SOUL MATE © 2003 amber
rose
Total
time:
37 minutes 30
seconds
Black.
emily
v/o
My Mother told me once, that somewhere there was a
person who completed you. A soul mate, if you will. What a crock of shit…
right?
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
1.
int. share-house kitchen – afternoon
Crockery
and cutlery clink violently. Bare feet shuffle across wooden floorboards where
a glass tumbles only to shatter and disperse.
emily
v/o
Life
has this funny way of throwing you for a loop. Just when you think you’ve got
it sorted, it puts a knife to your throat.
JARED
bails EMILY up beside the kitchen sink. In his hand is a meat cleaver. EMILY
has a medium-sized knife to JARED’S chest, point resting above his heart.
emily
v/o cont’d
That’s
me, Emily. The guy with the cleaver—what is it with men and size
anyway?!—that’s Jared.
EMILY
and JARED are frozen save for the synchronised, rapid rise and fall of their
chests.
emily
v/o cont’d
But
let’s back up a little and start from the beginning…
Cut to:
(35 seconds)
2.
ext. university - day
EMILY
laughs, walking between classes, HEIDI by her side.
Cut to:
(5 seconds)
3.
ext. university refectory - day
They
sip coffee, notes spread in front of them.
emily
v/o
Act
one.
Cut to:
(5 seconds)
4. int.
university computer lab - day
Glasses
perched on the edge of her nose, EMILY stares at a computer screen.
Cut to:
(5 seconds)
5.
int. p and h marketing - night
EMILY
interacts happily with colleagues.
emily
v/o cont’d
Emily’s…
Cut to:
(5 seconds)
6.
int. nightclub - night
Dancing
with HEIDI, EMILY’S body moves with the flicker of strobe lights.
emily
v/o cont’d
Perfect…
DUNCAN
appears, arms encircling EMILY’S waist.
emily
v/o cont’d
Life.
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
7
int. emily’s bedroom - night
EMILY
sleeps, DUNCAN spooned behind her.
Cut to:
(5 seconds)
8.
int. share-house lounge – afternoon
LUCIAN
and HEIDI are sprawled on couches opposite each other. Both have textbooks
resting on their laps.
A
jingle of keys and the sound of a door opening announces the arrival of EMILY.
She
floats into the room, exuberant.
emily
You’re
looking at the newest junior supervisor for P and H marketing! Start in two
weeks.
heidi
Hey!
Congratulations! I told you you’d get it.
She
tosses her keys, with purple dice key ring, onto the table. LUCIAN
lethargically looks up at the dull thump.
lucian
In
household news, we’ve got a guy coming to see the room at six.
emily
Another
guy? I really thought you oozed enough testosterone for one share-house,
Lucian.
EMILY
heads for the kitchen, HEIDI rises to follow and dumps her textbook in favour
of a girlie magazine.
Cut to:
(45 seconds)
9.
int. share-house kitchen – afternoon
EMILY
fusses with dishes and begins to boil the kettle.
lucian
o/s
Hey,
you should like him--he’s a smoker--you can cough up bits of lung together.
emily
For
your information, I’ve quit.
While
HEIDI flicks through the magazine, EMILY retrieves her lactose free milk from
the fridge. It has her name scrawled across it.
heidi
Again?
emily
Duncan
hates it. My life should not be dictated by a drug.
LUCIAN
appears in the doorway, reading the magazine over HEIDI’S shoulder.
lucian
No,
it’s dictated by your dipshit boyfriend.
emily
Shut
the fuck up.
Pouring
the boiled water into a teapot, she holds the pot aloft.
emily
cont’d
(plastically
perky)
Tea?
Cut to:
(45 seconds)
10.
int. share-house lounge – night
LUCIAN,
HEIDI and EMILY sit in a line on the couch, giggling over the girlie magazine.
There
is a knock at the door and EMILY rises to answer it.
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
11.
int. share-house hallway - night
JARED
stands in the doorway, pallid and lanky, leaving EMILY speechless and gaping.
There is a visible connection between the two.
emily
v/o
Enter
Jared, the starving artist, all sad stories and tragedy.
In
slow motion we see EMILY introduce herself and invite JARED in.
Cut to:
(20 seconds)
12.
INT. SHARE-HOUSE LOunge – night
Still
in slow motion, JARED follows EMILY to the couch. Their steps are in synch.
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
13.
INT. SHARE-HOUSE LOunge – night/JARED’S tragic MONTAGE (SPLIT SCREEN)
LUCIAN
and HEIDI are asking questions, while EMILY stares mutely.
EMILY
V/O cont’d
His
father died and left him some money, but with no job it’s hard to renew a
lease. He’s spent the last three nights in his car.
EMILY’S
eyes close ridiculously slow as she blinks.
emily
v/o cont’d
Compassionate
little Emily never could say no to strays.
Her
eyes open just as slow, and things suddenly speed up to a regular pace.
emily
Excuse
us a moment.
Leaving
JARED anxiously on the couch, EMILY drags HEIDI and LUCIAN into the kitchen.
Split with:
13a.
ext. gallery 1 – morning
Head high, JARED carries his portfolio into the
gallery.
Cut to:
13b.
ext. gallery 1 – morning
JARED exits a little disappointed.
Cut to:
13c.
ext. gallery 2 – noon
JARED enters another gallery.
Cut to:
13d.
ext. gallery 2 – noon
He exits, more disgruntled than before.
Cut to:
13e.
ext. gallery 3 – afternoon
Not too hopeful, JARED tries a third gallery.
Cut to:
13f.
ext. gallery 3 – afternoon
Exiting, JARED tosses his portfolio onto a nearby
bench and sits.
Cut to:
13g. int. real estate – day
JARED hands a set of keys to the receptionist.
Cut to:
13h. ext. real estate – day
Getting
into his car, packed with his possessions, his head drops to the steering
wheel.
Cut to:
13i.
int. hospital – night
Seated
in the waiting room, a DOCTOR walks up the hall away from JARED.
