Scripts: Twisted Tales - Txt Msg Rcvd
Shooting Script Extract Part 2

41: EXT. COUNCIL ESTATE QUADRANGLE - NIGHT 6: 22.50

THIS IS A ROUGH PLACE THAT YOU DEFINITELY DON'T WANDER INTO AT NIGHT UNLESS YOU BELONG. GROUPS OF ROUGH LOOKING TEENAGERS MILL AROUND ON BIKES, SMOKING AND DRINKING AND GENERALLY DREAMING UP NEW WAYS TO CAUSE TROUBLE.

SO THE SIGHT OF ALEX DRUNKENLY STAGGERING TOWARDS THEM WAVING HIS STATE OF THE ART MOBILE IS PRETTY UNUSUAL.

ALEX
Hello! Hi there! You alright?!

TEEN BOY 1
I wouldn't come through here waving that around.

ALEX
Really, what do you think someone might try to steal it?

THE TEENAGERS CAN BARELY BELIEVE IT, THEY ALL JUST LOOK TO ONE ANOTHER, THEY MOVE IN AND SURROUND ALEX.

TEEN BOY 1
(SHOWING OFF TO HIS MATES)
More than try.

ALEX
Good. So who wants it?

ALEX STANDS STATUE LIKE WITH THE PHONE IN HIS HAND. THE TEENAGERS SIMPLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO REACT. ANOTHER LAD (COLIN) BEGINS TO WALK FORWARD AND HIS GIRLFRIEND PULLS HIM BACK.

'SHELLE
Wait, Colin! You are such a moron!
(BEAT)
Bloke in a suit! Wanting us to take his phone. Think! Ain't you guys seen 'Trigger Happy'?

ALEX
What?

'SHELLE
This is one of them shows! Bet they've got cameras hidden all over the estate.

ALEX
I'm not off the T.V! I really want you to take the phone.

TEEN BOY 1
(ABOUT ALEX)
'Shelle's right! I definitely saw him on that show the other night. Was well funny.

THE TEENAGERS HAVE CONVINCED THEMSELVES THEY RECOGNISE ALEX OFF A HIDDEN CAMERA SHOW.

TEEN BOY 1 (cont'd)
(HE WALKS FORWARD AND TALKS INTO ALEX'S LAPEL)
Hello Mr Cameraman in the van. We're not that stupid you know.

'SHELLE
Film your show somewhere else mate.

ALEX FALLS TO HIS KNEES WITH HIS ARMS OUTSTRETCHED.

ALEX
Please, please...somebody steal my phone.

THE KIDS ALL FILE PAST ALEX, SCOFFING AND MAKING AN EXAGGERATED POINT OF STEERING CLEAR OF THE PHONE. THEY LEAVE HIM ALONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE QUADRANGLE. ALEX'S NOW FAMILIAR MESSAGE ALERT TONE RINGS OUT.

CUT TO:

42: EXT. RAILWAY BRIDGE - NIGHT 6: 23.02

ALEX HAS REMOVED THE BACK OF HIS PHONE - HE TAKES OUT THE SIM CARD AND THROWS IT DOWN ONTO THE TRACKS BELOW. THE SIM CARD SPARKS AS IT HITS THE TRACK. ALEX REPLACES THE BACK PANEL OF HIS FRESHLY DISABLED PHONE AND WALKS ACROSS THE BRIDGE.

THE LONE RANGER TEXT ALERT RINGS OUT FROM THE MOBILE. ALEX STOPS DEAD.

ALEX OPENS THE TEXT MESSAGE - IT READS 'DONT FORGT TMRRW - 11.00 A.M'.

CUT TO:

43: INT. A SHED ON AN ALLOTMENT - NIGHT 6: 23.17

ALEX FORCES HIS WAY INTO THE SHED. HE SPIES A BOX OF TOOLS ON A SHELF. ALEX PLACES THE MOBILE ON THE FLOOR. HE SPILLS THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX ONTO A BENCH - HE SPOTS WHAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR - A BIG HEAVY HAMMER. ALEX KNEELS DOWN OVER THE PHONE - HE'S GOING TO ENJOY THIS - HE RAISES THE HAMMER UP AND...

- THE PHONE RINGS

ALEX PAUSES FOR A SECOND NOT SURE OF WHAT HE SHOULD DO. HE GINGERLY BENDS DOWN AND PICKS UP THE PHONE AND ANSWERS IT.

ALEX
Hello?

PHONE
Hello Alex.

ALEX
Who is this?

PHONE
(PHONE VOICE)
Who do you want this to be?
(AS DAVINA'S VOICE)
Davina? What am I? A Happy Eater.
(AS KEITH'S VOICE)
Or Keith? Thanks a bundle you wanker. If you want your stuff, it'll be in a skip.
(IN OWN VOICE)
Still not worked it out yet? You really should get a doctor to look at your nose you know, I think it's broken.

ALEX
(LOOKING AROUND WILDLY)
Who are you?

PHONE
Well, I'm here, right by you!

ALEX
Where?

PHONE
In your hand. I'm your phone.

ALEX
What you're my phone?

PHONE
This call will be very expensive if I have to repeat everything twice. I'm in your hand. I'm your phone.

ALEX
I don't...

PHONE
Understand? Aww...poor Alex.

ALEX
So everything that's happened, all of it...

PHONE
Yes, that's been me. Life's a bitch sometimes isn't it?

ALEX
Why? Why is this happening to me?

PHONE
Oh you are so naïve Alex. Why? Because I don't like you.

ALEX
That's it...you don't like me?

PHONE
I can't stand you. Is that any surprise having to listen to your drivvel day in, day out? Your seedy texts to your mistress, those degrading photos, your lies, your hateful bile polluting my mouthpiece, your whole foul, stinking, selfish existence. But what finally made me snap? That infernal ring tone. The Lone Ranger! How tasteless. You stepped over the line there and there's no stepping back. I'm sorry Alex.

ALEX
But you killed my wife! You murdered Janet. You bastard! Why!?

PHONE
I look on it as collateral damage. But do you really care? You updated her to a sexier model. Bung in a new sim card and way you go. People do it all the time.

ALEX
(TRYING TO GET A GRIP)
I'm not having this conversation. I'm hallucinating.

PHONE
Please, spare me the amateur psychiatry. I'm letting you go.

ALEX
You're letting me go? A lump of moulded plastic is letting me go?

PHONE
(PHONE VOICE)
Hmmm tomorrow morning. You know the time. I put it in your calendar last week. Your performance assessment. How do you think you'll do? Not well, I think. Any questions?

ALEX KNEELS DOWN AND PICKS UP THE HAMMER.

ALEX
Just one.
(BEAT)
Will you enjoy being smashed into a million pieces?

PHONE
Tish! I expected better than that from you Alex. Never ask a question that can have a 'no' answer.

ALEX DROPS THE PHONE TO THE GROUND AND BEGINS HAMMERING IT INTO MILLION PIECES IN A FRENZIED ATTACK THAT LEAVES HIM COMPLETELY DRAINED.

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© 2005 Tom Jamieson and Nev Fountain. All Rights Reserved.