THE CIGARETTES WE SMOKED TOGETHER

by

ANDREW SCHOFIELD

FIRST DRAFT [22/04/12]

FADE IN: INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT POPPY, 17, dressed in a very vintage-rock outfit, enters the bathroom. She puts a vinyl in the record player on the counter and music begins. She removes a polaroid photo of a blank wall from her pocket and sticks it to the mirror. POPPY dances around the room with a bottle of Jack Daniels. Her pockets are full of rose petals, as she dances, she tosses handfuls of them around the room. POPPY lights a cigarettes and sings along to the music. She turns the taps in the bath on. POPPY steps into the bath, cigarette in her mouth. She raises her bottle of Jack Daniels above her head and tips it over herself. She tosses the bottle at the ground, it smashes, she laughs. A bottle of pills sits on the side of the tub, she pops the lid. She pours two pills onto the palm of her hand and puts them in her mouth. She then sits down and wraps her lips around the running tap. She grabs the bottle of pills and knocks back a handful the same way. POPPY lies down in the running bath, puts the cigarettes in her mouth, closes her eyes and drapes her arm over the side of the tub. On her hand the word Fade is written in marker. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. BEACH - NEXT NIGHT HANNAH, NICK and RYAN (all 18, grunge-punks) all gather around a bonfire. They are smoking cigarettes and drinking their drinks of choice. NICK Theres a word for it. RYAN You know what really killed punk rock? NICK This is going to really annoy me, theres a word for it. RYAN It wasnt disco or the creation of MTV.

(CONTINUED)

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NICK Alterophobia, thats it. Alterophobia. RYAN Despite the medias best efforts to kill it, they never stopped the revolution. NICK The word is Alterophobia Hannah. Alterophobia? Yeah. HANNAH NICK

RYAN It was laziness that killed punk, it was a generation that made no effort to rebel what-soever. HANNAH A fear of the none mainstream? Alterophobia. NICK

HANNAH Thats not a real thing. NICK Then how do you explain why girls dont talk to me? NICK places a cigarette between his lips, lies on his stomach and lights it in the bonfire. HANNAH Its a mystery. NICK No, its Alterophobia. RYAN People think that sharing a video on Facebook or venting their anger into a blog is sticking it to the man. No one is prepared to do anything. Theres no movements, its dead, its stalemate, the system won. HANNAH So is this it? Are we all just ignoring the elephant in the room?
(CONTINUED)

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HANNAH lights a cigarette. RYAN Even the occupy movement is just a festival with less drugs. Im telling you, Occupy are two sit-ins away from announcing Biffy Clyro as the headliners. HANNAH Can we just stop! Jesus. How about a little respect. A tiny hint of emotion. Lets be honest, were saying words, but were all thinking about Poppy. RYAN Did we miss the red flags? NICK Why didnt she leave a note? HANNAH Does anyone else play back their memories with her trying to piece together if we had anything to do with it? RYAN Every waking second. NICK Who doesnt leave a note? RYAN I mean, I knew she was messed up, confused and constantly struggling to find some meaning in a meaningless life, but I didnt think it was a red flag. HANNAH What did you think it was? RYAN Normal. For her at least. Ive got it! NICK

HANNAH You know why she killed herself? NICK No. Not That. Panophobia. That was the word I was looking for. Panophobia.

(CONTINUED)

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RYAN Whats that a fear of? NICK Absolutely everything. NICK exhales a mouthful of smoke. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. CAR PARK - NIGHT Flashback. NICK and POPPY light a cigarette, lying on the car bonnet. A song finishes playing on the radio inside the car. NICK looks at POPPY lovingly, she doesnt notice. Poppy. Yeah? NICK shakes his head. NICK Ive forgotten what I was going to say. POPPY Its fascinating how that happens, isnt it? How so? NICK NICK POPPY

POPPY If you had said what you had wanted to say, it might have changed everything. NICK Thats true. Probably not though. POPPY No. Probably not. Silence. The song on the radio finishes. They smoke their cigarettes and stare out at the world. HOST (V.O.) WE have our next caller on the line. Are you there Tori? Yes, Im here. TORI (V.O.)
(CONTINUED)

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HOST (V.O.) You know, you have to answer as many phobias as possible until you get one wrong. POPPY This is my favourite part of the show. HOST (V.O.) Are you ready Tori? Yes. TORI (V.O.)

NICK How do you have a favourite part of a radio show? Autophobia? HOST (V.O.)

POPPY Fear of being alone. TORI (V.O.) Fear of being alone. HOST (V.O.) Correct. Peccatophobia? POPPY Fear of sinning. TORI (V.O.) Fear of sinning. HOST (V.O.) Correct. Technophobia. NICK Youre good at this. POPPY Fear of technology. I dont know how you can fear sinning when a sin is just an imaginary crime. TORI (V.O.) Fear of technology. HOST (V.O.) Correct. Genophobia? Fear of sex. POPPY

NICK People have a fear of sex?

(CONTINUED)

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POPPY Its terrifying. NICK I guess your right. I dont think I could ever be naked in front of anyone. Not unless I really loved them. TORI (V.O.) Oh crap. I dont know. HOST (V.O.) I need an answer Tori. NICK I like your hair. What? POPPY

NICK Thats what I forgot to say before. I like your hair. Thanks. Fear of sex. POPPY TORI (V.O.)