JARED
appears to be in shock.
He
hangs his head.
Cut to:
(30 seconds)
14.
int. share-house kitchen - night
Agitated,
EMILY waves her hands around.
EMILY
Well?!
I like him.
LUCIAN
seems dubious.
lucian
He’s
an unemployed ‘artist’, Em.
emily
Oh,
come on. I mean he’s just a little down on his luck. And he seems nice enough.
Plus he’s got the money. What’s the problem?
heidi
She’s
got a point, Lucian.
lucian
Alright.
What do I care? Rent’s paid it’s all good.
Happily
bouncing back to the lounge, EMILY hangs in the doorframe.
emily
When
d’you wanna move in?
Cut to:
(30 seconds)
15.
int. share-house lounge - night
JARED is exhausted, placing a box heavy with art
supplies on the floor. He lets a bag fall off his shoulder as he collapses onto
the couch.
Absently he examines a framed photograph on a side
table. It is the photo of EMILY with CASANDRA and CLINT at their wedding.
JARED notes the date, printed in digitised orange
numbers on the bottom right hand corner:
08.11.02
Dusting her hands, EMILY emerges from the hallway.
Noticing his interest in the photo she sits beside him.
emily
That’s
my mother.
Jared
And
your dad?
emily
No.
Clint. Mum remarried after my father… left.
jared
You
look happy.
emily
Yeah,
I mean Clint’s great, but mum finally seems settled, you know? She’s happy, so
I am too.
JARED nods in understanding, then gestures to the
date.
jared
It’s
kinda weird. That’s the day my dad died.
emily
Are
you serious?! How bizarre is that?
She
pauses, wincing at her initial excitement.
emily
cont’d
I’m
sorry, hey, I mean about your father. You were close, yeah?
jared
Yeah.
JARED
sits in silence for a while before shooting a sidelong glance at EMILY.
jared
cont’d
Hey,
do you maybe have any weed?
Amused,
EMILY shoots a look back.
emily
Maybe.
You got spin?
JARED
pulls a tobacco pouch from his pocket.
Cut to:
(1 minute 5 seconds)
16.
ext. share-house stairs - night
JARED and EMILY are sprawled on the front stairs,
passing a joint between them. EMILY seems content staring at the stars as JARED
watches the patterns of drifting smoke.
Idly JARED flicks his Zippo.
jared
Thanks
for giving me the room, hey. I know it sounds kinda hokey, but I really
appreciate it. You guys are good people.
emily
It’s
cool. If I had to hazard a guess, I think I’m going to enjoy your company.
Suddenly registering pain, JARED drops his lighter
and shakes his fingers: he has burned himself.
EMILY releases a short burst of laughter before
clapping her hand over her mouth.
emily
I’m
sorry! I don’t know why I laughed!
Despite still being in obvious pain, JARED cracks a
gentle smile.
jared
Because
you’re fucking stoned.
EMILY relaxes and smiles. They share a moment.
emily
v/o
Cute.
(sighs) For a while things did go well…
Cut to:
(55 seconds)
17.
int. share-house kitchen – morning
JARED
is flicking through the employment section of the newspaper while he eats
breakfast at the table.
Dressed
for work, EMILY bounces into the kitchen and flicks the kettle on.
emily
Morning!
You want tea?
jared
Thanks,
but no.
EMILY
notices the paper in his hands.
emily
You
looking again?
jared
Yeah.
I guess I may as well, it’s not like I’ve been painting lately. Or that
anyone’s interested anyway.
He
chews thoughtfully on a mouthful of cereal as he scans the last page. He sighs.
jared
cont’d
There’s
just nothing here though. A Vis Arts degree doesn’t really qualify you for much
apparently.
Folding
the paper, he discards it and plays with his cereal. Raising an eyebrow he
asks:
JARED
CONT’D
And
I’m a little old to be asking ‘would you like fries with that’? Don’t you
think?
Smiling,
EMILY grabs a banana from the fruit bowl and begins to peel it.
emily
You
got a point. But don’t give up, hey. Things will pick up eventually.
JARED
doesn’t look convinced, but he does notice EMILY’S toned-down attire.
jared
You’re
off to work early aren’t you?
emily
Yep.
Nine o’clock starts everyday this week. Training for my supervisor bit.
Grinning,
she does a little happy dance as she eats her banana.
emily
Speaking
of which, I should be off. Karen’ll kick my arse if I’m late my first day. Good
luck, hey! Give us a reason to celebrate tonight.
She
winks as she heads out the door, patting him on the shoulder as she goes.
JARED
smiles weakly as he watches her exit.
Cut to:
(1 minute 20 seconds)
18.
int. Jared’s bedroom – morning
Lying
on his bed JARED stares at the paintings he’s lined up against the wall:
A
washed out gouache seascape;
A
scratchy monochromatic portrait of a woman in red;
Slightly
abstracted nymphs, thin, wraithlike, playing in marshy water;
Three
more washed-out abstract pieces, like shattered glass, one red, one blue, one
green.
His
focus shifts to a fresh canvas resting on an easel and chews his lower lip.
Cut to:
(20 seconds)
19.
int. share-house lounge – afternoon
Walking
into the room EMILY tosses her keys onto the coffee table.
She
drops onto the couch beside HEIDI, who doesn’t look up from the magazine she’s
flipping through.
heidi
How
did it go?
EMILY
begins to toe off her shoes.
emily
Good.
I mean, Karen’s a total bore, but she always is. The other guys getting trained
are nice though, so I’m enjoying it.
Pausing
as she brings her knees to her chest, she smiles as she shakes her head.
emily
CONT’D
We’re
only being told shit we already know, but hey, that’s how things work there.
Did I miss anything in class today?
heidi
Just
lectures about shit we already know.
Shooting
her a look, HEIDI glances up from the magazine finally. EMILY grins knowingly.
emily
The
wrong people run our life, Miss Heidi.
