106.
deacon’s creed
Written by
Tom Batt
THIRD DRAFT
FADE IN:
1. EXT. RAILWAY- DAY
A train roars past, dark clouds in the sky. The wind blowing through the trees.
2. INT. TRAIN- DAY
MARC DEACON (19) sits on the train next to the scratched graffiti covered window staring out into the distance. He is roughly dressed, jeans, T-shirt and jacket with trainers. He is tall and slim with a short rough haircut. A grumpy look covers his face. Next to him he has a sports bag, his hand resting upon it. On closer inspection we can see he is listening to music through earphones. His movement is minimal and he remains facing out the window.
The ticket inspector approaches
TICKET INSPECTOR
Ticket please
Marc remains still the music in his ears drowning out the husky voice. The inspector reaches over and taps Marc on the shoulder, Marc flinches and turns, he pulls out his earphones
TICKET INSPECTOR
Ticket please
Marc reaches into his pocket and pulls out a student discount card handing it to the inspector
TICKET INSPECTOR
Student huh? Going home to visit the family, that’ll be nice
MARC
Would be…if they were still living
The inspector hands back the ticket, Marc merely smiles at him and he walks away.
Marc immediately plugs in the earphones and continues his look out the window
3. EXT. STATION- DAY
The train pulls up alongside the station edge and the doors slide open. Marc steps out his bag over his shoulder, he looks around studying the station building carefully a slight face of recognition forms. He turns and begins walking along the platform climbing the stairs to a bridge that crosses over the tracks.
4. EXT. TOWN- DAY
He exits the foot bridge onto a road bridge that runs adjacent to it. He looks left then right unsure of where to go, he decides to go right walking into the small yet busy town centre of Hammett.
As he walks through the town he notices groups of youths standing in crowds hidden in alleyways and corners. He looks closer to notice the switching of packets of pills and money. A slight look of anger appears on his face. He continues walking.
He takes out his mobile phone and begins to push the numbers. A teenager in front of him runs up and snatches the phone from his hands sprinting into the distance. Marc chases after him, but soon loses him.
MARC
Shit!
5. EXT. BED & BREAKFAST- DAY
Marc arrives at a bed and breakfast he looks up at the small rather rundown building. He walks up the path and enters.
6. INT. BED & BREAKFAST- DAY
Marc enters a small lobby to find it well-decorated and rather expensive looking. He approaches a small desk where a teenager sits reading
MARC
Excuse me
The teenager looks up a little annoyed with the interruption
MARC
You got a room?
TEENAGER
We got one left, 20 quid a night
MARC
20 quid? I was hoping to stay for two nights, but I’ve only got 30
TEENAGER
Then you can only stay one night, simple math.
MARC
Fine, one night
Marc reaches into his pocket and pulls out a 20 pound note handing it to the teenager
MARC
20 quid
The teenager takes the money and places it inside a till. He then turns around and picks off the only key on the board. Swinging around he holds it out for Marc to take, while he continues reading not looking up
TEENAGER
Room 4, enjoy. Breakfast is at 8:00 you have to be out by 11
Marc takes the key, and turns to the stairs. He climbs them to the top. He finds a small corridor with three bedrooms each door numbered; he walks down finding number 4 at the end. He pushes in the key and opens the door, entering cautiously.
7. INT. ROOM 4- DAY
Marc closes the door behind him and looks around the small classy room. It contains a bed, a wardrobe, a dresser and a beside table. Marc rests his bag on the bed and walks to a window the opposite side of the room. He looks out, the view of a plain garden running alongside a small alleyway with three teens standing around smoking. He pulls back from the window. He walks round to his bag and unzips it pulling out a black suit jacket and tie; he pulls out a photo of him and his younger brother smiling their arms around each other
He places the photo on the bedside table and reaches into the bag pulling out a small piece of paper. It reads ‘Martin’s Funeral, 12:00, Monday 12th’ He screws up the paper and throws it across the room.
