PRETTY AS A PICTURE
(Rom/Com)

A Screenplay BY NIGEL SPENCER

hanshumbug@hotmail.co.uk

(All content is for evaluation and feedback purposes only, the writer reserves the rights to this script and permission must be sought before its use for any project)

Story Setting: 

Oxford - A student city with a mixture of cultures and an ancient soul that thrives to a modern city beat.

Character overview:

Charles - A young photography student who doesn’t keep with the style other students have adopted yet still manages to stay stylish. A sheltered soul who feels unable to articulate himself clearly, yet on occasions comes across with style and the sort of charm associated with puppies. Much the same way as many of Hugh Grants characters come across. 

Jenny - A bubbly yet down to earth student studying history of art. She dresses differently to all others at her university, opting for more conservative yet stylish clothing. I.e. dresses and the like that show a little less flesh. She manages to carry of the touch of style she posses’ naturally and wears glasses. Has brunette hair and is of a delicate build.

Chloe - Jenny’s best friend, work partner and flatmate. A more outgoing friendly person with a slightly more liberal attitude towards dress sense. A fashion follower if ever the term were to be used. A more built girl but not to extremities. Still well within the attractive boundaries. Does not wear glasses except to be fashionable and has blonde hair.

John - Works in a coffee shop. Is the crush of Chloe. A very handsome young man with a good level of intellect combined with a street smart attitude. Seems to have all the connections. Has an air of confidence about him. Studies Economics.

Danny - Is Charles’ best friend. They have been mates since primary school and have followed each other around ever since. They now share a flat and Danny is studying Philosophy. He is a more extravert version of Charles. Always willing to go out and try new things. Including the odd spliff. 

Brian - Charles’ old and highly eccentric boss at the library where he works. Wears festive cardigans and glasses. Also wears green trousers. A very odd but knowledgeable person.

START

SCENE 0 - THE PRELUDE TO “THE PARK”

EXT. Main street in Oxford, We see Charles walking through down the street with his head up looking at the architecture that surround him, on one occasion he twirls to look at a particular piece of architecture in detail without the need to stop. Finally he gets to a point where he has spotted a perfect photo and stops, takes his camera out of its case and adjusts the zoom to take a picture.

Slideshow of various photography, starting with building photography throughout Oxford, then moving on to river photography including pictures of people punting, then we move to park photography and close ups of flowers. As we move through each picture the changeover between images is a slide on and off of each picture simultaneously accompanied by a camera shutter sound.

SCENE 1 - THE PARK

EXT. Camera is going in and out of focus on a flower three times.

Cuts to…

EXT. Charles taking a close up picture of a flower as we see Jenny and Chloe walk along a path in the distance and refocus the camera on them and off Charles as they sit down

Cuts to…

EXT. Behind Jenny and Chloe on park bench overlooking the park.

Jenny and Chloe are talking about the course and the lecture they have just had.

Chloe
That lecture we just got from Dr Normans on Renaissance Art was bloody boring! The old coot could waffle on for hours on the most intricate of details and still not get to the bloody point! Don’t you think?

Jenny
Yeh, he does waffle a lot but when he gets to his point everything he seems to have said suddenly makes sense.

Chloe
Not to me it bloody doesn’t.

Jenny (with a rye grin)
That is because you switch of before he gets to his point!

(Light laughter, Chuckling)

Chloe
True.

Each ruffles around in their bag and produce the lunch for that day.

Chloe
What are you having for lunch today then? Salad AGAIN?

Jenny
Yep.

Chloe
Why do you eat that, you don’t even put a dressing on it. It must be as bland as eating chalk powder.

Jenny
You have eaten chalk powder?

Chloe
No but I imagine it would taste similar. Anyway answer my question.

Jenny
I am still on my diet.

Chloe
My god Jenny. Why are you still on that diet, just look at yourself, your as thin as a supermodel. Most girls would kill for that. Trying to make yourself even skinnier cant be good for you.

Jenny
I am fine, I have just fallen in to a routine. I enjoy being on my diet.

Both start to eat there lunches.

Camera goes back to Charles taking yet another close up and refocuses on the girls eating lunch over on the bench.

Chloe
What time is it anyway?

Jenny (looks at watch)
Coming up to quarter to two. Why?

Chloe
Shit I am meant to be somewhere!

Chloe starts to pack her stuff up. Jenny looks confused.

Jenny
Where?

Chloe (continuing to pack away)
You know the guy John from the Coffee shop, you know the one who makes the coffees with the nice smile and cute arse?

Jenny (looking embarrassed)
Yeh.

Chloe
Well I was meant to be meeting him at twenty to two at the prison re-development to go for a drink.

Jenny (a tinge of disappointment across her face)
Oh I see, well you better get going then or he will think you have changed your mind or lost interest or something.

Chloe
I knew you would understand. Will update you on how it went later, when I get back to the flat. See you later.

