Would I Die For You?
Wait until it fades to black
He stands looking in the sink, watching his water reflection tremor back at him. He washes his face again, cooling the pale skin even more. Keeping his head low, not wanting to see himself in the broken, dirty mirror above the sink, he turns away. He walks out of the dark and damp rest room and into the old office, located at the top of an abandoned warehouse.
The contrast in this room is unbelievable. From the dingy cold room, to a bare old office, with walls covered with layers of white paper, from ceiling to floor. Drawings of the same girl are on a few of the papers, all showing her from a different angle, some of her sleeping, some smiling, all happy, expect one, showing her crying. All paper has writing on it, from hundreds of words messily written on it, to a single word – a name, Jamie.
He walks into the room and tugs on a noose hanging from a rafter in the middle of the room. The man heavily walks to the filthy windows and leans against the rotting woodwork. Reaching into his black jacket pocket for his last cigarette he sparks it. As he smokes he watches the grimy city below pass him by. Finishing the cigarette he pushes the tall windows open, a gust of wind rushes into the room. The paper falls all around him, as he throws his cigarette to the street. Turning back to the swinging noose, the man takes a wooden chair and carefully places it under the rope. He confidently stands on the chair and facing the city, wind blowing his black shoulder length hair, it’s cold whip against his black jeans, he calmly pulls the clean rope around his neck.
With one last breath, he stands tall and proud and looking to the city he pulls his leg behind himself, ready to kick the chair away from supporting him.
Leaving the man behind we travel out the window, flying high above the city. It’s a very cloudy and dismal day in London. Flying over the River Thames and falling through a low dark cloud, the city is revealed in a blanket of heavy rain. We travel faster into traffic and get cut off by buses and taxis until we have landed in a dark, tiny alleyway. We stop dead.
The back of a tall man 5’8”, dressed in black. Short black hair, well kept, black jacket to the waist, black jeans. Drops end of a cigarette, stands on it. Pulls his jacket over his neckline and walks out the other side of the alley.
He walks out, rain stops, suddenly.
We backtrack with more speed, though the city.
Stopping at young girl about to cross the road at lights. A taxi beeps her, as he drives past, splashing her, making her dripping wet.
JAMIE: Oh! Thanks a lot arsehole! Looking down, seeing she’s wet. Fucking brilliant!
People push past her; she continues her journey, obviously in a rush. She takes out her mobile phone, text message;
Leslie:
Where the fuck are you? We’re about to go in!! You’re gonna get so screwed!
JAMIE: Fuck!
Jamie carries on walking, with more speed.
She disappears into the crowd.
Jamie enters a modern looking building. It has a large lobby, with a few people quietly walking through; she’s dripping rainwater onto the floor as her trainers squeak on the marble flooring.
She goes to the large reception desk where a man is typing on a PC.
JAMIE: Excuse me?
RECEPTIONIST: Not looking away from the monitor. With a nasal voice. Yes?
JAMIE: I’m here to sit my Art History exam.
RECEPTIONIST: Name?
JAMIE: Jamie Louise McDonough.
He types on the keyboard.
RECEPTIONIST: What level?
JAMIE: Undergrad.
RECEPTIONIST: You do know what the time is?
JAMIE: I know I’m late.
RECEPTIONIST: That exam started over an hour ago.
JAMIE: I know. I thought it was an afternoon exam-
RECEPTIONIST: Well I’m sorry, but I cannot let you in now.
JAMIE: What?!
RECEPTIONIST: The external examiner stopped people entering over twenty minutes ago. You’ll have to fill out this form for the exam board to explain your absence-
JAMIE: But I’m not absent, am I? I’m standing right here! The exam hall is over there–
She points to a double door with a sign reading, “No admittance. Exam in progress. SILENCE.”
JAMIE: But you don’t wanna let me in!
RECEPTIONIST: It’s not a matter of just letting you in. I simply am not allowed. Now take this form, and we’ll see what we can do about it later-
JAMIE: Oh balls to you and your bloody form! Thanks! Because of you I’ve failed and have got a fat chance of getting onto my post-grad course, cheers mate, you’ve just ruined my life!
Jamie turns on her heel and storms from the lobby. The male receptionist calls after her.
RECEPTIONIST: Next time set your alarm clock!
Jamie grits her teeth, bites her tongue and walks out of the building without rising to his bate.
Jamie is sitting in her small kitchen in her student town house she shares with two other students. She’s sitting at the small white, wooden table; her head resting on it, her fingers laced and on top her head.
The front door slams and her housemate, and best friend, Leslie runs through the kitchen door.
LESLIE: Where the hell did you get to?
JAMIE: Not moving her head. Don’t start Leslie; I can’t face it at the moment-
LESLIE: You’re gonna have to face it, sooner or later!
JAMIE: I’ve already faced the fact that I’m fucked!
LESLIE: I knew I shouldn’t have stayed at Jimmy’s last night.
