by James Eddy
empty, and out into the street.
CUT TO:
EXT. HOTEL NELSON - DAY
Oliver looks around, noticing that there are no cars or people anywhere. He looks to his left, along Prince of Wales Road, and sees Emily running away from him.
OLIVER
(Shouting)
HEY!! Uh... Whatever your name is... WAIT!
He starts to run after her.
CUT TO:
EXT. PRINCE OF WALES ROAD - DAY
He stops running and looks around again to try to find Emily. He sees her across the road and runs towards her but she runs away down a side street. As he reaches the spot where he saw her from across the road he stops and looks back. Emily is now standing 50 yards further up the road in the opposite direction to the way that she had been running. She immediately begins to run even further away from where Oliver is standing. He runs after her until he reaches the end of the road and has to make a left hand turn.
CUT TO:
EXT. CATHEDRAL GROUNDS - DAY
Oliver runs around the Cathedral until he runs straight into Johnny. This nearly knocks both of them to the ground, but they both remain standing.
OLIVER
Johnny!
(A beat)
Have you seen her?
JOHNNY
No mate. Can’t say I have
OLIVER
Look I... I’ve got to go
JOHNNY
I have to go too... But you shouldn't leave just yet. Sit down with me for a bit... I can guarantee you'll find her...
(A beat)
Come on... A little time for an old friend. You'll get to her if you just stay with me a while longer... There are things that should be said...
(A beat or two)
Look mate, I’m really sorry. I know yer should've been there... But you weren't and yer can't blame yourself for that forever... He was the one with the knife and he was a bloody psycho. And that's not really a great combination... It's not like either of us knew that. If we had we'd have backed down wouldn't we...
(A beat as
Oliver nods
in agreement)
I mean that's not to say I wasn't a little bit pissed off about things. But I figure that's a pretty normal reaction to dying...
(Smiling)
Yer know that in a lot of ways you've made it so I've always been with you and I really don't think that's been a good thing... You’ve made yourself into a ghost and that wasn't how it was meant to be... Remembering what happened should’ve made yer remember that you survived. You’re still alive. That should kind of make yer feel better... You've been down for seven years Olly and that's seven years too long really mate. It's time yer felt better...
CUT TO:
EXT. SCHOOL - DAY
Oliver and Johnny hide from Miss Coyle in a tree.
JOHNNY
Remember the good times... Would either of us have got through school if we hadn’t known each other?
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL PLAYING FIELD- DAY
They walk through the playing field slowly.
OLIVER
I guess not... But we aren’t kids anymore
JOHNNY
That's right. So maybe you should stop living your life...
CUT TO:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY
They stand in the corridor, watching as Jim Brady and his gang walk past.
JOHNNY
Like something bad might happen. Like yer might get hurt... Because it might and you might but yer shouldn't be afraid... Yer shouldn't be afraid to hate or love or even just feel. You've denied yourself enough and you've been through far too much, my friend
CUT TO:
EXT. CATHEDRAL GROUNDS - DAY
They sit on the grass in the Cathedral grounds.
JOHNNY
You’ve gotta realise that there’s nothing yer can change that’s in the past
(A beat)
And I think we both need to be moving on
OLIVER
(A beat or two)
Will I ever see you again?
JOHNNY
You already know the answer to that...
(A beat)
When yer think about it there are loads of different types of feelings. What yer have to ask yourself is if the feelings stirred up by a book or play are really any different to what yer can feel in your hands or taste on your tongue. Because if they're the same and if you're able to imagine it, then imagine things and make them real... If yer do that then maybe things can be beautiful for yer
Johnny stands up, turns and walks away from Oliver, who watches him as he goes.
JOHNNY
(Turning back
to Oliver)
Oh yeah, just a little guidance mate... Please don’t forget to remember
Oliver looks towards where Johnny was but his friend is gone. He looks on for several seconds before he gets to his feet and runs again.
CUT TO:
EXT. NORWICH CASTLE GROUNDS - DAY
Oliver runs up a small incline to the castle and stops to catch his breath. He looks to his side and finds he is standing next to Emily.
