scrip for the short film

1. FADE IN:
BAILDON MOOR – LATE EVENING
RICHARD, an elderly man in his mid-60s is driving in his
campervan along a narrow, winding road which runs through the
moorland listening to Not Fade Away – Buddy Holly, extremely
loudly and singing and dancing along when he notices a girl
perched on a rock a short distance away from the road, wearing
only a thin, sleeveless, white dress. He is shocked and
confused and drives on until he pulls over on the roadside
opposite the rock to ask if she’s okay.
RICHARD:
Hello? Miss? Are you okay?
RICHARD waits a few seconds but does not receive a response.
RICHARD
You must be freezing!
EVE, the girl perched on the rock widens her eyes and huddles
her knees closer to her chest as RICHARD talks to her.
RICHARD
I know, I might look a bit funny in this hat and ridiculous
coat, but my wife bought them for me to that I can stay warm
and visible in this weather and she makes me wear them, bless
her heart. [Pauses for a moment and smiles slightly at the
thought of his wife] But I promise I’m not scary, I just want
to help you! Can I give you a lift somewhere? I’m heading into
town anyway, it really is no bother.
EVE stares at RICHARD for a couple of moments before loosening
her grip on her knees.
RICHARD
I promise it’s much warmer in my campervan!
EVE
[Shivering from the cold] C-c-could you take me to see my
father?
RICHARD
Well yes, of course I can, my dear! Come, I’ll give you my
coat and you’ll soon warm up. It’s far too cold not to have
one! And after all, it’s not meant to be a fashion show, is
it? I mean, look at me! I look ridiculous but I’m jolly warm,
and I’ll tell ya that for nothing!
EVE slides cautiously down the front of the rock, her dress
catching at the bottom, and darts through the bracken towards

2. the campervan. As she does so, her dress rips slightly where
it was caught. RICHARD removes his coat and walks over to EVE
as she approaches and wraps it round her shoulders. EVE
flinches slightly at his touch and RICHARD appears somewhat
awkward and embarrassed. Both characters then make their way
towards the campervan.
RICHARD
It’s open – just climb in!
EVE opens the door slowly and clambers up onto the seat. She
peers her head out of the door, looks in both directions and
then sits back and slams it shut. RICHARD also climbs into the
driver’s seat.
RICHARD
Oh! Please excuse me. I never asked your name!
EVE
[Bluntly] It’s Eve.
RICHARD
Right then, Eve. Where does your father live?
EVE
Belmont Avenue, at the top of the hill.
RICHARD
Well then, let’s go!
RICHARD pushes the key into the ignition and the engine roars
into life. They set off down the deserted road.
RICHARD
Well, I certainly never expected to see anyone out here
tonight, I must admit. I was just passing through to deliver
something to my wife’s mother. She loves to bake does my wife,
and she made us a delightful apple crumble for our pudding
tonight, except we couldn’t finish it all and it would be such
a shame for it to go to waste! So I said I’d bob over to her
parent’s house, you know so that they could finish it off.
They live in that beautiful little cottage just over the
moors. Do you know which one I mean?
EVE
Mm.
RICHARD
Speaking of food, are you hungry? I bet you’d love to try some
of this apple crumble. It even has cinnamon in it! I tell ya,

3. it made me feel so Christmassy! We always have my wife’s
homemade apple crumble on Christmas Day cos none of us really
like Christmas pudding, ya see. I mean, it’s alright, you
know? But we prefer apple crumble, so that’s what we have.
It’s just the two of us on Christmas Day anyway, we don’t have
any children or many relatives that live close enough to
invite. It would be silly to make a Christmas pudding for just
us, especially when we’re not even that keen on it! It’s just
in my bag behind your seat, the crumble that is! Can you reach
it? I think there’s a plastic spoon in there too, underneath
the foil that’s covering it. My wife packed it, bless her
little heart. We’ve been having trouble with the campervan,
you know. I always say she’s an oldie but she’s a goldie! But
my wife’s sick of her breaking down. I must admit, it is
annoying, but I wouldn’t give her up for the world! But if she
did break down out here, I’d be pretty stuck. The big tow
truck couldn’t get down here to help me. It’s far too
dangerous on these narrow winding roads, and idiots come
speeding round the bends as though they’re on a bloody race
track! That’s why the spoon’s there anyway, in case I get
stuck so I can have something to eat until someone can come
and rescue me, somehow! [He pauses and glances at EVE who’s
sitting right back into her chair] What are you waiting for?
Can’t you find it?
EVE peers behind the chair and spots the bag. She pulls it
into the front and opens the zip. From the bag she removes the
dish of apple crumble and removes the foil, and begins picking
at it with the plastic spoon.
RICHARD
Mmmm! Smells like Christmas! Do you like it?
EVE takes a bite.
EVE
[Smiling for the first time] It’s delicious!
RICHARD
I knew you’d like it. How can you not like my wife’s apple
crumble? Have some more! Her parents will never know. It
sounds like you need the sugar more than they do anyway! You
know we really shouldn’t encourage them to eat any more sugar,
it’s not easy for them to get about these days, with their age
and everything, and we don’t want them getting fat! But a
little apple crumble from time to time never hurt anybody, did
it?
EVE
Oh, you’re right! It really does taste like Christmas.

