FLORA AND SON
Written by
John Carney
Blue Revisions 01/08/22
Locked White Shooting Script 01/07/22
1 1
INT. SHIFTERS NITECLUB
FLORA (30) and KATHY (30s) dance like crazy in a mob of
dancers. Sweat, estrogen, and alcohol.
It's a terrible nightclub. For some of it, Flora and Kathy
have their shoes off, and dance together barefoot. They are
doing synchronized moves that they always do at Shifters. *
People watch on, clapping.
A MAN (35), with a mustache keeps dancing really close to
her. At the start of the night, she keeps her distance,
physically indicating she has no interest, looking out for
something better.
But everyone's taken. We see her starting a conversation with
a HANDSOME GUY (20). The conversation tails off as his
PRETTY, YOUNG GIRLFRIEND (19), returns from the bathroom.
Flora gives up and slouches off.
2 2
INT. SHIFTERS NITECLUB - LATER
The MUSTACHE man perseveres as shots are cons umed, one after
another. Insinuating himself into their vibe.
KEV
(shouting)
I'm Kev!
FLORA
(shouting)
Flora.
KEV
(shouting)
I'll be riding you later.
FLORA
(shouting)
No you wont.
By the end of the night, Flora is passively getting off with
him.
SLOW DISSOLVE
TO:
3 3
INT. FLORA'S TINY BEDROOM - MORNING
Flora wakes up in her bed, slowly coming around. She suddenly
jerks a hand across the other side of the bed, feel ing
around. It's empty.
2.
FLORA
(relieved)
Oh, good girl, Flora.
She yawns. She looks absolutely wrecked. Then Kev reenters
from the bathroom, pulling up his shorts.
KEV
Mornin.
FLORA
Oh fuck!
4 4
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - LATER
Flora has given Kev breakfast. She sits across from him with
a coffee and a cigarette. She checks her watch, kind of
waiting for him to finish.
KEV
Why aren't you having a breakfast?
FLORA
I feel sick. That was too much last
night.
KEV
Yeah. Good craic though. So do you
go to Shifters a lot, love?
FLORA
Yeah. All me life. Great club.
KEV
Yeah! Do you have any toast?
FLORA
No.
KEV
You don't have any bread in the
house?
FLORA
No. Me son eats it all.
KEV
There's a son??
FLORA
Yeah.
3.
KEV
Where is he?
FLORA
I don't know. He's supposed to be
in school. But he could be
anywhere. I told you all about this
last night in the taxi? You said
you were cool with it
He hurries up eating.
KEV
Right. Yeah. A son. I'm cool with
that.
FLORA
Right. Are you sure?
(beat)
So do you want to meet tonight?
KEV
(goes to shake his head)
Yes.
She is enjoying this.
FLORA
Brilliant. Cause I really like you.
We had a re ally natural connection
last night.
KEV
We defo did.
FLORA
And I think you're a very
responsible sort of bloke.
KEV
Yeah.
This is brilliant. It's just what I
needed in me life. A sense of
direction. Or purpose. Do you know
what I mean?
FLORA
Cool. So, I'll see you tonight
then? Will you pick me up?
MAN
Yeah. Look, Flora, I'm just not
sure that I'm the right guy for
this.
(MORE)
(MORE)
4.
MAN (CONT'D)
Maybe I wouldn't know where to
begin looking after a kid. I'm
basically a big kid meself. At
work, they call me... Kev, the Kid.
FLORA
I'm pulling your fucking leg, you
dope!
MAN
Oh. Thank God! Sorry.
FLORA
Gotcha!
They both laugh.
MAN
Phew! That was weird. I better get
to work, I'm late.
FLORA
Fair enough.
MAN
Thanks for the breakfast. I wasn't
expecting that.
He puts his stuff in the sink. And she opens the door. He
passes her, putting on his coat.
He has to pass quite close in the doorway. It is a hellish
moment of awkwardness. He kisses her on the cheek.
He exits hurriedly.
5 5
INT. FLORA'S LIVING ROOM - LATER
Flora and MAX (13) sit on the couch. The Guard sits on an
armchair across from them. He has a cup of tea and a plate of
hobnobs on his knee, and Max's file in front of him. It's a
bit of a balanci ng act. The TV is on directly behind him with
the sound down. Max tries to watch the football on it without
the guard noticing.
GUARD
Now. Have you committed any
antisocial behavior in the last
three months of your life?
MAX
No way Guard.
5.
GUARD
Have you received any stolen goods,
to the best of your knowledge?
MAX
Not I, Guard.
GUARD
Have you stolen any goods.
MAX
Not that I got caught with.
Flora punches his arm really hard.
MAX (CONT'D)
Ow! Fuck!
FLORA
Answer him properly, you fucking
idiot.
GUARD
How did you get the black eye?
MAX
Her!
He gestures to Flora.
FLORA
Fuck off!
MAX
Nah. Just fighting.
The Guard and Flora exchange looks.
GUARD
Did you think about jo ining the
boxing club, Max?
MAX
They only wanted me to clean up,
and mop spit off the floor. I'm not
doing that.
GUARD
That's how Rocky started.
Max sighs.
6.
GUARD (CONT'D)
What about football? Weren't you a
mean little striker back in primary
school?
MAX
No.
He looks to the mother.
FLORA
He wasn't.
GUARD
They have a cycling group, in Mount
Vernon, taking trips out to the
Dublin Mountains every weekend. Get
you fit. See the countryside?
MAX
I don't have a bike.
FLORA
He sold it for a second hand
laptop. So he could play video
games.
MAX
That's not all I do on it. I watch
bl ues on it too.
She sighs, biting her nails. The Guard is at a loss.
GUARD
The Juvenile liaison program is
designed to keep young kids out of
the court system Max, and so out of
prison. Do you know what they do to
pretty, young lads like you in
prison?
They all know what he is suggesting. Need he go further?
GUARD (CONT'D)
They anally rape them, Max.
He gets up to go, gathering his files, and a few biscuits.
Fl ora & Son - Blue Revisions 01/08/22 18.
7.
GUARD (CONT'D)
But I warn you now, you're headed
in that direction. A string of
offense the length of my arm.
6 6
INT. AISHLING'S LARGE HOUSE - MORNING
Flora sits at a grand piano in a lovely drawing room. She is
bouncing a 17 month baby on her knee. She plinks a couple of
keys, encouraging the baby to copy her. But the baby seems
more interested to sit on the keys. Then climb on top of the
piano and knock ov er photographs. And then get chocolate from
her fingers on the keys.
Flora tries to distract the child by doing a "SHARK" noise on
the bass keys, and a "MOUSE" noice on the plinky top keys.
It's a valiant effort. It's not working.
AISHLING, the baby's mother, bounces in. She is 40, wearing
some high-end yoga gear, after a work-out. Flora happily
hands the baby to her mother, who coos.
AISHLING
Yikes , look at you, big chocolate
mouth.
FLORA
Oh, sorry. She found one in the
kitchen.
AISHLING
No worries.
FLORA
How was your work out?
AISHLING
Amazing. How am I doing?
She pulls a profile, pats her abs.
FLORA
You look amazing.
AISLING
Yay! Okay Flora. You're free to go.
Thanks.
Aishling hands her two fifty euro notes.
8.
FLORA
Thanks Aishling. See you Monday.
See ya Sorcha.
AISHLING
Could you get here on time? Just
knocks her nap off, if I don't get
her down.
FLORA
Yeah. Of course. Sorry.
7 7
INT. AISHLING'S LARGE HOUSE. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Flora puts her shoes and jacket on in the hallway, as
Aishling and the baby play, off. As she does so, she notices
Aishling's purse on the hall table. An envelope with numerous
twenti es. She tops her wages up with a twenty, and hurries
off.
FLORA
Bye now.
AISHLING
(off)
Thanks for everything.
FLORA
Thank you!
8 8
EXT. AISHLING'S LARGE HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Flora walks down the steps of a big house, past a fleet of
SUV's charging, and walks down the street.
9 9
EXT. A LEAFY STREET - LATER
A skip is parked outside a house, which has just been sold.
Two burley workmen load it with it broken plaste r, bags of
old clothes and old suitcases. Protruding from the skip-full
of bric-à-brac, the neck of a guitar case. Flora regards it
as she passes. Then pauses. Circles back out of curiosity.
She hoists herself up onto the skip, brushing plaster and
dust of her knees. She grips the neck of the case, and pulls
it out in a cloud of plaster smoke and dust. She opens the
old case. Inside, is a smaller than average, beginners
guitar. It's scratched and has just one string, and missing
frets.
She lets it drop back in, climbs down, and walks off.
9.
Hold on the empty frame.
She returns and pulls it back out.
10 10
INT. A BUS - LATER
Flora sits on the bus listening to headphones. On the seat
beside her, is the guitar. We hear the hard kick drum of
repetitive dance music from her headphones.
The bus travels into a rougher suburb of Dublin. A THUG
smokes under a no smoking sign, blowing smoke towards the
open window.
Flora turns to him, as if to admoni sh him. He looks at her
with dead eyes.
FLORA
Give us one of them, will ya?
THUG
No
She shrugs.
Flora gets off at her stop.
11 11
INT. A SMALL LOCAL MUSIC SHOP - AFTERNOON
Flora enters a tiny local music shop. Threadbare carpets,
very little stock, bored youngster in his teens behind a
counter reading texts.
FLORA
Hiya. How much is this family
heirloom worth? I'm not sure I'm
selling it- I just wanted to get i t
valueatded.
She puts the guitar on the counter. The teenager opens the
bag. Looks at it. Looks at the label in the hole. Checks the
neck like looking down a gun-sight, turns it over, sets it
down.
TEENAGER
The bridge is cracked. The neck is
warped. Two of the machine heads
are broken. Half the frets are
missing.
10.
FLORA
Right, well, I'll give it to you
for a hundred then.
TEENAGER
Yeah, no.
FLORA
It's probably vintage and you just
can't see it with your untrained
eye. It's your loss. There are
loads of music shops in this
neighborhood?
TEENAGER
No there aren't. There's literally
one.
She is disappointed, but not surprised. She stands there
thinking about what to do with it.
FLORA
Can I leave it here?
TEENAGER
You'd hav e to pay me to take it.
You were technically better off
before you robbed this guitar.
FLORA
(not really offended)
How dare you.
She grabs it and goes to exit. Stops at the door. Circles
back.
FLORA (CONT'D)
So how much to clean it up, fix the
neck, and put strings on it?
TEENAGER
Why would you do that? That would
be like putting Range Rover wheels
on a Yaris.
FLORA
Who are you, fucking Jeremy
Clarkson?
TEENAGER
I do n't want to take your money.
11.
FLORA
I have a son. And his da used to be
in a band. Maybe it's in the blood.
TEENAGER
Right.
FLORA
Plus it's his birthday.
He looks at the guitar again.
TEENAGER
Let's see. Tighten the truss rod,
set of strings, two new machine
heads.
TEENAGER (CONT'D)
Sixty Euro?
FLORA
Fuck off.
TEENAGER
18 euro.
She checks her purse. Counts. Takes the note she stole
earlier. Thinks.
FLORA
Do it.
12 12
EXT. FLORA'S HOUSING ESTATE - EVENING
Fl ora walks across the forecourt of a lively housing complex
in a tough area. She is carrying the guitar. She has a couple
of bags of shopping. It's a bit of a slog.
She heads up the steps towards her flat. She opens up and
enters.
FLORA
Max?!
13 13
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - LATER
Flora is in a tiny kitchen. She takes the shopping out and
stows it. Milk. Spaghetti. Washing up liquid. Baked beans.
She goes out and re-enters with the guitar. She takes it out
of the case puts it on the kitchen table.
12.
She takes a red bow off a box of chocolates with a bread
knife. She eats the last chocolate.
She wraps the ribbon around the fret board of the guitar.
Then she sits it up on a chair in the corner of the room.
Strums it.
She sits down at the table. Lights a cigarette. Looks at the
guitar again. Checks her watch. Smokes. Pours a glass of
white wine.
14 14
INT. FLORA'S HALLWAY - LATER
The hall door opens a nd Max, enters. Throws his jacket on the
banister.
15 15
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Max looks into the kitchen, but not entering, more to see if
his mum's home. He has a BLACK EYE.
FLORA
(over her shoulder)
Hiya.
He nods, is just about to exit when he sees the guitar.
MAX
What's that.
FLORA
It's a piano.
MAX
Who's is it?
He steps in, hanging around.
FLORA
Well let's see now. How many kids
do I have? Wait now- one. It's
yours! What happened your eye?
MAX
I tried to rob something and got a
beating.
FLORA
Oh.
MAX
Where did you get it?
13.
FLORA
What does that matter?
MAX
Did you find it or something?
FLORA
Who cares where it came from? It's
a guitar. It makes music. Do you
like it? You used to be dead into
music. Happy birthday.
MAX
(smiling)
You fucking robbed it, didn't you?
From one of the houses?
FLORA
No I didn't rob it. Play it.
MAX
I don't want to play it.
FLORA
Why not?
MAX
Since when am I a guitarist?
FLORA
Since now. Believe in better.
Imp ossible is nothing, or
something.
MAX
Jesus. You didn't even buy it for
me.
FLORA
How do you know? Maybe I did!
MAX
Well did you?
FLORA
No. But why does that even matter?
MAX
You never get me anything. My whole
life. And then you come home with
this dusty piece of shit the DAY
AFTER ME BIRTHDAY, and expect me to
turn into Ed fucking Sheerin?
14.
FLORA
Was yesterday your birthday?? It's
a gift! Who cares.
MAX
I don't want it. It's a crock of
fucking shit.
FLORA
You ungrateful prick.
MAX
And you are a daft slag who never
gave anyone anything.
FLORA
Don't talk to me like that you
little prick.
MAX
Cunt.
