Photograph (c) Ronan Gallagher 95
END OF INNOCENCE
Written By
Ronan Gallagher
(C) Ronan Gallagher 94
SCENE
1
FADE
IN:
EXT.
A BOGGY HILL . NIGHT.
Dusk
is falling on a rugged, hilly landscape dotted with gorse bushes. The harsh
light of winter sets a cold mood on the hill. We see a pheasant rise in the
distance. A shot rings out and the pheasant falls to earth.
CUT TO:
We
see a man and his gundog. He has just shot the pheasant and he lowers his gun.
MAN
Fetch
Rua......... Fetch!
The
dog, a red setter, runs off in the direction of the stricken bird.
MAN
Go
on girl.......... Fetch!
The
dog reaches the area where the bird has fallen. It sniffs the ground in search
of a scent. Suddenly it veers off in a different direction, as if on a new
scent.
MAN
Rua!.....Ah
Christ.. you stupid dog...
The
dog reaches a clump of furze bushes and begins barking wildly. The man walks
towards the dog resignedly.
MAN
Not
there you mutt.....
The
man reaches the dog and pulls it away in the direction of the fallen bird.
MAN
Come
on you daft thing..it’s getting dark.
The dog is barking almost hysterically now and keeps pulling back to the furze bushes.
MAN
What
the hell is eatin you ?
The dog breaks free, runs back to the bushes and stands there, barking. The man walks to the dog and pats him.
MAN
Ok, what’s in there girl?......Let’s have a look.
He
begins examining the bushes and sees a young girl’s shoe.When he bends down to
pick it up he notices something else.
FROM
MAN’S POV
He
pulls back the bushes to get a closer look. A child's foot is protruding from
the inner thicket.We see the expression of horror on the man’s face.
MAN
Oh
my Jesus... Sweet Jesus no...
FADE OUT:
SCENE
2
INT.
CARAVAN. NIGHT
The
interior is dark. THOMAS MCDONAGH, an itinerant is sleeping in his bed. Suddenly
the door to the caravan bursts open and a number of people enter with
torchlights. Mc Donagh wakes from
the noise and sits up in bed. A torchlight shines on his face. He is frightened
and unsure.
FROM
MC DONAGH’S POV
The
lights blind him and he can only see shadows and uniforms. Someone speaks to him
in an angry tone. It is SEARGANT
KILRANE
SGT KILRANE
Are
you Thomas McDonagh?
CUT TO:
FROM
SGT KILRANE’S POV
The
torchlight illuminates McDonagh’s face. He
is scared and confused. He raises
his hand against the light.
MCDONAGH
What’s
all this about?
SGT KILRANE
Are
you Thomas Mc Donagh?
MCDONAGH
Yes.
Yes I am..... I don't want no trouble.
A
second voice speaks.
2nd VOICE
That’s something your going to get plenty of, ya murderin bastard!
Somebody
smashes McDonagh across the head. McDonagh curls up defensively as blows rain
down on him. A scuffle ensues as
McDonaghs attacker is pulled off. McDonagh
is bloodied and terrified now.
MCDONAGH
Please
stop, I’ll move on, I swear.
SGT KILRANE
You’re
goin nowhere knacker. Not for a very
long time. Thomas McDonagh, I’m arresting
you for the murder of Claire Mitchell. You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say may be taken down and used in evidence against you. Do you
understand?
McDonagh
is terrified and confused.
SGT
KILRANE
Do
you understand knacker?
Mc
Donagh looks to SGT
KILRANE pleadingly.
MCDONAGH
What are you talkin about? I hurt no one. Yis have the wrong man.
2ND
VOICE
By
Christ we have the right man alright. Get this murderin knacker out of here now
lads.
Hands
grapple with McDonagh and as he tries to resist more blows rain down on him.
He is lifted roughly off the bed struggling and
screaming.
MCDONAGH
I
didn't do nothin.... I tell ye... I didn't do nuttin. Let me go! Aghhh......
He
is bundled roughly out of the
caravan. SGT KILRANElooks contemptously around the
caravan.
SGT
KILRANE
Bloody
knackers.
FADE OUT:
SCENE
3
INT.
COURTNEY’S APT. - BEDROOM. NIGHT
The
bedroom is in darkness. A body lies sleeping in the bed. It is John Courtney. He
is snoring loudly. A telephone
rings. Courtney stirs and his hand reaches out to the sideboard fumbling for a
light switch. He knocks a glass
from the sideboard which shatters on the floor.
COURTNEY
Shite
.......... bloody phone.
The
bedlight switches on revealing a very sleepy looking Courtney. Sitting up
drowsily, he lifts the phone. Beside the phone is an ashtray full of cigarette
butts. He looks at the clock radio... It is 5am
COURTNEY
Jesus
Christ!
He
lifts the phone to his ear, yawning. He reaches for his cigarettes with his
other hand and lights one.
COURTNEY
Yeah,
Courtney here.
He
inhales deeply.
SCENE 4
INT.
SUPERINTENDENT JACK MARRON’S OFFICE. NIGHT
Jack Marron is on the phone.
SUPERINTENDENT MARRON
Courtney?
Superintendent Marron here.
Courtney
begins a coughing fit on the other end of the line.
SUPERINTENDENT
MARRON
Christ Courtney that’s a graveyard cough if ever I heard one.
SCENE 5
INT.
COURTNEY’S APT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Courtney
is sitting up on the bed coughing. He regains his breath.
COURTNEY
That’s me Jack ..the flora man..What can I do for you at this late hour. Don't tell me I’ve won the lotto, I don't think I can take any more partying after O Neill’s send off last night.
SCENE 6
INT.
SUPERINTENDENT MARRON’S OFFICE. NIGHT
Marron
is on the phone.
SUPERINTENDENT
MARRON
No
such luck I’m afraid. We've got a bad one in. A young girl found dead in
Castlemaine last night. I know your on a few days leave John but I need you
in here right away. I want someone experienced to handle this one. What
with some of the bad press we've gotten recently I can't afford any hiccups
on this or my head will be on a stick. I’ll see you in my office in
an hour. Oh!...and pack a bag...
Marron hangs up.
SCENE
7
INT. COURTNEY’S APT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Courtney,
still sitting up in the bed, realizes the phone is gone dead. He replaces the
receiver and looks at the phone for a second. He takes another long drag of his
cigarette and exhales a long plume of smoke.
COURTNEY
Seeing as you put it so politely.