Episode 2: Truth and lies by WILL JEWEL

ST GABRIELS ROAD, INT. SEB/RACHEL BEDROOM - DAY

An ignored alarm clock is beeping loudly. The time reads 7.30. RACHEL prizes open her eyes. She rubs her head and groans. She still has last night's make up on. SEB is under the duvet next to her.

SEB

(Mumbles) Shouldn't you be at training?

RACHEL

(Nods) Then at Charlie's, two tutorials and work at the club tonight...

Her hung-over head slumps back on the pillow.

RACHEL

I wannabe in bed.

TITLE SEQUENCE

BRIGHTON PAVILLION EXT. STREET - DAY

Rachel has her bag over her shoulder as she slouches her way down the road. As she passes a parked car a MAN wakes and stretches. He rubs a circle in the window.

BRIGHTON EXT. SEAFRONT - DAY

Brighton beach stretches into the distance. LEILA is dressed in jeans and T-shirt as she soaks in the view of her new world.

LEILA(VOICEOVER)

Some people just know what they want to be. Me for example. I wanna be a journalist and today is my first interview ever.

She re-checks the address written on a piece of paper.

CHARLIE'S FLAT - INTERIOR DAY

PAN across a dressing table littered with beauty products. Tucked into the mirror frame are photos: Norman Cook doing thumbs up - there in the background is Charlie; Des Lynham opening a fete - there she is again waving frantically; Cherie Blair at the Labour Conference - there's Charlie being manhandled by Security etc... PAN up to the reflection of 22 year old Charlie carefully applying make up.

LEILA(VOICEOVER)

Some know exactly what they want to be...

CHARLIE

hears a sound at the front door.

CHARLIE

Is that fame I hear knocking at my door?

RACHEL

pokes her head round the door.

RACHEL

Only me. I'll do the kitchen first.

CHARLIE

No. Do the toilet. I've got an important visitor coming.

We see RACEHL get down on her knees and scrub the loo.

LEILA(VOICEOVER)

While others used to know, but have been distracted by other important tasks.

RECORD SHOP 'VERMIN VINYL' - EXTERIOR DAY

JO tugs the door of a small, scruffy indie record shop. The Americana sign sarcastically reads "We're OPEN so come right on in!". But the door is bolted. She scowls and cups a hand to try and peer between the posters. She bangs on the glass.

LEILA(VOICEOVER)

And for others; what they want is just out of reach.

CHARLIE'S FLAT - EXTERIOR DAY

LEILA reaches for the doorbell, then pulls her hand back. She does a nervous jiggle dance.

LEILA

(To herself) Go on, go on. Just do it.

Finally she pushes the buzzer.

CHARLIE'S FLAT - INTERIOR DAY

Charlie leads Leila into a huge loft apartment. Leila's only ever seen homes like these in magazines before.

LEILA

Nice gaff..

CHARLIE

(dismissive) This is my floor. Daddy's upstairs. Cappuccino?

LEILA

Thanks. What does he do your dad?

CHARLIE

He's like a really successful business man. He's got the club and a car dealership and those massage places.

LEILA

Massage parlours?

CHARLIE

No silly, health spas. Health spas for men. Such a clever idea.

LEILA

is gobsmacked, then recovers.

LEILA

Maybe I should interview him. Why would people want to read about you?

CHARLIE

Because I'm going to be famous and soon everyone will want to interview me and you'll have been the first. This interview could put you on the map!

On Leila's face; trying to hide her scepticism. Rachel enters holding a cloth and wearing yellow marigolds.

RACHEL

Finished, Charlie.

CHARLIE

You're interrupting my Marie Claire interview! (to Leila) This is Rachel, one of my dearest friends. Rach, you didn't forget to scrub the toilet, did you?

Rachel shakes her head, bites her tongue and nods a 'hi' to Leila.

CHARLIE

Rachel used to be famous. She was the star athlete of Brighton.

RACHEL

Used to be?