Suddenly, she boxes him in the face. Grabs him by the collar
and slaps him twice.
FLORA
You came out of my cunt, you
ungrateful little animal.
MAX
One day, I'm going to surprise you
and smash into your fucking face.
FLORA
You'll be behind bars before that.
MAX
Good! Away from you!
FLORA
Go on, go back to your da. I can't
wait for the weekend!
He slams door. She throws her glass at the door behind him.
The front door slams.
She sits there, raging. Looks at the guitar. Then launches
towards it, picking it up. Opens the window. Which is jammed.
Wrestles it ope n. Goes to throw the guitar out. But it is too
big to go through the tiny window. She starts screaming,
forcing the thing out.
It won't go. She gives up. She throws it behind the armchair
into the corner. Stands there, breathless.
15.
Title card:
FLORA AND SON
16 16
EXT. A HOUSING COMPLEX - DAY
Flora walks up a road in a run down housing complex. Max
walks behind, small rucksack over shoulder, headphones on.
She also has her headphones on. Flora turns into a block of
small houses. She surreptitiously applies lipstick in the
wing mirror of a parked car. Checks her look.
They turn into one house and ring the bell.
The door o pens and IAN (35), stands there. Ian wears a few
tattoos, a bathrobe and slippers. Very good looking. Conor
McGregor beard.
IAN
Flora.
FLORA
Ian.
They both wait for Max to saunter past and into the house.
Ian wraps a wiry bicep around his neck affectionately, but a
little roughly.
MAX
Hi dad.
IAN
Hey little man. I'm in the
Lamborghini.
Max enters the house, firing up the play station, off.
IAN (CONT'D)
I heard about the guitar episode.
Ian is smiling to himself. Kind of enjoying her failure.
IAN (CONT'D)
So you thought you had a little
Harry Styles in the family, did
you?
Laughs.
16.
FLORA
God knows what he could be. I mean
look at the genes. (meaning him)
IAN
It's not about genes. It's about
dreams. I sacrificed all my music
dreams for him. And you. You're
welcome.
FLORA
Here we go.
IAN
You do know we were on the same
bill as Snow Patrol the night I met
you?
FLORA
Of course I did. It's why I fucked
you.
IAN
God knows where I could be now if
things hadda been different.
FLORA
Mountjoy. Por tlaoise. Cloverhill.
Pick a prison.
IAN
Okay. You'd better go- they'll
clamp your broomstick. See you on
Monday Flora. Can't wait.
He turns to go.
FLORA
Anyway, I might learn the guitar
myself.
IAN
Okay.
FLORA
Yeah. I was thinking about it.
IAN
Were you drinking a lot of Vino-
Rioja when you were thinking about
it?
17.
FLORA
(mocking)
Could be you're not the only genius
in this family!
IAN
Sorry, but YOU playing guitar is
just too funny.
FLORA
Why?
IAN
Because it takes discipline, Flora.
Years of practice and sweat and
commitment. Not just some overnight
transformation in some reality TV
show. These callouses took twenty
years to form.
FLORA
Are you really going to talk to me
about commitment??
He says nothing. Point take n.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Where is she? At a nail bar getting
a manicure? Or at the surgery
getting a Brazilian arse lift?
IAN
She doesn't need one.
Flora breathes fire.
FLORA
You're disgusting.
She turns and goes, as if she's won this.
FLORA (CONT'D)
And don't just sit on the couch
smoking weed and playing video
games. Do stuff with him. He's got
loads of energy.
Ian goes to shut the door.
FLORA (CONT'D)
And her arse isn't that amazing.
Ju st FYI.
18.
IAN
Okay Flora.
He closes the door.
17 17
EXT. THE PATH - CONTINUOUS
Flora exits the gate as a white BMW coupe pulls up. JUANITA
(28), gets out with some bags of shopping and zaps her alarm,
crossing to the same house. She is dressed in a pink yoga
outfit. Her breasts and buttocks appear to defy gravity.
Flora stares daggers. This is terrible timing.
JUANITA
Oh hey... Flora.
FLORA
Juanita.
JUANITA
(Ala teenager )
Awkward.
FLORA
Not for me. I've been there. You're
welcome to him.
JUANITA
Thank you! Better go in. I need a
shower after training. Hasta Luego.
Juanita heads in. As she walks, Flora checks out her arse. It
is fairly amazing. Even she is amazed.
FLORA
(Sotto voce)
Fucking hell.
18 18
EXT. THE BOARDWALK - DAY
Flora is sitting on a bench on the boardwalk in the sun by
the river Liffey. With her is Cathy.
SHANIA , (2) is playing between them. Or whatever the hell she
decides to do on the day. They are both drinking take out
teas. They are bored.
FLORA
I can't go on like this.
19.
CATHY
Okay let's go?
FLORA
No, I mean in life.
CATHY
Oh.
FLORA
I've nothing to look forward to.
CATHY
Yeah you have!
FLORA
Like what?
CATHY
(thinks)
The next season of Dahmer?
FLORA
All I've got to keep me sane is the
idea that that little prick will be
18 one day, and move out. And then
what?
CATHY
Party central in your house!
FLORA
I have to break out of this prison.
I even have cash saved. Do you know
that? Me esc ape money!
CATHY
Where would you go, and can I come?
FLORA
I don't fucking know. But in that
river soon if I don't find a way
out of this. I swear to God.
CATHY
Please don't jump in the Liffey,
babes. (beat) It stinks. At least
go out to Dollymount and jump in
the sea.
20.
FLORA
This can't be my story. Growing old
in that shoebox, with a kid who
hates me, and his father who
doesn't see me. It can't be my
narrative.
CATHY
So what if he rejected your
present? You didn't even buy it for
him, in fairness. And you missed
his birthday. But you're a great
mother.
FLORA
Am I? Sometimes, I watch those news
clips. Of kids gone missing. And
police hunts. And I feel for those
parent s. But sometimes, I wouldn't
mind that so much. I wouldn't want
anything bad to happen him. But
sometimes I'd love to come home,
and he... just wasn't there.
CATHY
Okay, I take it back, You're a
fucking psycho.
She gets up. She takes her baby stuffs it in the buggy.
CATHY (CONT'D)
You coming to Shifters later?
FLORA
Have I ever said no to that
question.
CATHY
Whoopdeedo.
Cathy head off. We hold on Flora, looking i nto the depths of
the Liffey!
19 19
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - LATER
Flora has cleaned up and is sitting at the table smoking her
cigarette. The place feels very empty. Checks her watch. Sits
there some more.
A text message comes in.
KATHY. "Shifters?"
21.
Flora types: "I can't. Seriously. Enjoy".
She sends it and chucks the phone away, sitting there. Bored.
Her eyes fall on the guitar neck, which is still lying strewn
in the corner, behind a chair.
20 20
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
Flora is sitting on the chair with the guitar. She hesitantly
picks it. Then strums it. It's out of tune. Doesn't know
where to begin. It sounds horrible.
21 21
INT. FL ORA'S TINY KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
She is sitting at the kitchen table with an old laptop
plugged in and open. She has typed "Tuning A Guitar" into
Google. She finds an app.
She tunes the guitar up. Now it is in tune.
She strums it. Open. Tries to form a chord or two, but hasn't
a clue. Googles.
"Learning guitar"
Quick cross section of very advanced guys all over the world
soloing and playing com plex chords and generally showing off.
There's some really funny American and Russian dudes. Brash,
male and noisy.
Flora re-types:
"Learning guitar for beginners".
That's better. A number of tiles of guys in their attics,
basements, studios from all over the world, teaching the
basics of guitar. She lands on a handsome man in his mid
forties with a goatee beard, and a handsome face. He's
holding a nice, used Martin guitar.
She presses play. The screen comes to life. The room is an
airy and open plan, with a view of mountains through glass
doors. Numerous guitars hang on walls. A collection of old
records. He takes his time. There's no rush about this guy.
When he speaks, he has a gravelly, but soothing voice.
MAN
Hello. Thanks for stopping by. So
you've bought a guitar.
(MORE)
(MORE)
22.
MAN (CONT'D)
Or someone's gone and bought you a
guitar, or you've inherited a
guitar, howandever you've ended up
here on the internet, looking to
learn how to operate it. Well, let
me tell you, you are about to
embark on a relationship that's
going to last you a lifetime. One
of joy, of calm, of peace.
FLORA
Bring it fucking on.
MAN
(beat)
A guitar is a little like a
bicycle. You put very little in,
and get a hell of a lot out. That
thing sitting on your lap in
silence, can make you laugh, make
you smile, make you fall in love.
Help you grieve. Hell, it can break
your heart if you want to let it.
Be careful.
(beat)
MAN (CONT'D)
So this is by way of an
introduction to my course. Just
let's sit here and think about
that. About that potential that's
already in the room with you. So,
hit the button, and sign up. Bye.
FL ORA
Relax, will ya.
She scrolls down the website and hovers over the ZOOM TUITION
tile. Hour lessons cost twenty dollars.
She thinks about it. Doesn't commit.
22 22
EXT. FLORA'S HOUSING ESTATE - EVENING
Flora enters the complex. Various pockets of kids and
teenagers hang around. Smaller kids play in a shitty
playground.
Max sits on the outskirts of a group of older teenagers, all
wearing designer gear. The y are shooting a video on an iphone
with a gimbal. Playback comes from a huge portable bluetooth
speaker. KEITH (18), is mouthing into camera. He has a fake
gun, and a balaclava.
23.
He smokes weed, and then lets it bellow out through his
balaclava. Points the gun at the camera etc. He is wearing a
Gucci leather jacket and is bare-chested. White lounge pants
and gold sneakers. Two young teenagers dressed like hookers,
walk behind him mouthing a chorus. It's painfully generic.
KEITH
"Light up like candelabra. I got
magic. Abra Da Cabra."
Etc.
Max is impressed. He is fixated on on e of the girls, SAMANTHA
(16). Utterly out of his league. Flora notices this.
FLORA
Come on. It's time.
Max saunters home after her. He waves goodbye to SAMANTHA,
who clearly has no knowledge of his existence. She is
obsessed with Keith. Not Max.
23 23
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - LATER
Flora and Max eat pasta in silence at the small kitchen
table. Max has his smart phone propped up against a glass,
watchin g extreme sports clips on YouTube as he eats. A guy is
in a Wingsuit flying.
Flora, who has finished, sort of watches too, as she nurses a
glass of wine.
FLORA
What's that?
MAX
A wing suit.
FLORA
What is that?
MAX
What part of WING and SUIT don't
you understand?
FLORA
Let's have a look.
She moves in a little closer. Max shuts it down and gets up.
MAX
I'm going out.
24.
FLORA
Where? To that lot you were with
today?
MAX
No. Over to Rhys's house. Then over
to precinct for a bit.
She thinks.
FLORA
You're not going to do some base
jumping off some buildings or
something?
MAX
No. We don't have a GoPro anyway.
FLORA
Because the last thing I want is
the police calling here to tell me
you've fallen off a tower block or
something. And you're dead. And
gone.
He just looks at her.
MA X
You don't mean that, and we both
know it. He turns to go.
FLORA
Be back at nine!
MAX
For what?
FLORA
Because I fucking say so.
MAX
I can't wait for the day I don't
have to be here.
FLORA
The only reason you're here is
because your da wants his days off
for his projects. Otherwise, you'd
be with him 24/7. Trust me.
MAX
Well if you don't want me here, why
do I have to be back at 9?
25.
FLORA
Don't play mind games with me. Get
out.
24 24
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - EVENING
Flora pours a glass of wine, gets her cigarettes, ashtray and
guitar and places herself in front of the laptop. She looks
at the kitchen clock. 2 minutes to ten.
On screen, the ZOOM app comes to life, as JEFF (40s) appears.
He adjusts his screen. He is sitting in the same room,
streaming with light. A California sun, and mountains. Pretty
romantic. He's wearing a faded blue denim shirt. He looks
good.
JEFF
Oh hey, Flora. Are you my 2
O'Clock?
FLORA
Yeah.
JEFF
How are you?
FLORA
I'm alright. How are you?
JEFF
Well, it's a beautiful morning here
in Los Angeles. Sun shining. The
smell of Eucalyptus on the breeze.
So I can't complain.
FLORA
Yeah. Lovely here in Cabra too.
JEFF
So it's evening there?
FLORA
No, it's just permanentl y this
grim.
He is surprised.
JEFF
So, you wanna learn the guitar.
FLORA
Is it easy?
26.
JEFF
It depends on what you want to do
with it. Is it to play for you own
pleasure, or someone else? Is it to
write songs on? Or to learn your
favorite songs? What do you hope to
get out of this?
She thinks really hard about this.
FLORA
I want to turn on my husband.
JEFF
Wow.
FLORA
I look at women playing the guitar,
or the piano. And it's so sexy.
Like, that raw talent. Being able
to do something like t hat. Make
music out of something. It's
amazing. Like, Taylor Swift. Or
Nora Jones. It's so... sexy.
JEFF
Wow. Well I've never heard someone
be that upfront about it. But I
guess it's why a lot of people take
up an instrument.
FLORA
Is that why you took it up?
JEFF
Em, no.
FLORA
No, you look pretty good. I
wouldn't say you'd need it.
JEFF
Okay.
This is not going well.
FLORA
So why did you start then?
JEFF
Well le t's focus on you for now?
FLORA
Good plan.
27.
JEFF
So go ahead and sit it up there.
Let's learn a few root chords.
They both put their guitars on their knees. His balances
there. Her's slips.
JEFF (CONT'D)
Let's have a look at G.
FLORA
Brilliant.
He plays it, letting the chord ring out.
FLORA (CONT'D)
That's beautiful. So how many
chords do you need to know before
you can write a song?
JEFF
It's not the number of chords you
use. It's what you do with them.
