Put the song in a loop, let it be your soundtrack.
ESTABLISHING SHOT
Streatham Hill Theater
Royal Victoria Patriotic Building
Brixton Windmill
.Imperial Camel Corps Memorial
Honiman Museums and Gardens
Albert Bridge
Holy Trinity Church
INT. DAVE'S BEDROOM – MORNING
Small. Clean.
Decorated with movie and hip-hop artists' posters.
DAVE, late 20s, tall, black, athletic-built, and handsome quickly put on his trainers.
Yanks the door open, hurries out of the room.
Gbam. Door slams.
DAVE (voiceover): I wake up around seven or eight, to catch the 9:06 from Norbury Station.
INT. NORBURY TRAIN STATION - LATER
The hustle and bustle of commuters fills the platform. Dave, with a determined look, stands amongst the crowd. He checks his watch anxiously.
LESLEY, a woman in her late twenties, dressed in a business suit, approaches the platform, her face etched with weariness.
DAVE (voiceover): They say the universe works in a strange way.
Dave fixes his gaze on Lesley.
Lesley stands side by side with Dave.
DAVE (voiceover): We ain't from the same background or same place.
Lesley and Dave exchange a brief, curious glance as they board the same train.
INT. MOVING TRAIN — LATER
Dave and Lesley share the same space, surrounded by a sea of strangers.
They exchange glances that gradually transform into hesitant smiles.
EXT. STREATHAM HIGH ROAD – NIGHT
Well-lit. TWO ROADMEN hang stand by the block, smoking a spliff.
A GIRL and BOY shake hands, exchanging ting.
As Dave slowly walks down, Road Man #1 tosses a burning joint at him.
Dave jumps back.
Roadmen laugh.
ROADMAN #1: Oi!
Dave doesn't respond, he keeps walking.
ROADMAN #2: (tsk!) Leave that pussio, bruv.
ROADMAN #1: Hey, Pussio, I got some food for you.
Dave keeps his head down as he walks up the stairs to his estate.
EXT. NORBURY STATION - MORNING
DAVE (voiceover): Two different worlds in the same location
Dave and Lesley stand on the platform, the sun barely peeking through the horizon.
DAVE: Hi!
LESLEY: Hi!
INT. MOVING TRAIN - LATER
Lesley and Dave sit side by side.
DAVE: College was fun for me.
LESLEY: Lucky you.
DAVE: But now my job is making my life a hell of a ting.
Lesley chuckles.
LESLEY: Samesies. Meetings upon meetings yet I'm not making progress.
DAVE: Er… that's crazy.
LESLEY: Yeah. Damn crazy.
LESLEY (softly): I hate what I do, but I need it.
Awkward silence.
DAVE: It's the weekend. What are you doing?
Lesley's face reveals a mix of depression and uncertainty.
LESLEY: I don't know myself… I don't know myself no more.
DAVE: What!?
Lesley bows her head. Dave glances out of the window.
The weight of her words hangs in the air, echoing the uncertainty that binds them.
INT. LESLEY'S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Small. Tidy.
The atmosphere is heavy with tension. Lesley sits in subdued silence. A faint echo of music from distant parties reaches her ears.
DAVE (voiceover): She used to be the life of the party for true, and now she goin' out hardly ever.
Lesley's gaze drifts towards a faded photograph of happier times.
Lesley tilts her neck to the side and slowly runs her right hand through the bruises and scars.
DAVE (voiceover): Her man got her in the yard forever.
EXT. COFFEE SHOP – DAY
HANNAH, late 20s, light-skinned, thick-bodied, and beautiful, sits opposite Lesley. Lesley sports a Turtleneck jumper, and makeup around the eye spots.
HANNAH: Why can't you see it, Les?
Lesley sips her coffee. Put the mug on the table.
HANNAH: It's as clear as day. You're dating a possessive and aggressive man. All the signs were there. Why aren't you seeing them?
LESLEY (softly): He would change for the better. I believe.
