La Manche Draft 2 - 21.12.08
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Transcript of La Manche Draft 2 - 21.12.08
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La Manche
by
Richard Knight
Draft 2. 22nd December 2008
Note: Unless otherwise specified, the dialogue is all
in the French language.
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1 EXT FERRY DAY
ELIZA (11) stands on the deck of a large car ferry with
her foster parents JACQUES (35) and CHARLOTTE (38).
Another family accompanies them. They are GENE (45), hiswife ANNIE (40), children ROBERT (9) and LUC (7), and
finally Annies father, PHILIPPE (68).
GENE
Be amazed by the Coliseum,
the leaning Tower of Pisa,
the Doges Palace..
ANNIE
Gene.
GENE (ignoring her)
The Bay of Naples, Vesuvius,
Pompeii. The battlefield at
Arcole, a place of victory
for Napoleons mighty army.
But no. We choose..
Switch to a view from behind the group.. looming up in
front of them, the WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER.
GENE (CONTD, resigned)..England.
They walk out of frame.
We hear: French Radio
2 EXT DOVER FERRY TERMINAL DAY
The three Motorhomes exit the ferry onto English soil.
We hear: The French Radio DJ speaking, introducing a
very French tune.
3 INT/EXT GENES MOTORHOME/DOVER DAY
The Motorhome convoy pass the sign instructing them to
DRIVE ON THE LEFT. In Genes Motorhome, the largest of
the three, driver GENE sees the sign and gives a wry
smile.
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Sitting next to him is his wife ANNIE. In the back,
their children ROBERT & LUC.
The French Music on the radio crackles to static as the
signal is lost.
4 INT/EXT JACQUES MOTORHOME/DOVER DAY
JACQUES drives his smaller motorhome, the style is much
more Bohemian.
Partner CHARLOTTE in the passenger seat. Seated in the
back, ELIZA.
We hear: the crackle of static fades into English Radio.
RADIO JINGLE (v.o)
BBC Radio 2..
And then the radio plays a nice English tune.
5 INT/EXT PHILLIPES MOTORHOME/ROADS DAY
In the smallest, oldest motorhome, old man PHILLIPE is
driving as the music on the radio continues.
6 EXT COAST ROADS NEAR EASTBOURNE DAY
The Motorhomes head along a stretch of coast road.
ANNIE (V.O)
Look children, you can see
France from here.
GENE (V.O)
We could have seen it a lotbetter if wed stayed there.
7 EXT CLIFFTOP VIEWPOINT DAY
The three are parked at a cliff top view point.
GENE, ANNIE, ROBERT, LUC, PHILLIPE, JACQUES, CHARLOTTE
and ELIZA admire the view.
JACQUESA photo?
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He sets his camera on a rock nearby.
GENE
Today would be good.
JACQUES eventually gets the shot hes after. He sets the
camera timer and runs into the shot.
They all smile. Theres a delay. Smiles cracking. The
camera slips a little. Click.
Cut to:
PHOTOGRAPH A badly framed photograph of the group on
the cliff top, heads missing etc.
Title on this image: LA MANCHE.
8 EXT BREEZES CARAVAN PARK HASTINGS EVENING
The three Motorhomes head into the entrance of Breezes
Caravan Park.
They are followed by quite a queue of cars who all gladly
accelerate as the motorhomes exit the road.
9 EXT BREEZES PARK EVENING
The motorhomes are parked in such a way as to form three
sides of a square.
On the left PHILLIPES MOTORHOME
At the back in the middle GENE AND ANNIES MOTORHOME
On the right JACQUES AND CHARLOTTES MOTORHOME
This is the French enclave, the centre of things.
In the middle, ANNIE sits at a large folding table,
preparing food. Cutting cheese. Sausage. Baguettes.
CHARLOTTE helps.
ANNIES children, ROBERT & LUC, play a game of tag,
running round the table. Foster child ELIZA watches from
the sidelines.
CHARLOTTE
I like mine really thicksliced. Is this from
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the Geant?
ANNIE
Yes.
CHARLOTTEI like the Geant. Is there
enough for the trip?
PHILLIPE opens a bottle of wine.
ANNIE
So long as the men dont
eat like pigs.
PHILLIPE
Were on holiday.We can eat like piglets,
if we want to.
ANNIES children, ROBERT & LUC bump into the table.
ANNIE
Hey, careful!
Why dont you play a game
you can all play?
ROBERTWe can all play tag Mama.
ANNIE
So.. ask Eliza if she wants
to play.
ELIZA (polite)
No thank you.
CHARLOTTE
Why dont you play with theboys?
ELIZA holds firm. CHARLOTTE doesnt push it.
PHILLIPE sneaks a wink and a smile towards ELIZA. She
doesnt respond to it.
10 EXT BACK OF MOTORHOMES NIGHT 10
GENE and JACQUES are at the back of JACQUES motorhome,trying to switch the gas bottle on. GENE holds a torch.
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The gas switch positions are unmarked. Jacques turns it
several times.
JACQUES
I dont remember whichway is on now.
GENE
Go inside and try the hob.
JACQUES does as hes told. GENE turns the switch.
GENE (contd)
Anything?
JACQUES (off)No.
GENE turns the switch again.
GENE
Now?
JACQUES (off)
No.
Puzzled, GENE uncouples the gas bottle and lifts it. Itis empty. JACQUES returns.
GENE
Heres your problem.
Empty.
GENE puts the bottle back into its housing and checks
the other gas bottle. It is full. He switches the gas
pipe over to the full bottle.
JACQUESThat should last us though?
GENE gives the look of a man who leaves nothing to luck.
They walk over to the back of GENES MOTORHOME.
GENE presses a switch and the door to his gas bottle
store opens automatically. At the same time, a work
light comes on.
GENEI fitted that.
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JACQUES
Nice.
The gas switch of Genes motorhome has had another Gene
modification, a little piece of board fitted to the backof it.
In luminous paint on the board are the On and Off
positions clearly marked.
GENE smugly turns the switch to on and closes the door.
GENE
All done.
11 EXT FRENCH ENCLAVE CAMPSITE TABLE NIGHT
GENE and JACQUES join ANNIE, CHARLOTTE, old man PHILLIPE
and the children ROBERT, LUC and ELIZA around the table.
PHILLIPE lays the carving knife across a side of ham. He
moves the knife across the ham to take a bigger slice.
He notices GENE staring at him with obvious disapproval.
PHILLIPEYes?
ANNIE (to Gene)
We are on holiday.
GENE (flatly)
Fine.
(beat)
All Im saying is, the less
food we actually have to buy
here, the better.
PHILLIPE sits back down and very theatrically puts the
whole of the slice of ham into his mouth.
He sees his grandson ROBERT looking at him.
PHILLIPE (with mouth full)
What?
ROBERT giggles.
PHILLIPE (contd mouth full)
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Dont you start.
PHILLIPE finishes the mouthful with satisfaction.
PHILLIPE (contd)
Whats wrong with Englishfood anyway? It never did
me any harm.
ANNIE and GENE exchange glances, PHILLIPE pours himself a
glass of wine to swill down the ham.
JACQUES and CHARLOTTE have been watching PHILLIPES
theatrics with empty glasses, which he now notices.
PHILLIPE
Pardon my appalling manners.Im so sorry.
He refills JACQUES and CHARLOTTES glasses.
JACQUES sips his wine.
JACQUES
Excellent wine, Phillipe.
PHILLIPE
It is the occasion of myreturn, so something more
than a Vin du Pays, eh?
ANNIE throws him a glance. A warning. Dont start.
This time Jacques bites.
JACQUES (to Phillipe)
Youve been here before?
GENE (to himself)
Here we go.
PHILLIPE
Many times. I was evacuated
to England in 1941.
ANNIE
Dad..
PHILLIPE ignores her.
PHILLIPEMy father was in the
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resistance. It was a tough
time, mother.. she left.
Its a long story. He was
captured.
JACQUESWhere did you stay?
PHILLIPE
They moved us around all the
time. But I spent the
longest time at 10 Lord Nelson
Street, Nottingham.
PHILLIPE takes a long draught of wine, staring,
remembering.
PHILLIPE (contd)
Mavis Enderby my Florence
Nightingale.
JACQUES
Who was she, a wet nurse?
PHILLIPE
More like a mother. She
rescued us all, turned us
back into humans.
They drink.
12 INT GENE & ANNIES MOTORHOME NIGHT
GENE and ANNIE are in the bed of their motor home.
GENE
Hes going to turn it into
one of his sentimentaljourneys.
ANNIE
He was only answering their
questions.
GENE
I knew wed arrive after
dark.
ANNIEIt doesnt matter now, stop
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worrying so much. Youre on
holiday after all.
GENE
What do you think of Eliza?
ANNIE
Shes lovely. A bit shy but
thats only to be expected.
GENE
It must be strange for her.
A new family served up for
her like.. breakfast.
ANNIE
Breakfast? Youre soineloquent sometimes. Its
nothing like breakfast!
GENE
Yes but.. oh you know what I
mean. One minute youre..
and then the next, youre..
on an English campsite with
a bunch of strangers.
ANNIERobert and Luc like her.
A pause.
GENE
I cant believe he didnt check
his gas before he left.
(beat)
He reckons one bottles
enough.
ANNIE
Will it be?
GENE
Probably.
(double beat)
Ill get him a refill in the
morning.
ANNIE
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Oh honey dont get involved.
You have to let people do
things for themselves.
GENE
Which is fine when they knowwhat theyre doing.
ANNIE
Oh give it a rest. Please.
GENE
Sorry.
He kisses her. They settle.
13 INT JACQUES and CHARLOTTES MOTORHOME NIGHT
JACQUES and CHARLOTTE are in bed.
CHARLOTTE
What a long day.
