Breathe Page #11

We follow the party in a montage of brief moments.

BY THE TERRACE TABLE -

Bloggs, carving the ham, glancing over towards Robin.

BLOGGSHe’s amazing, isn’t he?

Breathe -Green Revision -8 July 2016 61.

Teddy Hall’s looking at Diana.

TEDDY HALL:

So’s she.

BY ROBIN IN HIS WHEELCHAIR listening to Rory Stewart

RORY STEWARTLucy walked out a month ago now.

Been coming a long time.

ROBINI’m sorry, Rory... Very rough onyou.

RORY STEWARTYes. Life’s a shitty business,

isn’t it? There you are, getting onwith your life, and out of nowhere crash!

It all comes tumbling down.

ROBINAnd you know what’s so strange?...

The sun still comes up tomorrow.

RORY STEWART:

How do you mean?

ROBINOh, nothing really... Help me withmy drink, will you, Rory.

Rory moves Robin’s glass near enough for Robin to reach thestraw with his lips.

ROBIN:

Let’s have a toast.

RORY STEWART:

What are we drinking to?

ROBIN:

New dawns.

Rory raises his own glass, smiling for the first time.

RORY STEWART:

New dawns!

AT THE DOLLS’ TEA PARTY

LITTLE GIRLRosie says, It’s been delightful,

but I simply must rush.

THE GAME OF CRICKET

Diana with Colin Campbell watching Jonathan as he bowls.

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DIANAI think he’s going to be quitegood.

BY THE TERRACE TABLE

Harry Tennyson is shovelling food in liberal quantities ontohis plate.

HARRY TENNYSONYou really should go to Simla, it’snot like India at all. You’re inthe Himalayas, but it feels likeEngland. Like England, but better.

The Blacker twins surveying the ruin of the ham carved byBloggs.

DAVIDYou’ve made a real hash of that.

BLOGGS:

Look at Robin now.

They both look. Robin has four pretty women round him now.

BLOGGS:

How does he do it?

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BY ROBIN IN HIS WHEELCHAIR -One of the pretty women, PAMELA

HARRIS, confiding in him.

PAMELA HARRISHe proposed yesterday. I’m so fondof him. But he’s no beauty. I feelso confused.

ROBINIs he actually ugly?

PAMELA HARRIS:

Well, yes.

As they speak, Robin’s looking across the lawn to where Dianastands, in conversation with Rory Stewart. From their bodylanguage he can see that Rory’s confiding in her, and she’sbeing sympathetic.

ROBIN:

Good.

PAMELA HARRISWhy’s that good?

ROBINGood-looking men are idle... Uglymen get things done.

THE GAME OF CRICKET

Jonathan, batting, hits the ball a terrific whack, sending itsailing into the shrubbery. He tosses his bat in the air,

turns triumphantly to call to his father.

JONATHANDad! You see that?

Robin is gazing at him, full of pride. Diana, sitting besideRobin, shares the proud moment: her hand applauds, clappingsoftly on Robins’ hand, as if they’re clapping together.

86 SCENE DELETED 86

87 INT. ROBIN’S ROOM, FURLONGS -EVENING 87

The party’s over. The guests departed.

Diana comes into the room where Robin sits in his bed. She’stends to him, arranging him to make him comfortable, beforegoing to bed herself.

DIANASo. Did you enjoy that? You weresurrounded by admirers.

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ROBIN:

So were you.

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DIANA:

Me?

ROBINRory Stewart couldn’t take his eyesoff you.

DIANAOh, Rory. Lucy’s really messed himabout. I feel so sorry for him. Hesays he spends his evenings alone,

watching television.

ROBINI expect he’d like you to relievehis loneliness.

DIANAWell, I’m not going to.

ROBINYou can if you want to.

DIANAOh. You’re giving me permission,

are you?

ROBINI worry that you don’t have much...

fun.

DIANADon’t worry about me. I’m allright.

She strokes his head lovingly.

DIANAWe manage, don’t we?

ROBINEasy for me... I just sit here...

You do all the work... Turns outI’m quite enjoying myself.

DIANA(fondly)

Good old selfish Robin.

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ROBINBut you... Not so much fun for you.

She bends down and kisses him.

DIANA:

Turns out I love you.

He responds to her kiss. The loving nuzzling of his lipsmoves her, almost too much. Her eyes glisten.

ROBINI got lucky with you, didn’t I?...

I say, Diana. Run away with me.

DIANA:

Mustn’t overdo it.

ROBINWhy not?... I’m supposed to betesting the limits.

DIANA:

You are. Every day.

ROBINHaven’t reached breaking point yet,

have I?... I can go further.

DIANA:

Go further where?

ROBIN:

Anywhere... Everywhere.

DIANAWhat is this, Robin? Is thisanother of your mad projects?

ROBINI’ve always wanted to see the sunrise over the Mediterranean.

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88 EXT. RAF NORTHOLT -DAY 88

The front wheels of the van riding up a long ramp.

PULL OUT TO DISCOVER the cargo hold of a front-openingtransport plane, as the Bedford van disappears into itsbelly.

IN THE VAN -Diana at the wheel. Robin beside her in hiswheelchair. Behind them, Jonathan and Bloggs.

89 EXT. RUNWAY, RAF NORTHOLT -DAY 89

The cargo plane rumbles down the runway and creaks into the

sky.

THE CAMERA follows it up into the clouds.

90 INT. CARGO PLANE -DAY 90

Inside the Bedford van, in the hold of the cargo plane:

everything is juddering, the engine noise is unbearable, but

there they are, Robin, Diana, Jonathan, grinning at each

other like fools. Only Bloggs shows signs of nervousness,

staring out of the van window.

BLOGGS’S POV -Three race horses staring back at him from

their horse boxes.

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91 EXT. SPANISH ROAD -DAY 91

DOWN FROM CLOUDS to find a road cutting through Spanishcountryside to the sea. The Bedford van is cruising downthe road. Spanish road signs indicate TARRAGONA.

IN THE VAN -The hiss of the respirator.

DIANAThe house is on the beach. I’vegot a long extension lead, so intheory Robin can stay out allday.

ROBINThere’s something else my chairneeds... A parasol.

DIANAI’ve brought pints of sun cream.

ROBINWe should charge up the chairbattery.

DIANAGood idea. Bloggs, do you see thecable down here? I can’t take myeyes off the road.

BLOGGS:

I see it.

DIANAOn the side of the wheelchairthere’s a plug-board. Plug itinto the second socket.

BLOGGSOh, yes. I see.

He fumbles about in the shadowy space between the seats.

BLOGGSSecond socket. Got it.

He inserts the plug.

BANG! The car swerves and lurches. Black smoke streams fromthe respirator motor. The pump stops.

DIANAFor Christ’s sake!

BLOGGSGod! God! What happened?

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Diana steers the van up onto the verge, pulls on the brake,

and turns to the respirator. The van’s filling up withblack smoke. Diana fumbles for the hand pump. Bloggs throwsopen the door. Diana starts to hand-pump. Robin breathesonce more.

Diana is badly frightened.

DIANAI knew something like this wouldhappen. I just knew it.

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