moving on

Episode One: Harmonies Journey
Written by Scott Evans



EXT: THE WHITE DESERT: DAY

SEPTEMBER 26TH 2007


JACOB is stood over MILLER.


The two young men are in the middle of a vast, white barren desert. MILLER crawls over to JACOB and grabs hold of his leg. MILLER buries his head into JACOB’S foot as he continues to sobbingly plead for his life. JACOB keeps his gun pointed at the top of MILLERS head


JACOB
I’m sorry MILLER, don’t do this to me!


MILLER
Please J, can’t we figure something out?


JACOB
Either you die…


MILLER
Noooooo! (Sobs)


JACOB
Or everybody dies!


MILLER
Please, no GOD! You know why I did it, you understand


JACOB
Yes…


JACOB looks over his shoulder

JACOB
They’re getting closer…sorry Mill…
(JACOB breaks up)
I’m really sorry MILLER…I love you

MILLER gasps and pulls himself to his feet in sheer terror. His limps limbs begin to sprint across the vast empty desert erratically.

JACOB wipes his tears, aims his gun and fires

EVERYTHING GOES BLACK.


<SCREAMS>


Cut to:


EXT: ENGLAND. HARMONIES BAR ENTRANCE/ CAR PARK: SEPT 1ST NIGHT


SEPTEMBER 1ST 2007


It is raining hard in the murky cold streets of a small anonymous seaside town. The darkness is briefly lifted by bright lighting and monstrous thunder.


On a wet concrete floor JACOB is lying unconscious. He is soaking wet with fresh blood running down his face. Here JACOB’S hair is now sensibly short, neatly cut and he is clean shaven. He is wearing a black suit jacket, a white shirt and a black tie.


JACOB wakes up and splutters the water his face is resting in. He carefully opens his eyes.


JACOB can see a huge hulk of a man rampant mad inside his bar, sending surrounding people flying as he ploughs through them like a bull. The THUG quickly comes crashing through the front doors, smashing the glass as he does so. The man is raging like a wild beast.


The THUG looks in JACOB’S direction but JACOB quickly closes his eyes and pretends to be still unconscious in the hope he will not have to deal with him.


Two groups of burly police officers confront the THUG but he merely throws them away like limp dolls. The officers go flying through the air with such force that they crash down lifeless, smashing whatever it is they land on.


THUG
Where is she?! Where is she?!


As soon as JACOB opens his eyes The THUG spots him. He quickly charges over


JACOB
Oh Jesus!


JACOB is lifted up so that they are eye to eye. JACOB is raised off of his feet


THUG
Where the bloody hell is she?


A large crowd is now watching from inside of the BAR. Everyone seems very interested but no one is going to help.

JACOB
Who?


THUG
(Roars first)
Vera!


JACOB
I don’t know sir…sorry. I haven’t seen her


THUG
Don’t lie to me; your hiding the little whore aren’t you? Are you him? Are you the one she’s taunting me with, aye?


The THUG gets annoyed with the lack of answers from JACOB and begins to violently shake him


JACOB
Whoa, whoa, whoa, NO! stop please stop. Hang on, hang on, er… thank GOD. Isn’t that her, is that her now? Coming out here


THUG stops shaking JACOB


JACOB
She’s right behind you


The THUG drops JACOB hard and turns around


Stood right in front of him is a lanky lad with fizzy hair with a pale bruised face and a warm cheeky smile; it is MILLER who is wearing a nice white bartender outfit. Flickering in his raised hand is a STUN GUN. MILLER delightfully zaps the THUG


THUG
Arghhh!


The THUG doesn’t go down straight away; he staggers and turns around where he is greeted by a swift kick between the legs by JACOB. Just as it looks like the THUG is going to keel over he manages one last knock down punch to JACOBS face before he finally collapses.


As JACOB is once more lying on the wet concrete floor he turns to the THUG who is groaning in agony


JACOB
That’s it, this time you’re barred!