HOST (V.O.) Correct. Gerascophobia? POPPY Fear of growing old. NICK Did it change anything? What? POPPY

NICK Knowing I liked your hair. No. POPPY

NICK I knew it wouldnt. POPPY One day it might. TORI (V.O.) Fear of growing old.

(CONTINUED)

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HOST (V.O.) Correct. Oneirophobia? POPPY Fear of dreams. NICK How do you know all this? POPPY I just do. Same way you know every line to Almost Famous. NICK Because thats a great film. TORI (V.O.) Fear of dreams. HOST (V.O.) Correct. Zelophobia? POPPY Fear of jealousy. NICK Do you have any dreams Poppy? POPPY I want to be photographed. Like a model? NICK

POPPY Not as perfect and fake. I wanted to be photographed as I stand in the world. Thats my dream. TORI (V.O.) Fear of jealousy. HOST (V.O.) Correct. Dementophobia? POPPY Fear of insanity. Remarkable. What is? NICK POPPY

NICK How you know all this.

(CONTINUED)

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POPPY Its not that impressive. NICK Its immensely impressive. POPPY Whats your dream Nick? NICK My dream is for you to be photographed. TORI (V.O.) Fear of insanity. HOST (V.O.) Correct. Are you Googling these Tori? Chronophobia? Fear of time. POPPY

NICK Wow, they really do have a fear for everything. Panophobia. Is that-? POPPY NICK

POPPY A fear of everything. NICK Seriously, how could you possibly know that? POPPY Because I fear I may have it. TORI (V.O.) A fear a clocks. HOST (V.O.) Im sorry that is incorrect. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. BEACH - NIGHT Present day. The three are sitting around the bonfire.

(CONTINUED)

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HANNAH I guess we all overlooked how fragile she was. RYAN But that was Poppy all over. That was just her being her, how could be have been concerned about that? HANNAH Because as her friends it was our responsibility to be concerned about that. RYAN You think by the time we finish this conversation any of us will still be friends? HANNAH I know that by the time we finish this conversation, everything will have changed. NICK So Poppy was right about that then? Even from the grave shes still right about everything. RYAN lights another cigarette. RYAN Besides, if anyone is to blame, my money is on that bastard Max. He ruined her by dating her and he destroyed her by leaving her. NICK Wait. I missed the whole break up. Thats right. How was she after that? HANNAH Not how youd expect. Angry? NICK CUT TO: POPPY screams smashing bottles against a wall. CUT TO: EXT. BEACH HANNAH shakes her head.
(CONTINUED)

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Nope. Upset?

HANNAH NICK CUT TO:

POPPY lies on the ground crying her eyes out. CUT TO: EXT. BEACH HANNAH shakes her head. HANNAH Not even close. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. BEACH - MORNING Flashback. Sunrise. POPPY stands still, ankle deep in the water. HANNAH walks up behind her. Poppy? HANNAH

POPPY Shh. Youll ruin the silence. They stand side by side, watching the sunrise in the horizon. POPPY lights a cigarette, passes it to HANNAH, then lights one for herself. POPPY (CONTD) You know why I started smoking? HANNAH All the cool kids were doing it? POPPY My aunt died from cancer when I was thirteen. She had never smoked a day in her life and I remembered thinking, why am I avoiding something that supposedly causes all of lives cancers if there was a chance I was still going to get it anyway? HANNAH I know Max dumped you.
(CONTINUED)

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POPPY I could go my whole life, never smoke, never drink, never party, never take a risk and I would still die anyway. Poppy. Yes? HANNAH POPPY

HANNAH I know that you and Max broke up. And? POPPY

HANNAH And Im asking if youre OK? POPPY exhales smoke. CUT TO: A stop-motion, black and white, flick-book style shot of POPPY and MAX facing each other. POPPY inhales from the cigarette, leans forward, kisses MAX and heexhales the smoke. CUT TO: EXT. WATER/BEACH - MORNING POPPY and HANNAH still stood ankle deep in the water. POPPY Whats the saddest song you know all the words to? HANNAH Probably Nirvanas All Apologies. Why? Whats yours? POPPY You know that Rolling Stones song, You Cant Always Get What You Want? Yeah. HANNAH

POPPY Thats it. Thats the saddest song that I know all the words to.
(CONTINUED)

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HANNAH takes hold of POPPYs hand and they stand in silence staring out at the horizon, the waves break against their ankles. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. BEACH - NIGHT RYAN pours alcohol on the fire. It blazes. NICK Do you think that Poppy wanted to kill herself that morning? HANNAH I think that she wanted to kill herself every morning. So why now? Huh? NICK HANNAH

NICK Why now? If she wanted to kill herself everyday, why did she choose the day that she did? Why not the day before? Why not tomorrow? RYAN I dont know, maybe she wanted to catch the last episode of Desperate Housewives. Or maybe she wanted so badly for her life to have meaning that she wanted her death to mean something to. HANNAH What do you suppose it means? RYAN Thats shes selfish maybe? NICK Whoa. Whoa. I dont like what you just implied. RYAN Death is only sad for the living. NICK Poppy isnt the one on trial here.

