2. 2
FADE IN:
SCENE #1
EXT. HENRY’S HOUSE - DAY
AN OVERCAST AUTUMN DAY. A SMALL, QUINTESSENTIALLY ENGLISH
BUNGALOW SITS AMOUNGST A WELL-KEPT GARDEN AND PLANT POTS.
THERE IS A “FOR SALE” SIGN ATTACHED TO THE GATE.
PULL FOCUS TO SEE THE HOUSE
CUTS TO: ESTABLISHING SHOT
CUT TO: MEDIUM CLOSE-UP
A TEENAGE GIRL, EMILY, IS LOOKING AT THE HOUSE BLANKLY
CUT TO: MID SHOT
A WOMEN, GEN, OLDER THAN HER, APPEARS BESIDE HER
GEN
(looking concerned)
Are you alright?
CUT TO: CLOSE-UP
FROM THE SIDE
EMILY
(sighing unconvincingly)
Yeah…
PULL FOCUS
GEN
(not convinced)
Are you sure?
MEDIUM CLOSE UP
EMILY
(sighing)
It just… it just doesn’t seem real…
PULL FOCUS
GEN
I know sweetheart, but it’s what we need to
do. Come on…
CUT TO: CLOSE-UP
3. 3
(gets the keys out of her pocket)
We’re not standing out here all day.
CUT TO: EXTREME CLOSE-UP, KEYS
The sooner we get in the sooner we’ll be out.
CUT TO: MID SHOT
GEN STARTS TO WALK INTO THE HOUSE, LEAVING EMILY BEHIND. A MID
SHOT TRACKS EMILY AS SHE FOLLOWS HER MUM, SHE LOOKS NERVOUS.
CUTS TO: ESTABLISHING SHOT
OF THEM ENTERING THE HOUSE
4. 4
SCENE #2
INT. THE KITCHEN - DAY
GEN AND EMILY ENTER THE HOUSE INTO THE KITCHEN. THEY AWKWARDLY
LINGER IN THE KITCHEN, NOT REALLY SURE WHAT TO SAY TO EACH
OTHER. GEN PICKS UP A BOX, EMILY IS DISTANT.
GEN
(trying to act as if everything is fine,
she thinks Emily is listening)
Right, I think the best way to go about
this is if we split up and do a room each,
just putting all the little things away and
then anything big we can move together another
day. Don’t forget if anything is breakable
put it in bubble wrap…
GEN LOOKS UP TO REALISE EMILY ISN’T LISTENING
Em?
EMILY IS TRANSFIXED ON SOME MINOR DETAIL IN THE ROOM. SHE
DOESN’T LOOK UP EVEN WHEN SHE FINALLY SPEAKS.
EMILY
It’s like he’s died.
GEN
(sighing)
Emily, you know how hard it was to for
me to make this decision. He can’t look
after himself anymore, and the nursing home
is nice, a lot closer to our house so you
can visit him more often…
EMILY
We’re just packing up his entire life
into boxes while he sits in a home he doesn’t
even recognise. He was fine and now…
GEN CUTS EMILY OFF
5. 5
GEN
(hurt)
He wasn’t fine though was he? We were all
just too blind to see it/You know he can’t live
on his own anymore.
EMILY LOOKS AWAY FROM HER MUM, KNOWING SHE IS RIGHT. GEN’S
PHONE STARTS RINGING AND SHE TAKES IT FROM HER POCKET.
(apologetically)
It’s work. I’ll be two seconds. There’s
some boxes through there. Go and make
a start with the living room,
please. For me.
EMILY DOESN’T RESPOND AS GEN WALKS RUSHES OUT OF THE HOUSE
ANSWERING THE PHONE. AS THE DOOR SLAMS, EMILY PICKS UP A BOX
FROM THE HALLWAY. SHE LOOKS LOST IN A HOME THAT SHE KNOWS SO
WELL. SHE TURNS AROUND AND FACES THE KITCHEN, WHERE A MEMORY
BEGINS TO UNFOLD.
6. 6
SCENE #3
INT. DAY – THE KITCHEN (FLASHBACK)
PRESENT DAY EMILY LOOKS TO THE DOOR, WHERE A SLIGHTLY YOUNGER
LOOKING EMILY AND HER MUM ENTER. THEY ARE WEARING DIFFERENT
CLOTHES, THIS IS CLEARLY A MEMORY FROM THE PAST. THE SOUND OF
SOMETHING BUBBLING CAN BE HEARD FAINTLY
EMILY
(calling through the house)
Hiya Grandad!
GEN LOOKS PUZZLED AS SHE SPOTS A PAN OF WATER BUBBLING ON THE
SIDE. SHE TAKES IT OFF THE STOVE AS SHE SAYS…
GEN
(casually)
You know you’ve got a pan about
to boil over in here, Dad!
