FUTURE

Written by

Bintang Rasya Nurzain

Produced by The dream team

PKL SMECONNE FT SMENSA.Coppyright 2025

1 INT. Studio - . 1

Estabilish shot:Seorang pelukis tua di studio.

Sebuah tangan terlihat lemas kurus dan pucat.yang sedang memegang

kuas lukis rusak.

Pallet dan cat yang sudah kosong,membuat debu-debu

berterbangan dibawah cahaya.

Seorang pelukis tua duduk didepan kanvas lukisan yang masih

rumpang.diam tak bergerak didepan karya yang sedang dibuatnya.
diam,termenung.hampa suasana dalam sebuah ruangan tersebut.

Ada sesuatu yang sangat misterius tentang pelukis ini. Dia sudah
tua,berambut putih ,namun entah mengapa dia tetap menjadi seorang
seniman,entah berapa lama dia sudah berdiam diri di studio itu
sampai situasi disekelilingnya pun sudah tidak di pedulikan.

2 INT. Studio Pelukis -. 2

Karena banyak masaah yang dialaminya membuat pelukis itu
membuat idenya terhenti. Ditengah kesunyian ruangan dia melihat
sebuah pc.dia mendekati dan mencoba menyalakan pc itu.

Pc tersebut masih berfungsi dengan baik,setelah pc menyala dia

membuka software untuk membuat ulang lukisanya.

A loud RUMBLE from outside, a car pulling up. JEAN’s cat,

PEGGY, leaps off the record player, dashing up the stairs. A dusty
shard of light severs the room in two.

JEAN puts down the remote, moving towards the kitchen.

The SOUND of the car pulling away outside as JEAN reaches the
window. She stands there for a moment, before padding back to the
sofa. A familiar nasal bray engulfs the room.

CILLA BLACK
Let’s hear it for the lovely Mark, ladies
and gentlemen.
(studio applause)
But for now, come in the girls.
(studio applause)

Garish TV light ripples over JEAN’s face.

 2.

3 INT. JEAN’S BATHROOM, LATER. 3

Toxic chemicals trickle down the plughole. JEAN kneels over the
bath, rinsing her hair. Reaching for a towel, she rubs dry newly
white hair, stands and flicks off the light.

4 INT. JEAN’S CAR - DAY. 4

Low winter sun filters through threadbare trees as JEAN’s Renault

traverses the outskirts of the city. A set of NEWCASTLE FC dice
swing from the rearview mirror. In the
distance, a line of industrial buildings pollute the air with a thick black
fug.

BBC RADIO NEWS

NHS workers are staging their first strike
in more than thirty years today. Staff
including midwives, nurses, ambulance
crews, porters and office workers are all
taking part in the strike over wages.
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
condemns the strike saying it will
prolong wait lists and desert patients.

JEAN lights a cigarette and winds down the window.

5 INT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY. 5

JEAN strides through labyrinthine school halls with purpose, a

cassette player under one arm. Shrill voices waft down the drab
corridor.

CHORUS (O.C.)
Give me courage when the world is
rough, Keep me loving though the
world is tough; Leap and sing in all I
do...

HELEN [40s - blonde and svelte] stands on a step ladder creating a

display of Sub-Saharan masks. She smiles as JEAN passes. JEAN
smiles back but it’s guarded, rehearsed even.

A feral, freckled redhead appears, stuffing a sheet of paper excitedly

into JEAN’s hands. SIOBHAN [15] appears older than her years,
brooding with a sort of sultry sexuality. A gold crucifix glints over the
collar of her shirt.

On JEAN, a different smile here, genuine and gently goading.

 3.
2.

SIOBHAN
What?

JEAN offers her a moment to fess up, displaying her unique ability
to remain aloof, yet humane in the same moment.

JEAN
I could forge your nan’s signature
better than this Siobhan.

SIOBHAN
But--

JEAN
Want me to call her?

SIOBHAN
No. Don’t.

JEAN eyes on SIOBHAN as she weighs up how much to divulge,

then thinks better of it. Silence. Then--

JEAN
If there’s a problem at home, you can
tell me you know.
(beat)
Can’t have me star player missing
any more matches, can I?

High praise indeed. SIOBHAN melts.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Anyhow, shouldn’t you’s be in
assembly?

SIOBHAN flashes a naughty grin and disappears just as PAULA [50s -

buxom, no-nonsense] pushes past JEAN into the office.

PAULA
You and your bloody fan club!

JEAN smiles awkwardly as she follows PAULA into the office.

6 INT. SPORTS HALL - DAY. 6

TEENAGE GIRLS, all talking over each other. A whistle between JEAN’s
teeth. Staccato bursts.

JEAN
There’ll be plenty of time to
 4.
2.
gossip at break time.
 5.
2.

JEAN has the air of a team captain rather than an

authoritarian. As such she is listened to.

The U16 netball team swarm into frame. But we’re fixed on JEAN,
never acknowledging the girls in much detail.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Would you like to take the class
yourself, Carol?

Collective sniggers fade to silence.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Right... Can anyone tell me what
“fight or flight” means?

A sea of blank faces.

JEAN (CONT'D)
I’m not just talking about netball. Fight
or flight... Any ideas?

No response. Except CAROL RIDLEY [15] miming a blozza behind

MINDY SINGH [15] a gauche, bespectacled girl with prolific eyebrows.
JEAN sighs.

JEAN (CONT'D)
You can see me after, okay Carol?

JEAN bites down on the end of her biro, thinks for a second, then,
without warning, lobs the ball out from under her arm towards the
group. SIOBHAN catches it.

JEAN (CONT'D)
There you see. Instincts. I’m
talking about instincts.

SIOBHAN tries unsuccessfully to hide her satisfaction.

JEAN (CONT'D)
The body responds far quicker than the
brain.
(beat)
In the case of sudden danger,
hormones rush through our bodies
prompting us to stay and fight or run
away and flee--

CUT ABRUPTLY TO:

 6.
2.

7 INT. CHANGING ROOMS - DAY. 7

GIRLS in various states of undress apply makeup in the mirror.

JILL, CHAR and ANOTHER GIRL [all 15] are taking things at a
particularly leisurely pace. JEAN strides in holding a clip-board,
keeping her eye-line vague.

JEAN
This is not a beauty parlour. Get
cracking please ladies.

CAROL
(under her breath)
How would you know what a beauty
parlour looks like?

O/C giggles.

JEAN
We were all young and dumb once,
you know Carol.

Laughter. Touché.

JEAN (CONT'D)
You did a good job out there Rachel, if
you carry on like that you’ll be able to
take on the sixth formers by the end of
term.

RACHEL, 15, smiling, coy. SIOBHAN glancing over, a hint of

jealousy peeking through.

8 INT. SHOWERS - CONTINUOUS - DAY. 8

JEAN claps her hands as she passes by the showers, never

stopping to linger.

JEAN
You’s should be dressed by now,
come along ladies.

CAROL (O.C.)
Ewww Miss. What are you looking at?
Get out ya perve!

Unperturbed, JEAN tosses a towel in their direction.

An old fashioned SCHOOL BELL rattles through the corridors.

THUNDEROUS footsteps as students decamp for lunch.
 7.
2.

9 INT. DINING ROOM - DAY. 9

JEAN sits alone at a table. A group of TEACHERS chat

animatedly behind her. Rain lashes down on the windows,
giving the impression her reflection is melting.

MRS LEA (O.C.)

Martin’s got me on this new diet, have
you heard of it? It’s called SlimFast.
Just pour one of these into a pint of
milk, one in the morning, one at night.
Martin says I’ll be wasting away by
Easter!

Raucous laughter from the group.

JEAN catches eyes with SIOBHAN, JILL and CHAR, who’re sitting at a
nearby table, mimicking the teachers’ reactions so only they can see.
The GIRLS laugh, grateful to be in on the joke.

10 OMITTED 10

11 INT. PE DEPARTMENT OFFICE - DAY. 11

In the phone booth, JEAN leafs through an address book.

At the window nearby, DAVE [50s - vampiric, booze addled] and

MICHELLE [20s - a spirited brunette from Derby] are watching
something at the window, chatting in hushed tones. Even from afar, it
reeks of gossip. JEAN stands, moving towards the window.

Outside in the playground, a TEENAGE GIRL glides into focus. She’s

playing football with a group of BOYS. This is LOIS JACKSON, 15.
There’s a contrariness to her spirit, apparent even on first sight. Bold
and untamed, but at the same time vulnerable and somewhat
incomplete.

JEAN follows her across the tarmac, quietly mesmerised. LOIS has an
ease in her own body. And she’s fast. Easily out- running the boys.

DAVE
It’s a waste, in’t it?

MICHELLE
Why’s that?

DAVE
She won’t be needing that footwork on
the netball court, will she?
 8.
2.

JEAN
You could always sign her up.

DAVE
And you’ll take the boys for
netball too will you?

JEAN
I don’t see why not.

MICHELLE beams in agreement. But JEAN’s already heading out the

door, leaving a disgruntled DAVE in the office.

12 EXT. SCHOOL CAR PARK - DUSK. 12

JEAN throws a duffle bag into the boot of her car. A few
metres away, LOIS emerges from the school entrance, closely
followed by a gang of BOYS. They appear to be making fun of her.
MICHELLE appears behind JEAN--

MICHELLE
Fancy a pint? Few of us are heading
down The Lodge.

But JEAN is watching LOIS.

JEAN
Sorry? -- Oh I can’t. I’m minding my
nephew tonight.

MICHELLE
Friday night? Hope they’re paying ya!

JEAN smiles vaguely, looking back to where LOIS was. But she’s
gone. A flicker of disappointment.

13 INT. JEAN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT. 13

JEAN’s wiry, half-naked frame on the bed, pulling on a pair of well

loved 501’s. She stands, reaching into a wardrobe organised with
military precision. School on the right.
Denims in the middle. The barely worn remnants of another life on
the left. A portable radio crackles beside her bed.

RADIO VOICE OF IAN MCKELLEN (O.S.)

Mr Worsthorne actually thinks a book
can turn someone into a
homosexual… I don’t believe that
anymore than a book could have
 9.
2.
turned me into a heterosexual!
 10
2.

JEAN smiles and reaches for a thin silver chain, fastening it around her
neck.

PEREGUINE WORSTHORNE (O.S.)

I regard homosexuality as being a great
misfortune, the less frequent it is in any
society, the better.
It shouldn’t be something that anybody
should be allowed to encourage, or
promote, certainly not any schools that
are funded by local authorities that
people have to go to by law!

JEAN pulls on a jacket, checking herself in the mirror.

14 EXT. VENUS BAR - LATER THAT NIGHT. 14

JEAN stops at the entrance to a dive bar, checking both ways before
heading in.

15 INT. VENUS BAR - NIGHT. 15

We follow JEAN down some stairs and into a dimly lit bat-cave teeming
with dykes, cigarette smoke and booze. At the bar, JEAN greets ACE
[20s - handsome] and ACE’s girlfriend DEBBIE [30s - warm, leather
clad].

Then another WOMAN appears handing JEAN a beer, kissing her on

the mouth. This is VIVIAN HIGHTON [30s - hard on the outside, soft in
the middle, like a Tunnock's Tea Cake] JEAN whispers something in
her ear and they laugh.

16 INT. VENUS - LATER. 16

Four shot glasses snatched off a pool table. JEAN eyeing hers
suspiciously.

VIV
Aw, come on Baby Jean!

JEAN
Stop calling me that!

VIV
Suits ya.

VIV’s accent is more acute than JEAN’s, more working class. Flashing
her infectious smile, she pinches the soft, infant- like flesh of JEAN’s
cheek.
 11
2.

JEAN
[LAUGHS] Get off!

ACE
Down it or I’ll have it.

Outnumbered, JEAN holds her nose, grabs the shot glass and pours
the disgusting clear liquid down her throat. She winces. The others
laugh.

VIV
OK lightweight. Your shot.

JEAN places the glass on a window sill, wiping excess tequila from her
mouth, lining up her shot slowly. Tuning out drunken input from the
other three. BAM. She takes the shot. One ball
-- then a second -- then a third.

Three dumbstruck faces. JEAN, quietly smug.

VIV (CONT'D)
That’s my girl!

DEBBIE
[LAUGHING] OK, I’m bored.

ACE
Hey! It’s not over till the fat lady
sings.

DEBBIE
I’m the fat lady and I’m calling it.
Someone get me another drink.

VIV grabs JEAN for a celebratory snog. JEAN, deftly overriding her
own self-consciousness, kisses back. There’s an energy between
them which is hard to ignore.

ACE
Oh please. Get a room.

17 EXT. JEAN’S STREET - NIGHT. 17

An ordinary street of terraced houses. The SOUND of a dog barking

into the nothingness. The blinding flash of HEADLIGHTS. JEAN’s car
pulling up, followed by the ROAR of VIV’s MOTORBIKE.

Stepping out of her car, JEAN locks eyes with an elderly WOMAN
poking her nose against the window of the next door house. This is
ANNE [70s - haughty]. Somewhat shaken, JEAN heads inside.
 12.
10.

18 INT. HALLWAY > LIVING ROOM - NIGHT. 18

JEAN picks up a pair of abandoned shoes, placing them neatly on a

shoe rack. A white tail pokes out from underneath the sofa. JEAN
bends down coaxing out PEGGY, burying her face in soft white fur.

JEAN
Hey, hey. It’s OK.
(then)
I think your bike really gets to her
you know.

VIV
(closing the door)
It’s not my bike, it’s that dog. Does it
ever stop?

JEAN ignores this, heading to the kitchen.

19 INT. JEAN’S KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT. 19

JEAN sticks an invite for a child’s birthday on the fridge and sets
about making PEGGY’s dinner. SAY YOU by COLOURBOX suddenly
blasts through the house.

20 INT. JEAN’S LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT. 20

JEAN
(appearing at the door)
Can you turn that down?

VIV shushes her, handing over a glass of something neat and

brown. Swaying to the music, she slinks round behind JEAN,
pressing up against her back, daring her to join in.
Eventually JEAN softens, reaching an arm round to grab VIV’s neck,
moving her hips to the music.

VIV
There she is.

They stay like this for a moment, bound together, breathing each
other in. A spell only broken by the SOUND of the TELEPHONE. Before
JEAN has a chance to decide what to do, VIV reaches over and hangs
up the phone.

On JEAN, unnerved yet thrilled by this transgression.

JEAN
You’re bad.
 13.
10.

VIV
How
bad?
JEAN

Bad.

On VIV, smirking suggestively. That glint in her eye visibly thawing

Jean.

VIV chases JEAN up the stairs growling like a wild animal. They
collapse in a heap at the top, giggling like teenagers.

