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One Day written by Jordan Steeds 07889 402583 jordan.steeds21@gmail.com
ACT 1 *whole story takes place over one day* EXT. FOREST - SCENE 1 - OPENING - *13 DAYS INTO THE POWERCUT* Drone shot establishing a deserted, dying forest. Smoke plumes in the distance accompanied by the subtle atmospheric sound of silence. JAMES (voice over) I don't remember exactly when it happened. Nobody could've seen it coming. It all went to shit so fast. Title page booms onto the screen - One Day written in a worn out, distressed font EXT. 9:00AM CAMP - SCENE 2 - WHAT HAPPENED A small camp overlooking the rich forest landscape, an organised mess with a small burnt out fire pit. A scruffy haired teenage boy, wakes up and unzips the front of a small, messy and worn out tent. He sits in silence at the opening of his tent, listening to the birds and taking in the view. JAMES (voice over) First the lights went out. Shops and factories were forced to shut down. Then the nuclear plants went into meltdown. With the generators out of fuel, the world kinda just fell to its knees. Then came the one thing nobody was prepared for... the internet went down. Everyone lost their shit. Society had finally degraded into total chaos. Some formed small communities to survive together, whilst others took to the streets to loot. Cuts to James hiking through the forest, looking for resources. I ran to the forest. I wanted to be alone. (MORE)
2. JAMES (CONT’D) It's weird to think that it literally took a worldwide catastrophe to bring people together in real life. I'm happy this happened. EXT. DEMOLISHED DEPARTMENT STORE - SCENE 3 - THE GUITAR James emerges out of the long grass to the large concrete base of an old demolished department store, littered with rubble and glass. He walks across the urban plane to a large pile of rubble and spots a guitar in the grass. He picks up the guitar and brushes off the dirt before examining it carefully. EXT. FOREST CLEARING - SCENE 4 - MUSIC Sat on a log in a clearing, backpack by his side and guitar in his lap. James looks at his guitar as if it was the one last thing he really cared about. Silence surrounds him, accompanied only by the occasional bird chirping. JAMES (voice over) Music is the one thing I have left. The one thing that understands me. I would just listen to it for hours. Feeling every beat. Understanding every lyric. He plays a note, pauses and plays the same note again. JAMES (CONT’D) (voice over) I've always wanted to be good at playing the guitar. I never had the motivation for it though. He reaches into his backpack to pull out a well used notebook, opens to the next clean page and writes down the note. He continues to play notes and write music with great care. JAMES (CONT’D) (voice over) I think it was just the thought of what everyone else thought of me. But I guess it's different now they've all fucked off. I don't have much left to care about. He carries on playing the song CUT TO: SCENE 5 AS GUITAR SOUND PLAYS OUT
3. EXT. FOREST - SCENE 5 - WALKING BACK TO CAMP LONG SHOT, EMPTY ROAD IN CENTRE OF SCREEN GOING INTO THE DISTANCE, JAMES IN CENTRE FRAME WALKING TOWARDS CAMERA 100+ METRES AWAY JAMES (voice over) I sometimes wonder what everyone else is up to. Where they've ended up or if they've even managed to survive this shitstorm. I wonder if anyone's noticed i've disappeared. But I was pretty much invisible to everyone before. END OF ACT 1
4. ACT 2 EXT. FOREST - SCENE 6 - EMILY James is sat on the top of a hill, leaning back on a tree, bag by his feet, waiting for the sunset. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before he's interrupted by the sound of a branch snapping. He opens his eyes, alert and scanning the area but he doesn't see anything. He continues to sit by the tree, more alert than before. Thinking he was just hearing things, he ignores the sound. He takes a deep breath in and slowly breathes out. Another branch snaps, closer this time, James quickly turns around to see a girl. JAMES He scrambles to his feet (Yelled in panic) Woah shit! EMILY She takes cover by a tree, realising she's scared him, she tries to be reassuring. (panics at his reaction) Fuck! I'm Sorry JAMES Now also taking cover behind a tree. What the fuck! Who are you? EMILY (scared) I'm so sorry I didn't mean to scare you, I'm Emily She peers out from behind the tree JAMES (heart racing, pauses and looks her in the eye) I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting... EMILY I know, it's okay, I didn't see you sat there JAMES (Still shocked, trying to read her intentions) What are you doing out here? Are you with anyone?
