Transitions

by Iain Metcalf

Cast list

ANDREW 45 years old, overweight, greying, glasses
VICTORIA Andrew's daughter, 17 years old
LISA Victoria's and Abigail's friend, 19 years old
ABIGAIL Victoria's and Lisa's friend, 18 years old
SHOP ASSISTANT 25 year old man
TINA Andrew's wife, Victoria's mother, dead
ROBIN 40-50 years old, well groomed
VANESSA 30-40 years old, Clubber
TIA 20-30 years old, Clubber

Transitions

EXT. SUBURBAN HOUSE. EARLY SUMMER EVENING

An expensive Mercedes car is in the drive and parked alongside is a small pink car. The garden is in immaculate condition.

INT. HOUSE. HALL

It is a grand hall with oak floorboards and spotlessly clean, stairs lead up the right hand side, a kitchen is visible at end of the hall. Victoria is in the kitchen making a cup of tea. A sitting room is off to the left.

INT. HOUSE. ANDREWS BEDROOM

ANDREW is struggling to put on a leather vest in front of a mirror. It is stuck on his gut.

ANDREW
Damn... Stupid bloody thing... Why won't...

Off sceen, VICTORIA knocks at the door.

VICTORIA
(turns door handle)
Dad, I got you a cup of tea...

ANDREW
(runs and holds the door handle shut)
No, I mean, sorry Vic, I'm... er... wrapping your presents.

VICTORIA
Oh, presents, I'm definitely coming...

ANDREW
No, no, you can't, I'm...

VICTORIA
Jesus, Dad, just joking, your tea is on the floor outside.

ANDREW
Thanks, Vic.

Sound of VICTORIA walking downstairs.

ANDREW goes back to the mirror and continues to struggle to get the vest over his stomach. Andrew picks up and looks at the label from the vest. We see it is a size 42 inch chest.

ANDREW
(under breath)
42 inch chest my arse.

EXT. PRIVATE SHOP.

ANDREW is seen on pavement outside looking around. Andrew goes to enter but a car comes past so he walks past the door. Andrew stops looks around again and then walks back and enters shop.

INT. PRIVATE SHOP.

Rows of sex products on basic metal shelving. A SHOP ASSISTANT is reading a book at the counter. ANDREW looks around, he is the only customer. Andrew stares at the floor as he walks towards the clothing section. Andrew starts looking through vests on a rack, Two girls, LISA and ABIGAIL enter the shop. Andrew sees them and turns his face away so they cannot see it. Lisa and Abigail start looking at the merchandise.

LISA
(points at an object on shelf)
Oh my God, would ya look at that!

ABIGAIL
Eww, that's just nasty.

LISA
What about this then?

ABIGAIL
Flippin' heck, Lisa, there's something wrong with you.

LISA
Oh stop being such a kid, Abi.

ABIGAIL
I just don't like this shop, it's all pervy.

LISA
Well, the sooner we get Vicky a present, the sooner you can get back to playing with your dolls. Let's have a look at the underwear.

LISA and ABIGAIL walk to the far corner of the store. ANDREW grabs a vest and goes to the till to pay, The SHOP ASSISTANT puts down his book to serve him.

SHOP ASSISTANT
Would you like to try it on, sir?

ANDREW
No, err... No, that's fine, I;m err... sure it will fit.

SHOP ASSISTANT
Are you sure, sir? You can't return clothing items here, it would be unhygienic.

ANDREW
It's fine, here's the money, thank you.

SHOP ASSISTANT
Thank you, I'll just get you a bag, sir.
(reaches under counter and packs vest into bag)

LISA and ABIGAIL find a present.

ABIGAIL
Come on, let's pay and get out of here.

LISA and ABIGAIL start towards the till.

ANDREW
(snatches bag)
Thanks.

SHOP ASSISTANT
Your change, sir.

ANDREW leaves change behind and runs out of shop.

INT. HOUSE ANDREWS BEDROOM

ANDREW manages to get the vest on and poses in front of the mirror. He goes to the chest of drawers and picks up his mobile phone. Andrew looks at a text message.

We see the message 'Will be @ the Printworks tonight from 8 if U R interested. Robin'

Andrew looks at the clock, it is 6.30pm. He looks around the room, picks up a newspaper and looks at the crossword. It is completed. He searches his wardrobe and finds his university yearbook. Andrew sits on the bed and starts flicking through the pages. Andrew pauses on a page with a photograph of a group of people in a pub.

