Bridget Jones's Baby Page #23

MARK (CONT’D)

Good God, Bridget, it’s an

overnight bag, do you really need

BRIDGET:

Don’t shout at me! I’ve lost count

now. 48 - 49 -

(another contraction)

OHhhhhhhhh!

MARK:

Jesus!

BRIDGET:

I’m sorry but it’s painful.

MARK:

No, not you. 45 minutes for a cab,

apparently it’s gridlock.

BRIDGET:

What do we do?

Mark looks out of the window and sees Gianni’s pizza van.

MARK:

We’ll work something out. I’ll

carry the bags. And we should call

Jack.

167 INT. GIANNI’S PIZZA DELIVERY VAN. NIGHT.

Bridget and Mark are in Gianni’s pizza delivery van. Bridget

is in some pain now.

GIANNI:

Don’t worry Miss Bridget, we get

you there... no traffic this time

of night.

The van stops. Mark looks confused.

SHOOTING SCRIPT.

115

GIANNI (CONT’D)

A Quattro Stagione and Margherita

with onion and pineapple for number

17.

Gianni hands 3 pizzas to Mark, he realizes it’s futile to

argue and rushes out. Gianni turns to a panting Bridget.

GIANNI (CONT’D)

Who has pineapple and onion - some

people they a-crazy.

Mark returns from his delivery and the van moves off again.

GIANNI (CONT’D)

Dio Mio! It’s like rush hour, Mr

Mark.

The van stops again.

CUT TO:

167A INT/EXT GIANNI’S PIZZA DELIVERY VAN. NIGHT. 167A

All three in Gianni’s van. He is trying to avoid the traffic.

He does a 3-point turn and then goes uphill.

CUT TO:

168 EXT. LONDON STREETS. NIGHT.

The roads are indeed gridlocked and Bridget is in real pain.

BRIDGET:

This is really happening, I’m going

to be a mother, Mark. Have I left

it too late...?

Before Mark can answer Gianni pipes up.

GIANNI:

Do not worry about the age, there

was a woman in my country, she was

65 when she...

BRIDGET:

YES! I KNOW!

They hit traffic again and come to a stand still.

GIANNI:

Is unbelievable, is a bloody

women’s rights march. You know I’m

a big fan of women’s rights.. And

their lefts. Yes Mr Mark? You get

it, their lefts? I talk about their

boobies.

SHOOTING SCRIPT.

116

MARK:

Oh Christ, it’s those infernal

women.

CUT TO:
Hundreds of incensed chanting women on bicycles with

placards block the streets.

BACK IN THE CAB:

MARK (CONT'D)BRIDGET

Hold my hand - squeeze my 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 hand,

hard as you like - not

long now - stay calm -

actually, not too hard.

BRIDGET:

22, 23, 24, 25 - they’re coming

quicker - oh my god we need to get

there.

Gianni honks repeatedly on the horn.

BRIDGET (CONT’D)

Right. We’re getting out. You

ready?

And they step out into the street.

BRIDGET (CONT’D)

I don’t think I can walk.

MARK:

There’s no need. I’ll carry you.

GIANNI:

I come behind with bag Mr Mark.

And there’s a great rush of romantic music as, in true

Officer and Gentleman-style, Mark lifts her into his arms.

BRIDGET:

I must be very heavy.

MARK:

Nonsense, I don’t feel a thing!

JUMP CUT to ten yards later. Gasping, red-faced, doubled

over, Mark can’t go one step further.

MARK (CONT’D)

Good God, Bridget, you’re immense!

BRIDGET:

I can’t help it!

MARK:

I think my lung’s collapsed, but

this is not about me.

SHOOTING SCRIPT.

117

BRIDGET:

Contraction’s starting again! I’m

going to have the baby in the

street!

MARK:

Okay, we’ll walk for ten, rest for

ten.

And he hauls Bridget on towards the hospital.

169 EXT. STREETS NEAR HOSPITAL. NIGHT. 169

Mark is still carrying her. Almost on his knees...when Jack,

on his motorcycle, screeches to a halt. He gets off.

