Ordinary Lies Page #9

Season #1 Episode #1

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Katrina smiles, likes this, feels like it might mark the

return of the old Marty to her life...

Ordinary Lies Episode One Yellow Amendments 44

54 INT. MISSING PERSONS UNIT - DAY 4 - 18.45 54

The black of a computer screen. Suddenly an image scrolls

into view. It's a MISSING poster.

MISSING - can you help?: Dave Corben, 39. With a smiling

photo of him in happier days. Beneath there's a short

description of his appearance (height, hair colour etc) and

when he was last seen.

WIDE to reveal Beth sitting at a computer station in a

large open plan office.

This is the National Missing Person's Unit - affiliated to

the police, but a separate unit. A huge patchwork of

posters adorn the wall, each bearing the legend MISSING. A

good few are marked with the word 'FOUND', whilst a small

minority are emblazoned with the sinister euphemism

'LOCATED' (which in Missing speak, equals DEAD).

GEORGE (50s, greying, old school - good, solid, honest man)

enters with two coffees. He hands one to Beth.

GEORGE:

(of the profile)

Are you happy with that?

(Beth nods)

If there's anything you want

changing - wording, photo - just

ask. It's not a problem.

Beth smiles, appreciative of his enduring kindness.

BETH:

The sightings have slowed down.

GEORGE:

Tends to be the case, first year

or so, high profile, people pay

more attention, but the longer

time goes on...

(conciliatory

expression)

Beth nods, accepts that.

BETH:

There was something I wanted to

ask you...

GEORGE:

Fire away.

BETH:

I’ve discovered something, new

information, or potentially, and

I was wondering whether you’d be

able to help follow up on it

Ordinary Lies Episode One Yellow Amendments 45

54 CONT:
54

GEORGE:

Of course, what is it?

Beth produces the PHONE RECORDS from her handbag.

BETH:

I need a trace on a phone number.

It’s disconnected now but it was

in use in the weeks before Dave

went missing... would you be able

to find out whose mobile it was

George looks at her, quizzical, cautious.

GEORGE:

What makes you think they’re

suspicious?

BETH:

...intuition.

He gives her a look

BETH (CONT’D)

I know you get people clutching

at straws, I know trying to

follow every last hunch isn’t

possible, but please George, just

this one thing - if only to rule

it out.

George thinks a moment, then nods.

GEORGE:

I’ll see what I can do

55 INT. MARTY’S HOUSE - MARTY’S BEDROOM - DAY 5 - 07.00 55

Alarm rings out. Marty springs awake. And for once he

peels straight out of bed. Leaving KAT snoozing...

56 INT/EXT. STREET/MARTY’S CAR - DAY 5 - 07.45 56

Marty driving to work, not speeding for once - he sings

along to a life affirming tune on the radio.

57 EXT/INT. JS MOTORS - FORECOURT/SHOWROOM - DAY 5 - 07.55 57

Marty strutting across the forecourt, ready for another day

of sales at the coal face - he passes PARACETAMOL PETE.

MARTY:

Alright, Pete - how’s it going?

PETE:

Sinnusitis, which brings on my

tension headaches. You?

Ordinary Lies Episode One Yellow Amendments 46

57 CONT:
57

MARTY:

All good -

Marty heads away. Can’t help smile at Pete. He sees Grace

working at her desk though the office window.

She is immersed in her work.

Marty produces his mobile, dials.

He watches as her phone rings and she looks at the display.

Gives a small smile, answers

GRACE:

Hello

MARTY:

Ever get the feeling you’re being

watched?

Grace spins around and sees him through the window.

GRACE:

How long you been stood there?

MARTY:

Half an hour, can’t believe you

haven’t noticed me

She laughs, playfully.

MARTY (CONT'D)

I was thinking, maybe we could

have lunch again, my treat -

maybe down The Blacksmiths

GRACE:

Well, I’ve brought sandwiches -

but yes, that’d be great

MARTY:

Great, one-ish then, yeh?

GRACE:

One-ish. That’d be wonderful.

They hang up and Marty heads away to start his day’s work.

We stay on Grace, who becomes aware of a presence next to

her. It’s Emma, whom we saw earlier.

EMMA:

(leans over, sotto)

He’s a widower. He’s just lost

his wife.

GRACE:

(resents the

implication)

And I’m offering him some

kindness

Ordinary Lies Episode One Yellow Amendments 47

57 CONT:
(2) 57

EMMA:

As long as that’s all you’re

offering

Emma swaps disapproving looks with Marianne, her boss (life

is still black and white for Emma at this stage, but this

will change in the coming weeks).

We stay on Grace.

58 EXT. BLACKSMITHS PUB - DAY 5 - 13.10 58

Pub beer garden. Marty with a pint. Grace is trying to

surreptitiously eat her sandwiches.

MARTY:

(laughing at her -

kindly)

Be brazen - no one cares

GRACE:

I can’t

MARTY:

I’m eating, we’re giving them

money

GRACE:

I feel bad eating my own food in

a place where they sell stuff

MARTY:

What they gonna do, throw you out

-

GRACE:

Maybe

MARTY:

(amused)

Are you always this good?

Grace looks at him. It seems to strike a chord.

GRACE:

Yes, I think I am. But I

sometimes wonder why

Beat. She suddenly opens up to him, something she never

ever does, so it doesn’t come easy

Ordinary Lies Episode One Yellow Amendments 48

58 CONT:
58

GRACE (CONT'D)

I’m thirty three Marty, single,

living with my sister - who seems

to have men throwing themselves

at her - and stuck in the same

bloody job I’ve been doing since

college - when’s it gonna start,

or is this it, is this my lot...

(then instantly regrets

it)

I’m sorry

MARTY:

It’s alright.

GRACE:

No, I’m being selfish, moaning

about myself when you’ve lost

your wife, I wasn’t thinking

MARTY:

Grace, it’s fine. Really.

She looks at him. He smiles reassuringly.

MARTY (CONT'D)

You’ve been kind to me, there

aren’t many others that would do

that

And then he reaches his hand across the table, takes hers.

Hold the look between them.

MARTY (CONT'D)

It’s funny, I’ve looked at you

every day for six years but I’ve

never really looked at you

She smiles.

MARTY (CONT'D)

You’re a beautiful person Grace,

you deserve to be happy.

She nods.

MARTY (CONT'D)

And we only get one life...

Hold the moment, until the barman appears shouting ‘chicken

and rice’ and holding a plate. Marty motions ‘here.’

MARTY (CONT'D)

Quick - hide your sandwiches.

Grace suddenly takes a huge brazen bite of her sandwich and

chews with abandon

Ordinary Lies Episode One Yellow Amendments 49

58 CONT:
(2) 58

GRACE:

What’s the worst that can happen.

They smile.

59

EXT. CHURCH - DAY 6 - 09.45 59

New day.

A HEARSE pulls into the courtyard of a large, imposing,

Church. Coffin visible in the back.

Mourners start to emerge from cortege vehicles.

We move to one side to find Marty, already parked, sitting

in his car, watching.

He pulls on a black tie and starts to tie it.

60

INT. CHURCH - DAY 6 - 10.00 60

Funeral service in progress. Priest giving a service.

Weeping mourners at the front. Towards the back of the

church sits Marty, taking it all in.

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