HANNAH: I've been through something similar, Les. I can see the signs he won't change.
Lesley's eyes wells up with tears as she takes in Hannah's words.
Hannah holds Lesley's hand.
DAVE (voiceover): Name's Jason, he's a bad boy with no reasonin'. To be honest, I don't know what Les sees in him. 'Cause she's a good girl with a sweetheart. But they've both got demons and a deep past. You know opposites attract, apparently.
INT. LESLEY'S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Lesley's boyfriend, JASON, early thirties, tall, white, and muscular, stares out the window. Puffs out smoke from his spliff.
Door opens. Lesley slowly walks in. Sees Jason and smiles.
LESLEY: Oh, you are back.
JASON: Where are you coming from?
LESLEY: Hannah and I went out.
JASON: You went out with a man. Stop lying.
Lesley is shocked.
LESLEY: I'm not lying. I was with Hannah.
Jason walks towards Lesley. Look her in the eyes.
LESLEY: I will kill you and that idiot man you're going out with.
Lesley opens her mouth to speak. Jason places his palm on her face. Pushes her roughly to the floor.
Opens the door. Slams it shut.
Lesley bows her head as she cries.
INT. LESLEY'S LIVING ROOM — MORNING
Lesley and Hannah sit on the worn-out sofa, a box of tissues between them.
LESLEY: He hasn't come home since we argued last week.
HANNAH: I believe he will come back to you soon.
Lesley wipes her eyes with a tissue paper.
LESLEY: I'm doing overtime, struggling to afford the flat. I lost my job, it fucked all of my plans. Now I can't pay the rent.
Lesley burst into tears. Hannah stands and hugs her.
HANNAH: I have some money I can lend you, Les.
Lesley's breath hitches.
LESLEY (breaking) Thank you, Hannah. I owe you a lot.
INT. LESLEY'S APARTMENT - DAY
Lost in thought, Lesley stands alone, facing the mirror. Her fingers trace the edges of her old, beautiful photograph.
Slowly pulls up her T-shirt. Gently caresses her pregnant belly. Smiles.
INT. LESLEY'S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Lesley, her face worn and weary, sits on the edge of her bed, clutching her phone. The room is dimly lit, the weight of her situation palpable.
LESLEY (calmly) I got nothing to live for. It's been raw, but David, I ain't never been this poor.
Lesley's voice trembles.
LESLEY: David, I don't know how I'm going to make it through this.
Teary-eyed, Lesley rapidly blinks to fight back the tears.
LESLEY: There's no income, my boyfriend left me. So how the fuck am I gonna survive when this kid's born?
DAVE (filtered): It's a blessin' as mad as it is. And Les, I never even knew that you were havin' a kid.
Lesley wipes away tears, a mixture of gratitude and sorrow in her eyes.
DAVE (voiceover): Bro, she's four months pregnant, young, and neglected. Single, but I don't think she wants to accept it.
Lesley's fingers trace the curve of her belly, a mixture of awe and fear.
INT. LESLEY'S LIVING ROOM — MORNING
Lesley sits on the sofa, typing on phone. Dial a number. Place phone to ear.
LESLEY: Hey, ANDRE.
ANDRE (filtered): Who is this?
LESLEY: Les. From…
ANDRE: Oh, Lesley. How are you doing?
LESLEY: I'm good. And you?
ANDRE: I'm fine, thank you. So, what's up?
LESLEY: Hmm… I think it's been a long time since we saw each other. So, I would like us to…
ANDRE: My family and I are going to France for a holiday. I need to go now. I'm so sorry, Les.
LESLEY: It's alright.
INT. LESLEY'S BEDROOM – DAY
Lesley perches on the bed, rapidly typing on the phone.
Phone BEEPS.
Message from PAUL reads: I'm married, Les. I would appreciate it if you could stop texting me. Thanks.
Lesley glances at her phone, contemplating whether to send another message.