JACQUES
Nice to be here though.
CHARLOTTEIm glad we joined them,
are you?
JACQUES
Yes. Good choice for a
first..
He fades away in thought.
CHARLOTTE
Gene can be a bit cynical.
JACQUES
I admire his attention to
detail. Something I can
only aspire to Im afraid.
CHARLOTTE
I didnt know Phillipe was
here in the war.
I suppose its not what you
talk about.(beat)
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Did you see how Annie wanted
to cut him off though?
JACQUES
Perhaps she doesnt want him
to get over emotional.
A pause, and their conversation turns to Eliza.
CHARLOTTE
She seems to get on ok with
Robert and Luc.
JACQUES
Yes, I hope they bring her
out of herself a bit.
CHARLOTTE
Does it worry you? Her
lack of chatter.
JACQUES
Not much I just wish
wed made a bit more
progress by now.
CHARLOTTE
Magritte said we had to bepatient.
JACQUES
Yes, I suppose.
And then we drift onto ELIZA, wide awake and listening.
14 INT PHILLIPES CAMPER VAN NIGHT
PHILLIPE sits up in bed reading a MAP OF BRITAIN. Heputs a pencil mark by their location (the campsite near
Hastings) and writes the figure 1 next to it.
15 EXT FRENCH ENCLAVE MORNING
Establisher of the motorhomes. In the morning light we
see:
Gene and Annies Motorhome has an awning which is half
blue and half white. To the right of their motorhome,Jacques and Charlottes motorhome has a red awning.
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The effect is that on the wide establisher, we see before
us the colours of the French flag. Blue, White, Red.
JACQUES exits his motorhome just as GENE arrives back
from the on site shop with a full gas bottle.
16 EXT COAST ROADS/BEACH ROAD DAY
The three Motorhomes head along a narrow coast road.
There is already quite a queue of traffic behind them.
We hear: BBC Radio 2 traffic report.
SALLY TRAFFIC (on Radio)Big queues on the Westway
heading in to London, thanks
to Polly Filler, Brains and
others for that one. And the
M6 is closed southbound at
junction 3, thats Coventry.
Traffic on all nearby roads
is solid too, thanks to
everyone whos phoned in
about that one.
17 EXT BEACH DAY
The group arrive at a quintessential English beach.
GENE has plenty of equipment to set up, wind break, deck
chairs etc. Laying out of rugs, and the opening of a
picnic hamper.
ROBERT and LUC are making sandcastles. ELIZA watches,
from nearby.
JACQUES
This is the life, eh?
CHARLOTTE removes her outer garments to reveal a rather
sexy bikini.
A crafty perusal of her curves from GENE.
CHARLOTTE
I love the beach but I cantstand the sand.
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ANNIE dressed more conservatively.
JACQUES helps the kids make sandcastles. ROBERT builds
four sandcastles in a square, all touching each other.
ROBERT
Now..
He tips a fifth sandcastle squarely into the centre of
the other four, on top of them, and lifts the bucket
away.
LUC (to Gene)
Look Papa!
Gene regards the two-storey sandcastle with approval.
GENE
Look at my boy, a civil
engineer.
His wife ANNIE keeps her head in her novel.
ROBERT
Can we go exploring?
ANNIEOf course you can.
ELIZA looks towards JACQUES. Jacques gestures, of course
she can join the boys. The children wander off. JACQUES
turns to CHARLOTTE with a big thumbs up, finally Eliza is
participating.
18 EXT ROCKPOOLS LATER DAY
ROBERT, LUC and ELIZA walk across rocks, exploring rockpools, with a small net. It is a very beautiful moment.
Later, at a rock pool, they fish a crab from the water
with their net.
19 EXT BEACH DAY
JACQUES is reading Practical Parenting for tips.
GENE is on the telephone. At the same time, he is makinga sandcastle.
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He tips the bucket upside down, then takes a spirit level
from his pocket, setting it on top of the sandcastle
before lifting off the bucket.
GENE (into phone)Tell him, if he doesnt like
the answers then stop asking
questions.
(beat)
Give me his number and Ill
speak to him.
ANNIE is listening in. She makes the sign of a phone
being put down. GENE ignores her. PHILLIPE is trying to
attract ANNIES attention.
PHILLIPE
Annie.
GENE (into phone)
It is correct to within 0.3
millimetres, the tolerance
level given to me, by him,
was 0.6.
PHILLIPE
Annie..
ANNIE (vexed)
What is it Dad?
PHILLIPE
When we head north, do you
think we could go to
Nottingham?
ANNIE
Its out of the way, not onthe menu.
GENE lifts the bucket from his sandcastle, part of a
turret falls down.
GENE (contd, into phone)
Shit.
(beat)
No not you.
(beat)
Look, Ill have to deal withit when I get back.
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He ends the call. ANNIE keeps reading.
20 EXT BEACH DAY
Various shots of ENGLISH PEOPLE on the beach, windbreaks,
reading newspapers, playing cricket, eating ice-creams.
21 EXT ROCKY SHORE DAY
The sea crashes against the rocks in the vicinity of the
rock pools. Slightly menacing power.
We see a sign on the beach, warning of the dangers of
being cut-off by the incoming tide.
22 EXT ROCKPOOLS DAY
The children sit among the rock pools. Smashing stones
down onto the rocks.. or, maybe not onto the rocks..
Smash.. bash.. smash.. what is it that they are doing..?
23 EXT BEACH DAY
GENE, ANNIE, JACQUES, CHARLOTTE and PHILLIPE are all
dozing in the afternoon sun.
CHARLOTTE checks her watch.
CHARLOTTE
Theyve been gone a while.
GENE
Theyll be fine, dont worry
so much.
GENE sits up. In the distance, he sees:
ELIZA, ROBERT and LUC being led along the beach by two
uniformed police COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICERS, RAY (40) and
KAREN (45). KAREN carries the childrens bucket.
GENE
Uh oh.
RAY (English, to ANNIE)These your kids love?
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LUC runs and holds onto his mother ANNIES leg. The
French adults all turn to JACQUES, the best of the
English speakers.
JACQUES (English)Is there a problem?
RAY
Well no, not really, only
your kids were way over there
beyond that cliff, see?
He points, they all look. Other people on the beach are
now taking an interest too.
JACQUESYes?
RAY
Well when the tide comes in..
He mimes the tide heading landwards.
..it gets cut off, see.
Very dangerous. Understand?
JACQUESSorry.
RAY
Its alright, its easily done.
KAREN
There was one other thing.
KAREN tips out the childrens bucket. Onto the sand fall
a number of dead crabs, pulled apart, legs, claws etc.
ENGLISH ONLOOKER
Eww, gross!
KAREN
Dont kill the crabs eh?
GENE (to son Robert)
Did you do that?
ROBERT shakes his head, no. Everyone looks towards
ELIZA. ELIZA shrugs and rolls her eyes, it was her.
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JACQUES (English to the CSOs)
So sorry about this.
(to Eliza)
Why did you do that?
CHARLOTTE (gentle but firm)
Answer him Eliza.
ELIZA says nothing, upset, brows furrowed.
RAY
Look, well leave it with you,
but youll have to keep a closer
eye on them next time.
JACQUESYes, yes we will. Thank you, Sir.
KAREN
And put them in the bin or
something please.
RAY and KAREN leave. JACQUES starts to pick up the crab
parts and put them back in the bucket. Even more English
people on the beach are watching now.
GENEWe should leave.
PHILLIPE
What for?
GENE
Because I dont want to get
lynched by a party of crab
hugging English.
PHILLIPEPah it was only a few
crabs.
Although remaining very quiet, ELIZA clocks PHILLIPES
obvious support for her. GENE starts to take down the
windbreak.
GENE
No Dad, lets get going.
CHARLOTTEWhat a shame to have to
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leave early.
These words only ramp up the guilt that ELIZA feels.
JACQUES looks across to CHARLOTTE, CHARLOTTE shrugs back,
sorry.
24 EXT ROAD DAY
The convoy drives along a main road. There are several
cars bunched up behind them.
25 INT GENES MOTORHOME DAY
Silence in GENEs motor home with ANNIE, ROBERT and LUC.
26 INT JACQUES MOTORHOME DAY
Stony silence in this motor home too.
27 EXT ROADS DAY
The convoy still driving along, the queue of traffic
behind them has grown to six cars.
28 INT CHARLIE AND JANES CAR DAY
CHARLIE (35) and his wife, JANE (32) are in the first car
behind the motor homes. Their CAR RADIO is on.
We get a clear view of the blue F next to PHILLIPEs
rear number plate. CHARLIE pulls out to overtake.
Only then does he see that there are three motor homes.
CHARLIE (English)
Balls, theres three of them.
He pulls back in without overtaking.
29 EXT - ROADS
Another straight section, CHARLIE having another go at
overtaking. Failing again. Back to..
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30 INT - CAR
JANE
Dont worry about it eh?
CHARLIETheyre all bunched up. If
I could do them one at a
time wed be past by now.
JANE
Babe, Id rather get there
in one piece.
CHARLIE has an idea.
CHARLIEGet my phone, will ya?
JANE
Where is it?
CHARLIE
In the glove thingy.
She takes the phone from the glove compartment.
31 INT RADIO 2 OFFICE NEXT TO STUDIO DAY
JILL (40) and MALCOLM (40) work the phones for Radio 2.
They have headsets on and sit in front of computers.
All in English, obviously.
JILL (into headset)
Hello traffic.
(beat)
A612? Is that the lorry
fire, we know about itthanks.
MALCOLM (into headset)
Hello traffic.
(beat)
Oh yes? Yeah, but its like
that every evening. Not
exactly newsworthy is it?
JILL shrugs her shoulders. Malcolm keeps talking on his
call, placating the caller.