21 OMITTED 21

22 INT. JEAN’S BEDROOM - LATER. 22

JEAN and VIV post coital. Faces close but not touching.
Breath shallow and uneven. Shockwaves of pleasure pulsating through
their bodies. They hold each other like this for a while, kissing each
other intermittently. JEAN appearing lost in a peacefulness so big it
dazes her.

Then, out of nowhere, she rolls away, uneasy with the level of
intimacy.

She turns to flick on a cassette player by the bed.

VIV
Oh, please no. Not again.

JEAN
I need it.

VIV
You’re sick in the head, you know that
don’t you?

The machine whirs into life.

SLEEP AID CASSETTE (O.C.)

Choose a point out in front of you, and
allow your eyes to focus upon it. Now,
take a deep breath in, and as you let it
out, allow your eye lids to close.

VIV pretends to suffocate herself with a pillow. JEAN laughs.

 14.
10.

23 EXT. WHITLEY BAY, NORTH SHIELDS - DAWN. 23

The North Sea, as immense as it is black. SEAGULLS loom above the

swash, circling breakfast. An epicene figure appears, jogging along the
boardwalk. That hair ever distinctive against the mottled pink sky.

At a junction she slows, wiping away sweat with the back of her hand.
A peeling BILLBOARD reads - “IS THIS LABOUR’S IDEA OF A
COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION?” A textbook emblazoned with the words:
“YOUNG, GAY AND PROUD” -- “TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF
EDUCATION. VOTE CONSERVATIVE.” Remnants from the previous
year’s election.

JEAN disappears down an alleyway, past a row of neglected back

gardens, absorbed by the SOUNDS of a city waking up.

24 INT. JEAN’S BATHROOM - DAY. 24

The bathroom fogged with steam. JEAN engulfed by warm water.

24b
INT. JEAN’S KITCHEN - DAY. 24b

In a mint green towelling robe, JEAN eats from a bowl of cereal,

staring out of the window. The neighbour’s DOG is
pissing up against her car, leg cocked. JEAN observes with a curiously
even-tempered rage. ANNE appears at the window, beside an
inconspicuous ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ sticker. A beat as they lock
eyes.

25 OMITTED 25

26 EXT. SPORTS HALL - DAY. 26

Rain hammers down on the roof of the hall, gushing in

torrents from neglected guttering.

27 INT. SPORTS HALL - DAY. 27

Year ten BOYS and GIRLS filter into the hall. JEAN stands near the
entrance holding the register. MICHELLE is there too, organising
equipment.

JEAN
Abigail Dawson? Mindy Singh?

VARIOUS
 15.
10.
Here, Miss.
 16.
10.

JEAN
Lois Jackson?

Silence. JEAN cranes her neck amid titters from the class.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Anyone know where Lois is?

Blank expressions. Don’t know. Don’t care.

JEAN (CONT'D)
(making a note)
Right... Siobhan?

SIOBHAN
Here.

JEAN reaches into her pocket and pulls out the newly signed
permission slip, handing it to a confused SIOBHAN. As she opens it
her mouth twitches. Unequivocal pleasure.

LOIS appears in the doorway, unbrushed tendrils of dark hair

covering half her face. Something in her attitude appears a touch
rehearsed. But her attempted bravado isn’t enough to hide the
prickling in her cheeks.

JEAN
Lois?

She nods. All eyes on this alien creature. Studying.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Come on in. I’m Miss Newman. Have
you got your kit yet?

LOIS
No.

JEAN
Right, that’s OK. We’ll find you
something. Michelle--?

LOIS
Can I just watch?

SIOBHAN sniggers. Two of the BOYS gawp, eyes on stalks. LOIS

glares back at them.

JEAN
Something funny Mike?
 17.
10.

MIKE
[LAUGHING] Nah Miss.
 18.
10.

JEAN
Right then. Grow up.
(then, to LOIS)
OK, look. You can sit this one out. But in
future it’s not really optional, okay?

LOIS nods. By now the class are all whispering like excitable bunnies.
If she’s watching, I want to... etc.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Enough. Right. I need you in two
teams. Jimmy, get over here.

28 INT. SPORTSHALL - NOT LONG LATER. 28

BODIES charge across the hall. Two kids stand like goalies in the
middle. These are the BULLDOGS. It’s their job to catch the others
before they reach the other side.

Slowly tracking through this mass of bodies, we locate LOIS, sitting

on a bench, keenly observing JEAN as she does her thing on the
sideline beside MICHELLE.

MIKE slams into JILL who squeals.

MIKE
British Bulldog - one, two, three!

MICHELLE
That’s it Mike!

The game continues. Screams and yelps of delight and frustration

echoing round the room. JEAN turns her attention to LOIS.

JEAN
If you come by the office tomorrow I’ll
sort you out with some kit, alright?

She turns back to the game, then--

JEAN (CONT'D)
Have you thought about joining the
netball team?

LOIS shakes her head.

JEAN (CONT'D)
We’re midway through the season but
you could come along later and get a
feel for it if you like.
 19.
10.

Almost no reaction from LOIS. SIOBHAN looks over from across the
hall. Sensing competition. Then--

JEAN (CONT'D)
Have you played before?

LOIS
No.
(beat)
But I know you can’t run when
you’ve got the ball.

JEAN
(vaguely amused)
I reckon you’d be good at it you
know.

LOIS considers the offer.

LOIS
Thanks, but you’re alright.

A bell sounds and LOIS stands.

JEAN
Let me know if you change your
mind.

Half a nod as LOIS heads towards the door. JEAN watches her go.
Her expression one of genuine empathy.

29 INT. JEAN’S LIVING ROOM - LATER. 29

JEAN and VIV are eating pot noodles in front of the TV. A
couple of half drunk tinnies sit beside a brimming ashtray on the
coffee table.

JEAN is a careful eater, wrapping each mouthful slowly round her

fork, placing it purposefully into her mouth. VIV’s the opposite. Noisy.
Messy. Paper towels everywhere. After a particularly loud slurp, JEAN
turns.

VIV
What?
JEAN
Nothing.
VIV
No really, am I distracting you?
 20.
10.
JEAN
[LAUGHS] You’re just quite loud.
 21.
10.

VIV
Oh yeah? How loud?

JEAN
(playful)
Sounds like you’re snoring.

VIV
No it doesn’t! (JEAN
shrugs)
Come on. Show us what it’s like?

JEAN does an impression. It’s not flattering.

VIV (CONT'D)
[LAUGHS] Wow. Okay.

JEAN laughing, clearly enjoying mocking VIV in this way.

CILLA BLACK (O.S.)

In a moment we’ll find out how Anna
and Kevin enjoyed their blind date in
Denmark, and meet the man who has to
choose from one of these three lovely
girls!

VIV picks up the remote and flicks over to another channel.

JEAN
Hey!

VIV
We’re not watching that.

JEAN VIV (CONT'D)

Why? No way.

JEAN tries to snatch back the remote back but VIV waves it round
the air just out of reach.

VIV (CONT'D)
(in a sirup sweet voice)
Oh but Kevin, if you fall for me, I
promise to suck your cock every week
and never, ever, ever emasculate you in
front of your friends.

JEAN laughs begrudgingly.

 22.
10.

VIV (CONT'D)
You do realise they flood our tellies
with this ‘ere to distract us from what’s
really going on.

JEAN
Always the conspiracy theorist.

VIV
I’m telling you.

JEAN
Not everything’s political.

VIV
Of course it is.

A moment between them. VIV melting JEAN. Then JEAN puts her pot
noodle down and wraps herself around VIV, feeling her way up her
back to take off her bra. She wrestles with it for a second, smiling
awkwardly. VIV hoists herself up onto her knees and takes off her T
shirt. A moment with them there, breathing each other in.

Then -- THE DOORBELL.

JEAN
Who’s that?

VIV
How would I know?

The door goes again.

JEAN
Okay, hang on.

JEAN padding over to the door, peering through the peep hole. On the
porch are SASHA [30] blonde and wholesome and a little boy in
striped pyjamas, SAMMY [5].

JEAN (CONT'D)
[SOTTO] Shit.

JEAN fumbling. BLIND PANIC.

VIV
Hey! Calm down. It’s okay.

SASHA (O.C.)
Jean? Are you there?
 23.
10.

VIV
What’s going on??
 24.
10.

JEAN
It’s my sister. Can you just--

On VIV, swallowing this, T-shirt landing on her face.

JEAN (O.C.) (CONT'D)

One sec!

30 INT. JEAN’S HALLWAY - NIGHT. 30

JEAN opens the door.

SASHA
Sorry Jeany, I tried ringing but- Tim’s
mum’s been taken to hospital. They
think she might have had a stroke.
Could you watch Sammy? I don’t think it
would be--

JEAN
Course, yeah - that’s fine.

SASHA
Really? -- Thank you so much,
you’re a star.

JEAN
We’ll be okay won’t we Sammy?

Nothing.

SASHA
Don’t go all shy on us. Say hallo to
Aunty Jean.

Nothing...

JEAN
Maybe I’ll let you watch a bit of telly
before bed...

A microscopic change of expression from SAMMY.

SASHA
Thank you, thank you.

31 INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT. 31

VIV pulling on her t-shirt as SAMMY bounds up onto the sofa, the
 25.
10.
mood now shattered.
 26.
10.

JEAN
[SOTTO] His gran’s just been rushed to
hospital. They didn’t want to take him--

SAMMY
(cutting her off)
Who’s that?

JEAN
That’s my friend Viv. Viv, Sammy.

SAMMY
Oh.
VIV
Hiya.
JEAN
You can watch telly for five minutes,
okay? Then I’ll take you up to bed.

SAMMY leaps onto the sofa, grabbing the TV remote.

32 INT. KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER. 32

VIV tossing pot noodle remains in the bin. JEAN appearing behind.

Sorry.
JEAN

VIV
(light)
Friend is it?

JEAN
(a beat, then)
He’s five.

VIV
And?

JEAN
Don’t.

VIV
(still playful)
Don’t what?
 27.
10.

JEAN
Don’t tell me how to be with my own
family.

A loaded beat.

VIV
Okay.
(then)
I’ll call you tomorrow then.

JEAN
Okay.

VIV goes to kiss JEAN, but ends up planting a half kiss on her
cheek. It’s awkward and both of them feel it.

VIV
Enjoy your cartoons.

JEAN, picks at the wood around the fridge as VIV makes her way
outside. It splinters onto the floor.

JEAN winces as VIV’s motorbike ROARS into life.

33 INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT. 33

On the sofa, SAMMY picks his nose with intense focus.

FEMALE CONTESTANT (O.S.)

Well Jason, this date sounds a bit fishy
to me, but if you pick me tonight, the
only question you’ll be asking is, “Is it
your plaice or mine?” [nasal canned
laughter]

SAMMY cocks his head, confused.

JEAN (O.C.)
Come on then Sammy. Bath time.

SAM
It’s not finished!

JEAN
I don’t care.

SAMMY shakes his head solemnly.

JEAN (CONT'D)
 28.
10.
(switching off the TV)
Come on.
 29.
10.

SAMMY gets up without a word, head hanging.

34 INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT. 34

SAMMY in the bath now, playing solemnly with a toy airplane. JEAN
sits next to him on the bathmat, PEGGY pawing at the carpet by her
feet.

All of a sudden, SAMMY starts rocking back and forth with his entire
body, sending a tidal wave over the sides of the bath and onto the
carpet.

JEAN
Hey! Stop that!

SAMMY doesn’t listen. Huge, lapping waves slosh over the side,
soaking JEAN, scaring off PEGGY.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Stop it!

JEAN jumps to her feet, grabbing SAMMY roughly, lifting him clear of
the water. A beat between them, steely stubbornness on both sides.
Then JEAN softens, checking herself.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Hey, it’s okay.
(she hugs him tight)
Let’s go read a story.

SAMMY lets his body go floppy, dropping the plane which PLOPS into
the bath with a splash.

Sitting him down on the toilet seat, JEAN dries SAMMY’s hair with a
towel and helps him with his pyjamas.

JEAN (CONT'D)
(gentle, with feeling)
I’m sorry Sammy. I should’na at yelled
ya.

SAMMY doesn’t respond.

35 OMITTED 35

36 OMITTED 36

37 OMITTED 37
 30.
10.

38 INT. JEAN’S UTILITY ROOM - DAY. 38

JEAN washes SAMMY’s pyjamas in the sink. Wringing them out she
hangs them up on the line.

JEAN lights a cigarette, leaning back against the counter. The

SOUND of VIV’s motorbike rips through the house. JEAN watches
from the window as she dismounts.

39 INT. JEAN’S HALLWAY - DAY. 39

JEAN opens her front door, revealing VIV.

VIV
Hi.
JEAN
Hi.

JEAN takes a drag of her cigarette. VIV peers into the house.

JEAN (CONT'D)
What?

VIV
Just checking you’re not on nanny
duty today.

JEAN
Sasha picked him up this morning.

There is a slackening as they stand there, looking at each other. A

fondness returning. An unspoken apology.

40 INT. CHIPPY - DAY. 40

JEAN and VIV sit opposite each other, hungrily devouring a plate of
chips. It’s quiet in here. They are the only
customers. The OWNER sits on a table not far away smoking a
cigarette. Music from the radio transitions into a news bulletin.

NEWS REPORTER (O.C.)

A gay teacher was suspended in
Bradford City Centre today.
(MORE)
 31.
10.

NEWS REPORTER (O.C.) (CONT'D)

Dr Austin Allen, 37, who teaches Maths
at a secondary school in Bradford, West
Yorkshire was accused by the city
council of an “error of judgement”
following an earlier warning that he
should not discuss his own sexuality or
homosexuality in general at school.

VIV coughs, almost choking on a chip. She takes a swig of coke to

wash it down.

NEWS REPORTER.
This news follows an earlier
announcement that the government is
to ban the promotion of homosexuality
in schools. CLAUSE 28 will make it illegal
for schools and local councils to
promote homosexuality and pretended
family relationships.

VIV
What does that even mean,
“pretended family relationships”?

Despite her outrage, VIV keeps her voice to a level only JEAN can hear.
JEAN wipes her mouth with a napkin, slowly, deliberately.

JEAN
I found myself lying the other day. I had
to call one of the kid’s parents. And I
got, I dunno-
(a beat, then)
I told her I was me boss.
(beat)
I didn’t plan it or anything. But I felt like
if I told her it was me, she might think--

VIV
Something was going on between yous
two.

JEAN
Yeah. It’s stupid.

VIV
It’s not stupid.
(then)
It’s what they want though. You
know that?
 32.
10.

A bell rings as ANNE enters the chippy. A sudden energy shift.

ANNE’s eyes travel to VIV. Her tattooed hands. Her clothes. The
OWNER stands.

OWNER
What can I get you love?

