1. Your life, take 2.
Be the star in a different show.
Crawl: Your life. Take 1.
FADE IN:
EXT. Auckland city- early morning- thick fog- first spits of rain.
A haggard, crumbling apartment building on the outskirts of the city. Windows are
boarded up, any scrap of sunshine refused entrance. A homeless man emerges,
stumbling from the dingy alley on its right and urinates next to the main entrance.
ZOOM TO:
A grime covered window on the 10th
floor, torn, mildew covered curtains hinder the
view further.
INT. A studio apartment, bed, bathroom and kitchen all in the same cramped room.
Carpet is balding and the wall paper is beginning to peel, as if in a hurry to
escape the confines of the apartment. Water stains mark the roof, creating a
blotchy pattern that even the bright imagination of a child would struggle to find
any warmth in. An open laptop stuttering as if giving up on itself. Papers are
stacked with notes scratched into their smudged surface. An empty coffee cup
weighing them down.
In bed, a figure coughs and huddles under the blankets, their breath fogging in the
freezing room.
YOU, the star of this miserable life is your age, your build, shared your dreams
and had those same dreams slowly dissipate as the reality of life took over.
The drumming of rain is quickly drowned out by the screeching of an alarm. YOU
wakes with a start.
YOU
Nope, no, not yet. How is it 6 already? How the f**k can I be
expected to work on 2 hours sleep?
DISSOLVE TO:
Images from previous nights, YOU is working strenuously in order to make a deadline
that was moved up for the third time. Lamp light flickers, fingers trudge across
the keyboard and the bags beneath YOU’s eyes continue to grow as the hours stretch
on.
CUT TO:
EXT. MAIN ROAD TO CENTRAL CITY- RAIN NOW BUCKETING DOWN- TRAFFIC BUMPER TO BUMPER.
A flyover shows the extent of the jam. The rain struggles to fall through the thick
smog rising above the traffic. YOU can be seen tapping the steering wheel
anxiously.
INT. CAR
The muffin YOU bought at the petrol station sits unappetisingly while YOU sips at
lukewarm coffee. YOU’s hand glides across the radio dials, flicking through radio
stations while glancing anxiously at watch, car clock and then phone. All three are
telling YOU they’re already ten minutes late for work.
A phone RINGS.
Caller I.D reveals it’s the boss. YOU swallows and answers the phone.
YOU
Good morning Sir, I’m sorry, I’m on. . . .
BOSS (over phone)
Where the f**k are you? If you miss this meeting it’s your head! Do you know how
much this client is worth? I gave you time if it’s not done you can start looking
for a new job.
YOU
Sir, I’m on my way, it’s all done but traffic. . .

2. BOSS
I don’t want excuses, this isn’t my problem, you have 10 minutes to get here or
you’re done. Fix it, fix it now!
The line goes dead. YOU throws the phone at the car floor and crumbles over the
steering wheel in frustration.
FADE OUT.
CRAWL: Your life. Take 2.
ESTABLISHING SHOT.
Athlone, Ireland. A small bustling town in the heart of winter. Lush, rolling
countryside flows lazily to the outskirts of town. Ancient stone walls line the
roads, cobblestones in the street make everybody totter around.
EXT. MIDMORNING, CENTRE OF TOWN, A THICK FROST COATS THE GROUND BUT THE SUN IS
SHINING EARNESTLY.
A spacious apartment above a bakery, overlooking the street. The smell of fresh
bread floats around, solid brick walls keep out the cold and harbour the warmth.
Flowers grow lusciously in the window box fighting off the frost by embracing the
sunshine.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. bedroom of apartment.
The sun is poking through the gap in the velvety curtains cutting across plush,
deep blue carpet. The room is large and open, books cram the bookcase, clothes pile
out of the wardrobe but there is comfort in the chaos. Embers from last night’s
fire continue to glow, warming the room further.
FAVOUR ON
A very content figure can barely be made out beneath the piles of blankets and
duvets that make up the bed.
YOU is still fast asleep, a smile forming on their face as they dream about the
past few months.
FADE TO
Flashbacks of YOU wandering the town bundled against the cold and loving every
minute of it. The town is big enough to get lost in, but not so big that somebody
can’t point towards home. YOU has found work in the local pub, a job they’ve fallen
in love with. Locals talk to YOU, they all find YOU interesting due to that strange
accent. Nightshift suits YOU just fine as the days are free to travel and see
whatever they please.
YOU stirs and wakes, the dull murmur of people outside and the smell from the
bakery wrap YOU in a familiar, warming embrace.
YOU
Good morning Ireland
YOU rolls back the covers and gingerly climbs out of bed. Padding across to the
window a glance at the calendar reveals it’s the 3rd
month to be spent in Ireland.
All the bad experiences from past jobs and busy cities have long since evaporated.
CUT TO
YOU rummaging through the wardrobe after a shower, diving deep into rich coloured
merinos and thick coats. Although the sun is shining the cold is still piercing,
but unlike home, here the cold is embraced.
INT. STAIRS LEADING TO BAKERY- CONTINUOUS
The aged wooden stairs creak their greeting as YOU makes their way down to the
bakery.
YOU
Morning all, how are we this fine day?
BAKERY WORKER
(In a thick Irish accent)

3. Aye morning to you! Sleep well did we? After the usual I’m assuming?
YOU
You’re the expert I’ll take whatever you recommend!
BAKERY WORKER
Right then, I know just what will make your day. Grab a seat, here’s your coffee -
strong with two sugars. Just as you like it!
YOU
(Beaming smile)
Oh you gem, thank you (taking coffee) do we have a newspaper this morning?
BAKERY WORKER
Already on your table.
YOU
(Laughs)
How would I ever mange without you?
YOU heads to their usual spot by the window, the seat is warm from the sun and it
spills in the window shining onto YOU’s face. YOU sips their coffee, feeling it
warm them from the inside out. Just for a moment YOU closes their eyes.
FREEZE FRAME
VOICE OVER
This has been the best idea you’ve ever had. Stepping into a stranger’s life has
never been so rewarding.