by Gary Kittle
They're here during the day now, Dad. I want to shoot them but I can't. Because I'm not brave enough
MATT starts to cry. DAD takes MATT's face in his hands.
DAD:
Listen, Matt. I believe you're the bravest boy in the universe! You just have to believe it, too.
MATT slips back onto his pillow and turns away.
MATT:
I'm tired, Dad. (YAWNING) I'm so very tired...
DAD looks up to see MUM standing at the door. He starts to move towards her but she hurries away in tears.
SCENE 4) INT. MATT'S hospital room. Late at night. DAD is asleep.
There is a noise in the corridor outside. Heavy, lurching footsteps approach the door. MATT buries his head beneath the covers. A large shadow fills the room and falls across the bed. DAD moans in his sleep. The alien cackles triumphantly. An alien hand reaches out for the covers.
DAD (TALKING IN HIS SLEEP):
Matt... Matt...
MATT suddenly emerges from beneath the covers, his ray gun clutched in both hands.
MATT:
Leave this planet now and never return!
Light flashes across the walls. The alien howls in pain. DAD comes to in a daze as the wounded alien's shadow is seen lurching out of the room. DAD smothers the boy in his arms.
DAD:
Matt! It's all right. It's just a nightmare.
MATT:
No, Dad. Don't say that! It was the alien.
DAD (FIGHTING BACK THE TEARS):
It... It was?
MATT:
Yes! You were right, Dad. I saw him! But he's gone. Forever. You have to believe, Dad! Remember?
DAD hugs MATT even tighter.
MATT:
But he’s gone now, Dad. Gone forever!
SCENE 5) INT. Hospital side room. One week later.
MUM looks terrible, DAD exhausted. The DOCTOR enters, holding some papers, looking serious.
DOCTOR (HOLDING UP THE PAPERS):
The latest results.
DAD:
And?
The DOCTOR's face breaks out into a smile.
DOCTOR:
Good news! That little boy is a real fighter.
MUM:
You mean..?
DOCTOR:
Yes. We're back on track!
MUM and DAD rush into each other's arms.
SCENE 6) INT. Side room. Later that day.
MUM and DAD are sitting on MATT's bed. They hug him and he looks markedly better.
MUM:
You're getting better, Matt! You're getting better!
MATT:
Am I brave, Dad? Braver than John Connor?
DAD:
Braver than Luke Skywalker.
MATT:
Or Neo?
MUM(LAUGHING):
Or Buzz Lightyear!
The family laugh together.
MATT:
See, Mum? Dad was right.
MUM (LOOKING AT DAD):
Yes he was, though I'm not sure how.
MATT:
It's easy, Mum. All you need to do is believe. Right, Dad?
END.
HOUSE SITTER
SCENE 1) EST. INT. Bathroom. Daytime.
ALEX stares into the mirror, bare-chested. He takes a deep breath and raises hair clippers to his head. He starts to remove his hair stroke by stroke.
SCENE 2) INT Living room. A few days earlier.
ALEX is peeking outside through the curtains.
SCENE 3) EXT. Suburban street. Day.
We see LOUISE, a young oriental girl, walking with a shopping bag, happy and relaxed.
SCENE 4) INT. Living room. Day.
We see DAD join ALEX in peeking through the curtains.
DAD:
That's a bit tasty!
ALEX moves to leave the room but finds MUM standing in the doorway.
MUM:
Pity she's not one of us.
DAD sidles up close to ALEX's ear.
DAD:
You like her, don't you?
MUM:
But you don't need her. Her and that family of hers.
DAD:
They've all gone away. Did you know that? Gone. As in 'far away'.
SCENE 5) EXT. Street. Day.
LOUISE puts a key in her front door and goes inside.
SCENE 6) INT. Living room. Day.
DAD puts his arm around ALEX’s shoulder and pulls him back to the window.
DAD:
She's over there all by herself, son. Right now. A sitting duck! (LAUGHING) A tasty Peking duck.
SCENE 7) INT. Dining room. Day.