OLIVER
Hello... So this is where you are
Emily grabs both of his hands and pulls him close to her.
EMILY
Don’t forget to remember, for it would be a shame; to forget Guildhall Hill, London Street and Upper Goat Lane... But worst of all it would be a horrific state, if you forgot to remember, on a day in November, the name Colegate
OLIVER
Let me guess, a little more guidance...
(A beat as
Emily nods
her head)
I’m really sorry for before...
(A beat or
two as she
nods again)
I think you ought to know... I have to leave tomorrow.
She looks at the ground and doesn't look up.
EMILY
I thought so... You obviously won’t listen to anyone who tries to help you
OLIVER
I want to
EMILY
Then why don’t you do what you want to do?
OLIVER
I’m sorry... I can't. I want to but it's all too much
EMILY
Please try harder and don’t give up yet. Don't be scared about something bad happening?
OLIVER
Nothing's ever made me think that it won't
EMILY
(A beat as
she sighs)
Is this going to be goodbye then?
OLIVER
I don’t know... It could be
EMILY
But I don’t want to say goodbye
OLIVER
Nor do I
EMILY
(She grabs
his hand)
Then let’s just lie here and hope we never wake up
Oliver and Emily lay down together on the ground in each other’s arms.
EMILY
(V.O)
So, we’ll go no more a roving
So late into the night,
Though the heart be still as loving,
And the moon be still as bright...
FADE TO:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY
Oliver and Emily lay together on the floor in each other’s arms.
EMILY
(V.O)
For the sword outwears its sheath,
And the soul wears out the breast,
And the heart must pause to breathe,
And love itself have rest...
FADE TO:
EXT. Forest - DAY
Oliver and Emily are together in each other’s arms in the snow surrounded by bluebells.
FADE TO:
EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
Oliver and Emily lay together in a wheat field.
EMILY
(V.O)
Though the night was made for loving,
&nb
sp; And the day returns too soon,
Yet we’ll go no more a roving
By the light of the moon
FADE TO:
EXT. MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK - EVENING
Oliver and Emily lay on the ground outside the car park in each other’s arms.
OLIVER
(Looking around)
This is where we met
EMILY
(A beat as
they both
sit up)
I still don’t want to say goodbye... Even though I think I ought to...
(Silently mouthing
the word and
then starting
to cry)
Do you really need another prompt?
END DREAM SEQUENCE.
SUPER: "That day..."
FADE IN:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - MORNING
Oliver gets out of bed and rubs his head. He moves around the room and slowly begins to pick up the empty bottles from the previous night.
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL RECEPTION - MORNING
Oliver walks into reception and approaches Rose at the desk.
OLIVER
Hello... I thought I should let you know I’ll be checking out today... I've got to catch a plane at three
Rose nods her head.
Rose
Thank you sir, would you like to settle your bill now?
Oliver checks his pockets for money. All he finds is his room key.
OLIVER
Uh... Could I leave it till I check out?
Rose
(Smiling and
nodding)
As you wish Mr Bell
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Oliver packs his things into his suitcase slowly and methodically. He takes his alarm clock from the bedside table, his toothbrush and toothpaste from the bathroom and puts them all into his suitcase. The book of poetry is the final thing he places on top of everything else in the suitcase.
FADE TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Oliver sits on the bed in silence. He looks at his watch - it is 2pm. He gets up, picks up his suitcase, briefly walks around the room, and then goes out through the door.
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL RECEPTION - DAY
Oliver walks into reception, carrying his suitcase and goes to the desk.
OLIVER
Okay then... May I have my bill please?
He is given his bill, which he puts on the desk as he gets his wallet from his pocket, and then his credit card from his wallet. He hands the card to Rose, who puts it into the bottom of a handheld credit card machine, which she then hands over to him
OLIVER
Thanks...
He takes the machine, enters in his PIN number and hands it back. She takes the credit card out of the machine and hands it, along with a small receipt, to Oliver.
ROSE
Thank you Mr Bell
OLIVER
Thank you
He begins to walk away from the desk.
Rose
Mr Bell?
(A beat as
Oliver turns
back)
If you don’t mind me asking, how are you getting to the
