Sing Street Page #17

CONOR:

So you were right.

BRENDAN:

It was obvious.

CONOR:

They’re our parents. They’re

supposed to look after us. So we

can do stuff.

BRENDAN:

That’s bullshit. They’re just human

beings. I told you that.

CONOR:

I was sort of hoping they’d come to

my gig on Friday.

BRENDAN:

What? You thought they’d suddenly

become different people? And start

noticing what you were doing? Or

wanted? They have their own sh*t

going on. They’re not going to come

to your stupid gig.

(CONTINUED)

93.

This is not the usual Brendan.

CONOR:

Why is it stupid now?

BRENDAN:

It’s not that it’s stupid. It’s

that it’s annoying.

CONOR:

What is wrong with you?

BRENDAN:

I don’t know! I’m having

withdrawal.

CONOR:

From what?

BRENDAN:

From hash. I haven’t smoked in two

days.

CONOR:

Why?

BRENDAN:

So I can do something with my life!

CONOR:

Like what?

BRENDAN:

Look at you. You little punk. You

know nothing, do you? You’re the

youngest. You get to follow the

path that I macheted through the

jungle that is our mad family. They

took all their sh*t out on me. I

got bitten by every insect, and

snake. And fell into every river.

For six years I was alone with

those two. You think they’re mad

now, think what they were like when

they were in their late twenties

with a screaming baby in a rented

flat who got married because they

were two Catholics who wanted to

sleep with each other. They didn’t

even love each other. And I was in

the middle of that. On my own. And

then you came along, thank God, and

followed the trail I cut for us.

You just moved in my jet stream.

Untouched. And people laugh at me

now. At the stoner. The college

dropout. And praise you.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

94.

And that’s fine. But once, I was a

f***ing jet engine.

On this, he takes a pile of Vinyl off the shelf and flings

them across the room smashing them.

Conor’s eyes are glazing over.

CONOR:

I’ll just be back in a second. I

have to go to the toilet.

He exits.

INT. CONOR’S HOUSE - TOILET - CONTINUOUS

Conor cries his eyes out in the toilet.

EXT. CONOR’S HOUSE - MORNING

Darren rings on Conor’s bell. In a moment, Conor answers. He

is wearing his pyjamas.

DARREN:

You can’t run away from this, you

know that? You have to face him.

CONOR:

He’ll kill me.

DARREN:

Yeah. But you’re just kicking it

down the line. Come on. As your

manager I’ve let you down. I

haven’t solved this problem. I

can’t sleep.

He walks off.

EXT. A BLOCK OF COUNCIL FLATS - DAY

Conor follows Darren up the steps to the fourth floor of a

block of flats. They walk past numerous doors, stopping at

one.

DARREN:

Now, leave this to me.

He knocks. In a moment, Barry opens the door. He is very

surprised to see these two. From inside, the sound of the

TV.

BARRY:

What do yous want?

(CONTINUED)

95.

CONOR:

We want to talk to you.

VOICE (O.S.)

Who the hell is it?

BARRY:

(re Conor)

Get him away from me door, I’m

going to kill him.

DARREN:

No you’re not, Barry! Because he

had a chance to rat you out the

other day, and he didn’t. He made a

choice.

(beat)

You think you’re different from us.

From everyone. And you are. You’re

nuts! But we have one thing in

common, you, me and him. (Meaning

Conor).

BARRY:

No we bleedin’ don’t. He’s a queer,

and you’re a fag, probably. Because

who else would hang around with a

queer, except a fag.

DARREN:

Do you want to know what it is?

(beat)

We’re all sh*t at school. We’ve all

failed these exams, and we’ll be

out of school next year. We’re

bleedin useless!

Silence. Barry doesn’t disagree.

BARRY:

So?

DARREN:

So what are you going to do when

you’re kicked out of school? Stay

at home with your Ma and Da? Get

wasted? Watching daytime telly?

BARRY:

Okay.

BARRY’S DA

(off)

Barry? Who is it, son?

DARREN:

Well we’re going to be in a band.

Gigging. On the road.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

96.

Different venues each night.

Different women. A bleedin band!

And do you know what bands need?

BARRY:

What?

Darren leans in.

DARREN:

Roadies.

(beat)

Someone who is strong, and knows

how to fight! Protect themselves,

and the lads. And carry gear.

BARRY:

Are you talking about me?

DARREN:

Why not? You’d be great at it.

You’re tough. Ane you’re off your

head.

He thinks about him. His Da screams, off

BARRY’S DA

(off)

Barry! Get in here and get me

another bottle. You worthless

shite.

BARRY:

I’m a worthless shite. What would

you want with me? In a fag band.

DARREN:

A band is like being in the army.

Everyone has everyone else’s back.

Fag or not. Think you’re up to it?

BARRY’S DA

(off)

Where are you, you lazy prick? Do

you hear me? Get in here and get us

a bleedin bottle!

BARRY:

Hold on a second.

Barry disappears for a moment. Darren and Conor exchange

looks. We hear a SMASH from inside. Followed by a groan. His

father is silenced.

In a moment, Barry reappears. He has a broken bottle neck in

his hand. And some blood on it. He chucks it away, as we hear

groans of his father, off.

(CONTINUED)

97.

BARRY:

Could I drive the van?

CONOR:

We don’t have a-

DARREN:

(elbowing him)

Of course you’ll drive the van!

When we get one.

Barry exits, grabbing his jacket, and pulling the door behind

him.

BARRY:

Come on.

DARREN:

We have a gig this Friday. Are you

free? I’ve got a fiver for you for

it. You can do the lights.

EXT. THE FLATS - CONTINUOUS

They set off, away from Barry’s house, Barry following behind

in between them. Conor and Darren exchange a smile of

surprise. The bomb has finally been diffused.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - DAY

The three of them arrive at school. As they cross the road,

Conor looks over his shoulder towards Raphina’s house.

There’s a YOUNG GIRL walking back towards the house carrying

a bottle of milk. She’s been looking at them. But she quickly

looks away. We think we recognize her. But we’re not sure.

Conor double takes, then breaks away from the lads and runs

towards her as she runs up the steps.

CONOR:

Hey. Wait.

But the girl hurries up. Conor catches her up. Spinning her

around. It is Raphina. But a much younger looking Raphina,

wearing a dowdy jumper, stone washed jeans and trainers. Her

hair hasn’t been back-combed. She’s wearing no make up. She

looks like a kid.

RAPHINA:

Wha?

CONOR:

Is it you?

RAPHINA:

Who?

(CONTINUED)

98.

CONOR:

Raphina?

RAPHINA:

I’m not Raphina. I’m her younger

sister.

CONOR:

No you’re not. What are you doing?

I thought you were in London?

RAPHINA:

My sister? Yeah, she’s in London.

Getting on great.

She walks on. Conor follows, spinning her around. She stares

him in the face, finally giving up.

INT. THE LITTLE PARK - DAY

Conor and Raphina sit on a bench. She really does look

different. Without the war paint and clothes, she’s lost

something of herself.

RAPHINA:

...it was a mad idea anyway. I

don’t know anyone in London.

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