SLOW TRACKING SHOT, GEN STARTS WALKING INTO THE FRONT ROOM.
Don’t worry, I’ve sorted it now.
CUTS BACK TO THE PAN ON THE SIDE
(o.s)
What are you like! Anyway… Emily would like to
know if we can stay for tea!
DIALOUGE FADES OUT. CUTS TO EMILY BACK IN THE KITCHEN, STARING
AT WHERE THE PAN WOULD BE.
EMILY TURNS AND WALKS INTO THE LIVING ROOM, SHE IS NOW
CARRYING A BOX.
7. 7
SCENE #4
INT. DAY – LIVING ROOM
EMILY WALKS OVER TO THE FIREPLACE, WHERE THERE ARE ORNAMENTS
LINED UP ALONG THE TOP OF IT. SHE PICKS ONE UP AND LOOKS AT
IT, SMILING TO HERSELF.
SCENE #5
INT. DAY – LIVING ROOM (FLASHBACK)
CUT TO: MEDIUM LONG SHOT
SHOT OF HENRY SAT IN HIS ARMCHAIR
HENRY
(smiling)
Do you remember when you used to
play with those when you were younger?
CUT TO: REVERSE SHOT
EMILY
Of course I do! How could I forget? In fact…
CUT TO: OVER THE SHOULDER CLOSE-UP
(looking for specific ornament)
This one was my favourite!
CUT TO:
HENRY
Oh you had hours, hours of fun!
CUT TO:
Making up your own little stories in your
own imaginary world. You know I told your
Mum they were just cheap tat, but she insisted
‘No, Gen likes them’, and that’s why we kept them.
The amount of times I nearly bagged them all up for the car
boot…
EMILY CUTS HENRY OFF
EMILY
(concerned, nervous)
Grandad?
EMILY’S SUDDEN WORDS BRING HENRY OUT OF HIS DAZE
8. 8
EMILY
You just called me Gen.
HENRY
(laughing it off)
Oh, well you know what I meant, Emily!
You look so much like your Mum did at your age,
apart from the hair, of course.
EMILY IS CONVINCED, AND LAUGHS IT OFF, PICKING BACK UP ANOTHER
ORNAMENT AND LOOKING AT IT.
CUT TO HENRY, LOOKING EMBARRASSED/CONFUSED/UPSET. EMILY
DOESN’T NOTICE.
CUTS BACK TO PRESENT DAY EMILY IN THE ROOM, SHE PICKS UP THE
ORNAMENT AND PUTS IT IN THE BOX, ALONG WITH A FEW OTHERS.
9. 9
SCENE #6
INT. DAY – BATHROOM/BATHROOM FLASHBACK
EMILY STANDS IN THE DOORWAY OF THE BATHROOM. THE FRONT DOOR
OPENS AND SHE CAN HEAR HER MUM TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE
KITCHEN. SHE LOOKS AT THE TIME ON HER WATCH/PHONE. HER
LOCSCKREEN IS HER AND HENRY. SHE SMILES.
EMILY WALKS FURTHER INTO THE BATHROOM AND UP TO THE MIRROR.
SHE ADJUSTS THE MIRROR, AND THIS TRIGGERS ANOTHER FLASHBACK,
HENRY IS STARING AT HIMSELF IN THE MIRROR, HE IS WEARING
PYJAMAS AND LOOKING CONFUSED. CUTS TO A CLOSE-UP, HE LOOKS AS
IF HE HAS FORGOTTEN WHY HE IS IN THE ROOM.
A POINT OF VIEW SHOT SHOWS HIM LOOKING DOWNN AT HIS HANDS OVER
THE SINK, SLIGHTLY SHAKING. HE PICKS UP VARIOUS ITEMS AND
LOOKS CONFUSED AS TO WHAT THEY ARE.
EMILY APPEARS AT THE DOOR, DRESSED IN SLIGHTLY WARMER CLOTHES
THAN THE PREVIOUS FLASHBACK. SHE STANDS AT THE DOOR, AND JUST
AS SHE IS ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING, SHE STOPS HERSELF. SHE
WATCHES HER GRANDAD STAND IN THE BATHROOM, SHE CAN’T SEE WHAT
HE IS DOING BUT JUST WATCHES HIM.
CUTS BACK TO SHOTS OF HENRY CONFUSED AT THE SINK. HE IS
CLEARLY BECOMING MORE DISTRESSED AND AGITATED, MUTTERING TO
HIMSELF, FOR REASONS HE DOESN’T KNOW.
EMILY IS IN A CONFUSED DAZE. SUDDENLY HENRY STARTS
COUGHING/TALKING LOUDER(?). THIS SHOCKS EMILY BACK INTO
REALITY AND SHE COMPOSES HERSELF BEFORE RUSHING TOWARDS HER
GRANDAD.