EMILY
relaxes a moment, but seems too hyper to stay still for long.
emily
Hey,
where’s Jared?
heidi
Went
to go buy paint, I think. Apparently he spent the whole day in his room. Left
about an hour ago, mumbling something about ‘finding colour’.
Waving
a hand dramatically, HEIDI pulls a face.
emily
He’s
strange. But in a good way, you know? Anyway, you wanna help with dinner? I’m
making fresh bread and pumpkin so~oup…
HEIDI’S
attention is grabbed by EMILY’S offer and sing-song tone.
Cut to:
(1 minute 10 seconds)
20.
int. share-house kitchen – night
The
girls are eating soup and bread when JARED enters. He carries a paper bag with
the ‘Art’s Hole’ logo on it.
EMILY
waves.
heidi
You’re
back. Did you find colour?
emily
Ignore
her. Have some soup.
He
smiles gently, puts his bag down and serves himself some dinner.
jared
Smells
good. Thanks.
EMILY’S
mobile phone beeps as it receives an SMS. She instantly leaps up to retrieve it
from across the room.
JARED
watches in disbelief.
jared
God
I’m glad I don’t have one of those. They warp people’s behaviour.
heidi
She
thinks it’s Duncan.
Faintly
amused, JARED nods his understanding.
jared
How
long have they been going out?
heidi
About
three weeks. Can’t you tell?
A
little disappointed EMILY plonks back into her seat.
heidi
Not
him?
EMILY
No.
Honestly, I wonder if he knows how to use a phone sometimes. I just want to
confirm tomorrow night, you’d think he could manage it.
HEIDI
and JARED share a look as she mutters to herself.
Finishing
her soup, HEIDI picks up her bowl and rinses it in the sink.
heidi
As
much as I love to hear you rant Em, I might go do some study! But thank you for
a lovely meal.
HEIDI
flashes her teeth. EMILY pokes out her tongue as HEIDI exits.
EMILY
turns to JARED.
emily
Anyway!
How was your day?
jared
So-so.
I bought some new paints. Kinda hoping they might help inspire me.
He
shrugs.
JARED
CONT’D
Just
another day.
EMILY
finishes her soup, and kicks him under the table.
JARED
starts.
And
she grins.
emily
Well
my day was great, so finish that and lets celebrate.
He
pulls an expression similar to that of someone humouring a child, but picks up
the pace of eating nonetheless.
Cut to:
(1 minute 5 seconds)
21.
ext. share-house stairs – night
JARED
and EMILY pass the remains of a J between them.
Both
are clearly spacey.
Screwing
up his face, JARED holds in a cough and pushes the J at EMILY.
jared
Finish
it?
emily
You.
I have to work tomorrow. I’m going to be tired as it is!
JARED
shakes his head forcefully, letting out a ragged cloudy breath.
Smirking,
EMILY relents and takes the final toke.
They
both stare at the stars for a moment, before EMILY yawns.
emily
It’s
amazing how many you can’t see. That we make too much light for them to stand
out, you know?
jared
Kinda
sad.
emily
I
guess. So many patterns though. So many little dots to connect.
JARED
stares more intensely, glassy eyes narrowing.
EMILY
yawns again, then stands.
emily
I
might go read for a bit, you coming in?
Still
staring up, JARED slowly rises to follow.
JARED
Yeah…
I might play with my paints for a bit.
Cut to:
(55 seconds)
22.
int. JARED’s bedroom – night
JARED
stands in front of his easel furiously painting. He suddenly seems more alive.
Against
a black background, the image of a woman’s face is starting to come through
amongst a mass of white dots.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
23.
int. emily’s bedroom – morning
A
book lays open in front of EMILY, her thumb still marking the page; she has
fallen asleep reading.
Her
features knot in slumber: she looks troubled.
Fade to black.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
24.
int. emily’s bedroom – morning
EMILY’S eye cracks open, she blinks at her alarm
clock.
The red numbers blink back at her:
12:00… 12:00… 12:00…
The power has gone out in the night.
emily
v/o
Some
days you just shouldn’t get out of bed.
Still half asleep, she snatches up her mobile phone
and sees the real time:
8:48am
The roster blu-tacked to the wall indicates that
her shift starts at 9:00am.
Moaning, she leaps out of bed and madly begins to
get ready.
Cut to:
(25 seconds)
25.
int. share-house kitchen - morning
Clothes looking somewhat rumpled, EMILY bursts into
the kitchen. She checks her watch—8:54—and reaches for a banana.
Spinning on her heels, she starts to head out the
door but freezes at the state of the room.
Dishes are piled high on the sink, instant coffee
grains are scattered over the bench, and a note is stuck to the fridge door. It
reads:
‘Sorry sweetness, had to run, PLEASE clean kitchen
– landlord coming at lunch. Thanks! Owe you! - Heidi’
EMILY drops her bag on the kitchen table and
crankily tackles the mess.
Cut to:
(30 seconds)
26.
int. sharehouse kitchen – morning
At the sound of the sink draining, the kitchen
clock reads 9:16.
EMILY hurriedly dries her hands on a tea towel. The
kitchen is spotless.
Eyeing JARED’S tobacco pouch lying on the table,
she snatches up her handbag and begins to dig through the contents.
emily
You
don’t need it, you don’t need it, you do not need it, Emily. You just really
fucking want it!
Frantically searching for her car keys, EMILY
suddenly pauses. She has had a horrible realisation.
Cut to:
(30 seconds)
27.
int. emily’s car - morning
A set of car keys are in the ignition, purple dice
clearly identifying them as EMILY’S, dangle from the key chain.
The car door is locked.
emily
o/s
Fuck!
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
28.
int. p and h marketing managers office - day
Red
nailed fingers lace and come to rest on a desktop. Matching scarlet lips
un-purse as ROBIN speaks.
ROBIN
If
you would like to remain a part of this company you should seriously reassess
your attitude, Miss Blake.
