The Otherwise
Page 9
The three remaining speeding BIKERS close in on Bev's car.
CUT TO:
INT. – BEV’S CAR – MORNING
BEV is starting to panic. The BIKER's silver visored helmet stares in through the passenger window, with evil intent. BEV looks back at the road ahead.
BEV's POV: There's a CYCLIST just ahead. She automatically swerves to avoid him. In doing so, BEV loses control of the car.
CUT TO:
EXT. – COUNTRY ROAD – MORNING
Bev's car goes spinning out of control and collides with the wall.
CUT TO:
INT. – BEV’S CAR – MORNING
At the point of collision, the airbag goes off. BEV is dazed but seems physically okay. Her breathing is laboured, she pulls out her inhaler and takes a hit. Then another.
She has a moment where her breathing calms, then suddenly her door is pulled open. A helmeted BIKER reaches in, unfastens her seat belt and pulls her roughly from the car.
CUT TO:
EXT. – ROADSIDE – CONTINUOUS
BEV is dragged from the car by the FIRST BIKER. He pushes BEV roughly towards the other two BIKERS. They grab her. BEV is very dazed. The FIRST BIKER approaches her. The CYCLIST rides up and dismounts. He's appalled by their behaviour.
CYCLIST
What the hell are you doing!?
Suddenly the FIRST BIKER pulls out a Stanley knife and swiftly slashes it across both of the CYCLIST's wrists.
CYCLIST (CONT’D)
Shit! Shit! Shit!
The CYCLIST wanders around in a helpless panic as blood sprays from both his wrists.
CYCLIST (CONT’D)
You bastards! Shit! Shit!
Suddenly the INJURED BIKER who was knocked off his bike comes limping up. He still wears his helmet but the silver visor is crazed.
BEV's POV: The INJURED BIKER is staring at her with his crazed visor. Behind him, the CYCLIST is staggering around as he loses more and more blood. Suddenly he collapses out of shot. A moment later and the INJURED BIKER throws a punch towards BEV and we…
CUT TO BLACK:
INT. – LIVE ROOM – DAY
GRAMS: THE FALL – ‘UNTITLED’ (00:00)
MARK and THE FALL are playing a song.
CUT TO:
INT. – STUDIO CONTROL ROOM – DAY
GRAMS: (CONTINUE)
CLARE is at the mixing desk. She takes the empty reel box and takes a pen to write on it. But for some reason the pen won't make a mark. She shakes the pen and tries again. She chucks the pen in the bin and takes another from a mug of pens and pencils. She tries that. Nothing. She tries a pencil. But nothing seems to make a mark. Eventually CLARE finds a sharpie and writes ‘The Fall’ on the box.
CUT TO:
EXT. – WOODS – DAY
GRAMS: (CONTINUE)
MACFISK and ALUN are walking through the woods. They pass an old wooden signpost marked ‘Well Spring’ with an arrow pointing in the direction they are walking.
GRAMS: (FADE)
ALUN
You're quiet.
MACFISK
I've had enough. I think we should go.
ALUN
Go home?
MACFISK
No. To battle.
ALUN
(uncertain)
Eh? What, now?
MACFISK
Aye. We've travelled half way down the country. And for what? To do what? To end up no better than playing pranks.
ALUN
Shhhh…
ALUN gestures for MACFISK to be quiet and listen. They hear the sound of an acoustic guitar gently playing.
MACFISK and ALUN carefully make their way in between the trees as they follow the sound of music.
CUT TO:
EXT. – WELL SPRING – DAY
GRAMS: ‘LO! THE BIRD HAS FALLEN’ (00:00)
MARY is sitting on a tree stump, eyes closed, gently playing her acoustic guitar.
MACFISK and ALUN step out from the trees and walk toward her.
The well spring begins to bubble, making strange sounds. MACFISK and ALUN stare at it intrigued.
F/X SHOT: A strange foam starts bubbling up in the well. It glows with an odd yellow light and it pours out in serpent like coils. There is something very strange, magical and unsettling happening.
ALUN
What is it?
MACFISK
Magic…
ALUN reaches out towards the coils of foam.
F/X SHOT: His fingers touch the foam and it quickly coils and bubbles around his hand.
ALUN
(gasps)
It's ice cold.
ALUN pulls his hand away.
F/X SHOT: The foam solidifies into a strange thick yellow/grey mucus-like growth covering his hand.