EXT. VILLAGE PUB

It's raining, a group of young people enter the pub. Shortly afterwards, a YOUNG MAN supporting a YOUNG WOMAN who is limping also walk into the pub.

INT. VILLAGE PUB

The young man helps the young woman to sit down. They are wearing matching sweatshirts embroidered with 'Sheffield University Climbers'. The young man has 'Andrew' embroidered on his and the young woman has 'Tina'. Andrew goes to the bar to order drinks. He gets two pints of bitter and then brings the drinks back to the table and sits down.

TINA
Thanks, Andy.

ANDREW
That's ok, how's the foot?

TINA
Not too bad, not going to make it up Snowden tomorrow though.

ANDREW
Oh, what you going to do instead?

TINA
(downs her pint)
Probably just stay in the pub.
(burps)

ANDREW
Wow, that was... err... do you want another one?

TINA
Not just yet thanks. Fancy keeping me company tomorrow?

ANDREW
If you like, I mean I could... yeah.

TINA
You're not that good with women, are you Andy?

ANDREW
Oh, how do you mean?

TINA
Well, I have been giving you the come on for ages and you either don't fancy me,
(pause)
or you haven't picked up on it.

ANDREW
You like me?

TINA
Oh, for goodness sake, if you won't start I will.

TINA reaches over and gives him a long kiss.

ANDREW
Wow, thanks, I...

TINA
Andy, it's not normal to say thanks.

ANDREW
Sorry.

TINA
(laughs)
What am I going to do with you?

Montage.

EXT. SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY

ANDREW and TINA in gowns graduating.

INT. SMALL FLAT

ANDREW and TINA are painting.

EXT. CHURCH

ANDREW and TINA's wedding photo.

INT. HOSPITAL

TINA is giving birth to Victoria.

INT. HOUSE. BEDROOM

ANDREW throws yearbook back in wardrobe and paces around the room. He looks at the clock again, it shows it is 6.40pm. Andrew looks at the yearbook in the wardrobe and then hurries across the room and opens the door. On leaving, he steps on the cup of tea, smashing it.

INT. HOUSE. HALL

ANDREW comes hurrying down the stairs and grabs his coat off the coat rack. VICTORIA comes out of the sitting room.

VICTORIA
Dad? Are you ok, what happ...
(pause)
What the hell are you wearing?

ANDREW
(taking keys off dresser)
What, oh, sorry I was...

VICTORIA
You're not going out dressed like that are you?

ANDREW
Well, yes, you see...

VICTORIA
My God, what would Mum have thought?

ANDREW
(voice raised)
Now hold on a minute young lady...

VICTORIA
(moves to block his way)
(voice raised)
Where are you going? Tell me!

ANDREW
(shouting)
Don't speak to me like that!

VICTORIA
You're going out on the pull dressed like that!

ANDREW
(pulls his coat around him to cover up the vest)
No, I am not going out on the pull
(pause)
and if I was, what business of yours would it be?

VICTORIA
Yeah, why should I care what my father does or how he spends his life, it's not like you're my only family, oh, hang on, yes you are aren't you but why should you...
(starts to cry)

ANDREW
(reaches out his hand towards her)
Sorry, sorry, you know I didn't mean it like that.
(pause)
I'm not going out on the pull, I am going to a friend's house for a small get together and I thought it might shock a few people the way it shocked you, you know, Andrew the Geek turning up in a leather vest.

VICTORIA
(quietly)
You said that you would never love another woman... I heard you whispering it to her photo.

ANDREW wipes his forehead and looks around.

ANDREW
Vicky, I didn't mean to snap.
(pause)
I am not going out on the pull.
(pause)
I am just going out with friends and I will never love another woman, other than you obviously.

VICTORIA
You said you were going to a friend's, not out with friends.
(silence)
Well?

ANDREW
(takes a deep breath)
It's not what you think Vicky, I'm...

VICTORIA slaps ANDREW across the face.

VICTORIA
Fuck you, Dad.

VICTORIA opens the front door and runs out.

EXT. HOUSE

VICTORIA runs to the small pink car and unlocks the door. ANDREW comes running out of the house. Victoria gets into the car and revs the engine loudly.

ANDREW
(shouting)
Vicky, come back please, let's talk about...

VICTORIA revs the engine again, drowning out ANDREW. She reverses quickly out of the drive and speeds away down the street. Andrew watches her go.

