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from Drinking Chocolate

by

INT. DISUSED BUILDING
As LOLA enters the house, JOHNNY stands in the middle of the room. He's been eagerly awaiting her return.
JOHNNY
You took your time.
LOLA
What?
JOHNNY
Never mind. Do you have any money saved?
LOLA
I might. Why?
JOHNNY
Look, it doesn't matter. Take this.
Johnny hands Lola some crumpled banknotes. Lola looks at them suspiciously.
LOLA
What's this for?
JOHNNY
Go and get a dress or something.
LOLA
A what?
Lola laughs at Johnny. This irritates him.
JOHNNY
Look, just go and get something nice to wear. We're going out.
Johnny looks very uncomfortable, and Lola notices how difficult this is for him.
LOLA
Where are we going?
JOHNNY
You'll see. It's a surprise.
Lola reconsiders the money but decides against questioning Johnny again.
LOLA
OK, when?
JOHNNY
Tonight, I mean, well, now. You'd better hurry.
Lola looks very confused, but trusting Johnny, she throws her dance books on the bed and turns to leave.
LOLA
Are you coming?
JOHNNY
Good God, no. You go, but be quick.
LOLA
Ok, I'm gone.
EXT. STREET - EVENING
Lola skips from the building, excited by the prospect of a night out.
INT. CLOTHES SHOP
Lola runs into a ladies clothes shop. Her entrance stops the conversation of the sales assistants, all of whom turn to stare at her. Lola loses her newly acquired smile as the SHOP MANAGER nods to a gossiping assistant named JASMINE.
Lola browses the rails and then examines the money Johnny handed her. She counts out fifty pounds and looks amazed.
Lola eventually decides on two items, both dresses.
SHOP MANAGER
They're twenty pounds each.
Lola looks at the shop manager defiantly.
LOLA
Then I might buy both, if I like them.
The shop manager calls to Jasmine who makes her way over.
SHOP MANAGER
Jasmine, this, err, young lady would like to try these on.
As Jasmine escorts Lola away from the manager, the manager scoffs under her breath.
SHOP MANAGER (CONT'D)
(mumbling)
Take the air freshener too.
Jasmine laughs while smacking gum and leads Lola toward the dressing room.
Lola enters the dressing room, and Jasmine stands guard outside. The women make no small talk.
INT. CLOTHES SHOP FITTING ROOM
Lola slips out of her army-green work-wear and tries on the first dress. She likes it but doesn't feel comfortable in it. She drops it to the floor and snatches the other dress from the hanger. She likes this one better and does a twirl in front of the mirror.
Lola takes off the dress and puts her own clothes back on hurriedly.
INT. CLOTHES SHOP
As she leaves the cubicle, Lola hands it to the suspicious Jasmine.
LOLA
I'll take this one.
JASMINE
Anything else?
The shop assistant looks at Lola disapprovingly.
LOLA
I need a nice jacket.
The shop assistant walks toward a clothes rack filled with jackets. The rack has a sign above it that reads "on sale" in big red letters. Lola glares angrily in response to Jasmine's insinuation, but with Johnny's words "Hurry up" still ringing in her ears, she avoids a confrontation.
Lola approaches the rack and flips through the jackets until she finds one she likes. After a few seconds, she grabs the jacket and takes it to the cash register.
LOLA (CONT'D)
I'll have this one too, please.
The shop assistant doesn't respond but takes the jacket and bundles it in the bag with the dress.
SHOP MANAGER
That's forty four pounds fifty.
Lola hands over the money and takes her new purchases from the shop manager without exchanging any words. Lola then turns and leaves the shop.
LOLA
Have a nice day!
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Lola skips through the streets, dodging people as they head home from work.
Soon, she approaches her and Johnny's home.
INT. DISUSED BUILDING
Lola enters with her bags. Johnny, who has changed clothes and now wears a black jacket and a smart shirt with dark trousers, approaches her. He extends his arms toward Lola as he does so.
JOHNNY
How do I look?
LOLA
