This is the finished screenplay for my A2 short film, 'After Hours'.
The film tells the story of a man who is trapped in the repetitive, mundane life of working a 9'til'5 job whilst trying to uphold his social class' reputation. He feels the pressures of the constructionist view of middle-class life and he can't keep up, leaving him depressed and lethargic.
In 'After Hours', Don begins his day like any other, enjoying the undisturbed moments with his daughter Libby, then having to accept the stressful reality of his ex-wife Jennifer and his Religious Education teaching job.
At school, he is frustrated by his more successful co-workers and by the arrogant kids who don't care for anything he is teaching; often choosing to teach them in other ways: through playing 'The Breakfast Club' repeatedly whilst he falls asleep on his desk.
Don's slumber is taken to a new level in 'After Hours' when he remains asleep past the ending bell and way into the evening. Don wakes at 8pm, confused, then startled at what he has done. Catching a glimpse at the caretaker who has just locked up and walked away, Don realises that he has been locked in the school overnight with no way of escape.
2. 2
EPIGRAPH –
“Forget your lust for the rich man’s gold
All that you need is in your soul
And you can do this, if you try
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied”
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
FADE IN -
INT. DON’S HOUSE – MORNING - BEDROOM
Still appears to be lived in by ex-wife Jennifer, some of her
clothes are still in the wardrobe, there is a picture of the family
trio on the opposite bedside table of don’s half-empty double bed.
However, the floor is covered with Don’s clothes, books and rubbish.
Don Walters lies in bed. 46 years old, his face has the constant air
of a faded smile. He sports light stubble and often wears blues and
greys. His manner suggests that he has no immediate appointments.
DON WALTERS
1 – B.E - looking down on bed, uncomfortable, unnatural and removed.
An alarm rings out shrilly. With waking lethargy, Don reaches out to
turn it off.
2 – M.C.U – Don’s face
He rolls over in bed and instinctively places his arm over to hug
his wife; his eyes open in the realization that she is not there.
The bed is pristine; clearly no one has been sleeping on her side
for a while. Exhaling after a moment of reflective thought, Don’s
eye line shifts upwards and suddenly his expression softens and his
head tilts with interest.
3 – O.T.S - in bed to show bed side table.
He is looking at a picture of him, Jennifer and their daughter at a
wedding, smiling happy. He reaches out to touch the picture.
2 – Camera tracks his movement.
Don’s mind is lost in a second of bittersweet memory; he rubs his
eyes to remove him from the illusion of his past life and sits up in
bed, almost silhouetted in the morning light of the window.
4 – M.C.U – camera tracks movement
3. 3
Slides feet into slippers and walks out of room.
JUMP CUT -
INT. DON’S HOUSE – MORNING – BATHROOM
The cabinet is half empty; there is a man’s and a child’s toothbrush
with the according toothpaste, kids shampoo etc. and anti-depressant
pills on top shelf.
DON WALTERS
5 – C.U – inside the cupboard
Don opening and staring into his bathroom cabinet.
His tired expression tells the story of a man who is stuck in a
melancholy lifestyle which gives him no break.
Don reaches for something at the top of the cabinet; he looks at the
bottle of anti-depressants and swallows one.
- J/C
6 – E.C.U – J/C sequence – Macro Lens
Brushing teeth/
Shaving skin/
Cleaning shaver/
Zipping up trouser fly/
Flushing toilet handle/
Doing up shirt button/
Tightening tie/
- J/C
INT. DON’S HOUSE – LIBBY’S ROOM - MORNING
Don’s daughter’s room is small, tidy and pink with cuddly toys and
games on display. On the inside of her door are pictures that she
has drawn of her family.
Libby, 7, is very pretty and softly spoken. She shares an
irreplaceable bond with her father.
DON WALTERS
7 – M.S – inside Libby’s bedroom, through door window
Don knocks in an upbeat rhythm and respectively opens the door.
DON WALTERS
4. 4
Wakey, wakey,
Rise and shine!
Time to get up, Libs.
7 – PAN – as Don walks in to reveal a little girl sleeping in her
bed.
DON WALTERS
Come on, get out
of bed sleepy.
Crouches down to her level
8 – O.T.S – looking down on Libby in bed
LIBBY
Mumbling
Morning, Daddy,
Snuggles up in covers, shivering
Burrrr!
9 – O.T.S – looking up at don
DON WALTERS
Brushing a single loose hair from her face
Cold isn’t it, shall
we make some breakfast?
8 – O.T.S
LIBBY
Her eyes light up at the thought of warm food and she lifts her head
in interest
Pancakes!
9 – O.T.S
DON WALTERS
Giving in at the sight of her eyes; ablaze with happiness
5. 5
Oh, go on then,
pancakes it is.
LIBBY
She whips the covers off in excitement
Yeyy!
