48.EXT. CITY DAY (B)
GEORGE becomes panicked. He looks around guiltily. He speaks low, nervous, he looks everywhere.
GEORGE (ON MOBILE)
Twins? What is that Michael? Impossible. It can only be some shit blackmailer stringing you along.
MICHAEL (IN OFF, ON MOBILE)
He’s not a blackmailer... he doesn’t know anything.
GEORGE (ON MOBILE)
I don’t believe it!
48.INT. MICHAEL’S HOME OFFICE DAY (A)
MICHAEL (ON MOBILE)
Seriously... He only came here because he found Janine’s magazines with my pictures...
GEORGE (IN OFF, ON MOBILE)
Man... are you home?
MICHAEL (ON MOBILE)
Yes I am...
GEORGE (IN OFF, ON MOBILE)
Okay... relax... I'll be with you soon.
ELIPSE OF TIME
49.EXT.MICHAEL’S HOME GARDEN DAY
GEORGE arrives to MICHAEL’S house by car. We follow him. GEORGE parks the car, gets out and goes into the house.
50.INT. MICHAEL’S HOME OFFICE DAY
MICHAEL
is near the window with a blank stare on his face. GEORGE enters from
outside. They greet each other with a hug. Both are concerned.
GEORGE
What really happened? How is this possible?
MICHAEL
I do not know... The boy said his mother hid him, but she had no time to hide his brother.
GEORGE
What is this MICHAEL... maybe it’s another person... There's no shortage of these crimes.
MICHAEL looks sternly at GEORGE.
MICHAEL
The boy spoke her name. He even said his mother had a
pub Lewisham. He spoke of Janine, addressed her by her full name...
That kid is my son.
MICHAEL is broken. GEORGE sits down on the couch.
GEORGE
My God, what will you do?
MICHAEL
What will I do?
GEORGE
Michael, the kid could start to ask questions.
MICHAEL
What questions?! He could not even imagine what happened. He has no chance of asking any questions.
GEORGE
But if he does?
MICHAEL is silent. GEORGE rises, nervously walking from one side to the other.
GEORGE
We'll have to do something.
MICHAEL
What’s the idea? He is my son.
GEORGE
Michael... He does not know this. And you do not know him for sure.
MICHAEL looks strangely at GEORGE.
MICHAEL
What do you mean?
GEORGE
He cannot be allowed to walk around.
MICHAEL
Stop it... George you've done enough. The boy will not even dream of it being a possibility.
GEORGE
Let's just wait and see.
GEORGE looks threateningly at MICHAEL. MICHAEL looks away, uncomfortable in not knowing how to react.
51.EXT. CITY DAY (SCENE set to music)
Following
MAGPIE who is sad and walking slowly. He sits in a bench near a park.
He takes an orange from his bag. His eyes are watery but he is serene.
He peels the orange lazily. A police car stops nearby in the street.
MAGPIE remembers the POLICE could be looking for him. He gets up and
walks away trying not to attract attention to himself.
52.INT.MICHAEL’S HOUSE OFFICE DAY (SCENE to music)
MICHAEL
is sad. Peeking through the window he looks at JOHN working in the
garden. MICHAEL stretches on the couch. He is thinking in a vacuum.
53.INT.PUB BEDROOM NIGHT (SCENE to music)
MAGPIE enters from the street. Indolent, he lies in bed. He looks at the photograph of Janine.
MAGPIE
Sorry Mum... I was unable to get your surprise.
MAGPIE bursts into tears. He puts the magazines under the photograph.
54.EXT.MICHAEL’S HOUSE GARDEN DAY
JOHN is working. The bell of the gate rings. JOHN opens it. It’s MAGPIE.
MAGPIE
Good Day Mr. John… Can I come and help you today?
JOHN
I don’t know... sorry...
JOHN hesitates, but MICHAEL appears at the window of the house and tells JOHN.
MICHAEL
John, you can let him in.
JOHN looks at MICHAEL with surprise. JOHN smiles at MAGPIE.
JOHN
You arrived in time kid. We have much work to do!
JOHN beckons MAGPIE forward who smiles and follows
JOHN. MICHAEL in the window of the house watches MAGPIE who soon begins
to help JOHN.
JOHN
What are you up to boy? What was that story with the magazines?
MAGPIE
Nothing sir...
JOHN
Nothing was not it. You knew very well that Mr. Michael lived here. So you were here waiting for an opportunity.
MAGPIE
But I did nothing wrong... Only I really wanted to meet him.
JOHN
You were not very honest with me.
MAGPIE
Why? I did not lie to you. You also asked a lot of questions.
JOHN
That's true. But I did not want any trouble, see? Now I'll have keep an eye on you.
MAGPIE
You can trust me...
A car horn sounds at the entrance. JOHN opens the
gate. GEORGE arrives. He parks the car and leaves. JOHN closes the
gate. GEORGE looks at MAGPIE and talks to JOHN.
GEORGE
Who's that kid?
JOHN
He's a boy who is helping me in with the garden.
GEORGE
Keep an eye on him... Those chavs are dangerous now.
GEORGE looks threateningly to MAGPIE and enters the house. JOHN is baffled, and heads back to MAGPIE.
MAGPIE
God, that guy scares me.
JOHN
It is George, a friend of Mr. Thompson. He’s a
strange guy. Keep away from him. I do not trust him much... He’s always
bossy and disrespectful. Of all the friends of Mr. Thompson, he is the
one that gives me Goosebumps... Just forget him. Let's return to work.
MAGPIE
Yes sir.