A group of POLICE OFFICERS quickly grab hold of the THUG


MILLER hands the stun gun back a dazed OFFICER still sprawled in a flower bed



MILLER
That would come in handy every Saturday night, well most nights actually


MILLER goes running over to JACOB but he doesn’t have time to see if he is okay. He pulls JACOB to his feet


MILLER
J, everyone is going mad inside. Nobody is serving!



JACOB
WHAT?! Well where’s Zack and Sonia gone to then?


MILLER points inside the BAR and through a window we see an over-weight girl tearfully shouting at three boys in their late teens/ early 20’s. The girl is SONIA


SONIA suddenly disappears from the window view and then storms out of the front door and across the car park



JACOB
Sonia!



SONIA
I QUIT!


JACOB storms inside the BAR. MILLER follows but he is stopped by a MAN IN A WHITE SUIT and three new POLICE OFFICERS. The MAN gives MILLERS a red book but says nothing, MILLER opens it


CUT TO:

INT: HARMONIES BAR.


JACOB storms through the front broken door towards three YOUNG MEN who were laughing at SONIA. They are still stood sniggering and seem drunk.


JACOB is stopped from getting to the three lads by a haggard, gaunt looking local with a drunken menacing face. His name is BERT


BERT
(To Jacob)
Get behinds that bar and bloody serve me NOW!!!


JACOB tries to ignore this idiot and carries on moving but he is violently pulled back by BERT who is visibly annoyed at being ignored.


Just as JACOB is being grabbed a burly bouncer is storming towards the front doors with two men under each arm in a head lock. He throws both out through the glassless doors and quickly lurches back to grapple with BERT, freeing JACOB from his grip.


JACOB continues to fight through the crowds towards the three young men who have now moved to the bar.


Not knowing JACOB is heading for them, the three lads continue their banter



CHRIS
(To Zack in middle)
Whoa Zack, I can’t believe you did that!


LEE
(To Zack)
I know man, the one eye monster might have an excuse but you have two eyes to see her with


CHRIS
I think your little soldier needs shooting for letting the side down. Pow Pow



JACOB charges into the pub and straight up to ZACK who is stood in the middle of the three lads. ZACK is much taller than JACOB and looks about 18/20. He has a bad complexion but is dressed fashionably. He burps in JACOBS face with amusement



JACOB
I take it that’s another victim then


The lads laugh



JACOB
I hired uglier staff so Shaggy here wouldn’t hop into bed with all of’em.



LEE
That’s funny man



JACOB
No it’s not, it’s horrible. Really horrible. This causes me no end of grief and what about the girls ZACK, don’t you care how much you upset them. You really upset them! Has the Suzy incident taught you anything?


The lads continue to laugh. JACOB gets angry at the way he is being disregarded and lashes out at ZACK. He grabs ZACK by the collar of his shirt and pushes him against the bar, smashing several glasses. However, ZACK is bigger and quickly shows that though he is younger, he is the stronger of the two. He pushes JACOB away, and then pushes him down onto the floor where he slowly tips the last of his beer over him. This amuses ZACK’S friends wholly but JACOB feels hugely humiliated as the BAR is packed with a Saturday night crowd who just stare at him on the floor, he looks and feels a embarrassment.


JACOB leaps back up and eyeballs ZACK who is grinning from ear to ear. JACOB knows this arrogant man-child cannot be reasoned with and he cannot win a fight with him either.


JACOB is mortified; he looks around unsure what to do next. He can’t bear CHRIS and LEE’S laughing or the stares from the crowd. He puts his head down and runs through a side door.


ZACK begins to really laugh hard as CHRIS and LEE slap him on the back in a congratulating way.



ZACK
You know the only reason my brother is in charge is because he is the oldest. What a knobhead
(Laughs and necks a vodka shot)


A fist suddenly knocks ZACK to the floor that is covered in broken glass. It was MILLER who now stands over him.

CHRIS and LEE lunge at MILLER to defend their friend but the large beefy bouncer who looks to be roughly the same age as JACOB steps in next to MILLER with his arm folded. He has a name tag, it says PATRICK. CHRIS and LEE quickly stop and back off as he shoo’s them away as you would a stray cat.


