`Modern Day Brief Encounter`
PITCH
A young girl who is obsessed by the mannerisms, language and social
connections of the 1940s period that has her very own Brief Encounter on a
lonely railway station. Will it bring her the relationship she so deeply
desires or Celia Johnson style heartbreak?
OUTLINE
This is the story of two ordinary people Emily and Michael who meet on a lonely train station who realise they share the same interests of the World War Era and old movies such as Casablanca and Brief Encounter.
The morning before they meet Emily is sat in the cafeteria talking to her friend Hannah, suddenly a boy walks past that looks like Trevor Howard out of Brief Encounter, this is Michael but ofcourse Emily isn’t aware of that until later that day.
With this being the case Emily automatically embarks on a conversation
about how much she loves Brief Encounter and the whole world war era. Hannah
not understanding her fascination with the era replies with `yeah I know` as if
she already knows that Emily likes that sort of stuff but doesn’t understand
why.
Emily then says about how she wishes she could escape into a different
world with Hannah relying with I swear your crazy, sometimes you think you are
in the movies and in your own little world. She then continues with saying `you
could be the women out of Brief Encounter`. Emily then gets exciting saying you
mean Celia Johnson and that shed take that as a compliment. The last line to
that scene is Hannah saying `I swear your crazy it’s lucky I love you for it,
otherwise you’d be lonely, you muppet` this therefore implies that Hannah shows
some love towards Emily even though she doesn’t understand.
Later that afternoon Emily arrives at the station just as her train
pulls out of the station. She rings her mum telling her that she’s going to be
late home and then settles down to read her copy of Brief Encounter. Shortly
afterwards a young boy approaches the bench where Emily is sitting.
The young boy then introduces himself as Michael; they then got talking about the book Brief Encounter that Emily is reading and Michael explain that he had to read it for his English exam `good book? I had to read it for my English exam at school`.
They then get talking about the film and which one they both preferred at that moment Michaels train approaches and he says goodbye to Emily saying `it was a pleasure to meet you; hopefully we’ll meet again soon.`
With that both their lives are changed forever.
The next day Emily is talking to Hannah and Lucy in the cafeteria at
college about Michael as Hannah told Lucy about Emily’s friend Michael, `Hannah
told me about your new friend, the boy you said looked like Trevor Howard out
of brief Encounter`. Emily then sarcastically replies with oh wow, news does
travel fast, thanks Hannah implying that she can’t tell Hannah anything.
They then talk about Michael where Emily explains that his name isn’t
actually Trevor Howard and that it’s Michael, Michael Barrett. Lucy then makes
a joke saying about by the way Emily said that it sounded like James Bond with
Lucy then mimicking James Bond by doing and impression of him.
Hannah suddenly looks at her watch and realises that there late for class with Lucy replying its only Karina calm down and Emily continuing with I know it’s only Karina but still. There is then a conversation about how it’s always stuck for Emily and Hannah to be on time because when they were at school if they were late they got detention.
With this the girls start running to class. Emily being in a rush runs into a boy causing her to drop her folder and everything inside it on the floor. It turns out that she bumped into Michael, he then picks her folder up and asks if she was going to the station later `are you getting the train home later.` Emily replies with `yeah, its my only way of getting home`. With that they both go their separate ways.
Will Emily and Michael meet again? Michael is hiding a dreaded secret that he has a girlfriend, will he tell Emily or will he not causing it to end in Celia Johnson heartbreak or will they have their very own Brief Encounter and end up together?
Characters
Emily:
A
young girl about 17. She’s gushing, trusting and full of enthusiasm and escapes
reality by watching old movies like `Casablanca` and `Brief Encounter`. She’s
fascinated by World War II she loves the language, costumes and mannerisms of
the period.
Michael:A young man of 18. He’s good looking, charming and a good listener and it’s also intrigued by the World War II era. He’s everything Emily is looking for in a man. The only trouble is he’s already got a girlfriend (but hasn’t told Emily). Emily and Michael form a relationship despite of this.
Hannah:A bubbly, ambitious 16 year old who has big goals in life. She’s a kind and friendly girl who likes to have a laugh with her friends. She’s sarcastic and always like to be punctual and on time.