Fucking hell! We off to a James Bond convention? This is the first time I've seen you without army clothes on. Very smart! Now, where are we going?
JOHNNY
You'll see. Now get changed quickly.
Lola takes her bags into the makeshift bathroom, and Johnny walks around the main room which serves as Lola's bedroom.
MOMENTS LATER
Lola appears again, dressed in her new dress and jacket. She has applied some make-up and tidied her hair but still wears her old, gray sneakers.
LOLA
Well?
JOHNNY
Blimey, you scrub up well. You look lovely, Lola.
Johnny examines Lola from head to toe. He finds it funny that she still wears her sneakers but doesn't comment.
LOLA
So where are we going?
JOHNNY
You'll see.
Johnny extends a bent arm to Lola who accepts it. They link arms and make their way toward the front door.
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
This way, Miss Lola.
Lola laughs at Johnny and squeezes his arm.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
As the pair walk through town hurriedly, they don't speak but are visibly happy.
After some time, they approach a Tube station and enter.
INT. TUBE TRAIN
Sitting next to Johnny, Lola examines the balding head of a man sitting opposite them. The balding man gazes at Lola's dirty sneakers judgmentally.
After riding for several stops, Johnny stands, and Lola takes his arm as they jump from the train.
INT. TUBE STATION
Johnny and Lola follow the signs to the exit.
EXT. CENTRAL LONDON - NIGHT
Exiting the Tube station, Lola sees the bright lights of Central London and looks at Johnny.
LOLA
Thank you!
JOHNNY
You don't know where we're going yet.
LOLA
Yes I do, and it's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me.
JOHNNY
No you don't. It's part of the surprise.
LOLA
OK, whatever you say, but let's hurry up.
Lola kisses Johnny on the cheek and looks to him for direction. Johnny leads her off, looking a little uncomfortable at being kissed.
Approaching a West End theatre, Lola stops and looks up at the theatre lights. Johnny keeps walking towards the theatre, and, after a few beats, notices Lola isn't walking beside him. He turns to see Lola surrounded by a crowd of people looking up at the lights and the posters. She is crying.
Johnny makes his way back through the crowd to Lola.
JOHNNY
What is it? What's wrong?
LOLA
Nothing's wrong.
JOHNNY
So why are you crying? I thought you'd like it.
LOLA
I love it Johnny. It's what I've always dreamt of. It's beautiful.
JOHNNY
Then wipe your eyes and come on. We'll be late.
Lola wipes her eyes with her sleeve, smudging her make-up.
INT. THEATRE FOYER
Lola and Johnny enter the theatre and make their way through a crowd buzzing with small-talk. Lola is visibly excited by the atmosphere.
Some of the theatergoers give Lola and Johnny a cautionary look, but Lola doesn't notice. She is inhaling the atmosphere.
Johnny pulls out two tickets and leads Lola inside the theatre.
INT. THEATRE SEATS
Lola watches the stage with wide eyes. They flicker from one part of the stage to another as she absorbs every detail of the action in front of her. Johnny regularly glances at Lola and smiles at her enthusiasm.
INT. THEATRE BAR
During the interval, Johnny and Lola loiter in the public bar area. Lola holds an orange juice while Johnny sips a large beer. Some people look suspiciously at Lola's choice of footwear and her smudged make-up.
LOLA
(quietly)
Johnny, why are they all looking at us?
JOHNNY
Maybe because we look like celebrities.
LOLA
Or maybe we look like we're homeless and stole the tickets.
JOHNNY
Well, that's half right, anyway.
LOLA
But why? I mean we just want to see the show like everybody else.
JOHNNY
Some people will notice certain things about us and presume we shouldn't be here.
LOLA
They wont look at me like that when I'm on stage.
Johnny smiles a faint smile.
JOHNNY
No, they certainly won't.
LOLA
I could you know.
JOHNNY
Could what?
LOLA
Do it.
JOHNNY
Do what?
LOLA
Be on that stage dancing. I could do it.
JOHNNY
I don't doubt that for one minute.
LOLA
Are you taking the piss?