JEAN watching ANNE, watching VIV. Clocking this little Mexican

standoff, VIV waves emphatically back at ANNE, then turns back to
JEAN.

VIV
She’s friendly.

The colour rises in JEAN’s cheeks. She reaches for her wallet,
pulls out some coins to cover the chips.

VIV (CONT'D)
What are you doing? I haven’t
finished.

JEAN tosses them onto her napkin and heads towards the exit. VIV is
left standing by the table as JEAN stride away down the pavement.

41 OMITTED 41

42 INT. JEAN’S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT. 42

JEAN sits alone on her sofa smoking a cigarette, barely

illuminated. The TV is on.

MET POLICE OFFICER (O.C.)

I obviously don’t want children taught
that the gay and lesbian lifestyle is
natural or normal. It’s not. It never has
been. And it never will be.

Music builds as we slowly begin to track in on JEAN’s face, frozen in

a sort of stare.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIEST (O.C.)

I hesitate to use the word perversion.
But let’s face up to the truth of this
situation, that’s what it is.

CUT directly off JEAN’s stare to--

 33.
10.

43 INT. SPORTS HALL - DREAMSCAPE. 43

LOIS. Doubled over in the centre of the hall, wearing a look of

absolute determination. Opposite her - a pack of crazed TEENAGERS,
poised to take down their prey.

That music building here still--

JEAN raises a whistle to her lips and LOIS propels herself forward.
Darting this way and that, one hand on the ground to spin out of a
near miss. Eventually the wolves descend.
Scrabbling over each other. Spitting and SNARLING. All eager to be
the one to make the kill.

LOIS’s torso smashes against the wooden floor and she looks up at
JEAN, a helpless child now. JEAN reaches down a hand to pull her up,
as the rest of the kids high five each other.

JEAN
You made that look easy.

JEAN smiles encouragingly, but LOIS, unused to this kind of flattery,

tries desperately to hide her flushing cheeks.

SIOBHAN watches this exchange through gritted teeth.

Panting and puce, the year tens leave the hall.

44 INT. JEAN’S LIVING ROOM - DAY. 44

An answerphone flashes red. JEAN presses play.

ANSWER PHONE (O.S.)

Jeany? It’s your mother calling.It’s
eleven fifty-two on Wednesday--

JEAN’s finger hitting stop on the message.

A lighter flicks on, billowing smoke appears. Then JEAN’s feet,

padding across the room. Her hand, reaching for the phone,
dialling VIV’s number.

VIV (O.S.)
Hello?

A pause.

JEAN
I’m sorry.
 34.
10.
VIV (O.S.)
Oh yeah, what for?
 35.
10.

JEAN
For being an idiot.

VIV
Right.
(a beat, then)
Meet me by the holiday park on
Blyth Road in half an hour?

JEAN
Why?

But the line is dead. JEAN, rattled, hangs up the phone.

45 EXT. COAST ROAD, LAYBY - LATER. 45

JEAN looking very pale as VIV clips a motorcycle helmet under her
chin. VIV laughs and pulls down the visor.

VIV
You’re not backing out now.

VIV throws her leg over the bike. JEAN’s fingers grip onto VIV as the
engine fires up. VIV grins and kicks the throttle.

46 EXT. COAST ROAD - DUSK. 46

The bike pelts up the coast road. VIV turns to look over her shoulder.

VIV
(muffled)
You okay back there?

A hint of a smile from JEAN. Then--

JEAN
Look at the road!

VIV laughs, turning back to face the front. Then she reaches down
and squeezes JEAN’s hand.

47 EXT. DIRT TRACK - DUSK. 47

The motorcycle headlight clicks on, illuminating the

hedgerow. Their pace a little slower now as VIV navigates a bumpy
track.

JEAN tilts her head back, closing her eyes, allowing herself to enjoy
 36.
10.
the sensation of the wind on her face. VIV smiles as she watches JEAN
in the side mirror.
 37.
10.

The bike skids to a halt on the edge of the dunes and JEAN leaps
off, helmet still on, charging towards the sea.

VIV
[LAUGHING] Wait for me!!

VIV sprints across the sand, no match for JEAN.

A lone DOG WALKER turns, smiling as these two unidentifiable lovers

kick off their shoes, frolicking in the sand.

FADE TO BLACK.

48 INT. VENUS - A FEW DAYS LATER. 48

The bar is alive with the heady energy of women on the pull. ACE,
DEBBIE and VIV are consumed in animated conversation with JONI,
30s. JEAN hands out badly pulled pints of Slalom D, taking a seat
next to VIV.

ACE
(reading aloud from THE
PINK PAPER)
”BEV, 18, is looking for friends.
Lonely lesbian seeking to
correspond with others who share
the same interests, including
looking after animals and
gardening. I don’t go to
nightclubs but enjoy walking in
the countryside. Eagerly awaiting
your replies!” -- Awww bless you
Bev Clarkson from Leeds.

Rapturous laughter from the group.

JONI
Poor sod.

VIV
[LAUGHS] Aw, you’re such a cow!

JONI winks provocatively at VIV. JEAN cautiously observing.

ACE
Oh my god. Stop. This one. “Gay
white female is lusting for
sweaty butch athletes, pumped
for bristling bodybuilders, and
handsome, hot women in uniform
to quell the ache in my loins
and soften my perpetually erect
 38.
10.
clit.”
 39.
10.

The whole table bursts into hysterics.

VIV
Who the fuck has a perpetually
erect clit?!

JONI
You do, I seem to remember.

A loaded beat. All eyes on JEAN.

VIV
(to JONI)
Really--??

JONI flashes an unapologetic smile. JEAN looks from JONI to VIV,

unsure what to do with this information.
DEBBIE JONI
Read another one babe. Oh come on. We all fucked
each other. That’s what we
did!

ACE
Speak for yourself.

VIV turns to JEAN, tries to take her hand. JEAN pulls away.

JONI
What, you’ve lost your memory now
you’re married, is that it?

They continue bickering, but JEAN gets up. VIV makes to follow,
but DEBBIE raises her hand.

DEBBIE
Maybe leave her for a minute.

On VIV, unsure whether to follow.

VIV
(to JONI)
What the fuck was that?

JONI
I didn’t know we had to watch
language round the teacher.

VIV
Her name’s Jean. And if you can’t be
nice why don’t you just piss off?
 40.
10.

VIV glances over to the bar where JEAN takes a seat,

embroiled in a cloud of cigarette smoke.
 41.
10.

AT THE BAR -- JEAN scans the dance floor. A mass of writhing, sweaty
bodies. The DJ changes track. Brit-funk classic MELODIES OF LOVE.
The dancers switch up a gear. Her eyes fall on a pair of lovers
entwined in a passionate embrace. Taking a long drag of her
cigarette, she contemplates their uninhibited sexuality.

Turning back, she tries unsuccessfully to grab the BARTENDER. Beaten

to it by a familiar face, one that takes a moment to place, here, out of
context.

It’s LOIS paying for a beer. She’s alone, wide-eyed and way out of
her depth.

BARTENDER (O.C.)
What can I get you?

JEAN, blinking in a numbed daze, doesn’t respond. Blood pounds in

her ears. Slipping off her chair, she disappears into the crowd.

49 INT. VENUS BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER. 49

JEAN on the toilet now, head hanging. The SOUND of her pee
hitting the bowl. She looks up slowly, studying the various
obscenities adorning the walls. Things like - “Lesbians are
fucking everywhere” and “Resisting the shame regime”

Someone BANGS on the door.

50 INT. BATHROOM - LATER. 50

JEAN scrubbing her hands in the sink like she’s trying to remove a
layer of skin. LOIS appears in the reflection,
smiling hesitantly. An uneasy stillness descends as they lock eyes. But
then, without a flicker of acknowledgement, JEAN moves to the dryer,
drys her hands and leaves the bathroom.

On LOIS, confused and wounded. A group of WOMEN bustle into the

toilets, shoving her as they go.

50b

INT. VENUS STAIRCASE - NOT LONG LATER. 50b

VIV approaches JEAN at the bottom of the stairs.

VIV
You OK?

JEAN
 42.
10.
I think I’m gonna go home.
 43.
10.

VIV
Home?

JEAN
Yeah, sorry.

VIV
Because of her?

JEAN
No.

VIV
She likes to shock people. That’s just
what she does.
(then)
Don’t you think you’re over-
reacting a little bit?

JEAN
It’s nothing to do with her. I just want to
go home.

VIV
Okay. I’ll come with you.

JEAN
No stay.

VIV
No, let’s go.

JEAN
I think I just want to be alone.

A beat.

VIV
Fine, whatever.

VIV, annoyed, heads through the double doors back into the bar.

51 OMITTED 51

52 INT. JEAN’S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT. 52

JEAN sits in a tight, upright position beside an overflowing ashtray.

The phone rings but she ignores it. The rumble of a car pulling up
outside, headlights penetrating her space.
 44.
10.

She rises to shut the curtains, putting her water glass down on a
table as she goes. She stands there, very still, the tectonic plates
beneath her beginning to tremble. Eventually the car pulls away.

53 INT/EXT. JEAN’S CAR - THE NEXT DAY. 53

JEAN sits in her car outside nondescript grey buildings.

THWACK! A knock on her window. A kid on a skateboard whizzing by,
late for assembly. JEAN’s entire body jolts.

54 INT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY. 54

Malevolent LAUGHTER lingers in JEAN’s ears as she walks. She seems

somewhat feverish. Teachers pass, smiling good- naturedly, but in
JEAN’s heightened POV, they appear somehow threatening. An
unsettling prop for the school production is wheeled across her path.

55 OMITTED 55

56 INT. SPORTS HALL - LATER. 56

JEAN alone on court, placing coloured cones in a line. The

SOUND of the door opening. She turns, the hairs on the back of her
neck going up. It’s LOIS.

An interminable moment. Wild animals sizing each other up.

LOIS’s expression, though unwavering in its stoicism, betrays the

faintest hint of hope. Hope that she might be included.
This hint of vulnerability cuts through JEAN.

JEAN
Changed your mind then?

LOIS
Maybe.

JEAN
Okay. Well I’ll have you shadow
Siobhan today, help you get to
grips with the basics.

LOIS nods. The rest of the team flood into the hall, eyeing her
curiously, put out, down right annoyed in some cases.
 45.
10.

JEAN (CONT'D)
(then, to LOIS)
Take that jumper off please.
Uniform only on this team.

LOIS pulls off her jumper and jogs over towards the others.

57 INT. SPORTS HALL - NOT LONG LATER. 57

TWO GIRLS poised at the centre. JEAN blows a whistle and the ball
descends. A match ensues for a few moments until CAROL catches
the ball and LOIS bats it easily out of her hands.

JEAN blows her whistle, this time barely audible above a cacophony
of voices. The class are in UPROAR. Throwing blame around like a hot
coal.

JEAN
That’s enough! We do not speak to
each other like that on this court. Now,
which one of you is going to show Lois
how we defend without contact?

A sea of reluctant faces.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Siobhan, Mindy, come here.

SIOBHAN, furious, shuffles over.

LOIS retreats towards the bench, hands in pockets, tuning out JEAN’s
voice. Prickling, she focuses her attention on the physicality of the
scene-- watching as JEAN, like a master sculptor, sets about creating
perfect lines with the players bodies.

JEAN places her hands on SIOBHAN’s hips -- The curve of

SIOBHAN’s lower back -- Her tilted pelvis -- That mane, grazing
the nape of her neck.

A WHISTLE breaks the spell.

SIOBHAN, keen to prove a point, easily dodges past MINDY,

throwing the ball out of play.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Okay. Well done. Lois? Want to give it a
try?

LOIS hesitates, she wasn’t listening.

 46.
10.

JEAN (CONT'D)
It’s OK. We’ll go slowly.

Not ready to concede, LOIS jogs over.

It’s LOIS vs SIOBHAN. A palpable, uneasy tension between them. The

ball drops, but it’s all over very quickly. SIOBHAN dodging easily to the
side, throwing the ball to MINDY and sprinting past. LOIS is frustrated
and it shows.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Give it another go, come stand here. If
you position yourself more like this...

JEAN hesitates as she reaches out to position LOIS’s body. Then

checks herself for hesitating. A fizzy, three-way energy. JEAN’s hands
on LOIS’s shoulders. LOIS’s eyes on JEAN’s hand. SIOBHAN’s eyes
trained on JEAN as she encourages LOIS. Every look, every movement
loaded with an uncomfortable, unbridled intimacy.

JEAN drops the ball. SIOBHAN snatches it, but this time LOIS defends
with every cell of her body. SIOBHAN turns left, BAM - she’s there --
right, BAM - she’s there.

Eventually SIOBHAN prevails, passing to MINDY, whom she high fives,

victorious. But LOIS’s performance is enough to renew her
confidence. SIOBHAN throws LOIS a territorial glance. A war is
brewing here.

A BELL GOES in the distance. JEAN collects the bibs, calling out
instructions about their upcoming match.

LOIS hands her bib back, looking up at JEAN with those big hopeful
blue eyes. JEAN battles her instinct.

JEAN (CONT'D)
See you back here tomorrow then.

58 INT. P.E DEPARTMENT OFFICES - DAY. 58

Later, JEAN at her desk, working on a lesson plan.

PAULA
Call for you Jean.

JEAN
Who is it?

PAULA (O.C.)
Didn’t say.
 47.
10.

JEAN pushes out her chair, making her way towards the phone.

JEAN
Jean Newman speaking.

VIV (O.C.)
Why hello, Jean Newman.

On JEAN, experiencing some kind of brain freeze.

VIV (O.C.) (CONT'D)

Hello--? Jean--?

JEAN, flushing, looks around the office, her hand over the receiver.
DAVE isn’t far away, sipping coffee by the photocopier. Without
giving anything away, JEAN reaches over and hangs up the phone.
DEAD TONE.

With one last sheepish look around, she resumes her work.

PAULA appears behind. JEAN tensing, awaits the Spanish

inquisition. BUT--

PAULA
Spoke to Baldock this morning. He
approved the proposals you put
forward.

On JEAN, taking a moment to register.

PAULA (CONT'D)
I know, I couldn’t believe it
either.

CLOSE on JEAN registering this small victory, as PAULA barrels

out of the office.

59 OMITTED 59

60 INT. JOHN STREET HOUSING CO-OP - NIGHT. 60

JEAN ascends a dilapidated spiral staircase. Low lighting.

Walls plastered with political posters. Stop the Clause. Take Back
the Night. Gay & Lesbian Switchboard. The door is open when
she knocks. After a beat she pushes the door--

60b JEAN
steps
INT. JOHN STREET CO-OP, LIVING SPACE - CONTINUOUS cautio
 48.
10.
usl an epic co-opted space. ACE is
y
into 60b
lying across DEBBIE on a sofa on the far side of the room. They
don’t notice JEAN come in.
 49.
10.

