DETACHED

By
Niall O’Loughlin
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INT. HARRY HOME – NIGHT

SLOW MOTION ZOOM/DOLLY SHOT ON: BACK OF BOY (20s), SAT ON
BED IN A MORBIDLY DULL LIT ROOM. BOY HAS HEAD TIGHTLY
GRASPED IN HANDS, PULLING BACK HIS STRAGLED HAIR, HEAD
HUNG. NEXT TO HIM IS GIRL (20S) STOOD UP, SLOW MOTION
SHOUTING AT HIM,
ZAY
You don’t have money, you don’t have a house, you don’t
have a car. You don’t even have any fucking goals in
life, you’re just a fucking bum. You are not a man; I
don’t know why I wasted my fucking time on you.

HER MUFFLED VOICE SLOWLY TURNS TO WHITE NOISE IN THE

BACKGROUND. THE WHITE NOISE BECOMES MORE AGGRESSIVE
BECOMING LOUDER THE CLOSER WE GET TO THE CHARACTER (BOY).
SUDDENLY NOISE CUTS OUT AS WE CUT TO THE BEDSIDE DRAWER,
UNOPENED.
CUT TO:
BLACK. TITLE FADES IN AND OUT – DETACHTED
CUT TO:
INT. HARRY HOME – DAY/EARLY MORNING
HARRY PUTS EARPHONES IN, PRESSES PLAY ON HIS PHONE.
MUSIC CUE: Where’s My Love by SYML
CUT TO:
WE FOLLOW HARRY AS HE WALKS DOWN A LONG HALWAY ALONE, THEN CUT
TO HIM WALKING WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND (ZAY). HE OPENS THE DOOR TO
THE GYM FOR HER, THEY WALK UP THE STAIRS TOGETHER, HAPPY,
LAUGHING, HARRY HELPS HER WORK OUT, ASSISTING WITH THE
WEIGHTS, WE THEN CUT TO HARRY, ALONE, WORKING OUT. HE WALKS
OUT OF THE GYM, BACK TO HIS DARK APARTMENT, STARTS TO MAKE A
PROTEIN SHAKE, HE STARES AT THE SCOOP, WE THEN CUT TO HIM WITH
ZAY, LAUGHING, MESSING WITH THE POWDER. THEY BOTH LAUGH, SUN
SHINES THROUGH TO THE APARTMENT. CUT BACK TO THE SCOOP, HARRY
DROPS IT ON THE COUNTER AND WALKS AWAY OUT OF FOCUS.
END MUSIC CUE: FADE OUT
WE CUT TO HIM IN THE CORNER OF HIS ROOM, HEAD IN KNEES, HIS
PHONE RINGS, HE EAGERLY PICKS UP THE PHONE, HE DISSAPOINTINGLY
FINDS IT TO BE ‘DAD’.
DAD
Hey, are you OK?
HARRY
I’m fine, dad.

DAD
She left 3 months ago, you really need to grow up son.
HARRY
I know dad.
DAD
You need to be a man and stop this shit, ok?
HARRY
OK, I’ll speak to you later, I have to go to work.
DAD
Alright, speak to you later.

HARRY HANGS UP AND ROLES HIS HEAD BACK TO THE WALL, TAKING A
DEEP SIGH. HE STARES AT THE UNOPENED DRAW.
CUT TO:
HARRY IN THE BATHROOM, SPLASHING WATER ON HIS FACE,
MASKING SHOT SHOWS HE IS NOW DRESSED IN HIS SUIT
WE FOCUS ON A BOTTLE OF PILLS (MEDICATION) NEXT TO HIM, HE
OPENS THE BOTTLE AND TAKES TWO, STARING AT HIMSELF IN THE
MIRROR WITH LITTLE EXPRESSION. HE WALKS OUT OF THE BATHROOM.
LEAVING HIS APARTMENT.