JOHNNY
No, I believe you.
SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT (O.S.)
Will you kindly take your seats? The second half of tonight's performance is about to begin.
JOHNNY
Drink up. We don't want to miss anything.
Before Johnny can finish his sentence, Lola finishes her drink and begins making her way toward the theatre entrance.
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
All right. Slow down.
INT. THEATRE SEATS
Johnny and Lola take their seats for the second half of the show. The curtain goes up, and the action on stage once again transfixes Lola.
EXT. THEATRE ENTRANCE - NIGHT
Johnny fastens his coat and looks around for the Tube station. The signs, lights, and crowd once again captivate Lola.
JOHNNY
Come on then.
LOLA
Wait a minute. I want to make sure I remember everything.
JOHNNY
OK, but it's getting cold. We'd better head back now.
LOLA
Come here.
Lola looks at Johnny. Lola pulls his coat, and as he leans down to her, she kisses him on the lips. Johnny looks very uncomfortable.
JOHNNY
Come on. Let's go.
LOLA
No, it's not over yet.
JOHNNY
What? Of course it is.
LOLA
I have to take you somewhere now.
JOHNNY
Let's go.
LOLA
Look, it's my dream. We have to.
JOHNNY
What dream?
LOLA
When I was a kid, I dreamt of a posh night at the theatre, of seeing the dancers, of hearing the songs. Then my mum and I would go out and get ... look, I'll just show you.
Lola scampers off, pulling Johnny by his sleeve.
After a few minutes pushing through the crowds, they find a burger van. Inside, a BURLY MAN sells freshly made beef burgers.
LOLA (CONT'D)
Hello, may I have two cheeseburgers please?
BURLY MAN
Certainly, darling.
JOHNNY
You don't have to do that.
LOLA
Yes, I do. It was always part of the dream.
Lola pays the man, takes the two burgers, and hands one to Johnny.
JOHNNY
Thanks.
LOLA
Over here
Lola points to a statue and walks off. When she gets to the statue, she sits on it, and as she devours her burger, she scans the passersby, watching them enjoy their evening out.
LOLA (CONT'D)
This was always part of it, me and my mum having a burger, then going home and dancing the steps we saw onstage.
JOHNNY
Well, I'm not dancing any steps with you. You can forget that one.
Lola laughs.
LOLA
I didn't think you would, but I can do them. I'll put on a show for you.
JOHNNY
I can't wait.
They finish their burgers and reluctantly walk toward the Tube station.
EXT. STREET DISUSED BUILDING - NIGHT
Arriving home, Lola hugs Johnny's arm tightly, talking excitedly about her adventure. Johnny just listens.
LOLA
The bloke at the end, I mean, he was about the same age as me, really, which proves I could do that. I mean, I bet he trains everyday. I bet he has to work really hard, but that's a good thing. I mean, all that training is why he's up there, right?
Johnny forces the building's door open.
INT. DISUSED BUILDING
LOLA (CONT'D)
I mean, if I had that much training, I could be up there. And then you'd be able to come and watch me when ...
The sound of wood splintering interrupts Lola. On edge, she glances around the dark room.
After a few beats, something strikes Johnny, and he falls to the floor. Three men surround him and kick him in the ribs while MAN 1 grabs Lola, throws her onto her bed, and looms over at her menacingly.
MAN 1
Hello, remember me? It's your friend.
LOLA
Leave him alone, you fucking prick. Leave us alone you cunts!
MAN 2 laughs and speaks to Man 1.
MAN 2
See, still got some spirit.
MAN 1
She wont have when I've fucking finished with her. Him neither, that wanker.
Man 1 runs up to Johnny, who is lying on the floor, and kicks him hard. This knocks Johnny unconscious, and Man 1 returns to the bed and begins stroking Lola's hair.

Citation: Wall, Si. 8 December 2012. "from Drinking Chocolate." SCRIPTjr.nl. https://scriptjr.nl/scripted-narrative/original/drinking-chocolate-si-wall/ (accessed [PDT / -7:00]).

Updated: December 8, 2012 at 1:43 am (PDT / -7:00)

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