EXT. BACK ALLIES. NIGHT
FADE IN:
GARY runs through the back allies of a sleepy sea side town, no one is around. It is raining, hard. He cuts in and out of the ally ways and comes to a large blue bin. Voices can be heard coming from behind him, he is worried and runs again. He doesn't know where he is going but he has to get out.
SHADOWY FIGURES come out of the darkness which he manages to avoid, but they chase him down a dead end ally way. He spins round and sees four SHADOWY FIGURES blocking the only way out. GARY drops to his knees.
GARY
(out of breath) Please, Please let me go, killing me won't solve anything
The TWO Figures stand and stare in silence
GARY (cont'd)
Please I won't tell anyone just let me go and you'll never see me again. I won't tell...
A silver object flies through the air and connects with GARY'S throat, he bleeds and slowly ends up on the floor, he takes one last look at the sky before falling down flat.
The SHADOWY FIGURES move round the corpse. They look at each other, the biggest one out of the two grabs the corpse by the hair and drags it out of the ally-way following the other Figure. A tramp sits silently by the blue bin covered with random objects, the only thing that is visible is his eyes which express a look of shock. The figures walk pass. The tramp think they have gone and start too move round the corner to see where they are going. He follows them quietly and is undetected
EXT. PIER. NIGHT
The SHADOWY FIGURES throw the body off the end of the pier. Tramp is sitting out of the way watching, but one of the figures has a sense that they are being watched and without a word he slowly turns round and see the tramp squatting behind a metal public bin
TRAMp
Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh shit!
The figure seems to glide towards him, a shinny object flies from his hand and sticks into the wooden fence behind the tramp, just missing his face
TRAMP
OH SHIT!
The Tramp runs back to the town, as the figure starts to peruse he is stopped by the other figures. They look at each other then look along the coast to what appears to be a circus Tent being built up. The shadowy figures run towards the circus grounds, once there they sneak around the circus building site which is quiet, they head towards a bunch of caravan grouped next to each other on the side of each caravan reads "The Jobe Clowns". The figures stop just short of one of the Jobe family caravans. The smallest of the two pulls out a folded up piece of paper, which he holds up, he looks to the others who nod and he runs quietly to the caravan and goes inside. When inside he looks around and picks up a tape which he puts in his pocket, he then goes onto throwing the note on the bed and runs back out of the caravan. The note slightly unfolds and the top reads "To Family I have decided to leave..."
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INT. Mobs' bedroom. Day
The alarm goes off. It is 8.00am and Mobs slowly stirs from his bed. He sits up and open the curtain of his small boxed room
MUM
(knocking on the door)
Mobs, are you awake? you have work in an hour! You want any breakfast?
MOBS
Yeah, I'll be down in a minute
MUM
Makes sure your quick you can't be late again!
MOBS
Yeah yeah I'll be there!... Hang on, when was I late last time?
MUM
You were always late for school! Don't say you weren't because your teacher told me!
MOBS
The last time i was at school was like three years ago, I think I have grown up since then!
MUM
Move It!
MOBS puts on some clothes, he looks at himself in the mirror as he sorts out his hair and then he looks down at a picture. The picture shows him and his ex-girlfriend in full winter clothing, in a snowy place with snowboards in the background, hugging each other. His face drops and he looks up, voices and screams can be heard. He snaps out of it and heads downstairs towards the kitchen. MUM is moving around in her wheelchair, preparing breakfast
MUM
So how is my baby this morning?
MOBS
Mum, come on I'm no baby, I hate it when you call me that especially when Dr Pace comes over. Oh and can you make sure I have jelly beans not jelly babies in my packed lunch I feel bad when i eat them.
MUM
But thats what you are, mind you Dr Pace is coming over later to give me a check up
MUM places breakfast in-front of Mobs, Its a good old English fry up.
MOBS
Oh yeah, do you need me about? I can always take time off.
MUM
(sharply) Don't be silly I can look after myself!
MOBS
I only want too help, I...
MUM
No i don't need you help Mobsey, you should be out there living, not have me dragging you down, I can look after myself
Mobs hangs his head and pushes his plate away barely touching his food.
MUM
Are you ok? you haven't touched anything
MOBS
Yeah I'm fine, I'm gonna be late for work
MOBS picks up his packed lunch, stuffs it in his bag and heads for the door.
MOBS
(quietly) Bye Mum
MOBS leaves the house, leaving mum who bursts into tears
MUM
My boy is growing up too quickly
INT. Robert's Caravan. Day
It is a large posh American style caravan. The main room is set out like an office with papers, leaflets and posters scattered about the place of the new venue they are at. ROBERT sits at the desk looking out of the window. The other circus artists outside are still rushing around setting up the tent for tonights performance. The door opens and RAY walks in wearing a suit, ROBERT looks down on the desk and desperately pretends to be working on the paperwork in front of him.
