Script for my Short Film

FADE IN

INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE

POV shot looking out of train window at the countryside as it speeds past like lightening. A flash of white light and then a [MS]of a middle-aged woman - JULIE O'DONNELL, sitting on the train seat with a bag on the seat next to her. She looks upset but trying to stay strong. Shot Reverse Shot between the Julie and her son, MIKE O'DONNELL, as they talk on the train, trying to pass the time. 

JULIE

He will be okay you know, your father is a strong man and he knows what he's doing. Im sure he'll be home in no time.

MIKE

[Angry]

How do you know? He won't even know where we've gone. I don't even see why we have to move. We were fine where we were. 

JULIE

[Sympathetic]

Its complicated son, Im sure you'll love it down there.

EXT. GETTING OFF THE TRAIN ONTO PLATFORM

Julie and Mike arrive at the station and as the train doors open, it cuts to a front door slamming shut and dust flying everywhere. 

INT. NEW HOUSE HALLWAY

The house is painted orange with nicotine stains and smells like mould and damp. A [LS] of Julie and Mike as they stand in the hallway of the building they now call home. 

Julie

[Sighs]

Welcome home..

Mike

This will never be home

Mike storms upstairs leaving Julie alone in the hallway. 

INT. KITCHEN

Julie is cooking dinner and Mike is sitting at the makeshift kitchen table writing things in the dust that lay above it.

JULIE

Are you going to wipe that table or am i going to have to do it myself?

Mike looks up and gives Julie a really evil glare and then looks back down and carries on drawing in the dust. Mike is already hating the new house and its surroundings. Julie sighs and carries on cooking. 

EXT. SCHOOL PLAYGROUND

The second day of being down south and Mike has started his new school. Nervous and anxious, Mike walks around the school playground alone with his backpack hanging off his right shoulder. His uniform isn't quite right yet with a tatty old jumper and trousers that are a bit too short for him. The school bullies taunt him for looking different and having no friends. 

Bullies

[Tauntingly]

What is that? Where has that come from? He stinks...

Montage of taunting, arguing and abuse that happens to Mike in school. 

INT. HALLWAY OF NEW HOUSE

After running the distance home, Mike slams the front door behind him and slumps up against it. Julie, who is again preparing dinner, calls out to him. 

JULIE

[Shouts]

How was your first day? Did you make any nice friends?

MIKE

[Shouts back angrily]

I HATE YOU! WHY DID WE HAVE TO MOVE? IF DAD WAS HERE, NONE OF THIS WOULD OF HAPPENED!

INT. MIKES BEDROOM 

Mike slams his bedroom door behind him and flops onto his bed, head in hands, crying. As the anger inside him begins to fire he begins to trash his room, throwing family pictures and other objects in all different directions. Whilst this is showing, there are faded pictures of the bullies at school laughing at him and his mothers face as she looks at him with disappointment. 

MIKE 

[Screams]

AGHHHHHHHHH!

Last Scene

INT. LIVING ROOM

Julie is sitting on the sofa, writing a letter to her missing husband in the hope that he would receive it and come home to them. 

Julie 

[Voiceover]

Dear My Darling Husband, Harry,

A lot has changed since you left, I worry about you everyday, thinking the worst but hoping for the best, thats what they say isn't it, everyone says 'oh he'll be okay, he's a fighter' but they dont know what its like to be me. Mike hasnt taken the news very well either, he's gone. Noone knows where he is and it's made losing you even harder to cope with. Both my boys, out in the world, all on their own. I pray every night that you are both okay and will return home safe and soon. It hurts to think that I may never see you again or you might not even receive this letter. I long for a hug from you and to feel safe in your arms again. I will never stop loving you and... 

SILENCE.

INT. HALLWAY 

Two battered army boots are left near the door and footsteps are heard walking further and further away. 

INT. LIVING ROOM

Harry walks into the room wondering where everyone is and finds Julie sitting on the sofa sobbing.

HARRY

Julie? Where's Mike?

Julie turns round slowly to find her husband standing in full army uniform in the doorway leading from the hallway into the living room. She slowly gets up, walks over to him and grabs him tight. Not letting go. 

Julie

[Crying]

He's gone!

INT. LIVING ROOM

Julie hands Harry the letter she had just finished writing and the shot fades out.

FADE OUT