8. EXT. ALLEYWAY- NIGHT
The moon glistens on a wet alleyway, we are in Marc’s POV, vision blurry and the image sways from side to side. Two characters walk toward him a blurry outline is all that can be seen. The picture comes into focus; we see a woman and a teen very pale approaching him, mostly covered in shadow, the moonlight picking out features
MARC
Mum?
FEMALE VOICE
(Whispering)
Why?
Suddenly a hand comes round from behind and smothers Marc’s face.
9. INT. ROOM 4- MORNING
Marc jumps up awake sweating in his bed, he breathes heavily. He looks around familiarising himself; he wipes his head and turns to look at the photo of him and Martin on the table next to him
10. EXT. CEMETARY- DAY
Dark cloudy skies cover the crowd wearing black as rain spits down. People young and old stand around an open grave dressed in black suits and black dresses with umbrellas, while the vicar reads his words. The people there are RAYMOND, dumpy shaved head, wearing a casual black jacket rather than a suit jacket (18), RACHEL, beautiful blonde with short hair holding a tissue to her clean angel like face (18), SONNY tall and slim with a spiky hair style (18), THE MAGICIAN again tall well-built with a smart hair cut and sunglasses (18) and Marc, who wears his suit. Marc stands alone from the crowd of adults and other teens. They each throw some dirt into the grave with a rose, Rachel crying more so than anyone else. As everybody starts to walk away, Sonny goes the opposite way down a small path exiting the cemetery out the back. Marc watches him as he goes, Raymond walks over to Marc nervously.
RAYMOND
Hey Marc, are you coming to the pub, for you know…
MARC
I’ll catch up; I’m going to stick around here for a bit
Raymond turns and walks away with the others. Marc looks across a row of headstones to a black one centred in the middle of some grey. He walks over to it slowly; he stops in front of it looking directly at the name. It reads ‘Jill Deacon, Mother of Marc and Martin, taken so young’
A sad look appears on his face, the slight build up of a tear in his eye.
MARC
I’m sorry Mum, I let you down
11. INT. PUB- DAY
People stand and sit throughout the dimly lit pub, drinking and picking food from the buffet table set out in the middle. There is a low murmur of conversation flowing around. Marc enters and walks up to the bar; there are a few disgusted looks at Marc from others.
MARC
Pint of beer
Barman
What type?
Marc
Any
The barman turns to fill the glass. A middle-aged man GRAHAM who looks tired with a scruffy short beard approaches Marc at the bar holding a pint, he walks as though he is a little tipsy and his speaking is slurred.
GRAHAM
You’ve got a nerve
Marc ignores him focusing on the barman pouring his drink
GRAHAM
You’re the reason he’s dead, the reason he’s six feet under in a box aged 18.
MARC
Really? I thought he was mugged in the street. I think you’ve had too much to drink
GRAHAM
God he looked up to you, admired everything you did. If only it was good.
MARC
I don’t need this Graham, I know what I did and I’m not proud. So if you wouldn’t mind leaving me alone, I’d much appreciate it
GRAHAM
You’re a waste of space, everyone was glad you left and they’ll be glad when you go back
Another man approaches and grabs Graham’s arm pulling him back
MAN
Okay Graham. Come on that’s enough
GRAHAM
Get your greasy hands off me
He pulls Graham back and sits him down on a chair, then sits opposite. Raymond notices Marc at the bar and walks over; he stands beside him placing an empty pint glass on the bar.
RAYMOND
I’m sure he doesn’t mean it. It’s been a shock to all of us
MARC
Well when the shit hits the fan everyone gets covered and I get the blame
RAYMOND
What’s that supposed to mean?
MARC
It means when my brother decided to screw around with his own life enough to lose it, I’m the one that suffers.
RAYMOND
There’s nothing you can do about that. It’s just the way people see. Everybody needs someone to blame
MARC
Mugged. A random beat and run. I’m miles away when it happens yet people find a way to blame me. Anyway if he was still like me after I left he probably provoked the attack
RAYMOND
I know he was a wild one, but I can’t see him risking his life
MARC
Maybe he was risking it unaware of the consequences.
RAYMOND
So how long you staying for?