MUM is seated at the table with a candle. She lights the candle, scowling. DAD leans over ALEX's shoulder.
DAD:
Maybe if she got a scare.
MUM:
All by herself over there.
DAD:
You know, a proper fright?
MUM:
She's not one of us.
DAD:
Maybe then her and that family of hers would think twice about staying here.
ALEX shuffles anxiously from foot to foot.
MUM:
How many kids have they got? Not to mention the grandparents. How much is that costing us in benefits?
DAD (WHISPERED):
Isn't it time you made us proud?
MUM:
Always hanging about the house.
DAD:
We need you to do this.
MUM:
When he's going to start earning?
DAD:
You're a man now. You need to do this. Right?
SCENE 8) EXT. Outside Louise's house. Later that day.
ALEX is hovering near LOUISE's front door.
MUM (VOICE-OVER):
No wonder this country's going to hell. Just look at him, the pansy!
ALEX puts his hands to his ears, eyes closed.
DAD (VOICE-OVER):
Just psyching yourself up, boy - Right?
ALEX reaches for the doorbell with a trembling hand.
SCENE 9) EXT. Louise's front door. Day.
LOUISE opens the front door and smiles coyly. ALEX stares at his hand, as if uncertain whether he pushed the bell or not.
DAD (VOICE-OVER):
Don't be fooled boy. She's not interested in you.
LOUISE:
Oh, hi.
ALEX stares at her, tongue tied.
DAD (VOICE-OVER):
These people are here to get whatever they can from us.
LOUISE:
Can I help you?
DAD (VOICE-OVER):
No! But she can help herself all right! Parasite!
ALEX barges inside, pushing LOUISE with him.
SCENE 10) INT. Dining room. The next day.
ALEX is writing a letter. We see a hand holding a candle slowly drip hot wax onto the paper. ALEX continues to write until the wax falls on his hand and he pulls it away. On the page we see written: I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY.
SCENE 11) INT. Louise's hallway. Back on the day of the assault, seconds later.
We see ALEX trying to kiss LOUISE, who pushes him away. In the resulting struggle ALEX puts his hands around her throat. LOUSIE starts to choke.
SCENE 12) INT. Bedroom. Later that evening.
ALEX is lying on his bed, hands covering his ears, rocking.
DAD:
Job well done.
MUM:
That'll send them packing.
DAD (WHISPERED):
Enjoyed it, too. Didn't you, boy?
ALEX sits up abruptly.
ALEX (SHOUTED):
No! No! Get out! Get out!
SCENE 13) INT. Living room. Night.
There is a candle burning in the centre of a table. MUM and DAD are standing together, arms crossed about their chests. MUM looks stern, but DAD nods approvingly.
He leans over the candle and blows it out. In the distance we hear a siren.
SCENE 14) INT. Bathroom. Night.
ALEX has finished shaving his head. Hair lies on the floor. He stares into the bathroom cabinet mirror and sees there is no one behind him. He opens the cabinet to reveal many boxes of tablets. He closes his eyes, lets out a long breath.
ALEX:
I don't need you anymore.
ALEX closes the cabinet and an ashen faced LOUISE immediately jumps round from behind him (in the mirror).
END.
THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND
SCENE 1) EST. EXT. Day.
MAN's lower body on a bench; to the left a carrier bag. He is feeding birds with bread. Background sound of laughter. He picks up carrier bag and places it further away from his feet.
SCENE 2) EXT. Day.
A woman and two children (boy of 11/girl of 5) with a model boat approach a boating lake.
SCENE 3) EXT. Day.
The man on the bench shifts his feet uneasily.
VOICE-OVER (WHISPERED):
Chris?
The feet freeze suddenly.
VOICE-OVER (WHISPERED):
Here, Chris.
(BEAT)
Now there's a happy family, if ever there was one.
CUT TO: the woman and children playing with their boat.
CUT TO: The feet start shifting uneasily again.
VOICE-OVER:
Hope you're not going to do anything to spoil it - again.
