SCENE 18: MARYON PARK

LOCATION 01

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18_01_006. Who is that man in the background?

18_01_006_Blowup. Any clearer?

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18_01_037b. This section of (what appears to be) original fencing has recently appeared (as at 23 September 2009).

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SCRIPT

Then from between the tall tree-trunks in the park we see him in the distance outside the gates.

He turns and gazes at the trees.

He moves towards the gates.

A single bird sings, its song echoing in the quiet park.

A council worker is picking up litter from the grass.

THOMAS passes him, stops and looks about, then moves on.

The man continues his work.

The park is bathed in beautiful, soft light.

Apart from the black rectangles of two tennis courts surrounded by high wire netting and two beds of white roses, there is nothing but greenness all around.

In the midst of this greenness a white patch stands out in the background: a row of houses set amongst the trees.

As THOMAS passes, carrying his camera, two boys are playing tennis on one of the courts.

The sound of the racquets and the murmur of the birds and the wind only accentuate the sense of peace in the park.

Close-up of THOMAS squinting through the viewfinder, adjusting the lens.

THOMAS comes into a wide clearing below the white houses.

He starts taking some shots of a flock of pigeons on the grass.

He runs about, snapping pictures of the flapping birds.

THOMAS takes pictures of one pigeon as it flies off over the trees.

Camera pans with it , allowing a glimpse of a MAN and a GIRL near the trees.

THOMAS comes forward and stops in the middle of the clearing, looking up.

The MAN and the GIRL are climbing up the wooded slope.

They are holding hands and laughing, then they slip and fall, teasing and flirting with each other.

The GIRL is doing her best to persuade the MAN to follow her up the slope to the top of the hill.

The MAN seems somewhat reluctant to do so.

There are paths cut through the trees, with low wide steps leading up to the hill.

THOMAS walks along a path, then runs up, leaping and kicking his feet like a Cossack dancer.

Leaping from one step to another, he reaches the top of the slope.

Camera tilts down the shallow steps as THOMAS comes up.

The slight friction between the two strangers has aroused THOMAS’s curiosity.

He follows them as discreetly as possible.

He peers between branches, focusing his camera.

A tiny meadow enclosed by trees.

Utterly peaceful.

Only the rustling of the leaves in the wind.

And over to one side the same couple, totally unaware of THOMAS’s presence.

The couple is far away, one in front of the other.

The GIRL is pulling the MAN by the arm.

She is laughing at the same time.

From where THOMAS stands she looks attractive and graceful.

THOMAS leaps over the wooden fence running round the meadow and aims his camera.

From behind the fence he takes pictures from all angles.

But he is too far away from the couple.

He moves closer, edging along behind the fence, ducking under a branch, then taking some more photographs.

A brief glimpse of the couple.

THOMAS climbs over the wooden fence again and hides behind a tree in the foreground.

A few more photographs from his position.

But he is still too far off.

THOMAS snaps the couple in the distance as they kiss but he doesn’t have his telephoto lens with him.

Cautiously he moves behind another tree closer to the couple.

The GIRL has brought the MAN out into the middle of the meadow.

She kisses him, then they drop hands and she moves off.

She seems to let her eyes wander over the landscape, drinking in its peacefulness.

THOMAS has taken enough photographs, and moves closer.

We see him way back at the edge of the clearing, sidling towards another tree.

Meanwhile the GIRL has moved on.

She has succeeded in drawing the MAN farther up, towards the other side of the small clearing.

And again she embraces him and kisses him.

THOMAS moves away from his hiding-place at the far end of the clearing.

Hardly realising what he is doing, he stops again and snaps them.

Then he makes his way back to the same path he came up on.

The GIRL and the MAN have suddenly noticed him.

They are watching him rather anxiously.

THOMAS starts to disappear down the slope.

The GIRL begins running after him, reaches the path and stops.

THOMAS pauses when he hears her running, and turns around.

He sees the GIRL, instinctively holds up his camera and takes some more shots.

GIRL off

What are you doing?

The GIRL stands at the top of the steps, holding her hand out defensively.

She rushes down towards THOMAS with barely concealed anger, going a few steps below him.

GIRL

Stop it! Stop it! Give me those pictures. You can’t photograph people like that.

THOMAS lowers his camera, and looks around at her with a friendly smile.

THOMAS

Who said I can’t? I’m only doing my job. Some people are… bull-fighters. Some people are politicians. I’m a photographer.

They stand looking at one another.

GIRL

This is a public place. Everyone has the right to be left in peace.

THOMAS goes and leans against the fence, camera moving after him.

He studies her curiously.

She stands there rigid, her lips tight.

THOMAS

It’s not my fault if there’s no peace. You know, most girls would pay me to photograph them.

THOMAS stands looking down at the girl.

GIRL

I’ll pay you.

THOMAS

I overcharge. There are other things I want on the reel.

He turns and looks up towards the meadow, then hurries up the steps.

Camera moves across to the GIRL.

THOMAS comes up to the edge of the clearing and looks at the spot where the MAN was standing a moment ago.

The GIRL follows him up the steps in confusion.

GIRL with a touch of hopelessness

What do we do, then?

Another shot of them both.

She is very agitated.

THOMAS

I’ll send you the photographs.

GIRL

No, I want them now.

She suddenly snatches at the camera and tries to wrench it from THOMAS’s hands.

But he is quicker.

He holds the strap and doesn’t let go.

So the GIRL gets down on her knees.

She gives him a vicious bite on the hand.

THOMAS pulls away angrily.

He shouts:

THOMAS

No! What’s the rush?

Close-up of the girl looking up.

Resume on THOMAS recovering his poise.

He goes on in a different, rather ironical tone of voice:

THOMAS

Don’t let’s spoil everything. We’ve only just met…

He stands looking down at her.

She gets up wearily.

She is desperate.

She steps back from him.

She raises her eyes and looks the YOUNG MAN straight in the face, still moving away, and panting with anxiety.

GIRL

No, we haven’t met. You’ve never seen me.

THOMAS bends down and picks up the lens cap of his camera.

As he screws it on he looks at something in the clearing.

The GIRL turns and looks in the same direction: the MAN has disappeared.

She seems annoyed.

She starts running away across the meadow to join the MAN wherever he might be, and stops at a clump of bushes, pausing for a moment, then running on.

THOMAS takes a few more photographs of her.

The GIRL runs away and disappears down the other side of the hill.

DELETED SCENE 02

SCENE 17 SCENE 19