MILLER lectures ZACK



MILLER
You are bang out of order ZACK! I can’t believe anyone would treat their family the way you do, I mean it’s absolutely disgusting! What sort of shit are you?
<Sighs>
Now get behind that bloody bar before I get really pissed off



ZACK is stunned and cautiously gets up. He stares at MILLER for a second but soon realises he has Patrick breathing down his neck so he backs off churlishly and mops off behind the bar to serve, like a small child being told off by a strict parent.



MILLER
(Turns to Patrick)
Cheers Paddy


PADDY grabs CHRIS and LEE who try to sneak off


PADDY
Oi! And make these two help too!


MILLER leaves the three miserable lads working behind the bar under PADDYS watchful eye. MILLER goes through the side door JACOB disappeared into.


CUT TO:


INT: HARMONIES BAR/ PRIVATE HALLWAY


JACOB is sat on the bottom step of the stairs. He is still soaking wet. As his head hangs down between his legs, water drips onto the dirty carpet. He looks a broken man.


MILLER enters the HALLWAY. He slowly walks up to JACOB and pats him on the back before sitting down besides him



MILLER
(Softly)
You okay J? I see Zack’s being his usual self.



JACOB
I’m fed up of this Miller. All of this. I just don’t think I can do it anymore you know. Trouble every single night of the week. I’m so tired of fighting!



MILLER
What? Stop all this? Come on. It’s just another Saturday night mate and look… no broken bones so you’ve gotta admit it’s not a bad one!


JACOB isn’t joking


JACOB
I’ve had it up to here with it all Mill. I’m sick to death of having to do it all by myself while me Dad and brother have a life of riley. I’ve only stuck around this long for some answers



MILLER
Answers to what?



JACOB and MILLER are interrupted before JACOB can answer MILLER’S question


PADDY
(Happily laughs)
You alwright mate?



JACOB
(Unenthusiastically)
Yeah


PADDY
Another good round at Harmonies bar aye? Great innit?



JACOB
Oh yeah
(Wryly agreeing)
As usual



PADDY
Hmmm hmm, well just seeing ya alwright. I’ll go keep an eye in there Boss if you need a girly rest.
(Laughs at his own remark in a friendly way as friends do after laddish banter)


JACOB gives him a weak smile and a sarcastic thumb up


PADDY jollily goes back into the BAR



MILLER
(Remarks about PADDY)
Donkey!… Look J



JACOB
Look Mill, I’m alright, okay. It’s just another fight you know, just another nigh right. Like you said, nothings broken



MILLER
Isn’t it? You look proper down mate. If you wanna talk…



JACOB
No, you’re alwright. I just need to erm… put my head down for an hour maybe



MILLER
Yeah, probably best, you took a real hard knock earlier. You go to bed for an hour and I’ll just keep an eye on the three Amigo’s out there for you



JACOB
Cheers, make sure to call me if anything happens.



MILLER
Will do



JACOB
I mean it, I am okay. Just call up if you need me for owt. Oh, and maybe see if you can find my Dad for me, see where he’s hiding to. He popped out this morning with £200 for change, and we’ve not seen him since



MILLER
Okay, I’ll call around the other pubs. Now go rest. You’ve got the monitors in your room if you wanna see how it’s going down here. I’ll get Patsy in too to help me with the bar



JACOB
Sure. Thanks mate



MILLER pats JACOB on the back once more and walks out of the HALLWAY and back into the noisy BAR


JACOB slowly picks himself up and stands still for a second, just thinking. He then turns around and slowly drags himself up the stairs


Cut to:


INT: JACOBS BEDROOM


JACOB walks into his bedroom. He doesn’t bother to turn on the light. The moon lit room is small and untidy with one large double bed against the centre of the back wall; the bed takes up most of the room. On the left side of the bed is a table with a normal small television and a monitor which shows the CCTV activities from in the BAR. On the other side of the bed is a small wash basin and vanity mirror.


JACOB hangs his jacket on the door handle. He takes off his wet bloody shirt and casually drops it onto a pile of other clothes on the floor. JACOB washes his face in the wash basin and then dries his hair with a towel that is in a dirty pile. JACOB then collapses onto the bed.


