THE SCRIPT - Unauthorised Absence

I have a script of 1,816 words now:

FADE IN:

EXT. STREET

ELLIOT DOWNING, a 17 year old student wearing a white button-up shirt with a red jumper, jeans and his school lanyard with a badge saying student council, walks down his street to the bus stop, where he stands for a bit, until his bus comes. When the bus pulls up in front of him, he steps inside.

Elliot scans his bus pass, and goes and sits near the end of the bus. On the bus ride Elliot pulls out some headphones and starts listening to music. While the bus is driving, Elliot spots a black motorcycle being rid the same route to the school.

When the bus starts to approach the college, Elliot presses the stop button and stands up. He walks down to the front of the bus and waits for it to stop.

ELLIOT

Thank you.

He thanks the driver, as he gets off of the bus and starts walking into the college.

On his way into college, Elliot spots the motorcycle he saw while on the bus. Beside the bike is one of his classmates ADRIAN MONTGOMERY, who is wearing a black band t-shirt, a thick biker jacket and ripped black jeans.

INT. COLLEGE

When Elliot walks into the school he goes through security showing his ID, whereas Adrian has to speak to the receptionist, since his ID is missing from his person.

Once inside the college, Elliot goes through the hallway, passing groups of people talking and laughing. Elliot reaches the classroom door and looks in, then entered.

INT. ENGLISH CLASS

The seats and desks were arranged in rows facing the teacher's desk. Elliot decided to sit in one of the seats at the front. All of the desks have paper facing upside down. Elliot gets his pencil case out, then the teacher enters.

ENGLISH TEACHER

Okay, you can start the test now.

2.

Elliot flips over the paper he was given reading the question he needs to answer. Immediately he starts planning his answer. The teacher walks to the front of the class and opens her laptop and starts scrolling through.

Just as he's about to start writing his answer to the question, the teacher says.

ENGLISH TEACHER (CONT'D)

Elliot? The headmaster wants to see you in his office. You can complete the test for homework.

Elliot places the pencil case and test paper into his bag and leaves the classroom.

INT. WAITING ROOM

He walks down the hall and up some stairs to a seating area, where Adrian is sat waiting to speak to the principle. Elliot sits down leaving a chair of space between them.

ADRIAN

Didn't expect to see you here...

Elliot ignores him and faces the wall looking at thee display on the wall.

ADRIAN (CONT'D)

Has the golden boy fallen from grace?

ELLIOT

People don't only go to the headmaster's office when they're in trouble, you know?

Adrian feigns shock at Elliot's response.

ADRIAN

True. I doubt you've ever done something wrong in your life.

ELLIOT

(defensively)

I've broken rules before.

ADRIAN

Bet you've never skipped class.

ELLIOT

That's because I value my education.

3.

Adrian laughs in response.

ADRIAN

You probably couldn't even do it if you tried. You'd turn yourself in.

ELLIOT

I'm not that much of a buzzkill.

ADRIAN

Prove it to me. Skip with me.

ELLIOT

But-I-the-you-the headmaster still needs to speak with me.

Adrian hums in disappointment.

ADRIAN

Thought so.

He stands up and starts to leave.

ELLIOT

Wait!

Adrian pauses in place, a smirk spreading on his face.

ELLIOT (CONT'D)

What would we even do?

ADRIAN

Whatever we want to.

Elliot glances at the headmaster's door and then back at Adrian, and then at the door and then at Adrian. Then he stands up.

ELLIOT

It's just one day...

ADRIAN

That's the spirit! Follow me!

Adrian leads Elliot back through the school and out to the exit.

EXT. PARKING LOT

They approach the black motorcycle from before and Elliot's stomach drops as he realises that they will be using that to travel around.

4.

ADRIAN

Luckily, I have a spare helmet.

He pulls out a black helmet and a grey one, and offers the grey one to Elliot. Elliot takes the helmet and awkwardly fiddles trying to put it on. Adrian puts on his helmet with ease.

ADRIAN (CONT'D)

Do you have anything you'd like to do, or do you want to go on an adventure?

ELLIOT

I don't know...

ADRIAN

Adventure it is.

He sits on his motorbike and kicks off the safety stand.

ADRIAN (CONT'D)

Get on behind me.

Elliot did as instructed and carefully wraps his leg over the side, using Adrian to stable himself.

ADRIAN (CONT'D)

Okay, put your feet on the pegs and

don't move them. Even at stops.

Elliot finds the pegs with his feet and places them there securely.

ADRIAN (CONT'D)

Hold onto my waist, and if you need me to stop tap me with your hand, okay.

Elliot slowly places his hands where instructed and second guesses his decision to join him.

ELLIOT

Okay.

ADRIAN

Now cling on for dear life.

Adrian starts up the motorbike and starts driving out of the car park.

5.

EXT. STREET

He starts off slow but picks up speed as he's on the road. They drive for a bit of time and Elliot starts off very tense but as tie continues he starts to relax, especially when they get to traffic lights.

