Episode 10: Laps & Hurdles by WILL JEWEL

EXT. BEACH - DAY Morning

The beach is sparsely populated. In long shot a solitary figure can be seen jogging along the pebbles. In closer shot: we see it is Jerome

INT. CLUB, CAFE - DAY

With Charlie away, Shash is throwing his weight around and making Jo's life hell. He struts through the club's cafe-bar as if he owns the joint.

SHASH

(shouts down to cellar) Jo! The cider needs changing while you're down there.

He flashes a rogueish grin and slides a coffee across the counter to Rachel.

SHASH

There you go - decaff, skimmed milk.

Rachel nods a thanks and carries it over to a table where she sits with Leila. Jerome enters the club in his jogging gear. He sees Leila and Rachel laughing together.

JEROME (VOICEOVER)

I wanna be accepted. I wanna fit in here.

TITLE SEQUENCE

INT. CLUB, CAFE - DAY

JEROME is at the counter. Rachel and Leila see him and there is a moment of tension between the pair. Jo goes to serve him, but SHASH butts in.

SHASH

What can I get you? (to Jo) I think the cloakroom needs sweeping.

Jo goes to say something, but bites her tongue. She fumes, then grabs her coat.

JO

Gotta go to the cash-n-carry.

She wooshes out as Jerome takes his fruit juice over to a table.

RACHEL

There's my stalker.

LEILA

Stalker? I think he's cute.

RACHEL

I s'pose. I'm giving up men. Seb was such a distraction for me, so there's no way I'm hooking up with any other guys until I lift that gold medal.

LEILA

No nookie till Beijing, right.

RACHEL

Right.

The both really laugh out loud and Jerome looks over at them. Leila's phone rings.

LEILA

Got this new video phone.

RACHEL

Seb special?

LEILA

Ah, it's a video message from the Devil in Prada herself.

RACHEL

Where is she?

LEILA

Didn't you hear. Rehab.

RACHEL

What?

ANIMATED OBJECT: VIDEO PHONE.

CHARLIE Hiya, darlings!! How's life by the seaside? Hope the club's doing well 'cause daddy says this place costs a bomb. It's been great! I tell you what - you can't do a star jump in here without hitting an A-lister! (over-excited, composes herself) Anyway, my big news: I was chatting to this top TV exec in the sauna this morning and he said I'd be perfect for his new reality TV show 'Give 'Em Enough Rope' it's about people who want to be famous or something. Bit like Big Brother. I'm going to be on TV!!! How great is that? Anyway, gotta dash - colonic irrigation with Barrymore and Katie Moss in ten, whatever that is but it sounds like fun!

INT. CLUB, CAFE - DAY

LEILA and RACHEL are slightly-stunned by the Charlie-assault.

LEILA

D'you think they'll chuck her out when they realize she hasn't got a drinking problem?

RACHEL

(stands up) Oh, she's got a problem. (taps the side of her head. They laugh) I gotta get going. See you later.

LEILA

No nookie till Beijing, sister.

RACHEL passes JEROME. He stops her as she passes.

JEROME

Rachel, I just wanted to say something. I apologise for coming on so strong. When I was a way in Iraq, I guess I had this mental image of you, I kind of idealised you. Basically, I just wanted to say I'm over you. Maybe one day we can just be friends. OK, that's it.

RACHEL

isn't sure if she's relieved or disappointed.

RACHEL

Jerome I... thank you, I mean...

JEROME

It's OK. Go on, get to your training.

RACHEL leaves and JEROME takes a sip of his drink. He notices he's being observed by LEILA. He smiles and waves.

LEILA (VOICEOVER)

My God is Jerome cute! Why does it always go wrong with me and guys I fancy? He's coming over, he's coming over. Be cool Leila Ahmed. Be cool!

JEROME gestures to a chair opposite LEILA.

JEROME

May I?

LEILA gestures trying to be nonchalant and knocks over the single rose that's in a small vase on the table. She is flustered, but JEROME is cool.

JEROME

I thought you might have rung me. You know - after the laser game on Charlie's birthday.

LEILA

I thought that was just to make Rachel jealous.

JEROME

What? No, honestly, Leila. When I met you...things clicked into place.

Leila studies him quizzically as though she can't believe he fancies her too. Jerome turns to camera.

