Web 4.2 27/sep/ 03

Setting sail in a bathtub
A short film
by Joe Ogden

 

OPEN - BLANK SCREEN

SF - MOOR WINDS

FADE UP

1 EXT. MOORS - COLD AND RAINY DAY - DAYTIME - EXTREME LONG SHOT

A low horizon. Two men, Paul and Jim are arguing. They are in the far distance; we cannot hear what the argument's about but it seems serious. We just hear the moor winds. As they argue a hubcap UFO hovers slowly over, unseen by either of the men.

SFX - UFO FLING OVER

As Paul points twice, then waves apart his hands. The UFO plays music tones in response but the men still don't see or hear it, so deep in argument. After a few moments of trying to get their attention, by doing flying tricks, to no avail, the UFO hovers off, looking sad.

CUT TO

VIDEO ZOOM IN (GRAINY) - As the argument ends we see Paul, storms off, while Jim remains standing.

2 EXT. MOORS - HEADING TOWARDS A CAR - DAYTIME

We follow Paul to his car. He is very upset. He gets in and slams the door.

3 INT. CAR BACK SEAT - DAYTIME

We look out from the back window of the car. As we drive away we see Jim standing on the moor, he throws back his head and drinks from a whiskey flask, he is left behind. Loud rock music starts from the CD player.

CUT TO

TITLE SEQUENCE

Music continues to play - White on black titles.

'Setting Sail in a Bathtub.'
Screen play by Joe Ogden.

FADE UP

4 EXT. MOORS - DAYTIME

It's the end of a mini-SF video epic 'green invasion' - Paul stands, looks out into sky, he is the hero. He is wearing a strange hat (a cut open football covered in tin foil.)

Paul

(Bravely acted, reading off queue cards, which show from time to time in the corner of shoot.) ...I may have-of fought hand to hand with the Aliens but it was you professor YOU with your invention of 'magnetic radiation' that killed them in the end.

5 SFX. (BLUE SCREENED) FIELD - DAYTIME

Jim wears a white open lab coat, blue T-shirt and silver sprayed swimming goggles. He seems to be out of place standing in the middle of a field of cows, that are not there to him, because of the blue screening. We can see the cows in the background, one seems to walk across his chest. Drunk, Jim sways a bit.

Jim

Yes 'magnetic radiation'...(Cut)

4A EXT. MOORS - DAYTIME

Paul’s last speech, poorly cut.

Paul

(Audio 'peek')...f 'magnetic radiation' that killed them in the end... (Cut).


5A SFX. (BLUE SCREENED) FIELD - DAYTIME

Jim's last speech, same as before, poorly dubbed.

Jim

Yes 'magnetic radiation' (jump cut) may have killed the aliens in the end but was it not you that fought head to head, hand! And don't hardly get  scratched and saved the world and won the girl, Liz there with you - The Girl I once loved from afar but now she belongs to you the better...? (jump cut) I hope I will be your best man at the wedding (Bad smile).

4B EXT. MOORS - DAYTIME

Paul pulls Liz into shot, by her bad arm. She is clearly not happy with the video crew, her arm is in a bandage. Paul kisses her. She wipes her mouth and holds her bad arm, which is now hurting. The ‘kiss’ wasn't in her script. She looks off for support of this fact.

Paul

Yes I've had enough fun, excitement and action in my life. So now it's time to stop all that and get married and give birth to new children, animals and sheep for the farm, and someday a BMW.

Paul and Liz look up into the sky. Jim walks into shot, he cannot see a thing because of the silver swimming goggles and bumps into them both, then looks into the sky in the wrong direction. Freeze frame, fades to brown and end titles scrolling fast.

6a FAST-FORWARD THROUGH ADDS

Three adverts fast forward. (We’ll see at the end of the film.)


6b PROGRAMME INTRODUCTION GRAPHICS

The next programme starts, music and images. (Sung) ‘Paine in the Arts - Paine in the Arts.’ This a documentary programme about the arts and media.

Paine

(Nasally) Allan Paine. This week in Paine in the arts, the work of the film distribution agent.

Long pause before cut, Paine stays still, then is about to speak; cut.

7 INT. A FILM AGENTS OFFICE - DAYTIME

This is filmed as a documentary hand held style. Brian is at his desk. He is being interviewed. He has just been asked a question.

Brian

Sure, we get them, strange ones - the guy you filmed the other day, Oh boy I thought it was a set up, a joke, a wind up, a send up...(goes on.)

Paine

(Voice over.) Brian is a film distribution agent, which means he distribute films to his clients throughout the UK and England.

Brian

...I thought, Hey the limey got me real good here...(fade).

8 INT. FILM AGENTS OFFICE - A FEW DAYS SOONER THEN SCENE 7

Paine

 

(Voice over) Paul was looking for a distributor for his film, “Green Invasion.”

There is a video player and TV showing the end titles of 'green invasion'. Brian the film agent can’t keep a straight face; he is not sure what to say. Paul cannot see anything funny at all.