After some time of driving, Adrian pulls up in front of a house and parks the motorcycle. He takes his helmet off and pushes back his hair.

ADRIAN

Stop number one.

He gets off the bike and waits for Elliot to join him. Awkwardly Elliot tries to get off, almost falling as Adrian helps him out. He then clicks off his helmet and leaves it with the motorcycle.

Adrian approaches the house and knocks, a university aged guy answers the door. He's fairly tall and has messy blonde hair and is wearing a brown hoodie with stains on it and baggy jogger bottoms.

PETE

Adrian come in!

ADRIAN

I brought a guy from my school with me.

He says as he gestures to Elliot, as he quietly waves, even though he's in talking range.

PETE

The more the merrier.

INT. HOUSE

The house is slightly run down with mess and dust all over. There's tears in the wallpaper and dirt in the carpet. Pete leads them into the living room that has a drum set, a bass, a guitar and microphone set up with a cheap, brown couch facing the instruments. Sitting and standing at the instruments were two other people. On the drums was KYLE REED, a guy with a ton of piercing and black hair, on the bass was EVE PIERCE, a girl who wore a t-shirt with a band logo on the front.

ADRIAN

Hey guys, this is Elliot.

Eve smiled as a greeting as she tuned her bass, Kyle nodded.

6.

PETE

I'm guessing you're here for a performance.

ADRIAN

You bet.

Adrian jumped onto the couch, and sat crossed legged. Elliot sat down on the couch also, sitting on the edge in the corner.

PETE

We'll have to give you a show then.

Pete walked over to the guitar and started to tune it.

PETE (CONT'D)

Ready guys?

The band nodded, and Kyle started counting down.

KYLE

3... 2... 1...

After one they began to play, a soft cord played out and Pete began to sing. The song illustrates the journey of a lost boy in a supermarket looking for his mother. In the chorus, Eve joining in in singing, harmonising with Pete. Elliot has a surprised look on his face, and Adrian is smirking. When the song finishes, Elliot starts clapping.

ELLIOT

(enthusiastically)

That was so good!

PETE

Thanks. Do you want to listen to another one?

ELLIOT

Yes! Please?

The band ends up playing two more songs and Elliot is as surprised and entertained as the first song. He starts to tap his foot against the floor and nod along. After the third song, Adrian checks the time and jumps up.

ADRIAN

Lunch time! Time for stop number two.

Elliot stands up and follows Adrian out of the house.

7.

ELLIOT

Thank you for the show. Bye.

PETE

Bye.

EXT. STREET

They both get back onto the motorcycle and put their helmets on. Adrian starts driving again, but this time Elliot is less anxious.

Adrian pulls into a McDonalds parking lot and parks.

ELLIOT

I don't have any money.

ADRIAN

It's alright, I have enough for us both.

Elliot looks guilty, but follows Adrian into the restaurant.

INT. MCDONALDS

The restaurant is modern and is partially full. They approach one of the ordering machines.

ADRIAN

So, what do you want?

Elliot taps on the machine and only gets fries and a drink. Adrian orders after getting a Big Mac meal. He chooses take out rather than eat in. Then, he takes out his card and pays for it, and takes the receipt. Both of them stand waiting for the worker to call out their order. When their order was called, Adrian went and got it then walked back to Elliot.

ADRIAN (CONT'D)

Follow me.

Elliot nodded and followed Adrian out of the store.

EXT. PARKING LOT

They walk through the parking lot and then passed the motorcycle, leaving the parking lot and up a hill.

8.

EXT. HILL

They reach the top of the hill then sit down. There is a good view of the parking lot and the McDonalds. Both of them starts eating silently, but when Elliot finishes eating before Adrian, the silence broke.

ELLIOT

Why are you doing this?

Adrian glances up from his food confused.

ELLIOT (CONT'D)

Why are you paying for my food and showing me your friend's band? We've hardly spoken before.

ADRIAN

You looked like you needed a break... And... We used to be neighbours, until my mum remarried.

ELLIOT

(surprised)

Wait, you're Adrian Turner?

ADRIAN

Yeah.

ELLIOT

You've changed so much! You used to be so...

ADRIAN

Chubby?

ELLIOT

Funny.

ADRIAN

Funny? That's one way to say it...

ELLIOT

What happened?

ADRIAN

Well, I got tired of being made fun of so I started to change my eating habits and exercising.

ELLIOT

Why didn't you talk to me sooner?

9.

ADRIAN

You didn't recognise me.. And you were always busy with school.

ELLIOT

Man that's crazy... Adrian Turner...

Adrian is about to say something, when suddenly Elliot's phone starts to ring. The caller ID says "Mum", so he answers it.

ELLIOT'S MUM

(panicked)

The headmaster called me saying you haven't been in your lessons all day! Where are you!?

ELLIOT

Oh shi-

FADE TO BLACK.