MARC
I don’t know, just tonight. I’m obviously not welcome.
RAYMOND
I didn’t think you’d ever return after the Charlie incident.
MARC
Neither did I. I had to get away everything here reminds me of it
RAYMOND
Apparently he knows who grassed him up
MARC
Oh yeah? Who?
raymond
Word is, one of his boys, most likely Mack
MARC
Can’t say I’m surprised, he never trusted him
Marc looks over to see Rachel in the pub garden playing on her mobile the rain pouring down on her a little harder than before.
MARC
Hold up here a minute
RAYMOND
Yeah no worries
Marc leaves his drink on the bar and stands. He walks through the pub past the Magician who sits alone flicking cards; he steps out the door into the garden.
12. EXT. PUB GARDEN- DAY
Marc sits down opposite Rachel, who is still upset clicking away on her mobile
marc
Same phone number?
rachel
Yeah, but you never call it
marc
I’ve still got the it written down on a piece of paper in my wallet. Sorry to say it never saw the light of day
rachel
I always waited for you to call, but I was always disappointed. I gave up in the end.
MARC
How are you holding up?
RACHEL
Fine I guess, I’ve never been to a funeral before so this is all kind of weird
MARC
Yeah it is, it’s not an event we find particularly joyful. Unless the body in the box is someone you don’t like
Rachel looks up in shock
MARC
Sorry
RACHEL
How have you been?
MARC
I’ve been fine I guess. What about you?
RACHEL
Life’s bad as always, and it just got worse
MARC
What are you doing out here?
RACHEL
I just wanted to be in the fresh air, clear my mind. Think about Martin.
MARC
I am sorry, about leaving, I had to though. My life was going down hill I had to get away, start afresh.
RACHEL
I understand, I just wish I could’ve come with you, but it was too complicated at the time. Anyway I’ve settled with you not being here now
A man steps out the pub with a pair of keys, RICH (30). He wears his suit with style and knows it. His face is clean shaven with a smart haircut very much the opposite of Marc
RICH
Are you ready to go home, Rachel?
RACHEL
Yeah
She stands and heads for the car through the garden
RICH
Nice to see you again, Marcus
MARC
Wish I could say the same about you Dick, but that would be a lie
RICH
Why don’t you piss off back to university now, nobody wants you here?
Marc stands and turns to face Rich eye to eye. Marc looks into his eyes for a moment
MARC
You know I almost forgot what your eyes looked like, still the same, pissholes in the snow.
Marc walks round Rich knocking his shoulder and enters the pub; Rich follows Rachel over to the car
13. INT. PUB- DAY
As Marc enters he notices the Magician to the side of him flicking cards.
MARC
Hey
The Magician continues ignoring Marc
MARC
Know any tricks?
Magician
Hundreds
He holds the cards out in a fan toward Marc
Magician
Pick a card
Marc reaches out and pulls a card from the fan; he looks at it, the ace of spades.
Magician
Put it back
Marc places the card back and the magician collects them into a pile. He taps on the pack and blows; he places the cards on the table then reaches into his pocket. He places it on the table face down
Magician
Turn it over
Marc turns the card over to reveal the ace of spades. The Magician collects up the pack and starts flicking.
Marc
You didn’t ask if it was my card
magician
That’s because I know it was. I don’t need confirmation
MARC
Very clever. My brother loved magic
He stops flicking and starts shuffling slowly
MAGICIAN
I know, he told me
MARC
You knew my brother well?
MAGICIAN
No we weren’t exactly friends. He helped me out; I thought I’d done the same for him, but I guess I was too late
MARC
Excuse me?
MAGICIAN
I’m sorry. I’ve got to go, I’m sorry for your loss
The Magician stands, Marc stops him
Marc
Wait! What do you mean by that?
magician
Your brother eats dirt for a reason
He walks away and exits the pub. Marc thinks for a moment then walks back over to the bar next to Raymond. He takes a sip from his drink
MARC
Who’s the card guy?
RAYMOND
Nobody seems to know his name, people call him the Magician. Keeps quiet, stays out of other peoples business, an outsider.