script

1. DRAFT 2
SCRIPT
JOHN LEGEND – UNDER THE STARS
H.L. MCDONAGH
A. A. EL-GHARBAOUI
B. J. GOLDSTONE
21ST NOVEMBER 2016
Draft 2
Scene one

2. EXT: leading to INT:
CHARLES is a 32 year old wealthy man. He is being driven by his Uber
driver from work to his house. In the middle of winter, the weather
is gloomy and dull.
CHARLES (35 secs)
(M.U.)Eyes red and his face looking angry and upset CHARLES looks
up out of the window at the stars in the sky, he then takes a bottle
of alcohol from his blazer pocket and takes a few sips before putting
it next to him on the seat of the car.
Flashback 4 seconds: he just lost his job and his wife reacts (wife
shouting).
Pulls up in the Uber outside of his house, CHARLES picks up the
bottle of alcohol and takes a few more gulps and puts it into his
pocket.
Here we are, under the stars
Here we are, under the stars
Heaven is not so far
Heaven is not so far
Heaven is not so far
Under the stars
CHARLES walks up his driveway, slightly wobbling, towards his house.
The camera tracks him to his front door(M.S) he puts the key in the
door ready to tell his wife the news.(O.T.S.S)
Scene 2
INT: The average sized living room is furnished with brown furniture
and white walls, him and his family live in a typical family home.
CHARLES is tracked into his house as he goes to greet his wife.
CHARLES
(M.S) Closes the front door behind him

3. He takes his coat off and hangs it on the stairs.(O.T.S.S)
Walking towards the living room, the camera tracks him.
VANESSA
(P.O.V/L.S) Sitting on the sofa in living room, with another man in
CHARLES house.
We'll find a love to hold our hand through the cold
We'll find an angel lying out in the snow
We'll see a light to lead us all the way home and
Wherever we go, we will know
CHARLES
(C.U.) He has a shocked expression on his face, looks at KARL. His
expression turned from shocked to angry.
Here we are, under the stars
Here we are, under the stars
Heaven is not so far
Heaven is not so far
Heaven is not so far
Under the stars
KARL
(P.O.V from CHARLES) KARL looks at VANESSA not knowing what to do.
Tension builds in the room.
CHARLES
Starts shouting at VANESSA and KARL. (M.S)(L.S) He bites his jaw
down in anger and with his arm down, (C.U)squeezes his fists
together.

4. VANESSA
(E.S)Gets up, tries to calm CHARLES'S down
‘IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE’
CHARLES
Pushes off VANESSA. Starts a fight with KARL. After a short squabble,
he punches him across the face and runs out the house. (C.U)
Let's raise a toast to all the good days to come
Let's celebrate the season, come everyone
Let's save a kiss for us when the night is done
Oh my love, I'll keep you warm
FADE OUT TO BLACK
SCENE 3
EXT:
FADE IN Cold,
frosty morning. (E.S) The camera focuses on the lake and tracks the
path to CHARLES and MALCOLM from behind.(C.U) CHARLES everyday
routine, he runs round the lake with his business partner. (L.S)
Here we are, under the stars
Here we are, under the stars
Heaven is not so far
Heaven is not so far
Heaven is not so far
Under the stars

5. CHARLES
(C.U)Running and out of breath CHARLES feels dizzy but shakes his
head and turns his concentration back to his running.
MALCOLM gives a strange look.
Flashback, 5 seconds: him and his wife having a meal together on his
dining table.
CONTINUES RUNNING, CHARLES shakes his head to try and stop the dizzy
feeling he keeps getting.
Flashback, 5 seconds: him and his wife are holding hands walking and
laughing together at the park.
Flashback, 5 seconds: him and his wife are lying on the grass
together looking up at the stars.
CHARLES face drops, he passes out and falls to the ground.
MALCOLM
Tries his best to bring CHARLES around.
All the lost and lonely
All the lovers holding on
All of us, no matter what we've done
We are not alone although we're far apart
We are one, under the stars
CHARLES
All he can see is a blur, skipping in and out of reality and hearing
MALCOLM’S muffled voice. He passes out again. (C.U) (E.C.
CUT TO
Scene 4:
EXT. A dark cold night

6. CHARLES has his head down and his hood
up, he walks down the street towards an alleyway. He meets up with
MALCOLM and we see CHARLES purchase something.(L.S)
CHARLES
Sitting in the back of a car, takes a gulp from a bottle of alcohol,
he takes out a gun from his pocket and stares at it. (M.S)
Being driven back to his house.
CHARLES looks out the window and up at the stars.
CUT TO
Scene 5:
INT: CHARLES stumbles up his stairs and walks into his sons bedroom.
The white bedroom, furnished with all white is dark. The only light
is from his TV.
CHARLES
Kisses his son on the cheek and whispers goodbye.
(P.O.V) The camera tracks him into his bedroom, (C.U) He chucks
himself on the bed and takes out his gun.
(P.O.V) looks down at the gun, practicing how to hold it, and then
points it at the wall. (E.C.U) His eye is squinted as he aims to
shoot.
The camera tracks him in slow motion as he stumbles back down the
stairs with the gun in his hand.
Here we are, under the stars
Here we are, under the stars
Heaven is not so far
Heaven is not so far
Heaven is not so far
Scene 6
INT: The large kitchen is furnished with a glass table, white floors
and white walls. VANESSA is sitting on the table on her phone with
a glass of wine.
CHARLES

7. (S.M)(P.O.V) CHARLES walks into the kitchen with the gun in his hand
shaking pointing at VANESSA’S head. (M.S) He stops and points the
gun to his head. (C.U)Eyes watering and red he turns the gun back
to VANESSA’S head.
Under the stars
CUT TO
CONOR walks down the stairs.
CUT TO
(S.M)The camera blurs, CHARLES repeats these actions.
THE SCREEN GOES BLACK
CONOR
‘Daddy no’
BANG - sound of the gun.
Music blurs and the sound of sirens occur.