INT. CLUB, CAFÉ - DAY

JEROME (PTC)

You know what? I really am over Rachel and the more I see Leila the more I realise I really fancy her. But she's convinced I'm using her to get at Rachel. How can I convince her of my true feelings? I trust you as a friend, and I need your advice. What should I say to her?

INT. CLUB, CAFÉ - DAY

The Video freezes. ANIMATED QUESTION appears.

WHAT SHOULD AFZAL SAY TO LEILA?
A. Go on one knee and tell her she's the one.
B. Be honest and admit that he's been confused about Rachel
C. Tell her he's looking for a no commitments quickie. YOU CHOOSE "A"

INT. CLUB, CAFÉ - DAY

Jerome goes down on one knee

JEROME

Please, Leila, I'm deadly serious. I think you could be The One.

LEILA

Sorry, Jerome, you're freaking me out.

JEROME Leila I think about that moment when we kissed at the laser game a lot. You're beautiful, you're scary, you suck the marrow out of life, you're infectious. Give me one date - we'll see how it goes. What've you got to lose? LEILA I suck? I'm infectious? You make me sound like a parasite... (smiles) OK, Doc. One shot. Tonight.

JEROME (PTC)

Well that went well. Cheers for your help.

INT. CHARLIE'S FLAT - DAY

ALAN opens the door for JO.

JO

Thanks for seeing me.

ALAN

You said it was urgent.

JO

It's about the club...

ALAN

The club is no longer in my name, it's Charlie's responsibility, now.

JO

I don't know who else to turn to.

ALAN hugs her.

ALAN

So sweet.

INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE - DAY

Leila bounds into the office on a cloud. Her eye is caught by a notice on a board. It reads: 'Vacancy: Writer on the Crime desk. Needs experience. Applications to the Editor by Friday'.

LEILA (VOICEOVER)

(plucking notice from board) They say good things come in threes. I should be in for a good night tonight.

INT. CHARLIE'S FLAT - DAY

ALAN and JO are sitting side by side on the sofa.

ALAN

If what you say is true, it's very serious. But we must be cautious. If we rush straight to the police my political career could be ruined over night. We wouldn't want that.

JO

No.

ALAN

Why don't you keep an eye on what's happening and report back to me. Gather evidence, bring it to me and when we've got enough we'll nail that evil man. Can you bare to do that? You are so brave.

INT. NEWSPAPER OFFICE - DAY

LEILA spots JOCASTA across the office.

LEILA

Um, Jocasta, about the crime de...

JOCASTA

If you've read it you'll see its for an experienced writer. You're good but you've only been here five minutes.

LEILA

You know that's my dream job. I want that post!

JOCASTA

Look, prove to me you've got what it takes - break a crime story off your own bat and we'll see....

Leila forces a smile, but is daunted by the prospect.

INT. CHARLIE'S FLAT - DAY

ALAN sees Jo out.

ALAN

We'll resolve this ourselves, agreed?

JO

Thanks Alan, I feel better about it now.

We see ALAN watching her go. We can't tell if that look is worry or menace.

EXT. ATHLETICS TRACK - DAY

Montage of Rachel: stretching, warming up, running, hurdling etc. She's looking in pretty good shape. A few other athletes mill around, changing back into tracksuits etc. A wizened, grey-haired guy in a red nylon tracksuit walks out of the changing rooms and blows on a whistle. He is trainer JACK LACEY.

INT. ATHLETICS TRACK, CHANGING ROOMS - DAY

The athletes excitedly jostle into the changing rooms and crowd around a squad sheet pinned on the wall.

JACK

If you're on the list you're going to the trials for the 2008 Beijing squad next month. Jack starts loading the hurdles into the storeroom.

RACHEL

Jack...I..I'm not on the list?

Jack has his back to her, loading hurdles.

JACK

That's right.

RACHEL

But... I've been training really hard lately. I..I've not missed a session in weeks.

JACK

One swallow does not a summer make, Taylor. You think the last few weeks make up for the months of missed training sessions? The drinking? Eating all the wrong foods?

RACHEL

But I've got to go to Beijing! It's all I've been working towards for years.

JACK

No-one's got a right to go.

Rachel looks broken. Jack finishes loading hurdles and loudly slams the storeroom door.

JACK (CONT'D)

You know what really gets to me? It's the fact that you've got more God-given talent than anyone else in this room. But if you're hellbent on flushing it away what can I do?

