screenplay

PHANTOM

by SANCHIA CHARLES (2014)

FADE IN:

INT. FAELA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

The room is still. A fluorescent blue light shines through an open window. There are several empty sachets sprawled out onto the floor and the carpet surrounding them is dotted with a loose, white powder. The double bed is the main attraction of the room as two figures, FAELA and NIALL are seen moving underneath the sheets, the headboard rocking creakily.

FAELA (V.O)

It’s like we had a window. A window of love. It never broke.

The world could see us, but we didn’t let them in. We never did.

FADE TO WHITE -

The body of FAELA disappears and is replaced by a female in her mid twenties, who is now under the duvet sheet. Her face is facing upwards on a pillow and visible, her face contorting into shapes of anguish and distress. The camera zooms back out slowly as FAELA (V.O) plays.

FAELA (V.O)

But it broke. The sheet of glass shatters as you cry shakily into another soul. You paint their ivory canvas gold.

You sign your name in red.

The camera pans across the room and a man is shown holding a steel handgun pointed towards the bed. A balaclava is covering his features, and his attire is rugged and worn looking. His foot is shown tapping with impatience as he stares at the scene in front of him.

UNKNOWN

(Loudly)

Hurry up and get on with it! The only way I can stay out of jail is if she gets pregnant and has another baby, and you aren’t f****** helping me by being slow! What, you’ve never been with a girl before? What’s your name anyway?

BOY

(Whispers)

Niall.

UNKNOWN

Nail? What kind of stupid name is that? You’ve done your job now, anyway. Xena, let’s go.

Shouts of protest can be heard from the boy across the room. The camera pans back towards the bed as we see the woman (XENA) climb out of it, and walk out of shot. The camera focuses on NIALL and tracks his figure as he grabs a pair of sweatpants and forces them up his legs in embarrassment.

UNKNOWN

And don’t call the police. Unless you know what will happen to you, right? You wouldn’t want me to get my hands on that girl of yours would you?

NIALL

(Stuttering incoherently)

N-no…

UNKNOWN

Alright then. I’ll see you when I get another b**** for you.

CUT TO:

The door slamming as both the man and woman leave. A close-up of Niall is shown as he leans against the headboard, his face clearly distressed as his lips part to speak.

NIALL

(Hesitantly)

Faela... Come out of the cupboard.

CUT TO:

The cupboard. The door is pushed open and FAELA’S crying is audible.

CUT TO:

A shadow on the blue wall of two figures in an embrace. Both look to be crying into each other and the scene fades as each sob weakens.

FADE OUT:

(CONTINUED)

EXT. A COFFEE SHOP - DAY

FAELA is hunched over a table, an empty plate sat next to her with half a slice of toast limping over the edge of it. A pen is in her hand, as she writes in her diary. Her hair is tied up and mascara is running onto her now colourless cheeks. Her appearance is clearly rugged, hinting at a lack of sleep.

CUT TO:

The camera hovers over the page open in her diary. The words “I MISS US” are scrawled across the page.

FAELA (V.O)

I left you later on that evening. You kept telling me you had to provide favours for people to survive, but you never told me why. You said you didn’t want me to get hurt.

NIALL is seen walking into the COFFEE SHOP. FAELA and NIALL exchange a glance, as he gets seen to a table by a WAITER. He takes a seat as the WAITER takes out his notepad.

WAITER

What will it be?

NIALL

Can I just have a black coffee, and some bacon?

(NIALL pauses suddenly)

Actually i’ll just take a water.

The waiter scribbles something down quickly as he nods his head, walking away from the table. He stops in his tracks as he hears a yell.

NIALL

(Shouting)

WAIT UP! I kind of want my black coffee again. Can you change the water?

WAITER

Long day, huh?

NIALL

(Agitated)

I don’t THINK it’s a part of your job description

to be a nosey twat, or is it?

The WAITER turns a bright shade of red as he scrambles to the kitchen. The camera shows Niall putting his head in his hands.

CUT TO:

FAELA is still writing in her notepad, oblivious to the scene. She now holds a mug in her left hand.

FAELA (V.O)

I wrote a poem about you. About us. Should I read it? I’ll read for you, Niall.

EXT - SEASIDE - MIDDAY

(MIDSHOT)

Waves crash over each other as NIALL is seen walking into the sea.

FAELA (V.O)

The bodies you were sculpting screamed a symphony of picasso paintings, whilst my snapped easel remained blank again.

CUT TO:

CRANE SHOT of NIALL submerging himself into the black sea. Bubbles appear where he has vanished.

FAELA(V.O)

But your painting hid thin raspberry blood. Citrus bruises. Garnished cuts.

CUT TO:

The tide comes in, splashing the rockpools near it. NIALL’s body is among the seaweed and garbage that wash onto shore. He remains unmoving. Red and blue lights are seen flashing the background.

FAELA (V.O)

Romanticised on the highest scale. Your cleansing palette hid you well. I didn’t know you ached with pain.

EXT. A GRAVEYARD - MORNING

CUT TO:

FAELA sits next to a grave, with a bouquet of white roses and a notepad. The graveyard is empty. Tombstones stretch across the field for yards and yards.

FAELA

(Whispers)

But now you’re gone. And i’m to blame.

FADE TO WHITE - CAMERA TRACKS DOWNWARDS.

(END OF SCENE)

by sanchia charles (2014)