(CONTINUED)

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RYAN And we are? I didnt make her swallow a bottle of pills like they were tic tacs. Ryan! NICK

HANNAH Its never just the guy that pulls the trigger, you got to account for the guy that supplies that guy the gun. Who said that? Me, just now. NICK HANNAH

NICK No. Death is only sad for the living. Who said that? RYAN Poppy used to say it. Hell, she used to swear by it. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. BRIDGE - EVENING Flashback. RYAN and POPPY leans over the side of a bridge. POPPY is pulling petals off of a bunch of red roses and dropping them into the river below. POPPY Did you know that when you stand on a ledge and look down, the fear you feel isnt a fear that you will fall, but rather, a subconscious fear that you might lose faith and jump. I didnt. Its true. RYAN POPPY

RYAN I like being around you Poppy. Why? POPPY

(CONTINUED)

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RYAN Youre so knowledgable. I learn so much for talking to you, theres nothing you dont know. POPPY I dont know how to have sex. What? RYAN

POPPY And I dont know how to work a toaster. Is that weird? RYAN You dont know how to have sex? POPPY It goes in and five minutes later it comes out black. His penis? RYAN

POPPY No, the bread, in the toaster. RYAN OK, I think we need to go back to the beginning here. POPPY You cant just hit restart because you dont understand. RYAN How do you not know how to have sex? POPPY Max and I tried it, several times and each time I just lay on my back, he thrusted, he came, he got cleaned up and that was it. I dont know what the hell I was doing but every time I was left unsatisfied and Max said it was because I didnt know what I was doing. RYAN Max is an idiot Poppy. POPPY How do you know that for sure?

(CONTINUED)

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RYAN Because he left you. I know for sure hes an idiot Poppy because he had you and he walked away. POPPY Do you believe in mermaids? Mermaids? RYAN

POPPY I need to know if I can trust your judgement on this. RYAN No Poppy, I dont believe in mermaids. Do you miss Max? POPPY Everyone keeps asking that. RYAN Were just concerned about you. POPPY Dont be. Just because Im aware that something exists, why am I expected to miss it? RYAN Probably the same reason people are expected to cry at funerals. POPPY Death is only sad for the living. Were all living proof of that. RYAN I still dont believe that you dont miss him, just a little. POPPY Believe what you want but 90% of the ocean is unexplored, dont stand there and tell me that mermaids dont exist. POPPY drops a final handful of rose petals. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. BEACH - NIGHT Present day.

(CONTINUED)

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RYAN tries to light a cigarette, the lighter is dodgy, HANNAH stands up. HANNAH Did you have sex with her? RYAN Why would you ask me that? HANNAH Because, I want to know, did you have sex with her? NICK Of course he didnt have sex with her. RYAN Why would you assume that? NICK Because you dont have sex with your friends. RYAN Sure you do. Surely theres no better person to lay with that those who already accept and love you. HANNAH Did you have sex with her Ryan? RYAN I dont know why all the heat is suddenly on me, we all know it was the photographs that ruined her. NICK Dont go blaming me because you cant keep your penis in your pants. HANNAH Ryan! Did you have sex with her? RYAN Yes, I had sex with her. Did you? HANNAH steps back, thats not what she wanted to hear. (Sigh) HANNAH

Once.

Wait. What?

NICK
(CONTINUED)

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HANNAH One thing lead to another. I was foolish to think it meant anything. NICK Ok, but why does nothing ever lead to me having sex? RYAN Because you were too busy trying to make her fall in love with you by making her dreams come true. NICK It wasnt like that Ryan. RYAN Look at history. The fairy God motherHistory? NICK

RYAN -makes the dreams come true and the Prince charming gets the action. Of course, Fairy God mothers dont end up being pornographers. NICK Youve got this all wrong Ryan! RYAN She was seventeen Nick! NICK Youve got this all wrong! DISSOLVE TO: INT. HALLWAY - DAY Flashback. NICK and POPPY walk down the hallway to the photography studio. POPPY runs her fingertips along the wall. POPPY So how did you find this guy again? NICK After you told me that you wanted to be a model(CONTINUED)

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POPPY -Photographed. I said photographed. NICK I reached out to him and we made a deal. POPPY It wasnt a moonless night was it? NICK What do you mean? POPPY Robert Johnson. Who? NICK

POPPY He was a blues singer in the 40s, a fairly talentless guy who suddenly became a successful musician. NICK Whats that got to do with anything? POPPY Will you let me make my point? NICK Go ahead. Make your point. POPPY It became a popular myth that he met with the devil himself on a moonless night and sold him his soul for money and fame. NICKs eyes widen: CUT TO: INT. CAFE - NIGHT NICK signs a page and slides it across the table towards DEAN, who we are about to meet as our photographer. CUT TO:

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INT. HALLWAY They are outside the studio now, the walls are covered in pictures the photographer has taken. NICK Do you believe thats true? About the deal with the devil. The studio door opens. You may enter. They go to walk in. POPPY 90% of the ocean is unexplored, you cant stand there and tell me mermaids dont exist. CUT TO: - A SERIES OF SNAPSHOTS OF POPPY DOING DIFFERENT GLAMOUR SHOTS CUT TO: INT. STUDIO - DAY POPPY flicks through the photographs. No. No. No. POPPY (Beat) (Beat) DEAN (O.C.)

