Breathe

1 BLACK SCREEN 1

The sound of air hissing through a machine at regularintervals. Almost like breathing, but not quite. At the endof each breath a faint click, then the hiss again.

OPENING TITLES RUN

SUPERIMPOSE CAPTION: June 1957

1A EXT. ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE -DAY 1A

FLYING OVER England, the green rolling Chiltern hills, over

woodland and villages and country houses.

The CAMERA FINDS a handsome manor house. In the field by the

house, a cricket match is in full swing.

2 EXT. CRICKET FIELD -DAY 2

MOVING POV -A blur of tree trunks. Railings round apavilion terrace. Glimpses of women drinking tea on a sunnyEnglish afternoon. Sounds of a cricket match in progress.

The UNKNOWN WATCHER is on the move, trying for a better

vantage point. Now at last he catches a clear sighting of

DIANA, a beautiful young woman, 22 years old, dark hair,

calm manner. She’s seated on the pavilion terrace,

surrounded by others but looking as if she’s alone. A youngman, TOMMY, is clearly trying to talk to her, one handnervously fiddling with his straw hat as he does so. Dianaseems unaware of his existence.

Some other figure crosses the line of vision, obscuringher. The MOVING POV shifts again. This time the watchergets an even better view of her.

ROBIN (O.S.)

Dear God. What -is -that?

ON ROBIN CAVENDISH, staring. A good-looking 25-year-old,

dressed in cricketing whites, wearing pads. With him, alsoin whites, his friend COLIN CAMPBELL.

COLIN CAMPBELLNot a chance.

ROBIN(gazing at Diana)

How so?

COLIN CAMPBELLShe’s a famous heart-breaker.

Breathe -Blue Revision -26 June 2016 2.

ROBINDo you know her?

COLIN CAMPBELLI know her brothers.

A glance towards two young men watching the cricket,

identical twins BLOGGS and DAVID BLACKER. They too arewatching Diana, amused by Tommy’s utter failure to attractDiana’s attention. They’re mimicking the way his hand fiddleswith his hat.

Robin’s gaze turns from the twins back to Diana. The soundsof a wicket being taken, and the clapping of thespectators.

ROBINShe’s gorgeous.

COLIN CAMPBELLNo one’s ever got near. Martinproposed twice.

ROBINWould you marry Martin? I wouldn’t.

But I would marry me.

COLIN CAMPBELLAnd I’m sure you’d be very happytogether, Robin.

ROBINThe thing is, I’m running out oftime. I leave for Nairobi on July15th. I need a wife.

It’s now his turn to bat. Smiling, confident, he strides out

to the crease.

3 EXT. CRICKET PITCH -DAY 3

Robin prepares to face the bowler. He glances back at Diana

on the pavilion terrace: he’s going to make her notice him.

But Diana’s only half-watching. She’s bored. Tommy has

given up.

The ball hurtles towards Robin. He steps forward, smashesthe ball with a sweeping off-drive. It sails over thepavilion for a glorious six. A cheer goes up.

Diana is chatting to a girlfriend. She didn’t even notice

Robin’s triumph.

Breathe -Blue Revision -26 June 2016 3.

4 EXT. PAVILION, CRICKET FIELD -DAY 4

Robin with a cup of tea in his hand moving past team matesand supporters, accepting congratulations as he goes. He’sheading for Diana. She sits staring far away at nothing.

Still bored.

He comes to a stop beside her. She doesn’t register hispresence. He drinks his tea, watches her.

ROBINI know you can see me.

Diana turns her lazy gaze to take him in.

DIANA:

I’m sorry?

ROBINI don’t believe you’re half asbored as you look.

DIANADo I look bored? I don’t mean to.

ROBINCricket’s a lot more fun to playthan to watch.

DIANAYes. I suppose it is.

ROBINLike life, you might say.

DIANA:

Might you?

An older friend, HARRY TENNYSON, comes up to Diana. Harry isvery overweight, and just walking gets him out of breath.

HARRY TENNYSONWe’re off. If you want a lift it’snow or never.

Diana gets up.

DIANA:

I’m ready.

ROBINWill you be at the Barings’ bash onSaturday?

DIANAI might be.

Breathe -Blue Revision -26 June 2016 4.

ROBINMaybe see you there.

DIANA:

Maybe.

She goes off with Harry. Robin watches her go, but she

doesn’t give a backward glance.

5 SCENE DELETED 5

6 INT. LONDON BALLROOM -NIGHT 6

MOVING POV -Through the throng of guests at the ball:

glimpses of Diana, stunning in a formal gown. On her lovelyface the same air of not seeing the bustle round her; ofliving in some other private world.

Robin, smart in his formal evening clothes, tracks her withhis eyes. He moves steadily towards her. She turns, catcheshis gaze. Holds the look for a moment, then turns away.

He reaches her. She shows no sign of noticing him.

ROBINI could ask you to dance. Youcould say you don’t feel likedancing right now. I could say,

Next time, maybe. And I couldsaunter away.

DIANAYou could saunter away.

ROBINOr I could just not ask.

That’s unexpected. She looks at him, unsure what he means.

He takes her hand and pulls her onto the dance floor.

She’s too taken by surprise to resist. Before she knows

what’s happening they’re dancing.

He dances very well. She lets him lead her, looking at him

with an amused quizzical look. She likes dancing with him.

7 SCENE DELETED 7

8 EXT. COUNTRY ROAD/WIDE ENGLISH VIEW -DAY 8

Robin’s battered old sports car bowls along an emptycountry road. Diana sits beside Robin.

IN CAR:

Breathe -Blue Revision -26 June 2016 5.

DIANA:

So where are we going?

ROBINI thought Maidenhead. I know arather jolly pub by the river.

The car turns off into a lane that winds up a hill betweentrees, to come to a stop facing a giant vista of rollingcountryside. Robin’s favourite view.

DIANAThis doesn’t look like a jollypub by the river.

ROBINNo. We seem to have missed our

way.

DIANA:

What a surprise.

ROBINLucky I packed a bottle of wineand a pork pie.

DIANA:

Good Lord, is that the time?

She reaches for the car door handle. There is no car doorhandle.

DIANA:

How do you open the door?

ROBIN:

You don’t.

DIANA:

But I want to get out.

ROBIN:

No you don’t.

DIANA:

Don’t I?

ROBIN:

You want to kiss me.

DIANAWhat makes you think I want to

He pulls her towards him and kisses her. No aggression, butnor does he give her any choice in the matter.

Breathe -Blue Revision -26 June 2016 6.

For a moment she accepts the kiss passively. Then shestarts to kiss him back. Then she starts to kiss him withreal passion.

9 EXT. GARDEN, BLACKER HOUSE -DAY 9

The grounds of Diana’s family home. Diana sits on a swingattached to a branch of a tree. She’s slowly twisting herselfround and round, winding the two ropes above her. At her feeton the grass lie her brothers, Bloggs and David.

BLOGGS(to Diana)

You hardly know the little man.

DAVID(to Bloggs)

Would you say he’s littler than us?

The two brothers eye each other, as if making the mentalcomparison.

BLOGGSNot much in it.

DAVID(to Diana)

Has he got any money at all?

BLOGGSIt’s not like you don’t have otheroptions.

DAVIDWhat happened to Hugh? Doesn’t hehave a castle in Scotland?

BLOGGSMind you, who’d want to live inScotland?

DAVIDShe’s talking about going to livein Kenya, for God’s sake!

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