EMILY
(jokingly/with a smile on her face)
It’s two in the afternoon, Grandad! What are
you doing in your pyjamas? Look at you, you’d think you
were the teenager! Come here!
SHE HUGS HIM TIGHTLY BEFORE HE HAS TIME TO RESPOND. AS SOON AS
SHE WRAPS HER ARMS ARUOND HIM HER SMILE FADES AND SHE LOOKS
WORRIED.
CAMERA TRACKS AROUND THEM TO SHOW THEIR REACTIONS
HENRY IS CONFUSED/EXPRESSIONLESS
SHOT OF A SMALL CLOCK ON THE SIDE?
10. 10
SCENE #7
INT. DAY – BEDROOM
EMILY WALKS INTO THE ROOM AND SITS ON THE EDGE OF THE BED. SHE
LOOKS AROUND AND SPOTS A CASE STICKING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH.
SHE PULLS IT OUT FROM UNDER THE BED AND THIS TRIGGERS ANOTHER
FLASHBACK, CUTS TO HENRY PULLING THE CASE OUT FROM UNDER THE
BED.
SCENE #8
INT. DAY - BEDROOM (FLASHBACK)
HENRY
Here it is!
EMILY
What have you got there?
HENRY
(opening the box)
Records!
HENRY STARTS LOOKING THROUGH THE CASE
EMILY
Oh vinyl, you know they’re coming back into fashion now
HENRY
Yes they really are quite spectacular. Much better
than the wireless… although Mum won’t let me have
a record player in my room. Says they’re too noisy…
EMILY
(going along with it)
Oh yeah?
HENRY ISN’T REALLY PAYING ATTENTION AND IS IN HIS OWN WORLD,
LOOKING THROUGH THE VINYLS HAPPILY.
EMILY REALISES WHAT HENRY SAYS AND LOOKS AT HIM SHOCKED
HENRY
I think if I save up through working at
the bakery I could sneak one in.
EMILY IS SPEECHLESS WITH SHOCK
11. 11
SCENE #9
INT. DAY – CONSERVATORY
EMILY WALKS THROUGH INTO THE SECOND BEDROOM. IT CLEARLY HASN’T
BEEN SLEPT IN FOR YEARS, WITH THE ROOM USED AS STORAGE. SHE
LOOKS THROUGH THE CONSERVATORY DOORS AND SEES HERSELF, HER
GRANDAD AND HER MUM AROUND THE TABLE.
SCENE #10
INT. DAY - CONSERVATORY
EMILY AND HENRY ARE SAT AT THE TABLE. EMILY IS ON HER PHONE,
HENRY IS EXPRESSIONLESS. GEN ENTERS THE FRAME CARRYING A DISH
OF FOOD.
GEN
12. 12
(placing dish on the table)
Here we are! I’ve been looking forward to this
all day!
GEN NOTICES THAT EMILY IS ON HER PHONE
(to Emily)
Put that away now.
EMILY ROLLS HER EYES AT GEN AND RELUCTANTLY PUTS HER PHONE
AWAY, BUT GOING ON IT AGAIN AS SOON AS GEN TURNS AWAY.
HENRY STILL HASN’T ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION, BARELY
ACKNOWLEDGING GEN AND EMILY’S PRESENCE.
13. 13
GEN
(happily, dishing out food)
It’s been a long time since we did this.
all here, together. I bet it’s nice to have
someone cook for you for a change Dad… and Emily
is going to do the washing up for you…
GEN STOPS DISHING OUT THE FOOD AND SITS DOWN READY TO EAT. SHE
IS PLEASED WITH HERSELF AND ACTING AS IF EVERYTHING IS FINE.
How about that, Dad? Being treated like a king…
SHE LOOKS TO HENRY FOR A RESPONSE. HE IS SAT LOOKING DOWN AT
HIS PLATE/ACROSS THE ROOM. GEN ACCEPTS THIS, AND PICKS UP HER
KNIFE AND FORK AND BEGINS TO EAT.
EMILY HAS ALREADY STARTED EATING, SCROLLING THROUGH HER PHONE
AS SHE DOES SO.
THERE IS AN AWKWARD SILENCE IN THE ROOM, ONLY FILLED BY THE
SOUND OF KNIVES AND FORKS SCRAPING PLATES. EMILY TAKES A SIP
FROM HER DRINK AND MAKES EYE CONTACT WITH HER MUM AS IF TO SAY
‘DO SOMETHING THEN’.
GEN LOOKS UP FROM HER PLATE, KEEPING HOLD OF HER KNIFE AND
FORK
(Encouragingly)
Aren’t you going to eat something Dad?
