by James Eddy
the paper in their books. He walks around the room looking for a way out and the noise continues to get louder. He opens a cupboard door before turning back and walking through the classroom door into the corridor and away from the noise.
CUT TO:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY
Oliver walks back into and up the corridor. He grabs Emily’s hand, and walks very quickly.
EMILY
What’s going on?
OLIVER
We’ve got to get out of here
EMILY
But why?
They walk around the corner and see a line of lockers all the way along one side of the corridor. Johnny is standing by the lockers and Oliver is about to approach him when four young men appear from the opposite end of the corridor. One of these young men is Jim Brady and the others are CHRISTIAN SAMUELS, DARREN MATTHEWS, and LEE KEMBER - the members of his gang. Oliver hides around the corner with Emily, watching as the gang walks towards Johnny.
JIM BRADY
(Walking down
the corridor)
Oi! Youngblood, where’s ya little boyfriend today?
JOHNNY
Morning boys. Still as clever as ever I see
The gang surround Johnny as he stands with his back to the lockers.
Darren Matthews
SHUT THE FUCK UP YOUNGBLOOD! Looks like you're in trouble right here, right now
JIM Brady
So what ya gonna do about it big shot?
JOHNNY
That’s so sweet. You're almost finishing each other’s sentences...
(Smiling)
It brings a warm glow to my heart lads, it really does. Yer know it's just a pity that you're all THICK AS FUCKING PIGSHIT!
Johnny looks directly at Jim Brady and the smile leaves his face. He suddenly tries to run past him but is blocked by Samuels and Kember who push him back against the lockers.
Lee Kember
Not this time
Jim Brady
Oh dear... I think you might be fucked this time, mate
Brady punches Johnny twice in the stomach. The second punch knocking him back against the lockers. Other punches follow from all four gang members until he falls to the ground and they begin to kick him where he lies. Eventually, Brady stops kicking him and stops the others.
Jim Brady
You disappoint me Youngblood... I thought you was a real man... Can't you show me nothing but weakness
Johnny looks up at him and starts to laugh.
JOHNNY
1 of me and 4 of you and you talk to me about weakness...
(Getting to
his feet,
he pulls off
his jacket
and throws
it to the
floor. He
leans in
towards Brady
so that there
is no distance
between them)
What’s the matter? Are yer afraid something bad's gonna happen to yer?
Johnny launches himself forward at Jim Brady. They trade punches and struggle as Brady reaches into his pocket. Between them the other three gang members push Johnny back and smash his head against the lockers. Brady pulls a knife from his pocket and stabs Johnny twice in the chest. Oliver turns his face away and sees 17 YEAR OLD OLIVER - himself as a 17 year old boy - walk around the corner and see the final moments of the attack on Johnny.
OLIVER AND 17 YEAR OLD OLIVER
(Together)
NO!
Johnny slumps to the floor. The gang run away and out through the other end of the corridor. 17 YEAR OLD OLIVER runs down the corridor toward Johnny.
17 YEAR OLD OLIVER
HELP! SOMEONE FUCKING HELP ME!!! SOMEONE PLEASE!!!
(Reaching Johnny
and falling
to his knees
crying)
Jesus Johnny
Oliver watches his younger self cradle his friend’s head in his arms as a pool of blood grows larger on the floor beneath them. He turns to Emily.
OLIVER
I got held up... I was meant to meet him five minutes earlier... But I overslept
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL GATE - MORNING
17 year old Oliver walks through the school gate.
OLIVER
(V.O)
If I’d run instead of walked
He begins to run.
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL COURTYARD - DAY
Oliver runs through the courtyard and into the school building.
CUT TO:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY
Oliver runs down the corridor and turns the corner to where Johnny is. He runs around the corner but meets an invisible wall that stops him reaching Johnny. He pounds the wall with his fists, then picks up a fire extinguisher to try and smash through it but he cannot get to his friend, who he sees further up the corridor being beaten by the gang. He sinks to his knees in frustration and Emily kneels down beside him.
EMILY
There’s nothing you could've done
Oliver looks at her and shakes his head.
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL GATE - DAY
17 year old Oliver runs through the school gate.
OLIVER
(V.O)
Maybe I could've gone another way
He turns right, away from the courtyard and continues to run.
