Profects

A Short Film

possibley to be adapted into
a TV series

The
Passer-By

by
Marco Zaffino

written in
De Nero Café and the train back from York
after Laura left for Cambridge
after the Vendetta shoot was complete

1: INT: Shop: Day

EMMA : Dark hair, mid-20s, fashionably smart Lady with luggage and three shopping bags is in a huge rush
Stumbling and trying to sort cash out for final purchase before getting to her train.

Very Polite but in a huge rush.

Shop owner is taking along time over transaction.

Emma starts fumbling in bags to make sure she is ready to run when she finally is handed her change.

EMMA
If you could…?

SHOP OWNER
Just a second.

I’m not sure…

((Keeps pressing a button and it beeps back at him)

EMMA
I’m in a bit of a rush.

SHOP OWNER
Yeah… Sorry… but…

EMMA
I have one train and…

SHOP OWNER
It just keeps on beeping.
(Ignoring her stresses)

EMMA
Yes sorry… can you? Please..

Oh for Christ’s sake, just… just keep the fucking change…

(turns)

Fuck!!

SHOP OWNER
Are you sure?

EMMA
Yeah Yeah Yeah, Yeah Yeah! Fuck…
Fuck you Jesus!

(To self)

Can’t even use his own cash till… Jesus Christ.

2: EXT: York: Bridge: Day

Emma fumbling with bags, running, putting purse in to handbag.

Running towards Railway Station
Running towards the bridge.
Sees from a distance a man standing as all walk by. Gazing into the distance over the bridge.

HARRY: early 30s Big man, wearing black, the man at the bridge, has hands in pockets, simply looking into distance.
The closer she gets to him the more dodgy it feels.

Emma gets to Harry and is worried about his actions of possible suicide, but she is late and runs by him.

Emma looks forward and keeps running.
Looks back and Harry is closer to the edge.

EMMA
Oh for Jesus Christ’s sake

(Looks to watch)

Aaagh!

(Takes huge breath and runs back to Harry)

Harry is just ignoring the world.

EMMA
Sir, Sir..

(Out of breath)

(Lugging all the luggage)

HARRY
(Looks forward)

EMMA
(Creeps towards him)

Sir?

(Slowly gets to be able to face Harry)

Sir? Are you all right?

HARRY
(Looks towards her)

(Nods)

EMMA
Can I help you?

HARRY
(Shakes head)

EMMA
(Looks to what Harry is regarding)

What are you looking at?

HARRY
Nothing.

(Pause)

Absolutely nothing.

EMMA
Sure is pretty.

HARRY
You are a very kind woman.

EMMA
(Shrugs off complement)

HARRY
(Distant)

You see kind lady,
I have lost something and I don’t know
Where I can find it again.

EMMA
Oh dear…

HARRY
It is not your problem.

(Gap)

What am I keeping you from?

EMMA
A train.

HARRY
When’s your next train leave?

EMMA
Tomorrow.

HARRY
You…. Wow you are truly kind.
Where are you going?

EMMA
A little town in Cornwall.

HARRY
So it’s not just up the road then?

(Smiles)

Let me get you a coffee and if you like
I’ll get you a hotel room for your amazing gesture.

EMMA
That would be lovely.

They walk off:
Sound fading away.

HARRY
So where are you from?

EMMA
Originally?

HARRY
Yeah!

EMMA
Spain, then Canada.

HARRY
I’m originally from Yorkshire.
Here in fact.

3: INT: Café: 6p.m.

EMMA
So what did you lose?

HARRY
(Looks to cup)

Cutaway: Flash of light
Watery splash/Crash sound.

EMMA
I’m sorry it’s none of my business.

HARRY
You just tried to stop me from killing myself… I wasn’t going to do it, but you tried to stop me all the same.
So I’d say you deserve something.

(Smiles into eyes of Emma)

EMMA
So what have you lost?

HARRY
I lost a story.

EMMA
(Squints eyes)

HARRY
Cutaway:
Light crash of water
My Story.

EMMA
Your memory, what?
I don’t… Tell me!

HARRY
(Looks in eyes)
A story tells us, maybe, why we can do what we do,
What we should go on to do,
Where we may end up.

I lost mine.

EMMA
Are you a fucking poet or something.
I’d just say… I mean what?
Why? Did something happen.. or You lost a job, or something…?

HARRY
..A wife?

EMMA
Yeah!

HARRY
..A child?

EMMA
(Looks down embarrassed)

Yeah? I don’t know.

HARRY
No. No wife, no children to lose.

Cutaway:
To trees swaying

EMMA
I’m confused.

HARRY
Are you at all intrigued because
You are welcome to be bored and just have your hotel and breakfast and train
And Cornwall?

EMMA
I don’t know what I am.

HARRY
It’s a little Wizard of Oz – like.
My brother had the story, and I had the heart.
When I lost the story, I lost the heart.

FADE OUT:

4: INT: Hotel Room: Evening

Emma has Harry’s business card in her hand
Harry Minter, Wine Merchant, fax and phone number

Flash Cutaway:
Crash Splash sound:
Quick cut to trees
Quick cut to lake (Sunset)

Emma opens eyes

EMMA
What the hell!

Emma puts card down, and in a sprightly fashion, she puts kettle on, feels cold, runs a bath, spoons in hot chocolate, checks radiators, goes to kettle, picks up card again and looks at it.

Flash cutaway:
A little longer:
Birds flying, and gun shot sound.

EMMA
Fuck!

5: INT: Bath Tub: Night

EMMA eyes closed and relaxing in tub.

HARRY
(Off Screen)

If you give me a pencil I could draw you what I mean.

If you hold my hand you’ll see it all perfectly.

CUT TO:

6: INT: Café: 7p.m.

Same scene as before but warmer and darker lighting.

EMMA
(Seems sleepy or slightly)

HARRY
(Moves hand over towards Emma)

Pan down Emma’s face –tight- from eyes, to mouth, to neck, to breast, along the arm to the hands where Harry is slowly moving in his own hand ready to hold Emma.

(They hold hands)

7: INT: Train: Evening

Emma is looking out of window.
On table is serviette and Harry’s card.

The serviette shows a pencil drawing of a lake and some writing
The business card is the same one.

Cutaway:
Pencil drawing lake on the serviette.

Emma puts hand in to serviette and we slowly drift to the actual Lake scene.

At end of a Jetty is a man sat, legs dangling over the edge like a child.

Dark and has a look of Harry.

It is the most perfect evening weather.

Sunset, birds flying and singing their evening song.

See Man fall in.

Return to train. Emma is crying. Gentle tears role down her cheeks.

Cutaway to:

Man dead and floating in the river.
Under water filming.

See train ride on from exterior

8: Café: Early morning.

See Harry drawing a new picture.

HARRY
(Voice over)

Sometimes I remember happy things, and sometimes I remember sad things.
But I can never ever… ever
Find them.
The seem to just lose them selves, in meadows, and hills, and caves

Sound begins to fade:

And warm breezes, canyons, forests, and lakes,
In hearts and intentions
And friends and passers-by.

The End:

Echoes and breeze and gentle music