CHARLIE

Oh come on. You can't drink like a fish and not expect to run like one. Now where were we.

Rachel can't believe how rude Charlie has been and heads for the front door. Slamming it loudly.

CHARLIE

(CON'T) Anyway as Simon Cowell told daddy the other day - they play golf together - Simon said "she could be whatever she wants to be", did you write that down...? Whatever..

Charlie's mouth carries on moving. We see her talk but the sound becomes a chattering hum. LEILA has a fixed grin.

LEILA(VOICEOVER)

The girl had certainly not been short-changed at the self belief counter...

FADE Charlie up..

CHARLIE

..Eubanks? Lovely man. Or Christophe as I call him! That's C-H-R-I-S-T-O-..F..P-H-E..

LEILA(VOICEOVER)

But the truth is she isn't famous she just wants to be. And the truth is that I'm not a journalist.

ATHLETICS TRACK - EXTERIOR DAY

RACHEL is warming up beside the starting blocks. A group of people in track suits pass, one of them is KELLY HOLMES.

KELLY

Rachel Taylor? I remember you from years back. You were unstoppable.

RACHEL

Hi Kelly.

KELLY

I hear they're considering you for Beijing '08. I can't wait to see you run again.

RACHEL

(squirming) ) Cheers.

RACHEL carries on with her warm ups for a few seconds, then notices that KELLY and her mates are all watching and waiting for her to start.

INT. VERMIN VINYL RECORD SHOP - DAY

It's an Aladdin's cave of stickers, records and CDs lining the walls and posters across the ceiling, mostly of punk, indie and metal bands interspersed with a few hip hop and techno acts.

LEWIS and dopey bandmates ED and MONO are all around the stereo listening to their demo on headphones. They are nodding their heads and shouting over one another in a parody of the 'Wayne's World' Bohemian Rhapsody scene.

LEWIS SINGS,HEARTFELT ROCK POSTURES "My back ain't against the wall. So I wanna try and take it all. It's so hard b'what can you do? Cause I'd bend over backwards for you" (to ED) I SAID: "YOUR SOLO'S A BIT OUT THERE.."

ED

(affronted, picking up a guitar) IZZAT RIGHT??

ED picks out the first few chords of 'Happy Birthday' on his guitar. A broad grin spreads across Lewis' face.

LEWIS

Dudes. I thought you'd forgotten....

MONO gives him a wrapped present, it is drum stick shaped.

LEWIS

(choked up) I don't believe it. It's not your Rollins Band drumstick, man. He lurches to hug Mono. Mono tenses. ED is opening the shop door.

ED

It was only one of them, dude.

JO bursts in.

JO

I've been out there for ages, guys. You not heard of Customer Relations?

ED

(frowns) They on Skint records?

BRIGHTON PAVILLION GARDENS - EXTERIOR DAY

Rachel is sitting in a park near the running track. She's upset and talking into her phone.

RACHEL

Kelly Holmes might as well have stuck a stake through my heart. I had to pretend I was injured incase she saw how out of shape I am.

INTERCUT CONVERSATION BETWEEN RACHEL WALKING & SEB IN THE MOBILE PHONE SHOP.

MOBILE PHONE SHOP - DAY

Seb is smartly dressed and has the phone cradled to his shoulder.

RACHEL

There's no way I'm gonna make the team. I'm all over the place.

Seb isn't listening, he's eying up a RICH OLD LADY who is tentatively checking out a pay-as-you-go handset.

SEB

You'll be fine, Rach, you always are. You're driven.

RACHEL

Oh God. I used to be.

A SEXY GIRL enters the mobile phone shop. Rude thoughts enter Seb's head. He smiles.

SEB

Look babe, gotta go. See you at the club tonight.

RACHEL

Seb, could you....

SEB flamboyantly clicks shut his phone and looks between the girl and the rich old lady. The camera whip pans between them.

SEB(VOICEOVER)

Sexy girl? Commission? Sexy girl? Commission?