JAMIE: Looking up at her, almost ready to attack. Why?!
LESLIE: Because you’re useless at getting yourself up when you’ve got something important.
JAMIE: No I’m not! I’m not seven!
LESLIE: I never said you was-
JAMIE: You’re acting like I can’t even set an alarm clock!
LESLIE: Then why was you late?! I heard someone say you thought it was an afternoon exam! You knew it was a morning one…we’ve got the fucking timetable on the fridge!
JAMIE: I said that to try to get me in-
LESLIE: Then what happened?!
JAMIE: Putting her forehead on the table. Muttering. My alarm didn’t go off.
LESLIE: Oh I don’t fucking believe this! Jamie you can’t re-sit that exam! You’ll have to do other essays, maybe have to re-submit. You might even have to do a new portfolio-
JAMIE: You think I don’t know that?
LESLIE: Why didn’t you set your fucking alarm? It’s not that hard!
JAMIE: I did!
LESLIE: You just said you didn’t!
JAMIE: No. I think you’ll find I said, “my alarm didn’t go off”!
LESLIE: Isn’t that the same damn thing?!
JAMIE: No! I set it! Someone turned it off!
LESLIE: Oh here we go Jamie! She didn’t turn your alarm off!
JAMIE: She must have done!
LESLIE: Why would she?!
JAMIE: Because she wants the scholarship prize-
LESLIE: Oh come off it! Everyone knows you’re gonna get that!
JAMIE: Yeah and uni’ is really gonna give it to someone who couldn’t be arsed to show up for the exam! I needed that prize money too!
LESLIE: I don’t see why Katie would turn off your alarm-
JAMIE: She wants it!
LESLIE: Look I know she’s desperate, but-
JAMIE: But nothing! I swear I remember someone coming in my room last night-
LESLIE: Oh chuff off Jae, you’re like the world’s heaviest sleeper!
JAMIE: I’m telling you-
LESLIE: And I’m telling you. I should have stayed home and made sure you got up-
JAMIE: I don’t need a mother-
LESLIE: Doesn’t sound like it!
JAMIE: She turned my alarm off!
LESLIE: Oh grow up Jamie! She didn’t! You just forgot to set it and you’re blaming Katie for it!
JAMIE: Standing up. Thanks for your support! Glad to know my best friend believes me!
Jamie walks out the kitchen and down the hall.
LESLIE: Where are you going?!
JAMIE: To through myself under a bus!
LESLIE: Jae!
JAMIE: I need ciggys!
LESLIE: Jamie-
Jamie slams the front door shut behind her.
LESLIE: Hitting the top of the kitchen counter. Bollocks!
The contrast in this room is unbelievable. From the dingy cold room, to a bare old office, with walls covered with layers of white paper, from ceiling to floor. Drawings of the same girl are on a few of the papers, all showing her from a different angle, some of her sleeping, some smiling, all happy, expect one, showing her crying. All paper has writing on it, from hundreds of words messily written on it, to a single word – a name, Jamie.
He walks into the room and tugs on a noose hanging from a rafter in the middle of the room. The man heavily walks to the filthy windows and leans against the rotting woodwork. Reaching into his black jacket pocket for his last cigarette he sparks it. As he smokes he watches the grimy city below pass him by. Finishing the cigarette he pushes the tall windows open, a gust of wind rushes into the room. The paper falls all around him, as he throws his cigarette to the street. Turning back to the swinging noose, the man takes a wooden chair and carefully places it under the rope. He confidently stands on the chair and facing the city, wind blowing his black shoulder length hair, it’s cold whip against his black jeans, he calmly pulls the clean rope around his neck.
With one last breath, he stands tall and proud and looking to the city he pulls his leg behind himself, ready to kick the chair away from supporting him.
Leaving the man behind we travel out the window, flying high above the city. It’s a very cloudy and dismal day in London. Flying over the River Thames and falling through a low dark cloud, the city is revealed in a blanket of heavy rain. We travel faster into traffic and get cut off by buses and taxis until we have landed in a dark, tiny alleyway. We stop dead.
The back of a tall man 5’8”, dressed in black. Short black hair, well kept, black jacket to the waist, black jeans. Drops end of a cigarette, stands on it. Pulls his jacket over his neckline and walks out the other side of the alley.
He walks out, rain stops, suddenly.
We backtrack with more speed, though the city.
Stopping at young girl about to cross the road at lights. A taxi beeps her, as he drives past, splashing her, making her dripping wet.
JAMIE: Oh! Thanks a lot arsehole! Looking down, seeing she’s wet. Fucking brilliant!
People push past her; she continues her journey, obviously in a rush. She takes out her mobile phone, text message;
Leslie:
Where the fuck are you? We’re about to go in!! You’re gonna get so screwed!
JAMIE: Fuck!
Jamie carries on walking, with more speed.
She disappears into the crowd.
