FADE IN:
EXT. STANTON'S CAR - NIGHT
STANTON LARKCOMBE (35), expensive suit, gold Rolex, sits in
his parked Mercedes staring out the windscreen, on the edge
of madness.
An involuntary face twitch. Stanton's knuckles turn white
as he grips the steering wheel.
He's out of the car striding away with purpose. An
afterthought. He stops yards away, turns, sets the alarm
remotely.
Realises what he's just done. Fucking idiot!
He clicks the alarm off and throws the remote key into a
bush.
INT. STAIRWELL - NIGHT
Stanton storms up the stairs taking the steps four at a
time, all that time in the gym paying off.
His mobile rings. Stanton slides to halt, rips his phone
from his jacket pocket. It's the wife.
STANTON
Adios.
Stanton hurls the phone down the stairwell and continues up
the stairs at pace.
INT. STAIRWELL, GROUND FLOOR - NIGHT
The phone shatters on the ground, its ringtone dying a
digital death squarking its last note in defiance.
EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT
Stanton slams open the roof door, sweating heavily and
slightly out of breath. The door closes slowly behind him.
Stanton searches his pockets, finds the black marker pen he
was looking for, turns to the door, scribbles words.
He steps back to admire his work.
CLOSE UP: DOOR - "DEAR WORLD, FUCK OFF!!!! LOVE STANTON."
The pen flies over the side of the building.
Stanton adjusts his tie and strides to the edge of the
roof, only to find he's not alone.
JEAN BONNER (63), slightly overweight wearing a floral
seventies dress, lunch box and flask by her side, sits on
the roof edge, feet dangling over the side swinging in the
breeze, munching on a sandwich.
Stanton can't believe what he's seeing.
STANTON
What the hell are you doing?
Jean drops her sandwich, startled.
JEAN
Oh dear, you did make me jump.
STANTON
I hope not.
Stanton stands, impatient.
STANTON (CONT'D)
Well?
JEAN
Oh sorry, love, I won't be long.
STANTON
Too right you won't, I want you
down here this minute.
Jean has no intention of moving.
STANTON (CONT'D)
Come on you old bag, hurry up and
move, I don't have all night.
Jean ignores him.
STANTON (CONT'D)
Did you hear me?
JEAN
Yes.
STANTON
Well?
JEAN
Apologise.
What the hell?
STANTON
(questioning)
Sorry?
JEAN
Apology accepted.
Stanton, open mouthed astonishment.
JEAN (CONT'D)
Too many young people your age
have no manners. It's because of
all that techno stuff and
nonsense, like those Ibones I've
seen on the TV, contact at your
fingertips, you have no time to
think and that's why you're rude.
You don't have the time to pause
and be polite.
Stanton, convinced Jean's off her rocker.
STANTON
Right, well, are you going to
move, or what?
JEAN
When I'm ready to jump.
Jean helps herself to another sandwich.
Stanton struggling not to be overwhelmed with disbelief and
impatience.
STANTON
You can't jump from here, you'll
have to find another building.
JEAN
Why, what's wrong with this one?
STANTON
Because it's mine.
JEAN
I don't think so, I got here
first.
STANTON
Look, this is my building. I own
it, or technically my father-in
law does, but it's still my name
on the front door, so lets have
you down now.
JEAN
(confused)
You want me to jump?
STANTON
No, just out of my way. I'm in a
bloody hurry.
JEAN
That'll be the techno.
STANTON
The tech what? Look, just get
out of my way.
JEAN
You're being rude again.
STANTON
(exasperated)
OK, I'm sorry, but if you could
just get up from the ledge and
make your way down the stairs
that would be lovely.
Jean takes a bite of her sandwich.
JEAN
As I said, I was here first.
Stanton silently does his nut behind her.
JEAN (CONT'D)
Why don't you try another side of
the roof?
STANTON
Because I fucking want to jump
from this one.
JEAN
Oh dear, such language. The suit
doesn't make the man.
If Stanton waves his arms about any faster he'll take off.
STANTON
Right, try and understand this.
The right side of the building is
an alley. If I jump there I
might not be found for weeks and
by that time the rats will have
half eaten me. The back of the
building leads on to another roof
and the left side has railings
down the side of it. I don't
fancy being impaled, if I did I'd
thrown myself at my wife's sharp
tongue. The front's the only
option.
JEAN
And it has such a lovely view
too.
STANTON
Are you fucking mad? You're here
to kill yourself not see the
fucking sights.
JEAN
I'm going to stop talking to you
if you keep swearing.
Stanton jumps up and down barely keeping a lid on his
frustration. He takes a couple of deep breaths to calm
himself down, he can sort this.
STANTON
So why do you want to jump?
JEAN
Why do you want to know?
STANTON
Well maybe your reason isn't as
urgent as mine in which case I
should be the one jumping. You
could come back another day.
Tomorrow, maybe?
JEAN
Oh, I'm sure my reason is quite
urgent.