Chloe grabs her bag and walks off, Jenny says goodbye after her but is unsure as to whether she has been heard.

EXT. Park Flowerbed near bench. Camera once again goes in and out of focus on a flower however this time when out of focus on the flower on one occasion, Jenny becomes focused in the background. The camera flicks her back out of focus, however instantaneously, as though something has caught the eye the camera brings Jenny back in to focus.

Cuts to…

EXT. A full view of Charles looking through his camera at what would appear to be a flower. He removes the camera from his eye and looks down ponderously. He resumes looking through his camera.

Cuts to…

EXT. The camera is refocusing on Jenny once again. A picture is taken. The screen turns black for a moment, enough for the viewer to notice and a camera shutter sound is heard. When the screen returns from darkness the image is frozen. Jenny is radiant on the screen, with the sun shining of her giving her an unparalleled ambience. The picture unfreezes and Jenny looks straight down the camera.

Cuts to…

EXT. Charles realising he has been noticed changes his expression in an instant to one of concentration and is seen to refocus his camera and move in closer to the flower of his original intentions in order to throw Jenny. Taking the picture we can then see him get up and walk along the path past Jenny.

Cuts to…

EXT. We view Charles from behind as he paces quickly away down the path. Jenny cocks her head to follow his movements as he strides away from her. She uncocks her head.

Cuts to…

EXT. A front ways view of Jenny on the bench looking bored. She picks up her fork and eases some lettuce in to her mouth, a bit hangs out between her lips as she chews like an uncontent horse. After eating the lettuce she sighs looks at her remaining salad. Throws it in a bin, gets up and leaves.

SCENE 2 - DANNY BOY 

INT. Charles sits at a desk looking at a laptop screen. **Camera shot is from the back of the laptop with Charles’ forehead and eyes visible over the top. A figure stirs from a chair in the background and walks over quietly to stand behind Charles.

Danny
So who is she?

INT. **Camera view changes to over Charles’ shoulder.** We see he has been looking at the picture of Jenny. He quickly closes all of the windows he has open.

INT. **A close up as if we were the laptop looking up at Charles.**

Charles
Who is who?

INT. **Camera swings up and sideways to Danny over Charles’ shoulder.** Danny raises his eyebrows.

Danny
Come on now Charles, you have been looking at this screen for hours and when I walked over I saw that girl on your laptop.

INT. **Camera swings back down to Charles.**

Charles
She was no one. Just a background figure.

INT. **Camera swings back up to Danny.**

Danny
So how come she was in focus?? You’re a crap liar Chaz.

INT. **Camera swings back to Charles.**

Charles
Stop calling me Chaz Danny. You know I hate that name.

INT. **Camera swings back to Danny.**

Danny
Ok. But only if you tell me who she was Chaaaaaaaz.

INT. **Camera swings back to Charles.**

Charles
She was just a girl in the park. She just caught my eye. Just something about her.

INT. **Camera swings back to Danny.**

Danny
Oh god it is true…… There is such a thing as love at first site.

INT. **Camera swings back to Charles.** Charles looks shocked.

Charles
What??? No. She just caught my eye that’s all.

INT. **Camera swings back to Danny.**

Danny
Piss off! You emfatuated with the girl. You have been looking at her picture for hours.

INT. **Camera swings back to Charles.**

Charles
Charles please don’t swear.

INT. **Camera swings back to Danny.**

Danny
Well you are.

INT. **Camera shot of the two from the back of the laptop.** Danny turns and starts to walk away.

Danny
Stranger and Chaz, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S

Charles (cutting in)
You said you would stop calling me that

Danny (without turning back)
I lied!

SCENE 3 - CHLOE’S NIGHT (Chloe shares the details of her date with John without recognising that her friend Jenny has Charles on her mind until she buts in)

SCENE 4 - THE SEARCH

INT. **Camera shot from behind Charles.** Charles looks at an empty fireplace. **Camera swaps to a view from the fireplace, full length of Charles and his surroundings.** A look of contemplation upon his face. Charles is sitting on the edge of a comfortable looking arm chair leaning forward. Charles props his head up with his arms based on his knees. Danny enters the room from a door behind and throws himself in to the chair, sitting at 90 degrees to the normal direction, I.e. legs hanging over the chairs arms.

Danny
What you thinking about?

Charles
Nothing much.

Danny
If she could hear you referring to her as “nothing much” she wouldn’t be impressed mate.

Charles
I am not thinking of her.

Danny
What are you thinking of then?

LONG PAUSE

Charles
Vegetables.

Danny
What about vegetables?

LONG PAUSE

Charles
Genetic modifications… and if they really make much of a difference to… the taste.

Danny
You’re a shit liar!

Charles 
Do you have to swear?

Danny
Yes I fucking do. It is part of my character you repressive bastard!

Charles
Please!

Danny
Fine! I will attempt to reduce the amount I swear. Ok Chaz?

Charles
You can stop that to.

