This story follows Mark as he deals with his mental health issues during a night out.

1. INVISIBLE SUFFERING
Written by
Matt Hall

2. 1
FADE IN:
INT. THE ROOM.
We begin in an spacious dreamlike dark room. An array of red
and blue lights flicker briefly before remaining in a dim
state. The room is largely empty, except for a single chair
sitting directly in the room’s centre. MARK (22) walks into
frame taking a seat on the chair.
He sighs. Briefly looking at a piece of paper in his hand
before scrunching it up and throwing it to the side.
MARK
Im not entirely sure how to start
this.
Pause.
MARK (CONT'D)
How do you even start something
like this?
EXT. QUEUE FOR A PUB. NIGHT.
Sounds of a Friday night. Outside a pub, Mark queues with his
friend/housemate BEN (21) as bouncers check the ID’s of the
people in front. Both lads are dressed in causal clothing
although Ben has clearly made more of an effort.
Ben is visibly excited to get in whilst Mark stands idle
staring into the distance in a daydream like state. The sound
muffles as Mark continues to stare. Quickly a voice starts to
break through.
BEN
Mark. Mark...Mark
Mark snaps out of his trance, turning to Ben who is staring
at him with concern.
BEN (CONT'D)
You good mate? Thought I lost you
there.
Mark immediately cracks a smile.
MARK
Yeah, yeah im good. Sorry zoned out
a bit.
1

3. 2
BEN
Haha, I could tell. Come on Becca’s
already inside with everyone and
you know we’ve gotta catch up on
the drinks.
Mark lets out a chuckle as the pair walk up to the bouncers
showing their IDs. The bouncers give the IDs a quick pass
before letting them in.
INT. PUB. A FEW MOMENTS LATER.
Both Mark and Ben wander around the pub looking for their
friends before quickly spotting them at a far table. They
walk over.
BEN
Nah, starting without us then?
The table erupts with cheers as the two lads arrive. It is a
small group of similar ages. A girl stands up and hugs both
Mark and Ben. This is REBECCA, their other housemate. Also
dressed casually yet like Ben, she has made more of an effort
than Mark.
FRIEND 1
Ayy here they are!
FRIEND 2
Just in time for the next
round!
REBECCA
I’m so happy you guys made it!
BEN
Obviously we did, cant miss a night
out.
MARK
Yeah, course not.
The two lads find seats and conversations begin all over and
morph into the background noise.
LATER.
The night out is in full swing. Everyone is mostly drunk.
Everyone except Mark who is once again staring off into
nowhere. His hand begins to tremble in a fit of anxiety.
Rebecca nudges him, bringing him back to the present.
REBECCA
You okay?
2

4. 3
Mark smiles softly. The trembling stops.
MARK
Im fine, yeah
REBECCA
Did you want another drink?
MARK
No. That’s okay.
INT. THE ROOM.
MARK
I could just scrap all of this,
scrap all of this and say I'm okay.
But that would be a lie. A lie I
have told everyone... and myself
for far too long and I’m done
lying.
INT. PUB.
MONTAGE
We flash through series of scenes showing the group downing
and enjoying their drinks. During the montage Mark tries to
look happy in the moment but he conveys a look of sadness and
appears empty. His mind is everywhere but there.
Ben gathers everyone's attention.
BEN
Element?
Everyone except MARK cheers.
EXT. STREET.
We cut to the group walking through a street of well lit
clubs and bars, with music and constant stream of noises
coming from each. Mark shambles behind the rest of the group.
Half intoxicated half lost in his thoughts.
INT. THE ROOM.
MARK
It gets harder and harder to keep
the voices out. I am trying I
really am.
3

5. (MORE)
4
PAUSE.
Faint inaudible whispers briefly fill the background.
MARK (CONT'D)
But no matter how hard I try, they
always get in. I cant help it, I
cant stop it. The constant noise.
It gets worse every day. It’s
terrifying.
EXT. STREET.
REBECCA (O.S.)
Come on Mark!
Mark jogs to catch up.
MARK
Coming! Coming!
Another MONTAGE.
We see the group queuing for a club ‘Element.’ They enter the
club and we see glimpses of them ordering drinks, dancing,
hanging around in the smoking area. This repeats a couple of
times.
INT. DANCE FLOOR. ELEMENT.
Focusing in on Mark now we find him separated from his group
on a completely packed dance floor dancing without a care in
the world. He closes his eyes for a moment, soaking in the
vibe from the room.
SUDDENLY inaudible whispers are heard over the loudness of
the club music. They get louder and louder, MARK opens his
eyes and everything and everyone around him is in a eerily
slow motion. His breathing increases rapidly.
INT. THE ROOM.
MARK
I can hear them right now. I dont
know how else I could make everyone
understand. How am I supposed to
make everyone understand when I
dont even understand whats
happening to me.
(MORE)
4

6. MARK (CONT'D)
5
Maybe if I was stronger...Maybe I
could of understood. Regardless
it’s too late now.
INT. DANCE FLOOR. ELEMENT.
Back to Mark, his breathing fast and heavy as the lights seem
to shut off around him except for one RED light...lingering,
The club goers stop dancing and stand stone cold still.
Slowly each of them turns their heads to face Mark, staring
at him with dead eyes.
Mark looking around begins to panic. The whispers increase
volume becoming deafening, muffles of reality begin to break
through. SUDDENLY someone grabs Mark.
As Mark turns to face this person we are brought back to
reality, the club goers dancing, music blasting. Mark shakes
his head before realising the person that grabbed him is in
fact Ben.
Ben raises his voice trying to be heard over the music.
BEN.
You okay man?
Mark looking terrified shakes his head.
MARK
I... I have to go
BEN
What? I cant hear you!
MARK
I have...
Barely getting any words out Mark breaks away from BEN and
heads to the club entrance, pushing past anyone in his way.
BEN (O.S.)
Mark! Mark! Where you going!
EXT. SMALL BRIDGE. LATER.
We cut to Mark alone on a small bridge. Still breathing
heavily Mark drags his hands across his face and leans on the
side of the bridge in an attempt to calm down.
MARK (CONT'D)
5