As
her boss, ROBIN, speaks down to her, EMILY winces and remains silent.
robin
cont’d
Not
only have you arrived an hour late today, Melanie confessed that you’ve been
turning up to work lately tired, hung-over and reeking of marijuana!
EMILY
blanches, surprised by this revelation.
Shoving
a piece of paper across the desk, ROBIN stabs at it with a well-manicured
fingernail.
ROBIN
Sign
here. You’re on probation and should consider yourself lucky that that is all
it is! You may go back to taking calls, Miss Blake.
Cut to:
(30 seconds)
29.
int. p and h marketing – day
Head
in her hands, EMILY has resumed her position as a phone operator.
Cut to:
(5 seconds)
30.
int. share-house lounge – Night
Over
the rim of a textbook, HEIDI watches an impatient EMILY.
EMILY
sits on the couch wearing a black cocktail dress and multicoloured fake pearls.
She glances at her watch.
emily
I
wish he’d hurry up… I really just need to go out after today.
Her
high-heeled foot begins to tap involuntarily. She swallows hard, looking a
little more nervous now than impatient.
HEIDI
What
time was he supposed to be here?
EMILY
checks watch again.
emily
Almost
an hour ago.
HEIDI
Are
you sure it was tonight?
emily
Yeah…
I mean that’s what we said on Friday. But then he hasn’t answered his phone
today… or my message from last night…
Smiling
weakly, EMILY looks to HEIDI for support. HEIDI doesn’t seem hopeful.
Cut to:
(40 seconds)
31.
int. emily’s bedroom – night
EMILY
finds DUNCAN’S name in her mobile and dials.
Then
dials again.
And
again.
Finally
she throws her phone on the bed.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
32.
ext. corner store – night
EMILY,
all dressed-up still, storms out of the shop. She tears open a cigarette pack,
puts one between her lips and lights it.
She
exhales.
And
collapses onto a bus seat, soothed.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
33.
int. share-house lounge - night
Still wearing her cocktail dress EMILY is seated on
the couch. A small tub of melting ice cream rests on a pillow in her lap. A
cigarette hangs from her lip.
heidi
I
really wish you wouldn’t smoke inside.
HEIDI sits opposite her, reading, but still
watching EMILY.
EMILY stubs her cigarette into an overflowing
ashtray.
JARED enters the room, whistling, he spins 360˚
and tips his hat to the girls. HEIDI shakes her head, EMILY simply stares.
The spoon is now hanging from her mouth.
heidi
Okay,
I’ll bite. Why are you so happy?
Struggling to contain his cheer, JARED almost trips
over his words as he speaks.
jared
I
just signed a deal for three, three mind you, exhibitions in this funky little
gallery in town.
heidi
Congratulations,
J!
jared
And
the owner, amazing, gorgeous, lovely, woman, is meeting me later at Ric’s. Now,
if you’ll excuse me, I have to get ready.
He tips his hat again, before heading towards his
room.
Eyes somewhat glazed EMILY hollowly announces:
emily
That’s
where Duncan and I met.
heidi
Em,
I’m sorry. Everything happens for a reason though right?
HEIDI pauses thoughtfully.
hedi
cont’d
Huh.
Kinda funny that you’ve had such a bad day but Jared seems back on track.
emily
Yeah…
EMILY
is distant, not really listening to HEIDI.
JARED’S whistling carries into the lounge room as he
moves up the hallway and into the bathroom. The shower comes on. We hear him
begin to sing cheerfully albeit a little off-key.
Face falling, EMILY pokes the melted ice cream with
her spoon.
emily
I
hate being single.
Fade to black.
Cut to:
(1 minute 35 seconds)
34. int. JArED’S BEDROOM – night
emily
v/o
Eh.
Shit happens right?
Gnawing on the paintbrush between his teeth, JARED
stares at a blank canvas.
It appears to stare back at him.
Frustrated, he refastens the band in his hair.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
35.
int. emily’S BEDROOM – night
emily
v/o cont’d
With
so much assessment I had no time to care about the episode at work. I quickly
got over Duncan, too.
EMILY sits at her computer, face lighted by the
screen; the staccato of her typing fills the otherwise unlit bedroom.
She is adding to a mass of indecipherable coding.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
36.
int. JArED’S BEDROOM – night
emily
v/o cont’d
Never
could see a future with him anyway.
JARED lays on the edge of his bed, still staring at
the white canvas.
Tapping his forehead with the paintbrush, he closes
his eyes in concentration.
The rate of his tapping increases.
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
37.
int. JArED’S BEDROOM – night
emily
v/o cont’d
But,
wouldn’t you know it? I started to pick up again…
EMILY’S typing begins to falter, fingers rapping
lightly without depressing the keys anymore.
Concentrating on the screen she chews her
thumbnail.
Hitting the delete key a few times she continues to
type, a little less enthusiastically.
Emily
v/o cont’d
The
heavens opened wide…
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
38.
int. JArED’S BEDROOM – night
Eyes still closed, JARED rolls onto his back,
rapidly beating the brush against his chest.
He opens his eyes, staring at the canvas, this time
upside down.
The new perspective seems an inspiration. He begins
to paint.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
39.
int. JArED’S BEDROOM – night
emily
v/o cont’d
And
pissed all over me.
EMILY uneasily makes a few final keystrokes before
trying to run her program.
It crashes.
Her forehead drops onto the keyboard.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
40.
int. SHARe-house kitchen - night
Impatient, EMILY waits for the kettle to boil. She
stares deliriously at the little orange ball in the measuring strip on the side
of the kettle. It bobs up and down as the water heats.
JARED enters the kitchen, wiping stained hands on
his painting shirt.
jared
Assignment
going that well?
emily
Don’t
even ask.
She glances at his fresh paint stains.
emily
You
look like you’ve been productive.