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JILL (into headset)
Hello traffic.
(beat)
Theres a what.. sorry?
We see JILL writing notes, saying, yes, and reallyetc as she does.
JILL (contd)
Ill see what I can do.
JILL waves the note in the air, it is picked up by
CHRISTINE (35), producer of the radio programme. She
reads the note, smiles, and takes it into the studio.
33 EXT COUNTRY ROAD A423 EVE
The motor homes still travelling as we hear..
SALLY TRAFFIC (on radio)
Now the lorry fire on the
A612 in Hertford, thats
still burning but Robbies
Dad has phoned to say the
fire brigade just passed him
on the way to the scene, but
its really one to avoid.
34 INT CHARLIE & JANES CAR MOMENTS LATER
CHARLIE and JANE in their car listening to the radio.
SALLY TRAFFIC (contd, V.O, on Radio)
Theres the usual trouble on
the M1 heading north out of
London, and finally, a bit
of an unusual one this, butCharlies other half has
phoned with a message to the
three French motor homes
travelling in convoy towards
Dorchester on the A423.
JANE puts her hands to her head, oh my gosh!
CHARLIE
Yayyy!!
SALLY TRAFFIC (V.O)
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Chaps, if youre listening,
would you mind just
spreading out a bit so
everyone can overtake you
easier?
35 INT GARYS CAR SAME TIME
GARY (45) is in his car further back in the queue behind
the motor homes. His radio is on.
GARY
Ha! Too right.
JOHNNY WALKER (radio DJ V.O)
How does spreading out makethem easier to overtake?
SALLY TRAFFIC (V.O, as to a simpleton)
Well, you can do them one
at a time then. Do you see?
JOHNNY WALKER (V.O)
Oh I see..
36 INT CHARLIE & JANES CAR SAME TIME
Back with CHARLIE and JANE, listening intently, JANE
making a call on her mobile phone.
ALAN STUDIO SIDEKICK (V.O)
You dont drive much do you
Johnny?
JOHNNY WALKER (V.O)
No Im too busy doing the
drive time show!
Laughter. The usual Radio 2 gentle leg pulling.
JOHNNY WALKER (contd, V.O)
Well lets hope our French
cousins are listening to
8891FM BBC Radio 2.
Merge to a jingle..
CHARLIETotal class.
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JANE (into phone)
Youre never gonna believe
what Charlie just did. Have
you got Radio 2 on?.. aww you
missed it.
Off this conversation to..
37 INT JACQUES AND CHARLOTTES MOTORHOME DAY
ELIZA still sitting in silence.
JACQUES
Hey, dont worry about it
ok?
ELIZA doesnt respond.
JACQUES (contd)
They have weird ideas here,
Eliza. In England they
think animals are people.
Mr and Mrs Crab go off to
work with four umbrellas
each.
ELIZA smiles at the idea.
JACQUES (contd)
And then they come back
home to their children and
have a big dinner of roast
beef. How was your day Mr
Crab? It was very good
Mrs Crab, and you? Oh Mr
Crab I think I need eight
new shoes, my old ones arepinching me badly.
ELIZA stares out of the window, a little amused by
Jacques joking, although his description of a happy
little nuclear crab family is perhaps not the best
subject to raise her spirits.
38 EXT ROAD/HAPPY VALLEY CAMPSITE, DORCHESTER EVE
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The motor homes turn off into Happy Valley Campsite. As
they turn off, CHARLIE & JANE pass in their car. Another
car in the long queue sounds its horn. And another.
39 INT GARYS CAR SAME TIME EVE
GARY passes the campsite entrance, watching the convoy
disappear from him. He reaches for the phone. Dials.
GARY (into phone)
Yes, err, hello traffic, Im
ringing with an update really.
40 EXT HAPPY VALLEY CARAVAN PARK RECEPTION AREA EVE
The motor homes pull up and park near the reception area,
watched from the reception office by SYD (60), park
owner. Hes listening to Radio 2.
SALLY TRAFFIC (V.O)
Bit of an update here for
those of you on the A423
near Dorchester, Gary has
just phoned in and
apparently, the French
motor home convoy has pulledoff into a campsite.
JOHNNY WALKER (V.O)
So the roads of Britain can
breathe easy again.
SALLY TRAFFIC (V.O)
Something like that Johnny.
41 INT HAPPY VALLEY RECEPTION AREA EVE
GENE exits his motorhome and enters the reception area.
GENE (faltering English)
Hello.
SYD
Oh hello, Ive just been hearing
about you.
GENEPardon?
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SYD
I think it was you chaps on
the radio.
Incomprehension from Gene.
SYD (contd)
Sally traffic?
Still nothing.
SYD (contd)
Oh nevermind, how many nights
would you like?
GENE (French)We should have gone to Italy.
Syd gets a calendar and points to the days.
SYD
How many?
GENE
Ahh! One.
SYDNow were winning.
Now, do you need power?
GENE
Eh?
They continue to be more or less incomprehensible to each
other.
42 EXT HAPPY VALLEY MOTORHOMES NIGHT
GENE, ANNIE, PHILLIPE and CHARLOTTE all sit in a circle.
ROBERT and LUC playing snap.
CHARLOTTE has bare feet, sexy legs.
She paints her toe nails. GENE watches, subtly.
JACQUES exits his motor home after checking on Eliza.
JACQUESShes fast asleep.
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43 INT JACQUES MOTORHOME SAME TIME
On ELIZA, wide awake, and listening.
JACQUES (off)
I cant believe she behaved
so badly. I thought we were
doing so well.
44 EXT HAPPY VALLEY PARK CONTD ACTION
Back outside with the adults. PHILLIPE with his pipe.
ANNIEYou are doing well.
CHARLOTTE
Are we?
GENE
Thats the one thing with
kids, no instruction
manual.
ANNIEMaybe you should write
one, eh Gene?
Its all dig between Annie and Gene. Phillipe notices.
PHILLIPE
Perhaps Robert and Luc
would like to stay in my
camper tonight?
LUCYes please!
ROBERT
Can we Mama?
ANNIE casts PHILLIPE a glance.
ANNIE
Well, yes, I suppose.
ROBERTGrandpa will you tell us a
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story?
PHILLIPE
I might be persuaded.
GENEI bet.
ANNIE
No ghost stories!
PHILLIPE
Alright, no ghost stories.
PHILLIPE gives a big theatrical wink to ROBERT and LUC.
45 INT JACQUES MOTORHOME LATER NIGHT
JACQUES and CHARLOTTE climb aboard their motor home.
ELIZA, still awake, faces away from them, feigning sleep.
46 INT PHILLIPES CAMPER VAN NIGHT
PHILLIPE sits with ROBERT and LUC. He lights a candle.
And opens his map book.
PHILLIPE
Now once, in the English
town of Nottingham. There
was a very big old house.
And in that very big old
house there lived..
ROBERT
A ghost?
PHILLIPEAghost? No. Dont be silly.
Three ghosts.
LUC
Three ghosts? Cool!
47 INT JACQUES MOTORHOME NIGHT
JACQUES and CHARLOTTE are in bed.
CHARLOTTE
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Do you think we should tell
Magritte?
JACQUES
I dont know.
CHARLOTTE
Lets sleep on it?
JACQUES
We knew it wasnt going to
be easy.
CHARLOTTE
But can we cope, Jacques?
JACQUESWe cant give up at the
first hurdle.
CHARLOTTE
Perhaps we came away too
soon, its a lot to ask of
the poor girl. Such an
upheaval.
JACQUES
And it was only a few crabs.
CHARLOTTE
But I was hoping shed feel
more like a daughter by now.
JACQUES
Does she not?
A pause.
CHARLOTTENot really, not yet.
On ELIZA, still awake.
48 INT GENES MOTORHOME NIGHT
GENE is in bed with ANNIE. They make love, slowly,
quietly, surely.
The squeals of excited children are heard in thedistance. GENE shakes his head.
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GENE
Him and his ghosts.
ANNIE
Shhh..
She pulls him down closer.
49 INT PHILLIPES MOTORHOME NIGHT
PHILLIPE is awake listening to organ music. ROBERT and
LUC are asleep. Phillipe has his map open. He marks a
number 2 on their current position.
50 EXT HAPPY VALLEY PARK RECEPTION AREA DAY
GENE walks out of the Reception Office and gets into his
Motor home, the convoy heads off.
51 INT RECEPTION OFFICE DAY
Park Owner SYD picks up his phone.
SYDOh well, in for a penny..
He dials.
52 INT RADIO 2 OFFICE DAY
MALCOLM and JILL on the phones. KEN BRUCE in the studio.
MALCOLM (into headset)
Hello traffic.(beat)
Are they?
He scribbles notes.
Thanks very much.
He hands the note to DAVE (34), producer of this show.
53 INT RADIO 2 STUDIO MOMENTS LATER DAY
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DAVE enters the studio mid-song. KEN BRUCE dunks a
biscuit into his tea.
DAVE
On Johnny last night Sally
started tracking this groupof French Motor homes.
KEN
Yes..?
DAVE
Theyre on the move again.
KEN
So what do you want to do
about it?
DAVE
I say we run it, see what
happens. Nice angle,
French visiting Blighty.
Half of Kens biscuit disappears forever into his tea.
KEN
Bugger. Why were they on?
DAVE
They travel nose to tail,
no-one can overtake.
KEN
Oh right, I see. OK.
So where are they now?
54 EXT ROAD NEAR CERNE ABBAS DORSET DAY
The Motor homes continuing through beautiful countryside
near the village of Cerne Abbas.
55 INT GENES MOTORHOME DAY
GENE and ANNIE driving. ANNIE looks out of the window.
ANNIE
Oh my! I thought this
country was reserved.
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GENE
Reminds me of last night..