- Cut to black
- Cut from black
INT. DON’S HOUSE – KITCHEN – MORNING
The kitchen is buried under a pile of the previous night’s washing
up. Again, Libby’s drawings decorate the fridge and the table tops.
10 – C.U – inside high cupboard
LIBBY
Don lifts Libby up to reach the top cupboard; her hand fumbles about
inside the cupboard for the flour and eventually grabs it.
11 – C.U – Libby’s face as she struggles to reach the flour, we see
her face change as she finds it and turns her head slightly to Don’s
10 – C.U -
Her hands find the flour
Got it!
12 – M.S – Don replacing Libby back onto her feet
DON WALTERS
That’s my girl –-
13 – C.U -
Libby places the flour onto the kitchen surface
12 – M.S –
6. 6
Crouching down to her level
--now, what do you
--want in these?
6 – E.C.U – J/C sequence – Macro Lens
Cracking eggs/
Sifting flour/
Pouring milk/
Mixing pancake mixture/
Pouring pancake mixture/
Door bell ringing.
- J/C
13 – C.U – both heads in shot, the camera’s focus shifts from the
silhouette in the doorway to their heads
DON WALTERS
Father and daughter turn their heads from the door towards each
other and stare in for a second and Don’s face is painted with a
façade of shock.
He raises his flour covered hands
Caught in the act.
Don taps Libby on the nose, covering it with flour
LIBBY
She rubs the flour off with the back of her hand and giggles
DON WALTERS
14 – O.T.S – Hand and pan up to reveal Jennifer
Jennifer Walters is Don’s ex-wife. The divorce was recent and is
still raw – she has a new boyfriend who is younger, more handsome
and more successful than Don.
Jennifer stands in the doorway. She dresses in monochrome which
appears expensive and professional.
She looks up from her phone with a look of disapproval
7. 7
JENNIFER WALTERS
I – have – sent you –
FIFTEEN messages Don.
15 – O.T.S – Jennifer to see Don’s reaction
DON WALTERS
Sorry -- my phone’s
broken.
Libby runs to the door
LIBBY
Mummy!
Me and Daddy are
making pancakes!
14 – O.T.S –
Jennifer looks at Don and speaks in a rather accusing tone and takes
out a tissue from her pocket
JENNIFER WALTERS
I can tell –
14 – PAN - down as Jennifer gets a closer look at Libby
Jennifer forcefully rubs Libby’s face with the tissue
Look at you!
You’re a state.
Addressing Don and raising back up to full height
Don, she has to be at school in twenty minutes.
15 – O.T.S –
DON WALTERS
Wel-
8. 8
14 – O.T.S –
Interrupting
JENNIFER WALTERS
Go on Libby – go
get ready!
15 – O.T.S –
Libby looks to Don but he is rubbing his eye in frustration. She
runs upstairs
DON WALTERS
We were only making
pancakes Jennifer.
14 – O.T.S –
JENNIFER WALTERS
Only?! What have I –
DON WALTERS
15 – O.T.S –
Don stops midway through rubbing his eye and looks at Jennifer in
amazement
14 – O.T.S – tracks as she walks
JENNIFER WALTERS
--told you about sugar
on mornings Don?
She walks past Don, uninvited into her old house
DON WALTERS
Don takes a minute to stare mindlessly at the floor, exhales and
then shuts the door behind her
INT. DON’S HOUSE - KITCHEN
9. 9
6 – E.C.U - J/C sequence – Macro Lens
Filling kettle/
Flick kettle switch on/
Grab two mugs/
Kettle flicks off/
Stirring tea/
16 – E.C.U – straight on
Slurping tea/
Don and Jennifer sit at opposite ends of the kitchen table. As Don
slurps his tea, Jennifer watches in mild disgust.
They sit awkwardly thinking of what to say
17 – M.L.S - symmetrical - straight on to kitchen table, one brown
paper bag in front of Don
There is an awkwardly long pause, filled with the sound of a ticking
clock and the thuds of a child upstairs
DON WALTERS
That’s - a - nice dress –
you’ve got on.
JENNIFER WALTERS
Yeah, Jared got me it.
DON WALTERS
Oh-
They sip their tea simultaneously, exchanging awkward smiles
18 – Rig – sweep around bottom of the stairs
LIBBY
Runs downstairs, hand on bannister
JENNIFER WALTERS
19 – M.C.U - Shot of mum texting, she looks up briefly and then
returns her gaze to her phone – the sound of Don pulling his chair
out can be heard
10. 10
DON WALTERS
20 – C.U –
Don picks up the brown paper bag
JENNIFER WALTERS
19 – M.C.U –
Jennifer finishes off her text and flicks her eyes up to watch what
Don is doing
DON WALTERS
21 – L.A – tracking from behind
Don walks down the corridor towards Libby
22 – M.C.U – hands and bent over head
Libby sits on the stairs struggling to tie her laces. Don comes into
shot, he ties them for her and she looks up, smiling at him
LIBBY
Thank you Daddy
DON WALTERS
There you --
23 – C.U – hands
Don pulls the shoelace bow tight
--go.