5. EMILY (Hesitant) No. I'm alone. What are you doing out here? JAMES (slightly more relaxed, but not wanting to reveal too much) I was just, waiting for the sunset EMILY Alone? JAMES Yeah. What are you doing out here? Emily is hesitant to reply, she is hiding something she doesn't want to reveal. She tries to think of something to say but comes close to breaking down. JAMES (CONT’D) (Noticing something is wrong) Are you okay? EMILY I ran away okay. And honestly i'm just really fucking scared JAMES Shit really? You sure you're okay EMILY (slowly getting herself together but changing the subject) I'm fine, i'm alright now. What's your name? JAMES (More relaxed now) Oh i'm James, nice to meet you He smiles at her EMILY She smiles back Are you really just out here watching the sunset? JAMES (Awkwardly nodding his head) I come out here most evenings
6. EMILY (looking into the sunset) It's beautiful. Do you mind if I join you? JAMES (surprised) I mean yeah go for it EMILY You're not gonna kill me are you? JAMES He sits back down by the tree Dunno about that, you'll have to wait and see Emily laughs and goes to sit next to James by the tree JAMES (CONT’D) It's amazing isn't it. This is one of my favourite places in the whole forest EMILY Sat shoulder to shoulder with James, staring at the view How long have you been out here for? JAMES Since it happened I think, I ran away too. Maybe a couple hours after everyone went apeshit and started looting, how long has it been now anyways? EMILY (shocked and surprised) Holy shit! That's crazy. It's gotta be at least 2 weeks now surely? JAMES (also mildly surprised) I have no idea. I gave up counting after a couple days. No point thinking about the future if there isn't gonna be one (chuckles to himself) EMILY Wait so where have you been staying? Like at night and stuff
7. JAMES Oh I have a camp not too far from here, half a mile maybe EMILY (trying to hide her excitement) A camp? Like with food and water and stuff? JAMES Yeahh it's not much, like a tent, couple blankets and a fire. Do you want some water though, I have some here? EMILY Oh my god really? Can I actually? Thank you so much He unzips his rucksack and hands her the bottle of water. She drinks it quickly, spilling some as she does so. EMILY (CONT’D) (relieved & gasping for air) Thank you. I haven't drank anything since yesterday JAMES How come? Where were you before? I've got loads more back in my tent if you need? EMILY (hesitating to answer, she thinks of a cover story) I was at home. But our water ran out and we had no way of getting more. How have you survived out here for so long? JAMES It's simple out here. There's a cafe a couple miles that way which still has some supplies left I think. I guess I just work better on my own. He points in direction of the cafe They continue to watch the sunset as it falls behind the trees. JAMES (CONT’D) Do you have anywhere to stay tonight?
8. EMILY I haven't really thought about that to be honest, no I don't JAMES Do you want me to take you to that cafe? You'll be able to crash there for a while. (awkwardly) Or I mean, if you really want to, you can come back to my camp with me? EMILY (her eyes light up) Could I do that please? Go back with you. I don't do well in the dark on my own (laughs) JAMES (pleasantly surprised) Sure! We should go soon though, before it gets cold CUT TO: EXT. CAMP - SCENE 7 - FIRE James strikes a match and lights a small fire. Emily has a couple blankets over her shoulders, a bottle of water in her hand and is sat right in front of the fire. EMILY Thank you, James. He looks over. Thank you. JAMES No, no honestly, its okay. EMILY (softly) You're a good person EXT. CAMP - SCENE 8 - THE GUITAR RETURNS James takes a second to acknowledge the compliment. Emily spots the guitar poking out the tent and her eyes light up. EMILY Wait is that a guitar?