ANNIE
In your dreams!
We look out to see what they are seeing, the CERNE ABBAS
GIANT, with its huge erect penis.
ANNIE (contd)
I hope Dad and the kids
havent seen it.
56 INT PHILLIPES CAMPER VAN SAME TIME DAY
PHILLIPE with ROBERT and LUC up front, clocks the Giant.
PHILLIPE
Phwooaar.. look at the size
of the cock on that!!
ROBERT
Whats cock Grandpa?
PHILLIPE
You know.. well, look at
the thing!
ROBERT
Thats so cool.
57 EXT ROADS DAY
The convoy heads along more beautiful English
countryside. JACQUES Motor home leads the group today.
KEN BRUCE (V.O)Now for those of you who
followed the French
motor homes on Johnnys show
last night, apparently today
theyre heading north out of
Dorchester on the A423. Now
they like to travel close
together so theyre
something of a hazard.
Theyve just passed the
Cerne Abbas Giant and.. ohdear.. hope theyre not
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getting the wrong
impression. Whats the
betting theyre going to
Stonehenge eh?
58 INT JACQUES MOTORHOME DAY
JACQUES drives with CHARLOTTE in the passenger seat and
ELIZA behind. CHARLOTTE cuts cheese. She feeds JACQUES.
CHARLOTTE (to Eliza)
Cheese, petal?
ELIZA
Yes please.
CHARLOTTE hands her a piece. An approaching car flashes
its headlights and sounds its horn.
JACQUES
What the..?
CHARLOTTE (to Eliza)
Sorry we got angry yesterday.
ELIZAThats OK, Charlotte.
A slight freeze from Charlotte, not happy at being
referred to by her first name, her role is mother after
all. Another car honks its horn at them.
JACQUES
Are my lights on?
He pulls over in a lay-by.
59 INT RADIO STATION OFFICE DAY
Ken Bruces producer DAVE sits at his desk, looking at
his computer. The list of text messages is coming in..
Just seen convoy on A423
More of French Convoy plz
Is French convoy going Stonehenge? Update please!
Tell the French to f**k off back to France
Tell us what French doin, v v funnyTraffic slot is 4 jams not french twats
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Say hi to French on hols from Rob
Convoy in layby 3m n of Cerne, Cheers! Rabbit
We luv French thing, from Fridgeland in Bromley.
Bonjour! To F camper cans, Jo in Norwich xx
DAVE (English)Bloody hell..
60 EXT LAYBY DAY
JACQUES, GENE and ANNIE are out of their vehicles.
GENE
Whats up?
JACQUESI kept getting flashed,
thought something was
wrong.
GENE and JACQUES inspect the vehicle. ANNIE is at
PHILLIPES camper van.
ANNIE
Everything ok?
PHILLIPEFine, Robert was just saying
how much hed like to see
Nottingham.
ANNIE
No Dad.
ROBERT
Did you see the big cock
Mama?
ANNIE
I must have missed it
sweetie.
On PHILLIPE, grinning, then back to GENE and JACQUES.
GENE
Well everything looks ok.
A passing car honks its horn. The occupants smile and
wave. GENE waves back, blankly, bemused.
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GENE (contd)
Lets get back on the road.
61 INT GENES MOTORHOME DAY
GENE is on a call, using the top of the range Bluetooth
hands free, obviously.
GENE (into phone)
OK, Ciao Pierre.
He hangs up. ANNIE faces the front.
ANNIE
That man is so rude.
GENE
He doesnt know what hes
doing, thats the problem.
No sense of.. of accuracy.
ANNIE
Why cant he pester someone
else?
GENE
I dont know. He knows Iknow what Im talking about,
I guess.
ANNIE
Its not fair. After last
night, I thought..
GENE
Last night..?
ANNIEI thought youd be more
relaxed.
GENE
I wish.
A long pause. Intended or not, his comment is not
reassuring.
GENE (contd)
Should I go back, maybe?
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ANNIE remains angrily silent. The phone rings again.
GENE tries hard to ignore it. He cant. He answers.
GENE (into phone)
Now what?
ANNIE closes her eyes in a silent count to ten.
62 EXT STONEHENGE DAY
At Stonehenge, everyone except ANNIE gets out.
CHARLOTTE (to JACQUES)
Your camera darling.
JACQUES gets his camera. ROBERT leads everyone.
ROBERT
Over here look.
And the group stand silently near the stones, as..
JEREMY VINE (Radio DJ V.O)
And its ten out of ten to
Ken Bruce, the French
motor homes have stopped at
Stonehenge.
63 INT RADIO STUDIO DAY
The JEREMY VINE SHOW, with the man himself in the chair.
JEREMY VINE (on air)
Has anyone actually told
these people their progress
is being monitored? Its
all a bit Big Brotherisnt it? Tell us what you
think. Text, phone or email
to Vine at BBC dot co dot UK.
64 EXT COTSWOLD ROADS DAY
The convoy still getting honked at and flashed.
JEREMY VINE (V.O)
Also on todays show, thewar on terror takes yet
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another strange turn as
Police raid a school in
Barnsley.
65 INT JACQUES AND ELIZAS MOTORHOME DAY
The Cotswolds are home to numerous military bases. ELIZA
sees from the window an army truck, perhaps a tank or two
as well. We see on her face, uneasiness.
66 MORETON-IN-MARSH HIGH STREET DAY
The group have stopped in a beautiful Cotswold town.
ANNIE, CHARLOTTE and ELIZA window shopping, come to a
nice cake shop and stare into the window.
67 INT PUB DAY
JACQUES, GENE, PHILLIPE are sitting in a pub, ROBERT &
LUC are playing pool. PHILLIPE lights his pipe.
BARMAID (English)
Sorry Sir, this is a
no-smoking pub.
PHILLIPE (f)
Pardon me, I dont
understand.
The BARMAID mimes smoking and waves No.
GENE (f)
Its your pipe. They
dont like it.
PHILLIPEPah. Whats the use of
having somewhere to drink
yourself to death without
being able to smoke
yourself to death too.
Lets go somewhere else.
JACQUES
Theyre all no smoking here.
PHILLIPEAll of them? So where can
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I smoke?
GENE smiles at the BARMAID, everythings fine here.. just
a mad old Frenchman on his high horse.
JACQUESOutside.
PHILLIPE
Outside? Whats the point
of that? Itll kill me
just as fast if I smoke it
outside as inside.
JACQUES
But if you do it outside
you dont take everyoneelse with you.
PHILLIPE
Thats their problem.
68 EXT PUB LATER DAY
Our entire French group sit outside in the beer garden,
Phillipe smoking his pipe.
Also in the beer garden some English families are
watching their children playing on a BOUNCY CASTLE.
Several strands of BUNTING criss-cross the garden.
At one of the other tables sit a group of SOLDIERS, in
uniform, along with their Regimental Mascot, A GOAT.
ANNIE and CHARLOTTE drink beer from old-fashioned mens
pint glasses with handles. Charlotte regards the glass.
JACQUES
Sorry. A language barrier.
They have heavy accents here.
CHARLOTTE smiles, its ok really.
GENE
Good shopping trip?
ANNIE (cold, to Gene)
Yes, nice to stretch mylegs. Any more calls?
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GENE
No, no calls.
ANNIE (flat)
Thats good.
GENE exhales, hes still in the doghouse.
PHILLIPE (to Annie)
Annie, love, Im sure now is
not the time, but can we at
least have a chat about
visiting Nottingham?
ANNIE
Youre right Dad, its notthe time.
PHILLIPE
It would mean so much to me.
ANNIE
What is there for us in
Nottingham? Its just a big
city.
GENEIts home of Robin Hood.
ANNIE
Dont encourage him.
PHILLIPE
Id like to see it again.
In the background, two men from the ENGLISH FAMILIES by
the bouncy castle, square up to each other.
ANNIE
I know you want to but its
history now. Forget it.
Its not good for you to get
too excited, a man of your
age.
PHILLIPE
Alright, pardon me for
asking, nurse.
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In the background, one of the aggressive men, TONY (30),
punches the other man DAVE (27) in the face.
One of the women present turns to TONY, the aggressor.
WOMANTony you absolute twat.
TONY
He was asking for it.
WOMAN
I dont care, theres no
need for that.
By this time DAVE has rallied himself, wipes a trickle of
blood from his nose onto his white sleeve, and thenlunges at TONY. They both hit the floor and roll around,
wrestling. All of this observed by our French family.
The SOLDIERS and their MASCOT GOAT intervene.
SOLDIER #1
Oi!
The SOLDIERS part the two men, holding them back from
each other. DAVE makes another lunge at TONY.
SOLDIER #1
Dont make me set the
goat on you.
The barmaid has come out of the pub into the garden.
BARMAID
Not again. You lot.
Out.
The SOLDIERS drag DAVE and TONY out, followed by ENGLISHWOMEN and their KIDS.
KID #1
I want to go on the bouncy
castle.
WOMAN #2
No Kimberley.
SOLDIER #1
Guys, if you want to fightall the time, why not join
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the army?
DAVE looks toward the barmaid.
DAVE
It wasnt me! He started it!
BARMAID (disbelieving)
Yeah right Dave.
(to the soldiers)
Thanks chaps.
SOLDIER #1
Its alright love. Two tours
of Iraq, Im used to a bit
of aggro, know what I mean?
And the whole group of people plus the goat leave the
beer garden.
A moments silence as our French family reflect on the
mad chaos theyve just witnessed. Welcome to England.
69 EXT PUB BEER GARDEN MOMENTS LATER
ELIZA, ROBERT and LUC bounce in the afternoon light onthe bouncy castle. ELIZA without obvious pleasure, but
slow motion, beautiful, bouncing into and out of frame.