Something simmers on a camping stove nearby. JEAN lingers

awkwardly, far from home in this space.

ABI [late 20s] appears from behind a screen.

ABI
Oh, hiya!
JEAN
Hi.
ABI
You alright?

JEAN
Yeah, I’m... Is Viv around?

ABI
Yeah, she’s just--

VIV appears at a door to the left. ABI grins, before

registering the animosity blistering between them.

ABI (CONT'D)
(leaving) I’ll
be...

And she disappears back behind a screen.

VIV studies JEAN, waiting for an explanation.

JEAN
(lowering her voice)
You can’t call me at work. I told you
that.

VIV
You didn’t call me back last night. I was
worried.

JEAN
I told you not to call me there.

VIV
(after a beat)
Why d’you have to be so uptight?

JEAN
(turning to leave)
You know what, I don’t need this.
 50.
10.
VIV reaches out to stop her--
 51.
10.

JEAN (CONT'D)
You have no idea what it’s like for me.

VIV
(Grabbing JEAN with both
hands)
Hey.

VIV stares into JEAN’s eyes until she softens.

VIV (CONT'D)
I won’t call you at work. (a
beat, then more
playful)
Can you just shut the door? You’re
letting the draft in.

JEAN
It was open when I got here!

VIV
No it wasn’t.

JEAN
It was!
(then)
How d’you think I got in?

VIV
Oh shut up and come here.

VIV grabs JEAN and kisses her. JEAN kisses back.

61 OMITTED 61

62 OMITTED 62

63 INT. VIV’S BEDROOM, LATER. 63

VIV’s room is cosy, if a bit of a state. Piled to the ceiling with

memories and keepsakes. JEAN perches herself on the edge of the bed
wrapped in a towel, loosely drying her hair. VIV climbs onto the bed,
straddling JEAN.

VIV
Are you hungry? I made pasta.

JEAN
 52.
10.
(hesitating) Er,
no, I’m fine.
 53.
10.

VIV
Okay great.

VIV kisses JEAN and she kisses back.

VIV (CONT'D)
I called you uptight. You’re not
uptight.
(a beat)
Well, maybe a little.

They laugh and JEAN kisses VIV, with more urgency, hoping sex might
provide some respite from the muddled chaos of her mind. VIV slowly
unravels JEAN’s towel, kissing her ribs and caressing her thighs, finally
disappearing between her legs.

For a second JEAN’s there, in the moment, breath quickening, back

arched. Then her mind wanders to the SOUND of ABI laughing and
clattering around on the other side of the door. Every muscle in JEAN’s
body stiffens.

On JEAN, trying desperately to detach. But the gap between

pleasure and anxiety only seems to expand. Eventually she grabs
VIV, gently guiding her up till their faces meet.

VIV (CONT'D)
What’s--?

JEAN
Nothing. Come here.

They lie on their backs for a moment, breathing heavily. VIV, hurt,
looks to JEAN for an answer. JEAN doesn’t have one.

DARKNESS -- VIV under the duvet now, facing the wall. JEAN
reaches over and switches off the light.

64 INT. VIV’S COMMUNAL LIVING SPACE, LATE NIGHT. 64

The steady thrum of an ancient storage heater. A LARGE BROWN

MOTH flutters half heartedly, trapped in the lamp.

JEAN sits alone in a wide open frame, reading the back cover of a
weatherbeaten copy of THE WELL OF LONELINESS, picking at a bowl of
pasta.

A yellow NEWSPAPER CLIPPING falls into her lap as she turns the page.
Wiping away sauce from her mouth, she unfolds it to reveal an ancient
review. Some words have been highlighted: “I would rather give a
 54.
10.
healthy boy or girl a phial of prussic acid than give them
this novel."
 55.
10.

JEAN starts as ABI enters wearing nothing but a pair of mangey

boxer shorts.

ABI
Sorry, did I frighten ya? I’m a
bit nocturnal.

JEAN
It’s okay.

ABI flicks on the kettle.

ABI
Be a good one for your students
that. You read it?

JEAN
I haven’t. Says here it was banned for
obscenity?

ABI
Yeah. They thought it would lead to an
epidemic.

JEAN
An epidemic of what?

ABI
Lesbianism!

ABI laughs at the look on JEAN’s face, then she opens the fridge, pulls
out a carton of milk and starts glugging. JEAN attempts to refocus on
the page.

65 INT. CHANGING ROOM - DAY. 65

YOU’RE A WOMAN by BAD BOYS BLUE blasts out of JEAN’s

ghettoblaster. SIOBHAN, much to the amusement of the other
girls, performs a disturbingly sexual dance routine.

LOIS sits by her locker, unsure where to look. SIOBHAN locks eyes
with her, grabbing her tits and shaking her ass. LOIS stares back, a
deer in the headlights.

JEAN marches in, turning the volume down.

JEAN
Save it for the match why don’t ya,
Siobhan?
 56.
10.
SIOBHAN
Ah, just having a bit of fun Miss.
 57.
10.

66 INT. SPORTS HALL - NIGHT. 66

Two teams battling it out. JEAN running down the sideline,

muttering under her breath every now and then. LOIS sits on the
bench, keenly observing beyond a mass of wiry limbs.

SIOBHAN weaves in and out of the opposing team. Light on her feet.
Easily dominating. Then she trips, falls, twisting her ankle. The whistle
goes and MICHELLE helps SIOBHAN off court, limping. JEAN turns
towards a hesitant LOIS.

JEAN
You’re on.

LOIS isn’t sure.

JEAN (CONT'D)
(so only LOIS can hear) You’ll be
fine. Try not to think too much.

She hands LOIS a bib and ushers her onto court.

CUT TO:

LOIS scores in the final minute amid cheers from her teammates.
JEAN smiles from the sidelines. Conflicted but pleased. LOIS
stands a little taller as she snatches a segment of orange from a
silver bowl.

SIOBHAN looking furious as CAROL pats LOIS on the back.

67 EXT. WHITLEY BAY, BOARDWALK - NIGHT. 67

JEAN and VIV walk side by side down the boardwalk. The SOUND of
waves crashing. JEAN wraps her coat tighter, battling the wind. VIV
reaches down to take her hand, but JEAN pulls away.

VIV
There’s no one here.

JEAN
(giving over her hand)
Sorry.

VIV
You’re freezing!

VIV rubs JEAN’s hand between hers, breathing life into it.
 58.
10.
VIV (CONT'D)
I wish you’d let me come to one of
your games.
(MORE)
 59.
10.

VIV (CONT'D)
You wouldn’t have to talk to me. I’d
just like to be there.

JEAN throws her a look as she pulls away to unlock her car.

VIV (CONT'D)
What you don’t think I’d blend in with
the other parents?

A half smile from JEAN.

JEAN
Stick out like a sore thumb, more like.

VIV
Hey, that’s not kind.
(then)
Anyway, I bet there are loads of
lezzas on your team.

JEAN ignores this, climbing into the car.

68 INT. JEAN’S CAR - CONTINUOUS. 68

VIV
Well??

JEAN
Well, what?

VIV
Oh come on.

JEAN
I don’t ask them who they’re
sleeping with.

VIV
No, but you can just tell!

JEAN
I haven’t thought about it.

VIV
(shaking her head)
You’re from another planet, you.

JEAN
[LAUGHS] Is that right?
 60.
10.
JEAN flicks on the headlights and the car pulls away.
 61.
10.

69 INT / EXT. JEAN’S HOUSE/ ANNE’S HOUSE.87 69

ANNE’s POV from the window as JEAN and VIV stumble, a little drunk,
towards her front door. They’re laughing, hands entwined. ANNE
shuts her curtain and disappears.

70 INT. PE DEPARTMENT OFFICE - A FEW DAYS LATER. 70

JEAN enters, heading for the coffee station. Something’s up with the
energy today and she can feel it. In the corner, JEAN’s colleagues
are huddled round the TV. JEAN moves through to get a better look--

TV NEWS REPORTER (O.C.)

Three women gay rights protesters
caused pandemonium in the House of
Lords last night when they abseiled
from the public gallery onto the floor of
the chamber. The women were
protesting CLAUSE 28 which bans
schools and local councils from
promoting or normalising homosexuality
and pretended family relationships.

Another voice now--

LORDS PEER (O.C.)

We on this side of the committee
care first and foremost about
children.

Echoes of agreement.

STILL as a HUNTED DEER, JEAN registers no reaction.

LORDS PEER (CONT'D)

We care about the perpetuation of the
heterosexual, normal family as the basis
of civilised society here and in other
countries.

JEAN still rooted to the spot, others gossiping around her.

DAVE PAUL
Wouldn’t wanna run into them A
women in a dark alley - they’d I’ve been saying this was a
‘ave ya guts for garters, they good idea for years. Young
would. people have such vulnerable
minds.
 62.
10.

71 INT. STAFF TOILET - CONTINUOUS. 71

JEAN lets herself into a cubicle and sits down, safety now, between
these walls. She takes a breath. Then reaches a hand between her
legs, pulling it out to reveal a thick globule of blood clinging to her
fingers. She groans, reaching for the toilet roll, accidentally smearing
blood across the dispenser, sending it into a spin.

Reams of white paper mounting on the floor. Bloody finger prints.

Leaving tracks.

72 INT. SPORTS HALL - A FEW DAYS LATER. 72

The U16’s running drills. Two by two, up and down.

LOIS hopping around, catching her breath. JEAN catches her

eye briefly from the sideline but looks away. SIOBHAN scowls, sensing
her hard won crown slipping.

LATER-- JEAN picking up cones at the end of practice.

A few girls huddled by the door, collecting their belongings. LOIS is

there slightly outside the group, watching JEAN.

Fragments of their conversation at first--

CAROL
Oh no, gross!

JILL
Gross? So

CAROL
gross!
SIOBHAN CAROL (CONT'D)
You’re mental, you are. You’re bloody mental!

SIOBHAN (CONT'D)
What about you Lois?

LOIS looks up, surprised.

SIOBHAN (CONT'D)
What’s your type?

She mimes a blow job. Awkward beat on LOIS.

SIOBHAN (CONT'D)
No, wait. You like ‘em a bit more--
 63.
10.

SIOBHAN grabbing her tits, jiggling them in LOIS’s face.

LOIS
Fuck off.

Sniggers from the rabble. LOIS tries to stay calm.

SIOBHAN
Or is it the mannish ones that do it for
ya?

Hostile laughter from SIOBHAN’s steadily building entourage.

LOIS
Whatever.

LOIS turns to leave. BLOCKED by SIOBHAN.

SIOBHAN
Oh, come on. We’ve just been saying
what we like. Now it’s your turn.
Fair do’s.

JILL
Yeah, come on.

The blood rises in LOIS’s ears.

SIOBHAN
What I don’t get is how two girls
actually, you know. I mean. I know
there’s a lot of this--

Mimes licking a V shape.

SIOBHAN (CONT'D)
But how do you actually--?

The others collapse into uncontrollable giggles. LOIS grabs her towel
and tries to barge past SIOBHAN, but she’s blocked in. Their faces
desperately close now.

SIOBHAN (CONT'D)
No denying it then? Ooo.

JILL
Maybe she’s a virgin.

Pantomime surprise from SIOBHAN.

 64.
10.
SIOBHAN
Probably.
 65.
10.

LOIS
Am not.

SIOBHAN
Why are you going red then?

LOIS
I’m not.

CHAR
Liar.

CHORUS -- “She’s going REEEEDDDD”

LOIS shakes her head, rage effervescing.

SIOBHAN
Do you think I’m sexy?

She’s really close to LOIS now, running her hands seductively down
her gyrating body. 360 LAUGHTER fills LOIS’s ears. Blood boiling, she
shoves SIOBHAN.

SIOBHAN (CONT'D)
Don’t touch me, you fucking dyke.

JEAN turns, whistle in mouth, to see LOIS shoving SIOBHAN again, this
time to the ground. A WHISTLE sounds like a panic button.

JEAN
Get off!! -- Get off her! Now!

JEAN wrenching LOIS and SIOBHAN off each other. A messy

scramble of limbs.

JEAN (CONT'D)
[TO LOIS] My office, now.
[TO SIOBHAN] You can stay here and
explain to me what just happened -
alright? No talking back, d’you hear
me?

LOIS
Whatever.

JEAN
Go. Now.

LOIS storms off court. SIOBHAN inspecting her elbow, playing the
victim.
 66.
10.

73 INT. CORRIDOR - DAY. 73

JEAN pacing down the corridor, losing a grip on her cool exterior.
Flinging open the door to the office, letting it slam loudly behind
her. A mask from the display comes unstuck, slipping down the
wall onto the floor.

74 INT. PE DEPARTMENT OFFICE - DAY. 74

LOIS sits in a swivel chair, staring listlessly out the

window. JEAN rummages through a first aid kit at her feet. A clock
ticks overhead. With a gauze between her teeth, JEAN rolls down
LOIS’s sock.

JEAN
You’ve a chance to really succeed on
this team.

JEAN applies antiseptic to a gash in LOIS’s knee. She barely flinches.

LOIS
D’you even care what happened?

An olive branch. JEAN considers it. But--

JEAN
Just ignore them.

LOIS
[LAUGHS] Is that what you did?

On JEAN, her jaw pulsating. She bites off a piece of surgical tape
between her teeth.

JEAN
I’m not talking about me.

LOIS, daring JEAN to engage. A dull violence in her eyes. A beat,

eyes locked. Something is tempting JEAN to share with this girl. She
checks herself.

JEAN (CONT'D)
I think you need to be careful is what
I’m saying. If it comes to it, your word
against hers, you know who they’ll
believe don’t you?

LOIS
[LAUGHING] So it doesn’t even
matter what happened.
 67.
10.

JEAN
Look, I could get you thrown out
permanently for that kind of behaviour. I
know it seems unfair, but I am trying to
help you. If you want this, fight for it.
Not against it.

But LOIS is distracted by something else. It’s SIOBHAN poking her

nose up against the glass, craning to see. LOIS flips her a finger.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Hey. Hey.

MICHELLE barrels into the office. SIOBHAN no longer anywhere to be

seen. A beat as she takes in the scene. The air THICK with things
unsaid. Then, clocking the first aid kit--

MICHELLE
Oh no, what happened?

LOIS looks expectantly at JEAN, waiting to see how she’s going

to handle this.

JEAN
Just a graze.

MICHELLE
Aw, you alright pet?

LOIS
[GETTING UP] I’m fine.

LOIS locks eyes with JEAN on her way out.

MICHELLE
Poor love.

JEAN
She’s OK.

JEAN moves to the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water.

MICHELLE
All sorts of rumours flying round
about that one... Not sure she helps
herself though.
(a beat) Everything
OK with you?