Her face sinks. Throws the phone on the bed. Bury her face is in the pillow as she sobs.
It's an emotional obsession and clinical depression. Life is a lesson.
INT. LESLEY'S LIVING ROOM — DAY
Phone in hand, Lesley anxiously paces around.
LESLEY: I don't know what to do, Dave.
DAVE (filtered): You ain't gotta sit and cry. There's no better gift than the gift of life. So can you handle it?
Lesley touches her belly, her eyes filled with determination.
LESLEY: I have to believe that I can, for this little one.
DAVE (filtered) Yeah, you need to do it for the Lil man in your belly.
INT. COFFEE SHOP — EVENING
Lesley and Hannah sit in a cozy corner, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the café. A steaming mug of coffee in front of each of them.
Lesley opens her mouth to talk but hesitates. Takes a deep breath, finding strength in her friendship with Hannah.
LESLEY (calmly): Han! There's something I need to tell you.
Hannah looks at Lesley with concern.
HANNAH: What is it, Les?
Lesley reaches for Hannah's hand, the bond between them palpable.
LESLY: I'm going to be a mom.
Hannah's eyes widen, her face lighting up with a mix of surprise and joy.
HANNAH: Oh, Lesley! That's incredible!
Lesley smiles. They share a moment of pure, unadulterated happiness, mingling with the background noise of the café.
Awkward silence. Lesley's phone BEEPS. She takes her phone to look at the message.
HANNAH: Les, erm…
Lesley puts the phone on the table. Lifts her head to look at Hannah.
HANNAH: I think that it's an error!
LESLEY (confused): What?
HANNAH: You ain't a mum for a day. You're a mum forever.
Hannah looks straight into Lesley's eyes. Slowly shakes her head.
HANNAH: You and Jason break up.
If I'm honest, that's something you should have done together.
Lesley sighs.
INT. LESLEY'S LIVING ROOM — MORNING
Lesley anxiously paces around. Rests her head on the wall.
Lifts her head, wipes tears with the back of her right hand.
Shuffles to the table. Takes her phone. Dials Hannah's number. But ends the call before it rings.
Throws the phone on the sofa. Holds her head with her hands.
Again, Lesley takes the phone. So she leaves Hannah a voicemail.
LESLEY: Yo, Hannah, it's Les, can you call me back? I wanna talk about the baby, you, me, Jason, all of that. I've been feeling like I need to get my aura back. I used to be so fucking confident. But these days, I swear that… I don't know myself, I don't know myself anymore.
INT. NORBURY TRAIN STATION – DAY
It's raining.
Lesley, visibly tired, waits at the rain-soaked train station, wearing a blue Jean jacket and a maxi dress.
EXT/INT. MOVING TAXI — ROAD — LATER
Taxi speeds down the road.
Lesley sits in the backseat, gazing out the window, thinking.
INT. LESLEY'S APARTMENT — LATER
Door opens.
Lesley enters, exhausted, glances at the floor, and finds size-five trainers. Stop to glance at it.
Lesley hurries up the stairs, footsteps echoing.
INT. LESLEY'S BEDROOM – MEANWHILE
Jason is in the bed, fully naked.
JASON: Hide in the wardrobe. Urgent, don't let her see you.
Door burst open. Lesley barges in.
LESLEY: What kind of person cheats on his pregnant girlfriend?
Jason, startled, stammers.
JASON: Preg… Pregnant? You were... you weren't going to tell me? What the fuck?
Jason quickly climbs down from the bed.
JASON: You weren't even gonna tell me, I mean, what the fuck? What do you want from us? Nah, you ain't in love, you just wanna love.
Lesley's resolve hardens. Io
LESLEY: I don't want you and I. I don't want us.
Lesley steps closer to Jason. Jason stares her hard in the eyes.
LESLEY: I don't wanna talk loads. Open the wardrobe.
JASON: I ain't got the keys to the wardrobe.
Lesley reaches for Jason's clenched fist. Jason pushes her on the bed.
