Hi, and welcome to The Other Side Of Paradise; a series of short stories and radio plays by J.P. Paradise. In this episode, set somewhere in the Scottish Highlands, a journalist doorsteps a man who has been living in the woods for a very long time.
This piece came about from a writing prompt at our local script-writing collective, the Wharf Writers Group. We were set the task of writing monologues to get the feel of a character, but the character and their traits would be defined by someone else.
This is what I was presented with by Carolynn, on a scrap of paper in blue biro:
Name:\t\t\t\t\tStuart 'Jock' McAllister
Gender:\t\t\t\tMale (very!)
Age:\t\t\t\t\t\t46
Ethnicity:\t\t\t\tScottish (through & through)
Money:\t\t\t\tPoacher (shifty back dealings - salmon / deer, etc
Accommodation:\tLog cabin in the highlands (next to large estate)
Where:\t\t\t\tHighlands
Lacks:\t\t\t\t\tA woman (who stays with him!)
Needs now:\t\t\tA lift to London (no money)
Secret:\t\t\t\t\tHas a love child who despises him
I will leave you to judge whether I was successful in getting all this across in a way that feels natural and interesting.
*Please note that each episode may contain strong language, very dark humour, and themes of an adult nature.*
I Cannot Taint With Fear was written by J.P. Paradise.
Jock McAllister was played by genuine Scot, Bill Donald
It was recorded and mixed at Westbury Road Studio by J.P. Paradise. Sound effects from the BBC Sound Effects Library. Final mixing by Alex Brunsdon.
The Other Side of Paradise theme music written and performed by Alex Brunsdon.
This episode is a The Other Side Of Paradise production 2026, all copyright held by the author.
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