He thinks o f an example. He now plays the first verse of
"You've Got A Friend". But he plays it straight up. And he
sings the first verse. But it is stripped bare. Like a bad
country singer in a bar. It sounds naive.
JEFF (CONT'D)
Now. What did you think of that?
FLORA
Whatever. Sounds like a boring
country and western style song.
JEFF
Right! Because I played it straight
up, like you'd get it out of a song
book. Same song .
He now plays the exact same verse. But this time with all the
nuanced fingering, and slight coloring that James Taylor
gives it. It's still simple, but it is like a different song.
We hold on her. He is good.
JEFF (CONT'D)
(singing)
If the Sky above you should turn
dark and full of clouds. And that
old north wind should begin to
blow.
(MORE)
(MORE)
28.
JEFF (CONT'D)
Keep your head together and call my
name out loud. Soon I'll be
knocking upon your door..."
He holds that last chord. Flora is speechless. It's a
different song. And he's a really good player and singer.
FLORA
Jesus.
JEFF
The first version uses the same
paints and brushes and canvas. But
the second one has 20 years of life
and heartache on display. You can
see all the brushstrokes. All the
personality in those same three
chords. You could know a thousand
chords, and never write anything so
beautiful.
FLORA
Is that your problem?
JEFF
I didn't know I had a problem.
FLORA
You're teaching guitar online,
love.
JEFF
(beat)
Oh. Yes. I forgot: you're Irish.
FLORA
Do you know a thousand chords?
He thinks.
JEFF
We all know the same number of
words, but we don't write a
Shakespeare sonnet.
FLORA
I get it. So what am I d oing here
then?
JEFF
That's what I'm trying to get you
to ask yourself.
(MORE)
29.
JEFF (CONT'D)
It's not about how much you know,
but how much of yourself you're
willing to put into it. Music is
bottomless. It'll take all you got.
FLORA
I'm confused.
JEFF
Good.
FLORA
I could know three chords or a
thousand chords, I'd still need..
What?
JEFF
What are your goals. (Apart from
being sexy).
FLORA
Impress people.
JEFF
Who?
FLORA
Men.
JEFF
Why?
FLORA
Sex and company.
JEFF
Okay. What else?
FLORA
To make them like me.
JEF F
Why don't they already like you?
FLORA
I don't know. I think I'm amazing.
JEFF
Maybe they can't see your
brushstrokes.
This takes her off her guard, She is clearly not used to
being flattered. It throws her.
30.
FLORA
Are you coming on to me?
JEFF
What?
FLORA
So you're a songwriter too?
JEFF
How do you know?
FLORA
It says it on your website.
JEFF
Oh yeah. I should delete that.Let's
talk about you.
FLORA
Where do you live in LA?
He is getting a bit exasperated by her questions.
JEFF
I live in Laurel Canyon.
FLORA
Oh I've heard of that. I bet you
drive a pick up? And worked with
horses, or something.
JEFF
I never worked with h orses.
FLORA
What's your star sign?
JEFF
I don't know.
FLORA
You don't know your birthday?
JEFF
Let's get back to the lesson? So,
would you say you were a big music
person?
FLORA
I was always very attracted to
musicians. I married one. He was on
the same bill as Snow-patrol once.
But I'm more into club music.
31.
Silence. Awkward. She puts the guitar away.
JEFF
What are you doing?
FLORA
Oh sorry, I thought that was it.
She picks it back up again.
JEFF
What are you doing here, Flora? I
mean, if music isn't really your...
thing.
FLORA
I don't know. Honestly?
JEFF
Yeah?
FLORA
I liked the look of you!
JEFF
Okay.
FLORA
And a lot of the other lads seemed
real posers and wankers. Failed
musicians. You seemed sorta...
real?
JEFF
I a m real.
FLORA
You sort of calmed me down. When I
looked at you the first time. Your
voice was all soothing. Like a
bath.
JEFF
Right.
Silence.
FLORA
Can I ask you something?
JEFF
Sure.
32.
FLORA
You might find it a little bit
weird. Could you play that same
song again, but this time.... With
your shirt off?
She blushes, not believing she said that. The wine is going
to her head. He tries to smile. But it's thrown and offended
him.
He leans in, and switches the connection off. Her screen goes
black. "You have been disconnected from the meeting"
She sits there; a mixture of shame and g iddiness.
Then her email beeps. She opens it up. New mail. Clicks it.
YOU HAVE BEEN REFUNDED 20 DOLLARS.
25 25
EXT. FLORA'S HOUSING ESTATE - MORNING
Another day. Flora sets off for work.
26 26
INT. A BUS - DAY
She sits on the bus listening to the same pumping music
again.
27 27
EXT. A BIG HOUSE - DAY
Flora arrives at a big house. She knocks on the door. In a
moment, the owner opens it. She is frazzled, with a screami ng
two year old on her hip. She passes the child to Flora
immediately without as much as an hello, and reenters.
Flora looks at the baby. The baby looks back at her, pausing
from crying.
FLORA
Hello, little dream wrecker.
28 28
INT. A LARGE HOUSE. BATHROOM - ANOTHER DAY
Flora is in a bathroom the size of her living room. A moment
of peace. She sits on edge of the bath. Words an email on her
phone.
FLORA
(wo rding/writing)
Dear Jeff.
(MORE)
33.
FLORA (CONT'D)
I am sorry about messing around on
our last lesson. Suffice to say
that wine had been taken. I do
intend to learn the guitar and take
it seriously. Why, I don't know. I
was always the one in class making
fun of the teacher. Because someone
had to. But I won't, if you'll keep
teaching me. Sorry I objectified
you. I can send you a picture of my
amazing tits to balance things out
again, if you'd like ? Flora.
She turns on the camera on her phone, and takes a selfie
pretending to just about pull her top up. She makes a thumbs
up gesture. It is very funny and wrong.
She attaches it, and presses send.
Then she can't believe she did but, but it's too late.
Shrugs.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Oh well.
She stands up and we see that she's waiting for a three year
old who is sitting on the toilet.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Right. Now let's get t he shit off
your arse.
The three year old laughs. She kneels down and pulls some
toilet paper.
29 29
INT. A BUS - DAY
Flora sits on the same bus home. Headphones. Club music. Her
phone beeps. She opens a new mail from Jeff. Excited to read.
You are nuts. But that made me laugh...
Next DM:
8 O'Clock. Tuesday. No wine.
She smiles, putting the phone away. Secretly happy.
30 30
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - NIGHT
Flo ra and Max eat at the kitchen table.
34.
Max is doing something on Garage Band on his beat-up laptop.
His headphones are plugged in. He's thumping one of the keys
over and over, which is generating a wave file on the screen.
Flora has no idea what he's doing, but the clicking is quite
annoying.
FLORA
What IS that?
MAX
Shh.
FLORA
What are you doing though? It's
annoying.
MAX
Shhh.
He continues. She half watches, then checks her watch. After
a litt le of this, Max saves his file. Puts his laptop away.
He gets up and throws his plates in the sink.
MAX (CONT'D)
Right. I'm going out.
FLORA
(without thinking)
Oh good.
I mean where?
MAX
Just around.
FLORA
Are you going to be hanging with
that girl I seen you with? The one
dressed up like a prostitute in
your man's video?
MAX
Samantha? I don't know, She might
be there.
FLORA
What's she like?
MAX
I wouldn't know. Back at 9.
FLORA
Or ten. If you like.
35.
Hew pauses, surprised at his mother's leniency.
31 31
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - LATER
Flora has changed into clothes that don't leave much to the
imagination, and put on a lot of lipstick and eye shadow on.
She pours, lights up, and waits by the computer. Checks
watch. Then she suddenly remembers about the No Wine Rule,
and moves the bottle and glass behind the well out of frame
to the side of the scr een.
She picks up her guitar and readies herself. Takes a swig.
She clicks on her email and opens a Zoom session. Jeff is
waiting there.
FLORA
Hiya. I can't believe you got back
to me.
JEFF
You're a challenge. I like
challenges. Shall we begin?
FLORA
Let's rock!
She picks up her guitar.
JEFF
Let's find out who you are, Flora.
What's your all time favorite song?
She thinks hard.
FLORA
I'm more into dance musi c. Oh,
"You're Beautiful" by James Blunt.
Jeff's face falls.
JEFF
Okay, we may have a problem here.
FLORA
Why?
JEFF
That's not an acceptable song.
FLORA
It's catchy.
36.
JEFF
So was Cholera.
FLORA
I don't know that one.
JEFF
If you're going to learn how to
play songs we'll have to raise the
bar a little bit.
FLORA
So what have you written then?
JEFF
I'm a teacher.
FLORA
Exactly. So shut up, criticizing
Blunt. YOU do it.
JEFF
Do what?
FLORA
Write a song that reaches millions
of people's hearts. And makes them
weep.
JEFF
Making people cry isn't an
achievement. Bullies do it every
d ay.
FLORA
Let's hear one of your songs then.
JEFF
We're here about you. Not me.
FLORA
Jesus, it's a guitar lesson, not a
therapy session.
JEFF
Wrong. Lyrics have to be more than
"You're beautiful". Or a series of
platitudes to lonely women telling
them how great they are. That's not
a love song. It's a self help
group.
37.
FLORA
You don't know the first thing
about women if you think that.
JEFF
I know that grown up women don't
just want to hear how stunning they
are, like some creep in a bar
trying to pick them up.
FLORA
Jesus Christ, It's just a bloody..
Song.
JEFF
No! It's never just "a song". It's
a three and half minute pause in
time, in which to do something
wonderful. Something touched by
God.
FLORA
Oh no. Are you some sort of
Christian evangelist dude?
Suddenly, and frustrated, Jeff begins plucking a familiar
song. "I hope that I don't fall in love with you" By Tom
Waits.
He sings the first verse and chorus. He is a fantastic
singer.
JEFF
"Well I hope that I don't fall in
love with you. Cause falling in
love just makes me blue. The music
plays and you display your heart
for me to see. I've had a beer and
now I he ar you calling out to me.
And I hope that I don't fall in
love with you".
The chord rings out. In song terms, this is a slam dunk. No
question. Flora is blown away.
Also, we have travelled around him, and now, all screens are
gone, and they are sitting fact to face across her kitchen
table.
FLORA
Jesus Christ.
JEFF
Right?
38.
FLORA
That's unbelievable.
JEFF
So simple. So direct. Nothing about
beauty.
FLORA
You are a genius. What are you
doing hanging around the internet
teaching muppets like me with a
song like that?
He starts to realize she thinks he wrote that. He lets it go
for a minute.
JEFF
Do you really like it?
FLORA
It's stunning.
JEFF
It's never just "A song". It's
three and half minutes in which
time shuts down. It's al l we've
got.
She feels his passion for this.
FLORA
You've got to get that out there
into the world.
JEFF
Do you think it would sell like
"You're Beautiful"?
FLORA
Maybe not as much as that. I still
like the other song too. Is that
allowed?
JEFF
No! That's Stockholm syndrome.
Don't worry- we'll de-brainwash
you. By the time you've finished
here you just won't have time for
childish jingles and cliches.
FLOR A
I'm exhausted.
39.
JEFF
We're only just beginning. Do you
want to learn the root chords of
that song? So you can play it?
FLORA
Okay.
He picks up his guitar. They begin.
JEFF
Starts in C.
He instructs her in holding down C. She is a good learner
when she applies herself. She finally gets the basic
fingering of "C"
FLORA
You have lovely long fingers. Mine
are quite stubby.
JEFF
The size of your fingers don't
matter. Django Rein dhart had two
fingers missing.
FLORA
Oh wow. Because I love him.
He starts to instruct her more. She gets it, bang on. Strums
it.
JEFF
You got it!
FLORA
(genuinely pleased))
Woo hoo!
She goes to drink her wine, but then does it off screen.
JEFF
What was that?
FLORA
Nothing. I love this.
JEFF
See, you're a quick learner.
FLORA
I knew I'd be good at this! Let's
move on, what else you got?
40.
JEFF
You got G and F. But let's just
think about C for a second.
FLORA
Okay, lets.
She lights up a cigarette.
JEFF
You now are the proud owner of "C".
You own it. And you didn't, 5
minutes ago. You're rich. You own
something that Elvis owned!
FLORA
I'd rather have his plane.
JEFF
(ignoring the
interruption)
And it didn't cost you anything.
FLORA
Well, 20 dollars, for this class.
But I do know what you mean. Go on.
JEFF
You own something new, You don't
ever have to give it back. It's not
a must-have object. It's not a
phone. Or a car. Or a handbag. Did
you ever see an ad for a guitar?
Because it sells itself. You'll die
with that gift. You can use it
whenever you like. And in the right
context, it can speak directly to
your heart in a way that we don't
even understand. More than words,
or ideas, or though ts. Just a
chord, hanging in the air. C.
She is a little transfixed. We have traveled full circle, and
they are back on their screens.
SLOW fade to black.
32 32
EXT. A STREET - EVENING
On her way home, Flora passes a pub. Outside in chalk, a
board.
41.
"Singer-Songwriter night. Every first Monday. Sign up! Have
fun! Cash prize".
She pauses at the door. Looks in.
33 33
INT. THE PUB - EVENING
A crowd of thirty or forty locals. A small, threadbare stage
with a few instruments in an annex room of a pub. Very low
fi. A beautiful 19 year old girl is sitting on a barstool
with a guitar singing a really shitty self-penned song on a
ukulele. She is terrible.
A nother few musicians wait around to go on.
Flora watches.
BARRY (40), exits for a fag. He is an ex-band type guy, still
wearing sunglasses, gel in his dyed, thinning hair.
BARRY
Howareya love.
He lights up.
FLORA
Can anyone sign up?
BARRY
Oh yeah. That's the idea. Keep
music local.
FLORA
What's the cash prize?
BARRY
80 percent of the door. There's
usually about 50 punters.
FLORA
At how much a head?
