Birthday Girl Page #6

Bluffers guide to the Internet. She opens an old copy of The

Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Inside is written 'John

Buckingham Class 3F'.

BRANCH MANAGER (V.O.)

He usually fulfills commitments made

to customers within expected time

frames.

INT. JOHN'S BEDROOM - DAY

She opens the wardrobe. In a shoebox she finds some photos.

BRANCH MANAGER (V.O.)

Customer Service. John shows a high

degree of respect for customers...

One of John as a little boy, holding a football, flanked by

his parents. On the back someone has written "Summer 1973".

BRANCH MANAGER (V.O.)

John still has some reluctance to /

or has problems in, carving out new

relationships face to face.

There is a photo of John, about three years ago, arm in arm

with a plain, thin-looking girl, with small eyes. Another of

him kissing her on the cheek.

INT. BRANCH MANAGER'S OFFICE - DAY

John listening.

BRANCH MANAGER:

Judgment -- John makes able decisions

in most areas of his job.

INT. JOHN'S BEDROOM - DAY

Nadia sees something at the bottom of the cupboard. She bends

down to retrieve a black dustbin liner. She reaches in and

pulls out a small stack of hardcore pornographic magazines.

BRANCH MANAGER (V.O.)

John follows instructions

conscientiously and responds well to

personal directions.

She upends the bag and a half dozen videos fall out. She

picks up a magazine and begins flicking through it

impassively.

INT. LOUNGE - DAY

Nadia downstairs kneels in front of the T.V. and slips a

video into the machine. Nadia's face is lit up by the screen.

The sound of sex.

BRANCH MANAGER (V.O.)

John is normally very punctual and

in most situations assumes

responsibility for his own actions

and outcomes.

She pops a pickled onion in her mouth, and watches. We see

the images close and pixellated, as we did the marriage videos

in the titles. It's a bondage scene, the woman wears a gag.

INT. BRANCH MANAGER'S OFFICE - DAY

John back in the room. The report has finished and the manager

is scrutinising him in silence.

JOHN:

Thank you -- I think that's very

fair.

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

John drives his Rover through the centre of town, the low

orange sun on his face.

EXT. JOHN'S CLOSE - DAY

The Rover pulls into the driveway. John opens the glove

compartment and removes the ring Nadia gave him, and puts it

back on. He collects a brown paper package from the passenger

seat.

INT. JOHN'S KITCHEN - NIGHT

John and Nadia at the supper table. She is knitting the

jumper. Despite the silence, John seems more relaxed, in

shirtsleeves and loosened tie. He puts his fork down, and

places the brown bag on the table, pushing it across to Nadia.

She opens it and removes a big hardback Russian - English

dictionary. John smiles and nods "open it". She flicks through

it.

She turns it over in her hands, nods, puts the book down,

reaches under the table and surfaces with the stack of porn

magazines. She puts them on the table next to the dictionary.

John beholds the pile. "Wet N' Wild" is on top.

He rises slowly from the table and sleepwalks from the

kitchen.

INT. JOHN'S HALL / STAIRS / LANDING / BATHROOM - DAY

John, frozen-headed, floats down the hall, up the stairs

into the bathroom, locks the door, sits on the toilet.

INT. JOHN'S KITCHEN - DAY

Downstairs Nadia clears, the dishes. The porn stack still

sits on the table, beside the dictionary.

INT. BATHROOM - DAY

Still on the toilet. He hasn't moved. He closes his eyes.

INT. LANDING - NIGHT

It's dark. The bathroom door opens a crack. The coast clear,

he dashes for the cover of his bedroom.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

John rests his head against the doorframe and heaves a sigh

of relief. He turns and freezes. Nadia is there next to him.

She slowly loosens his tie. Holding it in her hands she

examines the strange little bank logo on it, before

deliberately tying the tie over her mouth like a gag.

A second tie is pulled from a hanger in the cupboard. Quickly

and skillfully she ties her hands together, pulling it tight

with her teeth. Finished, she flicks her hair back, and gives

him a long, level look.

VOICE OVER:

It will feel very strange at first

but then you get used to it.

CUT TO:

INT. ROOM IN THE BANK - DAY

A close up of John's face. He closes his eyes, falls

backwards, and is caught in the arms of a colleague.

TRAINER:

Good. Again.

John stands again and closes his eyes. After a short wait he

falls back and again his colleague catches him just before

he hits the ground.

TRAINER:

Very good. How does that feel John?

JOHN:

It feels good. Weird.

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