INT. **Same camera view.** DANNY’S HEAD DROPS BACK SHARPLY IN FRUSTRATION

Danny
And to think I was about to offer to help you track her down.

Charles
HOW??

Danny
Not sure I can be bothered now.

Charles
Just tell me Danny.

Danny
Fine. You still got her picture?

Charles
Yeh.

Danny
Well go and get it.

INT. **Same camera view.** Charles jumps up and goes out of the room returning with a copy of the photo. He hands the photo to Danny. Danny takes out his mobile, takes a picture of the photo and presses keys on his phone. Charles, unsure what is happening goes to sit back down.

Danny
And I am done, now we just wait.

Charles
Done what?

Danny
Well you see Charles, although we are friends, we lead very different lives. I am a social giant, with fingers in various pies. Whereas you would constitute a midget who would be lucky to have a finger in a ring donut.

Charles
Thanks! But what have you actually done?

Danny
I sent her picture out to various key figures. Word will get around, the picture will circulate and someone shall get back to me.

Charles
Isn’t that going to seem a bit weird?

Danny
No, not at all. It will seem as if you are the one with the social connections to track her down and you will look popular.

Charles
Right.

SCENE 5 - A SAD PINT 

INT. A pub scene. **Camera takes in the pub as a whole.** A few moments of atmosphere. **Camera shot changes. Facing both Charles and Danny face on at the bar.** 

Charles
Social goliath my bum.

Danny
For Christ’s sake at least say arse!

LONG PAUSE

Charles
Its been a week now, no actually 9 days. Exactly how many people did you text her picture to?

INT. **Same camera shot.** Danny looks away.

Danny (mumbled)
Three or four.

Charles
Three or four???

Danny
What’s the big deal you said she was nothing much?!?

Charles
No Danny, you inferred I said she was nothing much.

Danny
Alright, alright. Just give my contacts some more time.

Charles
Ok. I suppose I am being to hasty to write them off.

INT. **Same camera shot.** Both Charles and Danny both look in opposite directions. On the dukebox Mysterious Girl by Peter Andre begins to play. **Camera adopts the view over Charles shoulder out of the window to the pub. We suddenly see a ghostly mirage of Jenny. A bus drives past outside and the image disappears. Charles moves his head back to normal.
**Camera Changes once again to a face to face of Charles and Danny.** Danny still looks off shot. Charles looks around the room with purpose. He spots his target.

Charles
A reflection. That’s what it was.

Danny
What?

Charles
It was a reflection.

Danny
Your not making any sense, what was a reflection?

Charles
I thought I saw the girl outside.

LONG PAUSE

Danny
So let me get this straight. You thought you saw her outside but it was a reflection?

Charles
Yes.

Danny
But that means… She is in the pub?

Charles
Correct.

INT. **Same camera shot.** Charles grabs either side of Danny’s head and steers it in the view of Jenny. **Camera shot change to if it were Danny.** Jenny is standing with Chloe on the other side of the pub.

Danny
Jesus its her Chaz!

Charles
Stop that.

Danny
Sorry mate. What are you going to say to her?

Charles
I don’t know. I have never had to strike up a conversation like this before.

INT. **Camera view changes back to face to face.**

Danny
I got an idea.

INT. **Camera position stays the same.** Danny leans across and whispers in Charles’ ear.

Cuts to…

INT. **Camera is showing full length of Chloe and Jenny at a standing table** Chloe has a drink in her hand. Danny comes past her hurriedly from behind knocking her arm and making her spill some of the wine.

Danny
I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to knock you.

Chloe 
(Trying to patiently wait for him to leave before continuing to recount whatever story she was telling Jenny)
It’s ok, really, there wasn’t much left.

Danny
Let me buy you another drink as an apology.

Chloe 
(turning back to Jenny)
No your alright thanks

Danny 
(linking arms with Chloe, almost dragging her to the bar)
No really I must insist, come with me and show me what you were having.

INT. **Same camera shot.** Enter Charles walking past, he stops and slowly turns to face Jenny.

Charles
Hi, sorry to intrude but don’t I know you from somewhere?

Jenny
You’re the guy from the park last week, the one taking pictures of the flowers?

Charles
Yes, that’s right, I remember now.

LONG AWKWARD PAUSE

Charles
So what are you doing here? I haven’t seen you in here before.

Jenny
We, that’s me and my friend Chloe, decided we would try a new pub. Its not to far from where we work so thought we would see what it was like.

Charles
Ahh right that’s cool.

LONG AWKWARD PAUSE

Jenny
So do you do a lot of photography?

Charles
Just a bit. I am a photography student.

Jenny
Oh right, I see.

LONG AWKWARD PAUSE

Charles
So what course do you do?

Jenny
I am doing History of Art.

Charles
That must be interesting?

Jenny
Not Really

Charles
Oh

LONG AWKWARD PAUSE

Charles
Look… do you fancy going for a meal or something later this week?

Jenny
Yeh I would love to, when?