70 EXT ROADS DAY
Radio chat as the motorhomes get back on the road.
JEREMY VINE (V.O)
Now over to line 4, Barbara
is it?
BARBARA (V.O)
Well Jeremy, I think its
marvellous to hear about
them but I was wondering,
why?
JEREMY VINE (V.O)
Youre not the first to ask
that Barbara, and the answer
is, we dont know.
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71 INT ENGLISH KITCHEN DAY
A man, BARRY, 50, is ironing shirts with the radio on.
JEREMY VINE (on radio)Maybe its because we can.
Mobile phones, and the
internet, mean that no-one
can ever be truly anonymous.
72 INT LOUNGE-BUILDING WORK IN PROGRESS
Some plasterers are working on the walls of a lounge,
with a grubby radio playing.
BARBARA (On radio)
I think we ought to tell
them whats happening, Id
want to know.
PLASTERER
Nah.
JEREMY VINE (On radio)
Do you think? Im not so
sure.(beat)
After the news well be
talking to the French
minister for tourism to see
what she makes of all this,
so do keep listening to
88-91FM BBC Radio 2.
Merge to a jingle.
73 EXT COTSWOLD CARAVAN PARK EVE
ELIZA is eating a bar of chocolate JACQUES bought for
her.
GENE walks out of the caravan reception area and crosses
the car park towards them with the paperwork.
PARK MANAGER, MAUREEN (48), has come out to watch them.
JACQUES (contd)I cant wait to get to know
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her better.
JACQUES opens his window to take the paperwork from GENE.
GENE
Next time, you do it.
MAUREEN heads back into her office.
74 INT RADIO TWO STUDIO NIGHT
STUART MACONIE is in the chair.
STUART MACONIE
Im not sure what it says
about us as a nation that weget so fascinated about some
French tourists. Lets go to
line 2 where weve got
Maureen, hello Maureen.
MAUREEN (on phone)
Hello Stuart. I just wanted
to say, well, theyre at my
Caravan Park tonight.
STUART MACONIEWhich ones that, my love?
MAUREEN (on phone)
Its Cotswold Caravan Park,
were half way between
Shipstone and Moreton.
STUART MACONIE
Can I just say that other
caravan parks are available.
Well Maureen it must be anhonour and a privilege to be
their host. Did you tell
them theyre radio stars?
75 INT COTSWOLD CARAVAN PARK RECEPTION NIGHT
The other half of this chat, MAUREEN on the phone.
MAUREEN
Well, I, I didnt like toreally. I suppose I didnt
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want it to feel like we were
spying on them or something.
STUART MACONIE (on phone)
Maureen thats a good point.
Have a good evening love,lets go to Wayne on line 5.
WAYNE (on phone)
Stuart, its wrong. These
people should be allowed to
enjoy their holiday in peace.
76 INT RADIO 2 STUDIO NIGHT
Back with STUART MACONIE in the chair.
STUART
I think they are enjoying
their holiday in peace,
arent they? Whos on
line nine? Is that you
Alan?
ALAN(on phone)
Now then Stuart..
STUART
How are you Alan?
ALAN (on phone)
Not so good.
STUART
Im sorry to hear that
Alan, whats the matter?
ALAN (on phone)Its the other half. Says
she wants a new mattress.
I said whats the point
of that? Never sleeps on
her half see? Squashes
me up against the edge
every single night, do
you get me, Stuart? Her
half of the mattress is
brand new, lad. And have
you seen the price ofmattresses these days?
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STUART
What about the French,
Alan?
ALAN (on phone)I dont know, Stuart.
I cant work it out.
Youd have thought wed
all have something better
to do than get so worked
up about it, to be honest.
I mean, so long as they
go home I dont mind what
they do. Do you?
77 EXT ALTON TOWERS DAY
The motor homes pass through the entrance to the theme
park ALTON TOWERS.
78 EXT ALTON TOWERS PAY KIOSKS DAY
GENE, ANNIE, JACQUES, CHARLOTTE, ELIZA, ROBERT and LUC
queue at the pay kiosk area of Alton Towers.
GENE
Whats this, the queue to
get in? I dont know they
really do like their queues
in this country. If youre
going to say anything about
the English its..
He is interrupted when the next kiosk along is opened.
KIOSK WORKER (e)Would you like to come to
this one?
The group move to the next kiosk and get straight in.
79 EXT ALTON TOWERS CAR PARK DAY
PHILLIPE hasnt gone in. He sits by the motor homes
amongst a vast sea of cars, reading his Map of Britain.
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GENE
Ha! Now you have no excuse!
84 EXT ROLLERCOASTER DAY
GENE and LUC ride in the front. Whatever coverage we can
get of the ride, hopefully the camera on the ride looking
back at the gang, circa Hold Tight 1982.
LUC
Im scared.
GENE
Dont be scared its
very over-engineered.
LUC holds his fathers hands.
Whoops and screams as the ride gets into motion.
85 EXT ALTON TOWERS CAR PARK DAY
PHILLIPE still sits in his deckchair, studying the map.
He is approached by a group of teenagers.
TEENAGE LAD (English)Alright mate?
He hands PHILLIPE a milkshake.
TEENAGE GIRL (e)
Youre the famous ones
aint ya?
PHILLIPE is absolutely baffled by them and doesnt
understand, he just raises the milkshake in salutation.
87 EXT BOAT RIDE DAY
The group ride on a sedate boat, which follows a course
around a lake. The Marsellaise rings. Genes phone.
GENE takes the phone out of his pocket and answers.
GENE (into phone)
Hello?
ANNIE grabs the phone, and throws it into the lake.
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GENE
What did you do that for?!
ANNIE
For as long as you have it,
youre never relaxed.
GENE
That was my work phone!
ANNIE
I dont care, Gene. Your
work can take a running
jump.
CHARLOTTE
The phone in the lake.. isbad for the environment.
ANNIE
Its not bad for my
environment.
GENE
I dont believe this!
ANNIE
Given the choice between yourphone and your family, which
would you keep?
A pause.
ANNIE (contd)
Good job I made the decision
for you then. Youve really
been unwinding today, honey,
lets keep it that way eh?
87 EXT ALTON TOWERS CAR PARK DAY
PHILLIPE still studying the map. He sucks on the thick
milkshake. Sluuurrrp.
88 EXT ALTON TOWERS AIR ROLLERCOASTER DAY
The group watch ELIZA at the front of the AIR
rollercoaster. She spreads out her arms as therollercoaster twists and turns.
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CHARLOTTE
I think shes found her ride.
And she has. Its the freedom, the feeling of flying.
As much as possible from as close and dynamic a position
as we can get, we watch ELIZA in deep concentration,
completely enrapt in the experience. Catharsis.
On GENE, still very angry.
89 EXT ALTON TOWERS CAR PARK
The GROUP return with plenty of paraphernalia, t-shirts
etc.
PHILLIPE
Good day?
ANNIE
Very good day.
GENE
Your daughter threw my phone
into a lake.
PHILLIPE
Good for her.
GENE
What?!
PHILLIPE
Youre on holiday, let go.
ANNIE
See?
PHILLIPE slurps on his milkshake.
GENE
Unbelievable.
ANNIE (to Phillipe)
Where did you get the
milkshake?
PHILLIPEGiven it.
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ANNIE
Oh.
They load up, and start to move out. Simultaneously,
EIGHT DIFFERENT PEOPLE dotted around the car park watchthem and reach for their mobile phones.
90 INT GENES MOTORHOME EVE
In GENEs motor home, things are still a little strained.
ROBERT
That was so cool.
ANNIE (to her children)Yes.. thank you Daddy..
ROBERT & LUC
Thank you Daddy!
GENE (flatly)
No problem.
ANNIE
Gene, thank you.
GENE
I feel naked without my
phone.
ANNIE
I did it for your own good.
GENE
I know but..
ANNIEJust stop, OK?
Gene shuts up, and drives on in silence.
91 EXT HILLY ROAD EVE
The motor homes head over the hills.
STUART MACONIE (off, on radio)
After a packed day at AltonTowers our intrepid explorers
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head north. So after a happy
Sunday heres some Happy
Mondays..
92 INT PHILLIPES MOTORHOME MORNING
PHILLIPE wakes from his bed. Immediately he can sense
something is amiss, as he hears quiet sobbing. He opens
his curtain. Outside, he sees..
93 EXT CAMPSITE NEAR ASHBOURNE MORNING
ELIZA is crying. JACQUES is trying to hold her arms,
calm her down.
JACQUES (soothing)
Woooh, steady, its fine,
dont worry.
ELIZA slows down a little bit, but still upset.
JACQUES (firmer)
Eliza listen to me. You are
not in trouble.
CHARLOTTE emerges from their motor home with the cause ofall the trouble. Elizas mattress with a damp patch in
it. The poor waif has wet her bed in the night.
JACQUES
Its ok, really it is.
His assuredness is working. ELIZA calms down a little.
94 INT PHILLIPES MOTORHOME SAME TIME
PHILLIPE thinks for a moment, then pours himself a cup of
cold tea from a flask. He pulls back his duvet and
throws the tea onto his bed.
95 EXT CAMPSITE NEAR ASHBOURNE DAY
GENE, ANNIE, ROBERT, LUC, JACQUES, CHARLOTTE and ELIZA
are all out now.
GENEWhat happened?
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He sees the wet mattress.
GENE (contd)
Oh, oh dear.
ROBERT
Whats wrong with her bed?
ANNIE
Nothing sweetheart.
ELIZA wants the ground to open up. Quiet, head in hands.
CHARLOTTE (breezy)
Just a little hiccup,
nothing to worry about.Absolutely nothing at all.
PHILLIPE exits his camper van with his own WET MATTRESS.
ANNIE
Oh papa..
ELIZA watches him. Laughter from Robert.