DEAN (30) and NICK stand beside her. No? No! DEAN POPPY

DEAN Your friend is very picky Nick, you failed to mention that. POPPY I look too pretty in these pictures and so I find them to be ugly. DEAN looks at NICK.
(CONTINUED)

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NICK She knows what she wants. POPPY I want to be photographed in a way that reflects how the world really sees me. DEAN Lets do that then. DEAN picks up a Polaroid camera. DEAN (CONTD) The closest to reality a snapshot can ever really feel. CUT TO: A SERIES OF CLIPS OF POPPY DOING DIFFERENT POSES. CUT TO: INT. STUDIO - LATER DEAN hands POPPY the Polaroids. She flicks through them, she looks confused. They are all of the blank wall behind her. Whats this? POPPY

DEAN An accurate representation of how the world really sees you. Your life may seem like this huge adventure darling, but in the scheme of things, youre nothing but a vacant existence. POPPY takes this all in staring at the prints. DEAN (CONTD) See you next week Nick. Sure babe, keep staring at them, thats a sure fire way to waste your precious pathetic life. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. BEACH - NIGHT Present day. RYAN pushes NICK.
(CONTINUED)

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RYAN No wonder she was messed up. NICK Dont push me dude. RYAN pushes NICK again. RYAN What are you going to do about it? Make me kill myself? You seem pretty good at that. Screw you! NICK

RYAN You ruined her! NICK You had sex with her and sex with you has got to be enough to make anyone want to blow their heart out. RYAN You blow your brains out asshole. HANNAH Will you two quit it? RYAN Youre not innocent here either Hannah. HANNAH Youre damn well sure Im not.But Unlike you two, I can admit that I didnt do everything I possibly could have to save that poor girls life. Silence. HANNAH (CONTD) At what age did you lose your compassion? NICK When did our talking turn to screaming? RYAN Are we going to let this night be the death of us?

(CONTINUED)

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HANNAH Every second has the potential to ruin everything, Poppy taught me that. You know what else she taught me? NICK What girl on girl is like? RYAN That was going to be my guess. HANNAH That we will never again be as young as we are right now. HANNAH lights a cigarette. DISSOLVE TO: INT. VENUE BATHROOM - NIGHT Flashback. Pre-gig, POPPY and HANNAH are in the bathroom checking their make up. HANNAH Who is it playing tonight? POPPY Some rock back Ive never heard of. HANNAH If youve never heard of them, then why are we here? POPPY Some people go to gigs to support the band, others for the alcohol. I go to gigs because bodies crashing into me in the centre of a mosh pit is the closest I get to feeling the warmth of another human body against my own. POPPY takes the lipstick and writes Autophobia across the mirror. Whats that? HANNAH

POPPY writes under it Fear of being alone

(CONTINUED)

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POPPY Not to be confused with the more irrational fear of dying alone. Irrational? HANNAH

POPPY Come on Hannah, everyone dies alone. That is unless youre Juliet or a victim of a terrorist attack. No ones dropping dead over you. HANNAH Im not asking them to. You should be. POPPY

POPPY reaches over and grabs HANNAHs hand bag, their hands touch, a spark of chemistry. POPPY pulls the handbag towards her. POPPY (CONTD) Existing is the most insignificant thing about living. Nothing lasts forever and therefore nothing really matters. The thought of being the superior species caused us to lose something, compassion. Shotguns are killing humans and rabbits alike, as otters are falling asleep holding hands for fear that they will slip apart while they are dreaming. Im lucky if I can get Satan to hold my purse so that I can taste the nicotine hit my throat. When Kurt wrote Its better to urn out than fade away, he wrote the truth and it scared the shit out of us. HANNAH Neil Young actually said it. Kurt just quoted it. POPPY You dont think I know that? But if the most iconic man on the planet uses your words in his suicide note, you can take it to Vegas that they wont be your words anymore.

(CONTINUED)

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HANNAH What if Kurt heard that song on the radio and thats what drove him to suicide? POPPY Thats what all suicides come down to? Music? Words. HANNAH POPPY

POPPY pulls a permanent marker from HANNAHs handbag. POPPY (CONTD) It says here it last forever. Im willing to bet it doesnt. POPPY begins writing on her arm. Can we go? HANNAH

POPPY What is permanent if not temporary in denial? HANNAH Come on, I want to check out the support. POPPY Youll never again be as young as you are right now. Poppy! HANNAH

POPPY looks at herself in the mirror , then at HANNAHs reflection. Slowly their hands move closer together until they touch, then theyre holding hands, their fingers intertwining. On Poppys arm the words What is forever if not a death sentence are written. POPPY I need a cigarette. Why? Im addicted. HANNAH POPPY

HANNAH Why now though?

(CONTINUED)

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POPPY Because Im scared. Of what? Being alone. HANNAH POPPY

They look at each other. Heavy breathing, tense pauses. HANNAH I wont leave you alone. Autophobia. POPPY

HANNAH Otters hold hands while they sleep? POPPY Yes. Well, flippers, they dont have hands. HANNAH So they dont slip apart while they dream? POPPY Humans dont do that. HANNAH Do otters dream? Their bodies inch closer together. POPPY Do you believe in mermaids? HANNAH Why are you trembling? POPPY Im not good as sex. They kiss. As they kiss they fall into a cubical and close the door. -No Way! NICK (V.O.) JUMP CUT TO: EXT. BEACH - NIGHT RYAN Thats not true.
(CONTINUED)

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It is.