24 – C.U – faces
Don finishes his sentence and father and daughter look at each other
Now is it your spelling
test today?
LIBBY
11. 11
Libby looks anxious and nods her head
Yeah
25 – O.T.S – looking at Don
DON WALTERS
Don places a calming hand on Libby’s shoulder which invites her to
lift her head
Don’t be worried Libs,
Go on, spell –
Don’s eyes flick up at the sound of heels walking down the corridor
JENNIFER WALTERS
26 – POV – PAN UP –
Jennifer walks down the corridor finishing her text, uncaring for
the moment between Don and Libby
DON WALTERS
25 – O.T.S –
Thinking of his ex-wife
--Spell – superficial
27 – O.T.S – looking at Libby
LIBBY
S – U – super – P –-
JENNIFER WALTERS
Interrupting
Right, --
28 – C.U - hands
Jennifer picks up the brown lunch bag
12. 12
27 – O.T.S –
Libby looks up and stops reciting her spelling
JENNIFER WALTERS
28 – C.U – Jennifer’s face
Jennifer looks down at Libby and Don
- You’re late enough,
Let’s go.
27 – O.T.S – pan up with their action
Libby looks at Don with an expression of innocent annoyance and they
both stand up together. When stood up, Libby gives her mum a forced,
half smile
29 – O.T.S – slight H.A - Jennifer, looking at Don
Don is looking at Libby as she leaves the house, you hear the door
open.
30 – O.T.S – slight L.A - Don, looking at Jennifer
JENNIFER WALTERS
Don, don’t you have a job
to be getting to?
29 – O.T.S –
Don’s head lurches forwards for a second and he takes a recovering
gulp, slowly bringing his eyes up to meet Jennifer’s.
He nods as he speaks.
DON WALTERS
Late start
30 – O.T.S –
Jennifer nods in a suspicious fashion
JENNIFER WALTERS
I see,
13. 13
Well, bye then –
29 –
Don’s façade of organisation is translucent. He forces a smile,
nodding her out of the door, but his eyes reveal his frenzy of
panic. Jennifer moves across the shot towards the door.
30 – O.T.S – REVERSED
JENNIFER WALTERS
Oh, don’t forget to
fix your phone!
29 –
Don’s smile becomes more forced and as he nods he shuts the door
behind them
DON WALTERS
Mnhmm, yeah -- bye Libby
When they are gone, Don looks down at his watch, panicking
PULL FOCUS: to the clock on the wall behind him
Shi—
- JUMP CUT
EXT. TRAVELLING TO WORK SEQUENCE
6 – E.C.U - J/C sequence
Grabs keys/
Grabs bag/
Locks Door/
Hobbles down path/ (slower for comedic effect)
Opens car with electric key/
6.1 - M.S – looking through the windscreen –
Don turns on the engine
6.2 - C.U – hands
Don turns on the radio, ‘Well Respected Man’ plays
14. 14
6.1 - M.S –
Don’s reaction, not amused, he begins to set off driving
6.3 – CRANE - UP – back of car, pulling out
EXT. BAILDON MOOR - MORNING
6.4 – DRONE – ELEVATING - car travelling along road
EXT. SCHOOL – MORNING
6.5 – TRACKING – Don from behind
Don walks towards school
6.6 – M.C.U – STEADY CAM – circle around Don, to the caretaker and
back to don, landing on the 6.5 TRACKING again
Don looks down and to the side, he sees the CARETAKER looking into
the electrical box
6.5 – TRACKING – Don from behind
He walks into school
6.7 – C.U – receptionist
RECEPTIONIST
Morning Donald!
6.8 – C.U – Don
Reaction, unamused
INT. SCHOOL – CAFETERIA – MORNING
Don places his money on the school’s cafeteria desk.
31 - PAN UP – From Don’s money to the lady’s face
MAUREEN
Coffee’s gone up Don,
£1.10 now I’m afraid.
15. 15
31 – WHIP PAN - following Maureen’s arm to point at the prices list
32 – R.S –
Beat.
Don’s expression is a mixture of bewilderment and frustration. It
softens as he hears a voice from behind him
32 – PAN – revealing Anna Flowers
ANNA FLOWERS, 45, wears a green dress with a flowery cardigan. She
has a friendly and positive aura that is capable of lightening any
dulled day. She is a drama teacher and coincidentally the only other
member of staff that Don gets along with.
ANNA FLOWERS
I think I have some spare
change, Don, wait a sec.
33 – R.S –
Don looks at Anna with nervous intimidation.
DON WALTERS
Oh, Anna, you – you
don’t have to do that.
33 – C.U – Anna’s hands – sound bridge of Don’s speech
Anna shuffles through the change in her purse and pulls out £2, she
hands it to Maureen
32 – M.S –
ANNA FLOWERS
His coffee and a banana,
please, Maureen.
