screenplay

1. INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
The TV switches on. An old show plays. The MALE PROTAGONIST
watches on his sofa.
He changes the channel as the song intro starts. A horrendous
news story plays. He changes again, another story. The song
explodes into its drop.
The protagonist turns off the TV, walks out the room.
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
The protagonist walks in, pours himself a cup of tea. (NOTE:
this uses jump cuts and happens very quickly.) He sits down,
rubs his temples.
He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He opens them,
spots a newspaper on the table. He picks it up and stares at
it. Headline: “HUNDREDS DIE IN SEVERE FLOODING IN INDIA”.
SINGING SHOT
The protagonist sings the song in a dimly-lit location.
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
The protagonist drops the paper onto the table. The radio
plays a news sample. The protagonist stands, turns the radio
off with frustration. (NOTE: We could have the song pause
when the radio plays then resume when he turns the radio
off).
The protagonist walks out the room. The mug of tea is left
untouched, still steaming, on the table.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
The protagonist puts on a winter coat, scarf, and gloves. He
exits the house and shuts the door.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Cloudy. The protagonist walks at a brisk pace, hands firmly
in coat pockets. The street is empty except for a couple of
people on their phones.
The protagonist’s pocket buzzes. He takes his phone out and
looks at the screen.

2. A BBC breaking news notification: “The economy is the lowest
it’s been in twenty five years according to recent studies.”
The protagonist looks at his phone in disbelief.
EXT. CITY STREET - DAY
The song reaches its bridge. The protagonist walks through
the crowded street, aimless.
SINGING SHOT
The protagonist sings looking down at the ground.
EXT. CITY STREET - DAY
The protagonist looks up. In the distant sky, at the end of
the clouds, is a crack of sunlight. He looks longingly at it.
The song reaches the chorus.
EXT. CITY STREET 2 - DAY
The protagonist runs through the street.
SINGING SHOT
Intercutting between singing and running
EXT. CITY STREET 2 - DAY
The protagonist stops, out of breath. “Now draw me close”
plays in the song. The verse starts and he starts running
again.
EXT. CITY STREET 3 - DAY
Cars stuck in traffic. People walking around on phones.
Faceless crowds. (NOTE: any shots of natural parts of York,
e.g. the river, interrupted or somehow contrasted by modern
technology or city aspects would be appropriate here)
SINGING SHOT
Faded orange lighting.
2.

3. EXT. GARDENS - DAY
(NOTE: Museum gardens? - balance between city and nature).
The protagonist runs through. He stops as the bridge starts,
disorientated. The camera rotates around him as he looks
around, unsure where to go.
He aggressively rubs his temple as though he has a headache.
He looks to the sky, sees the crack of sunlight again. He
runs in its direction as the chorus starts.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
The divide between the forest and the city. The protagonist
stops on the outskirts of the city, looks at the forest.
(NOTE: this happens at the stripped-down part of the chorus
sung by the backing band members).
When the guitar solo starts, the protagonist runs into the
forest.
INT. FOREST - DAY
The forest is bathed in autumn sunlight. The protagonist runs
between the trees. He takes off his scarf, throws it away.
SINGING SHOT
The protagonist sings with explicit emotion. The lighting is
full and vibrant.
INT. FOREST - DAY
The protagonist throws away his gloves. They land in a tree
branch as the protagonist speeds past.
Birds sit in the trees. Sunlight breaks through tree
branches. Leaves crunch under the protagonist’s steps.
INT. CLEARING - DAY
An open clearing. The protagonist runs towards it. He takes
off his coat, almost stumbling, and throws it into the
leaves. The song comes to a close.
The protagonist reaches the clearing, stops, looking into it.
The song has finished. He smiles. In the clearing stands a
WOMAN, dressed in autumn clothing. She smiles sweetly back at
him.
3.

4. The protagonist walks towards her and slides his hand into
hers. He holds her and she holds him back.
FADE OUT.
4.