The kettle clicks off, and she makes her coffee
while listening to him.
jared
Almost
done. Just needed to walk away from it. When you’re not sure what the finishing
touch should be, leave it alone for a bit. When you come back it usually jumps
out at you. I think, anyway.
Nodding, EMILY lightly sips at her coffee. Something
clicks and she suddenly wakes up.
emily
No
you’re right… thank you very much!
She rushes past, pecking him lightly on the cheek
as she goes.
Cut to:
(55 seconds)
41.
int. emily’S BEDROOM – night
emily
v/o
Take
two.
EMILY’S coffee sits untouched as she fitfully
types.
Coding flies across the screen.
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
42.
int. JArED’S BEDROOM – Night
JARED stubs a cigarette butt into the ashtray and
pours the dregs of tea from his teapot.
Draining the cup, he finally looks back at his
canvas.
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
43.
INT. EMILY/JArED’S BEDROOM – NIGHT (SPLIT SCREEN)
EMILY sits back in her chair and watches her
program actually work.
Just as she is about to hit save she gets a blue
screen error.
emily
v/o
And
there’s the punch line.
Moaning, she crumples and beats her head against
her knee.
emily
v/o cont’d
Cut!
Emily is not amused.
Split with:
Paintbrush poised above the canvas, JARED makes a
few final strokes.
The canvas is covered in colour, brighter than his
previous works; it’s an abstract portrait of a girl bearing an uncanny
resemblance to EMILY.
He steps back and smiles, satisfied.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
44.
INT. share-house lounge – afternoon
Skulking into the room, EMILY dumps her keys on the
coffee table and snatches up JARED’S lighter. She looks like shit, but seems
happy.
JARED is on the phone.
Jared
Yeah,
they’re done. Come round and look at them tonight if you like… Well, I guess it
can wait ‘til the weekend… Leila!
He
grins, feigning a shocked expression.
Jared
cont’d
Looking
forward to it. See you then.
JARED
hangs-up and glances up from where he’s sprawled on the couch.
Jared
God
you look tired! Did you get it done?
She
looks at her watch.
Emily
I’ve
been awake for 39 hours. But I got it finished, again, and it worked and it’s
handed in and now I would like to smoke a J and get some sleep. Goodnight,
Jared.
She
exits.
Fade to black.
Cut to:
(40 seconds)
45.
int. share-house lounge – afternoon
emily
v/o
And
so continued life’s little ups and downs.
Breezing
into the room, EMILY plonks herself on the couch next to a lethargic JARED.
He’s channel flicking in his pyjamas.
Elbowing
JARED in the ribs, EMILY is obvious busting to share something.
JARED’S
eyes flick in EMILY’S direction, but he doesn’t move.
EMILY
Ask
me!
JARED
Ask
you what?
EMILY
‘Gee
Em, I’m really curious as to what mark you got for that program you lost so
much sleep over.’
EMILY’S
enthusiasm hasn’t quelled, nor has JARED’S risen.
JARED
Gee
Em, what mark did you get for that program I’ll never understand?
EMILY
A
big fat 7, thank you very much, and, and, my lecturer has set up a
meeting with a mentor that may lead to a real job. I could finally give
hell-pit marketing the flick.
JARED
Hey
good for you.
Silent
for a moment, EMILY finally realises JARED is totally flat.
EMILY
Okay,
it’s almost 5 o’clock, on a Friday, you’re in PJs and watching Springer. What’s
up? And where’s your little groupie, she’s normally here by now.
JARED gestures loosely at a group of paintings in
the corner.
He pulls a bitter expression before going on a
sarcastic tirade.
JARED
Leila
doesn’t like my latest style. It’s a little too ‘last month’ to be displayed in
her gallery. She doesn’t think it will sell.
EMILY
Ouch.
I’m sorry.
EMILY
thinks for a moment.
EMILY
CONT’D
Why
don’t you come out with us tonight? I mean you may as well get a little smashed
and enjoy your weekend, right?
JARED
Thanks,
but I don’t think I’m really up to it. You guys go have fun.
Lamely
JARED waves her away, eyes still glued to the screen.
EMILY
shrugs, she tried.
Cut to:
(1 minute 20 seconds)
46.
int. share-house lounge – night/int. nightclub – night (split screen)
Decked in sparkly tops and beads EMILY and HEIDI
are having a good night out. Strobes flicker as they dance, drink and check out
boys.
The girls are drinking some more and dancing with
boys.
The girls are dancing a little less, now picking up
the boys.
EMILY hands her number over to her tall blonde
PICK-UP.
Split with:
JARED is still on the couch, a cigarette hangs from
his lip. Light from the TV plays across his face as he flicks.
He glances despondently at his paintings. Rising,
he goes over and picks up the abstract EMILY-ish portrait.
Suddenly furious he tears the canvas from the frame
and snaps the wood. It falls to the carpet.
Spent, he drops onto the couch.
Cut to:
(20 seconds)
47.
int. share-house hallway – night
Muffled
giggles emanate from behind the front door. A key scrapes, trying to find the
lock.
EMILY
O/S
Shhh!
HEIDI laughs.
The girls finally get the door open and stumble
through.
HEIDI tries for a moment of sobriety.
HEIDI
You
know he’s not gonna call, right?
EMILY
You
think I’m that stupid? I mean, I didn’t even give him my real number…
Pausing, HEIDI tries to read EMILY. They
simultaneously begin giggling.
HEIDI
regains her composure, waves and stumbles drunkenly to bed.
EMILY
Ni~ight.
EMILY slips off her shoes and detours to the lounge
room.
Cut to:
(35 seconds)
48.
int. share-house lounge – night
JARED is asleep on the couch, a frown creasing his
forehead.
Sighing as she sways slightly, EMILY goes to pat
his head but thinks better of it. Instead she heads for her own room.
And treads right on a piece of broken wood.
Silently she gasps in pain.
Gingerly she lifts her foot. Seeing the broken
canvas frame she looks at JARED. His frown has been replaced by a gentle smirk.
