Finding Audrey

MY SERENE AND LOVING FAMILY – FILM TRANSCRIPT

INT. 5 ROSEWOOD CLOSE. DAY

The camera wobbles as someone stabilizes it on a high surface. As this person backs away we see it is Frank, in the sitting room. He stares into the camera with deeply worried eyes.

FRANK

Is this working? OK. Hello. I’m Frank Turner and this is my video diary. My sister Audrey is missing. It’s a nightmare. We woke up this morning and there she wasn’t. Mum and Dad are just . . . (He swallows.) We’ve looked everywhere, and we’ve phoned everyone. Mum and Dad called the police, like, that instant. And the police are great, they’re really calm. But . . .

He shuts his eyes briefly.

FRANK

I still don’t believe this is happening.

He’s silent a while, his eyes hollow.

FRANK

They blame me. Which is . . .

He exhales miserably.

FRANK

Anyway. We’re going out again in a minute, to look again. I dunno where – I mean, we’ve looked everywhere. All the little side alleys, maybe? But Mum said I should have some food first. Like anyone wants to eat.

He gives another heavy sigh.

FRANK

Anyway. I told them what we did yesterday. I had to. Audrey, if you’re watching this, I had to.

Long pause.

FRANK

Audrey, please come home and be watching this.

The doorbell rings and he jumps a mile.

FRANK

Wait a sec.

He runs out of the room. A few seconds elapse, then he returns, slack-shouldered, accompanied by Linus.

FRANK

(into camera)

It wasn’t her. It was Linus.

LINUS

(to Frank)

Sorry.

He looks awkwardly into the camera.

LINUS

Sorry.

Mum comes striding into the room, her face drawn, her eyes burning with purpose, her manner hyper.

MUM

Frank, we’re going through her things, and I need to know—

She sees Linus and stops dead, full of hostility.

MUM

You. What are you doing here?

Linus is shocked by her aggression.

LINUS

Me? I just – Frank told me about Audrey, so—

MUM

Do you know where she is?

LINUS

No! Of course not! I would have said!

He gulps nervously at Mum’s manner, but carries on.

Frank said you wanted to know who she’d been texting? Well, she sent me this text yesterday, but it only came through just now. I had no idea she’d texted.

He holds out his phone.

LINUS

I mean, I don’t know if it helps.

Mum scans the phone, getting agitated as she does so.

MUM

(to Linus)

So you knew about this meeting with the Lawtons too. Was it your idea?

LINUS

No!

MUM

But you’ve been telling her to ‘do crazy challenges’, apparently.

She taps the phone.

MUM

She says she wants you to give her another ‘crazy challenge’.

LINUS

(alarmed)

Not that kind of crazy challenge. Just talking to people in Starbucks and stuff.

Mum doesn’t seem to hear him.

MUM

Was this – leaving home in the middle of the night – was this one of your ‘crazy challenges’, Linus?

LINUS

No! How could you even—?

He appeals to Frank.

LINUS

Would I do that?

FRANK

Mum, you’re out of line.

Mum rounds on Linus.

MUM

All I know is, she was on an even keel till she met you. And now she’s missing.

LINUS

That is so unfair.

He’s having trouble holding it together.

So unfair. I have to go. Let me know if I can help.

As Linus leaves, Frank turns furiously on Mum.

FRANK

How could you blame Linus? Of all people. This house is so fucked up.

Mum erupts in a flood of sudden anguish.

MUM

She’s missing, Frank! Don’t you understand, she’s missing. I have to try everything, I have to consider everything, every possibility—

She breaks off as Dad appears, breathless, holding his mobile.

DAD

They’ve found her. In the park. Asleep. She was hidden away, behind a . . . We must have missed her . . .

He can barely form his words.

DAD

They’ve got her.