With his head rested on his pillow he quickly falls asleep even though the music from downstairs is loud and pounding. He seems oblivious to the music


Cut to JACOBS dream sequence:


INT: JACOBS CHILDHOOD HOME/ LIVING ROOM. DAY


JACOB is stood in a small box living room with a short lady in her 40’s who speaks with a soft southern Irish accent


JACOBS MOTHER
This is going to save us Jacob. We need to get away from this God forsaken city and be a family again.



JACOBS FATHER and ZACK can be seen stood in a doorway arguing


JACOBS FATHER
I know you don’t want to move son but this is your mothers dream. Do this for her can’t you? Don’t you think we’ve caused her enough stress already? This will make her happy again


ZACK
It’s not fair Dad! I don’t wanna move. This is Jacobs fault, not ours!


JACOBS FATHER shuts the door to argue with ZACK in private. Their muffled argument can still be heard


JACOBS MOTHER
This’ll keep ZACK out of trouble, off the streets. The business will give your father something to concentrate on and for you and me
(She kisses Jacob on the forehead)
It’ll give us peace. Oh son! You’ll love it by the sea, it’s a beautiful town


JACOBS
It’ll be great Mom


JACOB gives his mother a real loving hug.

Close up of JACOBS face as he hugs his mother. He looks as happy as a person can be.

A shadow casts over JACOBS face


CUT TO:


EXT: GRAVE YARD. EVENING


JACOB opens his eyes and his smile is replaced by horror.


JACOB now finds himself stood is a muddy, gritty grey graveyard. A priest is stood in front of JACOB next to the grave where a coffin being lowered.


JACOBS
MOM!


Behind JACOB his brother and father are still arguing as if nothing has happened.


ZACK
It’s not fair Dad! This is Jacobs fault


JACOBS FATHER
I know son


JACOB shouts out but he is ignored


JACOBS
Why?????????????


Something new catches JACOBS eye. At another grave there is a desk with a computer on it. Sat at the desk and concentrating on the computer is MILLER. It begins to rain heavily


JACOB drops to his knees and grabs hold of the coffin and opens it. No one is in it.


JACOB looks in the distant and sees a woman in a hospital gown waving at him. At first it is hard to tell who she is because of the lashing rain but he soon realises it is his mother. She is waving goodbye and then she runs off into the distance, barefooted in the mud like a mad woman.


JACOB
Don’t leave me Mom! I don’t want to be on my own!


JACOB feels a hand on his shoulder. He turns around and sees a tall man draped in a black robe with long black hair that obscures his face. He hugs JACOB in a comforting manner as if they know each other. The rain stops momentarily but it is only a break. Lightening strikes and JACOBS face twists with pain as the man stabs JACOB in the back


CUT TO BLACK:


INT: JACOBS BEDROOM. NIGHT


JACOM wakes up in a fright. He is relieved that it was just a dream.

The music from down stairs has stopped but JACOB can still hear something. He finds it hard to see because his bedroom light is not switched on but it sounds like the noise is coming from within his room.


JACOBS
Hello?


JACOB can hear mumbling, it sounds like a conversation between two people somewhere in his room. He begins to follow where he thinks the sound is coming from. He edges off of the bed and moves towards his mirror. Is there someone there? It looks like the silhouette of two people in his mirror. JACOB looks around; there is no one else in the room. It is dark but the faint moonlight that shines through his bare window definitely makes the room light enough to see if anyone was stood by him. JACOB edges ever closer towards the mirror


On JACOBS CCTV monitor you can see a man on the landing outside his bedroom door. He doesn’t move.


The whispering conversation gets louder but no clearer. Just as JACOB reaches out and switches on the light the phone rings loudly which causes JACOB to turn around. When JACOB looks back all he can see is his reflection in the mirror.

The man stood outside his door on the monitor is also gone

The phone continues to ring, JACOB stumbles over a pile of clothes to answer it.


JACOBS
Yeah?


MILLER
You better get down here quick, it’s your Dad