BARRY
Fiver.
F LORA
Jesus. That's pricy enough. Are
they all that shit?
42.
BARRY
It's not about that. It's about
keeping music alive in the
neighborhood. That's what I'm all
about.
FLORA
So who decides who wins?
BARRY
I do. I'm Barry Byrne. Events
promotor.
FLORA
I know who you are, Barry.
He goes to shake hands, putting the sunglasses on his head.
BARRY
Oh yeah. Jaysis. How are
you...don't tell me.... Fiona!
FLORA
Flora.
BARRY
Ah! I knew you were in the F's.
The song ends. People clap unenthusiastically. Barry claps.
BARRY (CONT'D)
I'd better head in. Good to see you
again! In the daylight!
FLORA
I bet she wins.
Flora smiles, Barry pretends to be shocked.
34 34
INT. IAN'S HOUSE - DAY
Close on a laptop screen. A rock video for Ian's band, INDIGO
VOID. A younger Ian is singing an okay song called "Long Way
from Crumlin to LA". It's about a guy left behind in Dublin
after his girlfriend goes to Ame rica. It cross cuts between
20 year old Ian, singing in various landmarks around Dublin,
and working on a building site, and a pretty young girl
working and living in New York. All her shots were clearly
shot in Dublin for NY. There's a NY cop conspicuously placed
in every shot of her, and lots of America Flags, and various
staples of Americana. And red and blue lights outside windows
etc.
43.
Ian is talking Max through it. Max is a captive audience to
Ian's failed hopes and dreams.
The doorbell rings, and Max jumps up, glad to be going.
MAX
See ya da.
35 35
EXT. IAN'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Ian opens the door to his house. Flora has the guitar in a
case casually slung over her shoulder, like she's done this
her whole life. Max exits, waiting on the footpath.
IAN
What's that?
FLORA
What? Oh, just... me guitar?
He smiles.
FLORA (CONT'D)
I have a lesson later. I thought
I'd do it in the park.
IAN
What is this about?
FLORA
What's what about?
IAN
This whole music thing? Anytime I
tried to introduce you to new music
you tuned out.
FLORA
My tutor tells me I have "genuine
appreciation of melody". Now.
IAN
What do you like, then? Apart from
club music. Gimmie five bands.
FLORA
Well I like his songs, anyway.
IAN
Oh. He's a song writer too, is he?
44.
FLORA
Yeah. He is. He's brilliant
actually.
IAN
What's his name?
FLORA
Jeff... The guitar guy.
IAN
He sounds like some fucking clown
who never made it, teaching lessons
online. The ultimate graveyard for
failed musicians.
FLORA
Are you a little bit... jealous?
She smiles. This is what she basically wants.
IAN
No, love. Just... concerned.
Her smiles falls.
FLORA
How's Juanita?
IAN
She's grand.
FLORA
You do know that she's not Spanish,
right?
IAN
She's half Spanish.
FLORA
Which half? Her Da is from Tallaght
and her ma is from Blancherdstown!
IAN
Her nana's people were from Spain.
FLORA
My people were from Norway that
doesn't make me a fucking viking!
He laughs.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Does she blow you like I did?
45.
IAN
What?? Shut up.
She smiles. Widens her eyes for a moment. She moves in
towards him a little.
FLORA
I'm serious. Does she?
IAN
You're nuts.
FLORA
She doesn't blow you, does she?
IAN
Yeah, she... has.
FLORA
She doesn't. I knew it. Her mouth's
too small. Is she out? Will I come
up for a few minutes?
Ian is dumbstruck. But suddenly, out from all the anger and
hostility, Flora is sexually charged in a way we h aven't
seen.
IAN
Don't be mad.
FLORA
I bet she doesn't let you come all
down her neck, and tits, the way I
did. Ian is gobsmacked. This is so
wrong, and so in-broad-daylight.
IAN
(smiling)
Would you fuck off.
FLORA
I'm serious. I'm over the hurt. But
if you ever want the best blow job
of your life, you know where I am.
Come on Max!
Max snaps out from looking at his phone. We hold on Ian as
they walk off do wn the street. He is aroused, and you can see
it in his tracksuit.
46.
36 36
EXT. A STREET - LATER
Flora and Max walk down a street in silence. They cross in
the way of a CYCLIST, who steers to narrowly avoid them,
dropping his bag and lock.
CYCLIST
Wake up, will you!
FLORA
Fuck off.
CYCLIST
You stepped right in front of me!
Watch where you're going.
FLORA
You watch where you're going or
I'll wrap that fucking lock around
your neck!
She means business. The cyclist gathers his stu ff and hurries
off, shaking his head. Max looks up at his very angry mother.
He notices the guitar.
MAX
Are you getting rid of that?
FLORA
This? No, why?
MAX
Oh, what are you doing with it
then?
FLORA
It was just sitting there. Why do
you want it now? You can have it?
MAX
No. I don't. I don't like acoustic
guitar music anyway. It's gay.
FLORA
How do you mean?
MAX
Just... all those feelings... about
angels with wings, and blokes
writing soppy love songs for girls.
47.
FLORA
How is that "Gay"? I would have
thought was straight?
MAX
Whatever. It's stupid.
FLORA
What are you into then?
MAX
Ambient. And Electronic.
FLORA
Oh. Yeah. I always loved dance
music.
MAX
Like what?
FLORA
I Love Container. Sophie is
amazing. Orbital, back in the day.
MAX
Who the fuck are they?
FLORA
Dance music. So who are you into
then?
MAX
Marconi Union. Do you know them?
FLORA
No.
MAX
They're from Manchester I think.
Real trance music. It sounds like a
computer made it. It's deadly.
As they arrive back at the flats, Flora checks her watch.
MAX (CONT'D)
I have some Marconi Union on me
phone if you want to hear it?
They're brilliant.
FLORA
Right, you've got your key. There's
waffles in the fridge. I'm heading
out.
48.
MAX
Bye.
FLORA
Ok. Back in an hour and a half.
She hurries off, missing this cue to listen to music with her
boy. Max climbs the steps to his flat, spitting over the
balcony at pigeons below. Bored as hell.
37 37
EXT. A CRUMMY PARK - LATER
Flora is sitting in a threadbare public park on her laptop
with her guitar. She's sitting on her coat.
Jeff is on the screen. They both have their guitars. They are
both strumming E, A and D together, slowly. It's pretty basic
stuff, like a church choir, But it's progress.
FLORA
Am I ready?
JEFF
For what?
FLORA
To write a female empowerment
ballad and get me husband back?
JEFF
Why did he leave?
FLORA
(thinks)
Anger?
JEFF
Why is he angry?
FLORA
No me. I'm angry. I almost killed a
cyclist today with his own lock.
JEFF
What are you angry about?
FLORA
I don't know. I wake up angry. And
I'm angry at my son all the time. I
thought this guitar playing lark
might calm me down a little.
49.
JEFF
Wait a second, you have a son??
FLORA
I had him very young. I was 17.
Maybe he's the reason I thought I'd
learn the guitar.
JEFF
How do you mean?
FLORA
That he'd think I was cool.
JEFF
Trying to look cool to your kids is
the least cool thing you can do.
Their "cool radar" resets every 20
seconds. You can't keep up.
FLORA
Do you have kids?
JEFF
Yeah. But they're grown up now.
They think I'm cool. Because t hey
don't have to deal with me.I read a
book last year about child rearing.
Would you say you're a gardener or
a carpenter, Flora?
FLORA
Wha?
JEFF
Did you plant your kid and just let
him grow, or do you try mold him
into a "shape" in your head, like a
carpenter?
She thinks about this.
FLORA
Carpenter or Gardener? I think I'm
a wrecking ball.
JEFF
Don't say that.
FLORA
Play me your song again.
50.
JEFF
Oh yeah. I meant to mention that.
That's not my song.
FLORA
What? Who's is it?
JEFF
Tom Waits.
FLORA
Who the fuck is he?
JEFF
He's sort of an... American Tramp.
He's also a genius. I was surprised
you didn't know him.
FLORA
Why did you tell me it was your
song?
JEFF
I didn't. You presumed it, and
I...Sort of allowed you to.
FLORA
Why?
JEFF
I guess I wanted to see what it
felt like.
FLORA
To what?
JEFF
To have wri tten a song like that,
in someone's eyes. It was stupid.
So let's get back to the lesson.
FLORA
Why, what normally happens?
JEFF
You wanna hear one of my songs?
FLORA
Yeah.
He starts a song. Lovely chord progression. Really nice
intro. When he sings, he's got a strong, beautiful voice. The
first verse is nice. Smart lyrics. But then, the chorus
comes, and it just doesn't lift. It's... fine.
51.
But it ain't Tom Waits.
Again, as we circle him, he is now sitting across from her in
the park, in Dublin. After the chorus, he strums it out, and
stops.
She smiles. An awkward silence.
FLORA (CONT'D)
I see what you mean.
JEFF
What?
FLORA
It's lovely. You're really good at
songs.
JEFF
Go on?
FLORA
Just... would I want to hear it
again?
JEFF
Right.
FLORA
Ever.
Jeff is crushed. But he's used to this. He puts his guitar
do wn.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Sorry.
JEFF
No, it's great. If folks out here
were as honest, I wouldn't have
wasted a decade and a half. Let's
get back to the lesson.
Checks watch.
FLORA
Don't feel sorry for yourself.
JEFF
I'm not. It's the most humbling
realization ever. To start a song
for someone. They're totally
receptive to you. Ready. And then,
to see their eyes glaze over.
(MORE)
(MORE)
52.
JEFF (CONT'D)
And it's harder for them than you.
The smile is still in the mouth,
but not in the eyes. And you know.
Flora watches him closely.
FLORA
You know what?
JEFF
That they've done their best to be
changed by you. But they're still
the same.
He takes up his guitar, and they continue with the lesson. As
we circle them, they are back on screens.
JEFF (CONT'D)
Oh, I'll send you some homework
tonight. A link to a John Mar tyn
song. Apropos of being angry.
FLORA
Who's he?
JEFF
Beautiful songwriter. Angriest man
on the planet. A bully. Hassled his
wife. Paranoid. Drank his head off.
Okay. G. A/ and F sharp.
They continue with the lesson.
38 38
INT. FLORA'S FLAT - LATER
That evening, Flora pours wine, smokes a joint. She gets a
ping. Jeff: Watch. This. Now.
She opens the link to a Youtube clip on her laptop, of John
Martyn playi ng "Couldn't Love You More".
It's a clip from a gig in London from 1978. John Martyn is
sitting on a stool with his guitar, twitchy, and buzzed on
alcohol. His segue patter is awkward and male and a tad
incoherent, and he comes off more like a pub entertainer in
an knees-up.
And then he starts singing.
The music calms his whole body. It starts to pour into the
room like a gentle wave. And into Flora's room too. The
transformation is remarkable. It is like the music of angels.
He sings with his entire body.
53.
Each note more guttural, seemingly wrenched up from his body
like diamonds from the ground.
Flora is drawn to the table from cleaning the kitchen. She
drops the plates, glass of water, etc, and they hang in the
air, suspended. She pulls into the table to listen closer.
By its end, Flora is in floods. Her tears are on the
keyboard.
She DM's Jeff: "Oh My GOD. What just happened?"
In a moment he respon ds: "It's okay to be angry."
39 39
EXT. A SHOPPING CENTRE - DAY
Flora and Cathy walk through a mall. They stop and have
waffles with ice-cream at an indoor cafe.
FLORA
He calms me down. Me anxiety just
disappears. He's like a Xanax, in a
denim shirt.
KATHY
Can I meet him? I mean, see him.
FLORA
No.
KATHY
Please? I could just stand in the
corner of the room.
FLORA
That'd be very weird.
KATHY
Is he good looking? Do y ou have a
screen grab?
FLORA
It's not about that.
KATHY
So he's not good looking then.
FLORA
He's like a drug. He never says
what you expect him to say. And
he's sensitive. You can see in his
eyes he's been hurt.
54.
KATHY
You're mad. Trust you to fall for
someone who lives three thousand
miles sway.
FLORA
Six. It's the west coast.
KATHY
It's a screen, you can't fall in
love with a man on a screen, babes.
You'll just frustrate yourself.
FLORA
My ma was in love with Harrison
Ford for 20 years.
They continue.
40 40
EXT. ST STEPHEN'S GREEN - DAY
Flora is walking through the park listening to Something with
a particularly good chorus. She sits on a bench and listens
closely. Rewinds. She is having a realization as she listens.
41 41
INT. FLORA'S TINY BEDROOM - ANOTHER DAY
Over the same song, Flora is practicing guitar, and writing a
lyric.
42 42
INT. FLORA'S FLAT. MAX'S BEDROOM - ANOTHER DAY 50
Flora lets herself in, surprised to hear some heavy sounds
coming from Max's bedroom.
FLORA
Fucking hell.
She sets her keys down and enters his room . Inside, Max has
his laptop hooked up to a set of small but powerful studio
speakers. The music is pumping. He is sitting at a tiny desk
covered in socks and underpants. On screen, a GarageBand
file.
FLORA (CONT'D)
(shouting)
Jesus Christ, it's like a club in
here! Turn it down a second!
Max sees her, and quickly presses the spacebar, pausing the
music.
55.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Jesus, that's loud.
MAX
Yeah, Keith lent them to me. Really
powerful. I have to give them back
tomorrow.
FLORA
The neighbors will be complaining.
MAX
They're junkies, they'll be asking
to turn it up.
FLORA
Who's Keith?
MAX
He's a mate. A rapper. He lent them
to me for the night.
FLORA
For what?
MAX
So I could mix this track.
FLORA
Was that yours??
He shrugs.
FLORA (CONT'D)
You're joking me?? How the fuck did
you make that, it sounded epic.
MAX
GarageBand. It's simple.