55.INT.MICHAEL’S HOME OFFICE DAY
MICHAEL is sitting on the couch. GEORGE peeks through the door.
GEORGE
What are you doing? Are you crazy? Letting that kid walk around?
MICHAEL
What is it George?... I told you the kid does not know anything.
GEORGE
But that's no reason to let him loose, walking around your house.
MICHAEL
What else can I do? He was here to work. If I send
him away for no reason, then it is more likely he will start asking
questions.
GEORGE
Come on... that’s a lame excuse. You are at risk. For
all you know the kid is already up to something... He could still
blackmail you. Do you want that?
MICHAEL
George stop it! Why can you not agree that it is a coincidence... it’s happened... nothing more.
GEORGE
A coincidence? Don’t you think that strange? Why has a boy come knocking on your door?
MICHAEL
He found Janine’s magazines... Magazines with my photos. He just followed the dream of his mother.
GEORGE
If he found, the police could also find out...
MICHAEL
What... there is no issue anymore, it ended. Nobody
remembers today. No one else is interested in what happened. Janine did
not have family nearby; those in the depths of Inverness may even have
forgotten her name.
GEORGE
But I will not take those risks. I will not take any risks! Do you hear?
MICHAEL
It’s your behaviour that will draw attention... And just remember, it was you who killed Janine.
GEORGE angrily grabs MICHAEL by the collar. GEORGE speaks through clenched teeth.
GEORGE
What do you mean? Do not think for one second that I
can’t drag you into this mess! It would be very easy for me to do. How
could you explain that the only one interested in the death of Janine
was you?
MICHAEL violently throws GEORGE’S hands away from his collar.
MICHAEL
You crossed the line! You committed a vile and crude
murder. You're a horrible person... I should have delivered you to the
police.
GEORGE
Go then... Run to the police and I’ll drag you
through the mud too. It could finish your career... (With disdain) if
it is not over already.
MICHAEL pushes GEORGE out angrily. MICHAEL is frozen. He is clearly affected by the conversation with GEORGE.
56.EXT. MICHAEL’S HOME GARDEN DAY
GEORGE
leaves the house angry. He gets in the car and drives to exit via the
gate. Impatiently, he beeps the car horn several times without
stopping. He looks angrily at JOHN as he runs to open the gate. GEORGE
leaves with no thanks and exits at high speed. JOHN watches the car
disappear down the street and shakes his head. He closes the gate and
goes back to MAGPIE.
JOHN
Did you see that... So rude. He may be rich but he still has to be educated.
MAGPIE
I promise that. When I’m a Star, I'll always be polite to everyone.
JOHN
And it will make you a very good man! Never forget it... or I will not be your gardener.
The
two laugh. JOHN adjusts the ladder and begins to work. MAGPIE still
laughing also begins to sweep. The two work well together.
57.INT.ORPHANAGE DAY
A POLICE talks with SISTER VIRGINIA. Another POLICE waits at the door.
POLICE 1
We will be looking SISTER. Yesterday a car on duty saw a boy much like yours near a park.
SISTER VIRGINIA
And why did they not bring him back? He has been missing for a long time.
POLICE 1
The guards were not sure whether it was him and did not want to frighten him. This kid was not showing any suspicious behaviour.
SISTER VIRGINIA
Why were your police not better informed? I sent photos to all the stations and hospitals.
POLICE 1
SISTER, there are dozens of miscreant children in London so it’s not easy to find a boy if he is not doing any harm.
SISTER VIRGINIA
I just want to know that he is well. I don’t’ want him to become a nuisance or create trouble.
POLICE 1
We will do our best sister.
SISTER VIRGINIA
Thank you. May the Lord help you in your search.
Both POLICE go out into the street. SISTER VIRGINIA worries. SISTER TERESA approaches from the hallway.
SISTER TERESA
Mother is there any news?
SISTER VIRGINIA
Nothing clear. The police officers think that one shift saw him by a park, but there are no certainties. They will keep looking.
SISTER TERESA
I just hope he is ok.
The SISTERS are worried as they look on near the front door.
58.EXT.MICHAEL’S HOME GARDEN DAY
MAGPIE finishes his work. JOHN helps him store the gardening tools. MICHAEL approaches them.
MICHAEL
So, your day has ended?
JOHN
Yes sir. Just over one day and we’ve already finished these hedges. Magpie was a good help indeed.
MICHAEL
I can see. Do you enjoy your tasks?
MAGPIE
Yes sir I do.
MICHAEL
Just as well. I've been thinking... I wanted to
apologise for what happened yesterday. I wasn’t feeling well... I was a
little rude to you.
MAGPIE
You do not have to feel bad... I understand.
MICHAEL
Do you have your magazines? I’ll sign them for your mother.
MAGPIE remembers leaving the magazines at home and weakens a little.
MAGPIE
Oh... I thought you wouldn’t want to sign them. I left them all at home. But can I bring them another day?
MICHAEL
Yes you can. (Reflects for a time) Better yet... I'll take you home. That way I can still sign your magazines today. Ok?
MAGPIE
Really? How nice!
JOHN thinks MICHAEL has a strange attitude, but smiles anyway.
MICHAEL
Prepare your things then and we’ll leave.
JOHN
Let me fix up the rest Magpie. I wouldn’t want to make Mr Thompson wait for you.
MAGPIE runs and grabs in his bag, ready to go. JOHN,
in a good mood, opens the gate. MICHAEL gets in the car and signals to
MAGPIE to enter on the other side. MAGPIE enters, timid and shrunken.
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