Birthday Girl Page #12

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

A light summer rain. Drips fall from rose petals.

INT. JOHN'S BEDROOM - DAY

John opens his eyes. He rolls over towards Nadia, but she's

already up and about.

Alone in his bedroom, John holds the now-finished jumper up

to himself. He tries it on. It's a good four sizes too big,

the arms are too long and it hangs down to mid-thigh. He

looks at himself in the mirror and smiles.

CUT TO:

INT. STAIRS / HALL / KITCHEN - DAY

He pads downstairs in his pants, picks up his mail from the

doormat and peers into the living room. The sleeping bags

and guitar cases have gone. About to peruse his mail, his

eye is caught by something else.

There is a small wild deer standing in the living room.

Looking at him. John stares back at it transfixed, when he

hears a scream. The deer starts and bolts out of the patio

doors. John is thrown. It was a woman's scream. He goes back

out and looks down the hall.

Twenty feet away, down the hall, is Yuri, sitting on the

kitchen floor, his back to the cooker. He's crying.

YURI:

John. You must call the Police.

Suddenly Alexei steps between them in the doorway. As he

moves out of view, we see he is holding his hunting knife.

John hears Nadia cry out, from inside the kitchen. He drops

his mail and rushes forward.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

Nadia is tied to a chair. Alexei pulls a gag tight around

her mouth and holds the knife to her throat.

JOHN:

What are you doing?

Alexei shouts at Yuri in Russian.

YURI:

John, I'm sorry. It's my fault.

Alexei shouts again. Nadia is frozen with terror.

JOHN:

What's he doing? What the f*** are

you doing? Leave her alone.

Alexei addresses John.

YURI:

He says sit down. Or he'll cut her.

Alexei and Yuri shout at each other. Nadia begins crying.

YURI:

Sit down please.

John sits across the table from Nadia.

JOHN:

Tell him to stop and let her go, and

we'll talk.

The kettle boils. Alexei takes the kettle and holds it over

Nadia's head.

John springs up.

JOHN:

Put the f***ing kettle down.

YURI:

John.

JOHN:

Put the f***ing kettle down. Tell,

Yuri, tell him put it down or I'm

going to make him.

Yuri translates -- Alexei replies.

YURI:

He says you scare him so much he

must go to the toilet in his trousers.

John, he is a soldier. A trained

killer. We must do what he says.

JOHN:

What? What does he want?

Alexei speaks.

JOHN:

What did he say? Tell me!

YURI:

He says you are very sad ridiculous

man. I don't agree of course. And

that you must pay someone to have

sex like a prostitute. Nadia is a

prostitute. I'm sorry.

JOHN:

What does he want. The Russian

shithead. What do you want ?

YURI:

He wants money.

JOHN:

Tell him to put the kettle down and

I'll give him money.

Yuri translates this for Alexei. Alexei has a reply.

YURI:

He wants a lot of money.

JOHN:

I'll give him money. Tell him to put

the...

YURI:

He wants the money from your bank.

JOHN:

I'll f***in' give it to him! We'll

go down there.

YURI:

You don't understand. He wants all

the money that is in your bank.

JOHN:

I've got eight hundred pounds. Oh

Jesus.

The penny drops.

JOHN:

Oh Jesus.

YURI:

He is sure you can do this. Of course

you can not.

JOHN:

Oh Jesus. Of course I can't.

Alexei doesn't need the translation he tilts the kettle, and

a small amount of boiling water trickles onto Nadia's hair.

She screams through the gag.

John tries to reach across to her but Alexei draws the knife

and holds it to his face.

JOHN:

Just leave her alone.

YURI:

I'm so sorry.

JOHN:

Leave her alone.

CLOSE UP On Nadia's terrified eyes, imploring John to help

her.

INT. / EXT. JOHN'S CAR - DAY

John drives grim-faced through the morning rain. Yuri is

next to him staring ahead at the road. Alexei is in the back

with Nadia who is still bound and gagged. He's holding his

knife to her ribs.

INT. MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK - DAY

The car parks on the top floor. John turns off the engine.

He looks at Nadia in his rear view mirror but she seems in

shock.

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