Eunice discusses her experience with getting a cochlear implant to help with her hearing loss. She talks about how the operation went smoothly and she had confidence in the doctors. After the surgery, her brain had to learn how to process sounds it had never heard before, like learning a new language, and this took years. Eunice shares some of her favorite sounds she discovered after getting her implant, like walking in snow, but also sounds she finds unpleasant, like the loud rain. She describes being surprised by everyday kitchen sounds like the kettle and sugar pouring that she had never heard previously. While she has gotten used to most noises now, making tea still isn't her favorite task due to all the associated sounds.

1. Sound of Silence
Written By
Charlotte Fleming
PRODUCTION DRAFT
Blue Revised Dec 05, 2014

2. FADE IN
INT. CONSERVATORY - DAY
[MS] - EUNICE SITS ON A COMFORTABLE COUCH, SHE IS WEARING A
WHITE SWEATER AND BEIGE BROWN TROUSERS
EUNICE
I'll show you a bit of what it's
like, all over the ear...fixed over
the ear into an implant.
CUT TOO: TITLE SEQUENCE - SOUND OF SILENCE
[PAN] WE SEE THE POND IN EUNICE'S GARDEN
EUNICE
Quite comfortable to wear but
despite having a cochlea implant I
also have a hearing aid. Although I
need it for loss of hearing in
here, it balances the sound.
[MS]ZOOM TO UPPER BODY, WE SEE EUNICE SHOWING HER COCHLEA
IMPLANT
EUNICE (CONT'D)
When I first had it a few years
back an operation was mentioned to
me...I didn't realise I could have
a cochlea implant I didn't know
much about it. So they gave me a
leaflet to study what it was all
about.
And once I decided I was interested
it went ahead after a day or two,
so I didn't have time to get upset
about it.
[MS] EUNICE SITS SILENTLY FOR A MOMENT
EUNICE (CONT'D)
They tested my hearing ready for
the process to be suitable for me
when it was all connected.
CUT TOO: WATER FLOWING IN THE POND, WE SEE THIS COMING
THROUGH FROM THE PONDS FILTER PIPING
[MS] - EUINCE SITS AND INFORMS US ABOUT GOING INTO SURGERY

3. EUNICE (CONT'D)
When I went into the surgery they
put in an implant into the bone
over the ear, they had to slice it
and slide the implant in which was
about this size.
CUT TOO: ARCHIVE FOOTAGE OF EUNICE WHEN SHE WAS A YOUNG
GIRL, SEEING HER HOME SEWN DRESS AND HEARING AID POCKET

4. ZOOMED OUT SHOT - UPPER BODY
EUNICE (CONT'D)
Fortunately for me the operation
wasn't fearful, I had full
confidence with them.
When I came out I stayed in over
night to make sure I was settled.
[MS] - EUNICE SMILES AND TALKS HAPPILY ABOUT HOW WELL THE
OPERATION FOR HER COCHLEA IMPLANT WENT
EUNICE (CONT'D)
The idea is that I am now hearing
like a normal person, although it
doesn't sound like it and my brain
hasn't heard these noises before.
Over the next few weeks my brain
had to have lesson, like learning
french a new language.
CUT TOO: OUTER SCENERY WHILST DRIVING BESIDES FIELDS
EUNICE (CONT'D)
This isn't a five minute job...this
takes years.
CUT TOO: TRACKING SHOT OF KITCHEN WINDOW LOOKING OUTDOORS.
EUNICE (CONT'D)
Lets talk about sound, I have my
favourite sounds and the ones I
don't like.
CUT TOO: ARCHIVE FOOTAGE OF EUNICE PLAYING MUSIC WHEN SHE
WAS YOUNGER HOLDING SPEAKERS
[MS] SIDE SIGHT OF EUNICE WITH HER HANDS RESTING ON HER LAP
EUNICE (CONT'D)
My favourite sound that i've never
heard before was when I went for a
walk in the snow...the sound of the
crunch crunch in a foot of snow was
rather amazing, I really loved
that.
When it was going "shh shh" was
quite an experience.
[MS] - EUNICE ACTING SNOW SOUNDS

5. EUNICE (CONT'D)
Needless to say the snow was on the
ground for another few days.
(MORE)

6. Int. CONSERVATORY with eunice
talking about sounds she has never
heard before
[CU] FOUCUSING ON EUNICE'S HAND MOVEMENTS
EUNICE
Snow gone that left all the slush I
went out with my husband, along the
muddy footpath with my dog I could
hear an strange noise, I couldn't
figure out what it was.
[FULL SHOT] CONSERVATORY SETTING
EUNICE (CONT'D)
I really had to concentrate what
this was.
Some noises I don't like if it's in
here, the rain is really loud and
frightening, its like a beach is
being thrown onto it.
[FULL SHOT] EUNICE POINTS STRONGLY TO THE UPPER ROOF
CUT TOO: ARCHIVE FOOTAGE RECENT EUNICE DOING GARDENING
WHILST ITS RAINING
EUNICE (CONT'D)
Another one, the sounds in the
kitchen they were nearly all new.
AFTERNOON WITH EUNICE
CUT TOO: NEW LOCATION - KITCHEN
EUNICE
Right i'm inviting friends round
for a cup of tea, this is a job I
don't like doing my husband usually
makes the tea.
[ZI] WE SEE EUNICE'S HAND FLICKING THE KETTLE SWITCH
EUNICE (CONT'D)
When you put the kettle on...it
makes a real loud noise.

7. EUNICE (CONT'D)
And never ever hearing that before
it's like having a train rushing
through your kitchen.
CUT TOO: ARCHIVE FOOTAGE OF EUNICE WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER
PLAYING WITH A TOY KITCHEN
EUNICE
Another sound which took my a long
time to get used to because I
thought it was silent...i'll get
the sugar...paper bag makes a lot
of noise.
(Pours sugar, silently
the shhh's heard.)
[ZI] TO SUGAR BEING POURED
EUNICE
I never new sugar made noise whilst
putting it into the sugar bowl.
All these kitchen noises i've never
heard before so making a cup of tea
its all a noisy job.
EUNICE (CONT'D)
Getting the tea bags out...that's a
very noisy job.
CLOSE UP OF EUNICE
Eunice places the tea bags back into the cupboard.
EUNICE (CONT'D)
I'm beginning to live with it now
but its not my favourite job to do,
the washing machine and the
dishwasher its a lot louder but it
doesn't bother me...it's all the
same you turn a deaf ear to it.
FADE OUT TO FISH POND FOR ENDING CREDITS.