RAY
Morning Robert so what shit hole are we in today?
ROBERT looks up and hands him a poster he avoids eye contact with RAY and gets straight back into the paper work. RAY snatches the poster. The poster has a picture of a clown face, at the top it reads "RAYZ European Circus" and at the bottom it reads "COMING TO LOWERSTOFT MARCH THE 3RD TILL THE 5TH"
RAY
Great! Fucking Lowerstoft, AGAIN! Were we not hear a few months ago?
RAY screws up the poster and throws it at ROBERT which knocks him off his chair. ROBERT climbs back onto the chairs still avoiding eye contact
ROBERT
(Stuttering)
Well...Its marked in your diary and its the only place we have free ground rent...
RAY
I don't care about the ground rent, are we picking up or dropping off today?
ROBERT
We are picking up...the dealer is called Spine... We had dealings with him before... You know, why can't we leave the drugs out of this...
RAY
(Shouting)
WHAT! have you lost your mind? If it was not for the drugs this circus wouldn't be running at all! We are the last circus in Europe Robert, does that mean nothing too you? What would mum and dad say if they knew you were turning your back on the circus tradition?!
RAY moves behind ROBERT and paces up and down putting ROBERT under pressure to answer
ROBERT
(Shyly)
Mum and dad would not be happy if they knew you were using drug money, they were completely against drugs. Don't you see your destroying peoples lives by dealing...
RAY grabs ROBERT by the scruff of the neck and pulls him violently over to the window, RAY holds ROBERT'S head and forces him to look out at the circus artists working, setting up the tent
RAY
(Angrily)
Destroying peoples lives! Don't you see? If this circus was to close down what will they do? They are family! They will have to give up their passion of performing and get some job working in a fast food place! No one else will hire them, there are no other circus to go to, you will be destroying their lives, their families!
RAY then throws Robert into the desk, sending papers flying everywhere. Robert lays on the floor and dears not to move. RAY straightens himself up.
RAY (CONT'D)
And If you even think about telling anyone,ANYONE, there will be big trouble do you understand?
Robert nods slowly. RAY turns and leaves the caravan slamming the door behind him
ROBERT
(quietly)
But they already know Ray.
INT. BUS. Day
MOBS is sitting on the bus heading to his work, the bus is packed with school children and elderly. He feels uncomfortable sitting on his own so he sticks his Walkman in and stares out of the window just watching things go by, then all of a sudden the great sight of the circus tent filled his eyes. He stares in amazement as the bus stop at some traffic lights. A girl is standing at the curb staring at him, he notices and return the smile. He has taken this bus for years but never has he seen such a beautiful girl. She must be with the circus, he thought. He is deep in thought still staring at the pretty girl when a piece of paper hits him square in the face.
MOBS
Hey! come on guys!
SCHOOL BOY
(Cockerly)
Don't 'Hey' us you big twat!
All the school children on the bus turn and laugh at MOBS. He looks out of the window and sees the girl laughing at him and he smiles and gestures. All the children start taking the piss so MOBS presses the button for the bus to stop and start heading for the door. As he heads for it, he is bombarded by paper balls and paper planes. He doesn't seem bothered, and seems like this has happened a million times before. As he exits the bus he looks down the road to where the girl was standing but he sees no-one.
MOBS
(to himself)
Where the hell did she go? Surly I didn't imaging her, did i? No course I didn't I'm not that lonely
MOBS carries on walking to his work, down a long crowded road, he passes a tramp sitting in a door way begging
TRAMP
You alright Mobsey?
MOBS
Alright Gordon, how are you? You coming in? I'll make you a coffee?
TRAMP
No I can't I'm going over to Yarmouth today, so just waiting for my bus. But Mobsey I have to tell you something...
MOBS
Well I'm pretty busy and as long as it isn't anything to do with the drugs you were on last night then I don't....
TRAMP
No, no, no not at all, it's more important than that. I think I saw someone getting murdered last night!
MOBS
(Laughs)
Oh come on, I know this place is a shit hole but nothing that exciting goes on here
TRAMP
Thats what I thought, but believe me I saw everything and something big is going to happen here in Lowerstoft.
MOBS
Yeah thats what that bloody mayor and MP say all the time but it still ends up like this
TRAMP
Look, please let me tell you what I saw, I can't go to the police they will think I'm crazy.
MOBS
Ok, ok but come in I've got to set up the cafe before the Kids Club come in
TRAMP
Ok but I can't hang around for long, I have the feeling someone is after me.