RACHEL

Give me one more chance. Please, Jack. If I finish top three in the next race...?

JACK

Too late. The list's up now. (sees Rachel's face) Alright. I got space for a sub. Top three it's you.

RACHEL

Thanks coach. (Rachel starts warming up then turns to camera.) I need your support on this one, big time. Coe on. We can do it. GAME, RUNNING TRACK. Aerial view of the 8-lane running track with hurdles. Eight athletes are lining up - the viewer must control Rachel. Track-and-Field arcade game-style they must hit two keys to make her run fast as possible and hit space bar to make her leap the hurdles. She MUST finish top three! At three points in the race the game will cut back to video showing the wily old coach watching Rachel's progress. Jack smiles wryly to himself; checks his watch, nods and notes her time on his clipboard; punches the air and mouths encouragement to Rachel.

At the end of the race Rachel is 1st:

JACK

She's in the team. I knew she could do it.

INT. CLUB - DAY

Seb is stood at the bar, nursing the last of a drink. He is looking unshaven and a little rumpled, but this doesn't put off the two BEAUTIFUL GIRLS either side of him at the bar who are flirting and putting their hands on his arm. Seb flashes a half-hearted smile at them.

LEILA (VOICEOVER)

Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink. Poor old Seb. The less he tries, the more he seems to ooze the old magic. But the only girl he really loves is still running laps and leaping hurdles.

One of the girls raises Seb's empty glass questioningly.

SEB

(shrugs) Why not?

Shash has been watching the encounter. He slowly pours Seb a drink.

SHASH

You've been in here every day this week. You seem at a bit of a loose end.

Seb shrugs.

SHASH (CONT'D)

How you doing for money?

Seb looks non-committal.

SHASH (CONT'D)

Fancy earning some cash working for me?

SEB

Maybe. (intrigued) Doing what?

JUMP CUT TO: INT. CLUB, OFFICE - DAY

Close up: a briefcase is slapped onto the desk. An envelope is placed on top of it.

SHASH

You deliver this to a good friend of mine up in Acton. The address is in the envelope. He'll give you another case and you bring it back to me.

SEB

(wary) What's in the case?

SHASH

You ask no questions. You do not attempt to open the case. I give you £200. It's simple. Seb eyeballs him across the table for a moment. He doesn't like the smell of this at all, but he's skint. After a hesitation he picks up the case and envelope.

SHASH (CONT'D)

Back by eight and there could be other work where this came from, Seb.

INT. RECORDING STUDIO - DAY

A nervous Lewis is stood in a state-of-the-art recording studio. He is isolated behind glass as Morgan and the SOUND ENGINEER sit behind an immense mixing desk.

MORGAN

(via talkback) OK, Now this time Lewis. You come in after four bars, right? Quatro. Let's spank this bad boy and put him to bed. (punches the air) Rock n roll, baby!

Morgan clicks his fingers and the engineer slides up the fader, the intro starts.... Lewis looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights. He clumsily tries to count the bars and misses his cue.

MORGAN (CONT'D)

For chrissakes, Lewis!! How hard can it be to count to four?! Are you trying to fu...

CUT TO: Morgan from Lewis' POV through the glass. He is red-faced and ranting but not a sound can be heard.

LEWIS

Um, Morgan.. You need to er, turn on the..mic thing..

Back in the control room the buzzer sounds.

MORGAN

What now??!! Right, everyone let's all take cinco and some deep breaths... (to self) Deep breaths...

EXT. RECORDING STUDIO - DAY

An irritated Morgan opens the studio door to find Lewis' slacker mates Ed and Mono loitering.

ED

Hi man, we're here to see Lewis. He's, like, our homie. We were in a band together - Sugar Rash?

He and Mono throw the Sugar Rash finger salute. Morgan looks at them blankly.

MORGAN

Right... right. Sugar Rush, yeah.

ED

(annoyed) It's Rash, dude.

Morgan takes a deep breath and mutters a calming mantra.

MORGAN

These studios cost £200 an hour..

ED

(impressed) Sweet.

MORGAN

..And your 'homie' is already three days behind schedule. So put yourself in my shoes - how much time would you waste on a couple of pointless slackers?

