1. EXT. VICTORIAN VILLIAGE – NIGHT
FADE IN:
An ABANDONED house with BOLTED windows.
FADE OUT:
Darkness.
FADE IN:
The INSIDE of, what used to be, a DESERTED living room that consists of a disused FIREPLACE and an OLD WOODEN STOOL in the CORNER of the room just BEYOND the WINDOW.
FADE OUT:
Darkness.
FADE IN:
We’re in a small Victorian village. The entire street lit by streetlamps with many people still out and about. People on the streets sitting under shop doorways asking wealthier passers by for MONEY to help their families and some curled up inside a CARDBOARD BOX fast ASLEEP.
A YOUNG, POOR boy dressed in RAGS and a FLAT CAP sits in a shot doorway with the word BUTCHERS on the RED and WHITE canopy that hangs over the window. Below inside the window, fresh cuts of MEAT with some HANGING up by string and dripping with BLOOD. He looks around seeing families out and looking HAPPY whilst he sits here COLD and MISERABLE longing for a family of his own instead of living out on the streets.
He suddenly looks up into the sky with PLEADING eyes and then BOWS his head and puts his hands TOGETHER for a silent PRAYER. A few moments after, he’s stood up and scanning the street. He suddenly spots a pair of BLACK, SHINY BOOTS light bouncing off to illuminate them as if they are the most precious things in the world.
A BIG house stands proudly on the one side of the street. Each of the WINDOWS outlined with a GOLDREN strip, obviously belonging to some RICH family and RED CURTAINS at the windows that are all drawn apart from one. DINING ROOM.
2. INT. FAMILY’S DINING ROOM – NIGHT
Inside the family dining room, there are THREE guests sitting down to DINNER. A combination of CHICKEN, MASH POTATO and CARROTS. They are LAUGHING at a JOKE the father has told. The THREE guests raise their own GLASS in a toast but we are unable to hear what it is about. They are all SMILING.
3. EXT. VICTORIAN VILLAGE – NIGHT
The YOUNG, POOR boy has been watching from the HEDGE at this family having a good time and eating a proper meal, whereas he has had no luxury whatsoever and longs to be inside the house with them.
MEMORY:
DISSOLVE, PURPLE (misty) camera lense: The YOUNG, POOR boy can see himself sitting at home and around the KITCHEN TABLE with his family eating that very same CHICKEN meal and LAUGHING and generally having a good time. He sees his PARENTS SMILING at him as they gradually FADE away and disappear.
REALITY:
DISSOLVE back to normal, everyday lighting: The boy BLINKS several times.
He STARES into the same window at the family and then again at the BOOTS on the doorstep. Without taking a second glance, he CROUCHES down and
DASHES for the BOOTS, RUSTLING the hedge as he moves.
The RICH boy inside the house can see directly out into the street from where he sits at the SIDE of the LARGE table and sees the HEDGE move ever so slightly and STANDS.
RICH BOY:
(Posh, English accent)
I think I saw something move, may I?
He gets up and makes his way to the front door.
4. EXT. OUTSIDE THE HOUSE - NIGHT
Meanwhile the POOR boy has STOOD up to reveal his full height and STARES at the boots for a minute before SNATCHING them up and turns to RUN.
The front door opens with a CREAK and the RICH boy stands there, taking in his unwelcome visitor’s features with a DARK STARE. The POOR boy RUNS as fast as he can and turns a CORNER.
The RICH boy RUNS after him, signalling to a few of his friends (there are at least three of them) who are standing about in the dark with a swift hand motion so that they FOLLOW him.
The POOR boy stops for a split second and STARES up at a BLEAK, OLD ABANDONED house with the windows BOLTED up. He PANTS deeply trying to regain his breath. Hearing scampering FOOTSTEPS after him he tries the door. LOCKED. He panics and looks around. Deserted. He looks around for a second time over his SHOULDER and KICKS the door in with force. Door OPENS and small pieces of WOOD come free. He CREEPS in and pulls the door SHUT after him.
The group of RICH boys have spotted where the other boy is hiding and SMIRK to each other. They HUDDLE together and MUTTER to each other. We are not clear on what they are saying. They turn back and watch the HOUSE for any sign of movement. They pick up a long stick each found on the ground NEXT to a lonely horse CART. A BRAZIER stands next to it. FIRE CRACKLING. Swapping DIRTY looks between the FOUR of them, each of the boys hold their stick OVER the fire until it sets alight.
5. INT. ABANDONED HOUSE – NIGHT
The POOR boy looks around at the place he is standing it and SWALLOWS. He notices a WOODEN stool in the CORNER of the room and SITS on it, still holding the BOOTS as tightly as he can and begins to shake from the COLD as well as NERVES. He knows the other boys are out there. He can hear their chattering. He looks over his SHOULDER to see if he can see outside, but CURSES under his breath, which sounds a lot, like muffling.
