Breathe

OVER BLACK

The sounds of a moving ceiling fan (O/S)


INT. MATT’S BEDROOM – AFTERNOON

Seen through the moving blades of a ceiling fan:

Afternoon sunlight streams through a large window and illuminates a small bedroom in amber hues.

15-year-old MATT lays face-up on his bed with his long, fragile limbs sprawled out over the edges. He stares out through vacant eyes at nothing in particular.

(O/S) The MUFFLED YELLING of a man, MATT’s DAD, in another room of the house penetrates the walls and causes the room to quiver.

A door SLAMS (O/S) and the books and knick-knacks of the bedroom shelf rattle. The MUFFLED YELLING continues (O/S)

MATT stretches a pale, battered arm out for something and draws in a brown paper bag to his face. The bag crumples in as he inhales the contents with a RASPING BREATH. His hand and the bag drop down beside him and his eyes roll back.

Slow Motion and M.I.S, except for the WHOOSH of the fan blades and MATT’s labored breathing.

He snaps his eyes open as he chokes on his own closing windpipe.

MATT’s hand reaches out to the bedside table and fumbles with an asthma inhaler. As MATT’s chest heaves and his eyes water up he struggles to wrap his fingers around the inhaler. Finally he grabs it, brings it to his mouth and sprays.

The door creeks open and his MUM stands in the shadow of the doorway, trying to hide her tear streaked cheeks. Like her son she is pale, thin, and bruised.

MUM
can you pick your sister up?

MATT pumps his inhaler twice more and breathes in deeply.


INT. SWIMMING POOL - AFTERNOON

Thirteen-year-old TESS is suspended in the pool water, unmoving. The water casts blue rippled shadows across her placid, goggled face.

She kicks out suddenly and her legs and arms cut through the water to keep her in place.


EXT. OUTSIDE SWIMMING POOL - AFTERNOON

Plain, but not unattractive, TESS emerges from the swimming hall with short hair sticking out messily, her old swimsuit showing beneath an equally old and threadbare towel. There are impressions on her face where her goggles and swimming cap were. She pauses and looks uncertainly around the crowd.

Around her other girls, with new swimsuits and bright fluffy towels, greet mothers loudly and cheerfully.

MATT leans against a tree by the road. He picks distractedly at an old sore on his elbow

TESS holds her towel more tightly around her shoulders as she picks her way through the crowd towards MATT. She stands, trembling, in front of him.

MATT looks around and notices another frowning at TESS’ towel.

MATT
(to himself)
Shit
(to TESS)
Come on, then

He throws his arm around TESS and draws her into a hug, and glares back at the other girl.


INT. BATHROOM – NIGHT

TESS’ head bobs around in a bubble bath. She hums “three little fishies” to herself.

O.S the muffled sound of a plate breaking, and her DAD yelling

DAD (O/S)
You sack of shit

MATT bursts through the door and locks it behind him. He leans his head against the wooden door and squeezes his eyes shut.

The bath water splashes as TESS moves slightly.

MATT straightens up and walks to the sink beside the bath. He grabs his toothbrush from the ceramic jar sitting on the shelf and starts brushing his teeth.

A door slams (O/S) the walls rattle and the jug falls off the shelf. It hits TESS’ head. She ducks under the water and emerges again. A trickle of blood trails from her hairline down her forehead.

MATT backs into the opposite corner of the bathroom and slides down the wall to a sitting position on the floor

TESS
What?

TESS raises her hand to where the jar hit her and pulls her bloody hand down to look at it.

MATT
I’m so sorry


INT. TESS’ BEDROOM – NIGHT

Eyes squeezed shut, TESS Buries her head in her pillow.

Two arms reach out and shake her shoulders

MATT
(whispering)
TESS, TESS, wake up

She opens her eyes and see’s MATT bent over her, fully dressed

MATT (CONT’D)
Come on, we have to go



INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

MATT and TESS, in jeans and jumpers and with backpacks, move silently along the wall.

The room is dark but for a blue light emitting from the television. Their MUM sits on the couch watching it.

Expressionless, she turns her head to stare at them and turns her head back to the tv.


EXT. VERANDAH – NIGHT

MATT and TESS’ DAD slumps in a chair beneath a flickering fluorescent light. Half smoked cigarette in one hand, beer can in another, eyes closed and mouth slightly open.

MATT and TESS creep out of the front door.

DAD
(drowsily)
Where are you going?

MATT and TESS glance back. Their DAD hasn’t moved, his eyes are still closed. They keep moving

The DAD reaches out and grabs TESS’ backpack.

MATT steps between them and pulls her away. He then takes a swing at his DAD.

