Cross The Rubicon 6
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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FADE IN:
ESTABLISHING SHOTS:
- Sloping Oxfordshire hills.
- Green, lush, woodland.
- Sparrows dive, swoop and play.
- A narrow, winding, country lane.
EXT. THATCHED COTTAGE - DAY
A detached cottage enveloped by a colourful garden.
TWO CHILDREN scheme by their paddling pool, sand castle buckets
overflowing with water at the ready.
ADRIAN PEARSON (29), bicycle helmet securely fastened under his
chin, completes the last of his deliveries.
The Children hurl the water at him as he leaves.
Laughing, Adrian vaults on to his butcher's bicycle and makes
his escape.
INT. LONDON PENTHOUSE - DAY
RICHARD PEARSON (34), as arrogant as he is handsome, lies post
coital with a stunning BRUNETTE.
His GIRLFRIEND confronts them. Her keys crash against the
headboard just above Richard's head.
GIRLFRIEND
You bastard!
She storms out.
EXT. LONDON APARTMENTS - DAY
Richard exits with the Brunette, over-night bag and suit carrier
in hand. The Brunette scurries off.
The word BASTARD has been keyed into the side of Richard's
CONVERTIBLE AUDI TT.
RICHARD
Bitch!
The bag and suit land in the boot.
Richard jumps in the car and floors it.
EXT. GREENWAY RESIDENCE - DAY
Adrian cruises towards a lavish house, an enormous marquee in
the rear garden.
Adrian negotiates the truck parked out front and sneaks a look
at the front garden.
CATHERINE GREENWAY marshals the removal of tables from the truck
with the help of her fiancee MARK LONG.
FRED GREENWAY, Catherine's stubborn father, hovers around intent
on helping.
ADRIAN
Afternoon.
Catherine smiles and waves.
Fred sneaks in and grabs a table.
Catherine intercepts and shoos her father away.
Adrian's gaze lingers on Catherine.
He rides into a hedge.
Embarrassed, he extracts himself and the bike.
Catherine hasn't noticed. She's too busy stopping her father
from seizing another table.
EXT. VILLAGE STREET - DAY
Adrian passes a row of cottages as he pulls a twig from his
helmet.
EXT. CHRIS'S OFFICE - DAY
A side wall charred and black, evidence of a recent blaze.
A determined KEN EGAN marches towards the building.
INT. CHRIS'S OFFICE - SAME TIME
CHRIS PEARSON (37) notices Ken and dives out of sight under the
window.
JANE (32), Chris' wife, enters the room.
CHRIS
Shh, get down, Ken Egan's outside.
JANE
I'm not hiding.
CHRIS
Quick, he'll see you.
JANE
I told you, I'm not hiding.
CHRIS
Quick!
Jane joins Chris under protest.
JANE
This is ridiculous.
CHRIS
Shh!
Ken peers through the window.
KEN
Chris? Are you in there?
EXT/INT. VILLAGE STREET/ONE STOP - DAY
ANDY PEARSON (24), terminally bored, vegetates behind the
counter.
Adrian waves as he passes.
Andy barely acknowledges him.
EXT. THE BULL & GATE - DAY
A small country pub that serves real ale, traditional food and
has resisted the lure of satellite TV.
Adrian continues his journey.
EXT. VILLAGE GREEN - DAY
A cluster of small shops and Pearson & Son butchers.
The 'S' that used to reside at the end of Son has long been
absent.
A war memorial, a bench facing, at the Green's centre.
A large HORSE CHESTNUT TREE, every tree climbers dream,
dominates.
Adrian circles the Green.
Leah (33), a tomboy confined to a wheelchair, crosses the road.
Adrian passes her, turns back and circles around her several
times.
A laugh and smile from Leah that softens her stern features.
Adrian waves goodbye and heads for Pearson & Son.
INT. PEARSON & SON BUTCHERS - DAY
PAUL PEARSON (52) cleans behind the counter.
Adrian and bicycle enter the shop.
ADRIAN
Those Barker kids tried to ambush me
again.
PAUL
They'll succeed one of these days.
ADRIAN
It'll never happen.
