Incomplete Screenplay: Working Title: Erik

Act 11

Scene 12

[The scene is blacked out except for the voice over of middle aged voice of screen]3

V.O.: I can’t really describe what it’s like when I get angry. Most people will say its a single thing, action or event that sets them off. First, it is the initial frustration of having to put up with that initial thing but with gritted teeth you either try and put up with it or simply ask for some space, all the meanwhile trying to make sure that you don’t cross the line and end up doing something that you will regret in the morning. I cant do that.... I mean I am unable to really grit my teeth choose instead to run across the line and do something....4

[Title sequence, with the lettering appear in white Calibri font with Erik Satie - Gymnopédie No.1 playing in the background]5

Scene 26

[As the title music continues to play the scene fades onto a woman lying fully naked conscious in a bath of water. She is in her early forties, slightly greying at the edges. At first the camera focuses on her from above with all surrounding environment sound except the title music, being muffled as if being heard from underneath the music. The camera zooms in as the woman sighs slowly and the scene whites out to a young girl and an much older man playing very slowly the end of the title music Erik Satie - Gymnopédie No.1. As he finishes the young girl looks up at the old man and begins to talk.]7

Young girl: Dad?8

Old man: Hmmm?9

Young girl: Why is the music so slow?10

Old man: Because it is trying to set a calm background. Musique d’ameublement.11

Young girl: [Clumsily she attempts to pronounce what her father has just said] Muzic daamabulmint ?12

Old Man: [Chuckling and unruffling the young girls hair] Musique d’ameublement. It means furniture music or something for the background....13

[A sudden flash of white light and we find ourselves looking at the woman whose eyes suddenly open up as if she is waking up from a day dream to the sound of banging and a man screaming the background. She quickly rises out of the water.]14

Robert: [He screams of screen and banging the door] FOR FUCK SAKE MICHELLE I GOT TO GET IN THERE! 15

[Dripping wet Michelle gets out of the bath and hurridly grabs a red towel from a the nearby towel rail wrapping it around her. She walks over to unlock the door and without a seconds thought Robert pushes past her, almost forcing to fall back into the bath and he walks towards the fogged up mirror above the sink.]16

Robert: Chris’sake Michelle you know today is an important day I got the meeting about the highway contracts and I dont need you making me fucking late. 17

Michelle: [Slowly getting up] But...18

[Robert interrupts her by pushing past her again, leaving Michelle alone in the bathroom.]19

Robert: [Of screen] Where’s my red tie gone? Don’t forget to pick up my other suit from the other dry cleaners....20

Scene 321

[The scene opens up on Michelle still wet but this time in a dress robe sitting at a kitchen table eating toast, as Robert rushing into the kitchen to find his red tie and brief case on one of the dining room chairs. Completely oblivious to the fact that he pushed her earlier he continues to shout at her and barks orders to her.] 22

Robert: [Shouting at Michelle] What the hell was my tie doing down there! Will you make yourself useful and sure that you pick up my bloody dry cleaning and for once make sure that they do a bloody good job of it! I mean its not like you’ve really got anything really that important to do today have you ?23

Michelle: [Finishing her toast she stands up and walks towards Robert as if about to give him a kiss but Robert abruptly backs off.] Actually I do.....24

[Robert interrupts her, backing away and picking up his brief case and storms out of the house and she is left standing there.]25

Robert: I don’t have time for this! Don’t both making a dinner for me tonight as I’m going to be working late on the new proposals...26

[Robert rushes out the house and slams the door leaving Michelle dripping wet and standing in the kitchen alone. The sound of the car can be heard pulling quickly out of a drive way].27

Scene 428

[The scene opens up with Michelle dressed in a large dowdy duffle coat with a bunch of wilting flowers in hand, walking up a long hilly leafy suburban neighbourhood with the V.O. of an answer machine clicking and a chirpy female voice.]29

