2. ! 1
EXT. EARLY EVENING. EPSOM - THE DOWNS
A lighter ignites and the end of a joint radiates heat. It
glows brighter and harder as a toke is taken. Whispers of
smoke rise from the end.
Charlie, aged 17, and five friends (his best friend Jay, Jay’s
sister Yas, and friends Perry, Mike and Tom) sit on the field
in a casual circle. The group chats and they laugh as the
joint is passed round. Smoke slowly fills the air around them.
Charlie stares at Yas across the circle. She looks back at him
as she is passed the joint. He looks down at the ground and
begins to pick at a blade of grass; then glances up at her
again. She is still looking at him: she continue to stare hard
as she takes a long toke on the joint. Their eyes become
locked. the stare continues as Yas takes a long toke on the
joint. Shyly, Charlie looks away and beings picking at the
grass again. Yas stands up, walks across the circle, keeping
her gaze on Charlie, and sits down next to him. She takes an-
other toke and holds it out for him to take.
CHARLIE
Naa I’m alright thanks, I’ve gotta
drive home later.
YAS
(softly)
Just have a bit now and you’ll be ok
to drive later.
CHARLIE
Don’t think it’s a good idea.
YAS
It’ll be fine.
CHARLIE
Hmmm ok well maybe just a bit.
The London Skyline is picked out by the setting sun.
JAKE
Dude, have you seen that thing
they’re building over there by Lon-
don Bridge... it’s ridiculous, such
a waste of money!
MICHAEL
Naa man it’s so cool. Apparently
it’s called The Shard.
3. ! 2
The joint continues to be passed round the group, each person
taking a couple of tokes. Perry turns to his bag that is be-
hind him and takes out a beer. He uses a bottle opener keyring
to open the beer. He takes a couple of swigs and then hands it
to Yas who is sitting next to him. She drinks some and then
passes it to Charlie. He take it, looks a it for a second and
then takes a swig. A hub cap it lying on the floor near the
group. Jake, looking around, spots it.
JAKE
Hey guys, anyone wanna play some
frisbee with that hub cap?
JAY
Ahh awesome man, sure.
Jay leans back on his hand to get up. Landing on broken glass
from a bottle that had been left there, he quickly moves his
hand and looks at it to find blood oozing from the wound.
Panic fills the faces of the others.
YAS
(worried)
Jay are you ok? That looks really
bad. I think we should get you home.
MICHAEL
Charlie, you can drive them home
can’t you?
JAKE
Yeah man, go on. You should take
‘em.
CHARLIE
Naaaa...
JAY
Don’t worry about it, I’m fine.
Jay puts a tissue on the wound.
YAS
Jay, you need to get that checked
out. It might get infected. I’ll
walk with you to the hospital.
Jay reluctantly gets up.
4. ! 3
PERRY
You’re not gonna let her walk are
you Charlie?
Charlie stays seated, says nothing.
YAS
Come on Jay, lets go.
Yas starts to walk away with Jay.
CHARLIE
Hang on, I’ll come with you.
Yas walks on one side of Jay, linking arms with him, whilst
Charlie walks on the other. Jay’s head drops. Looking faint,
he begins to stare at the ground and walks with a slower pace.
Yas looks anxiously at him and then looks intently at Charlie.
Charlie looks back and then looks at Jay.
CHARLIE
(looking at Yas)
Come on, I’ll drive.
The three of them make they’re way to the car.
EXT. EVENING. CHARLIE’S CAR - EPSOM HIGH STREET
Now on the road, Charlie drives slowly and carefully. Yas sits
in the front seat and Jay in the back with his head rested
against the window. Charlie’s eyes are fixed on the road ahead
of him. he eyes are wide and panicked. Sounds around him be-
come muffled and distant. He slowly looks to the left to see
police officers in an unmarked vehicle. He watches them in his
rear view mirror.
YAS
Don’t worry, they haven’t seen us.
It’s fine, just speed up.
Charlie turns his attention to the road. He continues on and
takes a nearby side road. He looks round in his seat to check
on Jay. Once again looking back at the road, he slams on the
brakes. Tires screech. A small child pricks up their ball from
in front of the car and walks back to the path. He looks at
Charlie. The three are left staring at the road.
THE END