Hands rubbed together nervously (C.U.).
VOICE-OVER:
This is the closest you'll ever get.
(BEAT)
And we both know why, don't we?
SCENE 4) (FLASHBACK) INT. Night. Foyer of a public building.
The small girl from the boating lake, Annabel is talking to an older girl, EVE. ANNABEL keeps looking out the window throughout the dialogue.
ANNABEL:
He'll be here soon.
EVE:
If he can still drive.
ANNABEL:
What does that mean?
EVE:
You wouldn't understand. You're not old enough.
ANNABEL:
Am too! I go to school now.
EVE:
One day he won't turn up at all and then what will you do? Come home with us? I don't think so.
ANNABEL:
Why are you being so horrible?
EVE:
Don't you know what he is? My dad does. Everyone does. Except you!
ANNABEL:
Stop it! He'll be here soon. You'll see!
EVE:
He's forgotten about you.
ANNABEL:
I don't believe you!
EVE:
He probably doesn't even know what day it is.
ANNABEL:
Yes he does. It's Wednesday. Everyone knows it's Wednesday!
EVE:
Not if they're an al-...
Just then Annabel's mother, KAREN bursts in looking flustered and stressed. She rushes up to ANNABEL and gives her a huge hug. KAREN takes her daughter's hand and leads her hurriedly towards the door. ANNABEL looks back at EVE, who is grinning slyly.
SCENE 5) EXT. Day. Back in the present time at the boating lake.
Chris rubs his hands together anxiously.
VOICE-OVER:
See what I mean? And anyway. You're better off with me.
(C.U.) Shot of woman and children's feet standing around the boat.
VOICE-OVER (INSISTENT):
Aren't you?
Chris bows his head, sighing.
VOICE-OVER:
I asked you a question, sailor boy.
Chris pulls out a handkerchief to wipe his eyes
VOICE-OVER:
You'll never have to guess what's on my mind, pal.
(BEAT)
Any more than I have to guess what's on yours. No amount of therapy can change that.
Chris puts his handkerchief away and shifts uncomfortably on the bench.
VOICE-OVER:
'Staying clean.' What a joke!
SCENE 6) (FLASHBACK) Full facial C.U. of central character, CHRIS.
CHRIS:
Yes, hello. My name is Chris. And I'm an alcoholic.
SCENE 7) EXT. Day. Back in the present time at the boating lake.
The woman (KAREN) and the young boy are still fiddling with the boat. Their laughter is diminishing and KAREN is looking increasingly perplexed. The boy holds a radio transmitter. The girl (ANNABEL) has wandered off by herself, and looks sad and lost. KAREN looks over at her, worried.
VOICE-OVER:
That'll teach 'em!
SCENE 8) (FLASHBACK) Full facial C.U. of central character, CHRIS.
CHRIS (LOOKING DOWN):
...and a son, too. He's eleven.
(BEAT)
No, not really. They've... moved out. I don't know where to.
CHRIS (LOOKING UP INTO THE CAMERA):
I didn't even notice they'd gone.
SCENE 9) EXT. Day. Back at the boating lake.
VOICE-OVER:
Self-pity. You're as much addicted to that as the booze. Speaking of which...
From behind we see Chris reach for and pick up the carrier and place it next to him on the bench.
VOICE-OVER (WHISPERED):
What's in the bag, Chris? Eh?
SCENE 10) EXT. Water dripping from a pipe/ ripples spreading on the lake's surface
SCENE 11) EXT. Day. Back at the boating lake.
C.U. of Chris's hand tightening on the edge of the bench.
VOICE-OVER (WHISPERED):
Is it health food, Chris? Is it organic probiotic seaweed muesli with nuts? Is it, Chris? Is it?
SCENE 12) EXT.
C.U. of beer can floating on water.
SCENE 13) EXT. Day. Back at the boating lake.
C.U. of carrier bag.
VOICE-OVER:
Or maybe it's one of those exotic fruit juices that keep you regular.