Female v.o.: Hey sis! Its Jan. Listen love, I’m really sorry I can’t come over tonight but I got my weightwatchers thing on tonight but how’s about we meet up for a quick coffee later today down in town and have a catch up ? Ring me!30

[Jan’s voice ends the message even chirpy and the machine clicks once again. The camera now pans upon Michelle reaching the top of hill to the cast iron entrance of grave yard and then walking straight up the pathway through the grave yard.]31

Scene 532

[The scene opens up with Michelle, having finally reached the grave side, kneeling down she clears dead leaves and the mud that has gathered round the grave, whilst still holding the bouquet of flowers. After a while she stops and places the flowers on top of the grave stone].33

Michelle: [Initially she speaks nervously and pausing as if she is trying not to tell the truth but after a while she becomes gradually more open and reflective.] Hi mum...I’m sorry I haven’t been up for a while. You know what its like don’t you?...er...yeah. [Pause] Things are ok-ish. Robert’s doing well and his business is keeping him really busy. I can’t remember if I told you the last time but he work’s in highway maintenance, which basically means he’s up and down all over the country sort out the roads..ha...but yeah. Jan says hello and is sorry she can’t make it....you know what she’s like, looking for a deal somewhere. She’s attending something to do with her figure but I don’t think she needs to go because she has always been trim and has all the men after her. Not like me....I mean I don’t need all the men ‘cause I got Robert. [Pause] Or had...I don’t know dad its like we’re not even together and I’m just getting in his way. I don’t blame him because part of me still thinks he still has not forgiven me for the past. I do still love him and I am sorry about what happened but it just feels like...[Pause] Yeah anyway I just came up to say that I love and miss you and will come up again more often, I promise.34

[Getting up to her knees, she kisses the top of the grave stone and walks off].35

Scene 6 36

[The scene opens to the camera zoom through the outside doors of a police station and through the grim perspecks glass of a grimy interview suite where there are two men sitting, the youngest of which is turn away from the camera. In the centre of the room is a black plastic table bolted to the floor and two black chairs at either end. At one end, a probation officer, is a man in his mid thirties in a crumpled suite. At either side of him are mountains of paperwork. Across to the other side is a young man in his late twenties. He is unshaven with greasy hair and blotchy skin].37

Probation officer: Right well Erik, this is has been...er how many times have I seen you in the past month?38

[The probation officer hurriedly through the paperwork in front of him].39

Erik: Four times....40

[Visibly surprised the probation officer looks up at Erik].41

Probation officer: Four times...and every single time you keep coming back. 42

[Looking down at the files the probation officer reads aloud].43

Probation officer: Your file reads that you originally served five years for GBH with intent. I believe it was your carer? Do you regret what you did at the time?44

Erik: Regret? [Sighs] Well let me think about. I don’t have any idea of what that means.45

Probation officer: What I mean is do you feel remorse for.....46

Erik: [Interrupting] I know what you think it means. But to me it’s just a bullshit word that the suits from the welfare like you use to see if there is any shred of humanity in strung out yob such as myself so that you can redeem me. For me, I saw it as self defence against a foster carer who could not give a toss about the child that she was looking after, instead licked those big fat greasy lips at the thought of the big fucking pay check that you guys were giving her. What is it that you want me to say? Do I feel sorrow for what I did?47

Probation officer: Well do you?48

Erik: There’s not a day goes by that I regret what I did to that bitch. After you guys pumped her with cash, she didn’t care about me and saw about teaching me through the use of her belt [Erik roles up his sleeves and shows the bruising]. No there isn’t a day goes by that I don’t regret what I did, not because of the type of animal you think I am but because I had to do what I needed to survive. Looking back at what I was like then and I still would of done the same. At the end of the day, we both know the reason why I’m here, sitting in front of you.....49

[Whilst Erik continues to talk whilst the camera now focuses on outside of the police station as he walks out, slowly lighting a cigarette and looking both ways, until he recognises another young man he recognises.]50

Erik:.....because I have to fucking checking in with you every two fucking weeks so Im not shoved back inside for breaking the conditions....51