Jamie enters a modern looking building. It has a large lobby, with a few people quietly walking through; she’s dripping rainwater onto the floor as her trainers squeak on the marble flooring.
She goes to the large reception desk where a man is typing on a PC.
JAMIE: Excuse me?
RECEPTIONIST: Not looking away from the monitor. With a nasal voice. Yes?
JAMIE: I’m here to sit my Art History exam.
RECEPTIONIST: Name?
JAMIE: Jamie Louise McDonough.
He types on the keyboard.
RECEPTIONIST: What level?
JAMIE: Undergrad.
RECEPTIONIST: You do know what the time is?
JAMIE: I know I’m late.
RECEPTIONIST: That exam started over an hour ago.
JAMIE: I know. I thought it was an afternoon exam-
RECEPTIONIST: Well I’m sorry, but I cannot let you in now.
JAMIE: What?!
RECEPTIONIST: The external examiner stopped people entering over twenty minutes ago. You’ll have to fill out this form for the exam board to explain your absence-
JAMIE: But I’m not absent, am I? I’m standing right here! The exam hall is over there–
She points to a double door with a sign reading, “No admittance. Exam in progress. SILENCE.”
JAMIE: But you don’t wanna let me in!
RECEPTIONIST: It’s not a matter of just letting you in. I simply am not allowed. Now take this form, and we’ll see what we can do about it later-
JAMIE: Oh balls to you and your bloody form! Thanks! Because of you I’ve failed and have got a fat chance of getting onto my post-grad course, cheers mate, you’ve just ruined my life!
Jamie turns on her heel and storms from the lobby. The male receptionist calls after her.
RECEPTIONIST: Next time set your alarm clock!
Jamie grits her teeth, bites her tongue and walks out of the building without rising to his bate.
Jamie is sitting in her small kitchen in her student town house she shares with two other students. She’s sitting at the small white, wooden table; her head resting on it, her fingers laced and on top her head.
The front door slams and her housemate, and best friend, Leslie runs through the kitchen door.
LESLIE: Where the hell did you get to?
JAMIE: Not moving her head. Don’t start Leslie; I can’t face it at the moment-
LESLIE: You’re gonna have to face it, sooner or later!
JAMIE: I’ve already faced the fact that I’m fucked!
LESLIE: I knew I shouldn’t have stayed at Jimmy’s last night.
JAMIE: Looking up at her, almost ready to attack. Why?!
LESLIE: Because you’re useless at getting yourself up when you’ve got something important.
JAMIE: No I’m not! I’m not seven!
LESLIE: I never said you was-
JAMIE: You’re acting like I can’t even set an alarm clock!
LESLIE: Then why was you late?! I heard someone say you thought it was an afternoon exam! You knew it was a morning one…we’ve got the fucking timetable on the fridge!
JAMIE: I said that to try to get me in-
LESLIE: Then what happened?!
JAMIE: Putting her forehead on the table. Muttering. My alarm didn’t go off.
LESLIE: Oh I don’t fucking believe this! Jamie you can’t re-sit that exam! You’ll have to do other essays, maybe have to re-submit. You might even have to do a new portfolio-
JAMIE: You think I don’t know that?
LESLIE: Why didn’t you set your fucking alarm? It’s not that hard!
JAMIE: I did!
LESLIE: You just said you didn’t!
JAMIE: No. I think you’ll find I said, “my alarm didn’t go off”!
LESLIE: Isn’t that the same damn thing?!
JAMIE: No! I set it! Someone turned it off!
LESLIE: Oh here we go Jamie! She didn’t turn your alarm off!
JAMIE: She must have done!
LESLIE: Why would she?!
JAMIE: Because she wants the scholarship prize-
LESLIE: Oh come off it! Everyone knows you’re gonna get that!
JAMIE: Yeah and uni’ is really gonna give it to someone who couldn’t be arsed to show up for the exam! I needed that prize money too!
LESLIE: I don’t see why Katie would turn off your alarm-
JAMIE: She wants it!
LESLIE: Look I know she’s desperate, but-
JAMIE: But nothing! I swear I remember someone coming in my room last night-
LESLIE: Oh chuff off Jae, you’re like the world’s heaviest sleeper!
JAMIE: I’m telling you-
LESLIE: And I’m telling you. I should have stayed home and made sure you got up-
JAMIE: I don’t need a mother-
LESLIE: Doesn’t sound like it!
JAMIE: She turned my alarm off!
LESLIE: Oh grow up Jamie! She didn’t! You just forgot to set it and you’re blaming Katie for it!
JAMIE: Standing up. Thanks for your support! Glad to know my best friend believes me!
Jamie walks out the kitchen and down the hall.
LESLIE: Where are you going?!
JAMIE: To through myself under a bus!
LESLIE: Jae!
JAMIE: I need ciggys!
LESLIE: Jamie-
Jamie slams the front door shut behind her.
LESLIE: Hitting the top of the kitchen counter. Bollocks!
4/1/13