Our Girl Page #5

James nods.

MAJOR MORLEY (CONT'D)

Let's prep the mission immediately.

Afghan Special Forces and a team of your

Brits as back up.

JAMES:

I'll lead 2 Section, Sir.

Close on Molly who is clearly worried and thinking 'what have

I done?'

10:
22:50 EXT. CAMP BASTION. DAY 18.

James and Molly are walking across the camp towards quarters.

MOLLY:

I've destroyed that family.

JAMES:

No you haven't.

MOLLY:

Yes, I have. Instead of saving Bashira

I've put her in danger. I mean what was

wrong with the life that she had before

I come and kiboshed everything? Fine,

she didn't go to school but maybe that

ain't so bad.

JAMES:

You have always done the right thing.

MOLLY:

He's gonna get her, isn't he?

JAMES:

No.

MOLLY:

Yes, he is, and it's all my fault.

JAMES:

No, he won't because we're going to

support the ASF and make sure that

doesn't happen.

MOLLY:

You know and I know if I didn't get

involved she'd be fine. Sohail would

be fine. My section would be fine,

playing volleyball and eating sausages

and instead I'm about to put them in

danger, all because I f***ed up.

They have arrived outside his quarters. He looks around quickly

before making a decision to pull her into his quarters.

JAMES:

Come here.

10:
23:32 INT. JAMES' QUARTERS. DAY 18.

JAMES:

He wanted to kill that little girl and

you saved her!

MOLLY:

Her brother just looked me in the eye

and told me it was all my fault.

JAMES:

Well I'm looking you in the eye and

telling you it isn't.

MOLLY:

(frustrated with herself)

It is. I'm an epic fail!

JAMES:

A little while ago I would have agreed.

She looks up at him.

JAMES (CONT'D)

You've taught me more in the last few

months than a year at Sandhurst and four

tours ever did.

MOLLY:

I don't think so.

JAMES:

Well I happen to know so. When I first

saw you, I thought you'd hold the

platoon back... be one of those bad

apples that infects the rest of those

around them.

MOLLY:

Maybe you were right.

JAMES:

You've made me engage my brain. We need

to fix the small cogs on the wheel so

the whole huge Afghanistan can work.

MOLLY:

But I haven't fixed anything. I've

broken it.

JAMES:

No you haven't, you were right all

along. We do need to get involved, look

after that little girl and give her a

life. The only way we can fix the big

things is by fixing the small. You

taught me that.

Molly looks at him somewhat amazed.

MOLLY:

Really?

JAMES:

You should be proud of the soldier you

have become.

MOLLY:

(quietly)

Thank you boss.

JAMES:

I’m not always gonna be your boss.

She looks at him quizzically.

JAMES (CONT'D)

Not when we get home.

MOLLY:

'We'?

James nods and smiles.

JAMES:

Have you ever been to Bath? You know,

the city.

MOLLY:

No but it sounds a bit sh*t.

James laughs and shakes his head.

JAMES:

It's perfect.

MOLLY:

I don't do perfect. Don't really suit

me.

Molly sits down and James sits close beside her.

JAMES:

Yes it does. My parents have got an old

house there... it's where I grew up.

MOLLY:

I don't like those scary houses with

the big staircases what people fall

down. Like in The Omen, have you seen

that?

James laughs.

JAMES:

That house at Christmas is magical.

MOLLY:

You inviting me for Christmas boss?

James is smiling at her when there is a knock on the door.

SMURF (O.S.)

You got a moment boss?

A startled Molly and James spring up. They panic. James looks

around and opens his canvas wardrobe.

JAMES:

(quietly)

Get in there.

Molly leaps inside and is able to hide.

JAMES (CONT'D)

What do you want, Smurf?

Smurf comes in, braces up.

Molly hides but obviously can hear everything.

JAMES (CONT'D)

Nothing to do?

SMURF:

Boss, it's just...

Smurf suddenly looks too choked up to talk.

JAMES:

Smurf?

Smurf starts to cry.

SMURF:

Sorry boss.

JAMES:

What's wrong?

Smurf takes out his letter from home (that he had earlier) and

tips something onto his hand. It is an engagement ring. He shows

it to James.

SMURF:

Engagement ring.

JAMES:

That is very sweet of you and all Smurf

but my feelings for you are purely

platonic.

SMURF:

Despite what my granddad says, Winston

Churchill ain't the greatest Brit who

ever lived... you are. And if I had a

dad, I'd want him to be like you.

JAMES:

I'm a bit young to be your dad, aren't

I Smurf?

SMURF:

Mum's got this kinda gloomy feeling

that I ain't gonna be coming home. I

told her all about what I feel and that

and she sent me her engagement ring...

reckoned she didn't need it any more.

And she said I shouldn't put off until

tomorrow what I can do today. Cause

there might not be tomorrow... you

never know.

JAMES:

What the hell are you talking about?

SMURF:

You know sir.

JAMES:

No I don't.

SMURF:

Molly!

James looks stunned. Molly, hiding, looks stunned.

JAMES:

Smurf, nothing is gonna to happen to

you on this tour. Tell your mum to stop

panicking and can I suggest you put that

ring back in your pocket and you don't

get it back out until you're in Newport.

You're here to work and I won't have

anyone take their eyes off the task in

hand.

From this moment on, Smurf is incredibly anxious about what Molly

will say. Because he trusts James with his life, he feels he can

be this vulnerable with him.

SMURF:

But if Molly says yes...

JAMES:

You do not allow personal feelings to

interfere with your work.

SMURF:

I'm not sir...

JAMES:

That is exactly what you're doing.

SMURF:

Word is, we're out of Bastion on a

mission and I wanted to square it away

with her in case something happens..

JAMES:

(snaps)

Smurf, put the ring away and don't

mention any of this to me else I will

put you on the first plane home. It's

against army protocol and is

endangering all of us. Is that

understood?

Smurf looks a little taken aback.

SMURF:

How am I endangering all of us?

JAMES:

Smurf... go. Now.

Smurf braces up and starts to head out. He pauses at the door.

SMURF:

Sorry boss. Just... I only wanted some

advice. How did you propose to your

wife?

Beat. James stares at Smurf. James' mind whirring. Molly looks

devastated.

JAMES:

(quietly)

Mission briefing at 20:00 hours. Now

go.

Smurf nods and leaves. We see Molly's big horrified eyes as she

steps out the wardrobe.

After she steps out. She doesn't look at James and heads with

speed out, slamming the door behind her. After a moment James

decides to follow her.

10:
28:56 EXT. CAMP BASTION. DAY 18.

Molly is walking at speed across the camp.

James catches up with her

JAMES:

(snaps)

This is exactly what I meant and why

I said 'wait out'.

MOLLY:

You're annoyed with me?! How the hell

does that work?

JAMES:

I'm saying... I've done the same as

Smurf... we're supposed to be here to

work Dawes.

MOLLY:

You're married and you didn't think to

say?

JAMES:

We're split up. Separated. I've come

on tour so she can sort everything out.

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