HANNAH

RYAN I dont believe it. HANNAH Its true. Otters hold hands while they sleep. RYAN Wait, you think thats the bit were finding hard to believe. NICK No way did you kiss her. HANNAH Youre right, I didnt kiss her. I knew it! NICK

HANNAH She kissed me. I think. Or we kissed each other. I dont know. I was so surreal. NICK What happened next? HANNAH One thing lead to another... Uh-huh. I see. NICK

RYAN Wow Nick, you really are a virgin arent you. NICK Well Ryan, Im sorry, I didnt realize we were all taking turns to ride Poppy like a wild horse, I must have missed the memo. RYAN What even is a memo. HANNAH Its a word that virgins say. NICK Oh, I see how it is, you two think its acceptable to gang up on me when eighteen hours ago I lost the only person who would stand up for me?
(CONTINUED)

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RYAN We all lost her dude, you didnt invent grieving. NICK Then why am I the only one expressing emotion? RYAN Probably the same way youre the only guy in the world to do porn and stay a virgin. NICK It wasnt pornography. RYAN Lets just call it what it is, its porn. NICK I never did pornography. RYAN Then why have I seen pictures of your penis? NICK It wasnt pornography, it was art, just ask. RYAN Ask who? Poppy? I think youre going to have some difficulties getting her to vouch for you from now on. NICK Go bathe in acid you asshole. RYAN Youre not angry that Poppy killed herself, youre angry that youre the only one she didnt sleep with. NICK Sits down beside RYAN. NICK I need you to tell me about the night you two spent together and there had better be a damned good reason why you werent still holding her hand the next morning.

(CONTINUED)

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RYAN How about because we arent otters and this isnt a love story. Get off my back Nick, I just lost a friend. NICK And youre about to lose another... RYAN looks at HANNAH, she nods as if to say tell it. RYAN lights a cigarette. DISSOLVE TO: INT. POPPYS BEDROOM - NIGHT RYAN and POPPY are in the bedroom, a vinyl plays in the corner. RYAN paces the room. POPPY is on the bed, she takes an aspirin. RYAN Has it been four hours since you last took one? Yes. POPPY

RYAN Because you took one ten minutes ago when I was standing right here. Shh. POPPY

RYAN Its dangerous. POPPY There are people surviving on a constant stream of heroin and cocaine. Somehow I dont think Not-Suitable-For-Under-8s paracetamol I bought in the news agents is going to cause my vital organs to combust. RYAN Why are you always taking them? POPPY I have a sore head. Constantly? RYAN

(CONTINUED)

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POPPY Its so full of the things I never done. Like what? RYAN

POPPY Heroin and cocaine. RYAN Is that a bad thing? POPPY Ive never been skinny dipping. RYAN Thats giving you a headache? RYAN downs a bottle of beer. POPPY I think its weird that Ive never taken all of my clothes off and ran into the ocean. RYAN Youre right, thats weird. I encourage that you do that sometime. RYAN opens another bottle of beer. POPPY Ive never stood for anything, Ive never fallen for anyone , Ive never just been there for people. Not really. RYAN Thats not your fault. RYAN is making great progress on drinking his second beer. POPPY Its society and this lazy generation I was born into. RYAN Dont even get me started. POPPY I need a cigarette. RYAN tosses POPPY the box and lighter. Gets himself another beer. She opens the window and lights upShe stares out the window at the city. RYAN stands next to her.
(CONTINUED)

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POPPY (CONTD) You know that when Kurt Cobain died, teenagers across America all took to the streets to gry, get high and support one and other in their time of need. A lost generation brought together to pay respect to the one man who gave them something to stand behind. Id say thats the last documented occurrence of compassion in human history. POPPY takes another pill, uses RYANs beer to wash it down. RYAN has difficulty letting go of the bottle. He wrestles it back and finishes it off. RYAN You know that whenever you asked me if I wanted to hang out in your room I had a whole different night planned out in my head. POPPY stares at the Polaroids of the empty space that she has hung on her wall. She stubs out her cigarette. POPPY Expectations fuel disappointment. RYAN Im horny and I came here to help you. POPPY Help me? Look at my arms Ryan. RYAN looks at her arms, theres nothing there. RYAN Theres nothing there. POPPY Thats my point. POPPY jumps back onto the bed. RYAN grabs another beer. As she says each of the following lines, she takes an aspirin and RYAN takes a swig. POPPY (CONTD) Ive never been to Paris. JUMP CUT TO: PARIS TRAVEL GUIDES BURNING CUT TO:

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INT. POPPYS BEDROOM POPPY Ive never played poker. JUMP CUT TO: A DECK OF CARDS BURNING ON THE FIRE. CUT TO: INT. POPPYS BEDROOM POPPY Ive never tried to understand art. JUMP CUT TO: A PAINTING BURNS ON THE FIRE. CUT TO: INT. POPPYS BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS POPPY Ive never seen a mermaid. Ive never saved a life. Ive never slow danced. Ive never had a cigarette that I didnt enjoy. POPPY still takes a pill between each one. RYAN has finished his beer. RYAN Hold up. Slow down. POPPY lights a cigarette. RYAN (CONTD) Youve never slow danced? POPPY shakes her head. She lies back, cigarette pursed between her lips and closes her eyes. CUT TO: EXT. FIRE - EVENING RYAN lies next to the blazing fire he has built of the things Poppy has never done, hes lying close enough to burn, crying his eyes out.