Lucy:A young girl of 20, who’s thoughtful, kind and a good listener. She loves American TV such as Friends, 90210 and Gossip Girl. She’s bubbly and fun but at times can be quiet.
SCRIPT
Modern Day
FX. SOUND OF THE CAFETERIA, PEOPLE TALKING AND THE SOUND OF PEOPLE STIRRING TEA.
EMILY AND HER FRIEND
HANNAH ARE TALKING IN THE CAFÉ AT COLLEGE; EMILY SEES A BOY SITTING NEAR HER
AND HANNAH AND THINKS HE LOOKS LIKE TREVOR HOWARD FROM BRIEF ENCOUNTER. THE
CONVERSTATION THEN BEGINS ABOUT HOW MUCH EMILY LIKES THE WORLD WAR ERA.
Oh my god!
HANNAH
What?
EMILY
He looks like Trevor Howard, out of `Brief Encounter`
HANNAH:
Who does? And who’s Trevor Howard?
EMILY
Oh please tell me you’ve seen Brief Encounter and that boy sitting over there with blonde hair and blue eyes?
HANNAH:
No and oh right I wouldn’t know but I suppose he looks ok.
EMILY
(Shocked)
Really? It’s amazing! You are definitely coming round to watch it.
HANNAH:
Yeah, at some point!
EMILY
I love the whole 1940s pre war period, everything about it fascinates me.
HANNAH:
Yeah, I know! I still don’t understand why you like it. All that old fashioned posh talk drives me insane. Mind you, I never liked history.
EMILY:
(Surprised)
You’re joking! I love history
HANNAH:
(Wearily)
Yeah, I know!
EMILY:
Sometimes I just wish that I could escape into a different world.
HANNAH:
Yeah, I know! I swear, you’re crazy, sometimes I think you are in the movies and in your own little world. You could be the women in `Brief Encounter.
EMILY:
You mean Celia Johnson? I’ll take that as a compliment then shall I?
I wouldn’t! I don’t understand your fascination with it. I mean, at that time bombs could fall at any point and you never knew what would happen from one day to the next.
Exactly! That’s what I love about it. It’s all about risk; I would love to live in a time like that, were women spoke posh and drunk tea and ate scones.
You’re crazy! It’s lucky I love you for it, otherwise you’d be lonely you muppet!
EXT TRAIN STATION – LATE AFTERNOON
BLEEP OF MOBILE
EMILY
Hi Mum, Ive just missed the train. Im going to be late the next train is in half hour. See you soon. Love you. Bye.
EMILY TO HERSELF
Oh well suppose I could read my book while
I wait
FX. WE HEAR RUMMAGING
IN BAG FOR A BOOK
EMILY GETS OUT HER
COPY OF BRIEF ENCOUNTER AND STARTS FLICKING THROUGH THE BOOK
FX. FLICKING THROUGH
THE PAGES.
FOOTSTEPS APROCH
TOWARDS EMILY.
WE HEAR THE VOICE OF
A YOUNG MAN
Excuse me, Is anyone sitting here?
Erm, no feel free to sit down if you want.
THE BOY SPEAKS WITH A DEEP BUT KIND MANNERED VOICE. HES EASY TO TALK TO,
VERY SOPHISTICATED AND ENTHUASTIC IN CONVERSATION.
Good book? I read Brief Encounter for my English literature at school.
Oh really, it’s my all time favourite book, have you seen the film?
Yeah, I rented the movie because I had to
compare them for my exam.
Which did you prefer? I’m Emily by the way, Emily Pontin
I’m Michael, Michael Barratt, nice to meet you Emily.
Oh my god he’s holding out his hand he wants me to shake it (breath, it’s only a handshake).
Its old fashioned to shake hands.
Oh sorry I’ll let go. And I preferred the film but that’s only because I read the book first and couldn’t picture the characters. But you never know, if I read it again I might feel different.
No its fine. Yeah I watched the film first so I would have said the book was my favourite because it explained the characters and the relationship between Alec and Laura in more depth. So what train are you waiting for?
I’m waiting for the Ashford train. Oh speaking about that, here it comes now.
TRAIN APPROCHES STATION
Hopefully see you soon then, Bye.
He’s holding out his hand again. Oh my god!
