Domestic Abuse Story Script

1. INT: Inside midrange apartment flat – Evening

Pitch black. We hear very muffled shouting and arguing. We

slowly fade to see the argument with it blurred and an ear
ringing sound effect over it. It slowly transitions to show
the argument, handheld camera to signify the rocky
relationship we’ve just entered. We see MARK, the man in this
relationship; and LUCY. The muffle on the conversation slowly
fades and we are able to hear everything clearly. The lighting
is aggressive and harsh.

MARK
(Shouting, voice breaking)
You heard me Lucy! Enough! I have had enough! I’m not
putting up with your shit anymore!

Lucy
(Furious)
MY SHIT?! MY SHIT? I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG TO YOU MARK!

LUCY swings her hand across to try and slap MARK, however
before the hand lands it cuts to black. Text appears on screen
displaying ‘One Year Earlier’. Fade to black.

2. INT: Pub/Bar – Evening

Fade into MARK drinking with his mates ALEX and BEN. MARK keep
staring at a girl at the bar, clearly interested in her.

BEN
(Egging him on & laughing)
Mate you’ve been staring at that girl all night, you’re
clearly into her you’re not making it subtle!

ALEX
(Agreeing)
Yeah Mark you haven’t kept your eyes of her, why don’t
you make a move before she leaves, try and get her number
or her snap or something.

MARK
(Unsure)
I don’t know guys, you never know what could happen in
these scenarios…

BEN
(Knowing what he’s doing)
Didn’t realise you were a pussy Mark…
MARK stares at them debating what to do, hating being teased
by his friends he ultimately decides to have the
confidence to speak to this girl.

MARK
(Reluctantly but with confidence)
Fine. You want me to make a move? Watch this fellas

He leaves the table with his chest out looking at BEN and ALEX
with confidence. BEN and ALEX lean over the table to get
a better look at what’s going on. MARK walks to the bar
and goes on the right side of this girl

MARK
Fun night out alone?

LUCY
All my friends have gone but, I guess I’m not ready to go
yet

MARK
Well, can I buy you a drink and keep your night going?

Lucy
(Opening up)
Yeah sure, why not?

MARK orders LUCY a drink and we hear some dialogue but it

slowly fades out and the ear ringing effect comes back.
As the ringing gets louder the title screen happens with
the title appearing and moving. When they reach a certain
distance/when the ear ring sound effect ends it cuts to
black with the title. Fade into text that says three
months later.

3. INT: Clothing Shop – Midday

MARK and LUCY are walking around a clothes shop, LUCY is

looking bored and angry, ready to go. MARK spots
something he visibly likes and picks it up

MARK
(Smiling)
That’s nice… Lucy I think I could look quite good in
that, what d’you think?

MARK holds up the shirt

LUCY
(Visibly disgusted)
Absolutely not, keep dreaming
 MARK
(Sadly)
Oh, um, okay

MARK looks hurt and slowly puts down the clothes. He brushes
of the remark, but is still visibly upset. They keep
walking through the shop

LUCY
(Frustrated)
Fuck sake when are we gonna leave? We’ve been here for
about an hour now and you haven’t even picked up
anything

MARK
(Timidly)
Well I mean you’re the one who wanted to come with me

LUCY
Oh okay so it’s all my fault again? Classic.

MARK
No that’s not what I’m saying I just, um, why don’t you
go find somewhere for us to have lunch and then I’ll
finish up here

LUCY
No, it’s fine Mark, I’ll stay with you, I gotta make sure
you don’t buy anything like that

MARK
(Reluctantly)
Alright then

MARK and LUCY keep shopping, they walk past a pillar which
masks into a transition

4. INT: Pub/Bar – Evening

We open on a pub/bar. ALEX, BEN, and MARK are sat at a

table/bar. They have drinks on the table and there are other
people in the pub. BEN is in the middle of telling a story,
MARK and ALEX are looking at him with full intrigue

BEN
So then this other guy also asks for the work router
right? I asked about two hours before him and it was
radio silence, this other guy asks and the router gets
posted immediately by our manager! It’s unbelievable, I’m
convinced he just hates me
 ALEX
Man, I gotta get a job soon

BEN
(Jokingly & Laughing)
Yeah okay mate, good luck with that!