JEAN
 68.
10.
Yeah, fine. Long day.
 69.
10.

MICHELLE
Take it you don’t want to come for a
pint then?

JEAN painting on her best apology face.

MICHELLE (CONT'D)
One day! One day I will crack you Jean
Newman. And when I do, Fergus
Shelton will be a very happy man.

75 INT. JEAN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT. 75

JEAN in bed, wide awake. VIV’s tattooed arm draped over her body like
a shield. Removing herself from under VIV, she pads out into the
corridor, switching on the hallway light.

76 INT. JEAN’S KITCHEN - LATER. 76

Sporting a pair of marigolds, JEAN scrubs the kitchen sink

with bleach, her warped reflection swirling back at her from the
stainless steel surface.

FADE OUT.

77 INT. SASHA’S DINING ROOM - DAY. 77

A slender man in conservative attire carves a chicken at the head of

the table. This is TIM, SAMMY’s dad [30s] - beside him, SASHA
arranges a limp nut roast with her perfectly manicured fingers.

SASHA
Here y’are Jeany.

She places the nut roast on a place mat in front of JEAN.

SAMMY
Can I have that?

A look between SASHA and TIM.

SASHA
You won’t like that sweetheart.

SAMMY
But I want it. On

JEAN, vaguely amused.

 70.
10.

TIM
Just eat what you’re given, okay
Sammy?

SAMMY
But why--?

TIM
Aunty Jean is-- allergic to
chicken. But we’re not.

SASHA and JEAN share a conspiratorial smile as TIM puts a plate

down in front of SAMMY which he promptly bats onto the floor.

TIM (CONT'D) SASHA

That’s enough Sam! Samm
y!

TIM is up like a shot. Hauling a terrified SAMMY out of his chair.

SASHA and JEAN sit on opposite sides of the table, smiling

awkwardly as TIM scolds SAMMY audibly next door.

SASHA (CONT'D)
Sorry about this.

JEAN
It’s okay.

A long beat. Then SASHA picks up the carrots and begins

serving herself.

78 INT. SASHA’S LIVING ROOM - LATER. 78

A cosy den, surrounded by fluffy animals. SAMMY snuggles up to

JEAN as she reads.

JEAN
“Who are you?” Said the Caterpillar. --
This was not an encouraging opening for
a conversation. Alice replied, rather
shyly, “I — I hardly know, sir,
just at present — at least I know
who I WAS when I got up this
morning, but I think I must have
been changed several times since
then...”

JEAN inhales an imaginary pipe. SAMMY smiles up at her.

 71.
10.

TIM appears at the edge of the den, watching for a moment.

Something about the cosiness of this set up irks him.

TIM
Come on Sammy, let’s go and play
outside.

SAMMY
But--

TIM
You’ve been inside all day.

SAMMY pulls an angry face.

TIM (CONT'D)
I’m going to count to three.
One... Two...

SAMMY, his face now pleading.

JEAN
(nudging Sammy)
We’ll finish it another time, OK?

SAMMY begrudgingly obliges, scampering off after TIM. JEAN gets

to her feet slowly, weighed down by insidious family dynamics.

79 INT. SASHA’S LIVING ROOM - NOT LONG LATER. 79

Through a set of double doors, SAMMY and TIM play football in the
garden. JEAN stands with her back to us by a fireplace, smoking a
cigarette.

SASHA (O.C.)
Can I show you something quickly,
while they’re out there. I bought
something for Tim for our anniversary
and I really need a second opinion--

JEAN
I thought I asked you to get rid of this?

She plucks a silver frame from a crowded mantelpiece. In it, a

YOUNG JEAN beams up at us, barely recognisable in a lacy bridal
gown. Her hair darker, longer.

SASHA
(guiltily) I
 72.
10.
love that one.
 73.
10.

A loaded look between sisters.

SASHA (CONT'D)
You look so happy... I know, I
know...

JEAN
Please?

SASHA
I don’t have any recent ones. And I miss
your hair like that.

JEAN
You sound like Mam.

SASHA
(too quick)
How would you know? You never go
and see her.

A beat - JEAN, trying to ignore the spite in SASHA’s tone.

JEAN
I don’t like seeing it there. (then)
What?

SASHA
I don’t know... Well, it’s just -- It’s not as
if everything that came before -- you
know, is a lie.

JEAN
What are you talking about?

SASHA
I don’t think it’s right that you want to
erase part of your life. That you
expect us to.

JEAN
I thought I just asked you to
replace one photograph.

SASHA
You know what I mean.

JEAN
I don’t actually.

SASHA
 74.
10.
You’re trying to erase your
marriage.
 75.
10.

JEAN
Am I now?

SASHA
Don’t be a child.

A prolonged look between them. They’re regressing into an age old

pattern here and they can both feel it. Then--

SASHA (CONT'D)
Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t
alone the other night?

Beat.

JEAN
What
? SASH

A
Sam told me you had a woman there.
(beat)
Look, what you do in your own home is
your business. You know I’m supportive
of -- it. But Sam’s five. It’s confusing for
him. He wet the bed. He never wets the
bed!

JEAN
His grandmother had just been
rushed to hospital!

SASHA
I just don’t think it’s fair for you to
put me in that position.

JEAN
She actually left right after you
dropped him off.

SASHA
Okay. But, d’you see--? It’s hard for
me to -- well, to trust you.

On JEAN, digesting sinuous subtext.

SASHA (CONT'D)
So... Come on, who is she then?
 76.
10.
JEAN takes a drag of her cigarette, cringing, throwing SASHA a look
that says “drop it”.

As if on cue, SAMMY bursts through the door, SQUEALING. TIM in hot

pursuit, growling like a grizzly bear. The epitome of “HANDS ON
DAD”.
 77.
10.

So joyous is he, playing with his son we almost forget what came
before. He comes for JEAN who plays along, but her heart’s not in it.

80 INT. JEAN’S CAR - MOVING - DAY. 80

JEAN drives away past a row of immaculate houses with perfectly

manicured lawns. In the rearview, she watches as the whole family
wave her off. A fifties family portrait.

The SOUND of feet thudding on tarmac melts through the

transition.

81 EXT. STREET - DUSK. 81

JEAN sprints past the illuminated windows and neon fish and chip
signs of Whitley Bay, barely looking as she crosses a the road.
Screeching TYRES. Angry HORNS.

82 INT. VENUS - A FEW NIGHTS LATER. 82

JEAN jogs down the stairs into the bar. At the bottom she surveys
the scene--

ACE is with VIV at the bar, handing over money for a round of drinks.
They haven’t seen JEAN yet. Next to the pool table, LOIS chats to
DEBBIE with another girl, AIMEE [21]. JEAN visibly tightens, the muscle
in her cheek beginning to spasm. But VIV has now spotted her and is
waving her over.

LOIS’s eyes flick up briefly acknowledging JEAN. She appears to have

grown in confidence since her last visit.

VIV
(kissing JEAN)
Hey.
JEAN
Hi.
VIV
(handing JEAN a beer)
What’s wrong? You look stressed.

JEAN
Thanks.

VIV
[LAUGHS] Here.

She passes JEAN a cigarette and lights it.

 78.
10.

LOIS eyes JEAN curiously, the music is too loud for her to hear what
she’s saying.

VIV (CONT'D)
What’s going on?

JEAN
Nothing.
(then)
Just work.

VIV
That bad is it?
(beat)
Maybe we should go away. The girls
and I were actually talking about
taking a trip down to Hebden Bridge.
They do this women’s disco once a
month.

On JEAN, still distracted.

VIV (CONT'D)
Is that a no, is it?

JEAN
No, I’m just--

ACE appears.

ACE
Hey lady.

JEAN
Hiya.

ACE gives JEAN a sort of half embrace.

ACE
Wow you seem tense!

VIV
That’s what I said!

DEBBIE
Leave her alone, you lot.

Behind them, LOIS picks up a cue and fires a shot, easily potting a
ball.
 79.
10.
ACE
(laughing)
The kid’s good.
 80.
10.

LOIS smiles modestly, appearing taller every second.

ACE (CONT'D)
Wanna play? Jean here is unbeaten.
(then)
You can be on my team.

LOIS
I dunno.

ACE
Nah, come on. It’ll be fun.

VIV laughs, oblivious to the fizzing energy between LOIS and JEAN.

JEAN
I don’t really--

ACE
Ahh - she can’t take the heat!

On LOIS now, unsure what to make of the situation as ACE hands

a cue to JEAN. They lock eyes for a moment.

CUT TO--

SNAPSHOTS OF A POOL GAME IN FULL SWING:

SHE CAN’T LOVE YOU by CHEMISE blasts through the speakers. A

strobe light does it’s thing. For a while it’s close. LOIS pots a ball, the
others cheer. Then JEAN pots one in its place. And so on.

Then there are only a couple of balls left on the table. JEAN lines up
her shot, cautiously eyeing LOIS who is sharing a cigarette with AIMEE.
ACE and DEBBIE dance raucously by the side of the table.

A steely look on JEAN’s face. She takes her aim -- but misses and pots
the white.

VIV
Oh no! It’s all over!

JEAN registers no emotion, handing the cue to LOIS, who appears

suddenly cautious, as if the teacher student dynamic has suddenly
realigned. She pauses for a moment before passing the cue to ACE.

LOIS
You can take it.
 81.
10.

ACE
No way. Finish her off!

LOIS eyes JEAN uncertainly. But the others cheer her on and she’s
forced to take her shot, easily potting her final ball and then the
black.

Fists drum the side of the pool table amid cheers from the others.
LOIS doesn’t join in, instead, she sets down her cue and makes a
pointed exit towards the toilet.

Placing a cigarette in her mouth, JEAN fishes around for a lighter.

FLICK, FLICK, FLICK -- nothing. JEAN places it purposefully on the
bar, all the while watching LOIS as she disappears into the
bathroom.

83 INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT. 83

LOIS enters a toilet cubicle, turning to shut the door. But JEAN’s
behind her, grabbing the door, forcing her way in and locking it
behind them.

LOIS
Hey!

LOIS looking at JEAN like she’s lost the plot.

LOIS (CONT'D)
What are you doing?

JEAN
You need to leave.

LOIS
Why?

JEAN
You know why.
(beat)
You can do whatever you want,
wherever you want. But not here,
OK?

Beat.

LOIS
Why do you care so much?

JEAN’s jaw pulsates.

 82.
10.
JEAN
You’re fifteen. You shouldn’t even
be in here.
 83.
10.

LOIS
So what?
(then)
I haven’t told anyone, have I?

OUTSIDE - a WOMAN bangs loudly on the door.

WOMAN
Some of us are bursting out here!

VIV appears at the back of the queue.

Back INSIDE - a held look between JEAN and LOIS.

JEAN
[SOTTO] Go. Otherwise you’re off the
team.

LOIS
What?!

JEAN opens the door, revealing a queue of WOMEN waiting to use

the toilets.

VIV’s there. Frozen in disbelief. She looks from JEAN to LOIS, waiting
for something. Then she turns, storming back into the bar. JEAN
follows, pushing past the queue of women, chasing VIV out of the
bathroom and up the stairs.

84 OMITTED 84

85 EXT. VENUS, FIRE EXIT - NIGHT. 85

JEAN, out of breath now, catches up with VIV on the street.

VIV
Just tell us what you were doing in
there, so I know.

JEAN
She’s one of me students... She’s on
the team.

A beat as VIV processes this.

VIV
What?! -- Are you --?
 84.
10.
JEAN
No. Of course not.
 85.
10.

VIV
Then why didn’t you say something?

JEAN
I don’t know.

VIV
You’re lying.

JEAN
I’m not - look, it’s complicated.

VIV, waiting for more information.

JEAN (CONT'D)
I was asking her to leave.

VIV
In the toilet?

JEAN nods.

VIV (CONT'D)
Why
? (beat)
Why were you asking her to leave?!

JEAN
I don’t want my students knowing
every part of me life.

VIV
Every part of your life?

JEAN
Yeah.

VIV doesn’t believe her.

JEAN (CONT'D)
I don’t know what you want me to
say.

A long beat.

JEAN (CONT'D)
You have to create boundaries, as a
teacher. It’s part of the job. If anyone
finds out I’ll never work again.
 86.
10.
VIV
That’s quite a stretch, don’t you
think?
 87.
10.

JEAN
No. It isn’t.

VIV
(after a beat)
And what about her?

JEAN
Who?

VIV
That girl. How old is she? What
Sixteen?

JEAN
Fifteen.

VIV
What kind of example are you
setting for her?

Beat.

JEAN
That’s not fair.

VIV
None of this is fair.

JEAN
Just because I don’t parade my
sexuality around like a badge of
honour.

VIV
Oh, and I do, is that it?
(beat)
How is that girl ever going to learn she
has a place in this world, if you, of all
people, tell her that she doesn’t?

JEAN
What makes you think she has a
place in this world??

The words tumble from her mouth before she can stop them. VIV

shaking her head slowly, beginning to understand. Then--

VIV
 88.
10.
I can’t do this.
 89.
10.

JEAN
Wait, Viv. Please.

JEAN, desperately reaching.

VIV
No. Get off.

And she’s gone. JEAN left alone on the pavement, trapped in

time.

86 INT. JEAN’S CAR - NIGHT. 86

JEAN driving, numb. The radio plays loud classical music. She lights a
cigarette with the car lighter, filling her drunken lungs with that much
needed hit. The lights up ahead MELT into each another. That familiar
rocking motion setting in.
JEAN’s steering becomes erratic. TYRES SCREECH.

CUT ABRUPTLY TO:

87 EXT. LAY BY - NIGHT. 87

TICK-TOCK. TICK-TOCK. Hazard lights bleep. The Renault parked in a

lay-by. Cars whizzing by.

JEAN, knelt in the undergrowth, puking her guts out. That music
drifting out into the freezing night air.

88 INT. JEAN’S BEDROOM - LATER. 88

JEAN in bed, wide awake. Light from a nearby streetlight throws

geometric shadows on her face through net curtains.

She reaches over and switches on the SLEEP AID. But the sound is
jumbled. Like a voice exposed to helium. She rewinds.
Presses play again. Same issue. Wrenching herself up, she opens
the machine. Inside, the tape is completely fucked. Sinewy
ribbons flooding out into her hands.

The SOUND of an ALARM CLOCK fused into that OLD SCHOOL BELL.
Night time seamlessly rolling into morning in one hallucinatory blur.

89 OMITTED 89
 90.
10.

90 EXT/ INT. PE DEPTARTMENT OFFICE - DAY. 90

JEAN as the coffee machine does its thing.

At her desk, JEAN reaches for her ruler and begins measuring out a
table with a blue pencil. Precise, perfect lines intersecting. STAFF
MEMBERS chat by the coffee machine. JEAN looks around cautiously.

The click of the door. PAULA entering O/C.