Adrian wheels his bike out the back.
PAUL
There was a letter for you when I went
home for lunch.
ADRIAN (O.S.)
Who from?
PAUL
Open it and you'll find out.
Adrian enters.
ADRIAN
Where is it?
PAUL
By the till.
Adrian opens it.
PAUL (cont'd)
Well?
ADRIAN
I got accepted.
PAUL
You don't sound too happy about it?
ADRIAN
I am. I'd better get off, I'll see you
later.
Adrian exits out the back.
INT. PEARSON & SON BUTCHERS, REAR - CONTINUOUS
Adrian looks long and hard at the letter.
INT/EXT. CHRIS'S CAR - DAY
Chris and Jane sit in their battered Peugeot 307 Estate, in
stoney silence.
Jane reaches for her mobile, Chris snatches it from her.
CHRIS
Leave it!
JANE
I wasn't --
(beat)
Promise me you'll ask him tonight,
preferably before he starts drinking?
CHRIS
I'll talk to him at some point.
JANE
You know what Richard's --
CHRIS
I said I'll talk to him, okay?
JANE
Chris, don't be like this. We have to.
You know we do.
CHRIS
It doesn't have to be tonight, so just
-
BANG!
Adrian lifts his hand from the car's bonnet and waves
apologetically at the startled pair.
Chris exits and embraces his brother. Jane follows.
ADRIAN
Sorry. You okay?
CHRIS
You just scared me a little that's all.
Chris checks his bonnet for damage and flicks away an imaginary
speck of dust.
Jane embraces Adrian.
ADRIAN
Good to see you.
JANE
And you.
ADRIAN
Right, who's for a cup of tea?
INT/EXT. RICHARD'S CAR/VILLAGE STREETS - DAY
The AUDI, top down, rap music blaring from the stereo, roars
down the street.
Richard brings his car to a screeching halt behind Chris's.
INT. PEARSON HOME, LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM - DAY
Adrian answers the front door.
Richard flings his bag into Adrian's arms, knocking him back.
RICHARD
Honey, I'm home.
Richard intercepts Jane as she enters from the kitchen and hugs
her a little too familiarly.
RICHARD (cont'd)
You look good, baby.
JANE
(stiffly)
Richard.
RICHARD
Where's that useless husband of yours?
Chris enters, can of beer in hand.
Richard snatches the can from him.
RICHARD (cont'd)
Not so useless after all. Cheers!
Chris re-enters the kitchen. Jane follows.
INT. PEARSON HOME, KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
JANE
Ask Richard now.
CHRIS
Later.
JANE
Do it now, before the others get here.
CHRIS
For the last time drop it and let me
enjoy the wedding.
JANE
Chris?
CHRIS
I said later.
Chris exits to the living room.
INT. PEARSON HOME, LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Chris stumbles over Richard's bag on the floor and drops his
can.
RICHARD
Watch yourself there, Chrissy boy.
(to Adrian)
Still can't handle his beer I see.
Chris retrieves his can and joins them.
ADRIAN
The price of responsibility.
RICHARD
That's why I try and avoid it.
Richard drains his beer.
RICHARD (cont'd)
(shouting)
Jane, chuck us another can.
(to Adrian)
So where's the runt?
ADRIAN
He'll be here after work.
RICHARD
Who's he seeing these days?
ADRIAN
Sarah.
RICHARD
The same girl as last time? I
obviously haven't taught him anything.
ADRIAN
They're living together now, renting a
one bedroom flat the other side of the
village.
RICHARD
Living together? I don't visit for six
months and look what happens.
ADRIAN
More like twelve. I think he was
looking for a little independence. He
still manages to come home at lunch and
eat our food though.
Jane enters, thrusts a can in Richard's face and storms out
again.
RICHARD
What's up with her?
CHRIS
No idea.
RICHARD
So are we going to get wasted tonight,
or what?
Chris opens his can; it sprays everywhere.
EXT/INT. ONE-STOP, REAR/ANDY & SARAH'S FLAT, LIVING ROOM - DAY
Andy and STEVE, a fellow One-Stop slave, share a blunt.