4. RICHARD
Do you have apple pie at Christmas too? That’s odd! I’ve never
met anyone except me and my wife who have apple pie at
Christmas before. I suppose it is a little unusual…
EVE
Oh, no. We have Christmas pudding. I think it must be the
cinnamon. The smell just reminds me of the festive period.
RICHARD
Do I take a left here?
EVE
Yeah. It’s not far now.
RICHARD
I bet you can’t wait to see your parents and warm up! I can’t
even begin to imagine how cold you must be.
EVE
It’s just my dad.
RICHARD
Oh, I-I –
EVE
-It’s OK. You weren’t to know.
EVE pauses for a moment as she gazes out of the window, as if
she’s transfixed by the streetlights.
EVE
I do miss him though.
RICHARD
I bet he’s missed you too! If you were my daughter, I’d be
worried sick!
EVE
He knows where I am. I just can’t wait to see him again. You
have a daughter?
RICHARD
No. No. I wish I did, but it’s just not in God’s will.
EVE
A son?
RICHARD
I haven’t got any children. I’ve always wanted to have them,
but it’s just never worked out…

5. EVE
I’m sorry.
RICHARD
Don’t worry about it! You weren’t to know. That’s how you
learn, don’t you think? By asking questions. Am I still going
the right way?
EVE
Yeah, it’s just the next right.
RICHARD
Next right. OK. So, have you and your dad got a lot of
catching up to do then, Eve?
EVE
But you carry on down this road for a few kilomteres yet but
yeah. We do. A lot of catching up.
RICHARD
Sounds like you’ll be chit chatting for a while then! My wife
just loves to chit chat, but that’s how you can read her mood.
If she’s not chattering away, she must be upset. I must have
done something. It’s funny ya know, cos I find it annoying,
the chattering, but I miss it when its not there. Speaking of
chattering, listen to me rambling on! Why don’t you tell me
about your father?
EVE
He’s a great man.
There’s a short pause as RICHARD tries to refrain from
talking.
EVE
[Quietly] I just need him to know I’m sorry.
RICHARD
Whatever for?
EVE
Well…
RICHARD
Oh I’m sorry! Look at me sticking my nose in!
EVE
I ran away. It was a long time ago now, but I fear that he’s
never forgiven me.

6. RICHARD
Nobody can hold a grudge forever, and nine times out of ten,
and apology is all that’s necessary!
EVE
Yeah, well that’s why I want to apologise. I’ve been searching
for a way to do it for a long time now but I’ve never found
one. I love him so very dearly and I hate to think that he
might be angry at me. It’s just so difficult. How do I explain
that I didn’t mean for any of it to happen? I mean, I never
meant to scare him. He just wouldn’t let me go to the party,
and I wanted to.
RICHARD
So you went anyway?
EVE
Yeah.
RICHARD
I see. Well I’m sure all will be forgiven when you apologise.
I’m not surprised that he was concerned, I would be if I -
EVE
- It’s number 10, just on the left after that red car.
RICHARD pulls up as instructed by the girl and as soon as he
does so, EVE removes her seatbelt and opens the door.
EVE
Thanks, sir.
EVE quickly jumps out of the campervan and places the apple
crumble on the seat before slamming the door shut and running
down her drive and into her house.
RICHARD
Oh… [Quietly] You’re welcome.
RICHARD checks his mirrors and then sets off on his way once
again, shaking his head slightly in amazement at EVE’s
actions, when suddenly he realises that EVE still has his
coat, and pulls a shocked/irritated facial expression before
turning the campervan around. He pulls up again outside the
house and walks down the drive to knock on the door.
EVE’S HOUSE – NIGHT
A tall, middle-aged man with strawberry blond hair answers the
door.

