1. BEDROOM - INT/DAY
A young woman, LUCY ROBERTS, is frantically working on her dissertation. Bits of screwed up paper are scattered all over the room with many more joining them as she throws them over her shoulder, groaning in annoyance, a strained expression on her face.
The door suddenly opens with a slam and ROXANNE SMITH storms into the room, a look of pure anger visible on her face. ROXANNE is waving a phone in the air before showing it to LUCY.
ROXANNE
What is this!?
LUCY cringes at the loud volume of ROXANNE’S voice and then looks blankly at the phone in front of her, annoyed at this seemingly unnecessary interruption.
LUCY
That’s my phone...why have you got my phone?
ROXANNE
Not that! This!
ROXANNE throws the phone at LUCY who only just manages to catch it. She glances at the phone now in her hand, and then glares back at ROXANNE.
LUCY
Why have you been reading my texts?
The question is asked in the same volume as the rest but the tone Lucy uses is venomous. Any normal person would shrink away in fear but the tone only makes ROXANNE angrier.
ROXANNE
Who is this person? Who have you been giving your number too!?
LUCY puts her phone in her pocket before slamming her hand on the table, hard, and standing up to face ROXANNE eye to eye.
LUCY
My number, my business. You had no right to look through my texts! I don’t need to be treated like a child, Roxanne; I can look after myself.
ROXANNE
Oh really? We’ll see about that!
A look of confusion crosses LUCY’S face before ROXANNE grabs her arm and starts dragging out of the room.
Cut to...
2. HALLWAY/STAIRS – INT/DAY
ROXANNE continues to drag LUCY through the house while LUCY tries to pull her arm out of her grip.
LUCY
Roxanne, what are you doing? Let go; that hurts!
Cut to...
3. HOUSE – EXT/DAY
The front door of the house opens and ROXANNE throws LUCY outside. Lucy nearly falls but maintains her balance before quickly turning round to face ROXANNE who is glaring at her.
ROXANNE
Let’s see how well you do without me.
LUCY watches the door in front of her slam shut, locking her outside. She looks up at the house, hoping that it will all end up being a cruel joke and that ROXANNE would open the door, but only silence passes. Sighing, LUCY turns her back to the house and walks away, hands in her pockets.
4. PARK BENCH – EXT/DAY
LUCY is alone, sitting on a bench, crying. The rest of the world goes about their business. It’s as if she doesn’t even exist, with not a single person turning to look at her. She looks at her shoes as she continues to cry, sniffing and rubbing her eyes every now and then.
5. PARK – EXT/DAY
Elsewhere in the park a young man, LUCAS TAWNEY, is running down a path, looking as if he is trying to find something. LUCAS suddenly stops before turning a full 360, looking intently at everything in sight before setting off once again.
6. PARK BENCH – EXT/DAY
LUCAS runs pass LUCY who is still sitting on the same bench, crying, and as if realising something, LUCAS steps back a few steps so he is once again in front of LUCY. He looks at the crying girl, who doesn’t once lift her gaze from her shoes, for a few moments as if mulling things over in his head before moving forward and up to the bench.
LUCAS sits down on the bench next to LUCY with only a small gap between them.
LUCAS
[As sitting down] Are you okay?
LUCY jolts in surprise turning her head to face LUCAS. Now that LUCY is no longer looking at her shoes, her red rimmed eyes are visible for the world to see. She looks at her hands which she is wringing in her lap.
LUCY
Yeah, I’m fine...
LUCY’S tentative reply is void of all emotion, making it easy for LUCAS to see through LUCY’S blatant lie. LUCAS turns his whole body towards her, in the hope of looking less intimidating.
LUCAS
Yeah, and pigs can fly. Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong, hmmm?
Tears are still rolling down LUCY’S face but that doesn’t stop her looking at the man, completely perplexed.
LUCY
I don’t even know who you are but you expect me to tell you what’s wrong? Are you crazy?
LUCY’S discomfort is obvious and LUCAS takes hold of her hand like a servant would a princess.
LUCAS
[Posh tone] My name’s Lucas and I promise I’m not crazy in the slightest. It’s very nice to meet to, miss.
LUCY
[Laughs] I’m Lucy.
LUCAS
Now we know each other.
LUCAS grins as if proud of finding a loophole in LUCY’S logic.
LUCAS
[Suggestive] Sooo...?
He lets the sentence linger in the air, it being obvious what he was going to ask. LUCY’S last defences crumble, the need to talk about the mornings events becoming evident on her face. LUCY looks around her, to see children playing and parents talking, before sighing and turning to face Lucas yet again.
