process as Alex is tortured and tempted in front of a crowd of the watching great and the good. Once the Priest and the Politician have had their say, Alex is released and we end the month watching his return to the family apartment at 18A Linear North and a stunned Em and Pee. 

The major scene changes are in the summary, the bold numbers within the script mark the change in dates. 

August Summary

1st - Ludovicci Cinema

2nd - 25th - Auditorium (Temptation of Alex)

26th - 31st Alex's Family Apartment

August day-by-day breakdown

ALEX

You needn't take it any further, sir.

You've proved to me that all this ultraviolence and killing is wrong and terribly

wrong. I've learned my lesson, sir. I see

now what I've never seen before I'm cured,

praise Bog!

DR. BRODSKY

You're not cured yet, my boy.

DR. BRODSKY

You must take your chance boy. The choice

has been all yours.

ALEX

But, Sir... Missus... I see that it's

wrong! It's wrong because 1 it's like

against like society. It's wrong because

everybody has the right to live and be

happy without being tolchocked and knifed.

DR. BRODSKY

No, no, boy. You really must leave it to

us, but be cheerful about it. In less than

a fortnight now, you'll be a free man. 2

INT. AUDITORIUM – DAY

VIP audience including Minister, Junior Minister, Prison Governor,

Priest, Dr. Branom, Dr. Brodsky.

Dressed in street clothes Alex enters led by a white-coated

Technician.

He is led onto stage and left standing there, 3 blinking into

lights.

The Minister rises and walks to the front of the auditorium.

MINISTER

Ladies and Gentlemen, at this point, we

introduce the subject himself. He is, as

you will perceive, fit and well nourished.4

He comes straight from as night's sleep

and a good breakfast, undrugged,

unhypnotized. Tomorrow, we send him with

confidence out into the world again, as

decent a lad as you would meet on a May

morning. What a change is here, Ladies and

Gentlemen, from the wretched hoodlum the

state committed to unprofitable punishment

some two years ago, unchanged 5 after two

years. Unchanged, do I say - not quite.

Prison taught him a false smile, the

rubbed hands of hypocrisy, the fawning,

greased, obsequious leer. Other vices

prison taught him as well as confirming

him in those he had long practiced before.

6 Our party promised to restore law and

order and to make the streets safe for the

ordinary peace loving citizen. This pledge

is now about to become a reality. Ladies

and Gentlemen, this is an historic moment.

The problem of criminal violence is soon

to be a thing of the past. 7 But enough of

words – actions speak louder than. Action

now. Observe all.

He returns to his seat and leans close to his Junior Minister.

JUNIOR MINISTER

Our necks are out a long way on this,

Minister.

MINISTER

I have complete faith in Brodsky. 8 If the

polls are right, we have nothing to lose.

Lights are dimmed. Enter Lardface, an elegantly dressed fag.

LARDFACE

Hello, heap of dirt. Pooh, you don't wash

much do you, judging by the horrible

smell. 9

ALEX

Why do you say that, brother? I had a

shower this morning.

LARDFACE

Oh, he had a shower this morning. You

trying to call me a liar?

ALEX

No, brother. What d'you want?

LARDFACE

What do I want?

ALEX

Sorry, brother. I didn't mean any offence.

LARDFACE

Oh. Oh, you're sorry are you, well you

must think I'm awfully stupid.

He slaps Alex in the face.

ALEX

Why did you do that, brither? I've never

done wrong to you.10

LARDFACE

You want to know why I did that, well you

see – I do that...

He stamps on Alex's foot.

LARDFACE

... and this...

He pulls Alex's nose.

LARDFACE

... and that...

He pulls Alex's ear, pushes him off balance and plants his foot on

his chest.

LARDFACE

... because I don't like you horrible

type, do I, and if you want to start

something... if you want to start... go

on... well, you just start. Please do.

Alex retching.

ALEX

I'm gonna be sick. 11

LARDFACE

You're gonna be sick are you?

ALEX

I wanna be sick.

LARDFACE

You wanna be sick?

ALEX

Let me get up.

LARDFACE

You wanna get up? Well, you've gotta you

see... 12 well I want you to lick it. Go

on... Lick it.

Alex, gagging and coughing, licks the sole of his shoe.