Charles
I don’t know, Friday?

Jenny
Ok and what time?

Charles
Seven?

Jenny
That’s good.

Charles
What sort of food do you like?

Jenny
Italian?

Charles
Great I know a nice little Italian in the backstreets.

Jenny
Lovely, shall we meet there?

Charles
Ok, give me your number and I will text you later about it.

Cuts to…

INT. **Camera at the bar.** We see through the crush at the bar to a patiently waiting Danny and a annoyed Chloe.

Chloe
Look it is fine really. Thanks for the offer but I don’t really want another drink.

Danny
Are you sure?

Chloe
Never surer. Now if you don’t mind I should get back to my friend.

INT. **Same camera shot.** We see Chloe Walk away from Danny and at the same time Charles comes in to the picture to join Danny.

Danny
How did you get on?

Charles
I have her number and we are going to go to an Italian this Friday.

Danny
Good good.

Charles
How was her friend?

Danny
Difficult. Nearly impossible to keep her here that long.

Charles
Thanks for that.

Danny
No Problems

SCENE 6 - FIRST THE WORST?? (first date fun, everything that could go wrong goes wrong. Charles even forgets the goodnight kiss and leaves Jenny standing there all puckered up with her eyes closed)

SCENE 7 - DOES HE/SHE LIKE ME?? (Jenny talks to Chloe and Charles talks to Danny about the date of that evening. How did Charles forget???)

SCENE 8 - WHAT A PUNT

EXT. Night time shot. **Camera across the other side of the road. A full length shot.** Jenny stands on a bridge lit from street lighting above. We see her pacing back and fourth. Glancing at her watch occasionally looking frustrated. A few seconds pass. Suddenly we here an echoed version of That’s Amore from beneath the bridge. Jenny turns and leans over the side.

Cuts to…

EXT. **Camera shot from front of punt to the back.** We see a silhouetted figure punting the craft. He is the one who appears to be singing.

Cuts to…

EXT. **Camera shot over the shoulder of Jenny.** We see from her point of view as the front of the punt starts to appear from under the bridge. Slowly the entire craft starts to appear.

Before the punter is seen we cut to…

EXT. **Camera shot from front of punt to back again.** Now we view the singer/punter as he comes out from being silhouetted in to the light. It is Charles, he turns and looks up while singing. **Camera swings up to the face of Jenny looking over the bridge above.** A look of amazement and shock/happiness crosses her face.

Cuts to…

EXT. **A second camera position from another punt or boat under the bridge. Filming a full length of Charles in the light looking up.** Charles stops singing mid song. 

****Camera will flick between each person for each of their lines. For Charles this will be the view from the second camera position under the bridge. For Jenny this will be a camera view from on the punt below looking up at her. 4 stars will indicate an end to this layout.****

Charles
So what do you think??

Jenny (with a chuckle and cheeky look)
I think you’re late.

Charles
Yeh but how else was I going to make sure you were here?

Jenny (pointing ahead of the punt)
I also think you should look out.

****

Cuts to…

EXT. **Camera view from over Jenny’s shoulder once again.** We can see from here that the punt has continued to move and is headed for an obstacle. Charles jams his punting pole in to the river bed to try and act as an anchor, it does the job to well and he is pulled off the punt and falls in to the water due to continuing to grasp the pole.

Cuts to…

EXT. **An upward camera shot from below of Jenny.** she lets out a hearty laugh.

Cuts to…

EXT. **View from over Jenny’s shoulder once again.** We can see a spluttering Charles, trying to keep himself afloat and get himself to the side of the river to clamber out.

Cuts to…

EXT. **The upwards view Jenny once again.** She lets out yet more laughter and then turns and exit’s the shot.

Cuts to…

EXT. **A side on view down by the river bank.** Jenny stands there as Charles tries to hoist himself out.

Charles
So your not going to offer me a hand then.

Jenny
You must be joking, I’m not getting wet and dirty.

Charles
Charming.

EXT. **Same camera shot.** Charles hoists himself out of the water and stands face to face with Jenny. **Zoom in for a face to face side on shot.**

Charles
Well… that went well.

Jenny
What was your plan?

Charles
Well I was going to serenade you as we punted down the river, and then I had a moonlight supper picnic hamper ready.

Jenny
Sounds nice.

Charles (glancing to the river)
It would have been… but the picnic just fell in the river in the kafuffle.

Cuts to…

EXT. **Camera shot of river from the river bank.** We see a picnic basket sinking under the water framed by the figures of Jenny and Charles holding hands.

Cuts to…

EXT. **Previous close up face shot.**

Jenny
Oh well. It is still a lovely night. Lets go for a walk.

Charles
Are you sure?

Jenny
So it didn’t go to plan. It doesn’t have to ruin tonight.

EXT. **Same camera shot just zoomed out to full length.** We see Jenny and Charles turn and walk off in to the distance. As they walk Charles puts his arm around Jenny pulls away and wipes herself, flicking her wrist as if to get rid of dirt and water.

