Nerys John [email protected] TILL DEATH DO US PART
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TILL DEATH DO US PART By Nerys John Copyright (c) Nerys John [email protected] TILL DEATH DO US PART FADE IN: EXT. SWANKY OFFICE BUILDING - DAY PAUL, a banker, exits the building and waves to his colleagues as he enters the car park. He has a light Essex accent. PAUL Great day today, another great day tomorrow! He climbs into his sports car. COLLEAGUE #1 Is he serious? He’s lost millions this week! COLLEAGUE #2 Idiot. The top starts lifting back off the roof of car. Halfway across it suddenly stops. PAUL What the... He presses the button repeatedly, but the roof does not move. Then he gets out and tries to move it manually, to no avail. There is no one there to help him. PAUL Right. He climbs back in his car and pulls the mirror down. He becomes absorbed in his own appearance. PAUL Yeah, baby! He puts on his sunglasses, starts the engine and pulls away. EXT. CASINO - DAY Paul pulls up and climbs out his car. He throws his car keys to the valet, who is staring at his car, then he enters. 2. INT. CASINO - DAY Paul walks up to the bar and greets best-friend and fellow banker, CHRIS. Chris has an Essex accent. PAUL Chris, me old mucker! CHRIS Paul-o! Good day? PAUL Always a good day and I’m feeling lucky tonight! Paul’s mobile rings. He glances at it briefly, then silences it. CHRIS Trouble and strife? PAUL You know it! What you drinking? CHRIS Vodka martini - shaken, not stirred. PAUL Very nice, very nice. Let’s get the drinks in and get the night going! LATER ON - NIGHT Paul and Chris are laughing as they head to play roulette. They each have a scantily clad blond woman on their arm. CHRIS And today I made a million! FEMALE #1 Wow! A million? In one day? CHRIS That’s right, babe. And that’s just a standard day for me! FEMALE #2 Do you make money like that too? PAUL Sure I do! FEMALE #2 Wow! 3. PAUL I know! FEMALE #1 I bet you must have an amazing car! They stop walking. CHRIS You have to see it to believe it! FEMALE #1 Wow! Chris swings her back in his arms and kisses her, then returns her to standing. FEMALE #2 And how about you? Do you have an amazing car? PAUL You betcha! Paul swings her back in his arms and kisses her, then tries to return her to standing, but loses his grip and drops her. Chris and Female #1 laugh as Paul moves quickly to help her up. They resume their walk. FEMALE #1 And what about your house? CHRIS My house? My house! You’d love my house. FEMALE #1 Really? Would I? CHRIS Oh yeah. 6 bedrooms. FEMALE #1 Wow! CHRIS 4 bathrooms. FEMALE #1 Really? 4. CHRIS And let me tell you about... the bedroom. Female #1 whimpers slightly as Chris moves round to face her. FEMALE #1 The bedroom? Chris moves closer to speak in her ear. FEMALE #1 Wow! FEMALE #2 What’s your house like? PAUL My house? Oh yeah, you’d love it. Maybe I could take you to see it... later. Female #1 and Female #2 look at each other and laugh excitedly. They clap their hands and take their seats at the roulette table. Paul’s mobile rings again. He quickly silences it. He and Chris exchange knowing looks. They sit beside the girls. LATER ON... Paul and Chris are playing roulette with their lady friends draped around them. They all cheer as they win. CHRIS You know what I need next? A good luck kiss. Chris points to his cheek and Female #1 kisses him obligingly. PAUL You now what? I think I need a good luck kiss too! Paul also points to his cheek and Female #2 obligingly kisses him. Her lipstick leaves a mark on his cheek. He is oblivious. CHRIS I’m gonna go for red 18! He winks at Female #1. 5. PAUL And I shall go for black 18! He tries to wink at Female #2, but it is more of a grimace. They all clink their glasses together and drink as the wheel spins. LATER ON... Paul and Chris are laughing with Female #1 and Female #2 as the waitress refills their glasses. CHRIS Babe, you bring me so much good luck, I’m gonna play big this time. FEMALE #1 Play big? How big? Chris shows her his chips. CHRIS This big, babe. And if we win, you can choose my new bed. FEMALE #1 Alright! CHRIS How old are you? FEMALE #1 22. CHRIS What a great number. PAUL That is a great number. CHRIS And your natural hair colour? FEMALE #1 Brown. CHRIS Let’s say black - black 22 it is! FEMALE #1 OK! Chris plays and they all watch avidly as the wheel spins. The ball lands on black 22. 