Andy's in possession when his mobile RINGS. He passes the blunt
to Steve and answers his phone.
ANDY
Hello.
INTERCUT:
SARAH
Hi, where are you?
ANDY
Still at work.
SARAH
I thought you were finishing early?
ANDY
I'm finishing in a bit. What do you
want?
SARAH
Can you come back before you go around
to your dad's?
ANDY
What now?
SARAH
Please, it's important?
ANDY
OK, I'll be about fifteen minutes or
so.
Andy hangs up, reclaims the blunt and takes a long drag.
INT. ANDY & SARAH'S FLAT, LIVING ROOM - DAY
Andy and Sarah on the sofa, lips locked.
She struggles to escape his octopus grasp.
SARAH
Stop, I've got something to tell you.
ANDY
Can't it wait?
Sarah fights him off.
SARAH
Andy, please?
ANDY
What?
SARAH
I'm pregnant.
ANDY
Pregnant!?
SARAH
Yeah.
ANDY
Pregnant?
SARAH
I believe that's what I said.
ANDY
But you're on the pill.
SARAH
Yes.
ANDY
Did you miss one or something?
SARAH
Andy, the pill isn't a one hundred
percent guarantee.
ANDY
It's not?
(beat)
Are you sure, I mean you could be
wrong, couldn't you?
SARAH
I went to the doctors this morning.
ANDY
You can't be.
SARAH
Women get pregnant every day, Andy,
it's not a rare occurrence. You had
better get going. I'll see you in the
pub later.
She kisses him.
Andy walks to the door in a daze.
SARAH (cont'd)
Andy? You're going to be a dad, enjoy
the moment.
Andy exits.
EXT. ANDY & SARAH'S FLAT - MOMENTS LATER
Andy pulls his tobacco tin from his back pocket and removes a
blunt.
His hand shakes and he drops it.
Andy takes a deep breath to steady himself.
INT. PEARSON HOME, ADRIAN'S BEDROOM - DAY
The colour blue dominates the room and faded furniture. The
washed out walls are in need of a fresh lick of paint.
Adrian sits on his bed poring over the letter from earlier.
CLOSE UP: THE LETTER.
It's from London University accepting Adrian as a mature student
on a business degree course.
Richard enters and dumps his bag on the floor.
RICHARD
(sarcastic)
I see you've redecorated.
ADRIAN
I like blue.
Adrian hastily hides the letter under his pillow. Richard
notices.
RICHARD
What's that?
ADRIAN
Just an invoice for the shop.
RICHARD
Did that mail order bride company turn
you down again?
ADRIAN
You're not in the least bit funny.
RICHARD
Or is it that photo of Catherine?
ADRIAN
What photo?
RICHARD
The one you used to keep in your wallet
after she dumped you.
ADRIAN
She didn't dump me.
RICHARD
You used to spend hours pining over it
in here. You don't still have it, do
you?
ADRIAN
(lying)
No.
RICHARD
Coz you really would be a sad bastard
if you did.
Richard whips his phone out, dials a number and exits.
Adrian plucks his wallet from his back pocket and thrusts it
under his pillow.
A moment, then he moves it and places it under the mattress.
INT. LEAH'S HOUSE, LIVING ROOM - DAY
A mobile rings.
Leah checks the caller ID.
CLOSE UP: MOBILE DISPLAY.
It's Richard.
Leah lets it ring.
INT. PEARSON HOME, LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM -DAY
The Pearson Family devour a meal, crowded around the dining
table.
ADRIAN
(to Richard)
I did not!
RICHARD
Head down the bowl, "Where's my daddy?
I love my daddy!"
ADRIAN
Dad?
PAUL
Sorry, Adrian, but you did. Your
mother wasn't too happy about it,
especially as she had to clean the
stains out of the carpet. I thought it
was funny though.
ADRIAN
Was I really that bad?
RICHARD
And then there was Andy lad.
CHRIS
Oh yeah, I remember. God knows what
you drank, but the bedroom carpet was a
lovely shade of green after that night.
Laughter.
ADRIAN
It wouldn't vanish no matter how much
Mum scrubbed at it.
