Original Script (Monachopsis [Working title])

(through pained breaths) Jesus Christ, what is that, broken ribs?! Ow... Ah, bloody hell!

TREY - Hey, Dave.

(SFX: DAVID takes the seat JUNE was sitting in, Trey's breathing and heartrate returns to normal)

DAVID - Wow, you haven't called me that in a long time. Uh, yeah, um... Do I look how you remember me...?

TREY - (as he examines DAVID) You're, uh... bigger than I remember, like outwards... (DAVID snorts with laughter) Don't remember you having such a great beard.

DAVID - Dude, it took me years to grow this...!

TREY - I like the glasses.

DAVID - Yeah, well, had to get them a few years ago, not sure if you remember. (after no response) I.T. job strained me. Work from home now.

TREY - Oh, you work-OK, that makes sense.

DAVID - What do you remember me doing?

TREY - University, I think. (in confusion) I think....??

DAVID - Yeah, I did. Nearly dropped out, remember?

TREY - Oh yeah, I thought you did drop out?

DAVID - I almost stayed home after Christmas, but no, went straight back and finished that last part of the year. (with concern) Is that the closest date you remember? 'Cause that was about a decade ago. You might have dreamt it?

TREY - Maybe...

DAVID - I should tell you what's different about you while you think. Despite all the cuts and such, you actually look healthier than when I last saw you before last weekend.

TREY - Really?

DAVID - Yeah.

(TREY makes a short, confused 'hmm' noise)

((SPOILER TERRITORY WARNING))

CHRISTINA - (incredulous) You're willing to risk a planetful of people just because you don't want to die?

TREY - (Getting more scared by the minute) Yes! This isn't home-home but I like it here, I'm still alive!

CHRISTINA - Only for another week at most, before they sort some giant catastrophe to wipe out this timeline.

TREY - I want to enjoy life while I still have it, if I was meant to lose it!

CHRISTINA - Seriously, you're that selfish??

TREY - What'll happen to our world if we don't go back?

CHRISTINA - That's being affected too, I've been told.