LUCY
Fine, I’ll tell you, but it’s going to seem really stupid.
LUCAS
I’m sure it’s not.
LUCY
I had an argument with my roommate. She jumped to a conclusion; she does that, and ended up throwing me out of the house before I had a chance to explain. [Pause] But why do you even care anyway?
LUCAS
I don’t like to see a pretty girl cry.
LUCAS reaches into his pocket and pulls out a tissue as LUCY tucks a piece of hair behind her ear.
LUCAS
Here, mop yourself up.
LUCY takes the tissue and thanks LUCAS before wiping her now dry eyes. LUCAS leans back as she does this and notices a cafe in the distance.
LUCAS
I’m in the mood for chips...
LUCAS stands up and LUCY watches as he holds his hand out for her to take.
LUCAS
Do you want to join me? My treat.
Without the slightest hesitation, Lucy takes hold of LUCAS’S hand and they start to walk off.
LUCY
I would never normally do something like this, trust someone so easily, what makes this different?
LUCAS
No sane person can resist free chips.
The answer is given so seriously that LUCY bursts out laughing as the two continue to walk away from the bench, still holding hands.
LUCY’S phone suddenly beeps, signally the arrival of a text, and she stops to get it out of her pocket. LUCAS doesn’t realise that LUCY has stopped, and carry’s on walking, until he gets tugged back by their join hands.
LUCAS walks back towards LUCY as she looks up from her phone, smiling at LUCAS.
LUCY
It’s from ROXANNE. She’s sorry for over reacting and wants me to come home so she can apologise properly.
LUCAS
[Happy] That’s great.
LUCY clicks her fingers, suggesting that she has had a stroke of genius.
LUCY
I know! You should meet Roxanne; I think she’d like you!
The smile drops from LUCAS’S face, leaving a blank expression behind.
LUCAS
Um...Well, about that, I have to tell you something-
LUCY
Never mind about that now; I’m sure you can tell me later. Come on! This will be great!
LUCY takes hold of LUCAS’S hand and starts to pull him down the path. LUCAS starts to protest (“no, but”). He eventually gives up but still seems reluctant to go.
Fade out...
8. STREET/HOUSE – EXT/DAY
Fade in...
LUCY is still dragging LUCAS by the hand, down the street and towards her house. A worried expression is evident on LUCAS’S face. LUCY is babbling in an attempt to keep the conversation going.
LUCY
...Roxanne is really, really nice, you’ll definitely like her...I mean, sure she can have a bit of a temper but everyone does...oh, here we are!
The pair look up at the house before them. It looks homely and somewhat comforting as LUCY pulls LUCAS towards the door and knocks loudly.
9. LIVING ROOM/HOUSE – INT/DAY
ROXANNE is sitting on the sofa, reading, when a sudden knock is heard at the door. She gets up and walks to the front door, opening it to reveal LUCY and LUCAS. ROXANNE is pleased to see LUCY, her arms spread out wide as if expecting a hug from her roommate.
ROXANNE
Lucy-Goosey!
LUCY rolls her eyes at her nickname but smiles.
LUCY
[Jokingly] I told you not to call me that...
ROXANNE’S arms drop to her sides as she smirks at her friend, catching the joking tone that LUCY uses. LUCY shakes her head, to get her thoughts back on track before continuing.
LUCY
Anyway, I want you to meet Lucas; he was really sweet and looked after me.
Following LUCY’S words ROXANNE’S smirk turns into a look for confusion as she starts at her friend and flicks her eyes around looking for something, for LUCAS, but she sees no one there.
ROXANNE
Um...Lucy...no one’s there.
LUCY frowns and looks to where her and LUCAS’S hands are joined. She can still see him; LUCAS has a sheepish look on this face and shrugs knowingly.
LUCY
But he is there, I can see him!
ROXANNE
No hun, he really isn’t.
Concern is evident in ROXANNE’S tone as she rests a hand on her friends shoulder and LUCAS visibly droops behind LUCY; he knows he has to say something. He sighs before leaning forward slightly, bringing himself closer to the girl in front of him.
LUCAS
That’s what I was trying to tell you Lucy. I’m not here...I don’t exist.
Lucy whirls her head round to face him, angry that both of them are trying to mess her around.
LUCY
What are you talking about?! I can see –
LUCY stops talking and sees no one there. It’s obvious she’s confused as she holds her hand in front her eyes, the hand which only moments before was holding LUCAS’S.
LUCY
-You.
END