STANTON
I doubt it. I bet you haven't
just lost two million of your
father-in-law's company's money.
JEAN
Oh dear, you have been a naughty
boy, haven't you.
Stanton waits for Jean to give her reason, she just helps
herself to another sandwich.
STANTON
Well?
JEAN
Pardon?
STANTON
Your reason?
JEAN
For what?
STANTON
Why you're here?
JEAN
Oh, that's private.
Stanton, annoyed as hell. He can sort this by reason, he
just needs to think. He comes to a decision.
Stanton strides forward, determined. He jumps up onto the
ledge and sits down beside Jean. Jean isn't very happy
he's invaded her space.
JEAN (CONT'D)
You're not going to try and jump
with me, are you?
STANTON
Suicide is not really something
you can share.
JEAN
And you're not going to jump
before me?
STANTON
Only one of us is going to jump
tonight, we've just got to decide
who.
Jean offers him a sandwich, Stanton declines.
STANTON (CONT'D)
What's with the sandwiches
anyway?
JEAN
I like that CSI program on the
TV, always tape it. When they do
one of those autopsy things they
always check the contents of the
stomach. Did you know you can
tell a lot about a person by the
contents of their stomach?
STANTON
No, I never knew that.
JEAN
So I thought what would my
stomach contents say about me. I
decided fish and chips wasn't the
way I wanted to go. Cucumber
sandwiches and Earl Grey tea
speaks with a little more class.
Stanton shakes his head at Jean's loopy logic.
STANTON
Look, I'll give you my watch if
you go home and let me jump.
He hands it to her.
STANTON (CONT'D)
It's a Rolex.
JEAN
Pretty little thing, but I won't
need it after I jump, so it's a
bit useless.
Stanton takes the watch back, offers his hand to Jean.
STANTON
Stanton by the way.
She shakes it.
JEAN
Jean.
STANTON
Well, Jean, this can't go on, I
fully intend being the only one
to jump tonight and I don't want
you raining on my parade, so to
speak.
JEAN
As I said...
STANTON
I know, you were here first. So
what are we going to do?
JEAN
Well jump I thought?
STANTON
Jump yes, but how are we going to
figure out who?
JEAN
But I was...
STANTON
Yes, I know.
Jean sips her tea.
JEAN
So how do you lose two million
pounds?
STANTON
A few bad investments.
JEAN
Bad?
STANTON
Horses that couldn't run.
JEAN
Ooh, I've always wanted to own a
horse.
STANTON
Right. So, any idea how we're
going to solve this?
JEAN
I was here...
STANTON
...first. No need to keep going
on about it!
JEAN
Would you like a cup of tea?
Stanton nods, might as well.
Jean hands him a cup. He sips it... not bad.
JEAN (CONT'D)
Why are you always so angry?
STANTON
If you were married to my wife
you would be angry too.
JEAN
I bet she's not that bad.
Stanton relaxes.
STANTON
No, she's not really. It's her
father.
JEAN
Interferes does he?
STANTON
All the bloody time.
JEAN
Then why do you work for him?
STANTON
Sometimes I wonder that myself.
JEAN
You could always start your own
business.
Stanton shrugs, nonplussed.
JEAN (CONT'D)
You like gambling, you could
become a stockbroker, make
millions and give loads to
charity and a little boy in
Africa called Joseph won't die of
hunger and will be able to go on
to fulfil his destiny and lead
his nation out of poverty.
Stanton stares at her. Who *is* this mad woman? Jean
smiles.
JEAN (CONT'D)
All things are possible.
STANTON
They found out today.
JEAN
About the missing money... what
did your wife and her father say?
STANTON
I don't know, I didn't hang
around to find out.
JEAN
But they might not be too upset
with you.
STANTON
Yeah right!
JEAN
So how do you know?
STANTON
I stole two million, I doubt they
want to promote me.
JEAN
But you don't actually know?
Jean's got Stanton thinking.
STANTON
No, but I'm sure. If I nicked
two million off you would you be
happy about it?
He's not so confident now he's calmed down.
JEAN
I don't have two million.
Stanton looks at her dress. That's obvious!
STANTON
Nah, they'll call the police and
everything.
JEAN
I don't hear any sirens. And it
was only two million. I'm sure
your father-in-law has plenty
more.
STANTON
Shit loads.
JEAN
There you go then.
Stanton smiles, amazed at himself and Jean's undeniable
logic.
STANTON
Yeah, maybe I will go and check
things out, come back tomorrow.
JEAN
The roof will still be here.
Stanton looks at Jean properly for the first time, hugs
her, genuine warmth.
STANTON
Have a good one, Jean.
Stanton stands and walks to the stairwell.
STANTON (CONT'D)
Stockbroker..? Yeah, I like the
sound of that.
Stanton enters the stairwell. Jean smiles to herself.
JEAN
Have a good life, Stanton, and
thank you.
Jean stands, a halo appears around her head, and two
glorious wings unfold themselves from her back carrying
Jean into the night's sky.
FADE OUT.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.