7. 6
Whilst leaning he looks over, catching a glimpse of the
moonlight reflecting in the quiet waters below, so simple yet
so calming. However this brief moment of calm is interrupted
when the VOICES begin to remerge, whispering...
VOICES
Throw yourself over... you can do
it.
VOICES (CONT'D)
It’s time.
Mark shuts his eyes clenching his face, shaking, willing them
to stop.
VOICES (CONT'D)
You want to do it you know you do.
MARK
FUCK OFF!
In a rage Mark slams his head down on the bridge’s metal
rail. Lifting his head up we can see BLOOD beginning to run
down his face. Wiping the blood as it continues to seep out
of his wound Mark focuses on his trembling blood soaked hand.
He pauses for a moment. A look of despair? No, realisation.
INT. THE ROOM.
MARK
I tried to carry on. I tried to do
everything I’d normally do, but I
just couldn’t anymore. I’m sorry I
didn’t reach out. I wish things
could have been different, but I’m
stuck in my head. Stuck with only
one way out.
INT. SHARED HOUSE. MARK’S ROOM. AN HOUR OR SO LATER.
Mark, face still covered in now dried blood sits idle in his
room alone in the dark, whispers fill the air. His phone
BUZZES casting a small amount of light into the darkness. We
see multiple missed calls, messages and voice messages from
Rebecca and Ben. Mark lifts the phone to his ear playing on
of the messages.
AUTOMATED VOICE
You have multiple new messages...
BEEP.
6

8. 7
It’s Rebecca, drunk but trying to be serious and calm. She
sounds nervous.
REBECCA
(Through phone)
Mark? Mark where are you? We’ve
been looking for you everywhere, we
thought you might still be out. Why
aren't you answering our calls? Is
everything okay? Ben said something
weird happened. Look Ben’s still
out looking for you, I said you
might be home so I'm coming back.
If you’re home let me or Ben know
so he can come back too. Whatever’s
going on its gonna be okay. We can
all talk about it when we get back.
We’ll have one of those real talk
nights...I’ll get Ben to order from
that mad pizza place he found a
couple of weeks ago...remember
that? Ah they were well good. Just
let me know you’re safe Mark we are
really worried about you. I hope I
see you soon. It’s gonna be okay.
The message ends. Mark put’s down his phone, staring at it
for a few moments. Before being distracted by the whispers
growing louder. His eyes shut for a few seconds.
Tears begin to stream down his face.
He breaks down.
INT. THE ROOM.
We return to the room, Mark still seated in the chair staring
into the floor. The red and blue lights flicker again. Mark
looks up facing towards us, an expression of fear covered
across his face.
We notice something in the background amidst the flickering
lights. It’s a BODY suspended from the neck.
Slowly swaying side to side.
INT. SHARED HOUSE. VERY EARLY MORNING.
Rebecca now home sits in the kitchen frozen in shock
clutching a piece of paper tightly in her hand.
7

9. 8
The sound of someone frantically entering the house can be
heard. Rebecca looks up as a worried Ben comes rushing in.
BEN
I got your message. What’s going
on? Where’s Mark?
He looks at Rebecca. She is shaken to her core.
He sits down opposite her. Rebecca hands him the note.
REBECCA
This was on the table when I got
in. Its...
She struggles to finish her sentence.
Ben’s anxiety turns to fear as he reads the note. Silence
absorbs the room. Finishing reading, Ben tries to remain calm
and composed.
BEN
Okay. I...is Mark upstairs?
Tears run down Rebecca’s face.
REBECCA
Yes, I think so yeah. I dont
know...I dont even know if he’s
still...
Ben interrupts. Holding back tears, trying to prepare for the
worst.
BEN
That’s okay. It’s okay.
REBECCA
Ben. I...I'm scared to go up there.
BEN
It’s alright. I...I am too.
Ben reaches out and holds Rebecca's hand squeezing it tight.
BEN (CONT'D)
We’ll go up together.
Rebecca nods.
REBECCA
Okay.
8

10. 9
The pair get up and re-join hands as they walk towards the
stairs. Reluctant but determined they begin to ascend the
stairs. Each step feeling harrowing.
INT. LANDING.
The pair reach the landing, still in hand they walk slowly
over to Mark’s room. The door is shut.
Ben calls out. Knocking on the door.
BEN
Mark? Mark you in there lad?
Silence.
REBECCA
Mark?
They both look at each other. No words to describe the
despair they both feel.
BEN
Listen, we...we uh saw your note
downstairs man. We’re...we’re very
worried about you. Especially after
last night you know, we um...we
just need to know you’re okay.
REBECCA
We’re here for you Mark, please I
want you to know that. We really
are.
Silence again.
The pair look at each other, they are desperate for any sort
of response. Ben tries very slowly twisting the door handle
instantly realising the door is unlocked. He stops and looks
at Rebecca.
Rebecca nods at him and they both take a slow deep breath.
BEN
Okay Mark. Okay, we’re gonna come
in alright? It’s okay. I know you
might not want us to...but uh but
we just need to okay. It’s going to
be fine.
(Pause)
Okay we are coming in now...
9

11. 10
Ben twists the door handle, slowly opening the door with a
horrible creak.
FADE TO BLACK.
END
10