She moves over towards him and hovers over his shoulder. On
screen, six or seven tracks. Drum patters, keyboards, loops
etc.
FLORA
Explain.
MAX
Anyone can do it. They're all
different tracks. You pick your
sounds from here. He illustrates,
highlighting various tracks.
56.
MAX (CONT'D)
And you can drag in loops here.
FLORA
What are loops?
MAX
Drum patterns. Or you can make up
your own patterns. But you need a
proper sequencer for that.
FLORA
And how do you control them? Like
how did you get that mad piano
sound?
MAX
You open "Keyboard typing" and use
the laptop keys.
FLORA
No way!
He illustrates what he means. A loud, keyboard sound through
the speakers, triggered by the letters.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Jesus, it sounds very professional.
MAX
It is. It's what loads of people
start on. Except you need a synth.
Doing like this is shit. And takes
forever. A note at a time.
FLORA
Play it again.
MAX
Nah.
She presses space over his shoulder. The track comes to life.
He turns it down a little.
They listen to a half-made piece of electronic pop. It's
catchy, but un-formed. In the right hands, it could be a
hook y piece of electro-pop. Right now, it is all over the
place.
FLORA
What's it called?
MAX
Don't know.
57.
FLORA
Fucking hell, son. Is this what
you've been doing on those
headphones?
He shrugs, a weird mixture of embarrassment and pride.
FLORA (CONT'D)
I fucking knew it.
She picks up her mobile and calls.
FLORA (CONT'D)
(into phone)
Come over here and hear what your
son made.
She hangs up and starts texting.
FLORA (CONT'D)
I'm texting Kathy too. And the
gals. She won't believe this.
43 43
INT. FLORA'S FLAT - LATER
An impromptu listening pa rty in the tiny flat. Ian is
drinking a can. Kathy and a couple of nightclub buddies are
drinking and smoking and listening to Max's instrumental
dance number. Flora is passing around home made cocktails.
Max watches from the galley kitchen. A mixture of
embarrassment and interest.
Later.
44 44
INT. FLORA'S HALLWAY - LATER
The next door neighbors have called to complain about the
music. They are a strun g-out couple. Flora is explaining.
NEIGHBOUR
It's fucking very loud, Flora.
We're trying to sleep.
FLORA
Sorry, I'm playing a song for me
mates. Something me son wrote. And
it's become a bit of a party.
NEIGHBOUR 2
I don't care. It's not acceptable.
58.
NEIGHBOUR
Not acceptable.
They all stand there.
45 45
INT. FLORA'S FLAT - LATER
The two neighbors have drinks and joints, and are dancing.
Ian is on a bong. The music thumps. Max smokes and takes
surreptitious swigs from various cans and drinks. He is
having fun.
Flora turns it up as people dance.
FLORA
My fucking son! Seriously!
Ian picks up Max proudly, and they play fight.
46 46
EXT - SHOPPING CENTRE - DAY
Max and Flora walk up the street. Max pauses to look at a
Canada Goose Jacket in the window.
MAX
Can I try that on?
47 47
INT. SHOP - SAME
Max is sporting a ridiculous Canada Goose. He is swamped in
it.
MAX
Can we get it?
She looks at the price tag. An ASSISTANT is standing by,
smiling.
FLORA
900 fucking Euro? What's it made
of?
ASSISTANT
It's full of feathers. Goose
feathers.
FLORA
From a golden goose? I wouldn't
spe nd 900 euro on a jacket for me.
Not to mind a 14 year old boy.
Anyway, it's too big.
59.
MAX
That's the look.
FLORA
For turtles! Come on, let's go.
He looks in the mirror, He does look a little like a turtle.
He takes it off reluctantly. They pass a STAFF MEMBER (30),
who is conspicuously watching them.
FLORA (CONT'D)
What are you fucking looking at.
48 48
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - ANOTHER DAY
Flora is mid lesson with Jeff. They take a break.
JEFF
Well done. That's good. You're
making progress. Your fing ering on
the left hand is getting stronger.
FLORA
Thank you. So I was thinking about
your song.
JEFF
Ok?
FLORA
I think it's salvageable.
JEFF
Good to know.
FLORA
The problem is, that you have a
great first verse. But the chorus
isn't a lot better. Now, in my
research, I find that choruses used
to be the big deal in a song. What
everyone's waiting for. But
nowadays, the choruses that like,
Ed Sheerin does do , are we allowed
mention Ed Sheerin?
JEFF
Go on.
FLORA
He plays the same chords over the
chorus, but sings a different
melody.
60.
JEFF
Right.
FLORA
So it's not like... "Here comes the
chorus everyone!!" Because unless
you have a killer chorus, (which
you don't), it's an anti climax.
JEFF
So you're saying my verse is too
good?
FLORA
Wow. You are an optimistic guy. I
guess that's one way of looking at
it. Do you want to hear what I
mean? You play the first verse, and
sing it. Then play it again, same
chords, and I'll hum what I mean.
Ready?
JEFF
Oh. Now?
FLORA
Yeah.
JEFF
What about the lesson?
FLORA
I'm giving you the lesson. Go.
He reluctantly takes up his guitar. He does the first verse
of the same song we heard. Sings it. Very nice. Now he's
approaching the chorus. He plays the same chords, and Flora
hums what she means. It totally works. She has a grand voice.
They pause.
JEFF
That's really smart.
FLORA
And have a better lyric?
JEFF
(la ughs)
Right. On it.
FLORA
No, I have a better lyric...
61.
She unfolds some paper from her pocket. She pitches him an
improvement on some of his lyrics, and he likes it. He's not
precious, and this emboldens Flora to go on.
JEFF
Send me them, will you?
FLORA
Sure. You can take them or leave
them.
JEFF
Let me try and fold some of them
in. It might not work though.
FLORA
Okay. Whatever. Can I get ten
percent?
JEFF
You can have 100 percent. I've
given up trying to mak e money out
of my music long ago. I tired that
it almost killed the thing I love.
FLORA
This is fun!
Jeff checks his watch.
JEFF
See you next week.
FLORA
Okay.
She smiles at him as he disappears offline. Flora closes her
laptop and takes a breath.
KATHY
He's very cute!
Kathy is sitting on a stool, in the corner of the room.
FLORA
Right?
KATHY
Does he have a son our age?
62.
49 49
EXT. FLORA'S HOUSING ESTATE - LATER
Flora and Max enter their complex. They are both carrying a
bunch of shopping.
There's a gathering of kids making a video on an Iphone by
the carpark. KEITH, is facing off the camera as he mimes to
playback from a bluetooth speaker. He wears trainers and
EXACTLY THE SAME Canada Goose as Max tried on, with the hood
up.
The same two girls wear hot pants and shake their bottoms
into camera. It's all very generic stuff, but has a slightly
misogynistic vibe to it. The CAMERA MAN is too old to be
doing this. He instructs Keith how to smack their bottoms in
the video.
Keith now sits on the hood of a white Range Rover Sport,
showing off watches, wads of cash and designer clobber. Flora
sighs. Max is intrigued. They watch for a while.
SAMANTHA
Hi Max!
MAX
Whatever, yeah.
He doesn't look up, embarrassed to be with his mum. They
watch her shaking her ass.
FLORA
Wow. She's really going full
prostitute in this one. Why don't
you just ask her out, for waffles?
MAX
No way.
Flora crosses over to her as Max legs it up the stairs.
FLORA
Hiya. You're Samantha? Cheryl's
daughter?
SAMANTHA
Yeah. Hi Flora.
FLORA
Jesus, you've shot up!
SAMANTHA
I know. Taller than me mother now.
63.
FLORA
How's your ma?
SAMANTHA
She's great. Talks about you all
the time. The crack youse had!
FLORA
Aw, don't talk to me! You fancy a
bit of dinner in ours tonight?
SAMANTHA
Nah. You're alright.
FLORA
Go on! Me boy is mad about you.
Just come for a little?
SAMANTHA
No thanks.
FLORA
Right. Okay. See ya.
She shrugs off.
50 50
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - NIGHT
Flora sits on her own at the kitchen table. Max has gone to
bed. She has a cigarette lit. And a glass of wine. It's
quiet. She's restless and alone. Looks at her watch.
She thinks. Then opens the laptop. Opens her email.
Selects Jeff Guitar guy. Sends a DM.
"Heya. Don't suppose you're around for a lesson?"
She sends. Waits. Nothing.
Then she sends a text to Kathy: "Shifters"?? *
Waits for response.
"Already there! Ya comin?"
She thinks about it. Checks wat ch etc. Pours another glass of
wine. She's not bothered.
51 51
INT. MAX'S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Max is in bed on his phone. Flora enters.
64.
MAX
Em knock?
FLORA
Sorry. What are you doing right
now?
52 52
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - LATER
Max, in his pajamas, has set up his laptop and speakers and
leads at the kitchen table. Flora is beside him with a pen
and pad.
FLORA
Tell me what you feel about her.
MAX
Can't stop thinking of her.
FLORA
Good. Obsession. You're obsessed.
MAX
I suppose.
FLORA
I used to be obsessed. With your
da.
MAX
I don't care.
FLORA
So go on.
MAX
She's totally out of me league.
FLORA
No she's not.
MAX
She gets off with Keith.
FLORA
She thinks Keith can offer her
something. He's all glamorous and
dangerous. With the thousand euro
jackets. She has to know that when
she's done with her gangster,
you'll be there.
65.
MAX
Yeah.
FLORA
You'll always be there, won't you?
MAX
Yes I will. I love her.
She is writing. Channeling his teenage obsession.
FLORA
Open your laptop.
53 53
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - LATER
They both have headphones feeding into his laptop.
Max has built a track, with an I-rig. It's very basic. A
loop, and a keyboard pad and bass. The mic is live. Flora is
reading lines from her pad. He changes and adds.
MAX
T hat's you. The red.
He presses play on the track. We hear his song idea again,
through her headphones.
MAX (CONT'D)
If we had an external microphone
the quality would be much better.
Do you want me to put reverb on it?
FLORA
Yeah! Can you?
He turns on "effects" and adds a little reverb, as Flora
picks up her guitar and strums, finding the song's tempo and
key.
She starts to add a very simple acoustic pattern. I t's naive.
But it's appropriate. Just a little loop.
MAX
That's cool. Do that again, and
I'll loop it.
FLORA
Okay.
He starts the track again. She does it. He copies and pastes
it over the song.
66.
It works, giving his digital track a human, analogue touch.
It's not bad. It's not great either. But it's totally fun.
MAX
Write these down: "And when you're
done with your gangster. And when
you're done with your fantasy. I'll
be the one with the answer. I'll be
the one, just wait and see. I'll be
the one in your corner".
FLORA
Ohh like that boxing metaphor.
MAX
Yeah. What's a metaphor?
FLORA
It's when y ou say something
different from what you want to
say. Like, did they not teach you
this in school?
MAX
No, I must have been out that day.
FLORA
Anyway, that's a good one. Let's
put that down.
54 54
INT. FLORA'S TINY KITCHEN - MUCH LATER
Max has put down a pretty cool vocal. He's not a great
singer. But his sharp Dublin accent suits the intense lyrics.
They've written a kind of song. They can't believe it.
FL ORA
Now send that to her.
MAX
What?
FLORA
That's the idea. She has to hear
your passion. It'll knock her off
her feet. Do you have her email?
MAX
Are you serious?
She is. He starts mixing down the track.
67.
FLORA
In fact, why stop there?
55 55
INT. FLORA'S FLAT - LATER
Flora is pitching her idea for a video as the song plays. She
is shouting over the music.
FLORA
You're standing against a white
wall. And you're looking into the
lens. Real intense. Like a boxer.
In fact- maybe you're in a boxing
ring. The camera is moving towards
you. You're singing the words. Real
intense.
MAX
Where will we get into a boxing
ri ng?
FLORA
Your da trains in Sonic Gym. Stop
interrupting me. I'm on a roll. And
we intercut with a dog. He's lost.
We follow him around town. He's
looking for his owner. No one sees
him. Just feet passing by. He's
chased out of shops. It's raining
now. His coat splashed with mud.
You're still singing. Now the dog
is shivering in a laneway. Now he's
walking again. Faster. Maybe he's
got a scent, beca use the rain has
stopped. Someone tries to pat him.
But he snarls. Scared. Now he's
away from the city. Running along a
path. Faster... and faster...
towards the sea.... towards....
Flora is transfixed by what she's seeing in her head. Max is
carried by it too.
MAX
Where the fuck do we get a dog?
56 56
INT. AN ANIMAL RESCUE SHELTER - DAY
Lots of yapping dogs in cages. Flora and Max are being led by
a VET, (23), along a corridor of cages. Different dogs' faces
looking out.
68.
MAX
Where do they all come from??
VET
I know, right? The pandemic.
Everyone bought puppies. Then after
the lockdowns were lifted...
FLORA
Just fucked them out on the
street??
The vet nods, sadly.
MAX
Humans.
Max strokes a paw of a cute dog through a cage. He is welling
up. Filled with bitter, teen rage.
FLORA
Mind you- I kinda get it. You wanna
go back to your life. And they're
like (Dog voice):"no, you mus t take
care of me for the rest of time".
And you're like "no, I have a job,
and I want to go on holidays.
You've served your purpose". I do
kinda get it.
VET
Right.
MAX
What about this guy?
Max has singled out a dog. A Staffy.
FLORA
He's beautiful. What's his name?
VET
He doesn't have a name. He was
found drowning, in the canal.
Abandoned. Plus he was born half
blind.
FLORA
(an old joke)
Let's call him "Lucky "
Max has fallen for the dog.
69.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Can we borrow him?
VET
We don't really "lend" dogs out.
FLORA
It's for a video.
VET
No. You can't borrow him.
57 57
EXT. A STREET - DAY
They are walking with the dog. Flora is carrying a bunch of
dog stuff. Max is walking the enthusiastic dog. The song
plays on.