Jason stands over Lesley on the bed, his eyes are burning with anger.
JASON: Now get out of here before I break your head.
Lesley cuddles herself.
LESLEY: I just wanna see if she was prettier than me, slimmer than me. Maybe your baby's similar to me.
JASON: Shut up, fool.
Jason jumps down from the bed. Lesley sits up, takes the pillow, and hugs it.
LESLEY: Maybe you wanted someone thicker than me, fitter than me. To satisfy you quicker than me.
Jason jumps on the bed. Grabs Lesley. Pull her up. Pushes her toward the door.
JASON: Shut your damn mouth and get out of here.
LESLEY: I got your baby in my stomach and you did this to me. What did I ever do to you for you to finish in me? I didn't believe my girls, but they were thinking of me.
Lesley grabs Jason's hand. Both pushing and tossing each other.
LESLEY: Give it to me. The wardrobe, give me the key.
Tension escalates. Jason's temper flares. Pushes Lesley to the floor.
Lesley springs up, forcibly tries to open the wardrobe.
Lesley struggles to open the door. Jason grabs her from behind, pulling her.
JASON: Fucking stop it now, Les. Or else I would kill you.
Lesley keeps yanking at the wardrobe door.
Jason grabs Lesley by the neck. Presses her to the floor, kicking and punching her.
Jason steps back a little. Lesley stands and runs into…
INT. LESLEY'S ROOM 2 — LATER
BANG!
Lesley slams the door.
Jason kicks at the door from the other side.
JASON (O.S.): Why did you make me do it?
Lesley takes a chair and barricades the door handle.
SIREN in the distance.
Lesley stands but falls to the floor. Holds her stomach.
Her eyes are swollen. Her lips are broken. Blood seeps from her arms and legs.
BLACKOUT
INT. LESLEY'S LIVING ROOM — LATER
Police storm in. Sees blood stains all over the floor and on the wall
FEDS run through doors, checking everywhere.
OFFICER #1: That there ain't no one else in the house.
OFFICER #2 (O.S.): There is a lady in here. She is in deep distress.
OFFICER #1 Can she talk?
OFFICER #2 (O.S.): She couldn't even say anything. It seems she's got this really sharp pain in her belly.
OFFICER #1: We need to call the ambulance.
INT. LESLEY'S BEDROOM – MEANWHILE
THREE FEDS search the room.
FED #3 opens the wardrobe. Throw everything in the wardrobe on the floor. A mobile phone falls on his leg. Kneels to pick it up.
OFFICER #3: I found something.
INT. MOVING AMBULANCE – NIGHT
Lesley lies in the bed, pale and frail. Her nose is gone, her jawline shattered and rocked.
She clutches her stomach, her face contorts with shame. Her pain intensifies, and her breathing slows down. She writhes on the bed, fighting to endure the sharp ache in her stomach.
The bus is filled with a sense of urgency.
DOCTOR and TWO NURSES stand by Lesley.
Lesley's eyes flicker, her strength waning. The doctor rushes to stabilize her.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM — LATER
Lesley's face and head are covered with bandages. Her arms and legs are plastered.
Dave stands by the bed, staring at Lesley. The doctor stands on the other side of the bed, gazing at Lesley.
DOCTOR: She suffered brain damage. Her baby is the reason she is holding on.
She's in a coma. I am not sure if she can make it out.
Dave paces outside the room, anxiety etched on his face. He sits on a chair.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM — LATER
A battered Lesley lies motionless, her face bearing the scars of the brutal attack.
BEEPS! BEEP! BEEP!
Her monitors beep steadily, her condition critical.
Dave sits on a chair, gazing blankly as though in a trance. His eyes glisten with empathy and determination.
DAVE (V.O.): This story is more than a song. It's a plea to any woman trapped in a toxic cycle. Seek support, and find your way out.
Dave turns to look at Lesley on the bed.
DAVE (V.O. CONT'D): I know I'll never fully understand, but it's crucial you find your strength.
