Red Riding Page #14

PAULA:

Yes, I went to see John last night.

I told you he’s been very kind...

EDDIE:

You f***ed him. You f*** John

Dawson.

PAULA:

You know me, I’ll f*** anything in

trousers.

EDDIE:

You shouldn’t have said that.

PAULA:

Why? What’re you going to do?

(hit her? stalemate)

It’s my little girl that’s dead! My

husband who committed suicide. You

chose to get involved.

Eddie thrusts his damaged hand at her face.

EDDIE:

I didn’t choose this!

PAULA:

You just want to rescue me. Not the

first. Think you’ll be the last?

Dawson fucks who he wants to f***.

Eddie understands that. He quietens.

1974.TG.170808 Locked Draft - 1st Revision

76

EDDIE:

He had Barry killed... Probably

worse...

PAULA:

He takes what he wants.

EDDIE:

How long have you known him?

PAULA:

(as if realising for the

first time)

All my life...

“Opportunity Knocks”. A tap-dancing girl. They embrace. They

kiss.

EDDIE:

We’re getting out of this place...

PAULA:

What do you mean?

EDDIE:

Out of Yorkshire.

PAULA:

I can’t...

EDDIE:

There’s nothing here. I know people

down South...

She can’t let herself hope for escape.

EDDIE:

Pack what you need. I’ll be back in

a couple of hours... Paula?...

Please.

121 INT. REDMOOR CAFE AND MOTEL, ROOM 27 - EVENING 121

Eddie works in the gloomy room: He piles up photos, drawings,

notes, transcripts. Collects his tapes - each one labelled:

LEONARD COLE . BJ . JOHN DAWSON. Throws everything into a

carrier bag.

Sound of a car arriving outside. Eddie pours two Scotches and

waits... A tap at the door...

EDDIE:

Come in, Sergeant.

Sergeant Bob Fraser enters. He looks round the miserable

room.

1974.TG.170808 Locked Draft - 1st Revision

77

EDDIE:

Married, Sergeant?

BOB FRASER:

Just. Yeah. You?

A thought for Eddie. He shakes his head.

EDDIE:

Hard life - married to a copper.

BOB FRASER:

She knows the score.

Eddie offers him a Scotch. He shakes his head.

EDDIE:

You’re one of the good ones, right?

Not many of them left...

Eddie passes Fraser the carrier bag.

EDDIE:

Barry Gannon’s work. And more. High

level corruption - business, local

government... the West Yorkshire

police...

(a look from Fraser)

Yeah, your lot...

BOB FRASER:

Who in particular?

EDDIE:

See for yourself. It’s all there...

(challenging him)

Too hot for you?

BOB FRASER:

Too hot for you?

EDDIE:

Too f***ing hard. Thought I could

do it. I can’t.

Fraser peers at Eddie’s research pinned to the wall -the web

of deceit and lies: SUSAN RIDYARD . JEANETTE GARLAND . CLARE

KEMPLAY. JOHN DAWSON.

BOB FRASER:

Everything’s linked, isn’t it.

EDDIE:

You should have been a bloody

journalist.

BOB FRASER:

You too.

1974.TG.170808 Locked Draft - 1st Revision

78

122 INT. VIVA - NIGHT 122

Eddie drives. The Hollies sing everything right with the

world. He’s free. He’s laughing...

123 EXT. PAULA GARLAND’S HOUSE - NIGHT 123

Eddie pulls up. Gets out. The house is in darkness.

Something’s wrong...

Eddie tries the door. No one answers. It’s locked.

124 INT. PAULA GARLAND’S HOUSE, KITCHEN -NIGHT 124

Eddie smashes the window - forces the kitchen door. Into the

kitchen. Stands there, listening. Glass in his hand. Blood

dripping on the Lino. Silence in the house.

EDDIE:

Paula!

125 OMITTED 125

126 OMITTED 126

127 INT. PAULA GARLAND’S HOUSE, FRONT ROOM -NIGHT 127

Eddie, into the front room. On the TV, the framed photo of

Jeanette... Beside it is the card of "Shangrila" in a snow-

covered forest. Eddie opens it: “John & Marjorie Dawson

invite you to Shangrila.”

