Kate Tillett Screenplay

My Screenplay

A loud gunshot sounds on a black screen.                                                        CUT TO

EXT. ALLEY WAY. NIGHT

The scene opens with CLAUDIA standing, her medium length, brown hair blowing in the breeze as she views the dead body at the far end of the alley. Dogs bark in the distance. A heart begins to beat, fast but steady. Growing police sirens wail.                                                                                CUT TO

INT. TABLE. DAY

A flash of a camera reveals an iPhone in a clear zip lock bag. It's screen is smashed. Faint voices of the police begin to talk in the background.

POLICE OFFICER (O.S)

(Muffled) Name, Scott Marcus Jones.

Another flash shows a brown leather wallet with specs of blood on it in another bag.

POLICE OFFICER (O.S)

(Muffled)

Aged, nineteen

A third flash displays a pair of shattered glasses, snapped at the bridge.

POLICE OFFICER (O.S)

(Muffled) Time of death, 12:41 AM.                                                        CUT TO

EXT. PARK BENCH. DAY

On a dull, grey day, we see CLAUDIA sat alone on a park bench. The wind whistles and there's distance noises of children playing. CLAUDIA fidgets with a ring around her finger and she sighs.

The phone beside her, on the bench, vibrates as series messages appear without preview. Going to read them, she presses on the lock button and shoves into the pocket of her black puffer coat. She returns back to playing with the ring she wears before standing and heading down the path.                                                                                                                                            CUT TO

INT. KITCHEN. NIGHT

CLAUDIA's white shoes scuff on the mat and she kicks them off, leaving them to the side.

Quickly, she passes through into the kitchen. She slides her phone across the worktop, removing her dark coat and throwing it over the back of the kitchen chair.

Twisting her ring off, she leaves it beside the sink as she washes her hands. After drying them off with a towel, her hand hovers over the ring, debating whether or not to put it back on. She leaves it where it is.

CLAUDIA flicks on the kettle and pulls mug out of the cupboard, preparing a cup of coffee. She pours the boiling water into the white mug. Adding a splash of milk, she stirs it into her drink.                                                                                                                                                                 CUT TO

INT. LIVING ROOM. NIGHT 

CLAUDIA sits on the white leather sofa.

She takes a long sip of her coffee before placing on the wooden table in front of her. She reaches for the remote.

She aimlessly flicks through Netflix, but she never chooses anything to watch.

Instead she picks up her mug, tapping her fingers against the side before taking another long sip.

Suddenly, the landline begins to ring but CLAUDIA stays frozen and waits for it to go to voicemail.

REBECCA (O.S)

(Down the line) Hey Claudia, it's Rebecca. Erm... ...I've been trying to get a hold of you on your mobile but haven't had any luck...

...I heard about what happened... I hope you're okay. Call me back when you - er- call me when you get the chance, yeah?

                                                                                                                                                     CUT TO

EXT. CLAUDIA'S STREET. NIGHT A single streetlight sets a white haze over the empty path. Distant sounds of cars can be heard but the street is still and vacant.                                                                                                                                                                                         CUT TO

INT. BATHROOM. NIGHT

CLAUDIA lays a line of toothpaste along her toothbrush and begins to brush her teeth. She sits down on the edge of the bath, crossing her legs.

After a few moments she taps it on the sink, rinses it off with water and then puts it back. She heads out to her bedroom.                                                                                                    CUT TO

INT. BEDROOM. NIGHT

CLAUDIA turns on the lamp beside her bed, sliding her legs under the covers. Putting her phone on charge, she leaves it on the side.

After bending her legs, she brings out an old, battered diary and rests it against her legs.

She presses the tip of her pen against the page but takes a moment to think before she writes. Her handwriting is illegible and only she would be able to decipher it.

After scribbling down an entry she checks the time. The clock reads 11:47 PM. Letting out a sigh, she turns her lamp off and settles down into the bed.

The dim light from outside seeps through the cracks of the horizontal blinds. The clock reads 2:26.

CLAUDIA starts to shake slightly, but soon calms down.

The clock reads 2:52

CLAUDIA begins to whimper and then her body breaks out and starts violently shaking. A set of blood curdling screams lurch from the back of her throat. She sits up.

CLAUDIA (V.O) I have nightmares.

Slowing her breath, she lays back down.

CLAUDIA (V.O) Sometimes they're so vivid, I think they're real.

The screen gradually fades to black.

CLAUDIA (V.O) But they're not.

                                                                                                                         FLASHBACK BEGINS:

INT. BEDROOM. MORNING; DIFFERENT DAY

Various items of dark clothing are scattered along the carpet, beside the bed. A pair of keys and a brown leather wallet sit beside a phone that's ringing faintly due to the alarm. Two bodies slowly stir underneath the sheets.

                                                                                                                             FLASHBACK ENDS: 

EXT. TRAIN STATION. DAY

CLAUDIA is stood on platform four as a loud train flies by, causing her to take a step back as her hair flies out. After it passes, CLAUDIA turns to face the train that's slowly approaching from the opposite direction.

After it comes to a stop, she waits outside the doors, letting everyone else get off before she steps on.                                                                                                                                           CUT TO

INT. TRAIN. DAY

The train is empty, with only two other people occupying the carriage CLAUDIA gets on.

CLAUDIA swings herself into the nearest seat, sitting her black backpack on her lap. Taking out her headphones, she places them over her ears, blocking out the real world. The booming music is turned up loud enough to be heard by those close to her. She turns to look out the window as the train starts to move.                                                                                                                                  CUT TO 

INT. POLICE INTERVIEW ROOM. DAY

CLAUDIA is sat across from a male POLICE OFFICER, a file in his hands. From behind the mirrored glass, we see a box of tissues placed on the metal table. As the POLICE OFFICER speaks, his words cannot be heard.

The POLICE OFFICER takes papers out of the file and slides them across to CLAUDIA. She takes a moment before she looks down to them, bringing them closer to herself with her chewed fingers.

The POLICE OFFICER begins to question her and she nods and shakes her head to answer. Pulling a tissue out of the box, she uses it against her cheeks.

Nervously, CLAUDIA picks at her own nails before the POLICE OFFICER nods to her and gets up.

Leaving CLAUDIA in the room alone, she lets out a heavy sigh.                                                                                                                                                                                                               CUT TO

EXT. PARK BENCH. DAY

CLAUDIA sits on the park bench, her black rucksack by her feet. The park is mostly empty, other than a dog walker and a parent and child on a swing set. She leans back, relaxing, as the wind blows through her hair.

CLAUDIA (V.O) I saw someone die.

The young boy shrieks with laughter as his Mum pushes him on the swings.

CLAUDIA (V.O) Everything has changed. My life will never be the same.

                                                                                                                           FLASHBACK BEGINS 

EXT. PARK BENCH. DAY. DIFFERENT DAY

CLAUDIA is sitting on the bench, her legs bent up on the seat, facing REBECCA. The sun beams down as they begin to laugh.

After they finish giggling, CLAUDIA pulls out her phone and shows the screen to REBECCA, to which she responds to with a grin. REBECCA snatches the phone out of CLAUDIA'S hand and leaps off the bench. CLAUDIA jumps up, chasing REBECCA around the bench as she squeals with laughter, her nose buried in CLAUDIA's phone.

Eventually, CLAUDIA manages to grab REBECCA's wrist and get her phone back. Falling back on to the bench, CLAUDIA locks her phone.                                               

                                                                                                                               FLASHBACK ENDS