(CONTINUED)

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RYAN (Chocking on tears) You...Saved...Mine. CUT TO: INT. POPPYS BEDROOM POPPY is passed out, cigarette still burns between her lips. Poppy? He walks over to her. RYAN (CONTD) I cant believe youve never slow danced. RYAN picks POPPY up into his arms and begins dancing around the room with her. RYAN lays her on the bed, removes the cigarette from her mouth and stubs it out. He then climbs on top of her body and begins to kiss her. CUT TO: EXT. BEACH - NIGHT HANNAH stares at RYAN, disgusted. You knew. What? HANNAH RYAN RYAN

HANNAH You knew that she had a problem with pills. RYAN I never knew that she had a problem, I just knew that she liked them. HANNAH Thats a problem you ass! NICK You saw a red flag raising and you just saluted. RYAN Im sorry guys, I didnt know.
(CONTINUED)

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HANNAH goes to yell, no words come out. She just stares, breathing heavily. RYAN tries to avoid eye contact. RYAN (CONTD) What happened to were all equally responsible? NICK That was before we knew what you done. RYAN Like youre so innocent. CUT TO: INT. HALLWAY - DAY POPPY runs down the hallway, her fingertips running along the wall, in her other hand she holds the polaroids. She bursts into: INT. STUDIO - CONTINUOUS NICK is posing naked. DEAN is taking photographs of him. POPPY I need you to photograph me again- Nick? POPPY is shocked. DEAN snaps a photo of her expression. She drops the photographs. NICK reaches for his boxers. POPPY (CONTD) What are you doing to my friend? DEAN Im taking photographs of him. What dont you like about my photographs of you? POPPY Im not in any of them. DEAN Theres not a single existing photograph of William Shakespeare. No one debates his existence. NICK Theres no photos of Jesus and all we do is debate his.

(CONTINUED)

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POPPY Why are you here Nick? I thought you were against doing that. NICK He likes taking photographs of naked people. Virgins. DEAN

POPPY Youre doing porn. Poppy. NICK

DEAN Its not pornography. Its art. POPPY Its disgusting. DEAN You read comic books? POPPY Ever since I was eight. DEAN Martin Goldman runs a publication company and wants to rival DC in the 40s, he hires Stan Lee, an office assistant, to come up with some new heroes for America to unite behind and pay money to read about. And so he does. To generate revenue the company also created some of the most successful porn magazines of that era. You see darling, money is money, art is art and no one gives a damn how you sleep at night. No. Yes. Nick. Im sorry. POPPY DEAN POPPY NICK

DEAN Its four-twenty. Join me.

(CONTINUED)

35. CONTINUED: (2)

DEAN removes three joints from his pocket. CUT TO: NICK, DEAN and POPPY stand in a circle, joint hanging from their mouths, the tip of each meeting in the centre. DEAN places a lighter underneath the joints, he flicks it and lights all three at once. DEAN (CONTD) Four-twenty started back in the early seventies, coined by a group of teenagers called the Waldos who met at four-twenty to go in search of an abandoned crop of cannabis. After that, the term quickly became slang for getting high and four-twenty became the socially acceptable time of day to smoke weed. POPPY Imagine influencing culture like that. NICK Did they call themselves the Waldos because they wore stripy jumpers and were difficult to find? POPPY They called themselves it because their hang out was a wall behind the school. Thats right. DEAN

NICK is laughing for no reason. NICK I have no clothes on. DEAN Your a smart kid Poppy. Shame youre so insignificant. POPPY I want to be photographed again. CUT TO: POPPY and NICK stand for a photograph holding hands. POPPY is fully dressed, NICK is in his boxers.

(CONTINUED)

36. CONTINUED: (3)

DEAN (V.O.) You allow yourself to be haunted by reality and plagued by dreams. FLASH! CUT TO: POPPY slowly drops to her knees in front of NICK. She pulls his boxers down around his ankles, her head blocks us from seeing anything. DEAN (V.O.) (CONTD) Ignorant to the line between good and evil. FLASH! CUT TO: POPPY is on NICKs back, her hands playfully cover his eyes. His boxers still around his ankles, again we see nothing. DEAN (V.O.) (CONTD) The line between love and hate. FLASH! CUT TO: POPPY and NICK are kneeling on the floor, POPPY has shed most of her clothing, NICK is still naked. They share a lollipop. DEAN (V.O.) (CONTD) The line between art and pornography. FLASH! CUT TO: INT. STUDIO POPPY stubs out her spliff. DEAN shakes her hand. DEAN You should take photographs. Maybe I will. Goodbye Poppy. POPPY DEAN

(CONTINUED)

37. CONTINUED:

POPPY I hope we never meet again. DEAN It wont matter, the damage is done. I have met you, therefore, I am a part of you. FADE TO: INT. HALLWAY - AFTERNOON POPPY runs her fingertips along the wall as they leave. POPPY How did you end up having to do that? NICK (Sigh) It was a moonless night... Oh. POPPY