Anna turns back to face Don
33 – Don’s grateful expression
31 – O.T.S –
16. 16
ANNA FLOWERS (CONT’D)
I know what you’re like if
you don’t get your fix of caffeine.
33 – R.S –
DON WALTERS
Well - - I guess that’s true.
How have you been anyway?
31 – O.T.S –
Anna is very physical in her storytelling – using her hands to
exaggerate her words.
ANNA FLOWERS
Good, yeah, I’ve actually started going
to these sort of.. Yoga ..classes -- they
basically isolate your mind to help you
understand -
33 – R.S –
Don nods as Anna talks, his eyes locked onto hers, fully engaged in
the story until they flick upwards and are forced into a double take
as Don focuses on something behind Anna
31 – FOCUS PULL – from Anna to Rick behind her
- where your root of happiness comes from
– it’s kinda weird but it works – very
helpful actually, you should come with me
one day!
Rick is stood talking to a woman behind Anna, he holds his ‘Best
Teacher’ mug in one hand and is overtly touchy with the other. They
laugh together in an exaggerated fashion and appear to be having a
conversation of ‘ping-ponged’ compliments
31.1 – C.U – Rick’s hand holding the mug
33 – C.U –
17. 17
Don stares over Anna’s shoulder, distracted, his face twisted with a
perturbed sense of annoyance
31 – R.S -
ANNA FLOWERS (CONT’D)
How about you Don? Don?
33 – PAN as reality floods back to Don - sound bridge -
… Don?!
Don snaps back into reality and his attention turns back to Anna
DON WALTERS
Oh, Sorry, erm yeah –
31 –
Rick Stoker approaches laughing loudly, Don’s eyes flick up at him
and back down. Rick places an arm around Anna. Don’s voice trails
out.
--I’m -
33 -
-- good too.
34 – C.U –
Rick’s hand squeezes Anna’s shoulder
31 – M.S –
RICK STOKER, 40, is tall, slim and handsome. He is aggravatingly
positive and over enthusiastic towards his teaching; almost American
in his behavioural traits. He is extremely flirtatious and often
comes off as boastful.
RICK STOKER
[laughing] Anna! You’re looking
nice today, that colour suits you!
34 – C.U –
Rick’s mouth/
branded clothes /
Anna’s lit up eyes/
31 – M.S -
RICK STOKER (CONT’D)
18. 18
Oh, hi Don, didn’t see you there.
33 – distorted image – tilted/shaky – shows Don’s sense of
discomfort
DON WALTERS
Rick… oh yeah… I’m err -- here.
31 –
RICK STOKER
God, I’ve been so busy on all
of my extra-curriculum trips -
34 – C.U –
Anna nods and smiles in engagement
33 – C.U –
Don sees how Anna is responding and gazes at her with sadness
32 – awkward three shot
- that I feel like I haven’t
even been here in ages.
Beat.
Sarcasm
DON WALTERS
God, yeah… same.
RICK STOKER
Oh really, what’ve you been up to?
DON WALTERS
Oh, it… not really…
I was just joking
Beat.
Maureen leans across and places Don’s coffee and Anna’s banana on
the counter and all three faces turn to look at it
33 – R.S –
MAUREEN
19. 19
There you go dear.
Don picks up his cup and raises it to Anna as he speaks
33 -
DON WALTERS
Thanks Anna, I should probably
get to my class.
31 – C.U - Anna
Don begins to walk away and Anna’s eyes follow him
ANNA FLOWERS
Oh okay, bye Don! See you later!
35 – steady cam – front on tracking with Don as he walks away, Rick
and Anna can be seen out of focus in the background
RICK STOKER
Yeah bye Don -- Ofsted meeting,
3 o’clock!
Don’s eyes roll as he hears Rick speaking
SCHOOL – CORRIDOOR – MORNING
The corridor is bustling with ’Monday morning’ lethargy
Don looks down at the floor as he walks towards his classroom
36 – Tracking shot – behind Don
Don stops sharply as a female teacher hands him a large pile of
work, her voice is a continuous drone
FEMALE TEACHER
Don, I need you to mark
these before tomorrow --
37 – R.S –
Don rubs his eyes but responds nodding in a friendly manor
36 -
– Ofsted and all
20. 20
37 –
DON WALTERS
No problem, Katie.
Don continues walking down the corridor until a group of young boys
block his walkway into his classroom
37 – steady cam - circles around Don’s face, showing his
frustration.
DON WALTERS
Excuse me…
The boys do not respond, they are arguing over whether one of them
said something or not
37 – steady cam – pan away from Don’s body
DON WALTERS (CONT’D)
Excuse me!
One boy reaches out with his arm and knocks Don’s cup out of his
hands, spilling it all down his shirt.
