SOBER

BY EMILY JAMES, LOTTIE ARCHER,

WILL DOAN AND ERIN SULLIVAN.

INT- HUGO’S BEDROOM. MID MORNING

HUGO’S eyes slowly open, he quickly closes them again because of

the bright light. Hugo is wearing black jeans, a white polo shirt
and dirty white air forces with scruffy hair. LONG SHOT AERIAL.
Hugo tries to open his eyes again, after a few seconds of
attempts he succeeds and sits up, visibly in discomfort. His eyes
widen in realisation as he musters enough strength to run to the
bathroom. CAMERA PANS AS HE RUNS OF THE BED AND HOLDS FOCUS ON
THE DOORFRAME HUGO JUST RAN THROUGH. Sounds of his retching in
the toilet echo through the open door into the bedroom.

CAMERA CUTS TO HUGO’S PHONE ON HIS BEDSIDE TABLE, PULL FOCUS TO

THE PHONE SCREEN AS A TEXT TONE RINGS LOUDLY. Hugo groans loudly
and can be heard stomping through the room towards his phone his
looks at the message.

JAKE
(text message)
Yo bro last night was sick
meet us at the park

Hugo looks at the text message and sighs. Hugo trapeses to his
wardrobe and pulls out some clothes then shuts the door. CAMERA
PULLS INTO THE WARDROBE DOOR THEN CUTS TO A SHOT OF THE FRONT
DOOR WHICH THEN PULLS OUT. The door opens to reveal Hugo looking
tired and sore. Hugo is wearing a white t-shirt with blue jeans
and a coat.

EXT-THE STREET. EARLY AFTERNOON

CAMERA CUTS TO B-ROLL OF HUGO WALKING DOWN THE STREET.

Hugo enters the park and looks around. JAKE is sat on a bench on
his phone and doesn’t notice Hugo’s entrance. Hugo visibly sighs
and approaches Jake. CAMERA TRACKS HUGO AS HE APPROACHES JAKE.
Hugo sits down showing an obvious ache in his body. Jack laughs.

JAKE
Jeez man you look awful.
Doesn’t surprise me you were so fucked
last night.

Jakes laughs again and Hugo looks at him confused and scared.
Hugo starts to speak and stutters his words slightly.

HUGO
B-but I wasn’t drinking.

JAKE
Of course you were man, how else would
you have got that fucked.

Hugo looks to the floor slightly trying to think. Questioning

himself on what happened. For a moment he comes up blank, then a
memory that was locked away before came rushing back to him.
Followed by a sharp pain in the back on his head.

The party. The memory is distorted and saturated. The music is

muffled. Hugo stumbles through the crowds of people. He uses one
hand to push the bathroom door open, places his hands on the sink
and looks up at the mirror and begins to chuckle at the sight of
himself. CAMERA TRACKS HUGO FROM HIS SHOULDER.

CUTS BACK TO A LONG SHOT OF HUGO AND JAKE ON THE BENCH. Hugo’s
head is in his hands, he then slowly moves to massage the side of
his head with his fingers.

JAKE
Bro this is why you don’t get that
drunk first time around ahaha

Hugo begins to become stressed at Jake’s comment and loses

control.

HUGO
FOR FUCK SAKE JAKE I SAID I WASN’T
DRINKING!!

JAKE
(mockingly raises his hands in mercy.)
Woahh, chill out man.
(chuckles ignorantly)

Hugo looks away from Jake and into the distance trying to piece
together how he could have become that intoxicated. A worried
look grown on Hugo’s face.

HUGO
Jake, I think someone might have
put something in my drink.

Jake turns to look at Hugo and then begins to laugh.

JAKE
Ahaha c’mon man shit like that doesn’t happen
to people like us. Just admit you can’t
hold your alcohol and stop being a little bitch.

Jake continues laughing and stands from the bench. He taps Hugo
on the shoulder in an awkward, sort of trying to be friendly way.

JAKE
I got to go to work, you just…
sort your shit out.

Jake walks away from Hugo CAMERA PANS FROM HUGO TO JAKE LEAVING.
Jake can be heard chuckling to himself and shaking his head,
clearing not believing a single word Hugo said.
CAMERA PANS BACK TO HUGO. Hugo massages the sides of his head
with his fingers again as the pain is his head is causing more
visible pain.
Hugo groans in pain as another memory finds it’s way to the
surface.

AARON is seen entering frame in the right hand from the distance.
He calming sits beside Hugo with his hands resting on his knees
in anticipation.

AARON
(quietly)
Sooo, how you feelin?

HUGO
(chuckles slightly)
That bad huh.