(Beat) I always get the urge to touch things. Everywhere I go. Leave my fingerprints so that I was there, that I exist. NICK Please Poppy, I need you to forgive me. POPPY Incredible how those kids back in the 70s werent movie stars, they werent in bands, they didnt even have the internet and they somehow managed to still influence people 40 years on. She stops touching the wall. NICK tries to take hold of her hand, she pulls away. NICK looks away, tries to hide his shame and embarrassment. CUT TO: EXT. BEACH - NIGHT Present day. NICK What was I doing? I was so in love with her.
(CONTINUED)

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No one says anything. A cigarette burns between NICKs fingers. He begins to cry, the crying progresses into a complete emotional breakdown. No one is sure what to do. HANNAH and RYAN looks at each other. NICK continues to cry hysterically. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. STREET - DAY HANNAH and POPPY walk through the street. POPPY is taking photographs on a disposable camera. HANNAH Do you think Hugh Hefner wakes up every morning, looks at himself in the mirror and thinks holy crap, Im Hugh Hefer? POPPY lines up a photograph of a teenage couple about to kiss. She snaps it. POPPY No, I think Hugh Hefner wakes up every morning and has a threesome with two hot twenty year olds. HANNAH How the other half live huh. POPPY Nick is doing porn. What? HANNAH

POPPY I did porn with him. HANNAH Is that code for something? No. POPPY

POPPYs attention is suddenly caught by a homeless guy holding a cardboard sign that reads MY LIFE DEPENDS ON CHANGE. POPPY stares at this. HANNAH (O.C.) What do you mean you did porn together? POPPY raises her camera to her face. HANNAH (O.C.) (CONTD) Porn as in pornography?
(CONTINUED)

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POPPY takes the photograph. As in naked? HANNAH (O.C.) (CONTD)

POPPY What kind of change do you suppose hes after? Give him 50PHANNAH

POPPY -He must really need change, he made a sign about it. HANNAH Poppy this is huge. For who? POPPY

A GIRL stands across the street in a FREE HUGS tShirt, no one is hugging her. A GUY that is too busy texting walks directly into her, he barely looks up and carries on walking. POPPY snaps a photograph. POPPY (CONTD) I think this is depression. Finding beauty in only the saddest of things. HANNAH Why would you do something so stupid. POPPY He did it. I was just there. POPPYs hand reaches out to touch something, theres nothing there to touch. She touches HANNAH. POPPY runs her hand down HANNAHs back, HANNAH smiles. POPPYs hand goes into HANNAHs back pockets and removes a box of matches. She strikes one and lights a cigarette. HANNAH What are people going to say when they find out? POPPY Hey Poppy, good job, you look good compared to Penis. (Beat) You know I used to look at people and wonder what my life would be like if I was them, then I realized something, my life would be no different, Id still be me, just, Id be them. (MORE)

(CONTINUED)

40. CONTINUED: (2) POPPY (CONT'D) Theres no escape and so, theres no point. Kainotophobia, fear of change. Get a photograph.

POPPY gives HANNAH the camera, she walks up HOMELESS MAN, places his arm around her and sign in the air. HANNAH takes a photograph. HOMELESS MAN looks at POPPY, hes sad, hes speak but no words come out. POPPY (CONTD) You dont want change sir, you just want more.

to the raises his The trying to

POPPY looks into his eyes, theres a deep sadness, she places her hand on his in comfort. CUT TO: INT. POPPYS BEDROOM - DAYS LATER POPPY sits on her bed looking at the photograph, shes shocked. The HOMELESS MAN is passed out, the sad eyes are in fact hers. They are replicated by her as she stares at the photograph and comes to the realization of the situation. She reaches for her bottle of pills. CUT TO: EXT. BEACH - NIGHT HANNAH and NICK comfort each other, both crying. NICK She didnt have sex with the Homeless Dude did she? No. HANNAH

NICK Thank God. I was beginning to think I was the only one who didnt have a go on her. RYAN walks up to them, bottle in hand. RYAN Wheres my hug? What? Go away. HANNAH NICK

(CONTINUED)

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RYAN I lost a friend too. Where is my comfort? NICK We have no sympathy for the devil. RYAN Sure you do. Forgiveness is sympathy of evil and the kid on the cross was all about that. Am I wrong? RYAN kicks sand at them and manages to fall over drunk. DISSOLVE TO: INT. BATHROOM - EVENING Flashback. POPPY stands in front of her mirror in her bra and underwear staring at herself. The deep sadness in her eyes has consumed her whole face. RYAN bursts in the door, bottle of Jack Daniels in hand. Poppy! RYAN

She ignores him, continues looking at herself. RYAN (CONTD) Poppy. Come on and talk to me. Say something to me Poppy. Say anything. He tries to take her hand, she pulls away. He tries to her her, she pushes him off. She stares at herself in the mirror. RYAN (CONTD) Poppy. I am so, so, so, very so-Is that a picture of Nicks dick? RYAN lifts up the picture, he moves a knife that is sitting on top of it without even acknowledging its presence in the room. RYAN (CONTD) Thats hilarious. RYAN drops the photo on the ground.