38 – C.U – the cup bounces and spills on the floor
37 – Don’s reaction and tracking
The boys all shuffle into the classroom in humiliation whilst Don
stands with a perturbed look of empty patience
Don walks forwards into his classroom and takes a seat, he takes a
final deep breath
INT. DON’S CLASSROOM – MORNING
Don’s classroom is dark and sleepy, his desk is cluttered with
screwed up paper and old coffee cups. There is one framed picture of
him stood with his daughter.
39 – PAN – Don’s class’ facial reactions
40 – R.S – face
DON WALTERS
Oookay, so today we’ll be discussing Buddhist
beliefs surrounding revelation.
21. 21
40.1 – DOLLY – back of classroom – moving backwards through the
students, they are disinterested and appear to be mocking Don
DON WALTERS
Can anyone tell me what the difference between-
40.2 – THROUGH GLASS – Don writes on the board/glass/Perspex
- general revelation and spec-
One student can be seen throwing a ball of paper at Don from the
background, the paper hits the board
Don looks up at the board in despair
40.1 – DOLLY – back of classroom – the students are slightly more
hushed in anticipation
Don picks up the piece of screwed up paper and unfolds it
40.3 – O.T.S – Don, looking down on paper
It reads, ‘Mr Walters is a useless piece of’ and there is a drawing
of a turd to finish the note off
40 – R.S – Don’s face
He looks genuinely insulted and dejected
DON WALTERS
Ok.
40.1 – back of classroom –
Don shoves the note in his pocket and walks back over to his desk,
taking a seat
37 – C.U – hand
Don uses the mouse and double clicks on the DVD icon
- J/C
6 – E.C.U - J/C sequence –
Insert DVD/
Click play/
Turn up volume/
Hear music, close up on Don’s face – ‘don’t you forget about me’/
Bell rings/
Don wakes up/
DON WALTERS
22. 22
[mumbles] B-bye
Another class file into the room
Click play/
Hear music, close up on Don’s face – ‘don’t you forget about me’/
Bell rings/
Click play/
Hear music, close up on Don’s face – ‘don’t you forget about me’/
Bell rings/
Click play/
Hear music, close up on Don’s face – ‘don’t you forget about me’/
Bell rings/
- FADE TO BLACK
INT. SCHOOL – DON’S CLASSROOM – EVENING
7 FADE FROM BLACK
40 – SLIDER – E.C.U – on desk
Don is fast asleep with his head resting on his desk, lit up by the
light of his laptop in the foreground. The Breakfast Club is
finishing behind him. His eyes flicker as the ending letter is being
read aloud on screen, he is slow to move and only lifts his head
slightly to see what’s going on around him.
39 – POV – shaky, blurry, empty chairs coming into focus (blinking)
40 – R.S –
Don’s realization, his head jolts up to look at the clock
39 – POV – clock comes into focus, it reads 8:00pm
37 – M.S –
Don panics, mumbling words and grabs his bag, fumbles and then runs
out of the classroom
INT. SCHOOL – CORRIDOOR – EVENING
41 – O.T.S – RIG – Tracking Don from behind
Don pokes his head into consecutive classrooms
DON WALTERS
23. 23
F-f-f-fuuu-fuu
The action steadies and the camera tracks around Don to reveal his
facial expression
Hears a faint whistling
Don begins to awkwardly walk/run to the door
42 – O.T.S – CARETAKER as he locks the school doors and turns around
and places his earphones in each ear
43 – C.U – hands
The CARETAKER clicks on spotify and plays ‘Simple Man’, the song
plays as diegetic music.
42 –
He begins to walk away from the school, humming along to the tune of
the music.
In the background of the shot, Don can be seen running up the
corridor silently shouting
41 – O.T.S – RIG – Tracking Don from behind
Don runs up to the main doors and bangs on the glass whilst shouting
to get the CARETAKER’s attention
DON WALTERS
Hey—heyyy! Heeyyyyy!!
Don rests his head on the glass in frustration and slowly turns
around to assess his situation
41 – DRONE – PAN UP – revealing a very empty, gloomy school,
highlighting Don’s isolation
Don looks around with an expression of hopelessness
- CUT TO BLACK
INT. SCHOOL – CORRIDOOR – EVENING
44 – C.U – feet
Don paces back and forth
44 – E.C.U – head
Don scratches behind his ear
45 – C.U – front on
24. 24
Don struggles with his phone, moving it around to try to get signal
and tapping it to try and make it work
He holds it up to his ear, there is a long moment of silence, but
then it starts ringing
INT. JENNIFER’S HOUSE – FRONT ROOM – EVENING
46 – SLIDER – along coffee table, showing hands building Lego out of
focus, the key frame is Jennifer’s phone which begins buzzing when
set in frame
Libby is sat on the floor of the front room building some Lego,
drawings and pencil crayons surrounding her. Jennifer’s mobile rings
and Don’s face pops up on screen. Libby’s hand grabs the phone and
she answers his call
46 – CRANE UP – FOCAL SHIFT – framing Libby’s face in C.U
LIBBY
Daddy?