9. JAMES Oh yeah I found it this morning, was in a pretty good condition so I thought I'd bring it back EMILY Do you play? JAMES (unsure) Nahh not really, I used to wanna write music for films but never really got into it EMILY Can I hear you play something? JAMES (awkwardly) Nahhhh I don't know i've never played to an audience before, only got as far as writing bits down EMILY (showing interest) Oh c'mon please, just one song JAMES Nahh sorry I can't EMILY Why? JAMES I burnt all my sheets EMILY (irritated) Oh for fucks sake James JAMES (jokingly) How else was I meant to start this fire? EMILY Shaking her head in disbelief Wow she picks up the guitar and plays a few warm up notes, James watches with curiosity Last night I dreamt we did our laundry together And we were singing the same song While we folded our clothes (MORE)
10. EMILY (CONT’D) As I recall you looked like a total doofus Which is pretty accurate She looks at James with an innocent smile and tries to hand him the guitar JAMES (In awe) That was amazing. Where did you learn that? EMILY (suddenly shy again) Ahh I used to kinda play around a bit when I was younger, never got any good though JAMES No that was incredible I've never heard anything like that before EMILY Fumbling her fingers, looks up and smiles Thanks, your turn She tries to hand him the guitar again JAMES (embarrassed) No no no no no I'm not doing it EMILY (sighs) Fine, be boring then Emily puts the guitar to the side as she smirks at him. They watch the fire burn in the quiet darkness. EXT. CAMP - SCENE 10 - THE TRUTH JAMES So what are you actually doing out here then? EMILY (defensively) I just ran away JAMES I feel like there's more to it than that. Like what made you run away?
11. She calms herself, closes her eyes and breathes out. James listens in silence, taking in every detail. EMILY I was at home with my friend, we were together from the start. We were just in town when the powercut hit. It kinda just happened out of nowhere, nobody knew what was going on. People were starting to get a bit cranky so we went back to mine because it was closer. My mum was away with my stepdad on some anniversary or something, so we were home alone. We probably lasted just over a week in the house before we started to run out of food, we knew we were gonna have to find some eventually but we were both so scared. By this point the streets had turned to shit with people looting and rioting. We could literally see from the house people breaking windows and stealing cars, it was fucking terrifying. Anyways so I left early this morning to try and find some bread or something for us to eat. I wanted it to be a surprise for her. To wake up to some shitty breakfast I made. She starts to struggle with getting her words out, choking almost. James listens, fixated on the story. I got to the corner shop, but there wasn't anything left. Just some scraps of shit crisps and salad. On the way back to my house though, I could see these two people coming out of a church. I went to approach them to ask if they were okay or if they had any food. But as I got closer and I could just see their faces... you know when you just get a bad feeling about something? She starts struggling a little more, James is starting to realise where this is going. They wanted to know where I was hiding and who I was with. I swear they just looked like normal guys, I couldn't have known. I panicked and ran as fast as I could. I ran and didn't look back once.
12. Now on the verge of tears, struggling to say anything. They followed me, James. They broke the fucking door down. They took advantage of me. Lips trembling, eyes lifeless, emotionally scarred and numb to her surroundings. As if she's just realised the significance of the events. They took advantage of us. James is beyond belief at what he just heard. Speechless and angry, with a lump in his throat he hugs Emily. He holds her tight as she tucks her cheeks into his shoulder. EMILY (CONT’D) (quietly) I'm sorry James continues to hold onto her, not saying a word. JAMES (softly) There is literally nothing I can say that will make this all go away. But you are the most amazing person I have ever met. You are so strong. And I am so so sorry that this happened to you. Emily slowly pulls out of the hug EMILY It all happened because of me, I did this JAMES No you can't blame yourself, you couldn't have known for fucks sake. Those bastards caused this EMILY No I did this to her, I ruined her fucking life, James JAMES (anxious) Where is she now? Is she safe? EMILY I don't know, she ran off without me. We had a fight Overwhelmed with information and emotions, he hugs her again.
13. JAMES Things are gonna be shit. For a long time. And it's gonna suck, but thats okay. Because I promise you that everything is going to be okay. Not today, but one day. One day you're gonna wake up and you're gonna smile for no reason at all. You are going to get through this, and I am going be here for you. Just keep swimming. Emily gives a little laugh as she pulls herself together. She leans against his shoulder as they watch the fire slowly burn END OF ACT 2
14. ACT 3 EXT. CAMP - MORNING - SCENE 11 - GONE A small camp overlooking the rich forest landscape, an organised mess with a small burnt out fire pit. A scruffy haired teenage boy is laid down on the forest floor. He wakes up to the sweet sounds of birds and looks around. Unable to see his friend anywhere, he stumbles to his feet. He notices his notepad leant up against his guitar and approaches it. As he picks up the notepad, he reads a neatly written message. thank you, E He sits in silence at the opening of his tent, listening to the birds and taking in the view. END
