INT COMMUNITY SOCIAL CLUB - NIGHT
Balloons and banners decorate the hall. Happy 60th
Birthday hangs above a trestle table laden with party
food. A mixture of people of all ages dance to music.
On a bag perched on the table with the corner of a leopard
skin purse sticking out.
On groups of guests sitting at tables chatting, laughing,
drinking and eating. A grey haired pensioner moans about
her teeth as she bites into a sausage roll.
On a group of youths huddled together in the corner trying
to look hip without actually joining in the party.
EXT CAR PARK - LATER
MUM (40,s) waits at the passenger door of a dark coloured
saloon. Davey (17) waits one side of the back doors,
VANESSA (19) waits the other. DAD (40’s) unlocks the car
and slides in the passenger seat.
Mum gets in and puts on her seat belt. Back doors CLUNK.
Dad starts the engine.
MUM
That went well. I really enjoyed
myself tonight.
VANESSA
Yeah, it was okay, for a fogie
party.
DAD
I’m glad you enjoyed it. You cost
me an arm and leg.
(to mum)
You might’ve warned me neither of
them had any money.
MUM
Come on. Don’t be like that. How
often do we all get to spend an
evening together?
DAVEY
Too right. You insisted we came.
You don’t expect us to pay for
our drinks as well?
DAD
You need to get a job. That’s
what you need to do. Laying
around till mid day, poncing....
MUM
All right. Do we have to have
this conversation now and spoil a
good evening?
Vanessa talks into a mobile phone.
VANESSA
Oh, My God, my dad was soo
embarrassing, especially when he
started doing his Michael Jackson
Thriller impression.
(pause)
100%, I would’ve disowned him if
it wasn’t a family party.
DAD
I had to do something to get away
from Ethel and her reminiscing
about the past.
Mum laughs.
MUM
You loved it, especially when she
told you, you don’t look a day
older than when she last saw you
twenty years ago.
DAVEY
Should’ve gone to spec savers.
Dad, preens in the mirror, grinning.
DAD
I dare say I’ve aged quite well.
Family banter continues as the car travels along the dark
lanes.
INT KITCHEN - DAY
Radio plays in the background. Mum wipes down kitchen
counters, throws cloth in the sink, steps on pedal bin,
flips lid, tugs at the black sack.
Something catches her eye. She frowns, delves in the
rubbish and extracts a leopard skin purse.
Frown lines deepening, she opens the purse and pulls out a
credit card, stares at the name SHIRLY WEST.
INT UPSTAIRS - CONTINUOUS
Mum flings open the doors to each bedroom, shouting at the
family to get up and come downstairs.
INT KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Vanessa takes a carton of milk out of the fridge, opens
the cupboard and takes a packet of cereal.
Dad sits at the table in a T-shirt and pajama bottoms
scratching his head.
Davey slouches nonchalantly in the chair.
Mum takes a deep breath and waves the purse at them.
MUM
I found this in the bin.
DAVEY
Who’s is it?
MUM
It belongs to my cousin, Shirly.
Vanessa pours milk on her cornflakes.
VANESSA
What’s it doing in our bin?
MUM
Good question.
DAVEY
Is there any money in it?
Mum sighs and bangs the purse on the table.
MUM
No, there isn’t, but that’s not
the issue. I’m more concerned
about how it got there.
DAVEY
What you looking at me, for?
MUM
I’d like to think there is some
logical explanation for this. But
I don’t think even Roald Dahl
could be that imaginative.
DAVEY
It wasn’t me, Mum. Honest.
Vanessa arches indignant brows.
VANESSA
Well, it certainly wasn’t me!
Tears well in mum’s eyes.
MUM
When one of you feels like owning
up, I’ll be in the lounge. Until
then, don’t even try and talk to
me.
She puts the purse down and walks away.
EXT COLLEGE - DAY
Various groups of teens occupy the grounds. Vanessa
approaches a mixed bunch of youths and greets them with a
smile.