PAULA
Got a sec?

JEAN
Mhmm.

PAULA looks around to make sure they’re alone.

PAULA
Just one of the kids playing a prank I’m
sure. But I found something on your
desk this morning when I got in.

PAULA produces a copy of a GAY NEWS magazine, placing it on

JEAN’s desk. JEAN takes it in, her expression immutable.

PAULA (CONT'D)
Obviously with everything that’s going
on I didn’t want anyone else to see it.
But I thought you should know.

JEAN
Thanks.

PAULA
Do you have any idea who might have
put it there?

JEAN
I’ve a few ideas.

PAULA sensing JEAN’s prickly energy--

PAULA
Don’t look so worried. I’ve had far worse
in my time.

JEAN musters a half smile.

 91.
10.

91 EXT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY. 91

STUDENTS mill around the place in groups, slurping juice

boxes and munching digestives. JEAN looking beat, en route to her
next class with MICHELLE.

MICHELLE
Simon wants The Beach Boys. Could
you think of anything less romantic.
He spent one summer in California,
now he thinks he’s fucking James
Dean.

The BELL goes and the masses disperse. LOIS waits with MINDY
outside a classroom.

MICHELLE (CONT'D)
I don’t even want a first dance. I
reckon most people just do it for the
photos.

JEAN allows herself a single beat to look over. LOIS gives nothing
away, catching JEAN’s eye for a micro-second.

MICHELLE (CONT'D)
(as if underwater)
Simon said we shouldn’t have one at all
if it’s going to stress me out. But I’d
never hear the end of it from me Mam.

MICHELLE looks to JEAN for some kind of acknowledgement. When she

doesn’t get one she tuts good-naturedly.

MICHELLE (CONT'D)
Everything alright hun?

JEAN
Sorry, can you, one sec--

JEAN paces down the corridor, marching up to LOIS.

JEAN (CONT'D)
I need to talk to you for a sec.

On LOIS, uncertain. The class taking their places inside. MINDY

heads into the classroom and the door swings shut.

LOIS
Let me guess, I’m off the team?
 92.
10.
JEAN
No. Look. I need this to stop.
 93.
10.

LOIS
What?

JEAN
All of it. It’s not a game, okay Lois?
It’s my job. My life.

LOIS looking up at JEAN, almost daring her to explode.

LOIS
What is it that you think I’ve
done?

JEAN
You know exactly.

A beat on JEAN, just about holding her rage.

LOIS
Are you married or something?

JEAN
You think you’re so brave don’t
you?

Something snaps in LOIS. Her physicality morphing into something

bolder before our eyes. Then, in a tone that deftly flattens JEAN’s
childish accusation--

LOIS
You don’t know anything about me.

She turns, disappearing into the classroom.

A TEACHER wearing a lab coat stands a few metres away, staring

at JEAN. He gathers himself and continues walking.

On JEAN, knowing she’s crossed a line here.

INTERCUT WITH:

92 INT. CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS, DAY. 92

MINDY at her desk, watching, glasses ever so slightly fogged.

SIOBHAN larking about with a bunsen burner. Clocking JEAN. Intrigue
building. Elbowing JILL.

The door opening suddenly. LOIS entering, face like thunder.

 94.
10.

MRS LEA (O.C.)

Good of you to join us Lois. Perhaps
you’d like to tell us how many elements
make up the Periodic Table? -- No? --
Anyone? Yes Sarah?

LOIS pulls out her chair roughly.

SIOBHAN
[SOTTO] What did she want?

LOIS
She’s got a massive crush on me and
she won’t drop it.

LOIS visibly gaining power here. SIOBHAN put back in her place,
unsure where to take this.

MRS LEA
Have you got something you’d like to
share with the class Lois?

LOIS
No Miss.

93 INT. SCHOOL DINING ROOM - LATER. 93

JEAN sits alone, pushing food around her plate. DAVE and some other
teachers are gossiping on the next door table. JEAN turns to focus on
the trees outside.

From behind, the titters escalate into something more

threatening. JEAN’s pulse sounds louder and louder in her ears --
until, finally, she turns...

A group of staff are indeed gossiping, exchanging hushed titbits and

conspiratorial glances. But it has nothing to do with JEAN... Outside in
the playground, LOIS is standing alone with a bag of netballs. Her
aim isn’t perfect, but she wears a look of absolute determination.

JEAN gets up and leaves the room, leaving her half eaten lunch
on the table. Curious heads turn.

94 INT. CHANGING ROOM - DAY. 94

JEAN wearily enters the changing room, not a trace of her

usual vigour. The last slacker races to tie up her shoelace. She
doesn’t bother hurrying her, instead, bending down to pick up a pair
of abandoned socks from the floor. She looks at the name-tape. LOIS
 95.
10.
JACKSON. Of course.
 96.
10.

Then, the SOUND of a shower turning on. GIRLISH SHRIEKS.

JEAN frowns and checks her watch, her footsteps unusually loud as
she makes her way towards the showers. A strip light FIZZES above
her head.

She stops dead just shy of the end of the corridor, peering in.
SIOBHAN and JILL fighting over the shower nozzle, giggling and
squealing, spraying each other in the face.
Their naked backs immediately visible.

There’s nothing unusual or sexual about it, but JEAN steps back,
hyper-aware of her implied position as voyeur. The tussle
continues as she tiptoes out into the corridor.

95 OMITTED 95

96 INT. JEAN’S BATHROOM - NIGHT. 96

JEAN’s face, distorted beneath the surface of the bath. Breath held.
Perfectly still. Lifeless. In the distance, a flurry of adolescent voices
swell and merge into one
irrepressible HUM. JEAN wrenches her head through the surface of the
water, gasping for breath.

97 INT. SPORTS HALL - DAY. 97

JEAN stands with her clipboard taking the register. Swarms of U16
players filtering in around her.

Then PAULA enters.

PAULA
Thought I might sit in on practice
today. If you don’t mind?

JEAN absorbs this. What it might mean.

JEAN
Of course.

PAULA nods, smiling in a vaguely threatening kind of way.

Quick cuts as JEAN gathers herself and rallies the group into their
warm up.
 97.
10.
First the group sprints up and down the court.
 98.
10.

Then a goal shooting exercise.

All the while JEAN glancing intermittently towards PAULA, but her face
betrays no emotion.

After the warm up, it’s time for a game.

JEAN watches as the U16’s snatch bibs from a pile on the floor.
LOIS picks up GA, pulling it over her head.

PAULA
What’s your line up for the game
against Marden Bridge?

But JEAN’s focus is taken by something unravelling behind PAULA.

SIOBHAN appears to be in some kind of altercation with LOIS.

LOIS
I got it first.

SIOBHAN
It’s my position. Miss!

JEAN
What?

SIOBHAN
She took my bib.

JEAN
You’ll have to sub in for each
other at half time.

SIOBHAN
But it’s my position.

JEAN
It’s just practice Siobhan.

SIOBHAN
Give it back.

LOIS
Piss off.

SIOBHAN grabbing at the bib, trying to physically remove it from

LOIS. JEAN takes a beat, deciding how to handle this, but PAULA
gets in there first, blowing her whistle.

PAULA
 99.
10.
Enough! Both of you on the bench
now.
 100
10.

SIOBHA LOIS
But!! N But--!!

PAUL
A
(to LOIS)
You answer back to me and you’re
off the team. Okay?

LOIS
Me?? What about her?

PAULA
Both of you on the bench. Now.

LOIS looks to JEAN for support but JEAN turns away, blowing her
whistle to start the game.

LOIS and SIOBHAN begrudgingly take their seats on opposite ends of

the bench. They sit there for a while, brooding, as the game begins,
then LOIS gets up and heads for the showers.

98 OMITTED 98

99 INT. SHOWERS - CONTINUOUS. 99

LOIS, hot and pissed off, stands under the shower in her
swimming costume, letting the water consume her. For a moment it’s
just her and the water. But then, a hand on her shoulder. LOIS starts.
It’s SIOBHAN.

LOIS
What are you doing?

But SIOBHAN doesn’t respond, instead pressing her torso

against LOIS who looks back completely bewildered.

The shower clicks off and SIOBHAN edges closer, her lips a whisker
away from LOIS now.

SIOBHAN
It’s OK.

SIOBHAN reaches down, softly taking LOIS’s bitten fingers in hers.

LOIS moves away just a fraction, her eyes darting down the corridor.

SIOBHAN moves LOIS’s hand to her shoulder, pulling out her scrunchy
with her other hand. That hair, flicking down around her neck,
brushing against LOIS’s face, whipping her into a frenzy.
 101
10.

SILENCE now. The usual cacophony of high-pitched voices

somewhat muted.

LOIS, breath shallow, KNOWING this is a trap. Knowing it’s not what it
seems. But perhaps the same part of her wants it. Spellbound by this
possible transgression.

She inches a fraction closer, looking briefly to SIOBHAN for approval.

When she doesn’t flinch, LOIS closes her eyes.
Helpless. A netted bird caught by desire.

Their lips touch, properly this time. LOIS inhaling SIOBHAN. SIOBHAN
kissing back. TONGUE on TONGUE.

INTERCUT WITH:

100 INT. CHANGING ROOMS - 100

DAY.

JEAN, walking down the damp corridor, from this perspective the
showers appear empty.

Then she sees it, just for a second -- SIOBHAN and LOIS, partially
obscured, clamped together, devouring each other with intense
fervour.

Then SIOBHAN, leaping away from LOIS. A high pitch scream

engulfs the shower area. LOIS’s face contorts with horror.

JEAN stands there frozen, head spinning.

101 OMITTE 101

D

101b INT. CHANGING ROOMS - CONTINUOUS. 101b

PAULA runs in, followed by a gaggle of other girls.

PAUL
A
What’s going on?

SIOBHAN, now in a towel runs to squat in the corner of the room,

real tears forming. JEAN’s face, taut and pale. CAROL and JILL
rushing in to tend to SIOBHAN with a towel on the floor.

PAULA (CONT'D)
 102
10.
(throwing a towel to LOIS)
Can someone tell me what’s going on
please? Jean??

JEAN struggles to form words.

 103
10.

PAULA (CONT'D)
Did you see what happened?

JEAN
I--

SIOBHAN
(quietly)
She attacked me.

PAULA
What do you mean she attacked you?
(then)
[LOUD] Can someone please explain
what happened?

JILL
She shouldn’t be allowed in here! Get
her out!

CHANTING: OUT! OUT! OUT!

LOIS’s POV - all eyes on her. She ignores them, hurriedly pulling on a
pair of joggers over her wet costume. She grabs her bag and makes
a run for it.

The MOB all fighting for PAULA’s attention. JEAN at the centre of it
all. Girls swarming round her. Faces drift in and out of focus. The
sound clicks off as the BLOOD swirls, builds, erupts inside her head.
Then--

PAULA
Jean! -- Can you hear me?! I need you
to supervise this lot so I can get her
out of here.

JEAN drifting back into the room, nodding.

PAULA leading SIOBHAN from the room like a sick child from a war
zone.

Girls swarm in around JEAN, yelling, demanding answers. JEAN steps

back, head swimming, knowing she’s lost control. Then, trancelike,
she exits the room, leaving the noise behind her.

The door swings on its hinges.

102 INT.
 104
10.
PE ARTMENT OFFICE - LATER.
DEP 102
JEAN sits across a crowded desk from PAULA, staring at a
photo on PAULA’s desk. Her and her husband on their wedding day,
exchanging vows.
 105
10.

PAULA (O.C)
She’s saying this isn’t the first time--?
That there was a fight a few weeks
ago that you didn’t report--? She even
went as far as to say there could be
something going on between you two.
You and Lois that is.

JEAN looks up slowly. Beyond PAULA, DAVE and MICHELLE are

talking quietly in the far corner of the room. MICHELLE glances
over.

PAULA (CONT'D)
Jean? -- Can you please tell me
what’s going on or am I going to
have to take her word for it?

JEAN turns, looking almost directly into camera. A RABBIT in a trap.

She opens her mouth to speak.

JEAN
Lois is-- she’s become a little over-
attached, you could say.

PAULA
If that’s the case, why didn’t you report
it to me?

JEAN
I didn’t think it was anything to worry
about. You know what they’re like. I’ve
had worse.

The ease with which these words come surprises even JEAN.

PAULA
And the locker room? You were there.
Did you see what happened?

JEAN
I saw something, but--

PAULA
What? What did you see?

JEAN
I saw them together, and Siobhan
pushing Lois off.

PAULA sits back in her chair, digesting this.

 106
10.

103 EXT. FIRE ESCAPE - 103

NIGHT.

JEAN letting herself out onto the fire escape, sitting down on the
step, pulling out a cigarette with shaky hands.

FLICK -- FLICK -- FLICK. The lighter won’t work. She abandons it, letting
her head flop between her knees.

Footsteps on the fire escape. MICHELLE sitting down next to her. A

hand on JEAN’s shoulder.

MICHELLE
You OK hun?

JEAN, nods, stoic.

MICHELLE (CONT'D)
Hey, hey. Come here.

JEAN rests her head on MICHELLE’s soft, padded shoulder. All those
conflicting emotions cloistered up inside her, threatening to free-fall.

JEAN
I gotta go Shell, I’ll see ya later,
okay?

MICHELLE
Yeah you come find me, alright?
We’ll be at the Lodge. I’ll buy you’s
a drink.

JEAN smiles sadly and lets herself inside.

104 OMITTE 104

D

105 INT. BALDOCK'S OFFICE - 105

CONTINUOUS.

JEAN slips inside, emitting a sort of Death Row energy. She walks
round the back of the desk to join BALDOCK and PAULA who’re
sitting opposite LOIS and SIOBHAN. LOIS doesn’t look up as JEAN
walks into the room. Eerie hush in here.

PAULA looks tenderly into SIOBHAN’s tear-streaked face.

 107
10.
BALDOCK
Now Mis Murphy, it’s very important
that we ascertain exactly what went on
between you and Miss Jackson earlier
today. We take these kinds of
accusations extremely seriously.
(MORE)
 108
10.

BALDOCK (CONT'D)
The perpetrators of sexual assault have
no place in this school.
(a beat, then)
I don’t want to keep you long. I just
need you to repeat what you told the
PE staff earlier this afternoon.

SIOBHAN’s lip quivers. She seems uncertain as she looks towards

LOIS who’s fiddling with a Tipp-Ex pen, staring at the sole of her
shoe.

SIOBHAN
I don’t remember.

LOIS looks at JEAN, eyes wide, begging her to tip the balance here.
JEAN clocks her and looks away.

PAULA
Look, I know this isn’t easy for you.
So let me try and help.
Earlier, if you’ll remember, you were
very upset. I was in the hall when I
heard you scream. I then ran into the
locker room and found you in the
corner, very distressed. I took you to my
office where you told me that Lois had
assaulted you. Is that right?