BRIGHTON PAVILLION GARDENS - EXTERIOR DAY

Sitting in the park by the Brighton Pavillion, Rachel lets her phone arm fall into her lap. In the distance we see the man from the car this morning watching her.

MOBILE PHONE SHOP - DAY

Seb flashes a toothy grin and descends on the rich old lady like an eagle on a mouse...

SEB

Marvelous inventions aren't they? How did we ever get by without them?

The old lady looks intimidated by modern technology.

SEB

The TX10 on a pay-as-you-go? Great choice.. (beat) For a teenager on pocket money. His arm glides around her shoulder and guides her imperceptibly towards the top-of-the-range stand.

SEB

For someone of your standing might I suggest the MT33..? Seb points to the most expensive phone with an irresistible smile. He winks at the sexy girl.

VERMIN VINYL RECORD SHOP - INT DAY

Jo is listening to the demo on the headphones.

LEWIS

(to Jo) Whaddareckon?

JO

Great. Really great. Can we talk?

Mono and Ed are chuffed. FFWD to speed up film as she guides him out of the doorway.

JO

(CONT'D) (sudden) You've gotta go solo.

Lewis is startled.

LEWIS

They're my mates. We're a band.

JO

Who writes all the songs? Alex hasn't shown his face in weeks; Mono can't play and they call Ed 'special' for a reason. You're better than this.

LEWIS

(unsure) I am?

JO

Looks, talent, voice, presence. What have those timewasters got - dandruff? Acne? Crabs? They're holding you back.

She can see the flicker of uncertainty.

JO

(CONT'D) We take what you've got and really push you - singer-songwriters are huge right now... (beat) Or you can be playing to six people at The Free Butt for the rest of your life. Your choice.

A faraway look comes over Lewis' face and JO's voice fades into the background. Lewis turns to camera.

JO

(background) Just think: Lewis Hopper, Rockstar!!

LEWIS

So what would you do? The band; your mates, or fame and fortune. Oh, what shall I do?

The Video freezes. ANIMATED QUESTION appears

SHOULD LEWIS: GO SOLO OR STAY WITH THE BAND

YOU CHOOSE "GO SOLO".

Lewis is filmed against Blue screen and the background is generated in GFX. CU on Lewis' pretty face. Hear the roar of a crowd cheering and chanting his name. The song starts, this is the song that he will later become his Solo Single. It's all about being alone and missing his friends. As he starts to sing, we cut to a wide shot he is now tiny in front of giant letters, 100ft tall, reading LEWIS. Cut back to the close up, and he notices something and starts looking thru binoculars.

CUT TO

BACKSTAGE - DAY

Through binocular rings we see, Ed and Mono as though they are backstage, laughing and taking the piss out of Lewis, they make semi-obscene gestures.

CUT TO

BLUE SCREEN - DAY

Lewis is filmed against Blue screen and the background is generated in GFX. Lewis looks sad, and stops attempting to mine to his song. He walks a little to the left, and then a little to the right. He is stuck there in the spotlight.

CUT TO SCENE

RECORD SHOP 'VERMIN VINYL' - INT DAY

Lewis turns to Camera.

LEWIS

Jo's right. I do have more chance on my own. Lewis turns to JO.

LEWIS

OK. I've made up my mind..

ST GABRIELS ROAD, INT. RACHEL & SEB'S KITCHEN -DAY FULLSCREEN (VIDEO AND ANIMATED OBJECT - MICROWAVE)

RACHEL sits at the kitchen table, head in hands, waiting for the microwave. RACHEL is still seen in the video window, but filling the rest of the screen is the animation of the microwave. It beeps and it's digital readout says:

MICROWAVE

BAD DAY?

RACHEL

Too right.

MICROWAVE

SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE.

RACHEL

Waddaya mean?

MICROWAVE

LIKE DRINKING.

RACHEL

OK. OK!

MICROWAVE

OR WORKING.

RACHEL

I'd starve.