CUT TO: HARRY IS ON THE TRAIN, FACING TWO SEATS, WE FLASH BACK
TO HIM AND ZAY SITTING IN THOSE SEATS, HOLDING HANDS, HER HEAD
RESTED ON HIS SHOULDER, AND THEN CUT BACK TO HARRY, A GLIMMER
OF SADNESS DANCES IN HIS EYE, BUT NO TEAR IS SHED.
CUT TO:
INT.OFFICE – DAYTIME
HARRY ENTERS AN OFFICE, WHERE HE SEES HIS COLLEAGUE CAROLINE,
WHERE HE LAYS HIS LAPTOP DOWN AND STARTS TO WORK.
CAROLINE
Hiya, you alright?
HARRY
Yeah, not too bad, how are you?
He says with a tiring smile.
CAROLINE

Oh, good, good, just have to run these forms to reception. But
I need you to cover Amanda’s shift tonight, OK? I’m sure you
can handle that.
HARRY
That’s fine, see you later.
CAROLINE
Alright then, see you shortly!

HARRY PLACES HIS LAPTOP DOWN AND DROPS INTO HIS CHAIR, WE THEN
CUT TO NIGHT, WITH THE LIGHTS OFF, HE SITS IN THE SAME
POSITION, STARING INTO THE SCREEN, WITH A BLANK EXPRESSION ON
FACE. HE SHUTS THE LAPTOP, CUT TO DARKNESS.
CUT TO:
EXT: ALLYWAY
HARRY WALKS DOWNS A DARK ALLYWAY TO A SHADY FIGURE, HE GREETS
HIM WITH A FAMILIAR HAND SHAKE.
TOM
Yo, What’s up man, you good yh? Haven’t seen you in a long
time.
HARRY
Yeah man, just working, keeping busy, you know.
TOM
Alright bro, well it’s 30 for that, yh?
TOM REVEALS A SMALL BAG OF COCAINE IN HIS HAND.
HARRY
Appreciate it man.
HARRY GIVES TOM £30 AND TAKES THE SMALL BAGGIE.
TOM
You sure you all good yeah?
HARRY
I’m fine!
HARRY SNAPS BACK SHARPLY AND STERNLY.
 TOM
Alright man, whatever you say. In a bit yeah.
THEY SHAKE HANDS AND PART WAY.
CUT TO:
INT: HARRY’S APARTMENT
FOCUS ON: A ROLLED UP £10 NOTE NEXT TO THE OPEN BAG OF COCAINE
WITH RESIDUE ON THE TABLE, WE FOLLOW A MONTAGE OF THIS DRUG
ABUSE THROUGH THE DAYS. HARRY ATTEMPTS TO CALL ZAY SEVERAL
TIME. STRAIGHT TO VOICEMAIL. HE STUMBLES OUT OF HIS APARTMENT
SHUTTING THE DOOR BEHIND HIM.
CUT TO:
INT: ZAYS BUILDING
THROUGH THE WINDOW SHOT TO HARRY STANDING OUTSIDE ZAYS
APARTMENT, DEBATING WHETHERE TO KNOCK, WE SEE THE BATTLE ON
HIS FACE, HE’S TOO AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. HE LEAVES
CUT TO:
INT: HARRYS APARTMENT
EMPTY ALCOHOL BOTTLES LITTER THE FLOOR. WE SEE HARRY ON THE
SOFA HEAD DEEPLY TUCKED IN HANDS AGITATED, HE PULLS HIS HAIR
BACK AND BREAK’S INTO TEARS, SCREAMING WITH FLASHBACKS OF ZAY
IN THE SUNLIGHT APEARING IN FRAME. HE WALKS TO THE UNOPENED
DRAWER WHERE HE FINDS A GUN INSIDE. HE KNEELS INFRONT OF THE
DRAW PLACES THE GUN IN HIS MOUTH AND PULLS THE TRIGGER.
FADE TO BLACK
INSERT STATISTICS.
INSERT HELPLINES.
END
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