Hugo says with the mutual understanding of knowledge from the

party. Hugo looks at Aaron, deciding whether he should confide in
him, whether Aaron would understand or believe him.

HUGO
(sighs)
The weirdest thing is… I wasn’t dinking.
At least I don’t think I was.

AARON
(looks at Hugo in confusion)
What do you mean?

HUGO
(slightly stumbling over his words)
Well… I don’t remember ever starting to drink.
I don’t even think I would because I really don’t
like it. The last thing I remember drinking is coke.

Aaron stares at Hugo for a moment, trying to figure out what to

say next. Aaron’s face changes from confusion to worry.

AARON
So, you think someone… spiked you?

HUGO
Well, I don’t know. I can’t remember much.
You don’t believe me, do you?

Aaron gives Hugo a warm smile and places his hand on Hugo’s
shoulder.

AARON
If you say that you didn’t drink, then
I believe you.

HUGO
 Thanks man, it means a lot to know
you believe me.

Aaron and Hugo sit for a moment enjoying each other’s company
when Aaron’s phone pings with a text message. Hugo jumps slightly
at the sound.

AARON
(sighs loudly and looks sad)
I’m so sorry but I have family dinner…
I can skip it if you want me to stay with you.

HUGO
(gives Aaron a warm smile)
No, I’m good don’t worry. Go be with
your family.

Aaron pauses and looks at Hugo for a moment before beginning to

walk away as he can see that Hugo is lying but Aaron leaves
because he doesn’t want to push him. CAMERA CHANGES TO A LONG
SHOT OVER HUGO’S SHOULDER OF AAARON WALKING AWAY.

AARON
(Turns back and shouts)
Call me if you need anything!

Hugo tries to give a reassuring smile, but it looks very fake,

too scared to say something with the fear of his voice braking
from the tears breaking through. Hugo gives Aaron a very awkward
thumbs up then looks down to the floor.

A moment later he looks up to see if Aaron is gone, once Hugo

sees Aaron is gone, he puts his head in his hands and begins to
cry. His breathing becomes heavy and his breath trembles as he
begins to panic.

As his panicked state worsens a memory pushes its way forward.

Hugo is broken away from his memory by PIPER gripping at his
shoulder worried. Hugo looks up at piper tears in his eyes still,
his breath beginning to calm. Hugo’s body is tense. Piper stares
at Hugo for a moment not knowing what to say, she sits down and
hugs Hugo lightly.

PIPER
It’s going to be okay.

Hugo pulls away from Piper, wipes his tears away and attempts to
compose himself. Piper can see right through is façade.

PIPER
I know what you’re going through. The confusion and the fear.

Hugo looks up at Piper with confusion and she gives him a warm
smile. Hugo tries to question the comment Piper made but stammers
his words as he is still slightly panicked.

PIPER
I could hear you talking to your friend.
Sorry for eavesdropping… I just figured you might want
to talk to someone who knows what you’re going through.

Hugo looks at Piper, he smiles warmly.

HUGO
Thank you.

Piper sighs, stands up and holds her arm out to help Hugo up.

PIPER
C’mon, lets get you out of the cold.
I’ll walk you home.

Hugo gets up and the two walk away.

CAMERA CUTS TO B-ROLL OF HUGO AND PIPER WALKING HOME.

Hugo and Piper can be seen walking towards Hugo’s front door
Piper waves goodbye and walks out of shot, Hugo stands there for
a second looking at his door while a worried look grows on his
face. Piper walks back into shot with a sympathetic smile and
places a hand on Hugo’s shoulder.

PIPER
Shall I stay for a bit?

HUGO
(smiles brightly)
That would be nice… thank you

CAMERA CUTS TO PIPER AND HUGO SITTING ON THE SOFA THAT HUGO WOKE
UP ON FRONT A CENTRALISED LONG SHOT. Hugo is nervously avoiding
looking at anything in the room in order to avoid triggering
anymore memories. Piper notices his nerves and tries to comfort
him.

PIPER
How are you feeling now?

HUGO
I would have preferred to stay outside but it’s not
as bad as I thought.

PIPER
Well, you can’t hide away forever.
Do you want to talk about it?
You don’t have to if you don’t want to though.

HUGO
Well, there isn’t much to say, I can’t remember much.
 It comes back in flashes sometimes but nothing of use.
I don’t even know if I believe myself. I mean I don’t remember
drinking and I don’t think I would have because I don’t drink.
The only thing I remember drinking is coke.

PIPER
Maybe walk me through the night and tell me what you do remember.

HUGO
(voice over while distorted shots of the party play)