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My Other Half

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My Other Half by Robert Yates

Based on a Story by Christopher Frankland

Email: roberyates@live.co.uk BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY

FADE IN: INT. FRONT ROOM - DAY Two knitting needles snap together and weave a thread. Two black boots are placed on the carpet next to each other. HELEN, 30s, vintage dress, in an old armchair, legs crossed, a ball of wool perched next to her. She weaves together the last of a small jumper above a hardback book open in her lap. She laughs at a line. Either side of her is a basket filled with knitted clothing. Above her knitting box on the table is a stack of books. MICHAEL, 30s, casual-smart jacket, perched on a leather sofa, puts his foot into a black boot and sharply ties the lace. He looks up and is faced with his own reflection in the television screen, above a DVD player and games console. She holds up the knitted jumper. HELEN Shall we keep this one or give it to the shop? He ties the other boot. HELEN (CONTD) What do you think? He looks to her. MICHAEL I think you might be getting a little ahead of yourself. You know moneys tight and will be for awhile. HELEN You keep saying. She puts it in the basket. HELEN (CONTD) I dont want to be an old mother. MICHAEL Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Lets just enjoy the day.

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He approaches her and kneels down in front, takes her hand. MICHAEL (CONTD) Youve got your knitting and your books? She nods dotingly. He kisses her on the lips, she doesnt embrace the kiss. MICHAEL (CONTD) Ive got to run. Criminals wont lock themselves up. He laughs and walks out. HELEN Enjoy your day. She smiles lovingly. It fades. EXT. HOUSE - DAY - MOMENTS LATER Michael exits the house and walks off at high pace. INT. HALLWAY. HOUSE - DAY - CONTINUOUS Helen, coat on, by the front door. She hesitates opening it. Walks away and back. Turns the handle/hatch but stops dead. A face of peril. MONTAGE: 1. Michaels walk slows to casual as he passes the street corner. 2. He passes the Police Station entrance and continues on. 3. Hes talking to a person in a park obstructed by a tree. Shes revealed and in arms they kiss. INT. HALLWAY. HOUSE - DAY - CONTINUOUS Helen, coat on, in a panic by the half-open front door. She hesitates to leave but is frozen.

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She signs and holds her head in her hands. EXT. HOUSE - DAY - LATER Michael returns, cheerful and approaches the open front door. INT. HALLWAY. HOUSE - DAY He suspiciously enters and sees Helens coat slumped on the floor. He opens the front room door but its obstructed. Music is on low from inside. INT. FRONT ROOM - DAY The door opens and the sofa propped against slowly moves away. Michael enters. Helen knits in her armchair, humming to herself. MICHAEL Have you tried to leave the house? HELEN Hey honey... I did this morning but I couldnt. She gets up and heads towards the cabinet. MICHAEL Where did you want to go? HELEN It doesnt matter. Sit down, Ill get you a drink. He reluctantly sits on the sofa arm. MICHAEL I cant do dinner again tonight. The departments going out for drinks. She looks aimlessly into the glass of ice. MICHAEL (CONTD) You dont mind do you? She pours soda from a siphon into the glass.

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HELEN Whatever makes you happy. She looks up and smiles at him. INT. FRONT ROOM - NIGHT Helen, in her armchair, reads a book. Michaels bedroom music penetrates the downstairs walls. She puts the book down and picks up her knitting. The music stops. She puts down the knitting. Holds her ears to the silence. The faint thump of a door closing. INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER Helen sneaks up the stairs. We can hear the shower. She enters their bedroom. INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER She steps in eyes searching for something. Sees his mobile phone on the bedside table. Goes over and picks it up. She toggles through the messages. Her face flinches at MESSAGE: I had a great day. See you tonight. Luv Katie xxx. Her hand grasps her mouth. She lowers to the bed. She takes a deep breath and exits from the message. She shakily returns the phone to the bedside table.

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INT. FRONT ROOM - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER Helen in her armchair. Michael smart shirt and gelled hair, approaches and kisses her on the cheek. He looks to the new jumper shes knitting. MICHAEL That looks great. He picks up the jumper from top of the nearest basket and opens it out in inspection. MICHAEL (CONTD) I think we should definitely keep this one. He smiles at her. She takes the jumper from him. MICHAEL (CONTD) What do you think? She inspects it. She nods and mimics his smile. MICHAEL (CONTD) Anyway, dont wait up. She holds her smile as he leaves. Looks back to the jumper and opens it out. Bunches it up and puts it back in the same basket. INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT - LATER Light from a street lamp seeps through the curtain and halfilluminates Helen asleep in bed. Uneasy footstep echo from the stairs. The bedroom door swings open followed by Michael, jacket open, shirt unbuttoned halfway, chest exposed. He walks into the tail-end of the bed. Ahh shit. MICHAEL

He stumbles round to the window-side of the bed.