7. DAVID
Hello?
RICHARD is confused by the presence of the man. It was only a
few minutes ago that he dropped EVE off, so he expected her to
answer.
RICHARD
Oh, hi! You must be Eve’s father. I’m Richard. I think she
might still –
DAVID
- What did you just say? You think this is funny? Cos I can
tell you right now, it’s certainly NOT funny!
RICHARD
Oh, erm… No I don’t think it’s funny, but Eve, she just has my
coat and I was wondering –
DAVID
Eve has your coat? Eve has your coat, does she? Are you
kidding me?! OF COURSE EVE DOESN’T HAVE YOUR COAT!
RICHARD slowly takes a step back, as David’s anger rises.
RICHARD
Well I don’t have it, because I lent her it and she just
forgot to give it back to me when I dropped her off here just
a minute or two ago.
DAVID
[Angrily] You have got to be kidding me! Are you trying to
piss me off? Cos it’s working!
RICHARD
Honestly! I found her on the moors. She was alone and she
looked cold and –
DAVID
- The moors you say?
RICHARD
Yeah, the moors. I didn’t mean to see her, but I did. She was
curled up on a rock at the side of the road. She was only
wearing a thin white dress, and she was soaking! I just
thought if I brought her home she could get warm and dry, and
I thought you would be pleased to see her… I mean you must
have been worried sick!
DAVID bursts into tears. RICHARD looks slightly perturbed.

8. DAVID
How could you have seen her? How? My darling daughter died
four years ago when she went missing on the moors!
RICHARD is evidently shocked.
RICHARD
Oh! Oh-oh my God… But that can’t be! I only saw her five
minutes ago! She was in my van! She ate my apple crumble! She
told me how she ran away, and how she wanted to apologise –
DAVID
- Wait. She wanted to apologise? To me?
DAVID sobs once again. RICHARD reaches out to put his hand on
DAVID’S shoulder to console him.
RICHARD
Yes! She thought you were angry.
DAVID
All this time and she still thinks I’m angry? I was never
angry, I was concerned!
DAVID is distraught.
DAVID
Why don’t you come in? Please. You can tell me everything she
said.
RICHARD
Yeah, of course! I’d be happy to.
The characters walk through the front door.
DAVID’S KITCHEN – NIGHT
The characters walk into David’s kitchen. RICHARD looks around
to take in his surroundings as he does so, searching for
anything that could tell him something about the mysterious
girl who he just dropped off at home, but is no longer here.
He notices a photograph of a young girl sat with the man who
just answered the door, and tries to hide his bewilderment as
he realises the reality of the situation.
DAVID
Do you drink coffee? I don’t have much else in now that it’s
only me.
RICHARD
[With a smile] Yeah. Coffee sounds good.

9. DAVID fills the kettle and puts it on to boil.
RICHARD
It’s a lovely house.
DAVID
Thank you. I haven’t done much with it myself, I must admit.
With her mother gone, Eve was always very domesticated. She
always helped around the house. My word, when we were
decorating this room she didn’t half boss me about! I might
have done all the labouring, but she certainly designed it.
I’m glad. It needed a woman’s touch. She always much better at
that stuff than I was, but now I just can’t bring myself to
change anything.
RICHARD
It must be difficult now, [tentatively] living here alone n’
all.
DAVID
It’s quiet. Certainly quiet. It’s like when we lost Eve’s
mother all over again. She died in labour. Giving birth to
Eve. It was quiet when she was gone. I love Eve with all my
heart, but even her cries couldn’t drown out the silence that
Debbie’s loss left. I miss her. I miss them both! I lost
Debbie, and then I lost my last piece of Debbie – my darling
Eve. I really do miss them both so dearly.
RICHARD
I can only imagine the pain you’re experiencing.
DAVID
I’m just sorry that I never really got a chance to say goodbye
to either of them. Both deaths were so unexpected, and so
sudden! [Pauses for a minute and runs his hands through his
hair in despair] I just don’t get it! You’ve got to be winding
me up! Don’t play me for a fool. It could have been anyone!
[Begins pacing up and down the kitchen furiously, then stops
for a moment and speaks for calmly] Couldn’t it?
RICHARD
Well I can hardly believe it myself! It’s not what I expected
when I picked her up, I thought she was just a normal girl
who’d lost her way this evening. But it has to be true! I mean
how would I know to come here if she didn’t tell me? I had no
idea who you were before you answered the door, and certainly
no idea who Eve was! I know it’s surprising and it must be so
hard for these feelings to all be coming up again but I’m
telling you she really was in my van! She ate my apple