(beat)
Seemed she was always cleaning up after
our nights out.
The table goes quiet. Adrian raises his glass.
ADRIAN (cont'd)
To Mum, an angel among women.
ALL
To Mum.
Beat.
PAUL
So how's the fish business, Chris?
CHRIS
Jane has just joined the business full
time.
Jane shifts uncomfortably.
JANE
Helps to keep the costs down, you know.
CHRIS
(to Paul)
It was a little hard getting up and
running at first, but things have
settled down now.
RICHARD
So you haven't cocked it up then?
CHRIS
Anyway, shouldn't we be talking about
the wedding? That's what we're here
for after all.
RICHARD
Free food, booze and bridesmaids.
ADRIAN
Is that all you ever think about?
RICHARD
I can't help it if I have healthy
appetites.
JANE
And we all know about your healthy
appetites, don't we.
Chris recoils from the statement. Adrian notices.
RICHARD
You have a problem with my excesses?
ADRIAN
Not if you keep them to yourself. Try
and remember tomorrow's a celebration
for Catherine and not for your ego.
RICHARD
Sorry, Mum, I'll try and remember that.
Have you seen Leah lately?
I've been phoning her but I just keep
getting her voice mail.
ADRIAN
She's fine.
Richard extracts his mobile and dials.
ADRIAN (cont'd)
Don't ring her, she's probably having
dinner now. Besides she'll be there
tomorrow.
RICHARD
Can't have her not coming out tonight.
Adrian gives in.
ADRIAN
Are you alright, Andy? You're a little
quiet there?
RICHARD
Probably tired out, poor lad.
Obviously can't keep up with that
little minx he's got stashed away.
CHRIS
Where is Sarah by the way?
ANDY
She's having dinner at her parents.
RICHARD
Little goer is she?
ANDY
More than you could handle.
RICHARD
Frankly I'm surprised you could find
anyone to put up with your ugly arse.
Maybe I should give the girl a call.
ANDY
If she needs to swap make-up tips I'll
let you know. You're just jealous
because all your women dump you after
one night.
RICHARD
But then I'm too good looking to tie
myself down to just one woman.
ANDY
Probably why your dick's rotting off.
PAUL
That's enough you two.
ANDY
Not that it'll make much difference
since it's so tiny.
PAUL
Andy, enough!
RICHARD
Touchy, touchy.
Andy storms out to the kitchen.
Richard hangs up.
RICHARD (cont'd)
Voice mail again.
Adrian exits after Andy.
EXT. PEARSON HOME, BACK GARDEN - CONTINUOUS
Adrian enters the garden.
Andy drags on a blunt.
ADRIAN
Don't let Dad catch you smoking that.
Andy offers the blunt. Adrian declines.
ADRIAN (cont'd)
What's up?
ANDY
Nothing.
ADRIAN
Nothing, eh? Come on, what is it?
You've been quiet ever since you got
here.
ANDY
I've just got a bit on my mind, that's
all.
ADRIAN
Money problems?
ANDY
No.
ADRIAN
I can lend you some?
ANDY
It's not money.
Beat.
ANDY (cont'd)
Have you, you know, wanted anything
more out of life, more than what you
have at the moment?
ADRIAN
I don't think that there's a person
alive who hasn't at one point or other.
ANDY
I mean, do you ever regret not settling
down with Catherine?
ADRIAN
Sometimes.
ANDY
Sorry, I didn't mean --
ADRIAN
Is that what this is about, moving in
with Sarah?
ANDY
I don't know if I'm --
Beat.
ADRIAN
Go on.
ANDY
I love her, I do, I really do, it's
just, maybe I rushed it.
ADRIAN
It's only been a month, Andy.
ANDY
I know.
ADRIAN
Give it another month and if you still
feel the same look at your options
again.
ANDY
Never mind, it doesn't matter.
ADRIAN
It obviously does to you.
ANDY
No it doesn't, I'm just being an idiot.
ADRIAN
Well if you want to talk sometime, just
let me know and we can talk about it
over a cuppa.
Adrian enters the house.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.