[After throwing his cigarette to the ground, he walks off towards the young man.]52

Erik: Reg...blood...I didn’t think you’d be here. 53

[The two men greet each other with a manly hug].54

Reg: Geez, you’d know I’m always here for ya’. What did they pin you for.55

Erik: Nothin’. Nothin’. Ere’ have you got a light on you ?56

[They start walking down the street as the camera follows them as 57

Erik pulls out his packet].58

Reg: Nah mate I don’t. Well not one me at least. So have you got plans? I mean now you can’t go back to that bitches place.59

Erik: Nah man. I thought I might doss around and see what the council have got for me. I’m fed up of this shit. I start want to get things straight, you know?60

Reg: I see I see. But listen bro’ if you need somewhere you can always call me yeah? I got something to show you. Call it a surprise.61

Erik: [Smiling] Yeah yeah...sure sure....but I got to go don’t to the job centre first and see if they’ve got anything for me.62

Reg: Ok but promise to give me a tinkle because if you need a place and some work I might have something up your steet, alright?63

[Both pass the shop front of a cafe where two women are sitting, one of them being Michelle and the other, although with similar features, has blonde highlights. The scene fades.]64

Scene 765

[The scene opens up and two women standing at opposite sides of the small circular table located in the corner of window front of a busy cafe. As the dusty light shines through the window upon the table, there is a lot of hussle and bussle surrounding them]66

Jan: [chirpy] Heya!... 67

[Casting a critical eye over Michelles attire she gives a weak smile and they kiss each other on each cheek] 68

Jan: You look...er...absolutely fab ! Have you had anything done to your hair ?69

[They both sit down]70

Michelle: Well I did....71

[She is interrupted by a waiter who approaches the table]72

Waiter: What would you lovely ladies like to drink?73

Jan: [Giggling] Oh aren’t you a handsome brute. Well I’ll have a skinny soya cappuccino, with the chocolate sprinkles....and er....Mich what would you like love ?74

Michelle: [Timidly] A tea please. Thankyou.75

Jan: This weightwatchers diet thing is a killer ‘cause not only do I have to watch what I eat but also what I drink. None of this semi-skimmed cappuccino crap anymore. Although by the looks of him I would stop eating meat....76

[Jan bursts out laughing, nudging Michelle and pointing towards the waiter. Unimpressed Michelle continues to talk].77

Michelle: I went up to mums grave today, to say hello and well you know...[She nervously drifts off].78

Jan: I don’t know why you keep going up there. I mean after all it wasn’t as if she was any good.79

Michelle: Thats not true! Mum was good. She was a kind soul.80

Jan: So kind in fact that she turned a blind eye to whenever he would...[pause as she sips her coffee and looks out the window for second but then turns around] Then you go and do all of this to yourself [she indicates but raising her hand her finger up and down Michelle]. Oh our mother was good at one thing and one thing only. And that was turning a blind eye to everything. I mean look at yourself. Look at what you have become. No wonder things between you and Robert aren’t great. I mean he must of been surprised when he found out....[turning around to face Michelle] Why can’t you do what the rest of us do and move on like the rest of us?81

[A sudden flash of light and the scene now opens upon the older man from the first flash back sitting in a over flowing bath of water. The same young girl from the earlier scene but now in her mid twenties walks past the open door of the bath and seeing her father lying in the bathtub she calls out to him.]82

Young girl: Dad ?83

[Unresponsive, the father says nothing but instead of the girl moving closer she notices the over flowing water beginning to turn red. A sudden flash of light and the scene is now back on Jan and Michelle sitting in the cafe. Jan continues to talk but it is in audible to the audience as the audience hears the V.O. of Michelle].84

Michelle V.O.: Move on like the rest of us eh Jan? Hmmm I don’t see you exactly see you moving on, sitting here dressed up like a common tart perving over someone half your age. [sighs] Oh no Jan I have moved on. The difference being is that I’ve come to accept that we are all to blame at the end of the day and I’ve not crossed the line of denial.85

