“JUST THE UNUSUAL ”

By

Harrison Andrews

28 Stainton Gardens
Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 9NY
07944604151
1WrdProductions@gmail.com
THE CASSETTE
The draw slides open, amongst the undergrowth of wires
and the scattered papers, lies a Cassette tape. Centre
frame, it is picked from its place. We see a man, whose
identity is yet to be revealed, scribble upon it with a
pen. Finally, he places it into a Cassette player. “Just
the Unusual” is playfully scribbled on its front. As the
tape starts to play, we see a cross dissolve and can see
a coffee lid take its place.
CROSS FADE OUT:
OPEN FOR BUSINESS

EXT: Barber Shop – Morning

CROSS FADE IN:
The Coffee lid, which we previously transitioned to, is
being carried by our subject. We see his name on the side
of the cup, “Arlo”. Upbeat music begins to play. The
camera follows the rhythmic steps of some brightly
coloured sneakers, bounding along the pavement. The shoes
belong to none other than ARLO; as he crosses the road to
his barber shop. Rattling keys and an opening door lead
us into the building, following him up a winding
staircase into the room he calls his own. The room is an
unusual one, skateboards and prints line the walls, with
a plethora of colours assaulting the eyes of those who
gaze upon it. Its hipster atmosphere is matched only by
Arlo’s own attire. Another man burst through the door,
newspaper in hand. He tosses it to Arlo, who reads the
headline.
OTHER MAN
You seen this? Absolute joke if you ask
me. Bring back the bloody death penalty!
Arlo scoffs at this remark and continues setting up the
shop for a day’s work.
ARLO
Matteo, we’ve been over this. Don’t say
things like that when customers are
around, it’s bad for business!

2
 MATTEO
There aren’t any customers around.
Arlo rolls his eyes, and continues to set up.
We then cut to a montage of Arlo cutting hair, each
client has a unique style. This comes to a stop with one
customer walking out the door.
ARLO
Who’s next?
The camera then dollies over to a binder with ARLO’s
schedule in. And there, written in red ink at 11:15, was
a booking under the name ‘HUGH HUMPHREY’. We see the
clock tick to 11:15am, and Matteo swings his head around
the doorway.
MATTEO
Right on cue ladies and gentleman,
Hugh’s here for his appointment.
ARLO
Cheers Matt, bring him up!
Footsteps can be heard on the staircase, following a
precise and steady rhythm. Suddenly the same gentleman
from our opening comes into view, adorning a whimsically
yellow suit of the highest quality. He strides into the
room, carefully placing his briefcase by the sofa, before
shaking hands with Arlo.
HUGH
Good Morning Arlo, pleasure to see you!
His tone is polite and well mannered.
ARLO
Morning Hugh, just the usual?
Hugh nods and sits in the chair. Silence sets in. Hugh
sits blank faced as Arlo begins cutting.
ARLO
How was your weekend mate?

3
 HUGH
The same as ever, yours?
ARLO
Just the standard, went out with a few
mates, did some shopping, and cut some
hair.
HUGH
(jokingly)
You would almost think that’s your job?
They both chuckle
ARLO
Not like you to make jokes.
Silence sets in again. Arlo continue with the haircut,
until he breaks this silence.
ARLO
Any plans after this?
HUGH
Afraid not, straight home for me.
ARLO
I get ya, you live around the Ashgate
area, don’t you?
HUGH
I suppose, kind of.
ARLO
I seem to remember you mentioning it.
HUGH
Perhaps I did.
ARLO
Is it nice out that way?

4
 HUGH
You could say that, yes.
Silence resumes; Arlo looks visibly worn out by this
conversation. After some time, Arlo finishes up the
haircut.
ARLO
You’re all done mate, hope you like it!
HUGH
Satisfied as ever, thank you very much!
Hugh reaches into his pocket, pulling out a crisp £20
note that looks as though it had been ironed.
ARLO
Come on Hugh, we’ve been over this. The
price is £10.
HUGH
Please, I insist.
ARLO
I can’t, honestly…
HUGH
How about £15?
ARLO
I assume you’re not willing to budge…
HUGH
You know me too well Arlo!
Arlo takes the cash, and hands him back £5 change.
ARLO
See you next month mate, pleasure as
always!
HUGH
Good day!

5
He walks towards the exit, before passing Matteo on the
stairs. Here he hands him the £5 change he had just
received.
HUGH
Exceptional service as ever Matteo.
Don’t spend it all at once!
He chuckles to himself as he leaves the building. Matteo
proceeds up the stairs and flashes the note at Arlo.
MATTEO
Someone’s chipper this morning…
ARLO
For god sake, why does he insist on
giving us handouts, we’re not a bloody
charity!
MATTEO
He’s only being nice.
ARLO
Nobody’s that fucking nice!
MATTEO
Don’t be such a prick all your life
Arlo.
ARLO
Seriously though, he’s at it every time!
Where’d you reckon he gets all the money
from?
MATTEO
Leading the mafia of course, bold choice
of uniform mind you…
ARLO
Could be a spy now I think about it.