SCENE 9 - THE NIGHT BEFORE (Jenny talks to Chloe and Charles talks to Danny about the incidents of the previous night and when and where there next date is to be)

SCENE 10 - WHERE ARE YOU???

EXT. **Full length shot of Jenny from over on the river bank.** Jenny leans on the hand rail looking over the river. She moves her arm up to see the time and lowers it back to support herself on the rail while exhaling with a puff.

EXT. **Full length shot of Jenny from across the road.** We see Jenny’s back and after a few moment she turns around, leaning up against the railing and folds her arms with a shiver. A few moments pass and she looks at her watch once again.

Cuts to…

INT. **Camera close up on a clock face.** **After a few moments the camera zooms out slowly.** It shows Charles behind a counter in a library. There is a huge queue of people in front of him to be served. He looks overworked and frustrated. He removes a mobile phone from his pocket. Enter Brian visible popping up over his shoulder.

Brian
I hope we aren’t going to be setting a bad example Charles my dear boy.

INT. **Same camera shot** In shock at being startled Charles fumbles/drops his phone.

INT. **A Close up camera shot of the phone.** The phone falls directly in to a cup of coffee.

INT. **A face to face shot with Charles.** Charles throws his head back slightly and closes his eyes before looking back down.

Charles
Not any more Brian.

INT. **Back to camera overlook of Brian over Charles’ shoulder and the queue of people.**

Brian
Good lad.

Pause

Brian (calls out to queue)
You lot really do leave it to the last moment to get books for you exams!

Brian
Right, next person please!

Charles
Brian I really have to go.

Brian
You simply cant my boy, this queue is tremendous. Don’t worry I will give you double time.

Charles
But…

Cut off half way by

Brian
I am sorry my boy but you really are needed.

Cuts to…

EXT. **Shot of Jenny’s hand holding her mobile phone.** Jenny presses the call button.

EXT. **Face to face shot of Jenny.** She brings the phone to her ear. She looks frustrated and annoyed. She twirls slightly one way and then back the other.

Jenny (muttering)
Come on. Come on.

Cuts to…

INT. **Close up of Charles’ phone poking out of the top of the coffee in the mug.** Hold for a few moments.

Cuts to…

EXT. **Face to face shot with Jenny.** She lowers the phone again.

EXT. **Shot of Jenny’s hand holding her mobile phone.** She presses the call button again.

EXT. **Face to face shot of Jenny.** She brings the phone to her ear. She looks frustrated and annoyed. She twirls slightly one way and then back the other.

Cuts to…

INT. Charles and Danny’s flat living room. **Camera shot takes in both chairs the table with home phone on and the door.** Danny is sprawled across a chair, head back so we cant see his face, and snoring very loudly. The phone rings but he doesn’t stir.

SCENE 11 - A STONE IN HAND 

EXT. Night time. The road up which Jenny and Chloe live. **Camera positioned in centre of the road, shot frames Jenny and Chloe’s door.** Camera keeps the door in shot for a few moments. We hear the sound of a bicycle bell ringing. The camera spins to look up the road. We see Charles riding his bicycle along the road and it wobbles from side to side, he rings the bell occasionally and lets out little fits of laughter. He reaches the camera and turn towards the house. He dumps the bike at the pavement…

EXT. **Close up on Charles’ hand picking up small stones.** …and grabs a few small stones off the pavement. 

EXT. **Camera view from behind Charles looking up at the window.** He begins to throw them at the window he believes to be Jenny’s. He calls for Jenny in an attempt to cross a shout and whisper. There is no reply. 

EXT. **Close up on Charles’ hand picking up a stone.** He grabs a larger stone…

EXT. **Full length front on view of Charles.** …and tosses it up and down in his hand. 

EXT. **Camera view from behind Charles looking at window.** Deciding it to be a good idea, he now throws this stone up at the window. It goes straight threw the single pane glass. 

EXT. **Camera view face to face with Charles.** We see him recoil in shock at his own actions. 

EXT. **Camera view from over Charles’ shoulder looking up at the room.** The light in the room comes on. 

EXT. **Face to face with and open mouthed Charles.** Hold for a few moments. Charles then looks down towards the wall.

EXT. **Full length of Charles standing next to the wall, looking at the wall, at the garden gnome upon it. Shot doesn’t show bedroom window.** He holds the pose a moment and then takes a step sideways away from the gnome and raises and arm to point at it. Almost accusingly, before we see his head look back up to the window. Keeping his arm pointed at the gnome.

EXT. **Camera view from over Charles’ shoulder looking up at the room.** Chloe comes to the window and opens it.

Chloe
WILL ALLOW FOR IMPROVISATION, ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT A TWAT AND THAT JENNY’S IS THE NEXT A LONG DICK HEAD. SHOULD PROSECUTE FOR CRIMINAL DAMAGE AND GBH. ETC ETC. (IMPROVISATION WILL MEAN THAT THEY WONT KNOW OFF HEART WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO SAY, THIS WILL RESULT IN A MORE REALISTIC PERFORMANCE OF THIS CONVERSATION!)

