Shallow Grave Page #6

JULIET:

Are you all right?

DAVID:

(without looking at Juliet)

Oh, yes, I'm fine, thanks, just fine.

JULIET:

Would you like to talk about it?

DAVID:

No.

INT. LIVING ROOM. DAY

Alex sits with his feet up watching a noisy game show, while

eating a snack and drinking from a can of beer. Newspapers lie

scattered at his feet.

INT. LOFT. DAY

The loft above the flat in darkness, but the trapdoor is opened,

letting in a pool of light.

INT. HALL. DAY

David is pulling himself through the trapdoor up into the loft.

Beneath him is a stepladder. Juliet stands half-way up the

ladder, while Alex stands on the floor beside it. As David enters

the loft, Alex hands up the bag of money to Juliet, who passes it

on up to David.

JULIET:

Be careful.

ALEX:

Yeah, we don't want another stiff on our hands. Don't fall

through the ceiling. OK? Is he listening to me?

JULIET:

Stop nagging.

ALEX:

(to himself)

I don't know why we couldn't stuff it in a mattress or put it

under the floor like any normal human being. We could have hid it

in the fridge.

INT. LOFT. DAY

David moves on into the dark cavernous loft, edging his way

across beams and pipes. There are no skylights.

He stops and leans against some structure (the water tank). He

strains to see in the darkness.

Suddenly there is a loud sucking and flowing noise as water

empties from the water tank. David is startled and steps forward,

tripping. He reaches out as he falls, striking a light switch.

Briefly the loft is illuminated: David blinking as he lies across

some beams, the large cavernous area, the pipes, the water tank,

the bag of money lying between two rafters, and then the old

brass switches beginning to spark and the light goes out.

David scrambles towards the trapdoor.

INT. HUGO'S ROOM. DAY

Now clean and empty, with no trace of recent habitation.

INT. HOSPITAL. DAY

In a basement corridor in the hospital, pipes run along the

ceiling. Above a fenced-off area is a sign saying For

Incineration Only -- No Aerosols'. On the floor of this area are

yellow plastic sacks. Juliet appears around a corner carrying one

of these. Quite casually the clumps it on the pile and continues

past.

EXT. QUARRY. EVENING

Alex pushes a blue car into a quary.

INT. SUBURBAN LOCK-UP GARAGE. NIGHT

In the garage there is a car, gardening equipment, several sacks

of fertilizer and a trunk-style deep freeze, on the lid of which

sit Andy and Tim. Tim takes out a cigarette and offers one to

Andy, who declines.

They slide off the deep freeze and open it.

Inside the freezer there is a man, naked and bound with cord.

They lift him up. He is very cold and weak.

The Man begins to whisper inaudibly. Andy moves his head so that

he can hear the whisper. He listens, then nods approvingly.

They push him down again and close the lid. Andy holds the lid

while Tim dumps the sacks of fertilizer on top.

INT. CHARITY BALL. NIGHT

Alex, David and Juliet are attending a charity ball. Everyone is

dressed very smartly, in ball gowns and black ties with the

addition of a significant number of kilts.

Neither Alex nor David wears a kilt. The trio seem to know a

number of people there but do not seem especially keen to speak

to them.

A middle-aged, podgy, mustachioed Master of Ceremonies is

standing on a platform in front of the band, making a speech to

the diners who are still sat at their tables.

MC:

Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please. First of

all, may I thank you all for coming along tonight and supporting

our appeal to raise funds for the sick children's unit.

There is a quick drum roll and applause breaks out. We move to

the table where Alex, David and Juliet are seated. Alex leans

across to Juliet.

ALEX:

You didn't tell me that this was for children. I hate children.

I'd raise money to have the little f***ers put down.

Some other guests around the table cast critical glances at Alex.

JULIET:

Sshh.

ALEX:

I want my money back. Excuse me.

Alex signals to the waiter by lifting his hand and snapping his

fingers, then indicates another bottle of champagne that already

ists in front of him.

MC:

For all too often there's a complacency: out of sight, out of

mind, let someone else bother about these things.

Alex cheers once and starts to applaud on his own. Juliet nudges

him viciously.

MC:

(continued)

But just before the dancing, I'd like to say a special thank-you

to a few of the people who've worked so very hard to make this

occassion happen.

The MC's drone continues in the background while conversation

continues back at the table.

DAVID:

Do you know many of these people?

JULIET:

Yes. They're my friends.

ALEX:

I see, so if they want to talk to you, we say you're not in.

MC:

And now, ladies and gentlemen, and those of you who are neither

or both --

Drum roll.

MC:

(continued)

-- would you make your way to the floor for Strip the Willow.

JULIET:

Are we going to dance?

ALEX:

Well, it's physical contact, isn't it?

INT. DANCE FLOOR. NIGHT

The dance floor a few minutes later. It is packed and rather

chaotic. Sweaty, dishevelled dancers sling one another around,

with the thud of flesh against flesh. Toes are stood on and

jackets discarded.

Juliet dances with Alex, who plunges in with the maximum of

violence, eventually tripping up and tumbling forcefully among

the other dancers.

He starts to get up, then rests his head back against the floor.

David has not been dancing. Instead he remains at their table and

at the bar, drinking steadily and watching the other two.

INT. TABLE. NIGHT

Back at the table, while most people are still on the dnace

floor, the trio sit drinking and Alex smokes a cigar.

ALEX:

That was good.

DAVID:

Can we talk about something?

ALEX:

Not now. I have an idea.

Alex pours champagne on to a stack of glasses.

DAVID:

Listen, it's important. We need to talk about what we're going to

do --

ALEX:

Just stop worrying.

Alex stands and raises his glass.

ALEX:

(continued)

Love and happiness for ever.

JULIET:

For ever and ever.

Alex drinks, then puts his glass down. Juliet drinks but does not

drain her glass. David sits still.

ALEX:

What's the problem?

DAVID:

I want to talk now.

ALEX:

After you drink to love and happiness forever.

DAVID:

Now.

ALEX:

After.

JULIET:

David, I promise we will. Keep him happy.

ALEX:

It's not for me. It's for love and happiness forever.

David reaches out to take his glass. Suddenly, Alex flings an arm

out to point, knocking over David's glass and completely losing

interest.

ALEX:

(continued)

Look over there. It's Cameron.

JULIET:

Who?

ALEX:

Cameron. You remember Cameron.

JULIET:

No, I don't.

ALEX:

What's he doing here?

JULIET:

That's not him.

ALEX:

Yes, it is. It's him. Cameron, Cameron, come on over.Yo!

From some distance away, Cameron becomes aware of Alex and

cautiously makes his way across until he stands a few feet from

the table.

CAMERON:

What?

ALEX:

Nothing. We thought you were someone else.

Alex falls forward, laughing, and the other two also laugh as

Cameron walks away, humiliated again.

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