6. EXT. VICTORIAN STREET, IN FRONT OF ABANDONED HOUSE – NIGHT
The gang of boys are now watching the house closely to see if the other boy shows his face and hands over the BOOTS.
RICH BOY:
(shouting)
I’m giving you five seconds to show yourself!
7. INT. ABANDONED HOUSE – NIGHT
Extreme CU: The young boy has SWEAT developing on his brow and swallows again; not daring to go out yet. Gets up off the STOOL and open the door a FRACTION. His dark EYE looking about and directly at the gang and quickly closes the door. He takes his place back on the STOOL and ROCKS gently from side to side.
8. EXT. VICTORIAN STREET, IN FRONT OF ABANDONED HOUSE – NIGHT
RICH BOY:
(Impatient, rushing)
I make that more than five.
He turns to his friends and gives them an EVIL smirk. THROWS the lit torch onto the house and watches it go up in flames. He stands with his arms FOLDED and NODS towards the house indicating that they must do the same. They obey.
9. INT. ABANDONED HOUSE – NIGHT
The YOUNG boy INHALES deeply and looks towards the door. He SNIFFS the air and looks around, recognising the smell of BURNING WOOD. FIRE rages through the walls and across the WOODEN FLOORS, slowly catching the WALLS. He panics and looks to the WINDOWS that are BOLTED shut. Then to the DOOR which is somehow JAMMED. He WHEEZES and COUGHS trying to push the door AJAR. No luck. There is NO escape. He soon COLLAPSES and lets the FLAMES take him.
FADE TO BLACK:
TITLE
FADE IN:
PRESENT DAY:
10. EXT. CHURCHYARD – EARLY AFTERNOON
We’re in a PUBLIC CHURCHYARD. The grass is OVERGROWN and the ENGRAVINGS on the GRAVES are just about readable. There have been FRESH bunches of FLOWERS brought to the yard to show respect to the deceased and a few PEOPLE standing ADMIRING the flowers and GRAVESTONE.
A BRUNETTE haired woman walks across a DESERTED churchyard after attending a FUNERAL and is all dressed in a BLACK SKIRT and JUMPER with a NETTED VEIL that covers half of her face. She is carrying a BLACK UMBRELLA to shelter her from the SPITTING RAIN.
She suddenly stops as the YOUNG, VICTORIAN boy appears as a GHOST to her. He has SOOT marks over his face and his clothes are RIPPED and have HOLES in them from the flames.
YOUNG BOY:
(Echoing, ghostly)
I’ve come to give you a warning…
FADE IN:
An ABANDONED house with BOLTED windows.
FADE OUT:
Darkness.
FADE IN:
The INSIDE of, what used to be, a DESERTED living room that consists of a disused FIREPLACE and an OLD WOODEN STOOL in the CORNER of the room just BEYOND the WINDOW.
FADE OUT:
Darkness.
FADE IN:
We’re in a small Victorian village. The entire street lit by streetlamps with many people still out and about. People on the streets sitting under shop doorways asking wealthier passers by for MONEY to help their families and some curled up inside a CARDBOARD BOX fast ASLEEP.
A YOUNG, POOR boy dressed in RAGS and a FLAT CAP sits in a shot doorway with the word BUTCHERS on the RED and WHITE canopy that hangs over the window. Below inside the window, fresh cuts of MEAT with some HANGING up by string and dripping with BLOOD. He looks around seeing families out and looking HAPPY whilst he sits here COLD and MISERABLE longing for a family of his own instead of living out on the streets.
He suddenly looks up into the sky with PLEADING eyes and then BOWS his head and puts his hands TOGETHER for a silent PRAYER. A few moments after, he’s stood up and scanning the street. He suddenly spots a pair of BLACK, SHINY BOOTS light bouncing off to illuminate them as if they are the most precious things in the world.
A BIG house stands proudly on the one side of the street. Each of the WINDOWS outlined with a GOLDREN strip, obviously belonging to some RICH family and RED CURTAINS at the windows that are all drawn apart from one. DINING ROOM.
2. INT. FAMILY’S DINING ROOM – NIGHT
Inside the family dining room, there are THREE guests sitting down to DINNER. A combination of CHICKEN, MASH POTATO and CARROTS. They are LAUGHING at a JOKE the father has told. The THREE guests raise their own GLASS in a toast but we are unable to hear what it is about. They are all SMILING.
3. EXT. VICTORIAN VILLAGE – NIGHT
The YOUNG, POOR boy has been watching from the HEDGE at this family having a good time and eating a proper meal, whereas he has had no luxury whatsoever and longs to be inside the house with them.
MEMORY:
DISSOLVE, PURPLE (misty) camera lense: The YOUNG, POOR boy can see himself sitting at home and around the KITCHEN TABLE with his family eating that very same CHICKEN meal and LAUGHING and generally having a good time. He sees his PARENTS SMILING at him as they gradually FADE away and disappear.
