Page 179 - Student: dazed And Confused

STORMED

FADE IN.
TERRACED HOUSES - EXT - AFTERNOON
Pale sun shines off the roofs of 80s cars. There are piles
of litter beside public bins and there is graffiti sprayed
on the side walls of the row, the words THEY WALK among the
spray art. A gaggle of schoolkids chase each other around
the street and a man is failing to start his engine.
GARDEN - EXT - CONTINUOUS
Two young children of 4 or 5 are running around the tiny
back garden. They are bothering a man hanging washing. An
over-turned white bike spins on the grass.
MAN (OS.)
Stupid bloody thing. Work, damn
you.
There is a faint metallic clang off screen.
MAN (OS.) (CONT'D)
Aah, shittin’ hell.
They children glance at each other and giggle. His face is
pale and shoulders are hunched. His children - one boy
(Craig), one girl (Lee), almost identical - buzz around his
feet, yelling excited babble.
An elderly lady walks past the fence, pulling a tartan
shopping carrier. She peers in at the small family and
stops for a moment. Her eyes drift over them, she grips
her things and shuffles beyond the house.
FATHER
Can you watch the kids for a sec,
May? I need more pegs.
A white haired woman bobs up over the fence, walks over to
the dividing wires with a trowel in her hand.
MAY
No problem.
He disappears into the house and closes the door.
MAY (CONT'D)
Isn’t your Dad good at doing
housework, Lee?
LEE
Mom’s at work. Crash, don’t
push.
The little boy in a thick grey jumper and jeans grabs a
pebble and runs down to the chalk hopscotch grid with the
backwards 9. Lee scampers after him, fat knees pumping
below a green duffel coat. They start playing.
GARDEN - CONTINUOUS - EXT
P.O.V. - MAY
Watches as children inch towards a wolf-like dog and man
coming along the back path. It all happens in muted sounds
as she zips up her anorak.