Ido 6
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 swoop and dive from roof-top to roof-top.
A milkman on his rounds whistles a happy tune. He spots a cat
sat 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.
INT. RICHARD'S BEDROOM - MORNING
The dark, heavy curtains shut out most of the light, the room in
semi-gloom.
A clock TICKS on the 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 plastic sports
trophies occupy the top of a chest of drawers.
A pin board resides on one wall, 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.
RICHARD (22), the same man from the pictures, lies in bed, the
covers pulled up around his neck. His eyes are wide open,
staring, terrified, dark circles ring them.
Panic smothers him.
The clock ticking increases to deafening proportions as the
second hand slowly turns, eating time as it goes.
Richard's eyes widen, the pupils small and tight.
The words of his bestman echo around his room.
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, builds in volume as the second hand of the
clock races towards the twelve.
STEVE (cont'd, V.O)
Marriage is an institution and you're about
to be committed.
Richard grips the covers tighter around his neck as the beating
of his heart gets louder and faster.
STEVE (cont'd, V.O)
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 almost at the twelve.
STEVE (cont'd, V.O)
Rather you than me, mate.
The second hand hits the twelve. An alarm clock's buzzer blasts
out.
Richard sits bolt upright in bed, his hand slams down hard on
the alarm's off button.
He returns to his original position, short of breath and
drenched with sweat.
Richard's heart beats 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, in casual clothes, takes
his first tentative steps outside. He nervously chews on a
fingernail.
A car waits outside the house and Richard enters the passenger
door.
INT. STEVE'S CAR, MOVING - DAY
STEVE (24) pulls out and drives off.
STEVE
Talk about the eleventh hour. Jesus, mate,
you cut it fine.
Richard shrugs, nibbles another nail.
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 and shakes his head.
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
No.
STEVE
Good! Now we've settled 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.
A woman's idea of heaven and every bloke's nightmare, wall to
wall make-up, dresses and hair sprays.
Jane applies eye shadow to her sister.
JANE
Hold still, fidget bum.
RUTH
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 mists 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.
Ruth hugs Susan.
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 moments.
The doorbell rings.
JANE
That must be the flowers, I'll get it.
Jane jumps up and runs 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, an angry storm cloud.
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 stands at the bottom of the stairs, white as a sheet.
He paces up and down. He chews his nails, if there are any
left.
Ruth walks down the stairs.
RUTH
Rich? What is it?
Richard can't look her in the eye and keeps his gaze firmly
fixed to the floor.
RICHARD
Can we talk?
RUTH
Sure.
RICHARD
In private?
Ruth looks around and then grabs Richard's arm and pulls him
towards the downstairs toilet.
RUTH
In here.
INT. TOILET - DAY
Ruth sits on the toilet and waits patiently for Richard to
speak. Richard paces 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 inhales deeply.
RICHARD
I don't want to get married!
Ruth's face falls.
RUTH
Is it something I've done?
RICHARD
No, not at all. 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 fights the tears and manages to calm herself.
RICHARD
It's for the best, you'll see.
Silence.
RICHARD
I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to
see me again.
Silence.
RICHARD
I know I've hurt you. I'm really sorry.
Silence.
RICHARD
If there was anything I could do to take
the pain away, I would. I'm so sorry.
Silence.
RICHARD
Please, Ruth? I can't go through with it.
It's wrong, I know it is. I'm really very
sorry.
Silence.
RICHARD
Ruth?
Ruth slowly lifts her head and looks Richard directly in the
eye.
RUTH
Okay.
Richard, mouth open, shocked, not believing what he's just
heard.
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 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, a bundle of nervous enthusiasm, nods his head
energetically.
RICHARD
Okay, I understand. I'll be there.
Ruth stands 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 follow.
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 sits next to Steve, at the front of the church, a lot
calmer than 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 smiles and talks amongst themselves.
The bride's march starts 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 by her UNCLE. He does a double take.
He turns to Steve.
RICHARD
What the hell is she doing!!
Steve shakes his head.
Richard looks around for a way out.
Only one way out exists, through the main church doors, past
Ruth and the guests.
Richard looks at the wedding guests.
Ruth's mum, her sister, Jane, friends and family, all smiles,
watch Ruth walk up the aisle.
Richard's trapped.
The walls of the church close in on him.
Richard's heart beat gets quicker and louder, accompanied by the
ticking clock.
All sound abruptly stops as Ruth reaches the alter. A deathly
silence.
Richard stands there, a rabbit mesmerised by the headlights from
an approaching car.
Ruth smiles sweetly at Richard.
RUTH
Well, are you ready?
EXT. CHURCH - DAY
The bells ring out Richard and Ruth exit the church.
A PAGEBOY and FLOWER GIRL chase each other around the legs of
the other guests.
A PHOTOGRAPHER directs the happy couple. Richard and Ruth pose
on the steps of the church.
INT. FAMILY HOME, LIVING ROOM - DAY
Some years later.
A row of photographs line the top of a cabinet. The pictures
are in chronological order and tell a story.
Wedding day. Richard and Ruth stand on the steps of the church.
Ruth smiles, Richard stunned.
Honeymoon. Richard and Ruth enjoy themselves on an exotic
beach. Richard still stunned.
The birth of their first child. Richard still stunned.
The birth of their second child. Richard still stunned.
A happy family portrait 10 years on. Richard no longer stunned,
happy with his family.
FADE OUT:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.