ALUN slumps down to the ground. MACFISK makes to help him, but ALUN pushes him away. ALUN curls into a fetal position nursing the strange growth on the back of his hand. MACFISK staggers back then runs off in fear.
Eyes closed in a trance-like state, MARY continues to play and begins to sing.
MARY (V.O.)
(sings)
Spying this Jacobite,
Atop a roof far distant…
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. – ABANDONED BARN – DAY
GRAMS: (CONTINUE.)
BEV's POV: She has some sacking over her head. Hints of daylight through the weave. We hear BEV's worried breathing.
Suddenly, the cloth is pulled off revealing the INJURED BIKER looking down at us with his crazed silver visor.
MARY (V.O.)
(sings)
Edward called a musket man,
To serve as his assistant…
CUT TO WIDE SHOT: BEV is tied to an old chair in the middle of the barn. She's bruised, dishevelled and the INJURED BIKER stands menacingly before her.
CUT TO:
INT. – CLARE’S BACK ROOM – DAY
GRAMS: (CONT.)
JEFF wears a scruffy paint splattered T-shirt about a quarter of a way through painting the walls. The furniture has been gathered together in the centre of the room and covered with old bed sheets.
MARY (V.O.)
(sings)
Two salvoes true and mighty,
Rang from the sportsman's gun…
JEFF puts down his paint brush, sips from a mug of tea and takes out his mobile.
C.U. on the mobile in his hand. We see him select Bev's number and call her. He lifts the mobile to his ear. It rings and rings.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. – ABANDONED BARN – DAY
BEV's mobile is ringing. She's tied to the chair and unable to answer it.
The INJURED BIKER reaches into BEV's jeans pocket and pulls out her mobile. As he does so, we see her inhaler fall out and tumble onto the ground.
BEV
Hey, that's mine.
The INJURED BIKER looks at the mobile then drops it on the ground and stamps on it. The mobile shatters and stops ringing.
The barn doors open and another BIKER steps inside. He takes off his helmet. It's LEN. He gives BEV a humourless smile, then walks over to her. BEV is infuriated and repulsed by him.
LEN
Bev… Good to see you.
BEV
Here he is: Mr Cunt.
LEN
Insulting your captor.
Is that wise?
Beat.
BEV
You went to all this trouble, because I wouldn't let you grope me?
LEN
This was no trouble at all. The trouble hasn't started yet.
LEN smiles at her. BEV still looks focussed, but we can tell she's scared.
CUT TO:
INT. – STUDIO CONTROL ROOM – DAY
C.U. on a tape box upon which is scrawled ‘THE FALL EP – Master 1’. Underneath there is a song title and some notes.
CLARE is fiddling with a reel to reel tape. A concerned JEFF enters the control room.
CLARE
> Hiya. Mark's coming in a bit.We're gonna start mixing.
JEFF
Great.
JEFF stands awkwardly, unsure whether or not to speak.
JEFF (CONT’D)
I'm, I'm a bit worried about Bev.
CLARE
Why?
JEFF
She's not answering her mobile.
CLARE
Maybe her battery died.
JEFF
I phoned Gill. Bev hasn't arrived. She should have been there two hours ago.
CLARE ponders this for a moment. She hesitates then speaks.
CLARE
You don't think…
JEFF
What?
CLARE
You don't think Bev's… dumped you without telling you?
JEFF
What? No.
CLARE
Or that maybe she's hiding something from you?
JEFF
Like what?
CLARE
Like an affair?
JEFF
I don't think so. No…
JEFF drifts into uncertain thought.
JEFF (CONT’D)
Oh I don't know. Maybe. Maybe she has dumped me without telling me. I was gonna phone the police. I'm not sure now. Don't wanna look like a dick.
CUT TO:
INT. – ABANDONED BARN – DAY
LEN is standing looking down at BEV tied to the chair.
LEN
I love how quiet it is in
the country.
BEV
So what's the plan? Rape me? Rape
me then kill me?
Beat.
BEV (CONT’D)
Then get caught and sent down?
LEN begins to walk slowly in a circle around BEV.
LEN
D’yer wanna know the really exciting thing Bev?
LEN looks at her expectantly. She doesn't respond.
LEN (CONT’D)
There is no plan.
LEN walks behind BEV, out of her view.
LEN (CONT’D)
There is no plan.
C.U. on BEV's tense face. LEN is somewhere out of view behind her.
LEN (O.S.) (CONT’D)
Anything could happen.
BEV slowly closes her eyes in fear.
Beat.
LEN (CONT’D)
Any fucking thing.