VANESSA
Hi, guys. What’s the latest?
They walk off towards the entrance heads bowed together,
chattering away.
INT COLLEGE CANTEEN - CONTINUOUS
Vanessa orders a cappuccino and pays with a twenty pound
note. She hands the ten pound note in the change to a girl
in jeans and a baggy jumper.
VANESSA
Here’s that tenner I borrowed
from you. Sorry I took so
long to pay it back.
The girl takes the note and grins.
GIRL
Better late then never.
INT UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE - SAME DAY
Davey slouches in a chair opposite an adviser. He stares
in to space looking bored.
ADVISER
So what jobs did you apply for
last week?
DAVEY
This and that.
ADVISER
We need proof that you’re
actively seeking work or your
benefit could be suspended.
DAVEY
I filled out about twenty
application forms. I didn’t even
get one interview.
ADVISER
Why do think that might be?
DAVEY
Cos I’m English, init? and not
Polish.
The adviser sighs.
ADVISER
Sign there. And next week, don’t
forget to bring the slips. I
can’t keep bailing you out.
A small smile plays at the corners of her lips.
ADVISER
You missed a wicked party on
Saturday. Stu and Ally went
public. They are officially an
item.
Davey stands up to go.
DAVEY
Yeah, I know. Saw it on facebook.
ADVISER
Might see you down the town
lunchtime ... if you’re still
about.
DAVEY
Cool ... I’ll look out for ya.
The adviser gives a shy smile. Davey waits till he’s out
of sight, and pulls his face into a grimace.
DAVEY
Not if I see you first.
EXT GOVERNMENT BUILDING - CONTINUOUS.
A youth dressed in similar attire to Davey leans against
the wall smoking. The door opens and Davey walks out. The
youth falls into step beside him. Together they walk up
the street past Boots chemist and into the LAS VEGAS
amusement arcade.
INT BUSY CALL CENTRE - AFTERNOON
Mum sits at a desk and adjusts her earphones. Stress lines
crease her face as she talks rapidly into the mouth piece.
The colleague sitting opposite raises her brows in concern
when Mum’s voice gets louder.
COLLEAGUE
Awkward customer?
Mum nods. The colleague presses a button.
COLLEAGUE
Here, pass them on to me. I’ll
deal with it. You’re just not
yourself today.
Mum mumbles her thanks and slips off the head set.
MUM
I’m just nipping out for a sec.
INT LADIES TOILET CUBICLE - CONTINUOUS
Mum sits on the closed toilet seat and takes the leopard
skin purse out of her bag. She extracts a handful of
passport sized photos and stuffs them in an envelope.
INT LAS VEGAS AMUSEMENTS - REAL TIME
Loud noises flashing lights a handful of people playing
gaming machines.
Davey and the youth huddle over a fruit machine. Davey is
concentrating on line of flashing lights.
YOUTH
Now!
Davey wacks the nudge button. The lights go crazy and a
loud jingle signifies a win. The machine spews out pound
coins by the score.
DAVEY
Yes! whoop whoop!
Lots of cheering and high fives. The manager looks up from
where he chats to a school-girl in a micro skirt. He gives
a curt nod. Davey and the youth scoop up the coins from
the bottom of the tray.
INT BUS - DAY
Vanessa has her head stuffed in a purple folder. She
flicks over the pages of various hair styles with detailed
descriptions underneath. Her mobile rings, she answers and
glances out of the window. She frowns as she sees Davey
and the youth coming out of the arcade.
VANESSA
Sorry. Can I ring you back?
She cuts the call and shouts to the driver.
VANESSA
Hey, I missed my stop. Can I get
off.
An elderly woman looks up from her knitting.
ELDERLY WOMAN
Too late now, dear. You’ll have
to wait till the next stop.
Vanessa looks anxious as she peers out the window at her
brother and his mate sloping up the street.
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