Opening

Written By

Aaron Marcus

AddressPhone Number

1

EXT. STREET CORNER - NIGHT

We see a young man (MASON COLINS)and a young girl (ELIZABETH 'ELLIE' SANDRA WHITE) during a flash back, everything is in slight slow motion, washed out colours and blurry.They are both wearing typical 90s clothing for teenagers. They are stumbling down a dark street, only illuminated by orange fluorescent street lamps, everything is bathed in the orange light.

Elizabeth starts to stumble ahead.

MASON(Slurred and echo) Elizabeth, slow down!

Elizabeth leans against a wall to steady herself.

ELIZABETH(Slurred and whilst laughing) Come on, have you got any more vodka?

Mason reaches into his bag, leaning against a wall and brings out a half empty vodka bottle. They each take a large swig.

They look at each other and start laughing/giggling.

SFX - Sirens start to quietly fade in.

Mason starts to stop laughing, whilst Elizabeth carries on. He stands up straight, no longer acting drunk, looking straight ahead with a dull expression.

SFX - Siren start to overcome the sound of laughter.

Mason starts to become discomforted, breathing heavily.

SFX - Sirens overcome all sound now, only they can be heard.

Mason clutches his head with his hands. He opens his mouth to scream, except no sound comes out.

INT. BEDROOM - MORNING

SFX - Clock alarm

Mason sits bolt upright in his bed, breathing heavily and sweating. He is wearing a grey t-shirt, it is darkened with sweat around his neck and back.

2

TITLES

INT. MASON'S HOUSE - MORNING

We see a montage of Mason getting ready for work.

Mason shaves, which is seen in the mirror. The camera then cuts to a shot from behind Mason's back and it is apparent that his head is hung down and Mason is staring into the running water in the sink.

Mason takes a deep breath and then looks up into the mirror at himself, turns off the tap and leaves the bathroom.

Mason boils the kettle and makes a cup of tea to drink whilst eating breakfast, two slices of buttered toast.

Mason pours some food into a cat bowl and jingling of a collar can be heard coming closer.

MASONBreakfast time!

Mason then collects his bag and coat, exits the house and locks the door.

EXT. DRIVEWAY - MORNING

A bicycle wheel lands into shot. It has a puncture and is flat and you can hear Mason sighing.

Mason fixes the puncture and then checks his watch realising he is late.

MASON(Mumbling) Oh shit

He grabs his bags and cycles of towards the town.

EXT. ROAD - MORNING

As he is cycling down the high street of a medium sized town, he starts to think about the dream/flashback. Their laughter echoes in the background.

SFX - Car horn

Mason suddenly snaps back into focus and swerves his bike to avoid hitting a car. He then cycles into the car park of a school and locks up his bike.

INT. SCHOOL RECEPTION - MORNING

3

Mason walks in through the door to the reception. He is wearing smart grey trousers, a white shirt with a smart, blue woollen jumper and smart, polished brown shoes.

He walks over to the staff entrance door and tries to type in the code for the door, it does not work.

MASON(mumbling to self) ah crap, what was it.

He then remembers the code and types it in whilst saying it too himself.

MASONAh - one, six, three, eight.

The door opens and he walks through into the corridor and then into the staff room. There are 7-10 other teachers in the room, all of whom are dressed much more casually than Mason. Most of the men are wearing casual shirts, with the top buttons undone and black/navy blue trousers. The women are wearing either a blouse and trousers or smart dresses with cardigans.

MALE TEACHER ONEAh, Mason! Perfect timing, you aren't teaching first period, right?

MASONUh, no, I don't.

MALE TEACHER ONEGreat, the machine is broken again and it's your turn to go out and get coffee.

Without wanting to disappoint his new colleagues, Mason agrees.

MASONFair enough, I guess. Just tea and coffees yeah?

MALE TEACHER ONEYep, 3 flat whites and a mocacchino.

4

Mason writes down the orders on a piece of paper whilst repeating them to himself

MASON(muttering) 3 flat whites and a mocacchino.

Mason grabs his coat and wallet from his bag and heads back out of the school.

MASONRight, back in a bit.

EXT. STREET OUTSIDE CAFE - MOMENTS LATER

Mason walks down the street, turning onto the high street and quickly towards the cafe

INT. CAFE - CONTINUOUS

The cafe is a reasonably small, a family run business. The are 5/6 sets of tables with 3 or 4 chairs.

In his haste to be quick he open the doors and walks straight into a woman, this is ELIZABETH. Her coffee goes all over blouse.

ELIZABETHAh - god! Ow.

Elizabeth drops her bag and tries to hold her blouse off of her stomach and chest to avoid burning herself.

MASONOh god i'm so sorry! Here, take these.

Mason hands her some tissues and she tries to wipe the coffee off of her blouse.

ELIZABETHThank-you, this is just my luck. I seem to always this clumsy.

MASONNo don't be daft, it was my fault for walking in so fast. In fact, let me buy you another one.

5

ELIZABETHNo no, I can't let you do that.

MASONI insist, it was my fault, and was just going to buy a few now anyway.

ELIZABETH(smiling) Well, if you insist.

They start to walk towards the counter.

MASONMy name's Mason by the way.

ELIZABETHLovely to meet you, I'm Elizabeth.