REALITY:
DISSOLVE back to normal, everyday lighting: The boy BLINKS several times.
He STARES into the same window at the family and then again at the BOOTS on the doorstep. Without taking a second glance, he CROUCHES down and
DASHES for the BOOTS, RUSTLING the hedge as he moves.
The RICH boy inside the house can see directly out into the street from where he sits at the SIDE of the LARGE table and sees the HEDGE move ever so slightly and STANDS.
RICH BOY:
(Posh, English accent)
I think I saw something move, may I?
He gets up and makes his way to the front door.
4. EXT. OUTSIDE THE HOUSE - NIGHT
Meanwhile the POOR boy has STOOD up to reveal his full height and STARES at the boots for a minute before SNATCHING them up and turns to RUN.
The front door opens with a CREAK and the RICH boy stands there, taking in his unwelcome visitor’s features with a DARK STARE. The POOR boy RUNS as fast as he can and turns a CORNER.
The RICH boy RUNS after him, signalling to a few of his friends (there are at least three of them) who are standing about in the dark with a swift hand motion so that they FOLLOW him.
The POOR boy stops for a split second and STARES up at a BLEAK, OLD ABANDONED house with the windows BOLTED up. He PANTS deeply trying to regain his breath. Hearing scampering FOOTSTEPS after him he tries the door. LOCKED. He panics and looks around. Deserted. He looks around for a second time over his SHOULDER and KICKS the door in with force. Door OPENS and small pieces of WOOD come free. He CREEPS in and pulls the door SHUT after him.
The group of RICH boys have spotted where the other boy is hiding and SMIRK to each other. They HUDDLE together and MUTTER to each other. We are not clear on what they are saying. They turn back and watch the HOUSE for any sign of movement. They pick up a long stick each found on the ground NEXT to a lonely horse CART. A BRAZIER stands next to it. FIRE CRACKLING. Swapping DIRTY looks between the FOUR of them, each of the boys hold their stick OVER the fire until it sets alight.
5. INT. ABANDONED HOUSE – NIGHT
The POOR boy looks around at the place he is standing it and SWALLOWS. He notices a WOODEN stool in the CORNER of the room and SITS on it, still holding the BOOTS as tightly as he can and begins to shake from the COLD as well as NERVES. He knows the other boys are out there. He can hear their chattering. He looks over his SHOULDER to see if he can see outside, but CURSES under his breath, which sounds a lot, like muffling.
6. EXT. VICTORIAN STREET, IN FRONT OF ABANDONED HOUSE – NIGHT
The gang of boys are now watching the house closely to see if the other boy shows his face and hands over the BOOTS.
RICH BOY:
(shouting)
I’m giving you five seconds to show yourself!
7. INT. ABANDONED HOUSE – NIGHT
Extreme CU: The young boy has SWEAT developing on his brow and swallows again; not daring to go out yet. Gets up off the STOOL and open the door a FRACTION. His dark EYE looking about and directly at the gang and quickly closes the door. He takes his place back on the STOOL and ROCKS gently from side to side.
8. EXT. VICTORIAN STREET, IN FRONT OF ABANDONED HOUSE – NIGHT
RICH BOY:
(Impatient, rushing)
I make that more than five.
He turns to his friends and gives them an EVIL smirk. THROWS the lit torch onto the house and watches it go up in flames. He stands with his arms FOLDED and NODS towards the house indicating that they must do the same. They obey.
9. INT. ABANDONED HOUSE – NIGHT
The YOUNG boy INHALES deeply and looks towards the door. He SNIFFS the air and looks around, recognising the smell of BURNING WOOD. FIRE rages through the walls and across the WOODEN FLOORS, slowly catching the WALLS. He panics and looks to the WINDOWS that are BOLTED shut. Then to the DOOR which is somehow JAMMED. He WHEEZES and COUGHS trying to push the door AJAR. No luck. There is NO escape. He soon COLLAPSES and lets the FLAMES take him.
FADE TO BLACK:
TITLE
FADE IN:
PRESENT DAY:
10. EXT. CHURCHYARD – EARLY AFTERNOON
We’re in a PUBLIC CHURCHYARD. The grass is OVERGROWN and the ENGRAVINGS on the GRAVES are just about readable. There have been FRESH bunches of FLOWERS brought to the yard to show respect to the deceased and a few PEOPLE standing ADMIRING the flowers and GRAVESTONE.
A BRUNETTE haired woman walks across a DESERTED churchyard after attending a FUNERAL and is all dressed in a BLACK SKIRT and JUMPER with a NETTED VEIL that covers half of her face. She is carrying a BLACK UMBRELLA to shelter her from the SPITTING RAIN.
She suddenly stops as the YOUNG, VICTORIAN boy appears as a GHOST to her. He has SOOT marks over his face and his clothes are RIPPED and have HOLES in them from the flames.
YOUNG BOY:
(Echoing, ghostly)
I’ve come to give you a warning…
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