One Chance Page #15

---

92.

PAUL:

That I’m a tiger in bed?

JULZ:

Aside from that... I said I can’t really

say how my husband is, because, to be

completely honest, I can’t remember the

last time he laughed.

PAUL:

(after a beat)

Maybe my dad’s right.

JULZ:

Sod your dad. What do you want?

Paul takes this in...

PAUL:

Heads.

Julz flips the coin...

INT. PAUL & JULZ BEDROOM - NIGHT

Where Paul lies on his side, Julz nuzzled up behind him as

he’s lost in thought...

JULZ:

What?

PAUL:

I was just thinking... It would be nice

to sing for an audience again. I think I

could let it go after that.

He looks over at the bedside table where the 50p coin

sits, showing the profile head of Queen Elizabeth II.

PAUL (CONT’D)

Probably won’t even get an audition

anyway.

JULZ:

(drifting into sleep...)

Mmmmmm.

CUT TO:

INT. PAUL & JULZ BEDROOM - MORNING

Where the 50p coin reflects the sliver of sunlight into

Paul’s closed eyes, which snap open.

93.

He frowns at the coin and jostles the bedside table,

trying to shift it out of the sunlight. The coin doesn’t

move.

Paul reaches out for his clock-radio and tries to use it

to shove the coin aside and instead ends up knocking

everything off the table, waking Julz.

JULZ:

What’s happening!?

PAUL:

Sorry.

INT. CAR PHONE WAREHOUSE - DAY

Where Paul looks over a job application. He’s smartened up

and has the shop back in order.

PAUL:

Right, so where you answered “maybe” to

the question, “Have you completed

secondary school?” would you care to

elaborate on that?

A PUNK GIRL, with a huge pink mohawk and numerous

piercings both in her face and her leather jacket, stares

at him vacantly.

PUNK GIRL:

Not really, no.

PAUL:

Right.

(as the phone rings)

Just a second. Car Phone Warehouse. This

is Paul speaking.

INT. PAUL & JULZ TINY APARTMENT - DAY (INTERCUT)

Where Julz is taking off her coat.

JULZ:

Is this Paul Potts the singer?

PAUL:

I’m a bit busy now, darling.

JULZ:

Oh right. Too busy to come with me to

Cardiff on Friday.

PAUL:

Cardiff, what’s in-

94.

As Julz hits play on their answer-phone. The voice of a

FEMALE PRODUCER is heard.

FEMALE PRODUCER (O.S.)

Yes, Mister Potts. Is that right? Paul

Potts. Oh my. Sorry, I’m calling from

Britain’s Got Talent. We’ve received your

application and .mp3 audition and-

Paul listens as he watches the Punk Girl remove a safety

pin from her nostril... He turns away.

JULZ:

(as the message ends...)

Well?

PAUL:

Um, brilliant.

JULZ:

What?

PAUL:

This Friday?

JULZ:

That’s what the lady said.

PAUL:

That’s not nearly enough time.

JULZ:

Well, that’s all the time you’ve got. See

you at seven.

Paul hangs up, terrified. He turns to see the Punk Girl is

using the safety pin to pick at a large scab on her

forearm.

PAUL:

Start Friday?

The Punk Girl looks up, surprised.

CUT TO:

INT. PAUL’S APARTMENT BUILDING, STAIRCASE - DAY

Where we hear Paul long before we finally see him, huffing

and puffing and sweating his way up the stairs until he

collapses in a heap halfway up the final steps.

CUT TO:

95.

EXT. CARDIFF - DAY

The largest city in Wales is seen in the distance as Julz

drives Paul and Yvonne.

INT. JULZ’ CAR - DAY

Where Yvonne sits in the back seat reading over materials

regarding the show, including photos of the judges, AMANDA

HOLDEN, PIERS MORGAN, and SIMON COWELL.

YVONNE:

Right, so these are the judges.

(sees Simon smiling)

Now he looks like a very warm fellow. It

says here, the auditions are going to

broadcast live on ITV. Did you know that

Paul?

PAUL:

(blanching)

You’re joking?

JULZ:

(suddenly nervous for him)

Shouldn’t you be rehearsing or something?

PAUL:

I can’t. No telling what shape my vocal

cords are in after so long. Better to

just warm up properly then see what comes

out rather than risk overdoing it now.

JULZ:

Right... But then how will you know if

you sound any good?

PAUL:

Trust me, babe. At best it’ll be crap.

JULZ:

As long as you’re confident.

He smiles nervously, staring out the window as the terror

builds...

EXT. WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE - DAY

Where THOUSANDS have queued up outside the building,

hoping for a walk-on audition. The queue seems endless as

they drive past...

YVONNE:

Are you meant to wait in that line?

96.

PAUL:

I think maybe this was a bad idea.

JULZ:

(putting her hand on his)

They liked Paul’s song so much, he

doesn’t have to audition.

Paul watches the faces blur past as his apprehension

grows...

INT. WALES MILLENIUM CENTRE, ARTIST ENTRANCE - DAY

Where Paul and the ladies are escorted through a swarm of

people by a harried PRODUCTION ASSISTANT brandishing a

clipboard and walkie-talkie.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

--complete cock-up I’m afraid. All of a

sudden Simon “has” to be on a plane to

Dubai at three so everything’s been

bumped up.

PAUL:

Just as long as I’ve got time to warm up.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

How long do you need?

PAUL:

Twenty minutes should be plenty.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Take away ten minutes from that and

you’re perfect.

PAUL:

You mean I’m on in-

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

S’actually about nine and a half minutes,

yeh?

(handing passes to Julz and

Yvonne)

These should get you seats in the reserve

section. Right through there.

(to Paul)

You’re with me.

PAUL:

(turns to Julz)

This was a mistake.

97.

JULZ:

You can warm up in ten minutes, can’t

you?

YVONNE:

Nine and a half.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

We really must get-

PAUL:

(to Julz)

It’s been proven I’m not good enough.

Let’s just go home and-

JULZ:

Good enough for who? Bloomin’ Pavarotti?

If you want a final go on-stage, then

here’s your chance. Or, if you really

want to have a go at being a professional

singer, here’s your chance.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

(into her walkie)

We may have a problem.

(to Paul)

Nine minutes, yes or no.

YVONNE:

Eight forty-five, actually.

(off their looks)

Sorry.

JULZ:

What would Toscanini do?

CUT TO:

INT. WALES MILLENIUM CENTRE, BACKSTAGE - DAY

Where the Production Assistant leads Paul to the wings.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Just wait here for the pre-interview.

PAUL:

Pre-interview?

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Who are you? Why’re you here? Just take a

few minutes. Back in a sec.

98.

She hustles off leaving him standing amidst several other

performers:
a MICHAEL JACKSON wanna-be, a JUGGLER and a

WOMAN with a HOWLING TERRIER.

Paul realizes he’s not in Kansas anymore and starts to

warm up, just as a CAMERA CREW barrels in along with the

hosts ANT and DEC who are fed background by the Production

Assistant.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

(CONT’D)

--works at Car Phone Warehouse. He’s

married. Teeth are all bashed up and

sings opera.

ANT:

Opera?

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Paul, this is Ant and Dec. Three minutes.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes