“LOOSE CHANGE”
FADE IN:
INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY
Teenage boy is lying face down on a sofa with his mouth wide open and a bucket in front of him. A radio can be heard from another room of the house. Boy starts groaning and moving about. His eyes begin to open then he covers his eyes quickly due to the light shining in through the curtain.
BOY
Ugggghhhh, who left the curtains
Open?
Footsteps can be heard coming from another room…
MOTHER
Oh, so you’re up now. You look
dreadful, what time did you get
in last night?
BOY
I don’t even know. I want to
die. I am never drinking again.
MOTHER
It’s all self inflicted, I have
no sympathy for you.
BOY
Groans
MOTHER
Anyway, some of us have to work
this weekend. Your brother’s at
dad’s and he’ll be back this
(MORE)
MOTHER (CONT’D)
afternoon. Try not to die.
I’ll see you later.
BOY
Mmm’kay, I’ll be here when you
get back.
LATER
Boy is asleep again and suddenly jolts up and runs out of the room. Throwing up noises can be heard.
BOY (O.S)
I hate my life.
Sounds of toilet flushing.
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
Follows boy walking through hall holding on to walls for support. Staggers in to kitchen seen through door way.
INT. KITCHEN – DAY
Boy stands in the kitchen looking around swaying slightly. Begins to make his way towards a cupboard by the sink. Opens it up and starts rummaging round. Pulls his arm back empty handed.
BOY
Why is there never any bloody
coffee. This place is ridiculous.
Walks away from the cupboard across the room and towards the fridge. Opens fridge and it is practically empty. Only items in fridge are butter, milk, jam and what appears to be something growing in a jar that the boy pulls out, smells and gags…
BOY
No food either, this takes the piss.
Boy then walks to the side and picks up a phone. Ferociously dials and number and holds the phone up to his ear.
MOTHER (V.O)
Hello sweetie, made it off the sofa then?
BOY
Yeah, mum, why’s there no food or
coffee in the house? I’m starving
and all there is is butter and milk.
MOTHER (V.O)
Oh, sorry dear, I’m heading shopping
after work I’ll pick up some stuff then.
BOY
That’s hours away, my stomach is
eating itself.
MOTHER (V.O)
Well there’s not much that I can do
right now, surely you’ve got some money,
pop down to the shop and get some bacon
and bread if you need to.
BOY
I spent all my money last night,
I only have loose change.
MOTHER (V.O)
I don’t know what else to say,
there’ll be some somewhere. I’ve got to
get back to work , I’ll see you later.
BOY
Brilliant. See you later.
Boy slams phone in to charger and storms upstairs.
INT. BEDROOM – DAY
Boy walks in to room and moves to dresser. Picks up loose change on top and starts to count it out. He moves around the room hunting for change. Jumps across his bed and pulls out some coins from the side of the mattress. He opens a rucksack from the foot of his bed and pulls out old sweet wrappers and the occasional coin. Puts all the change on the side of the dresser. Walks towards the bedroom door.
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
Boy walks out of bedroom door and starts pacing around the hall debating what room to walk in. Goes into a door at the end of the hall.
INT. MASTER BEDROOM – DAY
Boy is inside his mum’s bedroom and begins opening drawers and tipping them out rummaging around her stuff looking for change. Yet again finds the occasional coin but nothing substantial.
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
Walks back down hall into a room next to his own.
INT. CHILD’S BEDROOM – DAY
Boy has stepped inside a young boy’s bedroom filled with toys. Starts looking about the floor finding the odd penny. Suddenly his eyes lock on to a piggy bank. Slowly starts walking towards the piggy bank. He picks it up and shakes it, hearing that it is fairly full he walks away with it.
INT. BEDROOM – DAY
Boy has returned into his room with his brother’s piggy bank, he gives it a look and then smashes it down on to his dresser. The piggy bank breaks and reveals a mass of copper coins and the odd silver. The boy yet again starts to count the money.
BOY
£3.50, that’s not going to get me bread,
bacon and coffee.
INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY
Boy is sitting on the floor of the living room surrounded by sofa cushions with a handful of change in his hand. Gets up to leave the room.
INT. KITCHEN – DAY
All the drawers are open and the whole pile of change is on the side, the boy is yet again counting it out. Next to the pile of money is a poorly sellotaped piggy bank with a piece of paper sticking out the top.
BOY
£5.22, that’ll do it!
EXT. STREET – DAY
Boy is walking down the road with sunglasses covering his face and one hand trying to block the sunlight. He eventually walks to the outside of a local shop.
INT. SHOP – DAY
Boy walks through the shop to where the bread is, he picks up a loaf priced 99p. Walks down another aisle to the coffee priced £2.25, he then goes to the bacon and picks it up with the price labelled £1.99. He begins to walk to the til and stands waiting to be served. He is eventually next in line and places his stuff on the side. The woman behind the till starts scanning his items.
SHOP WORKER
That’ll be £5.23 please
BOY
NO! You’re kidding, I only have
£5.22 to my name!
SHOP WORKER
Oh, well you’re going to have
to put something back I’m afraid.
BOY
PLEASE, please can you let me off 1
penny, I will come in and pay it back
tomorrow, I promise.
SHOP WORKER
That’s not how it works I’m afraid,
we don’t do I.O.Us.
BOY
IT’S 1 PENNY! THAT’S NOTHING, HAVE
SOME HEART AND LET ME OFF!
SHOP WORKER
We don’t tolerate abuse towards staff
in this shop, I’m going to have to
ask you to leave the premises.
BOY
NO! I’VE NOT GOT THIS FAR TO JUST
GIVE IN, I BEG YOU, LET ME OFF THE PENNY!
Boy is sitting on curb outside shop with his head in his hands. He is quietly weeping to himself. Someone walks out of the shop with their hand in their pocket. Their phone begins to ring and as they pull it out of their pocket a penny drops to the floor in front of the boy. He just stares at this penny on the floor, mouth open wide.
FADE TO BLACK.
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