Int. Lila’s bedroom – DAY
LILA SMITH, early twenties, in her simplistic room with just a
bed, desk, wardrobe and drawers. The room is white and tidy, LILA
is emptying drawers and packing it neatly into a black holdall,
including a camo army uniform and boots. LILA checks her army
paperwork almost systematically and picks out a university
acceptance letter and carelessly throws it in the bin. It becomes
apparent that LILA is looking for something; she opens the
drawers confused and storms out of her room.
Int. Dawn’s bedroom – DAY
DAWN SMITH, fifteen, is on her bed listening to music with her
laptop open, we can hear the loud pop-punk music, she is wearing
a bright pink jumper. Dawn’s room is dark and messy, drawers are
slightly open with clothes spilling over the sides, and clothes
scatter the floor. The curtains and blinds are drawn. There is a
photograph of a man in army uniform holding the hands of his two
young daughters. LILA bursts through the door and steps into the
middle of the room. DAWN doesn’t look up, she turns the volume of
the music playing from her laptop up.
LILA
(Voice gets louder each time she calls.)
Dawn. Dawn. Dawn!
DAWN doesn’t respond, instead increases the volume of her music
from her laptop. LILA sighs and taps the mute button on DAWN’s
laptop. DAWN does not look up at her, she unmutes her music. This
is repeated three times before LILA slams DAWN’s closed.
DAWN
What?
LILA
Dad’s old dog tags from the army, where are they?
DAWN
Ask Mum.
DAWN puts a jumper on. LILA notices the jumper DAWN is wearing
LILA
Wait what are you wearing? Is that my jumper?!
DAWN
You gave it to me - it’s mine!
LILA
No I didn’t! Give it back!
DAWN
No, you can’t tell me what to do anymore.
LILA
What’s wrong with you? You’ve been like this for months?
DAWN opens her laptop again, but with no music playing.
DAWN
Nothing.
LILA
There’s something wrong. Tell me.
DAWN
Nothing’s wrong.
DAWN’S eyes flit to the photograph of her and LILA with their
father.
DAWN
Can’t wait for you to never come home.
LILA’S face softens. She gently sits down on the bed next to
DAWN.
LILA
Dawn I’m coming home. Nothing’s gonna happen to me. I promise.
DAWN
Whatever.
LILA
Dawn, please.
DAWN
What? I don’t care.
LILA
Dawn…
DAWN rolls her eyes and groans.
LILA
This isn’t forever you know. I’m coming back. And when I do it’ll
be just like normal. You can tell me about all the boys you like
and I’ll take you out for ice cream in town.
DAWN
I’m not a kid.
LILA
(softens her face and tone)
Okay, whatever you want to do, we could go out for Chinese when I
get back.
DAWN
Since when have you liked Chinese?
LILA
Well, I know it’s your favourite
DAWN
(interrupts)
When have you cared what I like?
DAWN ignores LILA and sits there for a while.
DAWN
Got nothing better to do with you time? Did Mum tell you to talk
to me?
(sarcastic)
That must really suck for you
LILA
No, I wanted to. God, I can’t even have a decent conversation
without you acting up. Grow up!
LILA gets up from the bed and walks across the room. She reaches
the door. DAWN watches LILA and puts down her laptop on her bed.
She rushes across the room and throws herself at LILA, hugging
her tightly from behind, burying her face into LILA’s shoulder,
her fists balled. LILA is surprised and relieved, she turns
around and hugs her back, her head resting on top of DAWN’s.
LILA
Nothing is going to happen to me, I’m going to come home.
DAWN
(sighs)
I’m going to miss you.
FADE TO BLACK

Caught in the Act (draft 4)

  • 1.
    Int. Lila’s bedroom– DAY LILA SMITH, early twenties, in her simplistic room with just a bed, desk, wardrobe and drawers. The room is white and tidy, LILA is emptying drawers and packing it neatly into a black holdall, including a camo army uniform and boots. LILA checks her army paperwork almost systematically and picks out a university acceptance letter and carelessly throws it in the bin. It becomes apparent that LILA is looking for something; she opens the drawers confused and storms out of her room. Int. Dawn’s bedroom – DAY DAWN SMITH, fifteen, is on her bed listening to music with her laptop open, we can hear the loud pop-punk music, she is wearing a bright pink jumper. Dawn’s room is dark and messy, drawers are slightly open with clothes spilling over the sides, and clothes scatter the floor. The curtains and blinds are drawn. There is a photograph of a man in army uniform holding the hands of his two young daughters. LILA bursts through the door and steps into the middle of the room. DAWN doesn’t look up, she turns the volume of the music playing from her laptop up. LILA (Voice gets louder each time she calls.) Dawn. Dawn. Dawn! DAWN doesn’t respond, instead increases the volume of her music from her laptop. LILA sighs and taps the mute button on DAWN’s laptop. DAWN does not look up at her, she unmutes her music. This is repeated three times before LILA slams DAWN’s closed. DAWN What? LILA Dad’s old dog tags from the army, where are they? DAWN Ask Mum. DAWN puts a jumper on. LILA notices the jumper DAWN is wearing
  • 2.
    LILA Wait what areyou wearing? Is that my jumper?! DAWN You gave it to me - it’s mine! LILA No I didn’t! Give it back! DAWN No, you can’t tell me what to do anymore. LILA What’s wrong with you? You’ve been like this for months? DAWN opens her laptop again, but with no music playing. DAWN Nothing. LILA There’s something wrong. Tell me. DAWN Nothing’s wrong. DAWN’S eyes flit to the photograph of her and LILA with their father. DAWN Can’t wait for you to never come home. LILA’S face softens. She gently sits down on the bed next to DAWN. LILA Dawn I’m coming home. Nothing’s gonna happen to me. I promise. DAWN Whatever. LILA
  • 3.
    Dawn, please. DAWN What? Idon’t care. LILA Dawn… DAWN rolls her eyes and groans. LILA This isn’t forever you know. I’m coming back. And when I do it’ll be just like normal. You can tell me about all the boys you like and I’ll take you out for ice cream in town. DAWN I’m not a kid. LILA (softens her face and tone) Okay, whatever you want to do, we could go out for Chinese when I get back. DAWN Since when have you liked Chinese? LILA Well, I know it’s your favourite DAWN (interrupts) When have you cared what I like? DAWN ignores LILA and sits there for a while. DAWN Got nothing better to do with you time? Did Mum tell you to talk to me? (sarcastic) That must really suck for you LILA
  • 4.
    No, I wantedto. God, I can’t even have a decent conversation without you acting up. Grow up! LILA gets up from the bed and walks across the room. She reaches the door. DAWN watches LILA and puts down her laptop on her bed. She rushes across the room and throws herself at LILA, hugging her tightly from behind, burying her face into LILA’s shoulder, her fists balled. LILA is surprised and relieved, she turns around and hugs her back, her head resting on top of DAWN’s. LILA Nothing is going to happen to me, I’m going to come home. DAWN (sighs) I’m going to miss you. FADE TO BLACK