INT. SCHOOL – CORRIDOOR – EVENING
45 – C.U –
Don has an excited but panicked expression
DON WALTERS
Yes! Libby! Listen, I need you to –
INT. JENNIFER’S HOUSE – FRONT ROOM – EVENING
46 –
LIBBY
Daddy! I got full marks on my
spelling test! Best in the class!
And Miss Shelly wants me to join
the spelling bee team on a Thursday
lunch time!
INT. SCHOOL – CORRIDOOR – EVENING
45 – C.U –
Don rubs in forehead in agitation but smiles and nods, trying to
interrupt, the sound of Libby going on about her day can be heard in
the background
25. 25
DON WALTERS
Yes Libs, but – that’s great—
--but I need
INT. JENNIFER’S HOUSE – FRONT ROOM – EVENING
46 –
LIBBY
The hardest one was re-frig-er-ator,
but I got there in the end!
INT. SCHOOL – CORRIDOOR – EVENING
45 – C.U –
Don moves the phone away from his face and checks the battery
44 – E.C.U – phone
The battery reads 1%
47 – O.T.S – Don turns into frame, leaving dialogue space
Don quickly moves the phone back to his ear
DON WALTERS
LIBBY! I’m so sorry, but you
need to put me on to mummy right now!
8 SPLIT SCREEN –
Don waits agitatedly as Libby takes her time getting the phone to
Jennifer
INT. JENNIFER’S HOUSE – FRONT ROOM – EVENING
46 – STEADY CAM –
Libby stands up and walks out of the room, and shouts
LIBBY
MUUMMYY! Where are you??
26. 26
Off screen a voice calls
JENNIFER WALTERS
Kitchen!
46 – STEADY CAM –
Libby walks into the kitchen and holds the phone out
Out of shot we hear her explain
LIBBY
Daddy’s on the phone
46 – STEADY CAM – tracking the phones movement until Jennifer takes
it from Libby’s hand and lifts it up to her ear
9 C.U –
DON WALTERS
JENNIFER?!
JENNIFER WALTERS
What do you wan— -
47 – slides off, left with 46
Jennifer shakes her head in disapproval and places the phone down on
the side
JENNIFER WALTERS (CONT’D)
Useless piece of –
10 CUT TO
INT. SCHOOL – CORRIDOOR – EVENING
45 – C.U –
Don pauses for a moment in fear
DON WALTERS
27. 27
JENNIFER? JENNIFER?
Don looks at his phone; it has run out of charge.
He exhales loudly and closes his eyes in frustration
47 – L.S - Don silhouetted in the light of the corridor
EXT. SCHOOL – EVENING
The building looks sleepy, lights still shine from windows, but
there is no one to be seen
48 – E.S - DRONE – pan up from low angle
INT. SCHOOL – EVENING
Inside an empty classroom, there is low key lighting, empty chairs
and the remnants of the day’s work. A ticking clock can be heard.
49 – CRANE UP – empty corridor
50 – PAN – room with empty chairs, the key frame of the pan is Don
trying to escape
Don has his head through the window, trying to force his shoulders
- J.C
50 – IDENTICAL FRAMING –
Don’s forcing his arm through the window
- J.C
50 – IDENTICAL FRAMING –
Don’s forcing his leg through the window
INT. MUSIC CLASSROOM – EVENING
50.1 – CRANE UP – Don waving his hands frantically through the
window, almost performing star jumps. He yells
DON WALTERS
HEY! HEY!
EXT. SCHOOL – LOOKING ONTO MUSIC CLASSROOM
50.2 – L.S – FOCUS PULL – from car to school
28. 28
A car drives past, unaware, in the foreground
The silhouetted blinds almost appear to be prison bars, Don looks
tiny and insignificant in the shot
INT. SCHOOL – RECEPTION – EVENING
51 – SLIDER – telephone key frame – PULL FOCUS – revealing Don’s
face in the locked door behind the telephone
52 – M.C.U – profile – other side of locked door
Don presses his face against the window, looking around through the
window. In frustration his rubs his face and then looks around on
his side of the door. His eyes come to a conclusion.
52 – L.S –
Don runs into shot, his shoulder aiming at the door
51 – M.S – through the door’s window panel
Don hits the door three times, shoulder first, but to no avail, his
reaction is seen through the panel.