PHILLIPE
Sorry - it must have beenthe milkshake.
(to ELIZA)
Did you have the milkshake?
ELIZA nods. Shy.
PHILLIPE (contd)
Thatll be it. Milkshake
makes me dream.
GENEMakes you dream?
PHILLIPE
Of Niagara falls, the
fountains at Versailles, La
Manche, that sort of thing.
A wink from PHILLIPE, ANNIE understands, runs with it.
ANNIE
Oh right.. I see.. well Idont know Dad, we cant
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98 INT JACQUES MOTORHOME DAY
JACQUES and CHARLOTTE are driving. PHILLIPE drives past
in his camper van.
99 INT GENES MOTORHOME DAY
GENE, ANNIE, ROBERT and LUC all sitting in their motor
home. PHILLIPE slips by in his camper van.
GENE
Whats this, Le Tour?
ANNIE
Whats he up to?
100 EXT M1 MOTORWAY DAY
PHILLIPE leads. We see the exit NOTTINGHAM A52
ANNIE (V.O)
Oh no..
PHILLIPE takes the exit, fast.
GENE (V.O)
Now what?
ANNIE (V.O)
Follow him!
GENE (V.O)
I might have known.
What is it with your family?
ANNIE (V.O)So its my family now?
101 INT PHILLIPES CAMPER VAN ON A52 DAY
PHILLIPE driving, intently. ELIZA in the front seat.
PHILLIPE
Do you think you could be a
darling and open the glove
compartment?
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ELIZA does so, inside, there is a SATNAV computer.
PHILLIPE (contd)
Thanks, now stick it to the
windscreen and turn it on.
ELIZA does as she is told.
SAT NAV VOICE (V.O, French)
Continue straight on A52.
PHILLIPE
When I was your age, I was
living here, miles away from
home. They moved us from
place to place, a whole group
of us. We slept five to abed, when one of us pissed
himself, wed all get wet,
and wed be beaten until we
were too scared to piss, too
scared to sleep even.
In 1943 they moved us to
Nottingham. A kind young
woman named Mavis Enderby
took us in. Her husband,
Roger, was away fighting inAfrica. He wrote to her
sometimes. From our families
back in France, no letters.
Not one. Mavis changed my
life forever. She said,
Make the most of what you
have got she was very
kind to us. She made us go
to school, which was just a
house at the end of the
street. When the word camethat her husband had died, we
ate steak that very same
evening, now every time I eat
steak, I pray for Mavis. And
not one tear did she shed, in
front of us. With her simple
humanity, she sheltered us
from the horrors of the war,
and we prospered.
102 INT GENES MOTORHOME DAY
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GENE and ANNIE in hot pursuit.
GENE
Its ok, weve got more
power.
ANNIE
Well stick with him then!
GENE
Do you want to drive?
103 INT PHILLIPES CAMPER VAN DAY
Back with PHILLIPE and ELIZA.
ELIZA
What happened to your
parents?
PHILLIPE
Mother left us, rumour was
that she went over to the
other side, consorted with a
German Officer named Dieter.
When father was captured,they said it was Dieters
word that stopped him being
executed.
(beat)
When he found out about it,
I think he would have rather
been dead.
(beat)
I got back home in 1946, buteverything changed forever.
You could say I left as a boy
and came back a man. Daddy
died a broken man, you see,
hed won the war but lost the
battle.. and mother.. I never
saw her again.
A long pause.
PHILLIPE (contd)Eliza, falling doesnt hurt.
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Landing hurts. Do you
understand? Youve been
falling falling falling, and
right now.. youre landing.
(beat)I think they love you, you
know. So go easy on them, ok?
ELIZA
Where are we going?
PHILLIPE
I want to see the house
again.
104 INT GENES MOTORHOME DAY
GENE, ANNIE, ROBER & LUC trying to keep up with PHILLIPE.
ROBERT
Grandpas going fast!
ANNIE
Yes honey, sit back.
GENEI knew we should have gone
to Italy.
ANNIE
Will you just shut up about
Italy!
105 INT JACQUES MOTORHOME DAY
JACQUES engine is loud due to the sudden increase inspeed. CHARLOTTE is on the phone.
CHARLOTTE (breezy)
Everythings fine. Lovely
day yesterday.
(beat)
Youll have to speak up a
bit, I can hardly hear you
over the engine.
(beat)
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Oh, err, I think shes asleep.
Well give you a call when we
get to..wherever it is were
going.
(beat)
OK, thanks Magritte, bye.
She ends the call.
CHARLOTTE (contd)
Good grief.
JACQUES
Well done.
CHARLOTTE
I thought Id skip the bitwhere shes kidnapped by the
mad geriatric.
JACQUES
Probably for the best.
106 INT PHILLIPES CAMPER VAN END OF A52 DAY
PHILLIPE and ELIZA reach the end of the A52.
SAT NAV (V.O)
Get into the left hand lane.
PHILLIPE
Still behind?
ELIZA
Three cars back.
PHILLIPE
Now we lose them.
107 EXT NOTTINGHAM RING ROAD DAY
PHILLIPES CAMPER VAN approaches a junction.
SAT NAV (V.O)
At the junction, turn right.
He stays in the middle lane.
ELIZA
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Where has he taken our
daughter?
ANNIE
Hey relax, shell be fine.
Theyve gone to the house.
CHARLOTTE
How do you know?
ANNIE
Hes been before. When we
were younger, hed go missing
for days on end. Last time
he came I was pregnant with
Robert.
110 EXT 10 LORD NELSON STREET NOTTINGHAM
SAME TIME
PHILLIPE and ELIZA still on the street outside number 10.
PHILLIPE
Annie went into early labour.
I missed the birth of my
first grandson. She made me
swear Id never return.
111 EXT NOTTINGHAM RING ROAD SAME TIME
As before.
ANNIE
I made him swear hed never
return.
JACQUESThen it must mean a lot to
him.
CHARLOTTE
So now what?
GENE
Go to a garage, buy a map.
Find the street, find the
house. Easy.
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112 EXT 10 LORD NELSON STREET SAME TIME
As before.
ELIZA
So now what?
PHILLIPE
Nothing.
ELIZA
You dont want to go inside?
PHILLIPE
No. This street, this is my
Wailing Wall.
He fades off.. a change of heart, a realisation.
PHILLIPE (contd)
We shouldnt have come here.
Annie.. the boys. Theyll be
missing us.
ELIZA walks up to the door of number 10.
PHILLIPE (contd)
Come on, we should get backto them.
ELIZA
Phillipe. Your story is
nothing. My real parents
are already dead. I dont
remember but I know I was
there when they were killed.
You were taken away from the
fighting. In Chad, the fighting
came all the way into my home.
She addresses the door.
PHILLIPE
What are you doing?
ELIZA
Kicking the wall.
ELIZA rings the doorbell. It is the worst ever novelty
ring. A long pause.
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AMIR (e)
Well why didnt you say so?
Come in off the street.
Thats it, in you come.
Surprised by the turn of events, PHILLIPE and ELIZAenter. AMIR shouts deeper into the house.
AMIR (contd)
Guppy get the kettle on,
weve got visitors.
113 EXT NEAR PETROL STATION FORECOURT DAY
GENE returns to his and JACQUES motor homes with a map
of Nottingham. He hands it to ANNIE. She opens it.
ANNIE
I dont remember the name of
the street.
GENE
What?! He only names it five
times a day.
ANNIE (defensive)
Well do you remember?
GENE
Erm, No.
CHARLOTTE
Oh great.
JACQUES
Cant we just phone him?
GENEWhat?
JACQUES
Hes got a phone hasnt he?
GENE
Yes yes, of course! Here..
He reaches for his pocket. Then a realisation.
GENE (contd)His numbers on my phone.
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In a lake, somewhere.
JACQUES
You didnt write it down?
GENENo. But I wasnt banking on
having my phone thrown into
a lake.
ANNIE
Get lost Gene.
CHARLOTTE
So were stranded.
Their desolation is apparent. A CAR passes them.
114 INT THE CAR SAME TIME
JO and ALICE are in the car that just passed by.
JO
Oh look was that the French?
ALICECant be, theres only two of
them.
JO
Oh yeah.
115 INT RADIO STATION OFFICE DAY
Radio producer CHRISTINE is looking at the computer with
text messages coming in..
Please play Bon Jovi. Say hi to Carrie in Reading
she is 32 today. Etc..
Nothing about the French motor homes.
CHRISTINE
Somethings wrong.
MALCOLM is walking back to his chair with a cup of tea.
MALCOLM
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What is it?
CHRISTINE
We lost them.
116 INT 10 LORD NELSON ST LOUNGE DAY
PHILLIPE and ELIZA drink tea. The room is full of
people, all sitting round. Old man MOHAMMED (70) is
trying to communicate with PHILLIPE.
MOHAMMED (animated, in Urdu)
I rent this house for a
peppercorn.
He takes a peppercorn from his pocket and eyeballs it.His grand-daughter, AISHA, talks back to him.
AISHA (in Urdu)
He doesnt understand you
you old git.
MOHAMMED
Hey, dont be so rude.
(in English)
A peppercorn. My rent. See?
PHILLIPE stands up, mesmerised to be in the house of his
childhood. He walks towards the kitchen.
PHILLIPE (in French)
The kitchen.
AMIR (English)
The kitchen, yes.
He points to a corner of the room.
PHILLIPE (f)
The harpsichord, was here.
Where I learned to play.
He mimes playing a harpsichord.
AMIR (e)
That old piano thing? Threw
it out years ago mate, sorry.
GUPPY (to Amir)Amir, who exactly are these
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people?
AMIR
They said they were friends
of Mavis.
(to a young boy)
Choudhary, go and get Serena,
and tell her to bring a
phrase book or something.