58 58
EXT. A STREET - DAY
A grizzled, but once handsome homeless man (40) lights up a
cigarette. He is sitting on a box in a doorway. He hands the
pa ck of cigarettes back to Flora, who is standing over him
with Max in the background, pitching to him. They have the
dog with them too.
The man shakes Flora's hand. She gives him two plastic bags
with food, soft drinks, a Swiss roll etc.
Video Shoot:
A number of exteriors. Flora and the dog and Max are filming
all around Dublin. They are shooting shots of the dog as per
Flora's pitch. We cross cut between them making the video and
the actual video itself.
Flora is a good camera operator and gets good, low angles
with the Iphone.
We see them blagging into shops with the dog for the shot
etc. Recruiting strangers to try pat the dog etc. (Flora
coaxes the dog into various action with a bag of treats.)
Now they're in a boxing ring. She is moving in to Max, who
lip-syncs. He is dressed in a pair of silky shorts. Skinny
and pale. With boxing gloves on. Playback comes for a small
bluetooth speaker. She shouts directions to him, as other
boxers train in the background.
Now they are running after the dog in Irishtown Nature
Reserve. On the beach, and over the headland.
70.
Flora is out of breath but gets some great shots. They run
through rain. The dog is a good collaborator!
Now they are having lunch of sandwiches and take out teas,
huddled under a tree. They are having a laugh. The dog has
his lunch too, a tin of Pedigree Chum.
Now back to the video itself. The song plays as Max sings
into camera, his head eventually filling the screen. He is
intense and slightly scary, looking right down the lens. The
dog runs and runs. He's running towards a tent. The tent is
in a ditch at the end of the reserve. There are a few other
tents around too. An improvised homeless camp.
The homeless man appears at the zip, and the dog jumps on
him, almost knocking him over. Michael kisses the dog, who
licks his face and circles him like crazy, wagging his tail.
Michael cries, reunited with his lost dog. Sometimes he looks
into the camera lens. Which makes it more uplifting. We see
them running the beach together etc. Eating together at the
camp fire. The song ends with Max looking right down the
lens.
"I'll Be The One"
59 59
INT. FLORA'S FLAT - EVENING
Max is sitting in the kitchen watching MMA on his laptop and
eating cereal. Flora hurries in with her laptop.
FLORA
Can I have the room?
MAX
No.
FLORA
What are you doing?
MAX
Homework?
His schoolbag and copybooks are notionally on the table.
She looks at him doubtfully. He starts typing. They smile at
each other.
She grabs her guitar.
71.
60 60
EXT. FLORA'S HOUSING ESTATE. ROOFTOP - LATER
Flora is climbing up the ladder and hatch out onto the
rooftop of the flats. High above the city. A few breeze
blocks, and an old arm chair and various discarded cans
suggest that this is a place people sneak up to for parties.
She is trailing up a power extension, and carrying her
laptop, and a cushion.
She has already brought up her guitar, cigarette s and bottle
of wine.
She sets her work station up, using her personal hotspot for
a connection.
61 61
EXT. FLORA'S HOUSING ESTATE. ROOFTOP - LATER
On screen, Jeff, with his guitar. As usual, it's sunny and
beautiful.
JEFF
So I worked on your idea. Want to
hear it?
FLORA
Yeah!
He plays the first verse and chorus of the same song. It
works very well. She joins in (badly) for the chords of the
second verse. Th e song has improved. They play out the second
verse together. As the camera circles them, he is now on the
rooftop with her again. Sitting across from her.
They play a little more and hold the last chord of the second
chorus.
JEFF
Now it just needs a killer bridge.
FLORA
What's a bridge?
JEFF
A change for 8 bars after the
second chorus.
FLORA
Okay. It sounds amazing!
JEFF
Better, right?
72.
FLORA
It actually works!
JEFF
Yup. I've been struggling with that
song. Thanks for your ideas.
FLORA
It's very intimate, isn't it?
Singing like that together. It's a
bit like... we've just made love or
something.
JEFF
(laughing)
No it isn't.
FLORA
In a way though. I do feel a little
bit naked right now. I think music
is all about romance. Look at A
Star is Born.
JEFF
Not if I don't have to.
FLORA
Don't tell me you don't love that
movie??
JEFF
It's a hollow lie. Anyway, music is
about something much deeper than
physical attraction. Or sex.
FLORA
What's deeper than sex?
JEFF
Why isn't the way things are,
enough for you?
FLORA
They never were. I was always
pushing things. Finding ways of
getting outside myself.
JEFF
Like how?
FLORA
I suppose, leaving school, before
everyone else?
(MORE)
(MORE)
73.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Then, getting pregnant, and not
having an abortion when everyone
was telling me to. I thought being
pregnant might make me feel
different. I thought giving birth,
I'd be reborn. Then I was stoned
during most of his childhood.
JEFF
I was drunk when my two kids were
born.
She studies him. He is not proud of this.
FLORA
Like in a bar?
JEFF
No, like in the delivery room.
FLORA
Wow. That's hardcore. Bet your w ife
loved that.
JEFF
She was pushing a nine pound human
through her vagina, and her husband
was the one who was cracking up.
FLORA
Yous are a shit sex.
JEFF
You're the first person I've
admitted that to. I drank through
the whole first ten years of their
lives.
FLORA
What got you clean?
He thinks.
JEFF
Kids made me start. AA kept me off.
Music made it manageable.
They sit there.
FLORA
(smiling)
The holy trinity of recovery.
74.
JEFF
Hey, is that the dawn behind you??
She looks over her shoulder. The first sign of dawn.
FLORA
Christ, it is. Is that the sunset
behind you?
On his screen, it is darker than before.
FLORA (CONT'D)
We've stayed up all night.
So this is like... pillow talk.
JEFF
You owe me for six hours.
FLORA
Are you serious?
JEFF
No. I enjoy talking to you, Flora.
I don`t know why because none of
what you say makes any sense.
FLOR A
Is that all?
JEFF
Nothing's enough for you.
FLORA
Are you saying you don't find me a
teeny bit attractive when I'm
singing that song with you?
JEFF
You're my student.
FLORA
So?
JEFF
It'd be inappropriate.
FLORA
Who's going to cancel you? You're
already no-one.
JEFF
I'm not about to get into something
with someone on the other side of
the world through a screen.
(MORE)
(MORE)
75.
JEFF (CONT'D)
My heart can't handle it. I'm not
19. Life is lonely enough as it is.
This blows her away.
FLORA
I could get a plane?
JEFF
So could I.
FLORA
Then we'd miss each other. You're
not coming here. It'd be like
walking into a live soap opera.
Plus, I wanna see LA. This isn't
all about you. (it is)
He smiles.
JEFF
We could play our song to a few
friends in the business.
FLORA
Ha. 10 percent!
JEFF
I'd pick you up at the airport.
FLORA
You'd better.
They smile. It's nuts. Jeff is back on screen by now.
They just look at each other. Then she presses LEAVE. And he
is gone from the rooftop. And she is alone.
62 62
INT. FLORA'S TINY BEDROOM - DAY
Flora is alone in the flat. She digs out her bathing suit.
63 63
INT. FLORA'S BATHROOM - LATER
Flora has put on the bathing suit and is standing regarding
her body in the mirror. She turns around, looking over her
shoulder. Then from the side. She sucks in her tummy. Stands
on her toes, etc. Then just stands there and looks at herself
straight on. She smiles at herself.
76.
64 64
EXT. PUB. BEER GARDEN - DAY
Flora is sitting at a beer garden with a glass of wine. In a
few moments, Ian saunters up.
Businesslike.
IAN
So what's so important that can't
wait until we swap him over?
FLORA
Sit down. Relax.
He does.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Do you want a glass of wine?
IAN
Wine? At 10 O'Clock in the morning,
Flora? No.
(beat)
I'll have a pint.
65 65
EXT. PUB. BEER GARDEN - LATER
We follow a pint of beer as a waitress brings it to their
table. Flora pays for it.
They sip their drinks. He savors the taste.
IAN
Drinking during the day. This
reminds me of old times.
FLORA
Getting pissed on white wine up on
Howth Head.
IAN
Watching the sea.
FLORA
Listening to sounds from your car
stereo. Smoking spliffs.
IAN
And then finding places to....
(winks)
Fuck, like.
He smiles. She smiles too, shushing him.
77.
FLORA
Seems like a different world.
IAN
We had some good times alright. You
and me.
FLORA
We definitely did. I'll give us
that. They sip. He looks at her.
IAN
Do you want to... go up there
today?
FLORA
Where?
IAN
Howth Head.
FLORA
What? No!!
IAN
Are you sure that's not what this
is about?
FLORA
Positive.
IAN
Final answer? A tray of Dutch Gold,
it's a sunny day. I could borrow
Dave's Mazda. Have you back in an
hour a nd a half.
FLORA
I feel like Cinderella.
They drink.
IAN
So what did you want?
FLORA
How would you feel about looking
after Max for a while. While I
sorta, found meself?
IAN
I didn't know you were lost.
78.
FLORA
Yeah, I haven't stepped outside
Dublin in 10 years.
IAN
Where were you thinking of going?
Like, Cork, or Galway?
FLORA
Yeah, or LA.
IAN
Excuse me? Could you pick somewhere
further away?
FLORA
That's sort of the idea.
IAN
Oh, now I see. This is to see this
guitar teacher bloke? Tom Waits.
FLORA
What? No, Maybe he'd be around, but
this is more about me. He shakes
his head.
IAN
You have a man here !
FLORA
What are you talking about?
IAN
What if I left her?
FLORA
Who? Juanita? No. She's great for
ya.
IAN
Don't. And we can both look after
Max. Together. Like it was.
FLORA
You blew up "like it was".
IAN
I thought there was more, in life.
FLORA
Well, go fuck yourself then. I
should have been enough!
79.
IAN
You are. You're more than enough.
That's part of the problem.
She is surprised by this moment of truth. They are both
silent for a moment.
IAN (CONT'D)
I can't be looking after Max right
now. You couldn't have picked a
worse time.
FLORA
Why?
IAN
I'm thinking about forming a
wedding band. With the lads outta
Indigo Void.
FLORA
Wow.
IAN
That business is a goldmine.
Imagine us all dressed up in Tuxes,
with shades o n. Sort of a Rat-Pack,
Tarantino vibe.
FLORA
Have you talked to the lads about
it?
IAN
I'm still at the dreaming stage. We
already have all the instruments.
We could use Brian's meat van as a
bus.
FLORA
Wouldn't that be freezing?
IAN
No, you turn the freezers off if
you're not carrying meat.
Cheers.
He drinks. She sips her wine, her plan not working out.
66 66
EXT. A PARK - DAY
Flora and Kathy walk around the par k.
80.
FLORA
The beach is down the road from his
house. And it's constantly sunny.
And he has a pool in his yard. That
he put in himself. Imagine Ian
doing that? He'd fucking drown. Do
you know it's been 12 years since I
had a bathing suit on!
KATHY
Oh you lucky bitch. Can I come?
FLORA
And if things don't work out,
that's fine. I just come home.
Right? But I get to say I did
something brave. For once in my
l ife. Something about ME.
Kathy thinks about this.
KATHY
(hesitantly)
Hasn't most of your life been a lil
bit about you?
FLORA
What are you talking about?
KATHY
I mean, just... like... you have
followed your own... thing. It's
not like you made many sacrifices,
like.
FLORA
What, like you?
KATHY
Don't get angry. I'm just saying.
You live two minutes from where
your mother and father lived. You
signed on the do le for years.
You've walked away from loads of
jobs.
FLORA
Are you for me or against me?
KATHY
Look, I'm totally into you going to
LA to fuck this guy, and maybe get
a song heard by some friends of
his, I'm totally into that story!
(MORE)
81.
KATHY (CONT'D)
But last I time I checked, miners
and frontline workers were brave.
FLORA
Okay, well speaking of brave, would
you look after Max for a bit?
KATHY
Excuse me?
FLORA
You've known him his whole life. He
trusts you. Plus you have a spare
room since your brother moved out.
It's just for a month. Or so.
KATHY
I can't!
FLORA
I wouldn't just ask anyone.
KATHY
Yeah you would!
FLORA
What do you mean by that?
KATHY
Look. I h ave a job. And I live with
me mam. I can't be taking your
nutter son in. Much and all as I
care for ya.
FLORA
Why?
KATHY
Do you not get how weird a question
that is?
FLORA
Actually, no. I've never asked you
to do anything with Max. Have I?
KATHY
No, but I was there to, if you
needed me.
FLORA
Not good enough! You never offered.
Everyone says they care. Every
bloke I've met is all "Ah, you have
kid, deadly- let's give it a go.
(MORE)
82.
FLORA (CONT'D)
FLORA (CONT'D)
I'll rise to the occasion." And
then fucking disappear. And all me
so-called mates are like "Aw you
and Max are so cute". But then,
they're all going to Spain on
holidays, and "they don't take kids
at this resort". Or ask them to
fucking do something for you, and
they're nowhere to be found. They
never babysat, never picked him up
from school. They never thought
about what I might want. Or what my
needs are. Since I was 17, with a
screaming child doing me fucking
head in, while yous were all living
your fucking lives!
She is almost crying now.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Now I want to live my life!
KATHY
Well you should have thought about
that 14 years ago.
FLORA
Do you think I wanted that child?
KATHY
Well we were all fucking like
rabbits. So, I don't know. Maybe
you did. You didn't want to get the
boat to London. Th at's your call.
But don't be asking people to pick
up the pieces now.
FLORA
You're my best friend. And part of
me loves you. But I never want to
see you again, as long as I live.
Do you understand?
KATHY
Whatever.
Flora turns and goes. Kathy stands there.