LARDFACE

... And again... Go on!!! Again! There's a

good boy.

ALEX (V.O.)

And, O my brothers, would you believe your

faithful friend and long suffering

narrator pushed out his red yahzik a mile

and a half to lick the grahzny, vonny

boots. The horrible 13 killing sickness had

wooshed up and turned the like joy of

battle into a feeling I was going to snuff

it.

Minister rises.

MINISTER

Enough! That will do very well. Thank you.

Lardface does leading-man-bows. A smattering of applause.

LARDFACE

Thank you very much,14 Ladies and

Gentlemen... Thank you.

Alex on floor – still retching.

15 A beautiful nude Girl enters.

16 Alex looks up slowly.17 

ALEX (V.O.)

She came towards me with the light like it

was the like light of heavenly grace, and

the first thing that flashed into my

gulliver was that I would like to have her

right down there on the floor with the old

in-out, real savage. 18 But quick as a shot

came the sickness, like a detective that

had been watching around the corner and

now followed to make his arrest. 19

Alex retching. Minister rises.

MINISTER

Thank you very much. Thank you my dear. 20

Girl bows and exits to loud applause.

MINISTER

Not feeling too bad now are you?

ALEX

(pullimg himself

together)

No, sir, I feel really great. 21

MINISTER

Good.

ALEX

Was I alright, sir? Did I do well, sir?

MINISTER

Fine. Absolutely fine. You see, Ladies and

Gentlemen our subject is, you see,

impelled towards good by paradoxically

being impelled toward evil. The intention

to act violently is accompanied by strong

feelings of physical distress. To counter

these, 22 the subject has to switch to a

diametrically opposed attitude. Any

questions?

Priest rises and moves to Alex.

PRIEST

Choice! The boy has no real choice, has

he? Self interest, fear of physical pain

drove him to that 23 grotesque act of self

abasement. Its insincerity was clearly to

be seen. He ceases also to be a creature

capable of moral choice.

MINISTER

Padre, these are subtleties. We are not

concerned with motive, with the higher

ethics; we are concerned only with cutting

down crime 24. And with relieving the ghastly

congestion in our prisons... He will be

your true Christian, ready to turn the

other cheek. Ready to be crucified rather

than crucify, sick to the very heart at

the thought even of killing a fly.

Reclamation, joy before the angels of God. 25

The point is that it works!

Applause.

EXT. FLATBLOCK

Alex walking carrying his prison parcel wrapped in brown paper.

INT. ALEX'S FLAT

26 Ma, Pa and Joe the Lodger reading newspapers. Headlines – all

Alex. 27

Alex enters quietly. Loud radio music from sitting room prevents

anyone from hearing him. He enters his won room which is the first

off the hall.

ALEX

Hi. Hi. Hi, there my Pee and Em.

All three look up startled.

EM

Alex.

ALEX

(to his mother)

Hullo love, how are you?

(kisses her)

Nice to see you, Dad.

PEE

Hullo lad. What a surprise, good to see

you.82 

ALEX

Keeping fit then?

PEE

(very ill at ease)

Fine, fine.

ALEX

Well, how are you then?

PEE

Oh fine, fine. Keeping out of trouble, you

know.

ALEX

Well – I'm back.

PEE

(with feigned

enthusiasm)

Aye. Glad to see you back, lad.

EM

Why didn't you let us know what was

happening, son? 29

ALEX

Sorry, Em, I wanted it to be like... a big

surprise for you and pee.

PEE

Well, it's a surprise all right, a bit

bewildering too.

EM

We've only just read about it in the

morning papers.

PEE

Aye. You should have let us know, lad, not

that we're not very pleased to see you

again. All cured too, eh?

ALEX

That's right, Dad they did a great job on

my gulliver, I'm completely reformed. 30

PEE

Aye.

ALEX

(looks in the kitchen)

Well, still the same old place then, eh?

PEE

Oh, aye, aye.

ALEX

(fake whisper)

Hey, Dad, there's a strange fella sitting

on the sofa 31 there munchy-wunching lomticks

of toast.

PEE

Aye, that's Joe. He... ummmm, lives here

now. The lodger. That's what he is...

he... he rents your room.1st September