I’m going to need that back by the way.
EMILY:
What?
My hand.
Oh yeah, sorry.
I really must go now so hopefully see you soon bye.
MICHAEL BOARDS THE
TRAIN
FX. SOUND OF TRAIN
PULLING AWAY.
Oh my god, what an idiot. He must think im mad. You don’t keep hold of someone’s hand. How stupid!
THE NEXT DAY
INT. COLLEGE
MORNING PRESENT
FX. SOUND OF THE
CAFETERIA, PEOPLE TALKING AND THE SOUND OF PEOPLE STIRRING TEA.
EMILY, LUCY AND
HANNAH ARE SITTING ROUND A TABLE IN THE CAFÉ TALKING.
Hannah told me about your new friend, the boy you thought looked like Trevor Howard.
Wow news does travel fast.
(Sarcastically)
Oh, thanks Hannah
Your welcome, you know I like to keep people informed. So any news on this Trevor Howard person?
In theory his name isn’t actually Trevor Howard his names Michael, Michael Barrett.
By the way you said that he may as well be James Bond (Does and impression of James Bond)
I’m Bond, James Bond!
You do make me laugh Luce!
I know, im a right joker (Lucy Laughs) You never know you may have found yourself your own Trevor Howard and your very own `Brief Encounter`.
Let’s hope so, and then it’s only you we have tofind a boyfriend or a husband as you say.
FADE OUT.
INT COLLEGE AFTERNOON
PRESENT.
EMILY, HANNAH AND
LUCY ARE WALKING BACK TO LESSON. HANNAH LOOKS AT HER WATCH AND REALISES THE
TIME.
We only have two minutes to get to class.
Han, calm down its only Karina she won’t mind if were five minutes late.
I agree with Hannah on this one I know it’s only Karina but still.
Honestly I swear you two are a right pair, you worry too much.
Yeah true but I think it’s just stuck because when we were at school if we got late we got detention and it just kind of stuck with us to be on time.
Agreed.
(THE GIRLS START
RUNNING)
FX. LOUD FOOTSTEPS.
FX. WE HEAR THE SOUND
OF SOMEONE BUMPING INTO SOMEONE AND A FOLDER AND PAPER DROPPING TO THE FLOOR.
Im so sorry I wasn’t looking where I was going.
MICHAEL:
It’s not a problem I think it was my fault.
EMILY LEANS DOWN TO PICK UP HER FOLDER. SCURRYING ON THE FLOOR. MICHAEL PICKS UP EMILYS FOLDER, STANDS UP AND GIVES IT TO HER. SHE REALISES THAT IT WAS MICHAEL FROM THE STATION.
Oh yeah I remember, Emily isn’t it?
Yeah, that’s right. Wasn’t expecting to see you here.
Yes, it is a bit of a coincidence.
I didn’t realise you went to
Are you getting the train home later?
Yeah, it’s my only way of getting home.
Hopefully I’ll see you at the station later then.
Possibly, thank you again; I really must go I’m late for class. Bye.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN.
EMILY:
I just saw Michael in the corridor. He picked up my
folder because I being as clumsy as I am bumped into him and dropped my folder
and books all over the floor. We got talking and he asked me if I was going to
the station later. Do you think it means anything?HANNAH:
Ofcourse it does, surely if he`s interested in you if he asked if he`d see you later. Does it not?
I hope your right.
COLLEGE HAS JUST
FINISHED AND THE GIRLS ARE TALKING IN THE CORRIDOR.
(Mockingly)
Off to the station
are we?
Maybe.
HANNAH:
That’ll be a yes
then!To see Trevor Howard perhaps?
You mean Michael
So that’s a yes then? And oh yeah I forgot
Barratt, Michael Barratt!
Ha ha very funny and I’ve got to go to the station to get home anyway so yeah I guess so. If I see him I see him, if I don’t I don’t.
HANNAH:
Well if you do happen to see him have fun, play it
cool and spill the gossip tomorrow okay? Okay then, see you tomorrow.
FADE OUT.
EXT TRAIN STATION LATE AFTERNOON
MICHAEL IS SITTING ON
A BENCH WITH HIS BACK TOWARDS EMILY WAITING FOR THE TRAIN. HES ON THE PHONE TO
HIS GIRLFRIEND,SARAH.