EMILY
What
the hell’re you smiling at?
Pouting, she limps to her bedroom.
Cut to:
(30 seconds)
49.
int. emily’s bedroom – night
EMILY
sits by her window smoking a J, still in her clubbing clothes.
Her
eyes are glassy, but her mind is clearly ticking over.
emily
v/o
I
started to think, put two and two together and got a half.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
50.
SPLIT SCREEN MONTAGE: emily’s snapshot memory
Stills from previous scenes flash quickly in split
screen (last screen holds longer than the others):
emily
v/o
Half
me, half Jared. When I was up, he was down. Always.
JARED’S face pained from burning himself.
Smoking EMILY cradles her ice-cream on the couch.
JARED stares at a blank canvas.
EMILY alone in bed.
JARED and LEILA having an argument, his paintings
in the corner;
Hands in her hair, EMILY glares at her computer;
JARED in pyjamas watching TV;
EMILY in pain from treading on broken wood;
Split with:
EMILY stifling a laugh, hand over her face;
Happy JARED tipping his hat;
EMILY concentrating on her computer screen;
LEILA and JARED curled together in bed;
A 7 and ‘well done!’ are written on EMILY’S
assignment sheet;
JARED happily painting, canvas full of colour;
EMILY dances with HEIDI, boys by their side;
JARED smiles faintly in his sleep.
Cut to:
(20 seconds)
51.
int. emily’s bedroom – night
A
clump of sticky ash breaks away from the tip of EMILY’S J. She stares at nothing,
struck dumb by her revelation.
emily
v/o
See,
weed has this uncanny ability to bring clarity. And even the strangest notion
might seem plausible.
Fade to black.
emily
v/o
So
here’s a little quiz for you…
Cut to:
(20 seconds)
52a.
INT. MENTOR’S office WAITING ROOM – day/INT. SHARE-HOUSE LOungE – day (split
screen)
emily
v/o cont’d
Emily’s
all smiles and perkiness ‘cause things are looking up, while little tragic
Jared is feeling down.
Wearing
interview clothes, EMILY flicks through her CV as she waits.
She
smiles at the RECEPTIONIST.
Fidgeting,
she shifts in her seat.
Split with:
Still
in his pyjamas and on the couch, JARED flicks through the channels.
There’s
a knock at the door.
Grumbling,
he rises to answer it.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
52b.
INT. MENTOR’S office WAITING ROOM – day/INT. SHARE-HOUSE LOungE – day (split
screen)
emily
v/o cont’d
But…
if we throw an apologetic Leila into the equation what do we get? I’ll give you
some thinking time.
Foot
tapping, EMILY seems nervous. She continues to flick through her CV. Her lips
move faintly as if she is practicing a speech.
Finally
the RECEPTIONIST gestures for her to enter.
Split with:
Agitated,
JARED opens at the front door.
LEILA
is framed by the doorway. She smiles faintly.
They
embrace.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
53.
int. Mentor’s office – day/Int. share-house lounge – day (split screen)
emily
v/o cont’d
By
the way, remember Mr tall, blonde, and never gonna call?
Standing
in the office doorway, EMILY stares shocked at her proposed mentor and job connection.
It
is her PICK-UP from the other night.
He
smiles fakely.
emily
v/o cont’d
It
would seem he remembered me.
Split with:
Laying
on the couch, JARED holds LEILA to his chest.
Animatedly
she gestures at his paintings, still in the corner.
JARED
smiles, content.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
54.
EXT. MENTOR’S OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
EMILY
sits on a bench head propped in her hands. A cigarette burns between her
pouting lips.
emily
v/o cont’d
Times
up. Five gold stars if you answered: ‘Emily’s fucked’.
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
55
ext. share-house stairs – afternoon
EMILY
sits alone, smoking on the top step. Her eyes suddenly narrow.
Laughing,
JARED and LEILA come up the front path hand-in-hand.
leila
Hi
Em, how are you?
emily
Shithouse,
thanks for asking.
A plastic smile graces EMILY’S face for a second
before she takes another draw from her cigarette.
LEILA looks to JARED quizzically.
Shrugging, JARED motions her up the stairs.
EMILY pretends not to notice their exchange.
JARED shoots a final blank look over his shoulder
before a giggling LEILA tugs him through the door.
His resonant laugh carries down to a scowling
EMILY.
Cut to:
(30 seconds)
56.
int. jared/emily’s bedroom – night (SPLIT SCREEN)
Everything seems unearthly still in bluish light.
Just a little too slowly, EMILY rolls onto her side
in slumber. She reaches across empty space for a non-existent companion. Her
hands disappear into JARED’S frame.
emily
Time
for multiple-choice.
Turning as if to meet her embrace, JARED reaches out
to pull LEILA into frame. He tugs her close to his chest and settles back into
sleep.
emily
v/o
Tired,
cranky, lonely, all of the above?
Shivering, EMILY rolls onto her other side and
curls into a ball on the edge of her bed; her back faces JARED and LEILA.
Cut to:
(30 seconds)
57.
int. emily’s bedroom - night
Keys
jangle distantly, a door opens, and clumsy footsteps advance past EMILY’S room.
EMILY stirs faintly in sleep.
At the sounds of JARED’S door opening, and bodies
hitting his bed, EMILY’S facial features begin to distort.
emily
v/o
They
say when it rains it pours.
EMILY’S eyes crack open at LEILA’S giggles.
Sighing EMILY rolls onto her back and stares at the
ceiling. Her fingers drum her chest.
emily
v/o cont’d
I
had my own personal little black rain cloud. I called him Jared.
Growing more annoyed at the thud of JARED’S bed
hitting the wall and LEILA’S squeals, EMILY covers her face with her pillow.
Her muffled scream harmonises with LEILA’S.
emily
v/o cont’d
And
he was making my life a living hell.
Cut to:
(40 seconds)
58.