Eddie grabs a bottle of whisky. Swigs it. Slumps on the sofa. *

Reaches for the phone. Dials a number... *

EDDIE *

Mum? It’s me. *

EDDIE’S MOTHER O/S *

The police were here. One of them *

slapped me, you know. In my own *

house! *

EDDIE *

I’m sorry, mum... I never did one *

single good thing, did I... *

EDDIE’S MOTHER O/S *

Please come home. *

EDDIE *

I can’t... I’m sorry... I love you. *

1974.TG.170808 Locked Draft - 1st Revision

79

He hangs up. *

128 INT/EXT. VIVA / LANE - NIGHT 128

Eddie cruises up the dark, leafy lane. He rounds a bend.

Glimmering lights loom ahead.

129 EXT. SHANGRILA - NIGHT 129

Eddie parks up amongst the Jags and Mercs and BMWs. He gets

out and heads for the illuminated facade of "Shangrila".

Eddie waves Paula’s invite at the TWO FLUNKIES on the gates

and walks up the floodlit drive. Ice underfoot. The windows

are ablaze with golden light. WOMEN IN EVENING GOWNS and MEN

IN TUXEDOS drift around inside. Drinking. Laughing. Chatting.

Strains of Johnny Mathis.

130 INT. SHANGRILA, HALLWAY - NIGHT 130

Eddie comes through into the golden light. Last time he was

here was in a dream. This is real. Bow ties. Long dresses.

Frilled shirts. Cigars and whiskies. He keeps going - headed

for the back room and the noise.

131 INT. SHANGRILA, LOUNGE - NIGHT 131

Eddie enters the lounge. The music is up. RED-FACED MEN and

WOMEN with too much slap crowd down the far end. Eddie

recognises his editor, Bill Hadley talking to Bill Molloy. He

almost laughs.

EDDIE:

Hello, Mr. Hadley. Looking after

the Yorkshire Post’s special

relationship are we?

Molloy nods to HEAVIES. Hard men head for Eddie.

Eddie keeps going. Garden torches flare in the garden beyond

the tall windows. Seated beneath them like the White Queen is

Marjorie Dawson.

Beside her is Martin Laws with BJ in a suit - flares and

lapels you’d cut your fingers on. He meets Eddie’s look,

shakes his head at him.

John Dawson pushes his way through, flanked by Jason King. He *

embraces Eddie.

JOHN DAWSON:

Eddie, lad. There are people here

want to talk to you, son...

1974.TG.170808 Locked Draft - 1st Revision

80

EDDIE:

I want to see Paula. I’m not

interested in your filthy littleworld. I came for Paula.

(shouting)

Paula! Paula!

Jason King collars Eddie. He meets Dawson’s nasty smile. *

JOHN DAWSON:

She’s long gone, son... But youknow that, don’t you...

EDDIE:

Where is she?!

Eddie punches and kicks his way out of Jason King’s grasp. Heblunders through the panicking crowd. ANOTHER MAN floors him.

He crashes to the ground. Finds himself at Marjorie Dawson’sfeet. She bends to him - trembling - mad...

*

MARJORIE DAWSON:

Please tell them about the

others... beneath those beautiful

new carpets, beneath the grass thatgrows between the cracks...

The same words Myshkin used. Before Eddie can respond, he’syanked away by his hair.

Outside.

HENCHMAN:

Fireworks explode outside. The party crowd rush to thewindows to see the dispaly.

Eddie is dragged away from Marjorie Dawson by the heavies.

Marjorie watches, trembling, from the doorway.

132 EXT. SHANGRILA - NIGHT 132

Eddie is dragged out of the house, down the drive towards thegates. Fireworks explode in the sky.

JASON KING MOUSTACHE

Is he bleeding yet?

*

On the move:
Heavy Two rabbit-punches Eddie in the nose.

Blood spurts.

Yep.

HENCHMAN *

JASON KING MOUSTACHE

You’re lucky. If he were a nig-nog,

he’d make you suck his cock.

*

Rate this script:3.7 / 3 votes