6
 MATTEO
Nonsense, spying don’t pay like it used
to…
ARLO
Suppose you’d know like.
MATTEO
What I do know is, he’s just a really
nice bloke with nothing to hide. Get off
his case mate!
ARLO
Do you not find it weird that I’ve been
cutting his hair for 3 years, and know
fuck all about him?
MATTEO
Yes, it’s a bit odd, but look at him!
Odd is as much as you need to know.
They are interrupted by another customer entering
ARLO
Just take a seat mate, I’ll be with you
in a moment.
TRANS OUT:
MISSED APPOINTMENT

INT: Barber Shop – Evening

“Almost a month later…”
Arlo appears to be closing up shop and conversing with
Matteo as he does so. Matteo is sat on the couch by the
door as Arlo hurriedly cleans hair from upon the floor.
MATTEO
I can’t actually believe it.

7
 ARLO
I’m telling you there’s something more
to this, things like this don’t just
happen!
MATTEO
Are you sure?
ARLO
I’m deadly certain.
MATTEO
(Concerned)
I think you’re overreacting…
ARLO
I don’t bloody think so!
MATTEO
It’s just a missed appointment for god
sake.
ARLO
(mockingly)
Yes. It’s just a missed appointment… do
you even hear yourself?
Matteo sighs and glances away.
MATTEO
You’re just overthinking it.
ARLO
(Shouting)
It’s more than just a missed fucking
appointment! He is, without a doubt, the
most punctual man I’ve ever met. He
doesn’t just miss fucking appointments!

8
 MATTEO
Look at you pulling out fancy words, how
do you swear so much and pull out words
like ‘punctual’? How old are you?
ARLO
I’m twenty fucking three, and yes, I do
need to fucking swear because you’re not
fucking listening to me!
MATTEO
(is now also shouting)
I am listening, but I won’t if you carry
on effing and blinding!
ARLO
(Calmer now)
It’s been three whole years that he’s
been my client. As far as I know, I know
him better than anyone and he’s barely
given me a scrap of personal
information.
Arlo walks over and picks up the book, in which they
write down any appointments made. He turns to the page
from the day before.
ARLO
(getting emotional)
He even made an appointment yesterday,
why would he call up if he wasn’t going
to be here?
MATTEO
You’ve seen the way he dresses, he’s
clearly quite important. Something
probably came up with work…
ARLO
You’ve seen how organised he is, he
wouldn’t just leave us wondering if he’s
gonna show.

9
 Both sit in a moment of silence.
MATTEO
Its closing time, you should head home
and get a good night’s rest.
ARLO
I guess so…
MATTEO
I’m sure he’ll be in touch tomorrow.
It’s not worth losing sleep over.
ARLO
(unsure)
Yeah…
MATTEO
See you tomorrow mate.
He walks out the room, without a reply. Arlo sits in the
corner with his head in his hand as the camera slowly
fades into the next scene.
CROSS DISOLVE OUT:
SOMETHING STRANGE

EXT: Barber Shop – Morning

The sun is beating down on the street below. We can see
Arlo, looking worn down and weary, approaching the shop.
Matteo is coming from the opposite direction. They
exchange a quick glance, before Arlo pulls out his keys
and opens up. Awkward silence follows as they walk
upstairs to the Barber room. Finally, Matteo speaks up.
MATTEO
Just wanna apologise for last night, I
understand you were just concerned and I
should’ve been calmer.
ARLO
Don’t sweat it.

10
 MATTEO
Your first appointment is in Thirty
minutes, try get this place cleaned up.
Might want to put some deodorant on and
have a coffee, you look like death and
fucking stink!
ARLO
(Sarcastically)
Yes, boss.
Matteo smirks before exiting the room. We see him breath
into his hand, to smell his own breath, and quickly
follows this with a sniff of his shirt and armpits. He
shrugs this off. The camera begins to follow Arlo in one
continuous shot as he cleans, and sets up shop. Suddenly,
he stops in the centre of the room, staring aimlessly. He
is clearly in thought.
OLD MAN
(concerned)
Something bothering you son?
Arlo appears to snap out of a trance.
ARLO
(Flustered)
Just lost in thought, take a seat!
They exchange a warm smile through the mirror. Arlo
begins to cut his hair in silence, until he asks the man
a question.
ARLO
You wouldn’t happen to know a man named
Hugh Humphrey, would you?
OLD MAN
Why no, what a ridiculous name!

