Ido 6.1
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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FADE IN:
EXT. CORNWALL AVENUE - MORNING
A glorious summer morning.
Cloudless blue skies.
Birds swooping and diving from roof-top to roof-top.
A milkman on his rounds whistles a happy tune. He spots a
cat sitting patiently on a gate post and pauses to tickle him
behind the ears. The cat PURRS his delight.
A house. One of many in a terrace.
A first floor window, dark and heavily curtained, shutting
out the world.
INT. RICHARD'S BEDROOM - MORNING
The dark, heavy curtains shut out most of the light, leaving
the room in a semi-gloom.
The only sound is the TICKING of a clock on a wall as it
reads 7:28.
A wedding suit hangs, still in its carrier, from the wardrobe
door.
Posters of football players litter the walls and a few,
plastic sporting trophies occupy the top of a chest of
drawers.
A pin board resides on one wall and is covered with photos of
a young couple in various poses. Some are holiday pictures,
others from nights out, but all have one thing in common:
these two people are inseparable and deeply in love.
A man in his mid-twenties, the same man from the pictures,
lies in bed, the covers pulled up around his neck. His eyes
are wide open staring at nothing. It looks as if he hasn't
had a lot of sleep, if any.
Meet RICHARD, he is something close to panic.
The TICKING of the clock increases to almost deafening
proportions as the second hand slowly turns, eating time as
it goes.
Richard's eyes widen, the pupils so small and tight they are
almost non existent.
The WORDS of his bestman play on his mind.
STEVE (V.O)
Murderers get shorter life sentences.
Another sound, the BEATING of Richard's racing heart,
accompanies that of the clock.
It starts quietly, building in volume as the second hand of
the clock races towards the twelve.
STEVE (cont'd, V.O) (cont'd)
Marriage is an institution and you're
about to be committed.
Richard pulls the covers tighter around his neck as the
BEATING of his heart gets louder and faster.
STEVE (cont'd, V.O) (cont'd)
No more football, beer or friends, from
now on it's going to be shopping for soft
furnishings, DIY, nappies and soft pastel
shades.
The second hand of the clock is almost to the twelve.
STEVE (cont'd, V.O) (cont'd)
Rather you than me, mate.
The second hand hits the twelve and an ALARM CLOCK goes off
beside the bed.
Richard sits bolt upright in bed, his hand slamming down hard
on the alarm's off button.
He returns to his original position in total silence. We
notice for the first time that he is panting and is covered
in sweat.
Richard's HEART can be heard again, quietly at first but
growing in strength.
EXT. RICHARD'S HOUSE - DAY
The front door opens slightly and then closes.
It opens again and this time Richard takes his first
tentative steps outside. He nervously chews on a nail.
A car is waiting outside the house and Richard enters the
passenger door.
INT. STEVE'S CAR, MOVING - DAY
STEVE, mid-twenties, pulls out and drives off.
STEVE
Talk about the eleventh hour. Jesus,
mate, you cut it fine.
Richard just shrugs. He has too much on his mind to be
paying much attention to what Steve is saying.
STEVE (cont'd)
It was too close, Rich. Too close.
RICHARD
I still love her, Steve. The last thing
I want to do is hurt her.
Steve looks at Richard as if he's lost his mind.
STEVE
Loving's fine, but never under any
circumstance tell a woman you love her.
Tell her you love her and that's it,
she'll have you out looking for
engagement rings before you finish saying
the words. Big mistake. Huge.
RICHARD
Turn the car around.
STEVE
What?
RICHARD
Turn the car around. I want to go back.
STEVE
Back? You want to get married then?
RICHARD
No... but...
STEVE
But what? Look, Rich, do us both a
favour and get your head together. Now,
do you want to get married?
RICHARD
I don't want to get married.
STEVE
Good! Now we've settled on that how
about I drive you to a hotel so you can
hide out until things blow over?