EMILY GOES AND SITS
DOWN NEXT TO HIM FIDDLING WITH HER HAIR.
MICHAEL DOESN’T MOVE
AND CONTINUES TALKING ON THE PHONE.
MICHAEL ENDS THE
PHONECALL NOT REALISING EMILY WAS SITTING NEXT TO HIM.
MICHAEL:
(ON THE PHONE)Ok then, love you too. Bye.
MICHAEL TUNRS AROUND
TO FACE EMILY
Oh hi didn’t see you there.
EMILY:
Hey, sorry if I interrupted your phonecall.(A BEAT)
Was that your
girlfriend?
(A BEAT)
(Embarrassed)
Yeah, I was going to tell you.
No, no it’s fine honestly.
MICHAEL:
I mean not that there’s anything wrong with you.(A BEAT)
I mean you’re a pretty girl and if I didn’t have a girlfriend then well.
EMILY INTERRUPTS HIM
It’s fine, we can just be friends.
Yeah, friends.
THEY SHAKE HANDS.
MICHAELS TRAIN APPROCHES. WE HEAR THE SOUND OF A TRAIN PULLING IN TO THE
STATION.
Oh look, here’s your train.
MICHAEL GETS UP TO
LEAVE STILL HOLDING EMILYS HAND.
MICHAEL
Emily?EMILY
Yeah?
MICHAEL
I’m going to need my
hand back again.
EMILY
Oh right yeah, sorry about that. Hopefully see you
around then, friend!
EMILY, HANNAH AND
LUCY ARE IN CLASS WAITING FOR THEIR TUTOR TO COME IN.
HANNAH:
So did you see Michael at the station yesterday?Yeah.
LUCY:
So how was it?
KARINA WALKS IN AND
INTERUPTS THE GIRLS TALKING.
EMILY:
I’ll tell you later.
KARINA:
Okay guys so the end of the lesson today is the deadline for your radio plays. If you’ve
finished them I don’t mind coming round to have a listen. If not then get
cracking and finish them.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN.
IN ANOTHER CLASSROOM
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COLLEGE.
MICHAEL IS TALKING TO
HIS FRIEND MARK ABOUT HIS ENCOUNTER WITH EMILY AT THE STATION.
MICHAEL:
I met this really nice, kind girl at the station the other day; we have so much in common it’s like its fate or something.
Ah cool man, so was she fit?
I wouldn’t use the word fit as I
don’t like that word and no girl wants to be called that. She was however really pretty. Its not about looks anyway, it’s about personality.
MARK:
Yeah, alright then mate, if you say so.
MICHAEL:
I know you don`t really care about personality its
more about looks for you and how big her tits are but anyway. Yeah true mate but that’s why were so different. Anyway how was it?
It was going good we got talking about Brief Encounter as that’s the book she was reading and I said that if had to read it for my English exam.
Honestly mate, you and your old movies and all that romantic stuff I swear your not all there, maybe turning to lads (MARK LAUGHS)
(Sarcastically)
Oh ha-ha very funny mate! It doesn’t hurt to be a romantic sometimes you know.
Yeah, I guess so. Anyway carry on.
Well yeah, and then my train came but I saw her the other day at college, she bumped into me and I picked up her folder.
(Sarcastically)
Ahh, what a gent!
MICHAEL:
Oh shut up! Anyway I asked her if she was getting the train home later and she yeah. I then saw her at the station and she overheard me talking on the phone to Sarah.
Oh mate, you didn’t!
Im afraid so, she overheard me talking and asked me direct if it was my girlfriend on the phone.
And you said yes? Mate what were you thinking? Bad move!
What else could I have said?
(Sarcastically)
Hmm, let me think, maybe that it was your mum?
Yeah but that would have been even worse because I said love you too at the end so she probably twigged.
Either that or you’re a mummy’s boy at heart!
Oh ha-ha mate. Hilarious! Stop with the witty remarks already!
So is that it, it ended just like that?
Well she stopped me before I could finish about there being nothing wrong with her and that if I wasn’t going out with Sarah then it might have worked but were friends for now. Hopefully something more will happen in the future.
