Breathe Page #12

Bloggs is fanning the door to clear the smoke.

BLOGGS:

What did I do?

DIANA:

I don’t know, but the

respirator’s bust.

(to Robin)

You okay, Robin?

ROBIN:

I’m fine.

DIANABloggs, can you see what I’mdoing? Do you think you can doit? Just maintain the samerhythm.

Bloggs takes over the hand-pumping. Diana examines therespirator to see what’s broken, but it’s hard to get atit.

DIANALet’s get the wheelchair out.

Whatever you do, don’t stoppumping.

She and Jonathan open the van’s back doors and lower theplatform. Then with Bloggs doubled up working the hand pumpthey wheel the chair out onto the grass.

Here Diana gets to work with a whole box of tools.

BLOGGS:

Do you know how to fix it?

She gets the motor open: it’s melted.

DIANA:

No. I don’t.

She stares. This is a total disaster.

Breathe -Blue Revision -26 June 2016 67.

BLOGGSI’m sorry. I just don’t know whatI did.

A SPANISH MOTORIST has pulled up to help.

SPANISH MOTORIST(in Spanish)

Can I help you?

DIANA:

Do you speak English?

SPANISH MOTORIST

Little.

BLOGGS:

We need a mechanic.

DIANAFor God’s sake, Bloggs. We needto telephone.

She mimes dialling. The Spanish motorist understands. Hepoints down the road.

SPANISH MOTORISTTorredembarra. Telephone. I takeyou?

DIANAYes, please. Jonathan, get myhandbag.

Jonathan runs to the front seat of the van.

ROBINNo need to go so fast, Bloggs...

I’m not a balloon.

Jonathan is back with the handbag. Diana takes out heraddress book.

DIANABloggs, go with this man, find aphone, call Teddy Hall. Here’shis numbers. He’ll either be atthe lab or at his home. That’sthe Littlemore number.

BLOGGS:

In England?

DIANATell him what’s happened. We’llwait for him here.

Breathe -Blue Revision -26 June 2016 68.

BLOGGSWait for him to fly out fromEngland?

DIANA(tense)

Just go. Please.

She takes over the hand-pumping. Bloggs heads to theSpaniard’s car. Robin calls after him.

ROBINGet some bread, and sausage...

And wine... And a corkscrew.

Diana pumps away steadily. Robin looks at her.

DIANAI’m not saying it. I hope you canhear me. I’m not saying it.

92 EXT. SPANISH ROAD -DUSK 92

Diana, Bloggs and Jonathan sit round Robin in hiswheelchair sharing a picnic supper. Jonathan is taking histurn on the hand pump. The others drink wine straight fromthe bottle.

ROBINPleasant temperature... Remindsme of Nairobi.

BLOGGSYou okay there, Jonathan?

JONATHANYes, I’m fine. It’s quite easy,

really.

BLOGGS(to Diana)

What’s the plan for the night?

DIANAWe’ll take it in turns to sleep,

one at a time. That leaves one topump, and the other to make surethey don’t fall asleep.

ROBINYes, please don’t fall asleep.

DIANAYou’re doing brilliantly,

Jonathan. I’ll take over in a

moment.

Breathe -Blue Revision -26 June 2016 69.

JONATHANI’m okay. Really.

A few cars go by, their headlights sweeping the little

group by the van.

DIANAI wonder what on earth they thinkwe’re doing.

BLOGGSEl camping. The English arefamous for not wanting to strayfar from their cars.

Diana feeds Robin wine through a straw, catching thedribbles with a handkerchief. Jonathan pumps away, watchinghis father silhouetted against the evening sky.

Robin’s eyes move to rest on Jonathan kneeling by hischair, keeping him alive. He smiles, and Jonathan smilesback.

93 EXT. SPANISH ROAD -NIGHT 93

Moonlight over the road and van.

The sound of the hand pump in action.

IN THE VAN -Jonathan asleep, prone on the back seat.

Bloggs upright, eyelids drooping. Diana in the driver’sseat, pumping away, very weary. Robin asleep in hiswheelchair.

Diana’s head droops, and she slips into sleep. The pump

stops. Bloggs fails to notice.

Robin’s eyes open. He makes his clicking noise. No one hears.

More clicking. No response.

Seconds pass. He closes his eyes.

Seconds pass.

Bloggs emits a sudden snore. Diana wakes.

DIANA:

Oh God!

She starts pumping again. Robin opens his eyes.

DIANASorry. Sorry.

ROBINI can go for longer than that.

Breathe -Green Revision -8 July 2016 70.

94 EXT. SPANISH ROAD -DAY 94

A small CROWD OF LOCALS has gathered round the van. Threecars are now pulled up on the verge beyond. The locals haveturned out with food, wine, sunshades, folding chairs, anda radio that plays cheerful pop music. Among the group is aPRIEST. He has no English, so his remarks are translated bya friendly local SPANISH WOMAN.

In the midst of the festivity Robin sits under an awning,

being fed by Diana and pumped by Jonathan.

SPANISH PRIEST(in Spanish)

Almighty God likes to play jokeson us. But his jokes are alwaysfor a purpose.

SPANISH WOMANHe say God make joke.

SPANISH PRIEST(in Spanish)

This poor man’s suffering bringsus all together in celebration.

SPANISH WOMANSo we have party.

ROBIN:

Quite right. God has a joke... We

have a party.

The priest beams. Diana meets Robin’s eyes, and they share

a smile.

ROBIN:

You know who’d have loved this?...

Paddy.

95 EXT. SPANISH ROAD -DUSK 95

DRIVER’S POV -Approaching down the road. A big crowdcamped on the verge ahead, by the light of kerosenelanterns. It looks like some kind of outdoor religiousfestival.

Closer, we make out dozens of cars lining the road. Thecrowd can now be seen to be centred on a trio of singingGUITARISTS. They play with great seriousness, and sing verybeautifully.

The approaching car cruises to a stop close to the

gathering.

In the heart of the crowd, Robin sits in his wheelchairlistening to the singers, blissfully happy.

Breathe -Green Revision -8 July 2016 70A.

Beside him sits Diana, her hand holding his hand, alsohappier than she’s been in years.

Breathe -Blue Revision -26 June 2016 71.

Behind her, Jonathan leans over them, his chin on hershoulder. Bloggs kneels by Robin’s chair, pumping away.

TEDDY HALL (O.S.)

For heaven’s sake!

Diana looks round.

DIANA:

Teddy!

It’s Teddy Hall, looking exasperated.

TEDDY HALLYou could at least have thedecency to be on the point ofdeath.

CLOSE on the respirator, lit by torches, as Teddy Hallreplaces the burned-out part with a new motor. Bloggs goeson hand-pumping all the while.

TEDDY HALLGod knows how you managed to makesuch a balls-up of this.

BLOGGS:

My fault, I’m afraid.

TEDDY HALL:

What are you all doing

gallivanting in Spain in the

first place?

ROBIN:

My fault, I’m afraid.

TEDDY HALLThis thing isn’t built for transcontinental

voyages.

ROBINI wanted to see the sun rise overthe Med.

TEDDY HALLIt rises over Drayton St Leonardtoo, you know.

He’s done.

TEDDY HALL:

There. Let’s fire her up.

He presses a switch. The machine turns, taking over the jobof pumping. Bloggs rises, stretching his arms and legs.

Breathe -Tan Revision -2 August 2016 72.

BLOGGSThank Christ for that!

The crowd starts to applaud. The applause spreads, turns tocheers. Diana watches, smiling with relief. Teddy looksround, grumpy but touched.

TEDDY HALLI’m glad someone’s happy.

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