6. FEMALE #1 Oh my God! Wow! CHRIS Yeah, baby! PAUL Nice one! Chris is handed his winnings. CHRIS That’s what I’m talking about! Chris and Female #1 kiss. PAUL OK, my turn now. I’m gonna play big! FEMALE #2 Really? How big? PAUL This big! Paul pushes all his chips forward. CHRIS Woah! Mate. Is that a good idea? PAUL Sure, mate! We’re on a winning streak! I’m so hot right now I might start a fire! Babe, if we win this, you can choose my new yacht! FEMALE #2 OK! PAUL So, sugar lips, how old are you? FEMALE #2 I’m 25. PAUL 25? CHRIS That’s no 22! PAUL That’s no 22. Er, right. 25 then. And what’s your natural hair colour? 7. FEMALE #2 Red. PAUL Red! Really? CHRIS Really? Oh, I suppose if you look closely... Paul leans in to speak in Chris’ ear. PAUL She better be good in bed. CHRIS I agree mate. PAUL Right. Er, so it’s red 25. CHRIS Red 25? PAUL Yup! Red 25 it is! Paul places his bet and they all watch as the wheel spins. It lands on black 24. Paul’s jaw hits the floor. LATER ON... Paul exits the casino and hands the valet his ticket. He begins pacing up and down. His shirt has come untucked and he now looks dishevelled. Chris joins him. CHRIS Are you OK, mate? Look, it’s not so bad! Let’s not keep the ladies waiting. PAUL Oh no, I’m in trouble. I’m in trouble. CHRIS How bad? PAUL Oh, it’s bad. That was - fuck! CHRIS What? You have more money, right? PAUL No. No, I don’t. That was all I have. And more. 8. CHRIS What? PAUL That’s it. I’m cleared out. I can’t pay the mortgage. CHRIS That was your mortgage repayment? OK, don’t sweat it. PAUL Again. CHRIS Again? What do you mean again? Are you behind? Paul nods. CHRIS Far behind? Paul nods. CHRIS Look, it’s fine, I can give you it. Paul shuffles uncomfortably. CHRIS What? Is there more? Paul nods. CHRIS What about Nina? Can she help? PAUL She already did. I just thought... CHRIS What? PAUL I thought I could win it back. CHRIS Was that her money too? Paul nods. CHRIS Shit. OK, I can sort you out. Look, it’s not like you’re gonna have the bailiffs round- 9. Chris catches Paul’s eye. CHRIS Have you had the bailiffs round? Paul shifts uncomfortably again. CHRIS Mate! How’s it got so bad? I thought you were always winning. PAUL I was, I just... I thought I could win more. Maybe I could win it back! Paul moves to re-enter the casino. Chris blocks his path. CHRIS Mate! The valet pulls up with Paul’s car. CHRIS What happened to your car? PAUL I have to go. Paul takes his car keys and climbs in. He revs the engine, as if to drive off quickly, but then pulls away slowly. EXT. PAUL’S HOUSE - DAY An extremely ostentatious house on the Thames. Everything that can be added to the house has been. There are statues, a fountain, a conservatory, electric gates. Paul pulls up on the gravel driveway beside girlfriend, NINA’S, car. There are a mountain of packed designer bags outside the front door. Paul exits his car and stops beside them. PAUL She’s kicking me out! Nina exits the house. She wears bright red lipstick and speaks with an Essex accent. PAUL This is my house! NINA No it’s not! This is the bank’s house! 10. PAUL But- but- I live here! NINA For now- what the hell happened to the car? PAUL You can’t kick me out! NINA What? You idiot! You think I can be arsed with kicking you out? This is the bank’s house and they’re gonna take it back! I’m leaving you! Nina begins packing her car. PAUL But... Wait. No! Don’t leave me! Where are you gonna go? NINA I met someone else. PAUL What? Who? NINA Never you mind. PAUL You can’t be serious! NINA I can and I am. PAUL Who is he? NINA It’s none of your business - but I can tell you this: he’s rich enough that I won’t have to work, he has a housekeeper and we’re going to spend the summer on his yacht! How do you like that? PAUL But, I’m rich..