11
 ARLO
(Saddened)
Yeah, it is kinda ridiculous isn’t it…
OLD MAN
Should I know him?
ARLO
He’s just a friend, I was expecting to
hear from him but I haven’t. It’ just
worried me is all.
OLD MAN
I’m sure you’ll hear from him in good
time.
The man is up and ready to pay Arlo.
ARLO
That’ll be £7 please, Sir.
OLD MAN
Here’s £10. Keep the change!
He lets out another comforting smile.
OLD MAN
I hope everything is okay with your
friend!
ARLO
Me too, me too…
We begin to focus on a clock above the door, the scene is
silent except for the rhythmic ticking and tocking of the
clock. With each tick, and each tock, we cut between the
clock (which jumps in large intervals) and the everyday
life of the barber. Suddenly Arlo is finishing up cutting
a younger gentleman’s hair, named DAVID.
DAVID
I’ve certainly never heard that name
before, but I tell you somethin’, I know

12
 a fella who matches that exact
description. He lives near my uncle on
Clifton Road, I seen him a few times
cutting his grass and doin’ other odd
bits.
ARLO
(in thought)
Clifton Road…
DAVID
How comes you don’t know yer own mates
address n’ that?
ARLO
Only know him from an old job.
DAVID
Couldn’t give an exact address, but it’s
a blummin’ lovely house mind you. Dunno
what job the lads workin’ but I wouldn’t
mind that pay check!
ARLO
Yes, well he’s a lovely man too.
DAVID
How much I owe ya then, pal?
ARLO
That ones on me. You’ve been a great
help!
DAVID
Yer a good ‘n, See ya round!
David exits. Arlo pulls out his phone, to begin typing
the rough address David had given. The blinking text
cursor transitions into some road markings.
TRANS OUT:

13
HUGH-E REVEAL

EXT: Hugh’s House - Night time

TRANS IN:
Suddenly, Arlo’s car drives over the road marking and his
handbrake is pulled. We enter a continuous shot.
Following Arlo from his car, up the path, to the front
door. The house was almost as unusual as the man who
owned it. Arlo knocks, or rather pounds, upon the front
door with decreasing patience. After a few rings of the
doorbell, we follow him round the side of the house.
Peaking through every window as he wanders the perimeter,
all he can see is the darkness of its many rooms. Arlo
spots light coming through a doorway. As he comes to the
side of the house, a gate stands between him and the
garden. Despite trying to unlatch it, he can’t get
inside. Dragging a wheelie bin to the gate, and then
using it to jump over, is Arlo’s chosen method. Finally,
he is in the garden. His eyes frantically dart around the
garden to check for onlookers. Arlo reaches into his
pocket and pulls out a hair pin, (a common method of
lockpick.) He begins trying to pick the lock to a set of
French doors. Suddenly, the lock hits the ground. The
continuous shot is now broken. Shock fills Arlo’s face as
he looks through the doorway. We see a shot from inside,
the silhouette of a man sitting on the sofa, and beyond
this we can see Arlo in the doorway. It is hard to make
out what has happened. Suddenly we get a mid-shot of the
event; Hugh Humphrey sits there, his eyes wide and
lifeless. A samurai sword of intricate design, protrudes
from his chest. It’s a clean cut, all the way through.
His trademark yellow suit is stained with blood. We flick
between Hugh’s sunken face, and the look of shock upon
Arlo’s. With each cut, we get closer in towards the pairs
face, focusing on the eyes. A low rumble can be heard,
steadily building, until it comes to a crescendo.
Suddenly the sound is replaced by the snapping of a Latex
glove against someone’s wrist…
JUMP CUT OUT:
CRIME SCENE

INT: Hugh’s House – Day Time

Blue latex gloves slap against the pale white wrists of
the Crime scene investigator. He stands in the middle of

14
the room, his crisp, clean, white shirt contrasting the
explosion of colour in the room. Post it notes indicate
evidence and tape cordons off the doorways. Police
officers are scattered around the room. The camera scans
the crime scene, before focusing on Arlo in the hallway.
Clearly destressed he is sat on the stairs as a woman
takes his statement. The conversation is muffled, and the
focus is pulled as we transition to a close up as the
Interviewer takes her final notes. As the focus returns,
the dialogue becomes clear again.
INTERVIEWER
That’ll be all for now. If we need to
talk with you again, we’ll be in touch.
You’ve had a rough night, go get some
rest.
Arlo sits centre frame, as the interviewer walks away. We
dolly towards Arlo slowly, and a long fade brings us into
the next scene.
CROSS FADE OUT:
WAITING GAME

INT: Arlo’s House – Day time

CROSS FADE IN:
Arlo is centre frame once again; he is now in bed staring
blankly at the ceiling. The camera is slowly spinning as
it looks down on him. He is dressed in baggy pyjamas that
are visibly worn. The doorbell rings. Arlo drags himself
out of bed and goes downstairs. Matteo is at the door.
MATTEO
Got you the newspaper mate, just thought
I’d pop round.
ARLO
Coffee?
We are now in the kitchen; Arlo places a filled mug in
front of Matteo.
MATTEO
I should’ve trusted your gut mate.

15
 ARLO
Don’t worry about it, they would’ve
found him one way or another.
Arlo is reading the newspaper.
MATTEO
Yeah, I know, but I can’t even begin to
imagine what it was like…
ARLO
I know it was-
MATTEO
(Interrupting)
Finding him there.
ARLO
You don’t-
MATTEO
(Interrupting again)
The lifeless look in his eyes.
ARLO
(shouting over him)
What the fuck are they on about?!
MATTEO
(confused)
Who?
ARLO
These stupid fucking reporters,
spreading their bullshit, lies and Fake
News! I know what I saw.
Arlo slams down the newspaper. “Local Artist Suicide.” Is
the headline.
TRANS OUT:

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