117 INT CAFE DAY
GENE, ANNIE, JACQUES, CHARLOTTE, ROBERT and LUC have
stopped for a coffee.
GENE
At least in Italy he wouldnt
be able to hijack the..
ANNIE (angry)
Gene, listen, right, let me
tell you about the last time
we visited Italy. After that
trip, I very nearly left you.
GENEWhat?!
ANNIE
Three things kept me with
you, those two..
Shes referring to ROBERT and LUC
ANNIE (contd)
..and him.
Referring to PHILLIPE.
ANNIE (contd)
You were always on the phone,
always eyeing up other women
and you hardly played with
the kids on the entire trip.
A look here passes between GENE and CHARLOTTE.
Acknowledgement that hes been eyeing her up too.
GENE
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Thats unfair.
ANNIE
I spoke to Dad and he said
you were probably just
stressed with work and togive you another chance.
(beat)
This trip, Gene, is your
other chance.
GENE
Oh.
(beat)
How am I doing?
ANNIEIf you dont like the
answers, dont ask the
questions.
GENE
Oh.
A pause.
CHARLOTTE
We should phone the police.
JACQUES
No, Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE
Hes got our daughter.
GENE
For god sake Charlotte, stop
worrying.
ANNIEGene!
JACQUES
No hes right, Annie.
(to Charlotte)
No police, Charlotte. You
honestly think Eliza isnt
fine? Its bad of you not to
trust our friends, even
though their father is alittle bit loopy.
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CHARLOTTE is cowed.
CHARLOTTE
Sorry Gene, Annie. Im just
worried.
ANNIE
Its fine Charlotte, youre
acting like any mother would.
CHARLOTTE is consoled by this.. this is what being a
parent really feels like.
JACQUES opens the map index and starts to read it.
JACQUESLook at us all, falling
apart. Come on.. Bingham
Road?
ANNIE
No.
JACQUES
Brown Lane.
ANNIENo.
118 INT 10 LORD NELSON STREET LOUNGE DAY
Things in the house are much better now SERENA (13) has
been brought in with her French dictionary.
SERENA (English, to everyone)
So he stayed here with Mavis
in the war.
ELIZA (e)
Yes, in the war.
MOHAMMED (Urdu)
Serena can you translate?
She nods, yes.
MOHAMMED (contd, Urdu)
When we first moved here, itwas Mavis who made us the
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most welcome..
MOHAMMED unfolds old newspaper clippings. We drift over
various news pieces as ELIZA explains to PHILLIPE.
A picture of a young MAVIS with the mayor of Nottingham.
ELIZA (v.o)
..Mavis founded the community
centre and the Roger Enderby
school at the end of the road
is named after her husband.
She helped these people when
they moved here, helped get
their mosque organised, and
campaigned for equal rights
for women and for Asians.
A picture of MAVIS at a ceremony with Princess Anne.
ELIZA (contd V.O)
She was given the freedom of
the city.. I think thats
what they call it.. in 1984.
PHILLIPE (f)
Ask where her grave is, I
want to see it.
ELIZA (e)
Where is her.. what is the
word..?
SERENA volunteers the dictionary. ELIZA looks up the
word grave.
ELIZA (contd, e)
Grave. He wants to see her
grave please.
A look of concern passes around the room.
AMIR (e)
He wants to see her grave?
PHILLIPE clocks the strange atmosphere in the room.
PHILLIPE (f, to ELIZA)
Whats the matter? Youve
said it wrong.
ELIZA
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No, Im sure I said grave.
The look around the family changes slowly once again to..
..smiles. Sniggers. Laughs.
MOHAMMED (Urdu)Ah ha ha, her grave!
ELIZA (e)
What is wrong?
AMIR (e)
Nothings wrong girl, its
just that..well..
Mavis Enderby isnt dead!
MOHAMMED (Urdu)I hope she didnt hear us,
shed kick us out of her
house!
PHILLIPE
Whats wrong? Why do they
laugh?
ELIZA
Phillipe.. she isnt dead.
PHILLIPE is utterly dumbfounded. He sits down in shock.
PHILLIPE
No. No. It cant be.
AMIR (e)
Guppy get Adnan on the phone.
Tell him were going to
visit Mavis.
(contd, to Eliza)
Five minutes and well takeyou there, OK?
119 INT RADIO STATION DAY
JEREMY VINE is in the chair.
JEREMY VINE
It seems weve lost track of
our French guests. Last seen
heading into Nottingham.
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120 EXT NOTTINGHAM STREETS
Phillipes Camper Van, followed by a couple of cars,
heads through the streets of Nottingham.
JEREMY VINE (V.O)
Were looking for three
motor homes, so if you see
them please get in touch.
121 EXT HOLKHAM HEIGHTS NURSING HOME DAY
The convoy arrives at HOLKHAM HEIGHTS nursing home. AMIR
has driven PHILLIPES camper, hes too shaken to drive.
AMIR (e)
Come on.
ELIZA holds PHILLIPES hand. Hes very hesitant.
122 INT HOLKHAM HEIGHTS NURSING HOME DAY ROOM DAY
The group of about eight of the Asian family, plus
PHILLIPE and ELIZA walk into the nursing home day room.
AMIR (e)
Ay up Mavis, one of your
waifs and strays has
returned!
And there she is..
NINETY-SEVEN years old, frail, in a wheelchair, with a
little Pomeranian dog at her feet, in flagrant disregard
of the rules of the Nursing Home.
MAVIS ENDERBY. Mother Nottingham. Grand old Matriarch.
Still wearing rouge and lipstick.
On PHILLIPE. Rooted to the spot. Like he is seeing a
real-life ghost. A pause.
MAVIS (loud)
Which one is he?
(to ELIZA)
You girl, whats his name?
ELIZA
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He is Phillipe Gaston, mama.
Mavis rolls the words around her needle-sharp brain.
MAVIS
Phillipe.. Gaston.
Memory working overtime.
MAVIS (contd)
Got him.
(beat)
Became an organist.
Trouble maker too, I
remember.
PHILLIPE, full of tears, goes over and embraces Mavis.
PHILLIPE (f)
Oh mama. You saved my life.
He weeps. All of the onlookers are very moved too.
MAVIS (in French, tender)
Dont wet my cardie, child.
PHILLIPE starts to dry his eyes.
MAVIS (contd, f, to PHILLIPE)
So have you come to play for
me after all these years?
PHILLIPE (f)
There is an organ?
MAVIS (f)
Not here, no.
PHILLIPEI had to retire. Emphysema
they said, and a weak heart.
MAVIS
Rubbish! Youre a spring
chicken. Come on, lets get
out of here for a change.
123 INT PHILLIPES CAMPER VAN DAY
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AMIR drives. PHILLIPE just stares at MAVIS, who is
sitting with ELIZA. PICKLE the dog on PHILLIPES knee.
ELIZA regards a tape box in the camper van, we see the
picture on the box is a young Phillipe organ recitals
by Phillipe Gaston.
PHILLIPE passes his phone to ELIZA.
PHILLIPE (to ELIZA)
I dont know how to work
this. Can you phone Gene,
tell them where we are?
ELIZA
But Annie threw his phone in
the lake.
PHILLIPE
Oh yes.
ELIZA
Its OK, I can phone..
PHILLIPE
Who.. your father?
Eliza looks forlornly at him. Its a tense moment.
PHILLIPE (contd)
Its alright. Just start
with the name and the
emotions will follow.
MAVIS nods at her, she agrees with what Phillipe is
saying. Eliza understands, she keys in the number.
124 EXT CAFE DAY
GENE, ANNIE, JACQUES and CHARLOTTE are in the same caf,
GENE is reading through the index of the Nottingham A-Z.
GENE
Derby Road.
ANNIE
No.
GENEDucayne Street.
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ANNIE
No.
GENE
Ellesmere Street?
ANNIE
No!
CHARLOTTE
This is hopeless.
JACQUES phone rings. He answers.
JACQUES
Eliza? Where are you?
125 INT NOTTINGHAM COUNCIL HOUSE DAY
This is one of the most beautiful buildings in
Nottingham.
There are some visitors inside, looking round the place.
Footsteps echo on the hard floor.
ELIZA walks PHILLIPE across the central lobby.
After establishing this, we see, behind these two..
AMIR pushing MAVIS ENDERBY in her wheelchair.
PICKLE the Pomeranian close by. And behind these three..
The other seven members of the Asian Family, and also..
MOST OF THE OLD PEOPLE FROM THE NURSING HOME.
They are being pushed by a variety of helpers.
Silence, except for the squeaks from their wheelchairs
echoing around the place.
The large and unlikely looking group filter into the main
BANQUETING HALL.
MAVIS bids PHILLIPE continue to the organ, which is
nearby. She pats the seat next to her, for ELIZA to sit
down. Eliza does so.
PHILLIPE walks towards the organ. He has to cross aroped off cordon to get there.
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As he approaches the organ, he is accosted by COUNCILLOR
HARRY EDWARDS.
COUNCILLOR HARRY
Excuse me Sir, no visitors inthis area Im afraid.
PHILLIPE just looks at him with incomprehension.
MAVIS (off)
Come off it Harry, let the
boy play.
COUNCILLOR HARRY swings round and sees MAVIS and the
GANG. Instant capitulation.
COUNCILLOR HARRY
Mavis, so sorry, I didnt
realise..
MAVIS
Dont worry about it. Come
and have a seat. The boys
come a long way to play for
me. A very long way.
PHILLIPE walks over to the organ. He takes a seat.Cracks his fingers. Touches the keys, tentative at
first.
A simple number to start with. Something fairly gentle.
He is very very good.
126 EXT STREETS NEAR COUNCIL HOUSE SAME TIME
The other two motor homes drive towards the Council
House.