RICHARD
No... I'm mean... Oh shit, I don't know
what I mean. Drive me to Ruth's house,
okay. I just want to get this over with.
INT. RUTH'S BEDROOM - DAY
Organized chaos reigns as RUTH, her sister JANE, 32, and
their mother, SUSAN, get ready for the wedding.
This is any woman's idea of heaven and every bloke's
nightmare, wall to wall make-up, dresses and hair sprays.
Jane is in the process of applying eye shadow to her sister.
JANE
Hold still, fidget bum.
RUTH
Well stop trying to poke my eye out then.
JANE
Stop fidgeting then.
SUSAN
You were always like that. When you were
younger you could never stay still even
for a second. A regular little
whirlwind.
RUTH
Oh, Mum! Not the "when you were younger"
stories, please.
Susan has started to mist up.
JANE
Don't start crying yet, mum. You'll make
your eyes all puffy.
(to Ruth)
All done.
Ruth checks her make-up in the mirror.
SUSAN
I can't help it.
Susan wipes away a tear. Ruth goes to Susan and puts her arm
around her.
RUTH
Mum, don't be so silly. I'm only getting
married. You're not going to lose me
forever.
Jane looks at the two and smiles. Happy families.
SUSAN
I wish your father was here to walk you
down the aisle. He'd be so proud.
RUTH
Oh, Mum.
Jane joins in the hug and they hold it for a few seconds.
Three sisters together.
The DOORBELL rings.
JANE
That must be the flowers, I'll get it.
Jane jumps up and goes downstairs.
Ruth pulls away from Susan and wipes her mother's eyes with a
tissue.
RUTH
Cheer up, Mum. It's supposed to be a
happy day.
SUSAN
I am happy for you. I can't help it.
I'm just an old fool.
RUTH
Don't be silly.
(pause)
I love you.
SUSAN
I love you too.
Jane reappears at the bedroom door and she looks pissed off.
RUTH
What is it?
JANE
It's Richard, he wants a word with you.
Susan brushes the tears away, trying not to show Jane that
she's been crying.
SUSAN
Doesn't the silly boy know it's bad luck
to see his bride before the wedding.
JANE
I did point it out to him, but he was
kind of insistent.
SUSAN
Well send him away. He can talk to Ruth
later.
RUTH
It's okay, Mum. I'll talk to him.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
Richard is standing at the bottom of the stairs. He is as
white as a sheet and is pacing up and down. He is chewing
his nails, if he has any left.
Ruth walks down the stairs.
RUTH
Rich? What is it?
Richard can't look her in the eyes and keeps his gaze firmly
fixed to the floor.
RICHARD
Can we talk?
RUTH
Sure.
RICHARD
In private?
Ruth looks around and then grabs Rich's arm and pulls him
towards the downstairs toilet.
RUTH
In here.
INT. TOILET - DAY
Ruth is sat on the toilet waiting patiently for Richard to
speak. Richard is pacing up and down in the tiny space
available to him. He's doing quite well considering there
isn't any space.
RICHARD
I... I'm really sorry... It's best if I
just come out and say it.
Richard sucks in a deep breath.
RICHARD (cont'd)
I don't want to get married!
Ruth's face falls.
RUTH
Is it something I've done?
RICHARD
No! I still love you the same, it's
just...
RUTH
Well, what then..? You've been listening
to Steve again, haven't you?
RICHARD
No, no... well yes... but I think I...
we're making a mistake.
RUTH
Oh, Richard! How could you?
Ruth is close to tears but manages to calm herself.
RICHARD
It's for the best, you'll see.
Silence.
RICHARD (cont'd)
I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want
to see me again.
Silence.
RICHARD (cont'd)
I know I've hurt you. I'm really sorry.
Silence.
RICHARD (cont'd)
If there was anything I could do to take
the pain away, I would. I'm so sorry.
Silence.
