ALYS
A short film
Written by Toby Godden
SCREENPLAY
Fade in:
Int. Ernest's flat - day
Concrete floor. Bare. Cold.
Ernest Ogden, late 30s, lies curled on a sofa that is clearly too small for him. Still dressed. Jacket bunched under his neck.
The TV is on. Daytime quiz show. Sound off.
An ashtray on the floor. Another on the windowsill. A chipped plate by the sofa, dotted with cigarette ends.
Everything is an ashtray.
Ernest is awake. Not moving. It's clearly daytime but the room feels like night.
He turns his head. The room: empty.
After a beat:
A girl's voice.
Alys (O.S.)
Hello.
Ernest blinks.
Alys, 7, sits cross-legged on the floor, facing him. Yellow raincoat. Trainers scuffed. Hands folded neatly in her lap.
Ernest
...Right.
Alys waits.
Ernest
You're real?
Alys
Yes.
(beat)
I'm Alys.
Ernest sits up slightly. Looks around the room. The TV. The door. The windows.
Everything is normal.
Ernest
I'm tired.
Alys
I know.
Ernest
I haven't slept properly. I've been smoking too much.
(gestures)
That covers it.
Alys
That doesn't usually make new people.
She looks around the flat, evaluating.
Alys
It's smoky in here.
Ernest
You shouldn't be in here.
Ernest (CONT)
You're not real.
Alys
I live here. Just not yet.
Ernest stubs out his cigarette on the plate. His hand is steady. He notices.
Ernest
What do you want?
Alys
To help you.
Beat.
Alys
So I can exist.
The TV flickers. Somewhere in the building, a toilet flushes.
Ernest
Okay.
Alys
I'm your daughter.
Ernest exhales.
Alys
I'm seven.
From later.
This is before you meet my mum.
You get very sad around now.
Ernest
I don't have a daughter.
Alys
Not yet.
Ernest
I don't meet people.
Alys
Yes.
That's the problem.
She stands, goes to the balcony door, pulls the handle. It sticks.
Alys
You need to open this.
Ernest
That won't fix me.
Alys
I'm not fixing you.
I'm stopping things getting worse.
She pulls again. Fails.
Ernest
It's cold.
Alys
Still need to open it.
He sighs. Stands. Crosses the room. Pushes the door hard.
It slides open with a scrape.
Traffic noise. Damp grass smell.
Alys smiles. Steps onto the balcony.
Ernest follows. Leans on the rail. Looks down at the square of unused grass below.
Ernest
I don't feel hopeful.
Alys
That's fine.
She peers over the rail.
Alys
You're standing.
Ernest realises she's right.
Cut to:
Int. Kitchen - later
Alys sits at the table, legs tucked under. Ernest fills the kettle.
Alys
Rule one.
Ernest
You have rules.
Alys
Working assumptions.
She watches him.
Alys
Thoughts aren't facts.
Ernest
Mine are convincing.
Alys
Yes.
He hands her a mug.
Alys
I don't drink caffeine.
Ernest
It's tea.
She considers. Drinks it anyway.
Alys
So. It helps to move.
She gestures to his jacket.
Alys
Off.
He hesitates. Takes it off. Sits properly.
She nudges the plate of cigarette ends away from the edge.
Alys
Use this.
Ernest
I'm not stopping.
Alys
You don't have to.
Just don't let everything be the same thing.
He rinses the plate. Leaves it wet in the sink.
Alys
If you can test something, you should.
Cut to:
Int. Stairwell - day
Alys bounds down the stairs. Ernest follows, slower.
The stairwell smells of damp paint.
Ernest
Do you live here?
Alys
Not yet.
But I know it.
Ext. Estate courtyard - day
The square of grass. Worn. Muddy shortcuts.
Alys stops. Looks around.
Alys
Okay.
Ernest
What?
Alys
You didn't disappear.
Ernest
I wasn't planning to.
Alys
Still. Worth checking.
They walk. Sit on a bench.
Ernest
You're very calm.
Alys
I've had practice.
Ernest
With what?
Alys
You.
That lands.
Ernest
I'm not good with people.
Alys
I know.
But you're not bad.
Beat.
Ernest
You talk like a leaflet.
Alys
Mum says that.
He doesn't ask which mum.
Cut to:
Int. Ernest's flat - evening
Curtains half open now. Light cuts across the floor.
Alys curls up on the sofa.
Alys
That's enough today.
Ernest
What happens now?
Alys
We wait.
Tomorrow we do one more thing.
Ernest
And if I don't?
She looks at him. Serious.
Alys
Then I get worried.
And you get worse.
She closes her eyes.
Ernest watches her breathe.
Cut to:
Int. Kitchen - next day
Ernest fumbles with the kettle again.
Alys
I won't stay much longer.
Ernest
Where to?
Alys
Not now.
She swings her legs on the counter.
Alys
Last thing.
Ernest
I'm listening.
Alys
You go somewhere new.
You talk to someone you don't know yet.
Ernest
Ambitious.
Alys
Boring.
That's why it works.
Cut to:
Ext. High street - day
They walk. Ernest hesitant. Alys certain.
She stops outside a small café.
Alys
Here.
Ernest
Why here?
Alys
Because she's here.
Ernest
I don't want to disappoint anyone.
Alys
You're not that important.
She opens the door.
Int. Café - day
Warm. Cardamom. Steam.
Leili, early 30s, wipes the espresso machine.
Leili
Hi. Take your time.
Alys whispers.
Alys
Mint.
Ernest steps forward. Finds his voice.
Ernest
Mint tea, please.
Alys steps off the stool.
She is losing contrast.
Ernest
Oh.
Alys
It's fine.
This is the right bit.
Alys tugs his sleeve.
Alys
That's her.
Ernest
Right.
Alys
You'll be alright.
Ernest
I don't know how to be a dad.
Alys
Good.
She grins.
Alys
You've got time.
She's gone.
Beat.
Leili looks up.
Leili
Mint tea, yeah?
Ernest
Yes please.
Leili
Coming up.
She moves to the kettle.
Beat.
Leili sets the tea down.
Leili
I'm Leili.
Ernest
Ernest.
Leili
You can sit there.
(gestures to a nearby chair)
He does.
The tea cools.
The street hums.
Ernest stays.
Fade out.
The end