BEN and MARK chuckle to themselves and BEN takes a sip of his
drink

BEN
What about you Mark? How’s things with Lucy going?

ALEX
If you say they’re going good you gotta thank us
essentially, if it weren’t for us you wouldn’t have gone
up and spoken to her

MARK takes a sip of his drink and looks at the table

awkwardly, almost unsure what to say

MARK
(Overly positive)
Yeah mate it’s been good!

MARK awkwardly ends his sentence there and doesn’t elaborate.

He takes another sip of his drink and BEN and ALEX stare at
each other in confusion

BEN
(Laughing)
What, is that it? Just, good?

MARK
(Awkwardly laughing)
Uh, yeah, I’m not too sure what else there is to say
about I mean, yeah it’s uh... its good yeah

ALEX
Well, I gotta say it sounds thrilling

BEN and ALEX laugh but MARK chuckles awkwardly and takes a sip
of his drink again. Fade into next scene with three months
later text.

5. EXT: HIGH STREET – EVENING

MARK is walking down the high street walking back home. Camera
is a long shot from the back and pans around MARK until it
reaches the front of him. He turns to his apartment block and
walks up the stairs. The camera is handheld to show movement
and life. MARK walks up to the door and enters.
 6. INT: APARTMENT LOBBY – EVENING

MARK enters in the lobby and goes towards the lift and enters

7. INT: MARK AND LUCYS FLAT – EVENING

MARK enters through the front door of his flat, he sees in the
kitchen there are a few dirty dishes. He goes over and clears
them up. He walks upstairs to his and LUCY’S room.

8. INT: MARK AND LUCY’S BEDROOM – EVENING

MARK sits on the side of his and LUCY’S bed, LUCY is fast
asleep. MARK stays sat on the edge of the bed looking confused
and conflicted

9. INT: MARK AND LUCYS KITCHEN – Morning

MARK turns the corner from the stairs and walks into the
kitchen. He sees LUCY finishing eating breakfast.

MARK
Morning

LUCY
(Coldly)
Morning

MARK
Are you okay?

LUCY
Fine.

MARK
Hey look, um, small thing but I had to clean up all the
dishes you left last night so do you think you could um,
do them next time?

LUCY
What do you mean Mark? I put them all away in the
dishwasher last night

MARK
What? No you didn’t I did, I swear I did

LUCY
Mark stop fucking lying okay? I put them away, I can even
tell you the exact order I put them in. Two big plates,
one small one and a bowl
LUCY flings open the dishwasher and all the plates are in the
exact order she described, which is not in the same order as
how MARK laid them out last night.

MARK
What? No that’s not right I can swear I did them

LUCY
Well you clearly didn’t Mark! Look you’re probably
thinking like this because you got in so fucking late
last night.

LUCY storms past MARK and heads towards the door. She shoulder
barges MARK on the way out

LUCY
I gotta go before I say something I’m gonna regret… For
fucks sake Mark. Stop trying to gaslight me

MARK collapses and falls into a chair looking defeated and sad
& conflicted. Fade to black. Text ‘Three months later’

10. INT: Pub/Bar – Midday

MARK, ALEX, and BEN are all sat at the table again. MARK is
fully zoned out and ALEX and BEN are chatting. Everything is
muffled and we hear the ear ringing effect again

BEN
Mark?

The ringing and muffle cuts out and Mark quickly looks up at
BEN

MARK
Huh?

BEN
Are you alright mate?

ALEX
Yeah I mean, you’ve been off colour for… well I gotta say
man, a few months now

MARK
Uh, yeah, I mean, I guess Lucy and I are aren’t great at
the moment so that might be it

BEN
How bad has it been with you two? You’re looking like
death I can’t lie
MARK looks awkwardly at the table
MARK
Well, um, y’know I’m sure it’ll pass over soon. Just uh,
a phase I guess

BEN
Okay well, look just be careful mate

ALEX
Yeah man I don’t want you getting too upset or anything

MARK
It’s fine guys!