GENE
Which sides the entrance?
ANNIE
I dont know.
GENE
Where do I park?
ANNIEHow the hell should I know!
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127 INT NOTTINGHAM COUNCIL HOUSE LATER
PHILLIPE at the organ is now dancing around it.
This wizened old French Man has come alive, veryanimated, he rattles through a more complex piece.
VISITORS filtering in at the back start to sit down.
PHILLIPE reaches a crescendo, and ends.
APPLAUSE.
GENE, ANNIE, JACQUES, CHARLOTTE, ROBERT and LUC enter at
the back of the banqueting hall. JACQUES sees ELIZA.
JACQUES
Theres Eliza. Wheres
Phillipe?
GENE
Oh hell be..
ANNIE (fully realising)
..playing the organ.
A THUNDEROUS ROAR FROM THE ORGAN the opening chord fromBACHS TOCATA AND FUGUE.
128 INT NOTTINGHAM COUNCIL HOUSE MONTAGE
Drifting around the different faces in this unlikely
looking audience. Everyone totally enraptured by the
music.
The Asian family. Moved.
The tourists. The OAPs from the home. All in total
rapture.
On PHILLIPE. Playing. Sweating.
JACQUES and CHARLOTTE sitting by ELIZA.
129 EXT NOTTINGHAM COUNCIL HOUSE DAY
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A shot of the building from the outside as the music
ends. Tumultuous applause. Everyone starts to file
out.
ROBERT
That was so cool!
MAVIS (French)
Phillipe, thank you.
Youve made an old woman
very happy.
PHILLIPE
Im a little bit rusty.
WALLY (60), one of the visitors, with his wife MAGGIE
(55) looks out across the plaza. He spots the motorhomes parked together. The penny dropping.
WALLY (e)
Hang on..
He approaches JACQUES.
WALLY (e, to JACQUES)
Excuse me Sir, pardon me for
asking, but, have you been
to Dorchester in your visit?
JACQUES (e)
Pardon?
WALLY (e)
You been Dorchester?
JACQUES (e)
Dorchester? Yes.
WALLYMoreton in Marsh?
His wife is getting agitated.
MAGGIE
Leave it Wally.
WALLY
Alton Towers?
JACQUES (e, suspicious)How do you know?
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WALLY
Dont suppose youve..
MAGGIE
Wally! Leave them in peace.
JACQUES
The..?
WALLY
Ohhh..doesnt matter, welcome
to England.
He shakes a confused JACQUES hand.
WALLY (contd)Fabulous recital. Good isnt
he? Hope the rest of the
trip goes ok.
He walks off, leaving JACQUES totally thrown.
130 EXT NOTTINGHAM COUNCIL HOUSE MOMENTS LATER
The French are all loaded into their motor homes. MAVIS
and the Asian family are waving them off. WALLY isstanding next to them.
WALLY
Well whod have thought it?
Very nice to meet them.
MAVIS and AMIR look quizzically at WALLY.
WALLY
Oh Im sorry I thought you
knew them too. Do you listento Radio 2?
Wally begins to explain everything to Mavis and the gang.
131 INT PHILLIPES CAMPER VAN EVENING
PHILLIPE is sitting in the passenger seat of his camper
van. His eyes are closed. We reveal the driver, ANNIE.
ANNIELook at you, shattered.
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PHILLIPE
Dont start Annie.
ANNIE
Why are all the men in mylife so pig-headed?
PHILLIPE
Annie please.
A long pause.
ANNIE
You were amazing in there.
PHILLIPEWas I?
ANNIE
Youve still got it.
Another long pause.
ANNIE (contd)
Dad, look, Im sorry I didnt
want you to go to Nottingham.
It worried me, the past. Ithought it might be too much
for you, your heart and all.
PHILLIPE
We shouldnt have gone there.
Its really not the past we
should be worried about. The
future is more important.
(beat)
We can go home now, whenever
youre ready. Hows thingswith Gene?
ANNIE
Hes still a bully, if thats
what you mean.
PHILLIPE
Hell be alright. I was the
same at his age. Workaholic.
ANNIENo dad he most definitely
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JACQUES
I still dont understand how
the English guy knew where
wed been.
CHARLOTTEDrop it now eh Jacques?
They look at ELIZA, who is at an outside tap, filling
water balloons with the boys, ROBERT and LUC.
ANNIE
How is she?
CHARLOTTE
Feels like shes settling in
now.
ANNIE
Good.
CHARLOTTE (to Phillipe)
I dont know what passed
between you two, but thanks.
PHILLIPE
I told you, shes a good kid.
Hearts in the right place.
LUC walks into the middle of the group, grinning,
carrying a water balloon.
PHILLIPE (contd)
This one, on the other hand..
GENE (to Luc)
Now then young man, where are
you going with that?
LUC raises the water balloon above his head.
GENE (contd)
I wouldnt do that if I were
you.
LUC does throw the water balloon at GENE. It bursts.
GENE yelps at the cold.
GENE (contd)
Right, that does it.
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Slight tension here, is GENE going to get angry?
GENE runs over to the tap, picks up a balloon and throws
it towards LUC. It misses, hitting ANNIE.
GENEWhoops!
ANNIE
Gene!
GENE runs over, grabs a towel. Tries to dry ANNIE.
ANNIE (contd)
You missed some.
She points down to her feet. GENE bends down. ANNIEpours her glass of water over him.
JACQUES laughs at this, when suddenly, plop! Hes hit by
a water balloon thrown by ELIZA. He yelps too. Suddenly
its pandemonium, everyone is getting soaked by everyone
else. The kids are loving it.
136 EXT MOTORHOMES DAY
JACQUES stalks slowly around a corner of the motor homes,stealthily. ROBERT runs up behind him and throws a water
balloon over his head.
137 EXT MOTOROMES DAY
GENE and ANNIE are in a quiet corner, throwing water from
buckets at each other.
ANNIE lets her wet hair down. The water gripping tight
to her clothes reveals a great figure.
GENE is entranced, finally seeing again the true beauty
of his wife.
GENE
Im sorry, Im so sorry.
He heads towards her, and then..
WHACK!
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ANNIE punches him in the face. GENE, taken aback, slips
on the sodden ground.
There is a moment of complete shock on GENES face as he
sits in the mud, nursing what is going to be a black eye.
ANNIE turns and walks away.
138 EXT MOTORHOMES DAY
ELIZA is high up. She has a foot on the roof of JACQUES
MOTORHOME and the other on the roof of GENES MOTORHOME.
From her POV we see CHARLOTTE creeping round the corner
of one of the motor homes.
Above her, ELIZA creeps up. Raises the balloon to give
Charlotte a good soaking. But her foot slips.
She falls with a crash. We hear her cry out.
139 EXT MOTORHOMES MOMENTS LATER
JACQUES, ANNIE, PHILLIPE, ROBERT & LUC are all on the
scene as ELIZA is on the floor, crying.
ANNIE
What happened?
CHARLOTTE
She fell. From up there.
ELIZA has a small cut to her head. She nurses her arm.
She is in pain. GENE arrives with a big first-aid kit.
GENE
Its alright, dont panic.Everyone out of the way.
Right..
The other adults look towards Gene, at his injured eye.
GENE ignores them, and opens the first aid kit. He takes
out a sticking plaster and aims it at ELIZAS head.
ELIZA squeals. JACQUES intervenes.
JACQUES
Gene its her arm Im moreworried about.
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helping you whether you want
us to or not.
140 INT ANDYS CAR EVE
ANDY drives his car as FLUFF, a really big English Bull
Terrier, sits in the front seat.
In the back seat, ELIZA, flanked by JACQUES and
CHARLOTTE. They are all still soaking wet from earlier.
ANDY (e)
Fluff, how many more times,
stop drooling on the seats.
ELIZA (f, to JACQUES)Im sorry.
JACQUES
For heavens sake, dont be.
141 INT ADDENBROOKES HOSPITAL A & E EVE
ANDY marches straight into A & E reception. Its quiet.
ANDYService!
The A&E Receptionist looks up over her spectacles.
A&E RECEPTIONIST
Can I help you?
ANDY
Girl here with a suspect
broken arm.
He leans forward to her. Whispering.
ANDY (contd)
And its one of the French.
A&E RECEPTIONIST
The French?
ANDY
Dont tell me a girl your age
dont listen to Radio 2.
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A&E RECEPTIONIST (realising)
Oh. The French. You sure?
ANDY
Sure as.
142 INT ADDENBROOKES HOSPITAL WARD NIGHT
ELIZA, JACQUES and CHARLOTTE are sitting on a hospital
bed. DR BASHIR (35) looks at an X-Ray of her arm.
A nurse, DEBBIE (22) sits on the bed near them.
DR BASHIR (e)
She has a fractured elbow.
DEBBIE (f)She has a fractured elbow.
DR BASHIR (e)
Well need to set it in
plaster. We need the name
and address of her doctor at
home and well send all the
details on. Ok, good.
His words merge with DEBBIES translation.
DR BASHIR (e)
Nice bandage work, by the
way.
DEBBIE (f)
He says nice bandaging.
JACQUES (e)
Thank you.
ELIZA has been sitting in the middle of them allthroughout, listening to everything.
Here are people who genuinely do care for her.
CHARLOTTE tries to lift her arm up, but ELIZA, with her
good arm, pulls it back down around her.
143 EXT MOTORHOMES NIGHT
PHILLIPE sits asleep with GLORIA, who is reading.
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GENE and ANNIE sit with a glass of wine, looking at the
stars. ROBERT and LUC are in bed.
ANNIE (to Gene, of Phillipe)
Hes still exhausted.
GENE is looking up at the stars.
GENE
Perhaps its out of his
system now.
ANNIE
You mean..?
GENE
Its