Int. bathroom – afternoon
Wrapped in a towel, EMILY grunts in frustration as
she picks up JARED’S dirty boxer shorts from the bathroom floor.
She storms to his bedroom, knocking fiercely on the
door. No one answers. She tests the knob; the door creaks open.
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
59.
int. Jared’s bedroom - afternoon
Ducking her head inside she is greeted with the
sight of an empty bedroom, relatively neat save for rumpled bed sheets.
emily
v/o
So
I decided it was time for me to take charge of my life.
Tossing the boxers onto the bed, EMILY turns to
leave, but hesitates.
Rifling through JARED’S bedside table, she quickly
finds what she is looking for.
emily
v/o cont’d
If
it meant systematically destroying Jared’s…
Smiling evilly she pulls out a tube of lubricant.
Cut to:
(20 seconds)
60.
int. bathroom – afternoon
emily
v/o cont’d
So
be it. And so begins act two.
EMILY squeezes the contents of the tube into the
sink. Then uses a syringe to refill it with ‘Deep Heat’.
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
61.
int. jared’s bedroom – afternoon
Smirking, EMILY drops the ‘lubricant’ back into
JARED’S drawer and happily skips back toward the bathroom.
emily
v/o
Juvenile?
Probably.
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
62.
int. emily’s bedroom – night
The sounds of urgent, pained, voices filter through
the wall into EMILY’S bedroom.
Despite being woken up, she seems very content.
emily
v/o cont’d
Satisfying?
Like you wouldn’t believe.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
63.
int. emily’s bedroom – morning
Sunlight
plays across EMILY’S smiling face as she wakes. She throws back the covers.
Leaping
out of bed, EMILY stretches leisurely and throws on some running clothes.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
64.
ext. board walk – morning
Jogging
beside the river, EMILY smiles and nods at the people she passes. They smile
back.
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
65.
ext. share-house yard – morning
Sweaty
but energetic, EMILY grabs the bundle of mail sticking out the mailbox before
bouncing up the stairs.
Cut to:
(10 seconds)
66.
int. EMILY’s bedroom – morning
Drying
her hair with a towel, EMILY has showered and changed: she looks refreshed.
Cut to:
(5 seconds)
67.
int. share-house kitchen – morning
Sipping
tea, EMILY flips through the mail and finds a letter addressed to her. It’s her
tax return, with a cheque for $842.00.
HEIDI
enters, yawning, and begins to make herself tea.
heidi
Morning,
Em. You were up early.
EMILY
pouts appearing apologetic almost to the point of insincerity.
emily
Sorry!
Didn’t mean to wake you. Just felt like going for a run.
heidi
Didn’t
really wake me, just heard you go out the… since when do you go running?
Still
hyper-happy, EMILY shrugs and waves her hand dismissively.
emily
It
was just such a lovely morning, didn’t want to waste it tax return’s here by the
way might go buy those shoes I liked wonderful day, today, wouldn’t you say?
She
grins broadly as she wanders out of the kitchen.
Taking
a moment to break down the sentences EMILY merged, HEIDI pauses in the motions
of pouring hot water. She stares after EMILY, and shakes her head.
Cut to:
(1 minute 5 seconds)
68.
int. share-house lounge – AFTERNOON
A
door opens and slams shut. Heavy footsteps trudge up the hallway.
Heading
to the bathroom JARED stalks past a perky EMILY reading a magazine. JARED looks
like shit, he has clearly just slithered out of bed.
emily
Good
morning, Jared!
He
ignores her.
EMILY
smirks.
emily
Where’s
Leila?
He
comes to a stop, turns and stares at her.
jared
I
know you’re responsible for this. Don’t act so bloody smug.
Playing
innocent, EMILY asks:
emily
Responsible
for what?
Gritting
his teeth JARED grinds out:
jared
Last
night. I know it wasn’t Heidi, and it sure as hell wasn’t Lucian. That only
leaves you.
Raising
her eyebrows, EMILY cannot repress a tiny smile.
jared
Well
I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself!
emily
v/o
Satisfaction.
Herein lies the problem.
The
sound drops out as motion slows. EMILY smiles mutely while JARED snaps at her.
emily
v/o cont’d
It’s
like a drug. You get a taste for it.
Her
heartbeat starts to pulse in time with the jabs of JARED’S accusing finger.
Things start to speed up as her pulse begins to race.
emily
v/o cont’d
Before
you know it you’re addicted.
EMILY
blinks, and motion is at a regular pace.
JARED
…freak!
Just because you’re not happy doesn’t mean I can’t be!
He
stops and they stare at each other. Realisation is beginning to dawn on JARED’S
face.
emily
v/o Cont’d
And
there we have it. Now we both knew how the game was played.
Cut to:
(1 minute 20 seconds)
69.
ext. share-house yard – noon/ext. share-house yard – afternoon (split screen)
emily
v/o
JARED pulls mail from the mailbox.
There is a mobile bill addressed to EMILY in the
bundle.
JARED casually wanders to the bin and tosses the
bill in.
Split with:
Sneaking
around JARED’S car, EMILY carefully opens the petrol cap.
She
pours sugar into the tank.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
70.
int. emily’s bedroom – night/int. share-house kitchen – night (split screen)
EMILY
laughs.
As
she watches the action in the next frame, ala ‘Brady Bunch’, her expression grows
more despondent.
Split with:
JARED is cooking dinner.
Opening the fridge he reaches for the carton of
Lactose free milk labelled ‘Emily’s’.
Hesitating, he smiles and grabs the regular milk
instead.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
71.
int. share-house hallway – night/int. jared’s bedroom – night (split screen)
EMILY clutches her stomach and runs to the
bathroom.
Again.
And again.
She emerges looking horribly pale and shaky.
Split with:
JARED
looks smug, as he watches the next frame, grin widening with each shot of ill
EMILY.
He
laughs.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
72a.
int. share-house KITCHEN – AFTERNOON/int. SHARE-HOUSE LOUNGUE – AFTERNOON
(split screen)
A
glass slips from EMILY’S hand and smashes in the sink. She curses, before
pausing thoughtfully.
