Birthday Girl Page #2

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EXT. SKY - DAY

The GIGANTIC UNDERSIDE of a Boeing 747 TEARS down the screen.

INT. AIRPORT TRAVELATOR - DAY

John slides across the screen, motionless, towards Arrivals.

INT. AIRPORT - DAY.

Last calls for flights leaving for the other side of the

world.

Travellers criss-cross and swirl.

INT. AIRPORT MAIN ARRIVALS BOARD - DAY

BA 1880 MOSCOW On time.

INT. AIRPORT RESTROOM - DAY

He dries his face with a paper towel, then checks himself in

the mirror. He looks okay, a little white.

INT. ARRIVALS GATE - DAY

The Arrivals gate slides open and passengers flood through.

John stands among the chauffeurs and cab drivers, as the

passengers trundle by.

We follow one young woman long enough to think this must be

her, but it's a false alarm, she's lifted up and spun around

by someone else.

They've all passed. That's that. She wasn't on the flight.

John wanders away from the gate. He stands about in the swirl

in the middle of the airport. People bustle by. Everyone

going somewhere.

Gradually, we get the sense we are being watched. A woman

stands nearby. She is about twenty, very beautiful, tired

and laden with luggage.

JOHN:

Nadia?

She nods.

JOHN:

I'm John.

They shake hands.

JOHN:

Welcome.

(pause)

Well. Look I didn't have a speech

but...

A distorted passenger announcement breaks above us. It's too

loud to talk. It ends and they stand there in silence. He

points to her luggage.

JOHN:

Is that everything?

NADIA:

Yes.

JOHN:

Right. Okay. Good.

They stand there.

INT. AIRPORT LIFT - DAY

Nadia and John stand side by side in a huge lift.

JOHN:

We can talk in the car.

A deafening roll of thunder.

EXT. AIRPORT CAR PARK - DAY

It's pouring with rain as they cross the car park towards a

patched up yellow Rover. John stows the suitcase in the boot

and opens the passenger door for her.

INT. / EXT. JOHN'S CAR (MOVING) - DAY

John turns the key in the ignition. The MG wheezes and coughs.

He tries again. Nothing. The third time it just catches and

he coaxes it to life. The colour's drained from his cheeks.

They head for the motorway. The silence in the car lasts

just long enough for John to feel he is breaking it.

JOHN:

It's about forty miles from here. I

don't know if you've looked at a

map, it's close to London but it's a

city in itself. A Roman city. It's a

nice house. I'm having a problem

with ants. I uh... It's the warmer

weather. I can't seem to find the

nest. Sorry, do you understand "ants"?

NADIA:

Yes.

JOHN:

I just can't find a nest. The root

of the problem. I've looked

everywhere. What's the Russian for

ant? Sorry that's a stupid... Sorry.

This is strange isn't it.

NADIA:

Yes.

JOHN:

I'm pretty nervous. Are you?

NADIA:

Yes.

JOHN:

I mean... "Ants." "I've got a problem

with ants."

He shakes his head.

JOHN:

I had this...

He pulls a sign from his jacket which says "Nadia!"

JOHN:

As a joke but uh...

He tosses it onto the back seat.

They drive. He sees Nadia looking at England.

JOHN:

So. Is it different to how you

imagined it?

NADIA:

Yes.

JOHN:

I bet.

(pause)

What about me? Am I how you imagined?

NADIA:

Yes.

He double-takes, changes lanes.

JOHN:

And how was the flight. Sorry, am I

speaking too fast for you?

NADIA:

Yes.

John looks across.

JOHN:

Do uh... Sorry. Can you follow me?

Do you understand what I'm saying?

NADIA:

Yes.

JOHN:

Good. Or should I speak slower?

NADIA:

Yes.

JOHN:

Do you follow or should I speak

slower?

NADIA:

Yes.

He looks across. Back at the road. He changes gear.

JOHN:

Uh... Are you a giraffe?

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