HENRY
(stubborn)
No.
GEN
(calm)
It’s ________, your favourite.
HENRY
(raising his voice slightly)
I don’t want it.
GEN
(still keeping calm)
Why not? I’ve spent all morning cooking this for you.
14. 14
HENRY
I’m perfectly capable of making my own tea.
EMILY LOOKS WORRIED AND PUTS HER PHONE AWAY
GEN PUTS DOWN HER KNIFE AND FORK
GEN
Dad I didn’t mean it like that…
HENRY
(harshly)
I don’t care.
GEN
Come on why don’t you just have a little bit.
You must be hungry
HENRY
(agitated)
I’m not.
GEN
Dad…
HENRY
(certain)
My ________, is going to cook me
something when she gets home, like she always does.
She’ll be back soon.
GEN PUTS HER HAND ON HER DADS AND LOOKS AT HIM
SYMPATHETICALLY. HENRY PUSHES GEN’S HAND AWAY AND JUMPS UP
FROM THE TABLE. THIS SHOCKS EMILY, SHE HASN’T SEEM HIM LIKE
THIS BEFORE. GEN STANDS UP TOO, BUT MORE GENTLY.
GEN
Dad… Mum isn’t here anymore.
She died, don’t
you remember
15. 15
HENRY
(repeating himself)
I’m perfectly capable of making my own tea.
HENRY GRABS HIS WALKING STICK AND EXITS THE ROOM SWIFTLY
GEN WATCHES HIM FOR A MOMENT AS HE LEAVES THE ROOM, BEFORE
SITTING DOWN, DEFEATED
EMILY
I told you there was something wrong
GEN DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO RESPOND
THE SCENE ENDS WITH AN ESTABLISHING SHOT OF GEN AND EMILY SAT
AT THE TABLE
16. 16
SCENE #11
EXT. NIGHT – HENRY’S HOUSE
THE SUN IS SETTING ON A WINTER EVENING. EMILY WALKS DOWN THE
DRIVE TOWARDS HER GRANDAD’S HOUSE, LISTENING TO MUSIC, JUST
LIKE ANY NORMAL VISIT. ALL OF THE LIGHTS ARE ON, NOTHING LOOKS
SUSPICIOUS.
SCENE #12
INT. NIGHT – HENRY’S HOUSE
EMILY ENTER THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR AND CLOSES IT BEHIND HER.
EMILY
(casually)
Hi Grandad, it’s Emily! Mum asked
me to pop round and see how
you’re feeling.
NO RESPONSE, EMILY WALKS THROUGH INTO THE LIVING ROOM AND
LOOKS AROUND, HE IS NOT IN THERE. THE T.V IS ON AND HIS
WALKING FRAME IS NEXT TO THE CHAIR. SHE PUTS HER BAG DOWN IN
THE CORNER OF THE ROOM. GROWING WORRIED, EMILY CONTINUES
THROUGH THE HOUSE, INTO THE BATHROOM, HALLWAY…
EMILY
(confused)
Grandad?
SHE PROGRESSES TO THE BEDROOM AND HENRY IS NOT HERE EITHER.
EVEN MORE WORRIED NOW, SHE CONTINUES RUNNING THROUGH THE HOUSE
AND CALLING OUT FOR HENRY.
EMILY
(worried)
Grandad?!
SHE GETS TO THE CONSERVATORY WHERE THE LIGHT IS ON, WHICH IS
UNUSUAL. SHE STRUGGLES TO OPEN THE DOOR. WHEN SHE GETS IN
THERE, SHE REALISES THE DOOR TO THE GARDEN IS OPEN. RUNNING
OUT, SHE SEES THAT HENRY HAS FALLEN IN THE GARDEN.
17. 17
SCENE ENDS WITH A LOW ANGLE SHOT OF HER LOOKING DOWN AT HIM.
(SCENE POSSIBLY INTERWEAVED WITH SHOTS OF WHAT HAPPENED
LEADING UP TO THE FALL)
14 (SHOTS OF JOHN TO CUT IN)
SCENE #13
INT. DAY – REWIND SEQUENCE?
SCENE #14
EXT. DAY/NIGHT – VOICEOVER PHONECALL SEQUENCE
MONTAGE EDIT OF INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SHOTS OF THE HOUSE.
DOCTOR
(v.o)
Hello Mrs ______, my name is
Sarah I’m a doctor at The General. Your Dad’s test
results are back, it looks as if Henry’s had a mini
stroke as a result of his condition. Can you give me a call
back when you get this, I assume you’re aware that once the
dementia reaches this stage, we need to seriously think about
whether Henry can carry on living independently. Speak to you
soon, bye.
SCENE #16
HELPLINE
CREDITS