67 67
INT. MUSIC STORE. DUBLIN CITY CENTRE - DAY
Max is in the electronic section of Music Maker store.
83.
It's early morning, and the store is basically empty. Strong
sunlight. Dust in the air.
Max is in his school uniform. His school bag slung on the
floor beside him.
He is knocking out a drill-style beat on a synthesizer. It's
pretty repetitive and annoying.
An assistant, with glasses and a beard, is losing patience as
he tries to work.
ASSISTANT
Dude. Will you turn that shit down?
MAX
What do you care? There's no one
here. And it's not shit. It's
Drill.
ASSISTANT
Oh really.
MAX
Yeah. And me name's not Dude.
ASSISTANT
What's your name? Though you'd
think I'd know by now.
MAX
Max.
ASSISTANT
I'm Brian.
Max just goes back to his playing. The assistant gives up.
Goes back to his work.
68 68
INT. MUSIC STORE. DUBLIN CITY CENTRE - A BIT LATER
The assistant approaches him again.
ASSISTANT
Do us a favour? I'm dying for a
shit, and my trainee hasn't showed
up for work, as fucking usual. Will
you just look after the shop for
like, two, actually three minutes?
MAX
Yeah, no problem.
84.
He goes back to his beats.
ASSISTANT
Thank you man. Just keep playing
that shit and no one will come in
anyway.
The assistant hurries to a bathroom door with his own roll of
toilet paper, and locks it, leaving Max on his own with his
music.
Max looks around. Is this a gift from God??
69 69
INT. MUSIC STORE. DUBLIN CITY CENTRE - MOMENTS LATER
Max has unhooked all the wires from the keyboard. He has it
unde r his arm. He deftly grabs a couple of cables and
headphones as he goes, basically whatever he can grab, and
walks to the door of the toilet. Knocks.
MAX
Hello?
BRIAN
Yeah?
MAX
How are you going in there?
BRIAN
What do you want? I'll be finished
in a minute? Did someone come in?
MAX
No. Have you wiped your arse yet?
BRIAN
What?
MAX
Don't call me music shit. See you,
you fucking muppet.
He turns and exits very q uickly.
70 70
EXT. THE STREET - CONTINUOUS
Max runs down the street, looking over his shoulder. Finally,
Brian storms out of the store, looking up and down, and then
legging it after Max.
Max takes off.
85.
71 71
EXT. STREETS
A quick chase through Dublin streets. Max is no match for
Brian, who runs fast with a long length of toilet roll
flapping out the top of his jeans behind him.
He finally catches Max up, grabbing him by the hair. Max
gives up.
BRIAN
You little fucking prick.
He retrieves the synth, not letting go of his catch. They are
both wrecked and out of breath.
BRIAN (CONT'D)
Cops, or a slap?
72 72
INT. FLORA'S FLA T - LATER
Flora enters the living room and flops down on the armchair.
Pissed. She sees the guitar across from her.
Moments later, she has the guitar case open, and she is
putting the guitar into it. She puts various sheets in too.
Slams it shut. She then puts the case up into the attic.
Sits down at the kitchen table. Lights up, taking a long
drag.
Then her phone rings. She picks it up.
FLORA
Hel lo?
(beat)
Oh for fuck sake!
73 73
INT. A POLICE STATION. INTERVIEW ROOM - LATER
Flora is sitting beside Max in a cramped interview room.
Across from them, their JLO from earlier. Max looks a bit
ruffed up.
JLO
Max, here, stole an expensive piece
of studio equipment from a shop on
Wicklow street. Causing the shop
owner to give chase, and resulting
in severe chest pains.
FLORA
Are you alright?
86.
JLO
No, the shop owner.
FLORA
Oh. Sorry. How is he?
JLO
He's being assessed.
MAX
He's fine.
JLO
He could have died! You little
prick.
MAX
It's good that he's getting a check
up then.
Silence.
FLORA
How expensive was it?
JLO
That's not the point. He's way past
the number of thefts where I can
keep him out of court. And very
likely a correctional facility.
FLORA
You're kidding me?
JLO
No. I've tried everything.
Nothin g's worked. So, for that
reason, I'm out.
He gets up. Delivering his last line like he's on Dragon's
Den.
FLORA
Guard, there has to be some way to
fix this? You're all he's got.
JLO
No. I'm done with him. He's been
robbing since he was in short
trousers. He's a waste of space.
There's a time where you run out of
road, and it's that time. I've
tried everything. And so have you,
Flora.
87.
He exits.
74 74
EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY
Flora marches Max out of the police station and up the
street.
FLORA
A fucking 900 euro synthesizer??
MAX
I told you I needed the right gear.
FLORA
For what?
MAX
To re-record that song. It sounds
rubbish.
FLORA
Who are you? Fucking Drake? It's
just a bleedin' song on your
laptop. Did you not send it to her?
MAX
No. I'm not sending her shit. It
has to sound right. And the vi deo
is all wrong. Standing in me shorts
like a fucking weirdo. She doesn't
want to see that.
FLORA
What does she want to see?
MAX
You wouldn't understand.
FLORA
I'm sure she'll give you loads of
attention when you're behind bars!
MAX
Women love criminals!
FLORA
Oh for fuck sake! What movie are
you in?
MAX
Anyway, what do you care- you'll be
in LA with your boyfriend.
88.
FLORA
He's not me boyfriend. How do you
know about him?
MAX
Do you think I'm deaf? Just go. I
don't need you. And you don't need
me. I'll be grand with da. Get
outta me way, woman!
FLORA
Gladly!
He heads off. We track into her, thinking. Maybe this is her
green light to take off. She almost smiles as she considers
this.
75 75
EXT. IAN'S HOUSE. BACK GARDEN - DAY
Flora and Ian sit in the back garden at Ian's ho use. It's a
small yard. Some dumbbells. Training hoops. A pull up bar. An
old BBQ. Some empty beer cans. Pizza boxes.
Flora is going through files from the courts. She has a
handle on this.
FLORA
So his case comes up next Friday.
10 O'clock. District court.
IAN
I'll be there.
FLORA
I'm meeting his free legal aid
lawyer tomorrow at 12 in the
district court offices if you wanna
come?
IAN
Okay. Little fucker . He's been
given so many chances.
FLORA
I know. Do you want to let on we're
together, when we stand up in
court? The judges like that. Give
him a chance at a shorter sentence.
IAN
Okay.
89.
FLORA
And wear a suit.
IAN
I don't have a suit.
FLORA
You don't have one single suit?
IAN
I have five tuxedos?
FLORA
Why?
IAN
I bought them for the wedding band.
It's going to be a rat-pack vibe.
Mixed with Tarantino.
FLORA
So is that up and running, like?
IAN
No.
FLORA
And yet you bought five suits?
IAN
(deflated)
They were on offer.
FLORA
I don't think you can wear a tuxedo
in court, you fucking spanner!
They get up.
IAN
Those places have a bad rep, Flora.
But I've actually heard they're
more like a school now than a
detention centre. They have
football fields. Crafts. WiFi. It's
very progressive. I actually think
this might do Max a lot of good.
FLORA
What. Being around hardened
criminals for months?
90.
IAN
No. Having to man up. Look out for
himself. Make friends. Negotiate.
People skills. He's just hanging
around doing nothing.
FLORA
That's true. I want to get him as
little time in there as possible.
IAN
This'll give us that time you
talked about. For you dreams. And
my projects. We've been doing
nothing but parenting the last 14
years. How can he respect us, if
we're just hanging around, waiting
on him, with no identities? He
needs to know why we are. Maybe a
little break will help him see us.
She doesn't disagree.
FLORA
See you in court.
They hug. For the first time.
76 76
EXT. A STREET - DAY
Flora and Max walk down the street towards the courthouse.
She has put on a pants suit. Max is wearing an anorak and his
school uniform.
77 77
INT. A COURTROOM - DAY
Flora sits on a bench in a busy courtroom. Beside her is Max,
and beside him GEORGE ROONEY (32), an unimpressive legal aid
* lawyer in worn, comfortable shoes.
A number of other OFFENDERS and their BARRISTERS are
scattered about, and a number of POLICE OFFICERS hover around
the exits, as barristers and officers come and go. Some
defendants are brought in in handcuffs. Others are petty
criminals, and are represented by assigned lawyers, same as
Ma x. The day is just starting. Flora brushes Max's hair with
her hand. He tries to bat it away, She perseveres, trying to
make him look as neat as possible.
REGISTRAR
All rise. Court is in session.
Judge McGovern presiding.
91.
JUDGE MC GOVERN(40s) enters the dock swiftly and sits down,
taking a pile of paper work handed to her by the COURT
SECRETARY.
The Registrar begins calling the first case. Flora checks her
watch, then looks at the door.
GEORGE
(whispering)
Did you text him?
FLORA
Yeah. Twice. I'll text him again.
She fires out a text.
Flora text again. Max looks younger than ever. The long list
of cases starts to be hear d.
78 78
INT. COURTROOM - LATER
Cases have come and gone. The room is a little emptier.
A YOUNG WOMAN complains about all her hardship to the judge.
Her dole was cut off. She can't pay her rent. A series of
grievances. The Judge imposes a fine on her, and a cop has to
lead her out, shouting and cursing, and generally complaining
about everything in Dublin.
Another case is called, not Max's. Flora steps out, grabbing
her phone.
79 79
INT. A COURTROOM. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
Flora waits for a call to go through.
80 80
INT. IAN'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Ian is wearing headphones and a wool beanie. He is singing
into a Mic in an attic room, lost in a shit song that he is
recording. His eyes closed. His phone rings on silent on the
desk. He sort of knows it's ringing.
Back at the courthouse, Flora waits as it goes to message
minder
IAN
(message minder)
You're through to Ian. You know
what to do.
92.
FLORA
Pick up your phone, you fucking ass
hole. This is the one thing you
need to be at, and you're sitting
on your arse playing video games.
I've been texting you all morning.
You fucking ass hole. Get over
here!
She hangs up.
81 81
INT. A COURTROOM CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
Flora approaches the door of her courtroom and pauses,
looking in through the glass. She looks at Max through the
window. He doesn't s eem to get the gravity of his situation.
He picks his nose and looks around to see if anyone noticed,
like a little kid.
Flora looks around at other defendant's faces dotted about
the courtroom. The backs and sides of their heads. All
waiting. Some vicious, angry faces. Others, scared. Others,
blank. Then back to Max. Just another face.
For a moment, she appears to be imperceptibly backing away
fr om the window. Her face is inscrutable. But it looks as if
she might turn and walk away. We PULL BACK from the window
with her.
Then George turns to the door as he stands up. The REGISTRAR
is mouthing a new case. George signals for Max to stand up.
George makes a face at Flora through the window.
Flora snaps out of it. Enters.
82 82
INT. A COURTROOM - CONTINUOUS
Flora moves into the bench beside Max.
A POLICE OFFICER (40), is taking the stand.
JUDGE
Many previous offenses?
POLICE OFFICER
6, Judge.
The judge raises an eyebrow and makes note of this. She looks
to George. George stutters into action.
93.
GEORGE
Max has been involved in a few
smaller incidents. But he has
worked with his JLO, and had been
making progress with him over
recent months.
JUDGE
Is his JLO here today to
corroborate that?
GEORGE
No, Judge. He's on duty. But his
reports can confirm that. I have
them here.
JUDGE
I presume you're the defendant's
mother?
FLORA
Yes Judge. His father is supposed
to be here as well. But he couldn't
get ou t of work.
JUDGE
He lives with both of you?
FLORA
Yes. We both live with him. In two
houses. We both take care of him.
JUDGE
(impatient)
I asked where Max lived.
FLORA
Yes judge. He lives with both of
us. But at two houses. Mine and me
husband's.
She makes notes of this.
JUDGE
Carry on.
GEORGE
There's been drug use with both his
parents. His father is a musician,
but his band split up. He's
struggled since the n. His mother
holds down various jobs as a
mother's helper. Commutes an hour a
day.
94.
JUDGE
It seems to me a couple of months
in a strict supervision environment
might teach you to respect the
efforts your parents have made.
What do you think,
Max? Max shrugs. Tough man.
MAX
Yeah. Brilliant.
JUDGE
Teach you how things work.
MAX
Cools.
She reviews her notes.
JUDGE
I'll drop from 16 to an eight week
sentence for you, Mr. Mulvey. In a
Juvenile correctional facility.
And a year of probation. I ho pe you'll learn your lesson in
there, and that I won't be seeing you again in my courtroom.
MAX
I don't care.
JUDGE
Good man.
That's fairly harsh. Max shrugs. Flora can't believe it. She
sits there, mute. George whispers in her ear.
GEORGE
That's not bad. Could have been a
lot worse.
COURT REGISTRAR
Does we have anything to add before
we break? Officer?
The guard shakes his head. George also. A few people exit for
lunch.
FLORA
I do. Can I ask you a question?
JUDGE
Go ahead.
95.
FLORA
Are you a mother?
JUDGE
Completely irrelevant.
FLORA
Right.
JUDGE
But I believe if I weren't I'd
impose a harsher sentence.
FLORA
If the shop has the earrings back
what's the point in sending him in
there?
JUDGE
Madam, your son was wielding a
hammer and threatening a staff
member with it.
FLORA
He wasn't wielding it. It was in
his pocket. He'd never use it. He's
still a child. I was a child when I
had hi m. And I know the difference.
I'll do whatever it takes to figure
this out.
JUDGE
And what would that be?
FLORA
I have five hundred Euros put away.
I'll give it to the shop owner, and
if he's satisfied with that, he
might drop the charges. Then what's
the point in sending him in there?
And braking up me family. Without
him, I have nothing.
JUDGE
The owner isn't present. And this
is a legal matter, not a financial
one.
FLORA
You tell me, as a woman, as a
mother, or whatever, what you'd do
in my situation? And I will do
that.
96.
