The One About The Veil

1.  INT.  SUNNYSIDE SHOPPING CENTRE - THE ANGEL.  DAY.

The Angel Public House, which is in the main entrance way to Sunnyside in the covered open piazza.  It's mid-afternoon.  We see CRYSTAL, in her faded wedding dress, veil and trainers. She's with JOSEPH, who we last saw in The One About Crystal's Memory.  He has been as good as his word, and has bought her a drink - a Drambuie and Ginger - while he is sipping a pint of bitter, making it last.  They sit side by side on the bench against the wall, looking out, occasionally talking. The image is reminiscent of Toulouse Lautrec's L'Absinthe.  Nearby, the blind man -MILTON RADCLIFFE - is drinking a pint, his guide dog at his feet, talking on his mobile.  We last saw him in The One About The Royals.

JOSEPH

They showed me the inside of my brain.

All different colours it was.  All sorts

of colours.  Like a kaleidoscope.

CRYSTAL

I don't think I want to see the inside of

mine.  I'd be worried it was black and

white.  Or nothing at all.  Just white.

The Landlord, RONNIE THE MOOSE, comes up to them.  He leans in towards them, conspiratorial.

RONNIE

(To CRYSTAL)  I'm very sorry, madam.

There's no hats or hoods.

CRYSTAL

Pardon me?

RONNIE

No hats or hoods.

He points towards the doorway, where there are signs, including one which says 'No hats or hoods, for your safety and security.'

CRYSTAL

What are you telling me for?  I'm not

wearing a hat or a hood.

RONNIE

It's more the principal.  For security.

(He points towards the CCTV camera

in the ceiling).  Otherwise you can't

see their faces.

CRYSTAL

Who can't?  Whose faces?  What are

you talking about?

JOSEPH

He means the terrorists.  When they

come 'ere for a drink, they'll be caught

on camera.

CRYSTAL

But this is a veil ..

JOSEPH

'Bout the only place they will be caught. 

CRYSTAL

..  It's not a hat or a hood.

RONNIE

It's breaking the law.

CRYSTAL

I'm not taking it off.  And that's that.  This

is my wedding day, and there's only one

person I shall be lifting my veil for today,

and it's not you.  Good day.

2.  INT.  SUNNYSIDE - THE ANGEL.  DAY.

CRYSTAL is being escorted out of the pub by Security Officers CONNOR and HAYLEY, watched by the helpless JOSEPH.  She turns to MILTON RADCLIFFE as she passes him.

CRYSTAL

Why don't you do something?  You just ..

It's when people like you just stare,

that's what gets my goat.  People who are

old enough to know better.

CONNOR

(To CRYSTAL)  Can't you see, he's blind?

CRYSTAL

  That's no excuse.  (And then she turns

to RONNIE behind the bar)  You'll

regret this day, Mister Moose.  I'll be

back.  Heaven help you then.

The One About The Madonna

1.  INT.  SUNNYSIDE SHOPPING CENTRE.  DAY.

Pick up on AMADEUSZ, who we last saw watching the TV in The One About The Storm, pushing his cleaning trolley.  He is making his way towards the 50-foot metal monolith referred to in the first story, which is in the Central West Atrium.  It's a cross between the giant stone figures of Easter Island and a Henry Moore sculpture* - it has what looks like a kind of alien's head and elongated body holding a rounded form.  It is called Madonna And Child.

AMADEUSZ goes round the back of it.  In what is effectively the Madonna's calf muscle and Achilles heel - there is a door, with a sign:  Cleaner's Cupboard.  AMADEUSZ unlocks it and pushes his trolley inside.  He to closes the door behind him.  Darkness.

2.  INT.  SUNNYSIDE SHOPPING CENTRE.  DAY.

We see AMADEUSZ emerging through a hatchway into the head of the Madonna.  It's a small, confined space and dark, but for some limited light from the eye sockets.  It's not possible to fully stand up in.  He goes to the right eye and peeps out at the sprawling shopping centre below.

AMADEUSZ

I think it is good.  (He goes to look

out of the left eye)  No one sees any-

thing anyway.

AMADEUSZ lights two candles and places them in what appears to be a small shrine.  As the light grows we see that it contains a collection of plastic figures arranged around a cheap Christ.  They are free promotional toys from McDonalds for Shrek, Mister Men, The Simpsons, Bee Movie, The Spiderwick Chronicles and so on.

AMADEUSZ

(Talking to the toys)  As long as we

are careful, cover our tracks, we will

be safe.  Keep it under our hats, yes?

He picks up a photograph from the shrine.  It shows a hill overlooking a lake, bright yellow harvested wheat fields beside fields of lavender with thousands of butterflies.  He is lost in memories.

AMADEUSZ

I could not believe the yellowness of

the fields.  Or the blueness of the lake.

He puts the photograph back and picks up the figure of Shrek.  He presses a button on his chest.

SHREK

I'm an ogre!

* Henry Moore: Large Upright Internal/External Form, 1981-2