Shallow Grave Page #5

As the tracking shot ends, we see David's head and shoulders as

he looks at something off picture. Suddenly a spring-loaded

screwdriver appears and is fired' so that the tip stops a few

millimeters from his face. David winces as we see that Alex is

holding it.

ALEX:

(continued)

I always wondered what these were for.

Alex places the screwdriver down on the shelf and walks across

the aisle to pick up a saw and a hammer.

ALEX:

(continued)

Now this is what we need. And this.

Alex hands the tools to David, who looks at them with disgust.

Alex walks on.

ALEX:

(continued)

Now what else?

DAVID:

I don't know.

ALEX:

A spade, we need a spade -- I wish you would concentrate -- we

need a spade if we're going to dig a pit.

DAVID:

So who's going to do it?

ALEX:

Dig the pit, I don't know.

DAVID:

No, not that.

ALEX:

Then what? Who's going to do what?

DAVID:

You know what I'm talking about.

ALEX:

Do I? What? What? What are you talking about?

DAVID:

You know what. Who's going to do it.

ALEX:

We all are, David, we're all going to do it. Each of us, you, me

and Juliet, will do his or her bit. Is that fair enough?

DAVID:

I can't do it.

ALEX:

I don't hear this.

DAVID:

I won't be able to.

ALEX:

You're telling me you want out? Already? You're telling me you

don't want the money? Hugo is going off. He smells. The flat

smells. We can't wait any longer.

DAVID:

I'm just telling you I can't cut him up.

Alex turns away in disgust.

EXT. LANE. NIGHT

Late at night, in a quiet lane at the back of the flat, a hired

Ford Transit is parked.

INT. VAN. NIGHT

Inside the dimly lit van, Alex and Juliet are laying down plastic

on the floor.

JULIET:

Who's going to do it?

ALEX:

I thought we all were.

JULIET:

I don't thinkI can.

ALEX:

But you're a doctor. You kill people every day.

JULIET:

I don't want to. It's different.

ALEX:

And now you tell me.

INT. UNDER WATER/BATHROOM. NIGHT

A Man's face is being held under water. Bubbles escape from his

mouth and his eys bulge.

Tim hauls the Man's head out of the bath. His legs and arms are

bound with cord. Andy sits on a chair, watching.

Tim ducks the Man's head under the water again.

The Man's face as before.

INT. HUGO'S ROOM. NIGHT

We see Hugo's face just before Alex, David and Juliet wrap him in

a sheet and thick, black plastic. They wear masks over their

noses. The smell is making them uncomfortable and irritable.

DAVID:

There's something I want to ask.

INT. BATHROOM. NIGHT

The Man's head has just been lifted from the water.

MAN:

I don't know. I swear to God, I don't know.

Tim ducks the Man's head back under the water.

INT. HUGO'S ROOM. NIGHT

ALEX:

(angry through his mask)

Family? Family? Friends? Drugged-up wandering suicidal search of

the self f***-ups don't have families, David.

DAVID:

I just thought we should discuss it.

ALEX:

Take his legs.

INT. STAIRWELL. NIGHT

In the stairwell of the flat, grunts of effort are heard as Alex,

David and Juliet struggle with the heavy corpse, carrying it down

the stairs wrapped in plastic sheeting. They come into view and

go down the stairs. They are all very tense and freeze with panic

after accidentally banging against another flat's door. They

swear at one another and continue theri descent.

INT. BATHROOM. NIGHT

Tim is ducking the Man again. He writhes and struggles but is

powerless to stop it.

EXT. BEHIND THE FLAT. NIGHT

The back yard and back door of the flats. The door opens and

Alex, David and Juliet emerge, carrying the corpse out towards

the van.

INT. LANDING OUTSIDE THE BATHROOM. NIGHT

From the landing we can see along the floor into the bathroom.

The Man's legs extend away from the bath. They are completely

still. Andy and Tim stand beside them, looking down.

ANDY:

You stupid bastard.

INT. VAN. NIGHT

Inside the back of the empty van. The door is opened and the body

is half slid and half thrown inside. The door is closed and in

the dark interior, the outline of the plastic lump is just

visible, thanks to a streetlight. One of the doors opens again

and David throws a bag of tools in. He then closes and locks the

door.

INT. VAN. NIGHT

In front of the van, David is climbing into the passenger side.

Juliet and Alex are already in, with the latter at the wheel.

Alex turns to the other two.

ALEX:

Why don't we just draw lots for it?

The other two remain silent.

ALEX:

(continued)

Whoever draws the short straw does it all. That way, you either

do it or you don't. All or nothing.

JULIET:

OK.

ALEX:

David?

DAVID:

I don't know.

ALEX:

Look, if I draw the short straw, then I'll do it, but I'm not

going to do it just because you won't.

Alex starts the engine of the van.

EXT. FOREST. NIGHT

Through the darkness we hear an engine, then the headlights of

the van come into view.

It pulls off the track onto a patch of grass. The engine is

switched off but the light remains on. The trio descend from the

van.

In fron of the van, Alex, illuminated by its lights, Alex, David

and Juliet stand together. Alex is showing them two long stems of

grass and one short one. He encloses them in his fist and holds

them out.

ALEX:

All right, then, here we are and this is it. Do you want to play

or not?

Alex holds his hand out towards Juliet, who takes the tip of one

of the stems. It is one of the larger ones.

Alex and Juliet turn to David. Alex holds out the stems. David

reaches out and takes one of the tips. It is the short straw.

DAVID:

I can't do it.

EXT. FOREST. NIGHT

Deeper in the forest, with the headlamps still casting a little

light throught the trees, we see David's head and shoulders. His

right arm is moving briskly back and forth accompanied by a

vicious sawing noise. The sawing stops as he evidently finished

with one extremity. He shuffles back and starts sawing at

another.

Alex leans against the spade in a shallow pit that he has dug. He

observes David impassively. The sawing stops again.

DAVID:

Finished.

ALEX:

But not quite.

DAVID:

Is that going to be deep enough?

Alex bends down to pick up the hammer, which he holds out towards

David.

ALEX:

Don't you worry about that.

DAVID:

Is this necessary?

ALEX:

Yes. Now come on, all or nothing.

Most reluctantly, David takes the hammer and looks at Alex, who

gestures as if to say, "On you go.' With revulsion on his face,

he raises the hammer above his head.

INT. DAVID'S ROOM. DAY

David's face is visible against the plain white backdrop of his

pillow.

He lies fully clothed on his bed, looking up at the ceiling.

There is a knock at the door, then Juliet walks in.

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