EXT. **Camera view from over Charles’ shoulder looking up at the room.** Chloe Launches the stone back out of the window down at Charles, who ducks behind the wall, and the garden gnome on the wall bursts in to pieces. Chloe slams her window shut again and draws the curtains. Charles get to his feet again.

EXT. **Face to face camera shot of Charles.** Charles mouths the words sorry with a sad/apologetic look on his face.

EXT. **Camera view from over Charles’ shoulder looking up at the front of the house.** We see the light coming on in the room next to Chloe’s and Jenny comes to and opens the window.

Jenny
What the hells going on out here Charles?

Charles
Nothing.

Jenny
Charles I heard all the commotion I know something happened!

Charles
It was him!

EXT. **Full length camera view of Charles looking up at the room. Room not visible.** Charles points to the spot where the garden gnome was.

EXT. **Camera view from over Charles’ shoulder looking up at the room.**

Jenny
Who?

EXT. **Full length camera view of Charles looking up at the room. Room not visible.** Charles looks down to where he is pointing and recoils his hand instantaneously. He then looks back up at Jenny.

EXT. **Camera view from over Charles’ shoulder looking up at the room.**

Charles
Nobody!

Jenny
Charles, what are you doing here?

Charles
I came to…(long pause)…apologise! That’s it I am here to apologise for missing our date.

Jenny
Firstly why were you not there?

Charles
Because I was kept late at work by Brian!

Jenny
Why didn’t you phone me?

Charles
Because my phone fell in my coffee.

Jenny
Sure it did.

Charles
It did I swear it.

Jenny
Right, well anyway. Secondly don’t come around here drunk again.

Charles
That’s not a question!?!?

Jenny
I know. Goodnight Charles.

Charles
What do you mean goodnight?

EXT. **Camera view from over Charles’ shoulder looking up at the room.** Jenny steps back from the window, closing it. Then closes the curtains and turns he lights off.

Charles (slightly louder then previously)
What do you mean goodnight?

LONG PAUSE

EXT. **Camera view from over Charles’ shoulder looking up at the room.** Charles turns around. **Face to face camera shot with Charles.**

Charles (Muttering to himself)
What does she mean goodnight?

SCENE 12 - THE STRAW (An argument ensues about the previous evenings events. How Chloe had to go to hospital. Chloe is visible in the scene in a neck cast.)

EXT. **Camera shot of Jenny sitting in between Charles and Chloe all of whom are on a bench.** Chloe and Charles are looking around, as people do when they don’t want to make eye contact. Jenny looks straight down the camera.

Chloe
I should sue!

Charles
For what? It was an accident

Chloe
Yeh and have you not seen the accident claims lawyers on the TV ads?

Charles
I have said I am sorry. I asked what I could do to help.

Chloe
Bit late now, the damage has been done.

Charles
I hit you in the forehead how does that affect you neck exactly?

Jenny (raising her voice and stepping in)
Stop it you two. We came here to sort this out like adults.

Chloe
He started it!

Charles
No I didn’t, she did.

Jenny
Please you two, I only just said adults!

Charles and Chloe
Fine!

Jenny
Right now Chloe. What would you like Charles to do to apologise for the injuries he inflicted upon you?

Chloe (innocently)
There is nothing he can do, I am afraid I will always have the emotional scars of opening my eyes to see the stone hit me.

Charles
I have had enough. There is hardly a scratch on you Chloe and it wasn’t intentional.

Jenny
Chloe, could you give us a moment please?

Chloe
Do I have to? I want to hear this.

Charles
Just go!

Jenny
Charles, drop the attitude!

Charles
How can you defend her when she says stuff like that?

Jenny
Because she is my best friend, and best friends stick by each other.

Charles
And what about boyfriends?

Jenny
You know what I meant.

Charles
No. Come on now. Your going to sit there and defend her because she is you best friend and I have to sit here? 2 against 1? And defend myself against something that was an accident?

Jenny
Charles, your behaving like a child.

Charles
No stop this Jenny. I want to know.

Jenny
Know what?

Charles
If your being impartial or your taking sides, and if so whos?

Jenny
Charles, don’t be so ridiculous and petty.

LONG AWKWARD PAUSE

Jenny
Look Charles. If your going to keep acting like this then there is little point in continuing as we are!

Charles
What are you saying? We should split up if I am not going to apologise to the she devil?

Jenny
I think that has just summed it up really. Goodbye Charles.

EXT. **Same camera shot.** Jenny and Chloe get up and start to walk away. Charles gets up and looks after them hands deep in his pockets and shoulders up high.

EXT. **Camera switches to behind Charles with Jenny and Chloe walking away in the shot.**

Charles
So this is how you are going to leave it?

NO REPLY

Charles
IS IT???

