A Day Can Change Everything By Ben Lewcock-Howard

EXT. HOUSE EVENING SAM and DAD stand outside, a letter in SAMs hand, his dad nodding and SAM slowly smiling. The scene is silent, SAMs mouth moves, but we dont hear what he says, DAD nods to what he says... Darkness. SAM (V.O) They say a day can change everything, Its been 5 years since my dad was sent to prison, he writes to me every single week, and today, he comes home... INT. SAMS ROOM DAYTIME. EARLY MORNING Sam opens his eyes, moving the bed cover off him, he lies face up in bed, shielding his eyes as the sun hits them. He sits up out of bed...It fails, he tries again, rubbing his bed-hair, groaning as he stretches. Yesterdays clothes litter his floor, worksheets litter his desk, a bunch of letters with his dads name on cover the desk, all unopened.. he slumps back to the bed, swaying his arm at the side of his bed as he crumples the side of his face against his pillow. This part will show alot of SAMs life in the room, interests via pictures, trophies, work etc. He hears a knock on his door, glancing up at the alarm clock, he presses the snooze button, rolling back over to sleep. MUM opens the door, letting in more light, Sam reacts by pulling the cover back over him. MUM Hope youre ready for today, your grandparents will be over soon. She closes the door, walking back downstairs. Sam throws the cover off him, his face set as stone. And this day was going so well... Closing his eyes he tries to go back to sleep, reopening them after a few seconds, he looks up at the ceiling, he knew this was a big day for him, for everyone in his family. He could hear the rest of his family downstairs preparing the celebrations.

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He hears a knock on his door, sitting up as his MUM opens the door. MUM is already dressed, a cardigan wrapped around her. MUM We need your help setting up the table for today SAM Im not going to help out this stuff now am i? MUM Look, this is hard for all of us, not just you, dont try and make this all about you. SAM Dont make this all about me? Im not the one who still refuses to tell me what hes even in for. SAM stands up to his mum, neither saying a word. His mum leaves, shaking her head as she closes his door. INT. LIVING ROOM/KITCHEN INT. SAM walks into the room where the rest of the family are on the sofas, the decorations surround the room. As he walks in, the room goes quiet, the laughs and conversation from before stop, all at once everyone drinks from there tea. Sam stops as he walks in, glancing from side to side as he steps through into the kitchen, moving balloons out of the way as he steps through. GRANDDAD Nice of you to join us, finally decided to help out have you? SAM glances out from the fridge, shaking his head as he pulls food out. Ignoring his granddad he walks back out of the front room, downing his drink as he leaves. MUM Hes going to be here soon Sam, are you going to be here when he arrives? SAM pauses at the door, looking over to his mum, the whole room is watching him. SAM puts his hands into his hoodie,

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His MUM just nods her head, that look of disappointment on her face, the rest of the family stay quiet, wanting to voice their disapproval. GRANDDAD shakes his head as he leaves the house. The living room stays quiet as he leaves. EXT. HOUSE AFTERNOON SAM shrugs his coat on, hands in pockets as he walks down the road, as he leaves the driveway a taxi pulls up outside, Sam turns his head to the car, still walking down the road. As he watches, a bald man steps out, wearing a leather jacket, looking down the street and then towards SAM. Narrowing his eyes as he looks down, taking a slow step towards him. The door of the house opens up, MUM runs out, embracing the man, its his DAD. of course he didnt recognize him, its been five years. SAM waits around, waiting for his family to go back inside, his DAD keeps looking round to SAM, wanting to shout out to him. SAM walks back to the house, slowly past the front window where the family is laughing at DADS reaction to the celebrations. He lowers his head, walking off into town. Leaving the cheers of his family behind him. INT. LIVING ROOM The family are all sitting around, DAD is standing, kind of separated from everyone, MUM is sat in the closest chair to him as he looks at all the decorations laid around. DAD So, where is he? The family go quiet, GRANDDAD scoffs into his tea as mum twiddles her fingers. DAD sinks down into the chair. DAD I bought him this letter, if you see him then yno let him know. DAD reaches into his jacket, holding a makeshift envelope in his hand.