SIOBHAN doesn’t answer, tears exploding silently.

LOIS
No, it’s not. Tell them!

PAULA
Lois, I’ll need you to calm down.
(then)
Just nod if that’s what happened my
love.

LOIS’s knuckles turning white, gripping the chair. JEAN

watching her, drowning in moral turmoil.

A bell goes in the distance signalling the end of the day.

PAULA (CONT'D)
You just have to nod my love.

SIOBHAN, desperate for an out, wipes a thick globule of snot from her
face with her sleeve and nods.
 109
10.

PAULA (CONT'D)
(reaching over to squeeze
Siobhan’s hand)
Well done.

The SOUND clicks off for a moment as LOIS turns to face

SIOBHAN, searching her face.

BALDOCK shifts in his seat, out of his depth.

BALDOCK
I see.
(turning to JEAN)
And you were there Miss Newman, you
saw it happen?

All eyes on JEAN now. LOIS’s big blue eyes.

JEAN
I did, yeah.

BALDOCK
Right.

A beat as LOIS takes this in. Then--

LOIS
What’s wrong with you?

BALDOCK
That’s enough Lois. I’m afraid I’m
going to have to call your father.

LOIS looks again to JEAN who avoids her gaze.

LOIS
(getting up)
Don’t bother.

BALDOCK
Sit back down please.

LOIS
You know you haven’t even asked me
what happened? You’ve asked all of
them, but not me.

JEAN
If you’ve got something to say--
 110
10.
LOIS
You’re the worst of the lot and you know
it.
 111
10.

She flings open the door and disappears. PAULA turns to

BALDOCK and JEAN expectantly.

BALDOCK
Just let her go.

JEAN closes her eyes for a moment, digesting what just

happened.

106 INT. THE LODGE - LATER THAT NIGHT. 106

JEAN sits in amongst a handful of colleagues in a
quintessential northern boozer. MICHELLE appears with a tray of
beers, grinning. JEAN appears smaller than the rest, chewing her lip,
doodling on a napkin.

A photo of PAULA’s grandchild is passed round. JEAN barely looks

at it before passing it on.

MICHELLE
How old is he here?

PAULA
Oh two, three. I lose track. Actually, no,
I lie, he’d just turned three there,
cause it was election night. Bill and I
were glued to the TV. Didn’t notice him
puking all over himself.

Laughter from the group. But JEAN is somewhere else. On

MICHELLE, keen to snap her out of it--

MICHELLE
You never wanted kids?

JEAN contemplates the question.

MICHELLE (CONT'D)
Aw, you’d be a great mum. I see you
with the younger ones. They’re lucky to
have you.

JEAN finds this hard to swallow.

MICHELLE clocks something behind JEAN, slipping into thinly veiled

theatrics. FERG, 30s, a handsome, weather worn man with eyes like
rain, is making his way over from the bar. He smiles self-consciously
as he sits down next to JEAN.
 112
10.

FERG
Looks more like a Mr Whippy than a
pint of Guinness.

MICHELLE laughs a little too loudly. JEAN barely responds.

MICHELLE makes eyes at JEAN who begrudgingly turns to look into

FERG’s expectant eyes.

FERG (CONT'D)
Hiya.
JEAN
Hi.
FER

G
Oh wait, you’ve, you’ve got--

He reaches for a paper napkin from the dispenser, shakes it free.

Then, casually invading her personal space, gently dabs the napkin on
JEAN’s lip. JEAN doesn’t flinch. FERG shows her a bloody mark.

107 OMITTE 107

D

108 INT. JEAN’S LIVING ROOM - LATER THAT 108

NIGHT.

JEAN wearily lets herself into her house.

Slumping down onto the sofa, she reaches for the phone and dials
VIV’S number. The phone rings through, hitting the answerphone. She
hangs up, frustrated, stubbing her cigarette out in the already
brimming ashtray. PEGGY leaps up onto the sofa and JEAN curls in
around her.

SLOW FADE OUT.

109 INT. SPORTS HALL - 109

DAY.

JEAN dolefully watches the year nine lads drag themselves up a

series of ropes dangling from the walls. They’re really trying, bless
them. Someone calls her name. She barely registers.

110
 113
10.
INT
. 110
CHA
NGI
NG
ROO
M -
LAT
ER.

CHORUS
NORTH,
SOUTH,
EAST,
WEST.
TYNESI
DE
THE
VERY
BEST.
(MORE)
 114
10.

CHORUS (CONT'D)
WATCH US RUN, WATCH US GO, WATCH
US AS WE STEAL THE SHOW. T-Y-N-E----

JEAN peers in through the door of changing room where the girls are
going wild. CLAPPING, CHANTING, WHOOPING. SIOBHAN has resumed
her position as ringleader, the others moving in orbit around her.
JEAN swallows a thunderbolt of shame.

111 INT. JEAN’S KITCHEN - THE NEXT 111

DAY.

JEAN opens a can of baked beans, pouring the contents into a

saucepan. She fires up the hob.

RADIO (O.S.)
Over twenty thousand men, women and
children took to the streets of
Manchester this morning for the largest
gay rights protest ever held in the
history of this country. The protest was
held in response to a new law that will
make it illegal for councils to promote
homosexuality, including a ban on
schools teaching the ‘Acceptability of
homosexuality as A pretended family
relationship’.

The toaster pops up, two slices of white bread. JEAN butters her toast.
The sound of 20,000 people roaring through the TV.

112 OMITTE 112

D

113 INT. VENUS - THAT 113

NIGHT.

LET THE MUSIC USE YOU by The Typewriters pulses through the bat
cave. JEAN drinking alone at the bar, losing herself.
Behind, a drag queen mid performance. Arms flailing like
serpents. All gold diamanté and sequins.

On the dance floor, a young woman with thick, shoulder length hair
like LOIS’s dances with abandon. JEAN watches her from behind. For a
moment time seems to slow down, lights melting into each other,
drunken chatter warping. Then the girl turns, revealing a face we
don’t recognise. JEAN downs another shot.
 115
10.

114 OMITTE 114

D
 116
10.

115 EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - 115

DAY.

JEAN’s car pulls up outside a pebble dashed house. It’s bin day. Rows
of putrid overflowing rubbish bins line the street. Chicken bones and
Happy Meal boxes litter the road.

A washing line spins weakly behind her. The curtains are closed. She
walks up to the door and knocks, causing a dog to go berserk.

A figure, distorted by dappled glass. The SOUND of a chain being

put on the door.

LOIS (O.C.)
Go away.

A moment on JEAN, swallowing this. She turns to leave, then turns

back, this time hammering on the door.

JEAN
I need to talk to you. Can you open the
door?

A beat - then the SOUND of the chain unlocking.

JEAN taking LOIS in. Her offbeat attire replaced by a navy blue
uniform. She looks distinctly conformist, her inner fire now dimmed.

LOIS
I’m late for work.

LOIS steps out, pushing past JEAN.

JEAN
I can give you a lift.

LOIS
I’m fine walking.

JEAN reaches out to grab the sleeve of her sweatshirt.

LOIS (CONT'D)
(turning, eyes brimming)
Why won’t you just leave me alone?!

They stare at each other. For a moment JEAN can see the damage
she’s done. JEAN nods, letting her go. But a few feet down the street,
LOIS turns.
 117
10.
LOIS (CONT'D)
Do you actually think I attacked
Siobhan?
 118
10.

A beat, then JEAN shakes her head.

LOIS (CONT'D)
Then why?

JEAN doesn’t have an answer.

JEAN
I know you want more from me. But
it’s not-- I can’t be that person for you
Lois.

LOIS
I never asked you to be anything.

JEAN
It’s not about what you asked
though, is it Lois?

On LOIS, considering. But then she’s gone, marching towards the

bus stop.

116 OMITTE 116

D

117 INT. JEAN’S BATHROOM - NIGHT. 117

In a tight frame, JEAN splashes water on her face at the
sink, her hair caked with dye. Straightening her back, she does her
best to avoid catching her reflection in the bathroom mirror. We follow
as she pads out into the corridor, down the stairs.

118 INT. JEAN’S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT. 118

TV light rippling over JEAN’s gaunt face.

‘BLIND DATE’ CONTESTANT (O.C.)

My nickname is “Mumsy” because I’m
very close to my mother. How much
does this worry you, and why?
(canned nasal laughter)

JEAN picks up the remote switching off the TV. Allowing herself
a moment of quiet introspection.

FADE TO BLACK.
 119
10.

119 INT. CHIPPY - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS. 119

JEAN looking a little edgy in the corner, waiting. The RING

of the door as VIV slips in opposite her.

Palpable hurt and yearning on both sides. But also distance.
Eventually --

JEAN
Hi.

VIV
Hiya.

JEAN
Thanks for coming.

VIV
Of course.

JEAN
How are you?

VIV
(despondent)
You know.

JEAN sensing she’s lost her. Caught between a desire to reach out and
that unrelenting feeling she’s being watched. Her foot grazes VIV’s
leg.

VIV shifts awkwardly, closing her eyes for a moment, reaching for the
courage to say what she wants to say. But instead--

VIV (CONT'D)
D’you want something to drink?

JEAN
Yeah, in a sec, thanks.
(beat)
Look, I’m really sorry.

Beat.

VIV
It’s OK.
JEAN

It’s not.
I should have told ya.
 120
10.
I should have done everything
differently.
Sick in the head, remember?
 121
10.

A flicker of a smile, but VIV’s not taking the bait.

VIV
She reminded me a bit of you, you
know. When we first met.

JEAN
Who, Lois?

VIV
The girl, yeah.

JEAN
[LAUGHS] She’s nothing like me.

VIV
Debs thought so too. Like a deer in the
headlights...

JEAN considers this discrepancy. Is it possible for her to see LOIS

as something entirely different. Something fierce and brave.
Something violent.

JEAN
I’m not a deer in the headlights, am I?

VIV
Sometimes... You know. Skittish.

JEAN
Skittish??

She’s trying to lighten the mood, but VIV doesn’t

reciprocate.

VIV
Anyway...

JEAN
D’you want something to eat?

VIV
I ate before.

JEAN
Okay. I might...

She reaches for the menu.

VIV
Sorry I didn’t return your calls.
 122
10.

JEAN
It’s fine.

VIV
No. It’s not.
Look -- I’ve been here before. With
Donna. And I--

JEAN
Donna cheated on you with her
husband.

VIV
Yeah, but, -- it’s the same, in the end.
She wasn’t ready...
(beat)
And I can’t do that again.

JEAN
I’m gonna quit me job.

VIV
What? -- Why?

JEAN
Because.

JEAN leans in closer across the table. But VIV inches away.

VIV
I don’t think you should quit your job.
You love your job. You’re good at your
job.

JEAN
I did something terrible.
(beat)
That girl, from the club-- Lois. I dobbed
her in, to get her off my case. She’s
been suspended. And I doubt she’ll be
back after this.

JEAN’s eyes fill with thick wet gobs.

VIV stares at her for a moment, a hint of pity now.

VIV
You need to stop being so hard on
yourself.
 123
10.
A hand across the table. A flicker of hope --
 124
10.

JEAN
I want to be with you, Viv... We could
go away somewhere.

VIV
(retrieving her hand) No,
look. If we forget about
everything that’s happened,
there’ll be something else.

JEAN
No there won’t.

VIV
Anyway, I don’t want to go away. I’m
happy here. Listen, this isn’t what I
wanted, but I can’t keep doing this, it’s
not--

JEAN
You don’t have to do this.

JEAN reaches a hand across the table, taking VIV’s in hers. A big step
for her. But VIV pulls away, looking into JEAN’s eyes for a second.
Whatever she sees is enough for her to know. She reaches for her
coat.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Please, Viv, come on.

VIV
I can’t do this.

With one more pained look in JEAN’s direction, VIV gets up.

VIV (CONT'D)
Sorry, I can’t.

JEAN slumps back in her chair. Filled with RAGE, mainly at herself.
Under the table, she clenches and unclenches her fists. Then lights
a cigarette, fumbling with the lighter.

WAITER (O.C.)
Ya canne smoke in here, pet.

JEAN
(pointing at the ashtray)
What are these here for then?

JEAN stubs her cigarette out roughly and stands to leave.

 125
10.

120 EXT. BOARDWALK - 120

NIGHT.

JEAN strides down the boardwalk, battling gale force winds, eyes
streaming.

SLOW FADE OUT.

121 INT. SASHA’S LIVING ROOM - DAY. 121

SASHA and TIM’s living room decorated with full Alice in
Wonderland regalia. The pinnacle of straight, white, middle class
living.

A PUNCH & JUDY show has a group of children in fits of giggles.

SAMMY sits on a little wooden chair dressed as the March Hare, his
whiskered cheeks stained with tears.

A small cluster of PARENTS stand in the corner, sipping wintery

punch from plastic cups. SASHA’s there talking to LISA [29] JEAN
stands awkwardly beside them, wearing a lime green dress that
hangs limply from her androgynous frame.

LISA
Police Stations don’t offer creches for
their employees. Why should hospitals?
It’s a ridiculous idea. No. What the
nursing profession needs is more men.
If nursing were perceived as a male and
female occupation, the same as say -
teaching, or the civil service.
Then there would be a stronger gut
feeling - amongst the powers that be -
to raise nurses salaries.

SASHA
I hadn’t thought of it like that.

TIM
In the meantime what happens when
our children get sick and they’re
picketing outside the hospital instead of
doing their damned jobs?

LISA
Well, quite.

TIM
What’s your take on all this Jean?
 126
10.

JEAN shakes her head in a non-committal sort of a way.

 127
10.

TIM (CONT'D)
You must have an opinion?

SASHA
Tim...

TIM
I’m just interested to know what she
thinks. As someone on the front line of
public services.

SASHA
I’m not sure the netball court is quite
the front line--

JEAN
I think it’s easy to forget that nurses
have a duty to provide a certain
standard of care. And if they can’t
provide that care, people die.

TIM
I’m not sure I--?

SASHA
No, come on, that’s enough. Tim,
why don’t you go and refresh the
punch?

TIM considers this for a moment. Then, under his wife’s steely
gaze, he leaves for the kitchen.

On LISA, attempting to change the subject--

LISA
God, half term really drags, doesn’t it.
Feel like I’ll need a holiday to recover.

LATER--

JEAN looking around, skittish, moving towards the drinks table.

Pouring herself a vodka, necking it in one.

Close by, TIM chats to CRAIG [30s - ruddy cheeked, cheerful]

Catching JEAN in his periphery, CRAIG opens up the conversation.

CRAIG
I was just telling Tim about my
divorce proceedings.
 128
10.
On JEAN, blank for a moment.
 129
10.