EXT. PARK — DAY
Dave watches as a LADY with broken lips, black eyes, and a bandaged leg, holding a BABY to her chest.
DAVE (V.O. CONT'D): I've seen their tears, their suffering. It's universal. This isn't right. It's not culture. It's not normal.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM — NIGHT
Lesley opens her eyes, glancing at the ceiling.
DAVE (V.O. CONT'D): Don't let them twist the truth. It's not your fault.
Doctor enters. Lesley gazes at him. Doctor smiles.
DOCTOR: I'm glad you made it.
DAVE (V.O. CONT'D)
How many Lesleys are out there, running from their Jasons?
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM — MORNING
Lesley lies in the bed, still and fragile. Machines beep softly, casting a somber atmosphere.
But her face is a portrait of resilience in pain.
A tear slips down her cheek.
EXT. HOSPITAL ROOM — NIGHT
Rain drizzles down, a symphony of sorrow. The night cloaks the world in darkness.
Lesley's room is bathed in the soft glow of monitors, providing a feeble comfort.
RUELLE: (V.O., gently): Angel without wings.
A gentle breath escapes Lesley's lips, a fragile melody in the quiet room.
RUELLE (V.O. CONT'D): Like the day without the night to bring her peace.
EXT. HOSPITAL COURTYARD — NIGHT
The courtyard, once vibrant, now echoes with emptiness. A solitary bench bears witness to quiet contemplation.
RUELLE (V.O., CONT'D): A song without a voice.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The room feels emptier than before, the absence of sound profound.
RUELLE (V.O. CONT'D): A spark without a flame.
Lesley covers her eyes with her hands.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM — MORNING
Lesley's NEWBORN is by her side.
RUELLE (V.O. CONT'D): A child without a name.
Lesley's eyes meet those of her child for the first time, a bond forged in love.
Lesley cuddles her baby.
RUELLE (V.O. CONT'D): Oh, it's just wrong.
The room feels incomplete, aching for the missing pieces.
RUELLE (V.O. CONT'D): Like an ocean without a shore.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM — DAY
A nurse tends to Lesley, her touch a lifeline in the sea of uncertainty.
RUELLE (V.O. CONT'D): A soldier without a war.
The room holds a quiet tension.
RUELLE (V.O. CONT'D): How can we do this anymore?
A lone flower wilts in a vase.
Dave strolls in, holding a pack of flowers. Put the flowers by the vase on the table. Sits by Lesley, holding her hand.
RUIN (V.O. CONT'D): A song without a voice.
Lesley gazes at Dave, a spark of hope in her eyes.
RUIN (V.O. CONT'D): A spark without a flame.
The room is hushed, a sanctuary of introspection.
Lesley carries her baby.
RUELLE (V.O. CONT'D): A child without a name. Oh, it's just wrong.
INT. POLICE STATION — INVESTIGATION ROOM — LATER
TWO MONTHS LATER
Jason sits opposite two INVESTIGATORS.
INVESTIGATOR #1: Are you sure you don't know anything about the harassment of your girlfriend?
JASON: I don't know anything about it.
INVESTIGATOR #2: We understand you and your girlfriend's best friend Hannah are seeing each other.
JASON (chuckles): That's not true. Whoever told you that is lying.
INVESTIGATOR #2: We have evidence.
JASON: Cool. Let me see the person.
INVESTIGATOR #1: It's not a person.
JASON: So, what is it?
INVESTIGATOR #1: It's a phone.
JASON (cackles): Okay. This is getting interesting.
Investigator #2 plays the voicemail:
"Yo, Hannah, it's Les, can you call me back? I wanna talk about the baby, you, me, Jason, all of that. I've been feeling like I need to get my aura back."
Jason is shocked. His eyes bulged with surprise.
INVESTIGATOR #1: You are under arrest…
Note: I'm currently in between jobs. I would appreciate writing gigs or a full-time position as a writer or editor at any publication. Thanks.