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DAD I got the letters he sent, Ive been writing back but i dont think hes been getting them. GRANDDAD Ahh cmon dont get down about him, he doesnt do anything around here to deserve that sympathy, hell just stick to his room, stick to his PC. Surprised if he even knows what the word social means. DAD stands up, almost confronting his Father-in-Law, he looks back to see MUMs face, he slowly sits back down. DAD thats my son youre talking about. GRANDDAD If you loved them then why get involved in shit like crime? DAD You need to think about it for a second dont you. The room goes quiet again, the stares between the two linger, waiting for someone to defuse the situation. EXT. TOWN LATE AFTERNOON. SAM walks through town, jacket wrapped closely around him. He walks past a few people, none of them look at him. SAM walks past a TV store, showing the news. He walks past it but hears his dads name. He stops, backtracking to infront of the TVs. REPORTER On other news, local prison HMP Sudbury has reported Anthony Hughes as missing. Due back on wednesday police say to contact them with any details. The REPORTER gathers his notes, swapping papers round. REPORTER It is reported that Mr. Hughes has served five years in prison for illegally carrying firearms and (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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REPORTER (contd) class A drugs. He was also linked to several major crimes around Derbyshire. They advise you keep caution if approached by this man. SAM looks on in shock, the street behind him comes to a stop. SAM stands alone in the world, the world blurs out of view as he watches the report. INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHTTIME The family are sat around eating dinner as the door opens. MUM and GRANDDAD look up at each other from their food. SAM walks in, DAD gets up out of his chair his leather jacket on the sofa, hes tried to look smart, a blue collared top on with jeans, he slowly walking towards SAM. DAD Im s.. SAM Youre what? sorry are you? Bit too late for that now isnt it. DAD I tried alright, i sent you letters, Im sorry that they didnt arrive SAM looks away, avoiding his dads eyes. DAD You never read them did you... DAD nods, lips pursed. SAM keeps looking out the window, glancing back to his Dad. SAM Should of thought of that before you got done for drugs. DAD looks back to MUM DAD You told him? MUM shakes her head.

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DAD Then how does he know? SAM What? it was meant to be a secret? Its all over the news, youre to be reported missing to the police. SAM looks at the families response, before looking his DAD in the eyes. SAM You didnt tell them? What the fuck is wrong with you? DAD stands there, holding tears back, MUM has her hands over her mouth while the grandparents sit in shock. DAD ...Alright then, if you want to know why i havent returned. DAD looks to the whole family, confronting his son in front of everyone. DAD I missed you, Ive missed seeing you grow up. SAM Then why leave me DAD looks at SAM, shaking his head. DAD Because Im not good enough. As DAD talks to SAM, a police car pulls up outside, DAD looks outside, then back to SAM, who hangs his head, looking up slowly at his dad. Without a word, DAD reaches into his jacket, pulling out a letter, placing it on the coffee table before walking past his son. SAM looks down at the letter, picking it up as his dad walks out the door with the officer. SAM is left on his own, the family may as well be stone in the corner of the room, the letter in his hand, as if it cant be opened. Slowly SAM reads the letter, finishing it, he turns to the open door and starts chasing after his DAD.

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EXT. HOUSE EVENING SAM chases his DAD as he walks towards the car, the officer holding DADs arm back as SAM walks closes. DAD Look, i know Im not the best in the world, but youve all Ive got. Im just asking for you to give me a chance. SAM stands there, not saying a word. He grips the letter in his hand. Raising his arm, handing the letter back to his dad. SAM I cant accept this, i know youve tried, i get that youre sorry. DAD is staring at the crumpled letter in his hand. SAM But its too late. You dont even know me anymore DAD looks shocked, but he knows its true, slowly nodding in agreement before placing the letter back into his jacket. He holds out his hand. SAM looks down at it, accepting the handshake. DAD It was nice seeing you, Sam. DAD steps into the car, the officer nods to SAM before driving away past the corner, SAM It was nice seeing you too, Dad. The car pulls off as SAM stands in the shadow of the streetlight SAM (V.O) They say a day can change everything, but sometimes that day comes too late.