EXT. **Camera shot from in front of Jenny and Chloe as they walk.** Chloe puts her arm around Jenny’s shoulder and jenny begins to cry. 

SCENE 13 - MEN!!! ARGH!!! (Jenny and Chloe rant about how men are useless and let their frustrations out on Mr. Snuggles (teddy bear) with a pair of scissors. Jenny lets Chloe know that she is to leave for a gap year away from Charles. Chloe texts Charles to make him feel bad at breaking their friendship)

SCENE 14 - REALISATION

INT. **Camera shot of Danny and Charles both sprawled over each arm chair.**

Danny
So run this by me again. What did you actually say?

Charles
I just said it was unfair.

Danny
Unfair? Unfair that…?

Charles
That I should have to apologise for an accident

Danny
Right. But you threw a stone through her window?

Charles
Yeh, but I didn’t mean it to go straight through!

Danny
Yeh but it did, and then it…

Charles
…hit her in the head, yeh I know. But I didn’t mean it to.

Danny
Yeh but it did. You hit a girl in the head with a brick and you didn’t apologise???

Charles
It was an accident!!

Danny
It was a girl!!

LONG PAUSE

Danny
So because of that Jenny dumped you?

Charles
She didn’t dump me.

Danny
So why aren’t you still together?

Charles
It was mutual.

Danny
Right. But you could still be together if you had apologised?

Charles 
If I wanted to be together then we would be together yes.

Danny
So you don’t want to be with her after all this?

Charles
Of course I want to be with her.

Danny
So why not apologise?

Charles
Because she chose her friend over me!

Danny
Like you chose your principals over her?

Charles
Yeh.

Danny
So say that instead of calling it her friend she is supporting it is the ideology that even if it is an accident, you should apologise for injuring someone.

Charles
Ok. So?

Danny
So you want her to forget her principals when you aren’t prepared to drop your own? Sounds a bit unfair doesn’t it?

Charles
I suppose.

VERY LONG PAUSE WHILE CHARLES THINKS

Charles
Oh my god. What have I done Danny?

Danny
A very stupid thing my friend.

Charles
Fuck. What can I do though?

Danny
You could go tell her how you feel

Charles
But she is leaving.

Danny
Exactly, LEAVING, as in not gone yet. You might still make it if you hurry.

INT. **Same camera shot.** Charles jumps up, spinning round and runs out of the door.

SCENE 15 - THE GRAND FINALE

EXT. A bus stop. A queue of people are lined up to get on the bus, third in the queue is Jenny. A bus pulls up between the camera and Jenny. We see Jenny walking though the interior of the bus through the glass. The bus pulls away and we see no one is left at the bus stop. After a couple of seconds the camera twists to the left to view Charles speeding along down the road and skidding in to the road next to the bus stop. Down which Jenny lives.

INT. We now have a face to face view of jenny on the bus gazing dully out of the window.

EXT. We are now filming up the road and an oncoming Charles. Spaced about 7 foot back from the gate to Jenny’s house. We see Charles come speeding in and skidding to a halt outside the house, dropping his bike to the floor and leaping towards the front door. **Camera shot swings with Charles towards the door. Zooms in.** He bangs with his fist as hard as he can three times, wait’s a couple of seconds and bangs another three times, a look of desperation crosses his face as he turn around, searching aimlessly to obtain Jenny in his view. He bangs at the door a further three times. A window is heard to open above. **Camera zooms out.** Charles steps back to get a view.

Chloe
What the fuck do you want Charles???

Charles
I want to speak to Jenny!

Chloe
Charles you have made your feelings perfectly clear, I think that much is obvious. Just leave her alone.

Charles
Chloe, why don’t you, why don’t you go bugger off. Just let me in to speak to her. This is all a mistake I really love her!

Chloe
You really love her???

Charles
Yes I bloody well do! Would I be here now if I wasn’t?

Chloe
Depends if you have had anything to drink?

Charles
Open the bloody door and you can smell my breath before you let me in woman. Just let me speak to her!

Chloe
Well that’s a bit difficult.

Charles
Why?

Chloe
She has already gone and left her mobile behind.

Charles
FUCK! FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!

Chloe
That’s unlike you to swear Charles.

Charles
FUCK OFF!

PAUSE  *Charles looks around aimlessly again*

Charles
Where did she go???

Chloe
Well she caught the bus in to town a few minutes ago, from where she is getting a bus to Gatwick and leaving for her gap year break thingy.

Charles
SHIT!

**Camera zooms out yet further and swings with Charles as he runs for his bike**

Chloe
Are you sure you haven’t been drinking? As you haven‘t sworn like this before.

Charles
FUCK OFF!

Cuts to…

INT. Face to face of Jenny yet again. Still gazing aimlessly out of the bus window, the bus comes to a stop. People move off and move on. Jenny searches the crowd with a hopeful expression for Charles. He is nowhere. She goes back to gazing from her window.

