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Johnny Clockwork: The Future is NOW!

Paul Ferry

Many years ago, Ben Hudson and myself developed an idea for a cyberpunk TV series called Johnny Clockwork. Taking its cues from Max Headroom and William Gibson, Johnny Clockwork told the story of a disabled teenage detective who solves crimes without ever leaving his room, utilising an amazing array of computer technology and the occasional help of his ‘leg-woman’ Leyland. Although we kicked around a million ideas, no script was ever written. But looking through some old files, I came across an opening narration for Johnny Clockwork, which I’m publishing here for the very first time. I think you’ll find … Continue reading Johnny Clockwork: The Future is NOW!

PoetryLeave a comment

The Cinnamon Road

Paul Ferry

From heavy fog march blinkered pawns, With backward pointing faces, Who, on command, step deep in sand, With boots that leave no traces. Towards a dog whose newest tricks, Are centuries in hiding, And futures told in days of old, They’re confidently striding. A jewelled knight is throwing wide, The curtain of his master, While this old town is beaten down, With memories of disaster. Though distant poles shine black and white, The median in greying, Whilst in the woods, obscured by trees, The wicked wolf is baying. People flock from miles around, To watch the dancing piper, Though harvest … Continue reading The Cinnamon Road

PoetryLeave a comment

Cherry Red

Paul Ferry

Lost in a maze, your fickle fame, Just sitting there in a chair, With a face on. Number one smash, Top of the Pops, Churn ‘em out now, Holy Cow, There’s a race on. Don’t be blue, don’t be blue, Look alive, Cherry Red, we need you, Don’t be blue, don’t be blue, Cheer up Cherry Red, we need you. Shooting you up, shooting you down, Camden has crashed and you’re smashed, What a caper. Those guys are hot, these girls are cool, What do they know? So you don’t, Read the paper. Don’t be blue, don’t be blue, Look … Continue reading Cherry Red

PoetryLeave a comment

Absinthe

Paul Ferry

Little green devil, O’ wormwood imp, You made my mind crippled, You made my brain limp. You gnawed at my synapses, dulled every sense, And stole all my memory, Without recompense. You made my legs rooted; you made my arms weak, And my lips turned to lime wax, Unable to speak. So, back in the bottle, thou green spawn of hell, ‘Til I next tumble under, Thy bohemian spell. (C) Paul Ferry 2005 Continue reading Absinthe

PoetryLeave a comment

Justina

Paul Ferry

It was summer in the back end of nowhere, There were horses and houses all around, She pulled on her sneakers and was running, Just as soon as her feet hit the ground. Pretty soon, she had a job in a book store, Loading Dickens and Tolstoy on the shelf, She discovered the works of Jack Kerouac, But she never discovered herself. Then she met Spring Bob by the duck pond, He was small, but he carried a big sack, Full of blankets and pillows for the hostel on the green, And the collected works of Honoré de Balzac. He … Continue reading Justina

Doctor WhoLeave a comment

‘Doctor Who – Scratchman’ by Tom Baker

Paul Ferry

Tom Baker may well be the greatest author our country never had. His autobiography, Who on Earth is Tom Baker? was quite unlike any other book before or since; reading it was a bit like having Tom tell you his life story over the bar of the Dog and Duck, pint in hand, slightly sozzled. It was a masterpiece. He followed this up with The Boy Who Kicked Pigs, a children’s book… probably. No-one knew quite what to make of it, but I loved it. It ended up in the bargain bins very quickly, which just goes to show how … Continue reading ‘Doctor Who – Scratchman’ by Tom Baker