ED

(looks thoughtful) Depends, I guess... These slackers. What are they like? Mono nudges Ed and points to themselves. Realisation finally hits Ed.

MORGAN

Now Lewis has got a hit single to cut so if you'll excuse me...

He slams the door leaving Ed and Mono stood on the step.

INT. RECORDING STUDIO - DAY

Lewis takes a rock n roll swig of fortifying Jack Daniels.

LEWIS

Who was it?

MORGAN

Nobody and nobodier. (claps hands) Now lets get this show on the two lane black-top. We nail this single and its hello Wembley, goodbye pub gigs!

He plucks the bottle of JD from Lewis' hand.

MORGAN (CONT'D)

(sings) Verse, chorus, middle eight. That's what we appreciate!

LEWIS

Morgan..I, er..I still think that my track 'Bend Over Backwards' is more me; more edgy, you know what I mean?

Lewis' phone starts ringing. Morgan picks it up in annoyance.

MORGAN

It's not about awards lifted, it's units shifted, baby. (to phone) GO AWAY!! If you come round here again I'll pull your arms off and slap you with them!! Capiche?

He stamps Lewis' phone into tiny pieces.

MORGAN (CONT'D)

(calm, to engineer) Ready when you are. Unos, dos, tres, quatro...

The engineer slides up the fader, the track kicks in. Lewis takes another swig of JD and finds the beat. He smiles and starts to throw poses like a true rock star...

LEWIS

Rock n roll, baby!!!

EXT. SEAFRONT - NIGHT

Jerome is waiting. Leila arrives.

JEROME

I wasn't sure you'd come.

He pulls a huge bunch of flowers from behind his back. Leila bursts into a fit of sneezes.

LEILA

(sneeze)..hayfever..(sneeze)..the...flowers...achoooo!!

A horrified Jerome looks about and shoves the offending floristry in a nearby bin.

JEROME

Sorry..sorry.

The sneezes subside.

LEILA

Shall we get a drink?

JEROME

Great idea. (shrugs) Not the best of starts, eh?

LEILA

Well it can only get better.

They walk along the front. It's lined with illuminated bars, flash apartments and cranes building new developments.

JEROME

I hardly recognise this place. It was a seaside town with a reputation for dirty weekends when I left. When I got back she was a city.

LEILA

I guess we're both outsiders.

Jerome smiles at her.

JEROME

I guess we are.

INT. CLUB, BAR - NIGHT

Rachel is sat at the bar. She seems fed up. Shash is sat at the end of the bar, twitchy and distracted. He checks the clock. It clock reads 7:51.

RACHEL

So all those years of training could be for nada. Zip. She stares at the array of drinks behind the bar.

JO

But you are Sub. All's not lost. That's surely cause for celebration?

RACHEL

Celebration. Yeah, right.

SHASH

(to other bouncer) Hey Clemmo. You seen Seb, yet?

The BOUNCER at the door shakes his head.

JO

Maybe you could push one of the other runners down the steps?

RACHEL

It's a thought...

JO

So what you wanna drink, Rach?

The array of intoxicating labels and drinks available swim before Rachel's eyes.

SHASH

About time.

Seb strides in, clutching a briefcase.

SEB

(to Jo and Rachel) Ladies.

To Jo's alarm Shash opens the till and takes a bundle of notes. He motions Seb into the office.

RACHEL

(defiant) Orange juice. I'm in training.

EXT. PIER - NIGHT

Brighton pier by night: noise, lights, tackiness, fairground rides, amusements. Leila has her head poked through a cut out of a mermaid. She laughs and makes a cross-eyed face as Jerome takes a photo on his phone. He then leans forward and pecks her on the cheek. They linger and kiss through the cut-out.

JEROME

I bet you've lured a few men to their fate, Miss Mermaid.

LEILA

Well I haven't lured anyone onto the rocks by singing, I can assure you that.

The 'Brighton Pier' sign flashes behind them. Jerome produces a giant candy floss.

JEROME

To replace the flowers.

LEILA

Er, I'm sucrose intolerant...

Jerome's face falls.

LEILA (CONT'D)

Joke. Thanks.

JEROME

I can see I'm going to have to watch you.

Leila looks at Jerome as the breeze tousles his hair.

LEILA

(smiles) Yes. I think you are, doctor.

They kiss and embrace amid the noise and the flashing lights.

END OF EPISODE