A hand suddenly snatches up the carrier and tosses it further from the bench.
VOICE-OVER:
If only it were that easy, Chris.
SCENE 14) (FLASHBACK) Full facial C.U. of central character, CHRIS.
CHRIS (STILL LOOKING DOWN):
...yes, it was the worst week of my life. And do you know the worst part?
(BEAT)
I missed most of it. The family walked out on the Tuesday. There were final demands and a solicitor's letter lying unopened on the mat and my car got repossessed.
CHRIS:
If I'd realised just how shitty that week was it might have made me stop. But I was too far gone.
SCENE 15) EXT. Day. Back at the boating lake.
VOICE-OVER (MOCKINGLY):
So it's everyone else's fault!
There is a burst of sarcastically slow hand-clapping.
(BEAT)
VOICE-OVER (WHISPERED):
Well, you know, actually - between you and me - it is!
C.U. of CHRIS's mouth as he speaks (it is the same voice as the unseen voice-over).
CHRIS:
No one put a gun to my head.
C.U. of CHRIS's hand, shaking slightly.
VOICE-OVER (SLIGHTLY SLURRED):
Didn't they? Think of the pressure you were under. It was enough to drive any man to drink.
SCENE 16) (FLASHBACK) Full facial C.U. of central character, CHRIS.
CHRIS (LOOKING UP INTO CAMERA):
I was under so much pressure, you see. I had to drink to keep my head above water. My department was under-achieving and I needed that job.
SCENE 17) EXT. Day. Boating lake.
VOICE-OVER (SLURRED):
You don't have to convince me, Chris. I was there, remember?
SCENE18) (FLASHBACK) INT. CHRIS on the phone at an untidy desk.
CHRIS rubs his
forehead. He looks stressed and tired.
CHRIS:
...I know that, Mr Jenkins. But I do need written confirmation. I've already told my line manager the deal is done. If you've had a change of heart, fair enough, but please tell me...
(BEAT)
Go on, Mr Jenkins.
CHRIS stretches back in his seat as he listens frowning.
CHRIS:
OK. OK. No, no, Mr Jenkins, I understand, really I do. It's just...
CHRIS is cut short and we hear a raised voice on the other end of the phone.
CHRIS:
I understand, Mr Jenkins, I do. But please try to see it from...
(BEAT)
Right you are. You'll fax me later this morning? Thank you, Mr Jenkins.
CHRIS replaces the receiver, looking even more stressed.
CHRIS:
Yer, you'll fax me, all right.
His phone starts ringing again. CHRIS takes a deep breath and opens a desk draw, revealing a bottle of whisky. He bites his lower lip, with the phone still ringing.
SCENE 19) (FLASHBACK) Full facial C.U. of central character, CHRIS.
CHRIS (GLARING INTO THE CAMERA):
That bloody job!
SCENE 20) EXT. Day. Back at the boating lake.
CHRIS:
I looked at that bottle and only saw what it was, not what it meant. I should have got help then.
VOICE-OVER (SLURRED):
No. I was a man about it. Men don't need help anymore than they need hairspray.
CHRIS:
A man? I didn't lose that job, I threw it away. Letting my wife cry herself to sleep every night. And as for the kids...
C.U. of CHRIS screwing his eyes up in pain.
SCENE 21) (FLASHBACK) INT. Day. Living room.
CHRIS's son, SEAN shakes him as he snores from the couch.
SEAN:
Dad? Dad? It's four o'clock. You promised.
CHRIS continues to snore. SEAN turns and speaks to someone off camera.
SEAN:
Let's just go. He's been... stressing again.
ANNABEL walks into shot and starts tickling her father roughly. He grunts and groans but does not waken initially. SEAN pulls her hands away from their father.
SEAN (WHISPERING):
Stop it, Annabel. Mum said not to annoy him when he's stressed. Let's just go. You don't want Mum and Dad arguing again, do you?
ANNABEL thinks about this, then turns away in a huff.
ANNABEL (SCREAMING LOUDLY):
You're just a scaredy cat!