CUT TO:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY
Oliver runs around the corner at the opposite end of the corridor in which Johnny is being attacked. He is again stopped by an invisible wall and despite his attempts to break through it, he is left defeated. He drops to his knees in tears again. Emily sits down beside him.
EMILY
It’s not your fault
OLIVER
What the fuck do you know? It was me that started all this... My best friend...
(A beat as
he swallows)
All of this happened because I got into a fight with those guys and Johnny backed me up... I had no idea it... It's just... It should've been me...
He looks down at the ground. Emily puts her hand on his arm.
EMILY
Hey
OLIVER
(Pulling away)
Fuck you! Don’t even try... Don’t try to take it away...
(A beat)
What the fuck is this?
EMILY
Calm down
OLIVER
You’re the one who brought me back. I never wanted to come here
EMILY
Then why the hell did you?
OLIVER
Because you wanted me to
EMILY
What kind of stupid reason is that?
OLIVER
(A beat)
Fuck off then. Who are you to say anything anyway? You don't know me. All you give me is pain and trouble
EMILY
Then at least I know you well enough to do that!
OLIVER
Please just go, whatever the hell your name is. Stay away...
(More calmly)
I need you to give up on me, okay
EMILY
I can’t do that
Oliver gets up and pulls her to her feet.
OLIVER
Please go away... GO AWAY! GO THE FUCK AWAY! I CAN'T DEAL WITH... This
He falls to the floor in tears and covers his face with his hands.
CUT TO:
EXT. GRASS FIELD - EVENING
Oliver lies on the ground. He moves his hands from his face and sits up, his tears are still falling. Beside him is the book he had stepped into earlier but now it is normal size. The book lies open at the back page and Oliver takes it in his hands to look at it. The final page reads simply, “As he sat reading the book, he realised that his unhappiness had been magnified. Accompanying the disappearance of the words in front of his eyes was overwhelming self-loathing
and self-pity. Not only had he lost his friend but he also had no idea where the girl who lived inside his dreams and dreamt inside his life could be found.”
END DREAM SEQUENCE.
InT. HOTEL ROOM - MORNING
Oliver lies on his side in the bed with tears in his eyes. He wipes the tears away and gets up out of the bed. He briefly looks at his open suitcase and then looks away. He goes over to the window and draws the curtains to look outside. It is raining and he looks down at the river and the boats swaying on their moorings. He sighs and his stomach rumbles. He looks at the clock on the bedside table. It is 11.45am. He puts his shoes on and walks out of the room.
FADE TO:
INT. HOTEL RESTAURANT - MORNING
Oliver sits at a table alone and in silence drinking a cup of coffee.
FADE TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Oliver sits on the bed, reading the poetry book. The telephone rings and he tries to keep reading. Eventually he puts the book down beside him and reaches across to pick up the telephone receiver.
OLIVER
Hello? Oh yeah... Yes I’m still
(A beat)
Look Stephen I never asked you to do that... What? No... I, I still don’t... Tomorrow? No I can’t I... I’m sorry... I appreciate that but
(A beat)
All right, all right, all right...
(Sighing)
I’ll come back... Yeah. Yeah...
(A beat)
So, when exactly did you order the... Oh right... That should give me enough time to get... I guess I'll be back by tomorrow evening then
Oliver slowly puts the telephone receiver back down.
FADE TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - EVENING
Oliver lies on the bed. He sits up and crawls towards the end and off it. He moves towards the mini-bar, which he swiftly empties, throwing a large number of small bottles onto the bed. He walks around the bed and climbs back onto it. Sitting, he reaches forward for one of the bottles, opens it quickly and pours it down his throat.
FADE TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Oliver lies on the bed, reaching for one of the bottles on it without looking. He eventually grabs one and puts it to his mouth. It is empty so he inspects it and tries drinking from it again. When he fails again he throws the bottle onto the floor. He leans forward and pushes all the other bottles off the bed with his arm. He manages to get up onto his knees before falling backwards onto his pillows. After crawling under the covers, he leans over and turns the bedside light off.
BLACK SCREEN:
SUPER: "One Night Earlier"
FADE IN:
BEGIN DREAM SEQUENCE:
INT. HOTEL RECEPTION - DAY
Oliver walks through reception, which is completely