CRAIG (O.C.) (CONT'D)

Bleeding me dry I tell you. You
women don’t realise how good you
have it.

He laughs. Then, off JEAN’s expression--

CRAIG (CONT'D)
That was a joke. Bad joke. Sorry. No
offence meant.

JEAN
None taken.

TIM
Jean went through all this a few
years back.

JEAN looking at TIM. Thanks for that, you prick.

CRAIG
Oh right. Sorry to hear that. Well
you’re still in one piece, so that bodes
well.

He trails off, JEAN’s energy devouring him.

JEAN
I quite enjoyed it actually. Particularly
the part where I bled him dry.

AWKWARD laughter from the men. JEAN grins as if she’s on their

team. She’s not.

CRAIG
So, how do you and Tim--

Beat.

TIM
Jean is Sasha’s sister. Older sister.
Craig and I used to work together.

CRAIG
I never knew Sasha had a sister!
(beat)
So what do you do, Jean?

JEAN
I’m a teacher.
 130
10.

CRAIG
Fantastic. What d’you teach?

JEAN
P.E.

CRAIG
Right. That must be-- (then,
realising has
nothing to add)
Which school?

JEAN
Tyneside.

CRAIG
That’s a commute and a half isn’t?

JEAN
It’s OK.

CRAIG
You didn’t fancy -- what’s Sammy’s
school called?

TIM
St Christopher’s.

CRAIG
Yeah, St Christopher’s?

A beat.

TIM
Jean actually used to teach at St
Christopher’s.

CRAIG
Oh--?

JEAN
I did for a while, yeah.

CRAIG
What made you--?

JEAN
Got a bit sick of running into the entire
student body at the local shop.

CRAIG
 131
10.
Fair enough! You know I’ve never
thought of that.
(MORE)
 132
10.

CRAIG (CONT'D)
Must be a right pain! Although...
Parent, teacher evenings -- probably
quite a good hunting ground for the
recently divorced, am I right..?

CRAIG elbows TIM in the ribs and they LAUGH.

On JEAN, just staring at their drunken faces. Her stance is square,

emboldened by neat liquor. Not even pretending to laugh. Just that
smile of hers. A smile that says, if you have a heart attack right
now, I won’t dial 999.

Eventually they recover from their hysterics.

CRAIG (CONT'D)
Sorry!

JEAN
That’s okay.

CRAIG
Got a man on the scene at the
moment then have you, Jean?

TIM squints, bracing himself for the answer.

JEAN
No, I haven’t no.

On TIM, unable to conceal his relief.

CRAIG
Ah, well. I’m sure--

JEAN
I’m a lesbian.

TIM’s pained expression. Pin drop silence. JEAN now smiling like
some kind of AI.

CRAIG
Sorry. Wow. I didn’t--

JEAN
That’s OK.
(then)
You know what, Tim, I’ve actually got
to head off, can you give this to
Sammy?
 133
10.
She hands him a present, meticulously wrapped in blue paper.
 134
10.

JEAN (CONT'D)
Thanks for a great party. Love the--

She waves generally at the decor, trailing off. Then goes to kiss him
on the cheek as if everything’s A OK.

TIM
Wait, Jean--

But JEAN isn’t listening. She’s already striding through the room.
Head high. TIM and SASHA exchange a fraught glance.

122 EXT. PAVEMENT - DUSK. 122

JEAN wanders down a suburban road, taking off her
uncomfortable shoes. Out of nowhere, she BURSTS into
hysterics. Deep, cathartic, belly laughter that won’t stop. She sits
down in the grass, her dress billowing up around her, slowly
recovering. Laughter giving way to silent tears.

Nearby, a pack of unbroken HORSES bolt up and down a small,

unkempt patch of green. Frisky and untamed. She watches them for
a moment.

FADE OUT.

123 EXT. JEAN’S HOUSE - THE NEXT 123

MORNING.

JEAN scrapes ice from the windscreen of her car with renewed vigour,
breath heavy from the exertion. MAGGIE hops over the wall but JEAN
shoes her away with one swift, confident movement. The CLICK of a
front door. JEAN turns to see ANNE inviting MAGGIE back inside.

JEAN
Morning.

ANNE
(after a beat)
Morning.

JEAN holds her gaze until ANNE is forced to break it,

disappearing back into her house.

124 INT/EXT. JEAN’S CAR - MOVING - 124

DAY.

JEAN drives through a run-down part of South Shields. It’s

 135
10.
deafeningly QUIET. A couple of YOUNG YEMENI KIDS are playing with
a ball near an open fire. The smoke makes it hard for her to see. She
strains her eyes.
 136
10.

125 INT/ EXT. STREET / JEANS’S CAR - DAY. 125

JEAN lingers in her car outside a restaurant named SILVER
MOON. Customers come and go. After a while, LOIS dressed in
uniform, exits the restaurant with a couple of rubbish bags. She spots
JEAN’s car. Shocked at first. That unnerving feeling of being watched.
Then she scowls, heading back inside.

126 OMITTED 126

127 OMITTED 127

128 INT/ EXT. JEAN’S CAR/ STREET - NIGHT. 128

JEAN’s feet on the dashboard. THE WELL OF LONELINESS in her

hands. Something catches her eye and she tosses the book on the
passenger seat, starts the engine and swerves into the road. The
SOUND of her horn, once then again.

LOIS, embarrassed, turns. By now JEAN is only a couple of metres

from her, she winds down the window.

LOIS
What are you doing?

JEAN
Can you get in the car?

LOIS
What? No. Why?

JEAN
Can you just get in?
(beat)
I want to show you something,
that’s all. I’ll drop you home after.

LOIS
I’m grounded.

JEAN
Don’t tell me you’ve been sticking to
that.
(then)
I don’t even have to talk to you, okay?
Just please get in.

A beat on LOIS, considering.

 137
10.

LOIS
Okay...

She opens the car door.

JEAN
This is for you.

She chucks the book in LOIS’s lap. But LOIS throws it back like a
hot potato.

LOIS
I don’t want your fucking book.

JEAN
Okay.
(beat)
It’s not very good anyway.

LOIS
I thought you weren’t talking.

On JEAN. That wry smile of hers. LOIS, pulling her bruised knees up
around her ears, stares out the window, brooding.

JEAN lights a cigarette and winds down the window.

LOIS (CONT'D)
My dad’s gonna kill you. You know
that, right?

JEAN smiles and mimes zipping her lips.

JEAN,
129 EXT. SLIP ROAD - NIGHT. just
staring
The Renault hurtles towards the city centre. off into
the
distanc
EXT. JOHN STREET HOUSING CO-OP - NIGHT. e.
130
Then--
JEAN’s car grinds to a halt outside the Co-op.

INT. JEAN’S CAR - NIGHT.

131
LOIS de-fogs the window. Straining to see.

LOIS
Where are we?
 138
10.

129

130

131
 139
10.

JEAN
Look.
(long beat)
I’m-- damaged, okay?
In a way you’re not... Or at least you
don’t have to be.

LOIS’s eyes on JEAN. Narrowing. Contemplating.

LOIS
If I don’t have to be, why do you?

On JEAN, outwitted.
JEAN LOIS (CONT'D)
I don’t know. Maybe it’s too
late.
It’s not right. Pretending.
I don’t expect you to
understand-- But I-- You’re right. I don’t.
(beat)
People failed me... And now
I’ve failed you.
(beat)
I’m not trying to get myself off
the hook or anything like that.
(beat)
But I see you carrying this thing,
and you don’t have to.

You’re the one with the problem.

I know. I know. I know what I did Not me! I don’t know why you
was wrong. think--

LOIS drinks up these words. Then--

LOIS (CONT'D)
You know it was Siobhan who kissed
me? Not that it matters now.

JEAN, who has been staring blankly ahead, turns to face LOIS. She has
no answer. She just sits there, holding LOIS’s blame. Allowing it to
wash over her, eroding a layer of skin.

Muted rage from both sides, then a flicker of understanding.

LOIS paws at the carpet with her shoe. JEAN reaches over and
squeezes her shoulder gently.

JEAN
Shall we go?
 140
10.

132 INT. JOHN STREET HOUSING CO-OP - NIGHT. 132

JEAN and LOIS’s heads just visible as they ascend the

dilapidated staircase.

133 INT. JOHN STREET HOUSING CO-OP, LIVING SPACE - CONTINUOUS.133

A blue lava lamp illuminates LOIS’s face as she takes in the scene
before her--

A small gathering is underway. There’s a casual, homely feel to the

celebrations, people helping themselves to drinks in the kitchen,
others camped out on a bed, smoking cigarettes. Others sprawled on
the floor, passing slices of cake around.

Feeling uncomfortable and uninvited, LOIS turns to JEAN.

LOIS
Why did you bring me here?

Before JEAN has a chance to answer, ABI bounds over, hugging JEAN
warmly.

ABI
Hey! You came!

JEAN
(awkward)
Hiya.

ABI
(nodding to LOIS)
And who’s this one?

LOIS
I’m Lois.

ABI
Hiya Lois. Welcome. You a friend of
Jean’s then?

LOIS shifts her weight awkwardly.

JEAN strains her eyes, scanning the room. Looking for

something... Someone.

There. On the far side of a buffet table is VIV, talking to a WOMAN with
beautiful long hair. Your quintessential earth- mother. A BABY suckles
her breast as they talk. VIV reaches down to stroke the baby’s head.
 141
10.
JEAN wrestles jealousy, lighting a cigarette.
 142
10.

LOIS
What is this place?

JEAN
(after a beat) A
housing co-op.

LOIS
A what?

ABI
A lesbian housing co-op.

LOIS
Only lesbians live in this
building?

ABI
[LAUGHING] Er, more or less, yeah.

LOIS considers this.

A knife CHINKING on glass. ACE clearing her throat. ABI

stands on a chair, hollering.

ABI (CONT'D)
Speech!

Echoes of agreement from the rabble.

ACE
I just wanted to say that, as some of you
know, money has been a little scarce
this year. But thanks to the heroic
efforts of The Bog Fund, we were able to
throw a little something together... So
Debs, my love.
(she reaches down to pick
up a box from the floor)
These are for you, from all of us. Well
technically not from us, but they are
for you. Love you babe.
Happy Birthday.

She hands over a box of Dr Martins to DEBS who puts them on the
floor and kisses ACE tenderly.

ABI
To the Bog Fund!
 143
10.

CHORUS
The Bog Fund! The Bog Fund!!
 144
10.

ACE
Right, now let’s get fucked
uuuuuuup.

Applause, shrieks and jeering from the rabble. LOIS smiles, swept
up by the energy in the room.

LOIS
(to JEAN)
What’s the bog fund?

Before JEAN has a chance to answer, ACE grabs her, enveloping her in
a bear hug.

ACE
Hey lady. We missed you.

On LOIS, feeling a little out of her depth. ABI, noticing this, puts a
hand on her shoulder protectively.

ABI
Say you get kicked out by your
parents, or can’t pay your rent or
something. Or you need a new pair of
shoes. You can go ask for money from
the Bog Fund.

LOIS
(after a beat)
Wait, so anyone can ask for money?

ABI
[LAUGHS] Yeah. Well any poor
lesbians in the North East!

ACE
[LAUGHS]
(then, to JEAN)
Babe you don’t have a drink. Let’s get
you a drink.

And she drags JEAN away.

ABI
(after JEAN)
I’ll keep an eye on her!

LOIS
Where does the money come from?
 145
10.
ABI
People like her.

ABI points at JEAN. But LOIS isn’t following.

 146
10.

ABI (CONT'D)
Lesbians with “proper” jobs. Teachers,
lawyers or whatever, can put money in,
you know, to help out those who’re
more hard up.

On LOIS processing, reassessing. ABI watches her, warmed by her

reaction to all this.

ABI (CONT'D)
How old are you anyway? Old enough
for a drink?

LOIS nods, clearly bullshitting. ABI laughs and steers her towards
the kitchen.

LATER--

THE LARKS’ punk anthem ‘MAGGIE MAGGIE MAGGIE, OUT OUT OUT!’
blasts out of a speaker. ACE, DEBBIE and all their friends jump
around madly, singing along.

JEAN sips her drink from an armchair in the corner, watching with a
smile. We follow her gaze to the kitchen area where ABI is sitting on
the counter, gesticulating, LOIS hanging off her every word.

VIV’s there too, making a drink. A visible pang from JEAN. Then, as if
sensing it, VIV turns and they catch each other’s eyes for a second
before both looking away.

ACE and DEBBIE collapse onto the sofa next to JEAN, talking
nonsense, laughing.

DEBBI
E (to JEAN)
How did we look?

JEAN
Err.

ACE
Oi. We were stunning. Ignore her
babe. She’s all bitter and
heartbroken.

JEAN finding it hard not to smile despite it all. LATER --

We follow JEAN through the dance floor, where ABI and LOIS are
throwing themselves around, uneven shadows crossing their faces as
the lava lamp does its thing.
 147
10.

134 INT. STAIRCASE - NIGHT. 134

Hunched in a ball, JEAN puts a cigarette in her mouth,
patting down her pockets for a lighter. Behind her, through the door
into the party - hazy, fleeting tableaus. Then, a backlit figure
heading towards the door. A familiar voice.

VIV
(sitting down next to
JEAN)
What are you doing out here?

JEAN turns, moved by this gesture. She looks into VIV’s eyes, feeling
her brain unravel.

JEAN
Hi.
VIV
Hiya.
JEAN
I’ll be back in in a sec.

VIV
Okay.

VIV holds her gaze for a moment. All that familiarity flooding back
into the space between them. Then she stands and heads back into
the party. JEAN lights her cigarette and takes a moment to stare out
into the darkness.

SLOW FADE TO
BLACK.

135 INT/EXT. JEAN’S CAR - MOVING - 135

DAY.

Hazy sunlight catches JEAN’s bonnet as she crosses The Tyne.

NEWS REPORT
Chaos on the roads this morning,
disrupting back to school traffic on the
A12 towards Gateshead.

At a junction she lights a cigarette and winds down the window.

That billboard we know so well has been defaced by graffiti.
 148
10.

136 INT/EXT. SCHOOL CARPARK/ JEAN’S CAR - 136

DAY.

JEAN pulls into the school carpark and cuts her engine. That familiar
TIDAL WAVE of shrieking and laughter as the student body surge
through the school gates.

We stay with JEAN for a moment.

A BOY on a skateboard whizzes by, slamming a hand on her

bonnet as he swerves into the playground. She barely registers.
Gathering herself, she opens the car door.

Through the car windscreen, we watch as JEAN strides across the

playground towards school. Halfway, an eager YEAR NINE STUDENT
appears, anxious for JEAN’s help with something.
Before long they’re both swallowed up by the steady flow of
students entering the building.

FADE TO BLACK.

137 OMITTE 137

D