Final Script Proposal

Script proposal

Act 1 Scene 1 

[Close up of Ava]

Ava: (narrative voice over) My mum once said to me: Get busy living, or get busy dying. That’s why I decided to go to Seth’s after prom party on the 30^th of June, 2012. I’m Ava.

Title: The Last Shards

Act 1 Scene 2

Ava is sat on her bed, cross legged, reading a text

Ava: (narrative voice over) I’ve never been able to fit with people my age; never quite been on the same page as everyone else. I don’t go out drinking, I don’t gossip, I hate shopping, but my family are poor, which seems to bug people at school. So instead of trying to interact with the human population knowing I’m going to be shunned, I’m on my own most of the time. Everything that happens in my life is like a piece of glass which keeps breaking.

Act 1 Scene 3

Ava is sat reading alone outside her school on a bench. Ella, her sister, skips joyfully towards her and sits down next to her.

Ella: Hey, sissy!!! (squeezes her as she sits down next to Ava)

Ava: (narrative voice over) that’s my sister, Ella. She’s in the sixth form now. Best person I’ve ever known. Socially, she’s the opposite to me. She’s hardly ever in the house. I think it’s safe to say she’s my only friend.

Ella: (enthusiastically) Watcha doin?

Ava: (with humour) Not much. Just reading.

Ella: (overly happy) When are you not reading, my little bookworm? (squeezes Ava). Hey, you fancy coming shopping with me? (Ava raises her eyebrow at her) I know you hate shopping, but we could get something to eat if you want? (Smiles, hopingly)

Ava: (sighs) Sure, why not.

Ella giggles with excitement and jumps up and exits the shot. Chez the chav walks up from behind and taps her on the shoulder.

Chez: Oreyt, Ava. How’s it buzzin?

Ava: [little interest] Oh, hey Chez. [continues reading]

Ava looks up in front of her and notices Seth. Seth glances over at her from a few yards away and the corner of his mouth turns up slightly at her. Ava gives a small hand gesture that was meant to be a wave.

Ava: (voice over narrative) That’s Seth. I’ve liked that boy for years and he hardly knows I exist. Kind, caring, gorgeous, and I haven’t got a chance in hell with him. He’s Mr Popular. Explains why I only get the odd “hi” every now and then. So life’s not too bad so far. Then there’s these bitches.

Act 1 Scene 4

Scene cuts to Ava walking up a path when the two bullies walk on the other side of the road.

Bully 1: Look who it is! It’s the she-male! [runs across the road to Ava]

Ava: [narrative voice over] the fact I don’t wear designer clothes or have the latest iPhone seems to really annoy them for some reason.

Bully 2: Don't you like people, Mavis? Do you like pigs instead?

Bully 1: Seen what a shitty phone she’s got? 

Bully 2: Did it come out in 1989?

Bully1: Coming to the prom, Mavis? Oh, that's right. You can’t afford a prom dress. I’m sure there’s some bin bags lying around. Don’t see why you’ve even got a phone; no one wants to talk to you.

Both bullies shoulder barge past Ava, with bully 1 in front.

Act 2 Scene 1

The flashbacks end and cut back to Ava’s room where the camera shows what the text says. Ava’s mum knocks on her door then enters her room.

Mum: [the door is open; mum knocks on door then enters the room] Avy? What’s up?

Ava: [sighs, looks from text to mum, then back to the text] Nothing

Mum: Is it because you can’t go to the prom? You know how sorry I… [cuts off]

Ava: It’s not that. Ell’s asked me to go to Seth’s after-prom party.

Mum: Well go! You’ll have fun! I’ll take you if you want. Isn’t Seth that guy you like?

Ava: Yeah but… look:

[Ava shows mum a text from Ella saying the two bullies will be there but she’ll look after her]

Mum: Tell me something: have those girls ever hit you? Stole off you?

Ava: No but…

Mum: Know why? They’re jealous of you. They’re cowards. Especially that horrible one. She hasn’t got a family who love her. You’ve got so much more than her going for you; you don’t realise it. Ella will be there, if they say anything to you, stand up for yourself and I promise; they’ll never come near you again.   

[Ava looks at mum hopefully]

Mum: Get busy living, or get busy dying.

[Ava looks at phone]

Mum: [puts arm around her] Go, sweetheart.

Ava: [tearfully] okay. [hugs mum]

Mum: Right, let’s get you tarted up! [smiles and jumps off the bed]

[camera cuts to a medium close up of Ava then fades to the next scene]

Act 2 Scene 2

Chez is in the kitchen, looking at a photo he took of Ava. The camera pulls focus from a kitchen knife to his face in medium low angle shot.

Act 2 Scene 3

Ava arrives outside Seth’s house. She knocks on the door and is greeted by Ella and Seth.

Ava: [nervously] hey!

Ella: Aww you look stunning! [hugs Ava]

Seth: Yes you do. Come in! You must be cold.

Ava walks into the house and Seth walks away to greet other guests. Ella takes Ava’s arm into a corner.

Ella: [slight whisper, excitedly] Seth likes you!

Ava:[shocked, shakes head in realisation] what?

Ella: Straight up! He was so looking forward to you coming…

Seth interrupts and Ella goes quiet. She walks away gives Ava a thumbs and a wink and walks abruptly away. Seth takes Ava into the middle of the room to talk to her. As he begins to talk to her, the two bullies appear behind her.

Seth: You okay?

Ava: Yes, i’m fine. You?

Seth: I…

Camera catches Bully 1 behind Ava

Bully 1: Oh my god! Looks like the she male found a bin bag after all!

Ava turns round abruptly and pins bully up against wall

Ava: [angry] I've been taking your shit for too long! You think i enjoy you reminding me how poor I am? How about I tell everyone here how much fo a slag you are? You ever come near me again, you'll be sucking dicks with no teeth.

Ava lets go of bully 1 and walks away, leaving bully 1 stunned who storms out of the scene. Ava walks past Seth who follows her.

Seth: Avy? I need to tell you something… [cut off]

Ava: Seth... [cut off]

Seth: I love you [blurts out]

Ava: [pause] what? [Chez looks on angrily in the background]

Seth: It’s true. I’m sorry I’ve never shown it before.

As the two hold hands, Chez intercepts the two and starts shoving and shoulder barging Seth. Ava quickly intervenes and pushes Chez to the ground.

Ava: Leave him alone! [with panic]

As Chez falls to the ground, a bloody knife falls out of his grasp onto the floor. Everyone begins screaming, when Ella points at Ava

Ella: [crying and hysterical] Oh my god, Ava!

Ava looks down to see she has been stabbed. She falls to the floor as Ella and Seth rush to her aid.

Seth: Call 999! Get an ambulance!

Seth stands over her as she lays motionless on the floor looking up.

Ava:  [narrative voice over as screen fades to black] My mum once said to me: Get busy living, or get busy dying.

End credits:

Nicole Rawson: Director

Jake Bamforth: Camera 

Becky Sorsby: Editor

Ava: Becky Sorsby

Seth: Sam Beevers (?)

Ella: Nicole Rawson

Chez: Joe Smith

Ava & Ella's mum: Carol Bird

Bully 1: Sophie Wragg

Bully 2: Jonny Turner (?)