 

Brian

Is this for real? What were the guys in green doing?

Paul

Those were human cross alien zombies. Humans captured by the UFO's are slowly turned into zombies and made to do the aliens work. The aliens need to stop free thinkers and artists, yeah? At the end of the day, they make artists and free thinkers work as slaves in supermarkets or burger bars, stuff like that.

Brian

Tricky, we get a lot of sponsorship from those outlets. (Looks at the film crew) Is this a set up? (Crew ‘No’.) No? Okay?(Looks back to Paul) Er What was the budget?

Paul

Nothing! I wrote the script, my mate Jim, ex mate, fallen out with him since he started working at the co-op. Well he videoed it, and acted in it, and edited the footage, but it was my camera. Yeah the girl Liz, was played by my girlfriend, sort of, Liz.

Brian

(Smiling to almost laughing.) You mean the script was written like that? The girl, Liz, was your girlfriend, Liz?

Paul

Sort of...

 

 

Brian

Sort of... I’m just going to make a note of that, girl friend - sort of. And your friend, who, you don't like any more, filmed it? (Writing this down) Good friend, was he? (Seeing Paul's increasing anger.) Yes, well, very funny, sure? A hoot. (Writing this down, shows Paul pad.) A hoot, see.

 

 

Paul

(Firmly)It's not meant to be funny.

 

Brian

Pol, can I call you Pol?

 

 

Paul

No.

Brian

'Pol', this film isn't for us. If we put our name to this piece of (Looking at film crew,) - work. What do you think our reputation’s gonna be?

Paul

Good?

Brian

NO. - Pol this is a piece of crap - funny yes, but its just a crap video, crap actors, crap camera, you and your – ‘mates’, here are just having fun, do you see where I'm coming from?

Paul

(Angry) It's my future! It’s not meant to be laughed at, it’s not funny, it's film noir.

Brian

No this is film no-where, okay.


Paul

(The crew like that and snigger.) Oh yes, you Laugh! Jim said it wasn't ready, then slept with my Liz, to get at me! The others treated the film, and me as a joke. But this is my future! (Pause) I'm in so much debt; I've got three years to make it as a 'film maker'! or (pause) or I end up stacking shelves. I just wanted to show them!(Pause) It's my first bloody film!

 

 

 

Brian

(Pause, No more laughter. He removes the tape, slow.) Well-done for your first film - I mean that, but you hold it, this anger. Is anger driving you? Yes, No, Maybe? Well its not art, there’s something twisting you, in there. And who the hell is going to know this is your FIRST film? (Holding out the tape.)

Paul

(Pause, seeing what others see for one moment then returns to him, whips his head up.) Yeah, well just give me the tape! (To the film crew.) Stop filming (Tries to leave the room.) STOP FILMING! (They blur his face.)

Brian

(Yelling) Hey Kid, if I were you I’d better think about how to start filming, you're at the beginning, the beginning of a race, don't be so eager to get off to a false start. Next time make sure it’s a ship and not a bathtub you set sail in. And if; and I mean IF, you end up stacking shelves at the local five and dim, then what god given right do you 'n your mates have to call yourselves 'film makers'? That’s the closet, That’s the door there, Now 'get lost'; get out there; Go make films, get one right and maybe we'll talk.

9 INT. PROFESSORS INVENTION LAB - NIGHT

From the film 'Green Invasion'. Jim is in a room full of junk, looking like a house garage. He wears a white lab coat and them silver swimming goggles. His work is on a bench, a florescent purple tube, lit.

 

Jim

(Madness, the actor seems a little drunk. To camera.) I've done it I've made it, the world is saved. Now I need a hero who can use it, And Liz might see me now as a man and love me! (He turns to the bench and leans on it, thinking about the woman, he’s getting upset.) I love her but she hurt me, but I still love her, so much, I - I cant...(Jump cut, he has moved, and getting over upset) now I need to charge up the 'Magnetic radiation' Ray gun.

He Presses a switch. We see a blue flash and one or two frames of him being throw off with an electric shock. Jump Cut - He as moved again and looks somewhat shaky - a Ray Gun as now appeared on the bench that looks to all the world like two toilet roll centres glued together, wood and 'Milliput' for a handle, sprayed gold. Jim is still juddering and starts line with 'but' the sound comes back on.

.. ut it can’t harm real humans. (‘Sighs’ picks up the gun, next words dubbed.) Is it ready to release on the world? (dubbed over) ‘What the F*** is this, Paul.’ (He picks up the gun lamely. It shoots.)

SFX. Rays shooting out of gun.

10 INT. BEDROOM ROOM - DAWN

She is sat up smoking in bed, staring forward. She is not alone. She takes the cigarette and hovers it over her wrist.

11 INT. A CELLAR BAR - NIGHT

Four CCTV black and white images in the screen. Top Left: Jim sits at a table of empty glasses. He's upset and drunk. Top Right: Liz walks down stairs with an over sized bag. Bottom right: Over bar Liz orders a drink. The last monitor is on the blink.