53 – M.S - directly behind Don
Don turns around and slides down the door, clutching his arm
He looks dejected and annoyed
INT. SCHOOL – L1 CORRIDOOR – EVENING
54 – DOLLY – tracking from behind
Don walks down the corridor whistling ‘Well Respected Man’ under his
breath, still clutching his shoulder. He suddenly stops when he
turns to look at a display board
55 – L.A – looking up at the display from behind Don
Don stands and looks at the display ‘Are You The Best You can Be?’,
dropping his arm down to his side from nursing his shoulder
56 – C.U – the camera slowly advancing - Don’s face
Don stares with an overwhelmed expression, his eyes dart around the
display in front of him and he is quickly short of breath
55 – C.U – jump cut sequence
29. 29
The camera flicks from words to word: amazing/ brilliant/ talented/
successful/ wealthy/ strong/ healthy
56 – E.C.U –
His eyes finally settle on an image in the display behind the camera
55 – C.U – zoom into the mug -
Then finally ends on an image of Rick, wearing a charity teacher and
holding a ‘Best Teacher’ mug with Anna stood in the background
INT. SCHOOL – RICK’S CLASSROOM – EVENING
Rick’s classroom is neat and tidy with everything in order. Compared
to Don’s classroom, it looks untouched by students entirely
On his desk, he has a small pile of books, one which reads ‘Positive
Thinking’
55 – MATCHED SHOT – zoom out from mug -
Don holds the ‘Best Teacher Mug’ in his hands, but instead of the
smiley Rick Stoker, Don stands with a face of misery, his knuckles
tight around the handle
56 – E.C.U –
Don’s Adam’s apple swallowing in anger
57 – B.E – looking down onto the mug
Still with a ring of tea at the bottom, Don holds the mug shaking
slightly in anger
58 – W.E – Shot beneath a sheet of glass/Perspex which acts as the
table –
Don appears to be on the brink of throwing the mug on the floor,
however he instead drops the mug onto the table and it spins to a
halt
58 – W.E - SLIDER – the camera pans to the right, revealing a neat
row of pencils and pens which are also resting on his desk
Don looks down at the desk from above and slumps down into Ricks
chair
30. 30
59 – O.T.S – Don looking at the desk from above
Don places his elbows on the table
58 – W.E – through the glass
Don sighs in frustration
57 – M.S –
Don spreads his arms out on the desk and places his head in his
arms, however his arms knock off some sheets onto the floor
DON WALTERS
[GROANS]
He lifts his head up and picks up the sheets off of the floor,
organising them into their previously neat pile, however one of the
sheets catches Don’s eye and he stops to read it
59 – O.T.S –
Don reads the letter under his breath
57 – M.C.U -
DON WALTERS
Radiology consultation…
MRI… Brain t-
His mouth continues to mime the words but he is unable to speak
He takes a deep gulp and he wipes his forehead with his left hand,
looks around in worry and then his eyes focus on something off
camera
59 – O.T.S – the camera rotates around Don
Don picks up Rick’s ‘Positive Thinking’ book
57 – M.C.U – DOLLY OUT -
He looks up in thought, one of his hands moves down to his pocket
and as Don touches the screwed up paper from earlier he looks down
and brings the paper closer to his face, remembers what it says and
dismisses it, throwing it towards the bin
31. 31
60 – C.U – pan down - focus pull from Don to the bin as he throws
Don throws the screwed up paper at bin, he misses, the paper lands
on the floor
57 – M.S –
Don looks at the bin in stillness for a moment, and then proceeds to
pick it up
60 – C.U – bin
Don’s hand picking up the paper and throwing it into the bin, yet
again he misses
60 – C.U – Don
Don reacts with an expression of anger and annoyance, he reaches
over
60 – C.U – bin
Hovering his hand directly over the bin, he ensures that the paper
goes in
60 – C.U – Don
Returns to his solemn stare, but then is hit by an idea and his head
turns in two motions towards the bin again
INT. SCHOOL – L2 CORRIDOOR – EVENING
61 – P.O.V – HANDHELD - as bin being carried and placed down on the
ground, rotated when placed down
62 – M.C.U –
Don takes his hands away from the bin and takes a second to check
that everything is in order
63 – WIDE ANGLE –
Don takes three steps back from the bin and throws the paper
62 – M.C.U –
The paper lands in the bin
32. 32
63 – WIDE ANGLE –
Don goes to collect the paper and starts walking even further back
to throw the paper
62 – M.C.U – jump cut sequence
Don throws the paper into the bin from various distances, getting
further away each time. Out of focus, in the background you can see
Don celebrating each hit
INT. SCHOOL – CAFETERIA - NIGHT
64 – HANDHELD TRACKING – front on to Don
Don carries the bin
65 – FIXED TRIPOD PAN -
He places it down, as he straightens back up, he looks up and the
camera continues to pan upwards, following his gaze until it reaches
the balcony key frame where Don is already standing
66 – M.C.U – Don side -
Don peers over the side of the balcony, he is setting up his shot
He cracks his neck and rolls his shoulders, he leans over the side,
arm stretched out
65 – FIXED TRIPOD PAN - SLOW MOTION – Reduced from 60fps –
The paper falls neatly into the bin
66 – Don’s reaction –
DON WALTERS
Yes-yes-yes—yess… YESS!