TREY - Fine, I'm not going back.

~~~~~~~~~~
DEATH - Your choice?

TREY - I can't.

(SFX: CHRISTINA lets out a scared, frustrated sigh and storms off)

TREY - Where are you going??

CHRISTINA - Home! Why did I agree to marry you??

TREY - Christie?? Won't she be dead by the time I get there?

DEATH - No. It will wait, once you begin passing through.

TREY - I don't see why I should.

DEATH - I understood you humans made 'home' wherever your heart lies. Is she not where it lies?

TREY - (trying to hold back emotions) So?

DEATH - So are you really that selfish to leave her to die alone and afraid?

(TREY's breathing quickens in panic)

DAVID - What do you remember me doing? (He means in terms of job or education)

TREY - University, I think. (in confusion) I think....??

DAVID - Yeah, I did. Nearly dropped out, remember?

TREY - Oh yeah, I thought you did drop out?

DAVID - I almost stayed home after Christmas, but no, went straight back and finished that last part of the year. (with concern) Is that the closest date you remember? 'Cause that was about a decade ago. You might have dreamt it?

TREY - Maybe...

DAVID - I should tell you what's different about you while you think. Despite all the cuts and such, you actually look healthier than when I last saw you before last weekend.

DAVID - Maybe if I tell you some of my favourite memories from the last few years?

TREY - OK, worth a try.

DAVID - OK, so, Samba, our puppy? Little chocolate lab?

TREY - (no recognition of the name) Yeah?

DAVID - Umm... (he ends up struggling not to laugh as he tells the story) First thing that comes to mind is that one year where we had the massive snowfall all over the country, think it was like 2010, in January and everything was cancelled except for walkies. She was like, 4, so she was getting bigger and stronger than she already was. You'd managed to put the lead on her and as soon as the door was open she just bounded outside into the depths and you just went flat on your face. You managed to get up enough that you didn't scrape said dorky face and she just kept going...! Once you got onto the pavement and grabbed onto next door's fence you managed to call her back, and then all she did was roll in the snow and dig it back at you so you ended up being cold on the inside and outside of your coat...! Any-Any of this ringing a bell...?

DAVID - Home sweet home, ringing any bells?

TREY - Not yet.

DAVID - Give it a few days. So, as you can see, this is the living room, got all sorts of consoles, old and new, in that space under the telly. That's my computer in the corner, and we all shared the game shelf, even though Christina didn't really play anything outside of Wii games. Cate West, that sort of thing.

DR WILLIAMS - Welcome back to the land of the living, Mr Brickley, I was afraid I'd lost you at one point. How are you feeling?

TREY - (hoarse voice) Everything hurts.

DR WILLIAMS - Well, given your accident, I'm not surprised. Thankfully you were only unconscious for a few days. We think you were in a car accident, just judging from your injuries. (as he's watching TREY's reactions) Do you remember the accident?

TREY - No... No, I don't remember any accident.

DR WILLIAMS - Hmm. I should explore what memories you do have. Can you tell me the current Prime Ministers name?

TREY - Gordon Brown, I think?

DR WILLIAMS - (SFX: Pen scratches) Interesting, alright... Do you remember any royal weddings?

TREY - No, I don't think there have been any since I was born...

DR WILLIAMS - (with concern) Hmm. I suppose we'll have to allow you to wake up and explore your memories first, see if anything comes up. While that's happening, we have two police officers who have been checking where you and your sister were found, would you mind talking to them?

(quietly to the two officers while the NURSE gives TREY his drink) He appears to have some memories missing, he doesn't believe he has a sister amongst other things.

(Leaving a message on a phone answering machine) Good evening, Mr Brickley, it's Dr Williams. Your sister has, in the past hour, recovered from the coma at an amazing speed, and demanded to be let home. She may already be there if she's not still on her way. I wish you three the best of luck with your reunion. Have a good rest of your evening.

TYLER - Come in.

(SFX: They walk in and TYLER stands)

JUNE - Tyler Kopski?

TYLER - How do you do? Please, take a seat, can I interest you in any refreshments?

JUNE - (as SFX: they both sit) No thank you.

TYLER - What can I do for you?

RICHARD - Would you happen to have a record of when a driver was out on a certain date?

TYLER - Of course, all our cars are fitted with multiple GPS machines which record their route and times and so on. Sat-nav, smart watch, phone app, that sort of thing. Were you looking for one of my drivers in particular?

RICHARD - We were hoping to have a quick word with the one that was out on the night of Tuesday May 30th? Concerning those two teens that went missing.

TYLER - Let's see... (SFX: He mumbles to himself as he types into the computer) That would be our youngest, mr Reggie Slafer. Would you like me to call him in?

TYLER - Mhm. (SFX: he turns the screen around for her, which squeaks and rubs on the desk, RICHARD writes beside her as TYLER talks into the phone)
Hi, Reggie, nothing too urgent, if you're not serving a customer do you think you could pop into my office as soon as, please? ... Ah, good timing then, see you in a couple of minutes. No rush. (SFX: He hangs up) He was just pulling into the garage, got a flat tire.

I hope the rest of your investigation goes well.

((SPOILER TERRITORY WARNING))

The two missing Brickley kids, they were dead when we got here. Seems to have been dead a while, though how they got car crash injuries, I'm not sure. We'll leave that to the gents in the morgue to find out.

((SPOILER TERRITORY WARNING))

CHRISTINA - Hey, Trey, you look good.

TREY - Thanks?

CHRISTINA - You don't remember me, do you?

TREY - No, sorry. Apparently you're my sister.

CHRISTINA - That's only in this world. You're actually my fiancé.

TREY - This world?

CHRISTINA - We're not supposed to be here. He kept me alive enough in the coma to tell me all this. You'll want to sit down.

TREY - Who's he?

CHRISTINA - Now that I've started, we haven't got much time. Something happened in our world, a car crash of some sort-

TREY - Wait, no, sorry, who's he? God?

CHRISTINA - Death.

TREY - OK?

CHRISTINA - So, we were in a car crash. We were supposed to die. Something stopped us and we switched over with this world's versions of ourselves. We probably took the rest of their life forces to heal what damage we got, so they're probably dead.