Nonchalantly
she drops another glass.
Split with:
A
cigarette is dipped into a glass of liquid before being carefully laid out to
dry.
The
bottle of bleach in front of JARED reveals the contents of the glass.
He
immerses another cigarette in the glass.
Cut to:
(15 seconds)
72b.
int. share-house KITCHEN – AFTERNOON/int. SHARE-HOUSE LOUNGUE – AFTERNOON
(split screen)
JARED
glares at the half washed dishes in the sink. Reaching under the suds to finish
the job, he quickly retracts his hand, pained.
Blood
leaks from his cut-up fingers.
After
he carefully pulls the plug, the sink drains to reveal a mass of broken glass
on the bottom of the sink.
Split with:
JARED
switches EMILY’S cigarette packet for his spiked ones.
He
hears footsteps coming up the hall, and makes a quick exit.
Scanning
a textbook, EMILY enters and pulls her cigarettes from her bag.
Still
reading, she lights one and draws back.
Then
screws up her face and coughs out a cloud of smoke.
Cut to:
(20 seconds)
73.
int. jared’s bedroom - afternoon
A fed-up, and violently coughing, EMILY stalks into
JARED’S bedroom. She is carrying a kitchen knife.
emily
v/o
Cut
to, if you’ll excuse the pun,
Mercilessly she begins slashing the half finished
painting resting on an easel.
emily
v/o
Act
three…
JARED appears in the doorway, furious. He edges
closer to the now frozen EMILY. She laughs a little, despite her fear.
emily
v/o cont’d
For
better or worse.
Eyes wide, EMILY dashes past him. She drops the
knife at his doorway in her haste.
Cut to:
(25 seconds)
74.
int. share-house lounge - afternoon
Terrified
EMILY backs into HEIDI, who is shoving a jacket into her bag.
Exasperated,
HEIDI looks from EMILY in front of her to JARED lurking in the shadows of the
hallway. LUCIAN too watches on in puzzlement.
heidi
I
don’t know what the hell is wrong with you two, but please sort it out before
we get back. It’s weird.
JARED
pipes up menacingly from the semi-darkness.
jared
I’m
sure we can come to an arrangement.
LUCIAN
(mouthing)
Okaaaay…
Leering
at EMILY, JARED slips back into his room. His Cheshire-cat smirk lingers
momentarily as he is swallowed by shadow. EMILY panics.
emily
You
can’t leave.
LUCIAN
waves brightly, fake smile on his face. Exiting we hear him head down hallway
and open the door.
HEIDI
moves to follow him, but EMILY grabs her hand.
emily
cont’d
Don’t
you get it? He’s only happy when I’m not!
heidi
Em,
seriously, no more pot for a while.
HEIDI
goes to the hallway, dragging EMILY behind her.
Cut to:
(50 seconds)
75.
int. share-house hallway – afternoon
emily
You
can’t leave me alone with him. I mean, who knows what he’s going to do!
heidi
Right.
We’ll be at Mum’s so when Jared tries to kill you, you give us a call. ‘Kay?
Kissing
EMILY’S cheek, she slings her bag over her shoulder and heads out the door.
It
closes in EMILY’S face.
JARED’S
feet appear at the edge of his doorway and in slow motion begin to move up
hallway. EMILY’S heart thumps with each approaching step.
Emily
v/o
See
it started out innocently enough
Still
in slow motion, EMILY scoots up the hallway. She just dodges JARED’S attempt to
grab her, snatching up the kitchen knife as she goes.
emily
v/o cont’d
But
one thing led to another and next thing you know…
Cut to:
(40 seconds)
76.
int. share-house kitchen - afternoon
JARED grabs a cleaver from the sink. He corners
EMILY.
EMILY
and JARED are frozen save for the synchronised rise and fall of their chests.
emily
v/o
Things
got out of hand.
The
speed of motion regulates, and their breathing becomes rapid.
jared
One
of us has to go.
emily
You
volunteering?
JARED
raises the cleaver slowly, wild eyes fixed on EMILY. Finally he looks ready to
strike.
emily
cont’d
Hold
up! Who’s to say if you kill me I won’t be the happy one, and you’re left here
miserable.
She
lightly pokes him with the point of her knife for effect.
jared
Want
to find out?
emily
Do
you?
She
pokes him a little harder.
They
stare each other down for a few drawn out moments.
Finally
JARED’S arm drops and he tosses the cleaver into the sink. Starting at the loud
clatter, EMILY too releases her weapon.
They
both sink to the kitchen floor, falling side-by-side, and lean against the
cupboards.
jared
We’re
seriously going to have to rethink this situation.
emily
Yeah,
well I’m not letting you out of my sight until we do.
jared
You
know, I think I can live with that.
JARED
half smiles as he shoots her a sideways glance. EMILY mimics his actions. They
share a moment.
jared
cont’d
Hey,
you maybe got any weed?
emily
Maybe.
You got spin? That isn’t soaked in bleach?
Fade to black.
(1 minute 30 seconds)
Fade up:
77.
CREDIT SEQUENCE
Photographs
from EMILY and JARED’S life flicker in between the credits, somehow their
expressions are always unsettlingly between cheerful and melancholy:
emily
v/o
Jared
and I, we’ll be okay.
EMILY
holding a bunch of flowers and a birthday card, JARED’s arms about her waist;
emily
v/o
I
mean, if we haven’t got each other, then what the hell have we got?
JARED
kissing EMILY’S cheek;
The
couple tipsy and sprawled across a couch;
EMILY
‘helping’ JARED paint.
EMILY
v/o
I
found my soul mate, where’s yours?
Finally,
a shot of their wedding day. EMILY is being fed cake by JARED. She has a
slightly wicked smile on her face. Behind her back we can just make out the
silver gleam of a knife.
Fade to black.
(2 minutes)
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