His DAD blocks the punch then grabs MATT by the collar of his jumper and pushes him back.

MATT, in turn, falls against TESS, causing her to go tumbling down the steps to the concrete path.


EXT. BUS STOP – MORNING

MATT and TESS wait for the bus in their shabby school uniforms.

TESS leans against crutches, her left leg is in a cast.

The bus pulls up.

INT. BUS – MORNING

There are a few kids other kids on the bus. A few single seats are left open, and one set of two seats together. MATT pushes past TESS and squeezes in beside a FAT KID eating a donut.

The FAT KID sucks chocolate icing from his fingers.

TESS struggles into an empty seat further to the front. She glances back at MATT, who looks out the window.


EXT. SCHOOLYARD – MORNING

Last off the bus, TESS struggles down the stairs. She stands helplessly in the yard while other students bustle past her, and watches MATT duck behind a brick building across the yard.


EXT. BEHIND SCHOOL BUILDING – MORNING

MATT cups his hand around his mouth while he lights a cigarette. He inhales and coughs. His equally scruffy FRIEND snorts and takes a puff from his own cigarette.

TESS shuffles around the corner. MATT’s FRIEND notices her first and nudges MATT.

TESS
MATT?

MATT pushes her away and TESS falls against the wall.

MATT
Get outta here, will ya?

TESS moves back around the building, out of sight.


INT. CLASSROOM – DAY

Students are arranged with easels in a circle around a table filled with random objects

TESS stares past the table to a small fish tank on her TEACHER’s desk. It contains a single goldfish. The fish and bowl are outlined on her canvas
Her TEACHER, a young redhead in jeans, walks behind TESS and places a hand hesitantly on her shoulder.

TEACHER
That is – very nice, TESS

TESS looks out the window at two boys leaving the schoolyard.


INT. MATT’S BEDROOM – DAY

MATT (O/S)
She’ll be right, mum’s out doing the shop around this time

MATT’s bedroom door swings open and MATT and his FRIEND walk in. The FRIEND switches on the overhead fan and they both sit on the floor


INT. ENTRANCE TO SCHOOL BUILDING – DAY

TESS sits on the school steps watching other children running around and playing.

Her TEACHER comes up behind her

TEACHER
TESS? why don’t you come in and help me clean up the classroom?


INT. CLASSROOM – DAY

TESS washes paint from pots and pallets in a large metal sink. She becomes dizzy from the paint fumes and her knees buckle slightly.

The TEACHER walks behind her and holds her back to keep her steady

TEACHER
Sorry

The teacher opens a window and turns the overhead fan on.
MONTAGE

Slow motion and M.O.T except for the noise of the fans.

1) MATT’s FRIEND sprays aerosol can into paper bag and inhales from the bag

2) Gold and blue paint streaks in water washing down drain Tess dries her hands on an old stained towel

3) Old truck pulling into driveway, worn tires caked in dirt. Car door opens – worn brown working boot steps out

4) MATT and FRIEND lie on carpet: MATT coughing, FRIEND laughing

5) TESS claps blackboard erasers out window, coughing from dust

6) DAD walking across verandah to partially open door

7)MATT reaches in his pocket for his inhaler while FRIEND turns toward door, alarm on his face

8)TESS grabs the fishbowl in one hand, holding her crutch in the other, and turns to place the bowl on the window sill

9)DAD enters room, FRIEND dodges under him and runs out the door. MATT tries to dodge his DAD, DAD reaches for him and slips on the asthma inhaler, crushing the blue plastic case

10)The fish bowl slips from TESS’ hand, drops to the ground and shatters, glass and water spread across the floor at her feet

11)MATT stumbles down the hallway, clutching his chest and wheezing


EXT. FRONT LAWN – CONTINUOUS

Sound returns slowly, starting with MATT’s labored breathing.

MATT collapses on the brown grass at the front of his house. He rolls onto his back and stares up at the sky, gasping for breath.

His DAD falls to his knees beside him and shakes MATT by the shoulders

DAD
(distorted)
Matt, Matt? Come on little buddy. Matt, breathe


INT. CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS

In a pool of water and glass the goldfish thrashes about. The sound of it’s fins slapping the water and ground loud and exaggerated.

Sound and Time return to normal.

TESS tries to bend down to pick up the goldfish but her cast prevents her. Tears stream down her face

TESS
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I …

She chokes back her tears as the TEACHER runs over.

The fish’s thrashing slows, it lies in the glass and water with its mouth sucking at air, its gills flapping. Finally it stops moving.


END.

(I wrote this in class yesterday so i will probably come back and fix it up. Formatting and margins correct in original form)