TREY - OK.

CHRISTINA - We need to go back. We're breaking the world being here, things are changing and we're wrecking this timeline. More portals are opening. More innocent people are going to switch over and die in either this world or ours. We can only fix this by being the first living ones to go back.

TREY - Back to what?

CHRISTINA - The moment of the impact.

TREY - But we'd die. Why do you want to do that?

CHRISTINA - Because we have to. If we stay here it'll become too broken to function and Death's... 'bosses', effectively, would have to wipe it. Right now there's still time to fix it if we go back.

TREY - And you're OK with dying? If I'm your fiancé, we're not going to get married.

CHRISTINA - It has to be done.

TREY - You sound awfully calm for this situation.

CHRISTINA - I had all the time in the world to freak out in the coma. I've come to terms with it.

TREY - (incredulous) And you expect me to be OK when you just dump it on me??

CHRISTINA - No, but we haven't got time for you to adjust to it. You have to come with me through the portal when it opens.

TREY - Were we happy in our world? Because I don't remember any of it.

CHRISTINA - No, we weren't, but we were going to move away to another country.

TREY - So why can't we just be happy here?

CHRISTINA - They see us as siblings here, things would just get complicated.

TREY - So we'll make it private.

CHRISTINA - (~her turn to be incredulous~) You're willing to risk a planetful of people just because you don't want to die?

TREY - Yes! This isn't home-home but I like it here, I'm still alive!

CHRISTINA - Only for another week at most, before they sort some giant catastrophe to wipe out this timeline.

TREY - I want to enjoy life while I still have it, if I was meant to lose it!

CHRISTINA - Seriously, you're that selfish??

TREY - What'll happen to our world if we don't go back?

CHRISTINA - That's being affected too, I've been told.

TREY - Fine, I'm not going back.

CHRISTINA - Don't make me call him.

((SPOILER TERRITORY WARNING))

(SFX: CHRISTINA lets out a scared, frustrated sigh and storms off)

TREY - Where are you going??

CHRISTINA - Home! Why did I agree to marry you??

((SPOILER TERRITORY WARNING))

(CHRISTINA makes a noise as she wakes up)

TREY - Hey, sleepyhead. Nearly there.

CHRISTINA - Mhm... (with sudden panic) Stag!

JUNE - It's nice to meet you, Mr Brickley. I'm June Fauna and this is my partner, Richard Canarley. Would you mind if we asked you some questions?

TREY - (voice stronger) I'm not sure how much I'll be able to answer.

RICHARD - We can always come back later when you've had time to think.

(TREY makes a noise to show he's shrugging, June moves the chair closer to the bed, which squeaks on the floor)

JUNE - You're aware you've been in an accident of some sort?

TREY - Yeah, the Doctor said it was a car accident.

JUNE - If I may, you and your sister were missing for almost a week until you were found. Judging by your injuries it's a miracle you're alive. I don't suppose you could tell us if you remember anything leading up to the accident...?

(TREY takes another drink and sighs)

TREY - I don't have anything that makes sense... Do you have theories?

RICHARD - We were worried you may have been kidnapped, which is a theory I'm leaning towards given we found no sign of cars where you were found. Whoever had you must have put you through significant trauma to leave you as a partial amnesiac.

TREY - If they did then why would they let us go? Lack of witnesses?

JUNE - That's one way of looking at it. But neither of you should have lived either way, which is where we're stuck.

JUNE - Rich, sit down, you're making me nervous again.

(SFX: An irritated sigh and desk chair squeaking and rolling)

RICHARD - Sorry.

JUNE - What are you thinking?

RICHARD - Given all the clues we have, I can't make sense of it.

JUNE - OK, let's run through the clues again. Whiteboard.

JUNE - I'll certainly keep your theories in mind. At the moment I'm focusing on how they got there that night in the first place. We'll need to ask David if he knows whether they took a taxi to the start of the lane to the camp site, why they wouldn't have gone all the way down it.

RICHARD - Maybe they wanted to walk, if it was cheaper to not be driven all the way to the entrance. Maybe David took them there?

JUNE - Add it to the list. (SFX: RICHARD writing it on paper) That'll be my job first thing tomorrow, wouldn't want to wake him up at this hour.

RICHARD - You wanting to call it a night?

JUNE - I think at this point, I should. If you're going to do your research, you should get home.

RICHARD - (in agreement) Hmm. I'll see you tomorrow?

JUNE - Of course, have a good night.

RECEPTIONIST - Hello, how may I help you?

RICHARD - Hi, we had a meeting arranged with your boss, one... Tyler Kopski?

RECEPTIONIST - Oh, of course. He's on his lunch break, I'll let him know you're here. (SFX: She picks up a phone and dials)
The two officers are here. .... Yes sir, they're on their way.
(to the two officers as she hangs up) Through those doors, turn left, first door you come to.

CASHIER - Hi! What can I get you guys?

DAVID - Hi, a regular fish and chips for me... (calling out) What do you want, Trey?

TREY - Do you do burgers?

CASHIER - (calling out to TREY as well who is outside with their dog) We do, meat or vegetarian?

TREY - Meat, please! With chips!

CASHIER - Anything else, anything to drink?

TREY - No thanks.

DAVID - I'll take whatever fizzy's popular for today?

CASHIER - Of course!

(midway through a sentence when TREY wakes up) ... are good, that's a good sign-Oh, he's awake, an even better sign!

(Them = The police officers who want to talk to Trey, then asking if he wants a hot or cold drink.)

I'll bring them in when I come back with something. Hot or cold?

Your parents are here, shall I bring them in?

REGGIE - Hey, boss- (noticing the two officers) Am I in trouble?

RICHARD - (SFX: he stands and steps away) No, not at all, we just wanted to confirm a couple of things. Please, you can have my seat.

REGGIE - Thanks, what do you want to know?

RICHARD - You remember the two teens on Tuesday May 30th? (SFX: after a brief pause, small piece of paper rustles) These two?

REGGIE - Oh yeah, they went missing like right after.

RICHARD - I suppose we can confirm that you were the last person that saw them that night?

REGGIE - Yeah, I can't say I know what happened though, I dropped them off, got paid and came straight back here, they were my last customers that day.