CUT TO:
EXT. – HILLSIDE – DAY
WIDE SHOT overlooking the Barn. PULL BACK to reveal MACFISK is standing, staring uncertainly at the building.
MACFISK's expression is fearful and exhausted. He hears an approaching car engine. He turns to see Ed's car driving along the nearby road.
CUT TO:
INT. – ED’S CAR – DAY
ED is in the driving seat. MARK is next to him and PETER in the back. PETER winces and mutters to himself.
PETER
Fuck.
ED
What?
PETER
Tooth ache. Suddenly come on. Wonder if they've got any pain killers at the studio.
MARK
I was told at school in ‘72 that science would erase pain and disease by 2010. But, when I had shingles last year, I was in constant pain 20 hours a day. Coz the orthodox doctor won't give codeine pain killers to drinkers.
PETER
What did he give you?
MARK
He offered me fucking paracetamol, false drugs and anti-depressants!
ED
That's no fucking use.
MARK
Exactly. They're for bed wetters. I've never took anti-depressants. And I don't intend to pollute my body balance of pure street drugs, water and spirits.
PETER and ED chuckle.
CUT TO:
INT. – ABANDONED BARN – DAY
BEV is tied to the chair and LEN is standing right behind her. BEV is nervous and her breathing is a little uneven. LEN leans over and kisses the top of BEV's head. BEV jolts her head away.
Beat.
LEN
So jumpy Bev. Good thing you're strapped down.
LEN grabs BEV's hair and kisses her cheek. She struggles but LEN holds her firmly. He licks her cheek and she starts to breathe heavily and unevenly.
LEN (CONT’D)
That's it. Yer getting into it now. Bit of heavy breathing.
BEV
It's an asthma attack
you pillock!
BEV (CONT’D)
(nods to the floor)
My inhaler's down there.
LEN stares down at the inhaler on the ground.
LEN
Ah.
LEN picks it up, tosses it and catches it.
LEN (CONT’D)
You in the mood then are you?
BEV's breathing is becoming heavier and more croaky. LEN steps up to her, holding the inhaler just inches away from her face and slowly moving it around in a teasing manner.
LEN (CONT’D)
In the mood for a blast on the old orgasmatron?
BEV is starting to cough. LEN flicks the cover off the end of the inhaler.
LEN (CONT’D)
Open wide.
BEV opens her mouth but LEN merely traces around the edge of her lips with the end of the inhaler.
BEV
Come on!
LEN puts the end of the inhaler in her mouth.
LEN
Are you ready to suck it for me?
The bleary eyed BEV just stares up at him.
LEN (CONT’D)
And…
He makes to depress the inhaler and BEV breaths in. But at the last minute LEN pulls it away, spraying it into the air.
LEN (CONT’D)
Oh dear…
BEV continues to gasp for breath as she stares up at LEN with anger in her eyes. LEN grabs BEV's chin and sticks the end of the inhaler in her mouth.
LEN (CONT’D)
And… suck.
LEN depresses the inhaler and BEV breaths in.
LEN (CONT’D)
Good girl.
BEV's breathing still isn't quite settled.
LEN (CONT’D)
Sounds like you might be in need of multiple orgasms.
BEV opens her mouth. LEN inserts the inhaler and depresses it again. BEV inhales and her breathing gradually settles.
LEN (CONT’D)
There.
LEN strokes BEV's cheek and she flinches slightly.
CUT TO:
INT. – STUDIO CONTROL ROOM – DAY
JEFF is talking into his mobile. CLARE is tidying up, picking up bits of trash and putting them in a carrier bag.
JEFF
Okay. Yeah, no, I understand what you're saying. Okay. Okay, thanks. Bye.
JEFF switches off his mobile.
Beat.
JEFF (CONT’D)
Right, I've given all Bev's details to the police. They've got my number. But to be honest the woman didn't sound that interested.
CLARE
Oh well, at least you've tried. I mean what else can you do?
JEFF
You think she's dumped me don't you.
CLARE
No. I don't. I just mentioned that as an option. There's plenty of other possibilities.
JEFF
Go on then…
CLARE
She's gone off somewhere on her own to get her head together. She's… gone to her Mum's?
JEFF
Rung her Mum. She's not there.
CLARE
Then maybe she's… I don't know.
JEFF
You're convinced she's dumped me.
CLARE
I'm not! Anyway what do you prefer, she's dumped you, or she's lying dead somewhere!?
JEFF
What!? Am I supposed to choose!?