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Kicks off his shoes and they hit the wall with a double thump. MICHAEL (CONTD) Sorry love. Its just me. He settles into bed. He looks over to her. MICHAEL (CONTD) Are you awake? She doesnt respond. He turns back and puts his head down. MICHAEL (CONTD) From one nightmare to another. Hopefully Katie will be in this one. My beautiful saviour. He smiles to himself. Her eyes flick open. MONTAGE: 1. She hands him his breakfast. He silently thanks her. She watches him resentfully as he digs into his breakfast like a child. 2. Hes watching Sunday football. Shes knitting in the background. She looks over to him with a devious glare. 3. Shes reading a book and hes playing a video game on low sound. She shakes her head and tuts quietly to herself. 4. Shes refolding the basket of knitted clothes. Hes reading a newspaper spread out across the coffee table. She glances cunningly over to him in between folds. INT. KITCHEN - NEXT DAY He joins the table in a police uniform and itches himself below. Helen sits and hands him his plate. He looks strangely to the toasted bagels. MICHAEL Did you go out to get these? HELEN Theyre your favourite arent they? He takes the knife and opens the jam.

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MICHAEL You left the house, thats great. How did you manage it? HELEN I just focused on your face, your reaction at them sitting in front of you. That became my goal like youve been saying. He picks one up and starts to eat it. MICHAEL Thats really great and so are these. Thanks. HELEN No. Thank you. Live for the day. She smiles. He smiles awkwardly. INT. FRONT ROOM - DAY - LATER Helen in her armchair, reads one of Michaels newspapers folded in her lap. The front door bangs open and footsteps run upstairs. An upstairs door slams. She turns the page. The shower powers on. A sincere smile creeps out. INT. FRONT ROOM - DAY - LATER Michael on the sofa, dinner tray on his lap, watches TV. Helen in her armchair, dinner tray on her lap, eats. He rubs frantically below. She looks over to him. He glances to her and meets her eyes. HELEN Would you like me to pick you up some cream?

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MICHAEL No need. Its only a small rash. It should go away in a day or two. She calmly nods. He eats a mouthful of food. She looks away and smiles to herself. INT. LANDING - NIGHT - LATER A toilet flush sounds from the bathroom. Michael exits with a sigh. He enters the bedroom. BEDROOM He picks up his mobile phone and sits on the bed. He dials a number. Ringing emits from the phone speaker. MICHAEL I think I have an STD... I know. When was your last check up? (pause) The symptoms? He stands up and paces. MICHAEL (CONTD) I know my body and when something isnt right and something isnt right. (pause) Im pretty sure its not something I ate... No its not that... because its not. He picks up his pyjamas and scrunches them up like a ball. MICHAEL (CONTD) This is some beginning... I dont know what to think. But what I do know is that with no trust we cant keep seeing each other. Im sorry. He hangs up and throws the pyjamas against the wall.

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HALLWAY/STAIRS Helen on the stairs. A smile breaks across her face. INT. FRONT ROOM - NIGHT - LATER Helen content in her chair knitting. Michael laid out on the sofa watches TV. A newspaper spread out in front on the coffee table. His hand clutches to his side in pain. He lowers his head and body down from view. HELEN Would you like a blanket and coco as its rather chilly tonight? He goes to answer but jolts in further surges of abdominal pain. She patiently waits for an answer. INT. FRONT ROOM - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER Helen walks in with a blanket and mug. He removes his hand from his side and straightens up. She puts the mug down on the coffee table. Covers him with the blanket and tightens him in at the corners. HELEN Are you all right dear? You dont look the right colour. MICHAEL I dont feel too great. It might have been something I ate? She hands him his coco. He grabs it child-like. HELEN Maybe we should go to the doctors for a check up? MICHAEL It may go away in a few days. If not I will. Not to worry. She watches him take a sip of coco his eyes fixed on the television.

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INT. FRONT ROOM - DAY Michael in short bursts of agony on the sofa. MICHAEL Can you call out the emergency doctor. Im getting worse. Helen appears from behind with clean pyjamas. HELEN Of course darling. Ill ring him in a moment. She rounds the sofa and pulls back the duvet cover and under-blanket. Hands him the clean pyjamas. HELEN (CONTD) Here, put these on. The doctors seen all things so the least you can do is have clean pyjamas for him. He takes them and painfully sits up. She plumps the cushions behind him. INT. FRONT ROOM - DAY - LATER Michael tucked up on the sofa, the coffee table pulled upclose next to him, reads the newspaper. Helen enters. HELEN Honey the doctor cant see you until next week. They dont think your case is a high risk emergency. She pulls the coffee table back to the centre. HELEN (CONTD) I explained the symptoms, but they say an infection left untreated for a week would do no harm. She swipes the newspaper clean off the table. He looks worriedly to her as she mechanically folds it.

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INT. KITCHEN - DAY - LATER Helen by the side. Bangers and Mash on a tray. HELEN (out to Michael) Has Michael been a good boy? She opens a cupboard above her and reveals a box labelled: Itching Powder. HELEN (CONTD) Does he deserve his special present? Puts away a box of Exlax. Closes cupboard. Her hands clutch the side of the tray. HELEN (CONTD) I think so. INT. FRONT ROOM - DAY - MOMENTS LATER Helen enters with the condiments and puts them on the coffee table. Michael sat upright on the sofa in a knitted jumper. His face a darker shade of pale. A dinner tray on his lap. He tries to itch himself under the tray. She sits down right-next to him. HELEN Now eat up lovee. Itll make you feel better. She pats him on the head. He slowly scoop up a spoonful of food and eat it. She smiles proudly at him. FADE TO BLACK.

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