Forever 6.1
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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FADE IN:
EXT. PARK - DAY
The trees are in blossom, just sprouting their new leaves
towards the spring sun.
Birds swoop and soar, round and round in circles playfully.
Daisies and other wild flowers flourish amongst the lush
green grass.
Clean white clouds wander lazily across a rich blue sky.
A squirrel wanders along the branch of a tree and down the
main trunk to the ground, looking for food.
Seated on a bench in the centre of this and in complete
contrast to the other images is NIGEL, a mournful looking man
in his mid to late twenties.
Nigel is absorbed in his own thoughts, completely
disinterested in the beauty that surrounds him, as he
casually tosses sections of bread to the floor for the
pigeons.
A thick, plain gold wedding ring adorns the ring finger of
his left hand.
Throwing the last of the bread to the floor he watches the
pigeons.
The pigeons push each other, fighting over the last scraps of
bread without any regard for the others.
An old couple walk past holding hands. Nigel watches them go
by.
Nigel spreads his hands out before him, palms upwards, and
stares at them intently. They are big powerful hands
belonging to a man used to manual labour.
He clenches his hands into fists and lets them out again, as
if he's afraid of their power.
With the forefinger and thumb of his opposite hand he plays
with his wedding ring.
Nigel gets up off the bench with all the conviction of a man
who doesn't know where to go.
The pigeons scatter, almost afraid to leave the food behind,
as Nigel wanders off.
EXT. HOUSING ESTATE - DAY
The houses are all linked together, terrace style, in an open
ended rectangle. This gives the impression of
claustrophobia, the houses looking closer together than they
actually are.
Nigel walks down a path past the backs of the houses with his
hands in his pockets and his head down, looking no further
than a couple of feet in front, his face troubled.
He approaches a small narrow tunnel entrance on his left,
leading to the fronts of the houses.
Nigel looks as if he's about to walk through the tunnel but
stops short as if some invisible force is preventing him from
continuing. He takes a couple of hesitant steps forward but
can go no further.
Nigel turns and heads back the way he came, the relief
showing in his quickened pace.
INT. BAR - DAY
The bar isn't very busy and only a few people are scattered,
in twos or threes, around the seating area.
Nigel is at the bar paying for his drink. The barman gives
him change and moves onto the next customer.
As Nigel wanders off the barman changes and becomes the
spitting image of Nigel, as he carries on serving the
customer.
Nigel sits down at a table and sips his drink before looking
up to see who is around.
A young couple, about the same age as Nigel, sit near. They
are smiling and chatting away happily. Nigel listens in on
their conversation. As he does so they also change before
his eyes becoming images of Nigel.
MAN#1
(feigned shock)
No, way!
WOMAN#1
Yes, we are!
MAN#1
But I've had it for years. You can't
just throw it out, it's just got
comfortable.
Nigel sips at his drink and then leans back so he can hear
better.
WOMAN#1
(laughing)
It's falling to bits, it smells and it's
covered in stains. It's going!
MAN#1
Everyone of those stains and smells is a
memory, happily spent watching the
football.
WOMAN#1
Do you want me to move in, or not?
Nigel smiles.
The man jokingly pretends to think on what his girlfriend has
just said.
MAN#1
Hmm, old comfortable chair or girlfriend?
Tough one.
The woman can't believe he's even considering it.
WOMAN#1
Hey...
She playfully threatens him with her fist.
WOMAN#1 (cont'd)
... Do you want a punch?
The smile disappears from Nigel's face to be replaced by a
deep sadness. He clenches his right fist.
The man attempts to defend himself.
MAN#1
Okay, okay! I'll choose the chair...
The woman goes to hit him again.
WOMAN#1
Watch it.
MAN#1
Sorry, I meant you. The chair's gone.
It is no more.
Nigel turns his attention back to his pint. He takes a large
gulp.
He places the glass back down on the table, still holding it.
Something catches his eye.
A small graze can be seen on one of the knuckles of his right
hand. Nigel looks at it intensely.
He takes his hand away from his drink and rubs his left
forefinger over the graze. It is a recent wound.
Nigel snaps out of it and drinks some more of his drink.
Three lads, in their early twenties sit down on the next
table. Three lagers are placed on the table in front of
them. They too turn into images of Nigel.
LAD#1
Are you going to see her again?
LAD#2
Doubt it.
LAD#3
You're an idiot. She's a babe. I'll
have her telephone number if you're not
interested.
Lad#1 and Lad#2 grin. Nigel grins.
LAD#2
Like she'll want to shag an ugly bastard
like you?
LAD#3
You never know?
LAD#1
Yeah right. Dream on!
LAD#3
(exasperated)
It could happen.
LAD#1
Not a chance. Anyway, why are we going
on about your nonexistent love life when
we should be giving this idiot grief.
Lad#1 slaps Lad#2 on the back. Nigel sneaks a quick glance
at them before returning to his drink.
LAD#3
So what's wrong with this one?
LAD#2
Nothing. I'm just enjoying myself too
much at the moment to get into a
relationship.
Nigel absently starts to play with his wedding ring, twisting
it round and round.