INT. HOUSE. HALL

ANDREW walks back in and puts his keys back on the dresser, he starts to cry quietly. He then walks into the sitting room.

INT. HOUSE. SITTING ROOM

ANDREW walks over to the fireplace, he picks up a photo of Victoria, looks at it then he then picks up a photo of Tina. He sits down on a sofa and alternates looking from photo to photo.

INT. HOSPITAL WARD

TINA is in bed, bandages around her head. ANDREW is at her bedside, there is a monitor next to the bed and wires running from Tina to it.

TINA
(quietly)
It's ok Andrew the
(Pause)
doctors said I'll be fine.
(pause)
It looks worse than it is.

ANDREW
Ssh, don't talk.

TINA
Andrew, if the doctors are wrong...

ANDREW
Stop it...

TINA
(louder but still quite quiet)
Andrew, if the doctors are wrong and I,
(pause)
I don't get better...

ANDREW
Tina, please...

TINA
(loudly)
Andrew,
(pause)
this is hard enough
(pause)
without you interrupting.

ANDREW
Sorry.

TINA
If I don't get better, make sure
(pause)
you are there for Victoria and
(pause)
not just working to provide for her.

ANDREW
I promise.

TINA
And don't be alone yourself.

ANDREW
Tina...

TINA
Promise me Andrew.
(silence)
Andrew, promise me.

ANDREW
I promise.

INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY

ANDREW is sat on a chair, a loud continuous beep is heard, doctors and nurses run past into a room. Andrew starts to cry.

INT. HOUSE. LIVING ROOM

ANDREW is still crying. He looks from the photo of Tina to the photo of Victoria. He then looks again at the text message on his mobile. He gets up and paces around the room. He then picks up the photo of Tina, kisses it and does the same to the photo of Victoria before leaving the room.

INT. HOUSE. HALL.

ANDREW grabs his keys and goes out of the front door.

EXT. HOUSE

ANDREW unlocks the Mercedes and gets in. He starts the engine and reverses out the drive and then drives off in the opposite direction to Victoria.

EXT. CARPARK

ANDREW pulls up and parks. Through the windscreen, we can see a large neon sign on the side of a warehouse saying 'Printworks'. There is a queue outside and music can be heard. Andrew does not get out of the car but sits staring across at the nightclub. His mobile phone bleeps. He looks at the screen and it's a message from Victoria.

Message reads 'Staying at Abi's, sorry for hitting you, love u Vic'. Andrew smiles and gets out the car.

EXT. NIGHTCLUB

ANDREW joins queue to enter. The queue is full of men and women also dressed up in clubbing gear. He pays and then enters the club.

INT. NIGHTCLUB.

ANDREW goes to the bar and gets a drink. He goes searching the night club from room to room. Andrew walks into a small room with seating in which ROBIN is sat down with two women (VANESSA and TIA). Andrew sits down next to Robin.

ANDREW
Hi Robin, I made it.

ROBIN
Andy, so I see, and you dressed for the occasion.

ANDREW
(quietly)
You like it?

ROBIN
Yes,
(pause)
not what I was expecting but you can get away with it, what do you think Vanessa?

VANESSA
It suits him, shows off his muscles.

ROBIN
(laughs)
Vanessa, behave, you'll embarrass him.

ANDREW
(laughs)
No, no, it's fine, I can take a compliment.

ROBIN
Good man, good man. Well now you're here, who's up for dancing?

VANESSA
Yeah sure.

TIA
Ok.

VANESSA and TIA get up and go to the dance floor.

ROBIN
Andrew, you dancing?

ANDREW
I'm not sure, I haven't danced in ages and never to music like this.

VANESSA and TIA wave and beckon from the dance floor.

ROBIN
Come on, the ladies are waiting on us.

ANDREW
Oh, ok.

ROBIN and ANDREW get up and join TIA and VANESSA on the dance floor. Andrew starts to relax and enjoy himself. Vanessa and Tia head off to the toilets and Andrew and Robin head back to the table.

ROBIN
You're not a bad dancer.

ANDREW
Thanks.

ROBIN
So...

ANDREW
So?

ROBIN
You're not very good at this are you, Andy?

ANDREW
No, it's not the first time that's been said.

ROBIN
Well if you won't start it I will.

Robin leans over and gives Andrew a long kiss.

Estimated performance time 14-15 minutes