Jan: [shouting] Michelle !86

[The whole cafe becomes silent.]87

Michelle: hmmm?88

Jan: Did you not hear anything I just said? 89

[Michelle looks out of the cafe window sighing and see’s two roughly dressed men walking passed, one being Erik and the other being Reg, yet unknown to her. The scene fades.]90

Scene 8 91

[The scene opens up on the outside of the front of a job centre and Erik walking into the entrance. It then changes on Erik sitting in front of large unsympathetic woman behind a mahogany table and a large archaic computer. Without any regard to Erik sitting in front of her.]92

Unsympathetic woman: How many qualifications did you leave school?93

Erik: [Uncomfortably squirming in his chair as if he does not want to really be there] None.94

Unsympathetic woman: Uh-ha....any training in the last year?95

Erik: Nope...unless you count how to live in small locked spaces...[he laughs pathetically]96

[The woman does not respond to Erik’s pathetic joke and reference to being in prison. Sensing this Erik becomes clearly agitated at the woman’s unresponsiveness.]97

Unsympathetic woman: Any skills that you think will help you in employment?98

Erik: I can play the piano.99

[The unsympathetic woman looks at him with a weary look on her face.]100

Unsympathetic woman: So your telling me that you have no qualifications, no training, a prison record but you can play the piano? How do you expect to find work?101

Erik: [Shrugs] Dunno...thats your job.102

Unsympathetic woman: Now sir there is no reason to be threatening.103

Erik: [Surprised] I’m not!104

Unsympathetic woman: Sir, if your going to be threatening I am 105

going to have to call security.106

Scene 9107

[The scene then opens up on the front of the job centre. Erik, screaming and shouting as he is escorted out of the building by two burley security guards who throw him to the ground.]108

Erik: For fuck sake! All I said to that fat bitch was to go stick her head up a dead bears arse!109

[Clearly disgruntled Erik dusts himself off and looks around him. In the distance he sees a dowdy woman dressed a duffle coat sitting, smoking on a bench looking vaguely past Erik as if day dreaming. Walking up to her.] 110

Erik: Excuse me love but have you got a light ? [He fetches a pack of cigarettes out of his top breast pocket and pulls the one out].111

Michelle: [Vaguely] Pardon?112

Erik: A light? [He indicates to his cigarette]113

Michelle: Oh yeah ...sorry [She fetches on out of her pocket of her coat.]114

Erik: Its alright love. [Smiling] You know if you sit here to long the bastards might charge you for littering.115

[Michelle smiles and laughs, as Erik sits down beside her.]116

Michelle: Seems like they’ve already got you on shouting [She indicates towards the direction of the job centre as the camera pans over to it].117

Erik: [Laughing] Nah, its just a misunderstanding. You see they couldn’t find me work as I am to over qualified?118

Michelle: Yeah?119

Erik: Yeah man...tsk...I’m a regular graduate just down on his luck.120

Michelle: [Reflectively] Well there seems to be a lot of us down on our luck lately.121

Erik: How so? 122

Michelle: That life is all shit and we’re all to blame for it.123

Erik: Sounds like your really angry at somthin’.124

Michelle: Hmmm?125

Erik: Me? I get angry all the time. I can’t really describe what it’s like when I get angry. Most people will say its a single thing, action or event that sets them off. First, it is the initial frustration of having to put up with that initial thing but with gritted teeth you either try and put up with it or simply ask for some space, all the meanwhile trying to make sure that you don’t cross the line and end up doing something that you will regret in the morning. I cant do that.... I mean I am unable to really grit my teeth choose instead to run across the line and do something....126

[Erik stops. Both are clearly worried that they have unknowingly opened up to complete strangers and for a moment there is an awkward silence until Erik reaches his hand out as if to shake it.]127

Erik: Hmm...I don’t even know why I’m telling you all of this. You probably think I am sort of lunatic or something. 128

Michelle: [Laughs] no I don’t...I just think your being honest. What’s your name?129