(CONTINUED)

42. CONTINUED:

RYAN (CONTD) Dont lose faith and jump. RYAN tries to kiss POPPY. She pushes him off. RYAN (CONTD) You know what. You are bad at sex, you suck. POPPY slaps RYAN. As the slap hits we: JUMP CUT TO: INT. RYANS CAR - EVENING RYAN drives around drunk. RYAN What have I done? What have I done? He sees his reflection in the rearview mirror. He smacks the mirror so he doesnt have to look at himself. RYAN thinks for a moment and then swerves the car around. CUT TO: EXT. SIDE STREET - EVENING RYAN pulls the car up and gets out. CUT TO: INT. APARTMENT BLOCK HALLWAY - EVENING RYAN staggers down the hallway. On the walls we can see Poppys fingerprints. RYAN stops at a door and pounds on it. MAX opens it. RYAN grabs him and punches him repeatedly. RYAN (Repeating, angry) You made me hurt her, you made me hurt my friend. He continues to beat MAX, who doesnt attempt to fight back. He drops MAX to the ground, beaten and bleeding. RYAN spits on him. RYAN (CONTD) You made me hurt her...
(CONTINUED)

43. CONTINUED:

RYAN starts to walk away. RYAN (CONTD) You made me hurt my friend. No. RYAN turns back. He pours his alcohol over MAX. RYAN (CONTD) You made me hurt her. RYAN lights a cigarette. He bends down, his cigarette between his lips, he moves right up close to MAX. RYAN (CONTD) Its all your fault. You did this to us. Im two inches away from burning you alive, you scared? MAX is terrified, his bottom lip trembles, he tries to beg for mercy but cant speak, so he does it with his eyes. RYAN stands up. RYAN (CONTD) I should burn you alive. Take Poppy, move to Paris, show her how beautiful she is, play poker, swim with mermaids, slow dance around your burning memory. RYAN shakes his head. This isnt right. He walks off down the hall, smoking his cigarette. FADE TO: EXT. BEACH - NIGHT The sun is about to rise, the fire is almost burned out, everyone is exhausted. NICK If you had known that last night would be the last time all four of us would be together, would you do anything differently? No. No? RYAN NICK

RYAN No. Last night was sad and all, but it was perfectly Poppy. I wouldnt change a thing.
(CONTINUED)

44. CONTINUED:

HANNAH I guess I wouldnt either. DISSOLVE TO: INT. POPPYS BEDROOM - NIGHT Flashback. POPPY lies on her bedroom floor which is completely covered wall to wall with photographs. POPPY is in the centre of the floor space wearing the same outfit she kills herself in. HANNAH, NICK and RYAN show up. They are shocked by the room but one by one, they slowly walk across the photographs and lie down on the floor like Poppy, their heads all meeting in the centre. POPPY You guys must think Im messed up. No. HANNAH

NICK Of course we dont. RYAN A little bit, yeah. Ryan. HANNAH

POPPY Its true. I am. I dont know why you put up with me. I dont know why Im here. Its the photographs, the life within them. Every single person in every single photograph is a real person, out there living in the world, completely unaware of how much they fascinate me. What if they never know? POPPY takes hold of HANNAH and NICKs hand, they, in turn, take hold of RYANs. They all raise their linked hands in the air. NICK I wish I could make you feel alright Poppy. You do. POPPY

(CONTINUED)

45. CONTINUED:

NICK I mean really feel alright. What can I do? What do you need? Just tell me and I will do it. POPPY sits up. POPPY I need a carton of cigarettes and someone to smoke them with. Pause. RYAN sits up. Ive got that. RYAN

RYAN takes a twenty deck from his pocket. Time lapse: The night speeds by as the four friend smoke the entire box. Theyre talking, POPPY even laughs at one point. One by one, they fall asleep, right there together on the floor. POPPY wakes up, stands up, looks at her friends. She bends down beside each of them and kisses them on the cheek, then slowly heads for the door, staring at the photographs as she walks over them. The other three remain asleep. After a while, we can faintly hear music coming from downstairs, its the same song POPPY killed herself to. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. BEACH - SUNRISE RYAN And that was all she wrote HANNAH It was an incredible story, wasnt it? NICK One that deserves to be told. HANNAH I cant believe its morning already. PhengophobiaNICK

RYAN pokes the ashes of the fire wuth a stick.

(CONTINUED)

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RYAN Thats it. Summer is over, the night is dead, as is the only person any of us ever really loved. NICK -Fear of daylight. HANNAH Here guys, if you could be anyone, just for a day, who would you be? Poppy. NICK

NICK raises his bottle in the air. NICK (CONTD) I would be Poppy for the way she saw the world. HANNAH raises her bottle in the air. HANNAH I would be Poppy for her courage an beauty. They both look at RYAN. RYAN I would be Hugh Hefner. RYAN stands up and raises his bottle. RYAN (CONTD) I would be Poppy for her intelligence and that effect she had on people. They smiles and each other, bottles raised. Simultaneously, they all drop their bottles onto the burned out fire. RYAN takes off his shirt. NICK What are you doing? RYAN Something Poppy never had the chance to. RYAN removes his jeans, the others begin stripping too and then they run towards the ocean. Skinny dipping. They splash about. Inspiring music plays. The camera passes by them having fun, then carries on pulling out into the ocean until you can no longer see them.

47.

EXT. OCEAN The camera sinks into the depths of the ocean. A mermaid swims past. She runs her fingertips across the screen as she passes. FADE TO BLACK.