The both walk into the big old theatre Called Mantors. It has a big bar area which leads onto a long corridor with rooms coming off, where a lot of the kids club is done and teaching at night. At the end of this corridor is the main theatre. Mobs walks in and flips a load of switches which turn on the lights, sound and a giant plasma TV in the bar. MOBS then walks behind the bar and puts the coffee maker on before going on opening the bar. TRAMP is sitting at the bar looking worried.
MOBS
Coffee?
TRAMP
No I'm not hanging around. Look I witnessed someone getting murdered last night and I have the feeling I'm next!
MOBS
Yep, your right you do sound crazy!
TRAMP
(Over Animated)
No please hear me out. Last nigh I was trying to sleep by the big blue bin that leads to the fishing boats. A man ran passed me followed by two others. He ran down the wrong ally and was cornered, Something was said but I couldn't make it out due to the rain, but the next thing...WHACK! The guy who was being chased had a massive knife in his neck!
MOBS stands still and stares at the TRAMP who is jumping around making all these big gestures, picking up objects to enhance his story, like toys laying around for the kids club and a small plastic knife. MOBS doesn't know whether to laugh or cry with laughter!
TRAMP (COnT'D)
Then I followed them to the docks where they chucked the body off the pier! I don't know what happened next but one of them saw me hiding and it was the scariest thing ever! He floated towards me Mobsy! I didn't know what to do I just felt stunned, then a knife whooshed just past my head! It nearly had my eye out! Then I ran and fortunately they didn't come after me, they just stood there.
TRAMP is breathing heavily after the running around, he looks to Mobs for a reaction and sees Mobs looking at him with a big grin on his face as he is wiping up a pint glass.
MOBS
(Sarcastically)
Oh no they must be after you, you know too much! Run away to the Hills!
TRAMP
Hey I put faith in you Mobsy! I honestly thought you would help me out! But fine I don't mind, just hear this, something is going to happen here and its not going to be pretty
TRAMP stands up, he picks up his battered suit case and heads for the door. MOBS just stands and watches
TRAMP (CONT'D)
Now I leave for Great Yarmouth, If anyone needs me I'll be on Regent Road somewhere.
TRAMP leaves whilst singing 'Wonderful Yarmouth By The Sea'. MOBS carries on cleaning glasses chuckling to himself
MOBS
Crazy fool
He looks forward out of the windows onto the street, where he sees the girl amongst the busy street for a split second, then she goes. MOBS feels a chill run down his spine
MOBS
I have to start getting to sleep earlier
At the same time a hand slaps down on his shoulder. MOBS lets out a scream and drops the glass he was drying. CHEF laughs out loud
CHEF
Morning Boyo! Whats wrong with you this morning?
MOBS
Hey chef, I didn't get much sleep
CHEF
Oh you poor boy, wanna bacon sandwich?
MOBS
Yeah go for it
INT. cirrus Tent. day
All the circus artists are running around still setting up the main tent, it is still raining hard and winds are picking up. KARL the German Tent Master stands in the middle of the tent barking out orders when there is a loud snap. The safety line holding up the main pole snaps because of the wind.
KARL
Someone grab that rope, Everyone secure the King Pole!
All the circus artists try their best and finally after fighting with it, Karl has had enough and grabs the rope with one hand, everything calms down and the rest of the artists looks on at him.
KARL
This is how you do it! Now Someone take this rope and secure it. NOW!
A young man steps forward and takes the rope, he struggles with it but has it under control, Karl walks away and starts checking other fastenings, he swears under his breath as he goes.
AMY comes over to KARL who is kneeling redoing some knots
AMY
(* SPOKEN IN GERMAN *)
Father I don't know where Gary is, we think he has locked himself in his caravan, Lou is over there now trying to talk him out of it
KARL
(* SPOKEN IN GERMAN *)
WHAT! The bloody idiot! What does he think he is doing? In conditions like this we need all the hands we can get! If i find out he was with them bloody Jamaicans smoking all night again I will throw him in the sea!
AMY
(* SPOKEN IN GERMAN *)
No, he was acting a bit strange last night, I know for a fact that he wasn't with the Jamaicans
Karl tries to tie down a knot which comes undone in his hand. He gets angry, very angry! He lets of a long primal scream which stops everyone in their tracks.
KARL
(* SPEAKING IN ENGLISH *)
Where is he!!
Amy walks gracefully towards GARY'S caravan, just behind is KARL, who is still barking orders at people as he goes past. He is like a human bulldozer, nothing can stop him. Finally they reach the caravan where LOU is standing looking in the window