Erik: The names Erik, yours ?130

Michelle: [Cautiously] Michelle.131

Erik: That’s a really beautiful name. 132

Michelle; [clearly blushing] Thankyou. 133

Erik: So what you escaped the bastards of the job centre too?134

Michelle: [laughs] No...no just wanted to stop and take a minute. Wishing I could actually speak.135

Erik: What have you got cancer or something?136

Michelle: [Laughs] No...I mean’t say how I feel instead of just simply gritting my teeth and taking it all in. One day crossing the line and telling them all to....137

Erik: ...piss off?138

Michelle: Yeah...exactly. Telling them all to piss off.139

Erik: Well why don’t you?140

[Michelle laughs.]141

Erik: Well at least you got your other half to talk to at least about it?142

Michelle: hmmm...yeah...my other half...oh piss! 143

[All of a sudden Michelle shoots up with her hand on her forehead].144

Erik: There ya’ go! You’ve said it!145

[Michelle, hurriedly begins to walk away but accidently drops her purse on the ground.]146

Michelle: [Waving back] Listen its been nice to have talk to you but I got to go and pick up my husbands dry cleaning. Better get a brolly handy they say its going to rain! Thank you for the chat.....147

[Michelle runs off screen].148

Erik: Yeah sure...nice to have.....[does not continue sentence].149

[Erik pause’s for a second, looking up at the sky and then looks down at his feet rubbing his brow. All of a sudden out of the corner of his eye he spots Michelle’s purse and picks it up.]150

Erik: what the heck? 151

[He opens it up see’s in the plastic window sleeve, a business card with an address and Network Highways Maintenance printed on it in bold lettering. The screen fades.]152

Scene 9153

[The scene opens up on the rain drenched urban landscape and the sound of a phone ringing with the eventual beep of an answer machine.]154

Michelle V.O.: Hi Robert it’s Michelle. Listen I’ve gone down to the laundrettes and it...it seems that I lost my purse somewhere....is it all right if I come by the office to get some money?155

[The scene now switches to Michelle sitting patiently in a reception area of a modern glass office block.]156

Receptionist: He’s in a meeting at the moment. He won’t be long can I get you anything?157

Michelle: No its fine. I’m his wife and forgot my purse....158

[The receptionist fails to respond and continues on typing. Michelle sighs and looks up at a clock on the wall which reads three thirty. The scene fades and then fades up an house later with the clock displaying four thirty. Michelle still sits there waiting. Without acknowledging Michelle still sitting there the receptionist gets up and leaves her desk. Michelle looks out the window, as the camera pans and it is still raining. There is not a sound of except the sound of ticking of the wall clock. All of sudden there is a sudden scream that comes from behind the closed door of Roberts office. There is a sudden scream followed by a loud groaning sound. Curious Michelle gets up, walks over to the door, opening it and to her surprise see’s her husband with the trousers around his ankles groan as he has sex with Jan, 159

Michelle’s sister beneath squirming in pleasure.]160

Jan: OH MY GOD BIG DONT STOP ! DONT STOP ! Don’t....big boy?161

[Jan stops groaning to see Robert looking directly at Michelle from across the room.]162

Jan: Oh shit!163

Michelle: [Furious] Yeah bloody right, oh shit. Is this what you call watching you friggin’ weight ? 164

Scene 10165

[The scene opens in a small on bedroom flat with loud drum and base music playing in the background. There are lots of drug paraphernalia scattered around on floor and posters with the weed symbols on the wall. Reg and Erik sit across from each other sharing a joint.]166

Reg: Hey blood, why the long face? For a man whose not in side you sure got a face like a smack bum. I’m mean if I was man just made free I would have the horn by now! What’s get ya’ down?167