JUDGE
I've raised my own children. And it
was hard for me too. She tears up.
Max looks down to the ground.
George doesn't know what's going
on.
FLORA
I didn't know how hard being a
mother was. I thought something
would take over. In my body. Like a
switch. And it did when I had him.
For a few weeks, I was smitten. I
loved you son. But day by day I
just started returning to the same
old me. Every minu te felt like an
hour as a mother. The novelty of a
new baby wore off so lightening
quick I couldn't believe it. It was
like a plane going down. I hated
that I wasn't like me mother, who
doted on us. She was so simple, So
instinctive. I didn't know how to
play with him. Or sooth him. And
I'm not blaming my age, either. I
think if I had one now I'd be the
same. I just don't think I have it
in me. Bu t I have this in me.
The cop on the stand looks at the Judge makes a "Seen it all
before" face. We hold on the judge.
83 83
EXT. A STREET - MOMENTS LATER
Flora and Max walk down the street.
FLORA
Fucking bitch.
MAX
It's the system.
FLORA
Fuck the system!
MAX
Where was da?
FLORA
He would have got you a fucking
year.
97.
MAX
I can't believe he didn't show up.
It's like he wanted me to go down.
I'm going to batter him when I see
him.
FLORA
After me.
(beat)
Don't blame him.
MAX
It's not like he has a job. You
think he'd fucking show up for his
own son.
FLORA
He's never really been here for
you, has he?
MAX
Don't know.
She stops him.
FLORA
Being a father... it's just a word.
He provides a seed. And then he
becomes a father or not. It's
something you do. Or don't do.
Being a mother... is just a
fucking... fact. I've been trying
to get away from that all me life.
But I just can't do it. And the
more of a pain in my hole you are,
the more I realize it's true. You
little fucking prick. Oh my God.
He studies her, not quite knowing where she's going with
this, but kind of getting it.
MAX
You got me sentence down to four
weeks. I'l l be fine in there.
FLORA
No you won't.
He stops her.
MAX
I will now.
98.
She pauses. She understands what he means. Suddenly, she
grabs him, and hugs him close. He reciprocates, as best as he
can. And we see a tear in his eye over her shoulder.
MAX (CONT'D)
(whispering)
Thanks ma.
FLORA
You're okay son.
MAX
Thank you.
FLORA
Shhh.
The traffic speeds by. The city goes on as normal.
Fade to black.
84 84
EXT. THE PARK - DAY
Flora is in the park with Jeff on screen. Music over.
FLORA
When he gets out , I might come. But
I'd have to bring him. How would
you be about that? In real life?
JEFF
I got a spare room.
FLORA
Do you actually mean that?
Jeff thinks.
JEFF
How annoying is he?
FLORA
Very annoying.
They both smile.
JEFF
Shit, now I won't be able to play
you my song.
FLORA
Which song?
99.
JEFF
The song I wrote about you.
FLORA
You wrote a song about me?
JEFF
Yeah. It's about your soul. And the
time we've spent. And who you are.
FLORA
What's it called?
JEFF
Crazy Irish Bitch.
She laughs.
JEFF (CONT'D)
I think it's rather good. And I
haven't written a song in a long
time. Because, since my kids grew
up, I haven't had much to write
about in life. So thank you.
Seriously.
FLORA
You're welcome? So I'm your m use?
JEFF
Yeah. Though you should be offended
by that these days, right?
FLORA
Fuck that. Feels great. I want to
hear it!
JEFF
I'll record it and send it to you.
I'm not playing it to you now. The
whole idea was that I'd do it live.
For the first time.
FLORA
Okay.
They look at each other closely.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Can we keep talking though?
JEFF
I think we're kinda done.
100.
FLORA
Don't say that.
JEFF
You know the basics now. I'm not
much better than you. Just got you
started.
FLORA
Don't. Say. That.
She leans in, close to the screen. Her eyes are teary.
FLORA (CONT'D)
Don't be a stranger.
Then she quickly presses LEAVE, because if she didn't, she'd
be a sobbing wreck.
85 85
EXT. COURTHOUSE. CARPARK - DAY
Flora hangs around the carpark at the back of the courthouse.
In a moment, the JUDGE e xits after a long day. Flora
approaches.
JUDGE
Hello?
FLORA
Hi Judge. Do you have a second? I'm
the mad one from court the other
week.
JUDGE
I know who you are. What's this
about?
FLORA
Do you have one second. I have a
favor to ask.
JUDGE
I've been very clear, and this is
inappropriate.
FLORA
You have, and I respect that. Would
you just make one small change to
your sentence. It's just a detail.
But you coul d help make it happen.
JUDGE
What is it?
101.
FLORA
Would you let him take his music
stuff with him? The info pack says
there's no personal items. But he
has headphones. And a little I-rig
I just got him, so he can control
his music on his laptop. And a
microphone. I think it would be
very good for him if he was to
continue with his music. Especially
with all this time on his hands.
JUDGE
I don't see why I couldn't look
into that.
FLORA
For real? That would be amazing. I
don't want to take up your time,
but I just don't want him to get
out of the habit of his music.
JUDGE
I understand that. Let me do some
research, and hopefully I can make
that recommendation.
FLORA
You're a star. Thank you. Sorry I
went on in court the other day.
JUDGE
The fact that you're here makes me
think that Max is going to be okay.
I wouldn't worry about him. As long
as you're worrying about him.
She shrugs, getting into her car. Flora head off, up the
quays.
86 86
INT / EXT - MUSIC MAKER - DAY
Flora enters the store.
87 87
INT. SAME - LATER
Flora is paying over the money from her escape envelope of
cash. She has bought a microphone, keyboard and some
headphones.
Brian, the same guy as before, is selling her equipment.
102.
Ad-lib dialogue.
As she hands over the cash, she starts the realize that she's
in the place Max robbed the gear from.
FLORA
How's the ticker?
BRIAN
Wha?
FLORA
Nothing.
88 88
INT. A LARGE CAFE - DAY
Flora is grabbing a tea at a cafe. She logs on and checks her
mail. One from Jeff. She smiles, opening it. Downloads it.
It's an audio file.
She hooks up her headphones and presses play. It's called
"Talking To You ".
She gets through the first verse with a smile, but then it
starts to kill her. She knows that whatever it was, it's
over. And this is a sort of goodbye.
She hides her tears from the few people sitting around
chatting and reading and looking at their phones. No one
notices her. As the middle 8th starts we shift, and see that
Jeff is sitting right next to her. She doesn't refer to him.
He is sing ing close to her, smiling. She balls, the tears
pooling on her keyboard.
JEFF
(singing)
"So if God take me and he leaves
you here. I want no black
limousines and no sad tears. Cause
I'll still be hanging round the
atmosphere, talking to you."
The song reaches it's end, and she is sitting alone. She gets
her shit together, and closes the laptop. Takes her tea. And
exits, shaken.
----------
Over music, we see the following:
Max being dropped into OBERSTOWN. It's a big compound in the
middle of the countryside.
103.
Flora playing the guitar at home.
Max in a small, cell-like room. He is on his laptop with
headphones. His mother is sending him files. He is working on
them and sending them back.
Flora and Jeff on screen, continuing their lessons.
Flora calling around to Ian. Flora starts asking him
something.
Flora working as a waitress in a small local cafe.
Flora smoking a cigarette in her apron outside in th e sun on
her break.
Max sitting outside in the yard. He is working away on loops
on Garage-band. Other rougher kids mill around. He seems to
be keeping his head down in here.
Flora receiving an email from Max. It's a large file. She
imports it into her computer and opens it up.
She forwards this to Jeff.
Jeff opens the file on his computer and imports the files
into his PRO TOOLS sessions. A numbe r of tracks open.
Jeff puts down a guitar track and starts to write lyrics in
his notebook.
Max opens a file from Flora and Jeff. Listens. Smiles.
Max in a therapy session in the facility. A bunch of tough
kids in a circle around a THERAPIST (50). The music plays
over. This is part of this montage.
KID 1
The best day of me life? The day I
burnt down the factory.
THERAPIST
You're telling me the day you did
the very thing that got you locked
up for, was the best day of your
life?
KID 1
Hands down. I felt like I was on
fire meself. I felt alive that day.
THERAPIST
Okay. Next?
104.
KID 2
The best day of me life is the day
I get out of this kip.
THERAPIST
That's a day in the future. I'm
talking about up to know.
KID 2
I haven't had a good day.
The Therapist is moved. He nods to Max to go.
MAX
Best day, was... the day I made a
video with me ma.
THERAPIST
You made a video with your mother?
Can we see it?
MAX
No.
THERAPIST
But that's your day?
MAX
That was a good day.
The therapist nods and they continue.
Dissolve to
89 89
EXT. OBERSTOWN - DAY
Flora is waiting outside with a few other mothers (and a
couple of fathers), as a few KIDS are released. The DOG is
with her.
Max appears, carrying his bags. She hugs him. He allows
himself to be hugged, but doesn't really reciprocate. But we
can see on his face that he's happy and relieved to see her.
He gets down and lets the dog lick his face.
They w alk off together towards a bus stop.
90 90
INT. A BUS - DAY
Max and Flora chat as music plays over. He laughs.
105.
91 91
EXT. FLORA'S HOUSING ESTATE - LATER
Flora walks across the carpark of the flats. Max is sitting
on a wall chatting with Samantha, the girl from the video. A
few shady looking teens hang around, including Keith, the
"singer" from the video. Keith distributes nags of coke, and
addresses with a few YOUNG KIDS on electric scooters. They
speed off to do deliver. Others return with cash, and hand it
ov er to Keith.
Flora takes all this in. Though she's seen everything in this
neighborhood.
92 92
EXT. THE PUB - NIGHT
A few smokers have gathered at the back door to the pub. Bad
singer-songwriter music emanates from inside. Ian has double-
parked his small hatchback, and he and Flora and Max are
unloading their gear. Flora has her guitar case, Max his
various keyboards, laptop, cables etc.
IAN
I'll park this properly and see you
inside. Good luck.
He goes to get in.
FLORA
Get up with us?
IAN
Nah. I'll be at the bar. I'll see
yous after.
MAX
Come on. It'll be a bit of crack.
FLORA
(smiling)
Come on!
IAN
No thanks. I'm a professional bass
player. I'm not playing at some
random amateur night.
MAX
I want you to get up with me. You
weren't there in court. I want you
to do this with us.
He sees that Max means business. He's standing up to his da.
He knows he owes this to them.
106.
IAN
I don't have me bass anyway.
MAX
I packed it.
IAN
Wha?
MAX
It's in the boot.
Silence. He can't get out of this one.
IAN
Fuck sake.
93 93
INT. THE PUB - LATER
We're in the small room for the singer songwriter night. A
good crowd has assembled.
A gorgeous GIRL (23) is finishing her song. It's not good.
But BARRY. The organizer, claps conspicuously loudly.
BARRY
Give it up for "Heart"
The audience claps. Barry smil es at "Heart" and gives her a
thumbs up. She's going to win.
BARRY (CONT'D)
She's amazing. Long career ahead of
her. Next up, is Flora, (reading)
and her son.
Flora and her gang take to stage, plugging in cables, and
pulling up chairs. Barry helps.
Ian is on bass. Max sets up his laptop, with his I-Rig and
another small synth.
Flora unzips her acoustic and opens her laptop. She sits this
laptop on a high st ool and goes online, opening up Zoom. She
and Barry plug the laptop into the desk, as a SOUND MAN works
the desk. It takes comically long, as the audience gets pints
in.
On screen, is Jeff. He has an electric guitar. Behind him is
a drummer. They do a rough levels check, and Flora talks into
the mic. Flora & Son - Blue Revisions 01/08/22 99.
107.
FLORA
Sorry about that. This is Jeff.
He's in LA. Say hello,
The crowd like this. They wave, trying to figure this out.
JEFF
Hello Dublin!
CROWD
Hello!
JEFF
I've always wanted to say that.
Gets a laugh. Flora spreads her lyrics page on a stool in
front of her.
FLORA
This is Ian, on bass. And Max, my
son, on keyboards. He wrote this
while he was in jail.
MAX
(off mic)
Shut up ma.
FLORA
Okay. We wrote this song to gether.
Jeff helped. And Ian. In a way.
It's early days, but we thought
we'd try it live. Is that okay?
The audience cheers.
FLORA (CONT'D)
I've never done this before. I've
had diarrhea all week leading up to
this. But here goes. Ready lads?
JEFF
Don't be nervous.
FLORA
Easy for you to say. You're six
thousand miles away. This is a
Dublin audience. They'll savage me
if I fuck it up!
Laughter.
Ian starts a count in.
108.
Flora starts playing the acoustic. It's simple. A few chords.
She sings. It's nice. Her voice is brittle, but builds a
little in confidence as the song picks up.
The band joins in. The sound mixer works the levels. It
starts to sound OK. And the song is straight from the heart.
A ballad, that picks up in tempo and becomes a lively feel-
good number.
The lyrics take their cue from the Icarus and Dae dalus story.
And is about how she had Max when she was still a child
herself. And was flying too close to the sun, with drugs and
drink. Now, she is realizing that her sun is, in fact, her
son.
Max is comically frozen on stage, but plays his parts well.
Jeff is a natural. Ian takes his place in the background.
In the audience, the small Dublin crowd are well into it.
They are won over by the effor t and the fun of it all. Kids
drink soft drinks. Babies are lifted up. Dave is flirting
outrageously with HEART, and telling her how great she is.
Kathy is in the front row. The barman pulls a pint, then just
drinks it himself.
The song swells towards it's climax. Flora smiles over at her
son. He manages a quick smile back. Then she smiles at Jeff.
The song soars and ends as we hold on Flora's fac e. The
audience clap, delighted. Flora and the others are surprised
at how much fun that was.
We don't know if they win or not.
And it doesn't really matter.
THE END
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