The One About The Skateboarders

1. EXT. SUNNYSIDE SHOPPING CENTRE. DAY.

One of the rear service yards to the shopping centre. A sign on a wall reads ‘F Service Yard.’ Another, with a clamping graphic, says ‘Cars parked here without authorisation will be clamped.’ Some cars parked, refuse wheelie-bins, and over the way below wire fencing a line of recycling units - for bottles, plastic, paper, clothes.

Signs everywhere: ‘Danger. Vehicles unloading’ ‘Sprinkler Stop Valve’ ‘Cars parked without authorisation will be clamped’ ‘No parking’ ‘No skateboarding’ and ‘CCTV cameras are operating in this area.’

WINOS drinking Tenants Super near to the rear sliding entrance doors to the shopping centre. Across the way, a telecom engineer’s temporary work hut has been erected.

Some KIDS aimlessly kicking about their skateboards near to the fence. They’re not skating really - the occasional jump maybe, but it’s like they’ve been doing it all morning and they’ve finished for the day. Now they’re just hanging around. They are JOSH (14), JAM (16) and ERROL (15).

CONNOR (late 20S) and HAYLEY (25), security guards, appear through the rear entrance doors. Behind them, graffiti on the wall: “The Outlaws Cry” and “Crazy Horse.”

2. EXT. SUNNYSIDE SERVICE YARD. DAY.

CONNOR and HAYLEY are with the KIDS.

CONNOR

It’s breaking the law. (He indicates a

sign on a wall, ‘No skateboarding’)

ERROL

But we’re not doing nothing.

CONNOR

So what are those? (Indicates their skateboards)

ERROL

Doesn’t mean nothing.

3. EXT. SUNNYSIDE SERVICE YARD. DAY.

Another kid, KURT (18), approaches the others.

JAM

(To KURT) What’s happening?

KURT

Fuck all.

HAYLEY takes out a pad and starts filling in a form, like a parking attendant dishing out a ticket.

HAYLEY

What’s your name?

KURT

What y’wanna know my name for?

HAYLEY

I’m giving you a fixed penalty notice.

KURT

You what?

JOSH

That’s nice.

HAYLEY

Eighty pound fine for swearing.

KURT

You must be fucking joking.

HAYLEY

No I’m not.

KURT

Says who?

HAYLEY

Says the law. Under the Public Order Act.

KURT

Nothing to do with the public though, is it?

And nothing to do with you. ‘Cos it’s just

between me and me mates. Meaning it don’t

concern you. So keep your nose out of it.

HAYLEY

What’s your name?

KURT

I’m not telling you.

The others start to laugh.

JOSH

It’s Kurt.

KURT

(To JOSH, annoyed) Oi you.

HAYLEY

Kurt what?

JOSH

Cobain.