RICHARD (cont'd)
Please, Ruth? I can't go through with
it. It's wrong, I know it is. I'm
really very sorry.
Silence.
RICHARD (cont'd)
Ruth..?
Ruth slowly lifts her head and looks Richard straight in the
eye.
RUTH
Okay!
Richard has the look of someone who has just been told he's
won the jackpot on the lottery.
RICHARD
Sorry?
RUTH
Okay.
RICHARD
You don't mind?
RUTH
I love you, Richard... I still want to
be with you even if it's not as your
wife... If you don't want to get married
then I'm not going to force you... I'm
not an evil witch you know.
RICHARD
I know, I...
Richard can no longer look Ruth in the eye.
RUTH
Do you think you could do me a favour?
Richard's head snaps up.
RICHARD
Anything! Anything you want. Just ask.
RUTH
Could you please turn up at the church as
if nothing has happened. For my sake.
RICHARD
I've told you, Ruth. I can't go through
with it.
RUTH
I don't intend for you to go through with
it. You see, my worst nightmare would to
be humiliated in front of all my family
and friends. Having them know that you
didn't want to marry me...
I just couldn't face them again. I guess
what I'm trying to say is I would like
them to think that I was the one who
didn't want to get married. So I think
it's best if I don't turn up at the
church.
Richard can't believe he's getting off so lightly.
RICHARD
I understand... Okay!
Ruth gets up off the toilet and kisses Richard gently on the
cheek.
RUTH
Thank you.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
Ruth sees Richard out of the door.
Jane comes down the stairs, the storm clouds still following.
JANE
Well?
RUTH
(smiling)
He just wanted me to know he loved me.
EXT. CHURCH - DAY
Friends and family swarm into the church.
INT. CHURCH - DAY
Everybody's here. There's not a single family member or
friend missing.
Richard is sat, next to Steve, at the front of the church and
is looking a lot calmer than when we saw him earlier. The
colour has returned to his cheeks and he even manages to
smile.
Richard turns and looks at the rest of the congregation.
Everyone is smiling and talking amongst themselves.
The BRIDE'S MARCH starts to play and the colour drains from
Richard's face. It's even possible he's invented a new shade
of white.
Richard looks at the doors of the church and sees Ruth being
escorted down the aisle. He does a double take.
He turns to Steve.
RICHARD
What the hell is she doing!!
Steve just shakes his head.
Richard looks around for a way out.
There is only one way out and that is through the main church
doors.
Richard looks at the wedding guests. They're all looking at
him.
The church door somehow seems smaller and further away.
Ruth's mum, her sister, Jane, friends and family, all
smiling, staring at Richard.
Richard's trapped.
The walls of the church begin to close in on him.
Richard's HEART BEAT gets quicker and louder, accompanied by
the TICKING of the clock.
All sound abruptly stops as Ruth reaches the alter and there
is a DEATHLY SILENCE.
Richard is just standing there like a rabbit mesmerised by
the beam of headlights from an approaching car.
Ruth smiles sweetly at Richard.
RUTH
Well? Are you ready?
EXT. CHURCH - DAY
The BELLS ring out as people flood out of the church.
Pageboys and bridesmaids chase each other around the legs of
the other guests.
A photographer stands, waiting outside the church doors, for
the happy couple.
Richard and Ruth exit to cheers and pose on the steps of the
church for photographs.
INT. FAMILY HOME, LIVING ROOM - DAY
It is now some years later.
A row of photographs line up on top of a cabinet. The
pictures are in chronological order and tell a story.
Wedding day. Richard and Ruth standing on the steps of the
church. Ruth is smiling, Richard looks a little stunned.
Honeymoon. Richard and Ruth enjoying themselves on an exotic
beach somewhere. Richard still looks stunned.
The birth of their first child. Richard, still stunned.
The birth of their second child. Richard stunned.
A happy family portrait 10 years on. Richard is no longer
stunned, finally.
FADE OUT:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.