12 INT. A CELLAR BAR - NIGHT

Liz walks over to Jim and tries to find a place to put her drink down, some green concoction. The glasses are moved around to make room. As Jim is drunk this takes a few moments to sort.

CUT TO

Top shot of glasses being moved around.

CUT TO

Liz

 

Checkmate in two moves. (Pause and sits) How's the line learning going for the re-filming?

 

Jim

 

(Drunk.) What? ... oh, not going it to do it. We're better, I'm better, I'm an artist, I'm - pissed Liz. Well? Liz you should some- some ov the technical problems we, I had to solve. What is he playing at?

 

Liz

 

Don't Know? You didn't like my acting, then?

 

Jim

(Blows) What? Paul thinks I hated the film, absolute 'send up', yeah. I don't hate him, he takes - taken the all jokes out and the dark ending, the whole point was that the zombies were meant to win. Humans have no future. Paul was always going on about you, Liz this, Liz that, why did she dump me! She'd better not be seeing anybody, every min-moment. I say SHUT UP she's been had by everybody - you haven't of course, but it shut him up.

 

Liz

 

Who says I haven’t, (drinks and Smiles) Oh don't get so up tight, he was upset after you and me,... And you shouldn't wind him up. But was I any good, yeah? Hey?

 

Jim

 

Yes - (Smiles)I know he was wound up.

 

 

Liz

 

Ha, Ha, not funny, why don't you just let Paul go and re-shoot the film, show it at the festival? He's told you he'll keep your name out of it. So why are you trying to stop him? Act for him.

 

Jim

 

I'm not, and I don't want to. Doesn't any bod' see what I'm trying to do for HIM. Any whoever bod’, (drinks)is never going to want to see another thing he makes, they won't be seeing the best film he is able to do, Granted 'fun' film, not art.

We're artists - us. And YOU can go with WHO - WHOM ever - want go with who, me. Angry always to... him angry. Oh god, women all (loudly) bloody green zombie mutants form outer space, bloody space zombies, Zombie bloody - god I'm ill, (He looks at Liz) Save me from the monsters.

 

 

They look at each other. Jim goes to kiss Liz, but she pushes away from him.

 

Liz

 

No!(Pause) I can't love you, or him. Its always sex with you, I don't need it! Neither of you know me, neither of you really want me.(See Jim looking sad.) You deserve love, not me. You just don't see what's going on around you. Do you? Do YOU! There are bad energies when people do we did...(pause) I was here to set up a meeting, that’s all, Ok? No, NO more filming? Is that your last answer?

 

 

Jim

 

I love you, Liz, you're cold. You’re now fed up hurting yourself; ya gotta hurt the people who love you? You think you got to be places, do stuff, save the world but its just in you're bloody head. I’m sick of films; I’m bloody good at store work.

 

 

Liz

 

Yeah, I’m cold, what do you know of love or pain, you're a coward. You hide behind drink. You'll settle for anything. You think you want me but don't. And I'll just end up not wanting to see you. I know what I am like, you'll become a duty and I don't want that hassle.

 

 

 

 

Jim

 

(Fane Saluté) Duty Sir! You can just march off and do your own, little jobs then, dismissed. I AM ME! Real-real GET IT!

 

 

 

Liz

 

Well, thank-you. There's Paul too, wants to make films so bad, he cant tell fantasy from reality. I know what’s real, when I feel pain, its real,(Shows him the burns on her wrists.) I'M ALIVE. I’m here, I’m real - I’m going, just seen a couple of 'little' jobs, that need doing, bye loser. (She pulls out a homemade crossbow and leaves.)

 

Jim gets up to follow her up but falls on the floor.

CUT TO

Top shot, Jim holding onto the floor. He turns over on to his back.

 

Jim

 

(voice over) I'm sorry; I’m sorry and I know you feel too much. (Closes his eyes.) How sad the human heart that once did love each other so, to part that night in such great sorrow.

 

Jim holds out his arms and his hand are staring to turn green.

13 INT. THE BAR - NIGHT

Liz goes to the bar; behind it are two green zombie bar tenders. She pulls up the crossbow and shoots them both with bolts. They fade away. She looks back, sees Jim, shakes her head and loads another bolt into the crossbow and aims it at him.   

14 INT. LIZ'S CAR - DRIVING UP TO THE MOORS - DAYTIME

Liz's driving her car up onto the moor’s road and pulls up in front of Paul’s car.

15 EXT. MOORS - DAYTIME - LONG SHOT

Paul stands by his car. Liz gets out of her car. He walks over to her tries to hug her she pushes him away. Liz tells him something then she leans against her car with crossbow in hand. Paul walks back to his car and hits the frame with his fist, and badly hurts himself. So bad he rolls on the floor in pain, Liz runs across to look at what he's done. From behind the camera, each side, towards the cars walk three green zombie sheep farmers. Liz and Paul both stop, Liz aims at the zombies with the crossbow. Paul hides behind her.

FADE to Credits and the three adverts are shown.

The End.