10. crumble! Shall I go get it? You can see for yourself! You can
see where she stuck the spoon in. Honestly!
DAVID
Oh! I just hope they know I love them, and I hope Eve knows
I’m not angry at her. Oh why would she think I’m angry? I just
miss her.
RICHARD
She thinks your angry because she defied you and made you
worried. She told me about how she ran away and how guilty she
feels about it.
DAVID
Oh, Eve! I’m not angry at you! I never was! I was just
concerned, and clearly with good reason… [Sobbing]
RICHARD
Hey, please don’t cry. Maybe she just came to me so that she
could put you both at ease. She must have known I could pass
on her message! Now you know she’s sorry, she can rest and you
can have peace at mind.
The kettle has now boiled and DAVID proceeds to make the
coffee in an attempt to hide his tears from RICHARD.
DAVID
How many sugars?
RICHARD
None thanks.
DAVID?
Milk?
RICHARD
Yeah. Just a splash. Thanks.
DAVID
Eughh! This is insane! [Long pause as he stares into the
coffee he’s making, leaning heavily on the kitchen counter]
I’m sorry. [Passes RICHARD the coffee] I know I shouldn’t be
putting this all on you, but you saw her, or you seem to think
you did, and now I can’t think of anyone better to talk to.
And of course there’s the fact that I’ve pretty much pushed
everyone else out. I didn’t mean to but I ended up doing… I
just didn’t know how to deal with it all, especially when I
lost Eve because all the emotions from losing Debbie came
flooding back, and I… I just…

11. RICHARD
It’s okay. I understand. You don’t need to justify yourself to
me. [Looking over at the dining table] Shall we sit?
DAVID
Yeah. Let’s.
The pair walk over to the table and sit down at opposite
sides. DAVID is clutching his coffee tightly as though he’s
apprehensive.
DAVID
So what was she wearing? I’m trying to picture her in that
situation… But I’m not so sure her looking so cold and fragile
is really something that I want to imagine.
RICHARD
Well she was wearing a white dress, I don’t know much about
fashion but it was mid length and very thin, and of course she
was wet through and freezing cold from being on the moors!
That’s why I gave her my coat, and why I ended up knocking on
your door, to get it back.
DAVID
Oh will you just shut up about that bloody coat?! I’ll buy you
a new one if you care so fucking much!
RICHARD looks at DAVID, slightly taken aback by his outburst.
DAVID drops his gaze and looks into the coffee he’s clutching
tightly once more.
DAVID
I-I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout. Your coat just seems
insignificant in all of this, you know?
RICHARD
Don’t worry about the coat. I don’t want to upset you. I’ll go
if you like?
DAVID
No, no. It’s fine. I need to talk about her. I want to talk
about her! It feels good to talk about her.
RICHARD
Okay. [Pauses awkwardly as he thinks of how to phrase a
question about her] So, what was she like as a child?
DAVID
Oh, marvellous! You wouldn’t have believed it if you knew her
in her early teens but she was ever so good when she was
younger! I mean she even slept through the night sometimes and

12. no baby is meant to do that! Right? [Chuckles] I often think
Debbie must have been looking down over her. That’s why she
slept through.
RICHARD
Aw, that’s a nice thought.
DAVID
Yeah, sometimes I even think I can feel Debbie’s presence when
I visit Eve, like she’s trying to comfort me. She’s always
looking out for us both.
RICHARD
Visit her?
DAVID
Well, visit her grave. She’s buried in the cemetery by the
roundabout. You probably passed it on your way up here. The
one at the back of the church. You know which one I mean?
RICHARD
Oh yeah, you’re right. We must have passed it on the way up
here. [He pauses] Look, I know this must all seem so crazy and
weird but maybe Eve just wanted you to know how she felt…
feels, and that she loves you. She made that perfectly clear!
DAVID
I hope you’re right. It’s nice to be able to connect with Eve
again.
RICHARD takes a mouthful of his coffee.
RICHARD
[Lifting the coffee cup] Thanks for the coffee.
DAVID
No problem. I’ll see you again?
RICHARD
[Smiling] Yeah.
RICJARD stands up and then DAVID does the same. RIHARD makes
his way to the door and DAVID follows to see him out.
DAVID
I mean it. Thank you.
RICHARD
No worries. See ya!

13. DAVID smiles and waves as RICHARD walks up the drive. DAVID
shuts the foor and RICHARD climbs into the campervan once
again. He starts the ignition and heads for the cemetery that
DAVID described.
THE CEMETERY – NIGHT
RICHARD wanders about the cemetery looking that the headstones
to fine EVE’s name when he notices something hanging from one
of the headstones at the back of the cemetery. He walks over
and discovers after picking it up that it’s actually his coat,
and EVE’s headstone.