Cuts to…

EXT. **Camera adopts a side on view.** We see Charles pedalling furiously through the streets. He moves away from the pavement to avoid an obstacle and almost get hit by a passing car due to which he stops rapidly. The motorist honks his horn furiously. Charles flicks a v sign. **Camera angle changes to view of the back of the car.** The car does an emergency stop and its reversing lights come on. **Camera changes to face to face with Charles.** We can still see he is flicking a v sign. He attempts to turn the v sign to a peace hand gesture. **Camera angle changes back to back of car.** It is still reversing. ** Camera angle back to face to face with Charles.** He mouths the word bollocks. **Camera returns to original side on shot.** We see Charles spin his bike around and ride off as fast as possible followed by the car still in reverse chasing him.

Cuts to…

INT. Face to face with Jenny once again. She still gazes hopefully out of the window for her beloved Charles to come and sweep her away again. The driver announces the final stop as the centre of town. She stirs from her daydream to get herself ready for departing the bus. The bus stops. **Camera angle moves to a more distant shot, maybe 5 foot back, for a full length shot.** Jenny Gets up grabbing her remaining baggage and walks past the camera to disembark the bus.

EXT. **Camera is set back from the bus doors by 6 foot in order to get a full length shot of Jenny.** Jenny disembarks, dropping a bag to the floor and bending down to pick it up. She struggles to carry her bags herself and no one is there to help. A crowd of tourists shuffle past knocking in to her. This causes her to drop yet more luggage. **Camera view is from the building wall overlooking the path and then road.**

Cuts to…

EXT. **Head on view.** Charles, no back on track cycles furiously towards camera. **camera situated on bridge of the punting scene twists as he crosses the bridge to face his back.** Charles continues up the road.

Cuts to…

EXT. ** Camera full length on Jenny on pavement** Jenny gathers together her bags yet again, a look of annoyance flashing across her face. She exit’s the screen walking off up the path. **Camera view is from the building wall overlooking the path and then road.**

Cuts to…

EXT. **Camera set up on street corner looking down one street.** We see Charles cycling towards camera. **Camera now follows Charles.** Charles sweeps around the corner and cycles in to the distance of the new road.

Cuts to…

EXT. The bus stop where Jenny has just disembarked her bus. **Another side on view of the Charles from the same (walls) perspective.** We see a tired looking Charles pedal past.

Cuts to…

EXT. Another bus stop. **Camera close up of Jenny’s torso and head next to bus timetable on the bus stop pole.** Jenny is scanning the timetable, she spots something, tilts her head in slightly to read it more clearly and bring a hand up to trace the times. A mass of people stand around her eager to get on the same bus.

Cuts to…

EXT. Same position as previous. **Long range shot looking up the road with a blurred Jenny in foreground.** We see Charles pedalling towards Jenny at the bus stop, still with 250 yards left. **Keep the shot for a couple of seconds and up pops the bus behind Charles in the distance.** It quickly catches up with Charles at about 150 yards.

Cuts to…

INT. **Camera positioned front of bus near the driver and keeps Charles in place at all times.** We see as the bus overtakes Charles and the view of him falls back through the windows of the bus. Charles is no longer viewable. A pause of a couple of seconds. Charles comes back in to view, pedalling as hard as he can to try and overtake the bus. He fights his way back up each window pain, the energy he is having to call upon viable in his face.

Cuts to…

EXT. **A high, angled camera shot, gets a group shot of all passengers waiting.** All passengers start to push towards the front and Jenny somehow finds herself at the back. We can see the bus and Charles in the background to all of this. Jack bunny hops his old bike on to the pavement and skids to a halt between Jenny and the bus as passengers start to load there luggage in to the bus hold.

Cuts to…

EXT. **Side on, close up of the Jenny and Charles face to face.** Neither speaking. Charles looks exhausted and Jenny looks confused.

Charles
Don’t go! I don’t want you to go.

Jenny
But you said……

Charles
I didn’t mean what I said. I just thought at the time it were for the best. Now I see I am wrong and I don’t want you to go.

Cuts to…

Ext. **Face shot of Jenny the bus blurred but visible in the background** Jenny’s face shows the uncertainty with which she must make a very important decision. She bites her lip. **Camera refocus on bus driver behind Jenny**

Bus Driver 
Are you getting on the bus love or am I leaving you here?

**Camera refocus on Jenny** she calls back to the driver…

Jenny
Thanks, but I am staying!

**refocus on bus driver**

Bus Driver
Suit yourself.

Bus driver gets on to bus and closes doors. Bus starts to pull away.

Cuts to…

EXT. **Side on shot of Jenny and Charles face to face again.** Jenny leans in 15% of the way and Charles hurriedly makes up the remaining 85%. They embrace each other and kiss tenderly. 1-2 second hold. **Camera slowly tilts back for a view of the sky.**

Cuts to…

CREDITS ROLL
(next to each set of credit’s a photo is visible)