JACK:

I’ll take it from here!

Darcy hands Bridget over to Jack. He tries to carry her.

JACK (CONT’D)

Holy sh*t - I think this is a two

man job.

170 EXT/INT. HOSPITAL. LABOUR UNIT. NIGHT. 170

Mark and Jack carry Bridget in through the doors. A MIDWIFE

runs up with a wheelchair.

MIDWIFE:

Which of you is the father?

Mark and Jack step forward.

MARK/JACK

(in unison)

I am.

The mid-wife looks confused, but ushers them into the

delivery room.

171 INT. HOSPITAL. BIRTHING ROOM. NIGHT. 171

Bridget is on her hands and knees on the birthing bed. Mark

and Jack simultaneously rub her back. Two midwives busy

themselves preparing the equipment.

DR RAWLINGS enters the room and looks from JACK to MARK, and

smiles knowingly.

DR RAWLINGS:

Ah, I was wondering how many

fathers we might get today - full

house! Bingo!

(calm)

OK Bridget, how are we going to do

this? Epidural?

SHOOTING SCRIPT.

118

JACK:

You can do this, a positive mental

attitude is stronger than any drug,

think away the pain.

BRIDGET:

Bollocks to that. I want everything

- gas, air, injections, morphine

JACK:

Bridget... Remember your yoga.

BRIDGET:

F*** yoga!

DR RAWLINGS:

Couldn’t agree more. It’s supposed

to be relaxing but I spend my

entire time worried that I’m going

to let out a fart. Now, let me have

a look at that cervix of yours.

She lifts up Bridget’s gown and Jack can’t help but get a

look at the ‘action area’. He looks queasy. A blood curdling

scream comes from the woman giving birth in the room next

door.

DR RAWLINGS (CONT’D)

Oh, good!

CLOSE on Bridget’s relief.

DR RAWLINGS (CONT’D)

You’re already at six centimetres

so you can’t have any drugs at all.

BRIDGET:

WHAT?

DR RAWLINGS:

You’re too far on. Oooh another

contraction.

Bridget winces in excruciating pain. Jack and Mark wince as

Bridget winces.

DR RAWLINGS (CONT’D)

(to Jack and Mark)

I’m not sure there is much to gain

from you being at the coal face, if

I’m honest. My ex-husband said it

was like watching his favourite pub

burn down.

Another huge scream.

MIDWIFE:

Maybe dad should go and fetch mum a

cool flannel.

Mark and Jack look confused, unsure which of them should go,

there is a bit of awkwardness then Mark goes to get it.

SHOOTING SCRIPT.

119

Mark returns with a cool flannel in his hand, Jack grabs it

from him and places it on Bridget’s forehead, leaving Mark

floundering and annoyed.

MARK:

Bu...

JACK:

You can do this, just think the

pain away.

As Jack gets closer, gently imploring her to manage the pain,

she lifts her fist and punches him hard in the face, knocking

him down.

JACK (CONT’D)

Motherfuckers!

MARK:

Just think the pain away...

Jack nurses his bleeding nose.

BRIDGET:

GET OUT! BOTH OF YOU!

Unwilling to infuriate her more, the men share a look and

both go to leave.

BRIDGET CONTINUED

Make it stop, make the pain stop.

(to the departing men)

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

Both men are at the door, look at each other and turn round,

sheepishly making their way back towards the bed.

BRIDGET:

It’s too painful! I can’t do this I

just can’t.

CUT TO:

LATER:

Bridget lets out a blood curdling scream, she is clearly in

huge pain. Both men simultaneously put out their hands for

support, but as she screams, just as the pain appears that it

might be too much and faced with the choice of the two men in

her life, impulsively, instinctively, she reaches for...

MARK.

Jack sees this and realizes that Bridget has made her choice.

As Bridget clings to Mark, the two men share a look. Jack

gives a conciliatory and defeated nod then quietly,

graciously, withdraws from the room.

Rate this script:4.5 / 4 votes