LAD#1
But you've got a good looking women who
wants you. What more do you need?
Nigel gulps down a few mouthfuls of his drink.
LAD#2
You know what'll happen. She'll want to
see me more and more and then you guys
won't see me at all.
LAD#3
Ahh, isn't that sweet. We're touched.
LAD#2
You know what I mean. I'm young, good
looking...
This brings laughter from the others. Lad#2 ignores his
friends and continues. Nigel remains sullen faced.
LAD#2 (cont'd)
... good-looking... and single. Why
would I need or want to tie myself down
to one woman?
LAD#3
I see what you mean. Forget her.
The other two laugh.
Nigel looks at his pint glass as if searching for some
meaning or inspiration. He watches his fingers through the
beer as he moves them.
The beer distorts them and makes them seem impossibly big,
grotesque even.
Nigel downs the rest of his pint and walks up to the bar.
The barman, still the image of Nigel, notices him.
BARMAN
Same again?
Nigel nods and waits for his drink. It arrives and he pays
for it before returning to his seat.
Nigel listens in on the three lads again.
LAD#3
She's good-looking, great in bed and you
still want to leave it?
Lad#2 nods.
LAD#1
But, mate, you only live once and you
never know when you are going to find the
right woman. You have to take your
chances.
Lad#3 slaps Lad#2 on the back.
LAD#3
And besides, if she isn't the one then
you keep boffing away until you get
bored.
LAD#2
(to Lad#3)
Sex! Is that all you think of?
Lad#3 thinks about this.
LAD#3
(nodding furiously)
Yep!
LAD#1
Come on though, seriously. You can't
throw away a good opportunity like this
just because you want the "young free and
single" lifestyle. If you do decide to
see her again I promise you we're not
going to just disappear. We'll come and
rescue you now and again.
LAD#3
Or just come round and ogle her.
Lad#2 turns and gives a disapproving look at Lad#3.
LAD#1
Just take her out again and see if things
work out... and if they don't then...
Lad#2 thinks on this.
LAD#2
Yeah, I suppose you're right. I'll give
her a call.
He finishes his drink. The others reach into their pockets
pulling out a handful of coins simultaneously and offering
them to Lad#2.
Lad#2 shakes his head and grins. He takes some money and
wanders off to find a phone.
Nigel drinks some of his pint and turns his attention back to
young couple. They are still the image of Nigel, but things
are a little more serious now.
MAN#1
No! Absolutely not.
The woman leans in closer.
WOMAN#1
But we can't entertain people with holes
in it.
MAN#1
You never complained about it before.
WOMAN#1
Yeah, then it was your place, but it's
going to be ours now.
MAN#1
So I'm scruffy and untidy then?
Nigel unconsciously straightens his clothes.
WOMAN#1
That's not what I meant.
MAN#1
Okay then, I live in a slum?
WOMAN#1
I didn't mean that either...
MAN#1
Then what did you mean, because so far
you have criticised every bit of
furniture I own and my decorating as
well.
WOMAN#1
Look, all I want is... It's a new start
for both of us and... I think... the flat
was yours and now it's going to ours, so
we should make it ours.
MAN#1
And how much do you think "making it
OURS" is going to cost?
WOMAN#1
We earn a decent amount between us.
MAN#1
Not enough to do what you're proposing.
The carpet is fine. It has plenty of
years left in it yet.
WOMAN#1
I'm not talking about doing everything at
once, just getting the most urgent things
sorted first.
MAN#1
I gave you the chair, fair enough. I'm
even prepared to take down the posters
and redecorate some of the rooms, but
that is it.
Nigel gives a sad little smile.
WOMAN#1
The carpet needs changing!
The man stands up a vein throbbing in his forehead.
MAN#1
Lets forget it. Moving in together was a
big mistake.
The man storms off and the woman follows leaving their half
empty drinks behind. As they go they return back to the
people they were originally. Nigel turns back to his drink.
He finishes his pint and gets up, walking out. As he walks
past the bar the barman reverts back to the person he was
originally.
EXT. PARK - DAY
Nigel walks slowly and randomly through the park. Indecision
plagues his every step.
EXT. HOUSING ESTATE - DAY
The narrow tunnel looms and Nigel hesitates before walking
through.
He exits at the front of the houses and walks towards one,
but stops, still several feet away.
A WOMAN the same age as Nigel can be seen through the kitchen
window. A small bruise is visible on her cheek and her eyes
are red and puffy. She has been crying heavily.
Nigel stands and watches the woman as she finishes making
herself a cup of tea. She walks to the kitchen table and
sits down, her head drops and she bursts into tears.
Nigel watches her, sadness etched on his features. He looks
down at the wedding ring on his finger.
He plays with it. Nigel looks up once more and watches the
woman.
The woman is sat there with her head in her hands, sobs rack
her body.
Nigel pulls on the ring to get it off his finger. It is a
little tight but after a little manoeuvring, Nigel manages to
get it off.
He looks at it, twirling it around in his fingers.
Nigel slips the ring into his pocket and turns.
Nigel walks into the distance.
FADE OUT:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.