ALEX and BEN fall silent. MARK realises what he’s done and
quickly speaks again

MARK
(Apologetic)
I’m sorry lads. Look it is fine, well, it’s not but,
it’ll pass over like I said, I’m sure it will.

11. EXT. OUTSIDE MARK AND LUCYS HOUSE/FLAT - EVENING

MARK is walking to the front door of his and LUCY’S house. The
camera follows MARK from behind as he approaches the house.
However, it does not move around the front of him like it did
before. Shows that it’s more lifeless.

12. INT. MARK AND LUCYS HOUSE/FLAT – EVENING

MARK walks through the door and into the hallway, LUCY is
standing there waiting for him

LUCY
(Furious)
What time do you call this?

MARK
(Confused)
L-Lucy? W-W-What are you still doing up I thought
you went to bed

LUCY
ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTION MARK! WHAT TIME IS THIS? I
TOLD YOU TO BE BACK BY 11 AND ITS 1 IN THE FUCKING
MORNING

MARK
What? Lucy w-w-w-what are you talking about? Y-y-you
didn’t say anything about a time
 LUCY
Don’t play dumb with me Mark I’m not having it tonight
you STUPID MAN!

MARK
Lucy I swear to you I-I-I-I swear to you I have no
recollection of you mentioning me being back at a certain
time I promise!

LUCY
Oh yeah because your memories worked so well in the past
hasn’t it?! You can sleep on the sofa tonight. You’ve
been nothing but useless these last months.

LUCY storms past MARK towards the stairs and walks up them
without saying a word. MARK looks miserable and defeated yet
again, and lies down on the sofa. Fade to black and text
‘Three months later’

13. MEMORY FLASH

We get a compilation of everything that’s happened so far. The

clothing shop, the dishes incident, being late home, the words
‘MARK’ and ‘Useless’ are repeated over and over. MARK is said
repeatedly until it merges into BENS voice. The memory flash
ends and zooms out from MARKS eye

14. INT: PUB/BAR – MIDDAY

BEN
MARK!

MARK
(Panicky and sadly)
I can’t do it…

BEN
(Intrigue and confusion)
What?

MARK
I think I’m in an abusive relationship. Lucy and I. I’ve only
just realised a-a-and I can’t do it Ben I can’t.

BEN
Jesus Christ… is that why you’ve been looking like shit
for like, the last year now?

MARK
I think so, I gotta get out. I gotta leave

BEN
 Okay well, look, go home, pack a bag, preferably without
her knowing

MARK
I can’t Ben, she’ll see, she’ll know s-s-somehow

BEN
It’ll be okay man, I’ll go home so when you leave you can
come straight to my place and live there until we figure
out your next move

MARK
Okay… okay…

15. INT: MARK AND LUCYS BEDROOM – MIDDAY

MARK is packing a suitcase quickly and panicky, he’s desperate

to get out. He zips it up and runs down the stairs and is in
the hallway. He is about to open the door when LUCY stops him

16. INT: MARK AND LUCYS HALLWAY - MIDDAY

LUCY
Mark. What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Suitcase?

MARK
I’ve had enough Lucy, I can’t do this. I’m leaving now,
and you’re not stopping me

LUCY
(Furious)
WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?

MARK
You heard me Lucy! Enough! I have had enough! I’m not
putting up with your shit anymore!

LUCY
MY SHIT? MY SHIT? I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG TO YOU MARK!

LUCY swings her hand across and slaps MARK on the face, MARK
falls into the door and screams in pain

MARK
(Crying)
NOTHING TO ME? LOOK AT YOURSELF LOOK AT WHAT YOU’VE DONE

MARK scrambles for the door handle and flings it open. He

sprints out the door and leaves LUCY in the house. Ear ringing
sound effect plays as he’s running away, cuts off when he gets
a good distance away from the house, when ear ring stops cut
to black with the title screen again.
THE END