As Tom
leaves the warehouse a short 16-year-old approaches him wearing
marbled jeans and a Benetton jumper- CALLUM. He has a rucksack on
both shoulders.
CALLUM
Are
you Tom?
In an
instant, Tom whips out the Beretta and pins the guy to the wall by
the neck. He puts the gun in the boy’s face. Callum won’t look
Tom in the eye. He’s terrified. Tom examines him, trying to figure
out if he knows him or if he’s dangerous. Callum has what looks
like a woman’s stocking hanging out of his pocket. Tom eyes it
suspiciously but doesn’t mention it.
FLASHBACK-
Tom handing over the package in McD’s. Callum was serving.
TOM
You
work at McD’s?
CALLUM
I did,
until you blew the fucking place up.
TOM
I
didn’t know they were bombs, mate! They were in fucking laptop
cases!
Tom’s
kind of pleading with him- he doesn’t want to rot in jail for this.
CALLUM
Doesn’t
matter, Devant told me not to go in.
Tom’s
face slips from stress to almost understanding. This guy works for
Devant too. Tom sticks the gun down his waistband.
TOM
Where
is he?
CALLUM
He
said you can meet him and he will… compensate you for your troubles
but he said you’ll have to do something first.
Callum
speaks slowly. He behaves slightly autistic, or perhaps OCD, slowly
circling his wrists as he speaks, not making eye contact.
TOM
Like
what, assassinate the Prime Minister?
CALLUM
No,
Devant works for the Prime Minister.
Pause.
DAVE
(Shouting from inside)
Get
that black cunt. Don’t let him leave!
Tom’s
psycho face returns. He turns to go back in the warehouse but Callum
puts his arms around Tom’s chest and drags him out of the porch
towards a small car. Callum is strong for his size.
TOM
I know
where you live, you fucking dick! Next time I see you I’m going to
smash your face into a fucking wall!
INT.
SMALL CAR- DAY
Callum
is driving.
TOM
What a
cunt. Dave knew what was in those packages. Now the fucking
government’s looking for-
Pause.
FLASH
FRAME
Devant
handing the cheque over
TOM
What-
did you say?
Callum
is thinking, casting his mind back.
CALLUM
Devant
works for the Prime Minister. For the Government.
Tom has
to wind the window down. He looks ill.
FLASHBACK
Tom, at
uni (from opening scene) standing on his duvet, stoned. The duvet is
tugged and he falls backwards. This is how Tom feels- everything has
been pulled from underneath him. The British government attacks it’s
own people. Tom is hyperventilating.
TOM
Oh. Oh
fuck. This is bad… He’s fine though; they’ll protect him. They
won’t do fuck all for me. They’ll deny he even exists…
CALLUM
You’re
not going to the police mate.
TOM
Fucking
right, I’m not. I’d done too much illegal shit before I found
myself guilty of fucking genocide… and I’m on my last warning for
kicking off. I’m sure as hell not going to the Police.
CALLUM
Devant
will have confiscated the CCTV footage.
Tom is
suppressing panic.
TOM
Okay.
Okay. Where are we going now? Wait a minute- what’s your name? I
don’t think today’s the best day for getting into cars with
strangers.
CALLUM
Me
name’s Callum and I’d describe myself as a – a film and gym
enthusiast and a freelance political activist.
TOM
Not
one to be pigeon-holed, then? Sounds like we’ll get on fine.
CALLUM
And to
answer your first question- er- Devant just needs someone to provide
me some assistance. I’ve got some issues to resolve.
Pause.
TOM
Pull
over. NOW. Do it.
Tom
glances around the car, looking for a way to dive out. On the back
seat, a few milk bottles clink around haphazardly. They are filled
with a strange blue liquid. Next to them lies a selection of lollipop
sticks and a lighter.
CALLUM
McD’s
isn’t the only place you know me from, Tom.
TOM
(bemused)
What?!
CALLUM
Those
bartenders are gonna get fucked up, you mark my words.
FLASHBACK
The
Doorman running into Callum and dragging him outside.
CALLUM
They
like to boast. I hate people like that. I hate them. And Devant’s
losing his patience too. They’re not the only people who can copy
discs, and they’re not the only people who can concoct alcoholic
beverages. They think too much of themselves. Manager of Bar Code
wanted to sack ‘em, but Devant stopped him. He has contacts at the
papers, so he kept getting stuff printed in the paper about gangs
taking over the bar. Manager went quiet after that.
TOM
I’ve
gotta move out of that apartment.
CALLUM
You’ve
probably only got approximately two more jobs left. Then if you want,
you can, er, cease employment with Devant.
TOM
Thank
fuck for that. How do you know?
CALLUM
I’ve
been working for him since I left school. He said he hired me ‘cause
I was- willing to do things that other people wouldn’t.
Tom
thinks.
TOM
You’re
a film fan, yeah? Christ. My mind’s gone blank. Alright. What's
this?
HIGH
ANGLE- CAR ON MOTORWAY
TOM
(Cont., American accent)
'How
do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?'
CALLUM
Hudson
in Aliens, Nineteen-eighty-six.
TOM
Shit!
CALLUM
Appropriate,
considering your situation, I suppose.
Pause.
TOM
We
used to do this through the walls at uni. Used to stay up all night,
testing our film knowledge.
CALLUM
No one on Earth loves films more than me. Which is
why this next job is going to be particularly enjoyable. We’ll be
there in about forty-six minutes.
TOM
As
long as it gets me out.
CALLUM
Out of
this chickenshit outfit?
TOM
Yup.
Alright, I bet I can catch you. 'Today
they asked
us to get
rid of Joe.
Tomorrow, they
ask
me to get
rid of you.
Is that okay with you?
'Cause it's not okay with me.'
CALLUM
That
is... Once Upon a Time in America. Noodles. 'Eighty four.
TOM
Impressive.
I can't even find anyone who's seen it. Alright, I don't even know
anyone who's heard of this one. Um...
Tom
impersonates an American woman.
TOM
(cont)
Why
would you need a bazooka?
Tom
impersonates an African American man.
TOM
(cont)
Well,
sometimes you gotta take out stuff like a bus or a building, or a
*bunch* of muhfuckas.
CALLUM
I
know this.
TOM
I
don't think you do...
CALLUM
It's
a comedy. It's got, well, lots of black people in it...
TOM
Yes,
yes it has...
CALLUM
Bunch
of muhfuckas... It's not Don't be a Menace...
TOM
You're
right, it's not...
CALLUM
Oh,
that rap spoof thing. Fear of a Black Hat.
Tom
exhales in surprise.
TOM
Wow.
CALLUM
Loved
that movie. Anyway, I wouldn’t feel too bad about this morning.
TOM
(Deadpan)
Thanks.
CALLUM
They
were all corrupt and-
TOM
Yes,
I’ve heard this ridiculous story and I don’t buy it for a second.
CALLUM
No,
really. Most companies are taking funds from places they shouldn’t.
The government does the same. Why do you think the papers are always
reporting holes in the budget, and then town mayors are spending
money on er… luxuries. You can get more money being a bin man-
that’s a council job, local government- than you can doing
insurance claims, using about ten computer systems and needing
knowledge and understanding and stuff. I wouldn’t mind being a bin
man but I’d rather stay at McD’s.
TOM
Great,
I’m sure.
But
Tom's really not sure. He sits in silence.
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