Erik: Can I ask you something, honestly?168

Reg: Yeah sure, anything! You know that bra’.169

Erik: Have you ever liked someone you just met?170

Reg: [Laughing] Man, I never a pussy that I didn’t want to screw!171

Erik: No I don’t mean sex wise. I mean....properly liked, as in date.172

Reg: Oh ma’ good! It looks like our little pube here has fallen for a woman!173

Erik: [Embarrassed] Shut up!174

Reg: Seriously fallen man ! Haha ! you might as well forget it because with your track record who is ever going to want an old scrag end like you? Anyway I got something that might crack a smile on that mug of yours.175

[Reg gets up of the floor and leaves the room. There is alot of clattering from next door but eventually returning back to the room with something cyclindar wrapped up in a small blanket.]176

Reg: Take a look at this mutha’. 177

[Proudly he unwraps the blanket to expose a silver Walther PP blowback-operated semiautomatic pistol and begins to wave it in the air. ]178

Erik: What the fuck !?!?! 179

[Panicking Erik scrambles to his feet and backs away.] 180

Reg: Don’t worry ! It ain’t loaded! I got this from my old man. What do you think of it?181

Erik: I think you bloody crazy! Give it here!182

[Erik snatches the gun from Reg and puts in the elastic of his trousers.]183

Reg: Oi! 184

Erik: No I’m serious. I’m not going to be trusting someone like you with this. Plus if I get found with you and this its going to put me and for once I’m staying clean.185

Reg: [kissing his teeth] tsk...why don’t you just piss off. After all I did for you by putting you up here.186

Erik: And almost blowing yours and my brains out. Nah, I’m returning this to your old man and anyway, I got to stop somewhere else first.187

[Erik walks off screen towards the front door, which we hear quickly open and shut with a loud thud, as Reg continues to kissing his teeth and mutter to himself, picking up what’s left of his joint.]188

Scene 11189

[The scene opens up with a Erik pulling up in a black car, in front of the glass office building we saw in the earlier scene with Michelle. As it continues to rain outside, before getting out of the car he reads again the business card in the purse and gets out with the purse in hand. So as not to get wet he runs into the building he enters reception but finds no one at the front desk. Suddenly he hears screaming from the office door and out of curiosity walks across cautiously. As he enters he see’s Michelle standing in front of Robert half naked and Jan full naked on the desk.] 190

Michelle: [Furious] Yeah bloody right, oh shit. Is this what you call watching you friggin’ weight ? 191

[Panicky, both Robert and Jan hurriedly put on their clothes.]192

Robert: No Michelle this is not what it looks like?193

Michelle: So what does it look like?194

Jan: Oh Robert shut up! We’ve been caught out by this bitch anyway and it’s not like she didn’t know anyway.195

Michelle: Actually I didn’t know! My husband was screwing my own sister! Christ sake Jan he’s my own sister.196

Jan: [Mocking] Aw poor Michelle! Her own husband caught with his pants down and inside her own sister.197

Michelle: You whore!198

Jan: Ha! I mean come on! It’s really a surprise after all look at you, no wonder her turned to me! Its not a surprised he came to me after you dried up!199

Michelle: What the hell?200

[Michelle slaps Jan hard across the face and the two start to fight. Robert tries to break them up but as the door opens and Erik stands awkwardly with Michelle’s purse in his hand all stand in shock].201

Michelle: Erik?202

Jan: Do you know this guy?203

[Shocked at seeing a stranger standing there with his wife’s purse Richard rushes over towards Erik.]204

Robert: [Angrily] WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MICHELLES PURSE!205

[Robert tries to snatch of him but Erik keeps tightly hold of it. In a fit of rage Robert tries to take a swing at Erik. Clumsily, trying to avoid Roberts fists Erik falls to the floor and grabs Robert by his collar, dragging him down. The two men begin to fight on the floor, punching at each other.]206

Jan and Michelle: [Screaming] GUYS!207

[Both Jan and Michelle rush over, trying to break up the fight but in the ensuring chao’s, the gun from the elastic of Erik’s trousers flies across the room. As it hits the ground at the end of the office, everyone scrambles up to get it. The screen goes black, followed by loud gunfire].208

BANG ! BANG !209

[End of Scene and Act One] 210