MICROWAVE

MAYBE DROP ONE OF THE JOBS.

RACHEL

Maybe.

MICROWAVE

OR SEB.

RACHEL jumps up and terminates the conversation by opening the microwave.

RACHEL

Seb's the one good thing I got in my life.

As she takes the food out she drops the Tupperware lid on the floor and as she bends over to pick it up she notices the torn shreds of a letter on the floor.

RACHEL

(CONT'D) What's this?

She picks them up and lays them down on the table, then looks at her watch.

RACHEL

(CONT'D) (to camera, flustered) I'm late for tutorial. Can you piece this together for me and let me know what it is.

She exits with the food.

RACHEL

Text me, yeah?

TRANSITION TO GAME GAME - LETTER MAKING THE TORN PIECES OF LOVE LETTER ON COUNTER FROM AERIAL VIEW.

The viewer can re-arrange the pieces. It is a very romantic letter from Afzal to Rachel describing his life in Africa and how much he misses her and asking why she hasn't reponded to his letters? As the last piece is put in place it triggers the next bit of animation.

TRANSITION TO ANIMATED OBJECT

ANIMATED OBJECT: PHONE THE IMAGE OF A MOBILE PHONE COMES FULL SCREEN AND CLICKS AS THOUGH CAPTURING LETTER AS A STILL PHOTO. There is a SEND button which cues the next scene.

EXIT ANIMATED OBJECT CLUB, CLOAKROOM - INT NIGHT

Rachel is behind the counter and SEB is on the outside. Rachel opens the counter and kisses SEB.

RACHEL

Seb, lover, will you watch the cloakroom while I go and snog another man?

SEB

Eh?

RACHEL

Lewis!

Rachel squeezes past Seb and uses the opportunity to kiss him. SEB responds by running his hands down her back and squeezing her bum.

CLUB, BAR - INT NIGHT.

CHARLIE and LEILA sit at the bar on stools. CHARLIE is talking to a bunch of people and gesturing at LEILA.

CHARLIE

She works for Marie Claire. Their top writer...

LEILA cringes and smiles at the same time.

LEILA(VOICEOVER)

The trouble with lies is that they have a nasty tendency of coming back and biting you. And I'm not the only one being bitten.

CLUB, CLOAKROOM - INT NIGHT SEB

is behind the counter. RACHEL's phone bleeps and SEB looks at it. We see a CU of the phone showing the photo image of the letter.

CLUB. CLOAKROOM - INT DAY

Seb turns to camera:

SEB

Yesterday you were agreeing with me, that I should tear up the letter, now you're sneaking around behind my back and trying to mess things up between us. That is not cool, OK. So (he fiddles with phone) delete. I'm watching you.

CLUB - INT NIGHT POV

through the crowd - someone appears to be following Rachel.

LEWIS

Rachel!

Lewis and his equally drunk mates (including Charlie, Jo, Ed, Mono) are sat around a table.

RACHEL

(giving him big kiss) Happy birthday, rock god.

LEWIS

Cheers, honey.

Everyone raises their glasses.

ED

Happy birthday, Lewis you nob-head!

ALL

Happy birthday!!

LEWIS

Cheers, cheers. It's great to have your mates around you.

Looks at Ed and Mono.

LEWIS

(CONT'D) 'Cause we'll always remember times like these.... wherever life takes us all.

Glasses are raised again. The camera concentrates on Jo, who smiles to herself - Lewis is going solo! Rachel slips away and again an uneasy POV seems to be following her through the club.

CLUB, CORRIDOR - INT NIGHT

Rachel is walking down a darkened corridor in the club. A couple of furtive pill-heads are in huddle ahead of her. The POV follows her... is she in danger? A hand reaches for her shoulder. Rachel spins round to confront him. It is the MAN who was asleep in the car, carrying a bunch of flowers. RACHEL (shocked) Jerome?! What are you doing here? JEROME Well you won't reply to my letters. What else could I do?

See Seb in the background, worried.

END OF EPISODE