Don celebrates with a subtle but punctuating arm gesture. He looks
back over the balcony and laughs
- MONTAGE OF DON FINDING HAPPINESS -
INT. SCHOOL – GYM – EVENING
33. 33
67 – C.U – SLOW MOTION - hand and ball
Don bouncing basketball
68 – E.C.U – eyes
Eyes scrunched in determination
69 – M.C.U – LOW ANGLE – basketball hoop
68 – M.L.S – same position – 25fps
Still bouncing ball
67 – C.U – 25fps
Dribbles ball and runs out of frame
70 – M.S – from behind – tracking
Don runs to shoot a basket
71 – M.C.U – Camera Don’s left – LOW ANGLE
69 – M.C.U – hoop
Ball shoots through hoop
70 – M.L.S – tracking away from Don
He celebrates his victory
INT. MUSIC ROOM – NIGHT
72 – C.U – neck of guitar
Don runs his finger along the frets and then grabs the guitar by its
neck
INT. CORRIDOOR T SECTION – NIGHT
73 – DOLLY – tracking forwards slowly towards the entrance
After a moment of delay, Don’s laughter can be heard and Don rides
past, Superman style, on a wheelie chair
INT. SCIENCE LAB – NIGHT
The lab is pitch black, all except from one burning Bunsen burner
34. 34
74 – C.U - FOCUS PULL – Bunsen burner
Don places Magnesium into the Bunsen burner and as it lights up, is
face is revealed from the darkness. He smiles in admiration
INT. CORRIDOOR T SECTION – NIGHT [homage to The Breakfast club]
73 – M.L.S –
Don slides on the floor, almost falling over but stumbles to
recovery
75 – C.U – TRACKING - in front of feet
Don runs towards the camera
76 – O.T.S – DOLLY TRACKING -
Don running
INT. CORRIDOOR YELLOW LOCKERS – NIGHT [homage to The Breakfast Club]
77 – M.S –
Don runs into shot and stops suddenly. He reaches out with his hand
and pretends he’s in the hallway scene in The Breakfast Club.
Turning as he alternates between Andrew and Bender
DON WALTERS
Wait – wait – hold it – we have to go
through the cafeteria
[turns]
What about the activities hall?
INT. DON’S CLASSROOM – NIGHT
78 – M.S – CRANE DOWN – behind Don’s desk
Don stands looking at his mess of a desk, his hands on his hips. He
exhales an overwhelmed sigh
INT. CORRIDOOR YELLOW LOCKERS – NIGHT [homage to The Breakfast Club]
DON WALTERS
35. 35
No, you don’t know what you’re talking
about
[turns]
NO, you don’t know what you’re talking
about!!
INT. ANNA FLOWERS’ CLASSROOM – NIGHT
78.1 – CRANE UP – behind Anna’ desk
A name plate sits on her desk and there is myriad of flowery
notebooks and pens
Don writes on one of her pink post-it notes
78.2 – C.U –
Don’s finger sticks the post-it on top of one of Anna’s notepad, it
read, ‘I’d love to go with you sometime.’
INT. DON’S CLASSROOM – NIGHT
79 – H.A - P.O.V – Don’s hands
Straightens up some papers/
Gathers pens and pencils together and places them in a pot/
79.1 – M.C.U - Shot through glass/Perspex
Writes the date and draws a smiley face on the board
79 – H.A - P.O.V – Don’s hands
Picks up a grimy mug/
80- REVERSE – L.A – Don’s reaction
Looks into the mug and winces
INT. MUSIC ROOM – NIGHT
75 – M.S – DON
Don strums the guitar with a mocking confidence
INT. SCHOOL – L1 CORRIDOOR – NIGHT
78 – C.U – Don’s face
36. 36
Don has a moment of contented reflection, he then laughs to himself
and looks down at the ground
79 - M.L.S - TRACKING – behind Don
Don continues down the corridor, whistling ‘Well Respected Man’ to
himself loudly, whilst patting his leg with his hand jovially
EXT. SCHOOL GROUNDS – DAWN
81 – DRONE – slowly curving around school, capturing the first rays
of sunlight
INT. DON’S CLASSROOM – DAWN
82 – M.C.U – side on Don
Don is sat in his desk chair, he straightens out his key board,
picks up the photograph of him and his daughter and leans back
83 – O.T.S –
Don strokes Libby’s face with his thumb
84 – C.U - REVERSE – Don’s reaction
Don smiles and looks up from the photograph
82 – M.C.U – side on Don
Don places the image back down on his desk
85 – C.U – hands and photo on desk
He adjusts the image so it sits nice and neatly on his freshly
cleaned desk
78 – M.C.U - slight DOLLY – behind Don’s desk
Don places his elbows on his desk and rests his head in his hands
He is smiling in content
- J.C
78 – M.S – IDENTICAL FRAMING
The room is much lighter and the sound of children can be heard
37. 37
Don’s asleep with his head in his arms on his desk
The school bell rings shrilly and Don wakes up suddenly with a jolt
of his head
- CUT TO BLACK
FIN.