“THE RIPPLE EFFECT”

Script

Final – 19/5/04

Written by

David Cleeve

True Ride Productions

© 2004

FADE IN:

Black screen with white text.

QUOTE:

“We live in an interconnected web

of life, where everything is

related to every other thing.

Throw a pebble in a pond, and

watch the whole pond be affected

by the ripples...” – Evelyn Seed

FADE TO:

QUOTE:

“You drop a pebble in a pond, you

get ripples. Soon the ripples

cross the entire pond.” – Jason

Scott Lee

FADE TO:

1. EXT. BUSY STREET – DAY____________________________1.

A journalist is giving a news report. This section of footage is mixed with the credits. Every three seconds is mixed with two seconds of credits throughout the entire scene (a la ‘The Shield’).

REPORTER:

“A local neighbourhood in

Melbourne city is in shock

and distress after the discovery

of a body in a near by apartment.

Not many details are known at

this time, but we do know that

there is a suspect in custody.

1. __________________(CONTINUED)_____________________1.

Police sources indicate that there

is a strong case against the person in

question. This event has rocked the
neighbourhood and left the
neighbours and family members distraught.
We will bring you more on this story
as the event unfolds.”

CUT TO:

Screen filled with static.

CREDIT:
Directed By: David Cleeve

FADE TO:

2. INT. CHRIS’S APARTMENT – DAY______________________2.

Chris is sitting on couch watching television.

CUT TO:

3. INT. CHRIS’S CAR - CONTINUOUS_____________________3.

Shaun is driving. He picks up a mobile phone and dials a number.

CUT TO:

4. INT. CHRIS’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS_______________4.

The phone rings, Chris answers it.

CHRIS:

“Hello?”

CUT TO:

5. INT. CHRIS’S APARTMENT/CHRIS’S CAR – CONTINUOUS__5.

Split screen shows Chris in apartment on the left hand side of screen and Shaun in car on the right hand side.

SHAUN:

“Hey mate I’m just on my way

back from the shops, I’ll be

back soon.”

CHRIS:
”Ok.”

Chris hangs up.

CUT TO:

6. INT/EXT. CHRIS’S CAR/CARPARK/COURTYARD – CONTINUOUS_6.

Split screen disappears, focuses back onto Shaun. He pulls into the car park, gets out of the car with groceries and walks to the apartment. He enters the apartment.

CUT TO:

7. INT. CHRIS’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS_______________7.

Shaun enters the apartment. Chris is still sitting on the couch, he doesn’t turn his head to greet Shaun.

SHAUN:

“I’m back mate.”

Shaun walks over to the bench and puts the bags down.

Chris remains sitting, focusing on the television.

CHRIS:

“Hey. Keys? Change? Phone?”

7. ____(CONTINUED) _ 7.

Shaun hands Chris the keys to the car, the change from the groceries, and Chris’s phone.

SHAUN:
”Keys, change, and phone. Y’know

one day I’ll get my own car, money,

and phone mate.”

–laughs-

Shaun returns to the bench to continue unpacking the bags.

CHRIS:
”Yeah actually I’ve been meaning

to talk to you about that.”

Chris gets up off the couch. Shaun is still unpacking the bags.

SHAUN:
”Yeah, yeah I know mate I’m this

close to getting myself a job,

just a few more weeks.”

CHRIS:

“You’ve been saying that for months

Shaun but now you’re just sending me

broke, I’m sorry but I just can’t

support you anymore.

-pauses-

7. ____(CONTINUED) _ 7.

Shaun turns around and looks at Chris, then walks past him. Chris’s eyes follow him as he’s speaking.

CHRIS:

“You’re already in debt to me for
thousands of dollars and I just
can’t do it anymore, if you don’t
have a job in the next few days,
you’ll have to move out.”

SHAUN:

-shocked, turns to face Chris-
”WHAT?! So you’re just going to kick me

out? What a great mate you are.”

CHRIS:
”It’s nothing to do with mateship,

I just don’t have the cash to

keep supporting you.”

SHAUN:

“Great well thanks for pointing

out how much of a failure I am.”

Shaun walks to couch to pick up his jacket.

CHRIS:

“No mate it’s not like...”

7. ____(CONTINUED) _ 7.

SHAUN:

-interrupting, while putting jacket on-

“Nah, nah fine if this is the way

it’s gonna be, then screw it, I’m

out of here.”

CHRIS:

“Come on mate, don’t be like...”

Shaun leaves and slams the door, interrupting Chris.

This is the first ripple. As Shaun slams the door, cut to shot of fish bowl with Chris in background, focus on fish bowl and show ripples in water.

FADE TO:

8. EXT. OUTSIDE JESSICA’S APARTMENT – SIDEWALK – DAY___8.

Shaun is walking along the path on his way to the front of Jessica’s apartment building. He walks up to the intercom and presses on the button labeled ‘Jessica Matheson’. He waits for a response.

JESSICA:
”Hello?”

SHAUN:
”Hey it’s Shaun.”

Jessica buzzes him in, Shaun enters the apartment.

CUT TO:

9. INT. JESSICA’S APARTMENT – EVENING________________9.

Shaun arrives at Jessica’s door, he knocks on it and Jessica answers.

SHAUN:
”Hey hun how are you?”

He hugs her and kisses her on the lips, but she doesn’t hug him back.

JESSICA:
”... Hey.”

Jessica closes the door behind Shaun.

Shaun walks down the hall while taking off his jacket.

SHAUN:
”You won’t believe what Chris

just did to me, I can’t believe

that guy...”

-pauses-

Jessica appears to be distracted.

SHAUN:

“Well? Don’t you want to know

what happened?”

JESSICA:
”Oh... yeah, sure, what happened?”

Jessica walks over to the bench.

9. ____ ____(CONTINUED)____________________9.

Shaun goes to the couch to sit down.

SHAUN:
”Well I got home after buying

the groceries, I walk in the

door, he demands his keys,

money, and his phone back

immediately, and then he

proceeded to tell me that

basically...”

-pauses-

Shaun sees a bracelet on Jessica’s desk that he gave to her on their six month anniversary, he picks it up and reads the engraving on it, “Love you Jess, Shaun”.

SHAUN:
”I haven’t seen you wear this

lately, you wear it at all?”

JESSICA:

“No I haven’t been wearing it

much I never really think

to put it on.”

SHAUN:
”Oh, ok.”

Shaun puts the bracelet back down on the desk.

9. ____ ____(CONTINUED)____________________9.

SHAUN:

“Well anyway I was saying that
Chris was getting at how he thinks
I am a lowlife and he said that
if I can’t get a job he’s kicking
me out of the apartment.”

JESSICA:

-worried-
”Well he does have a point Shaun,

you don’t support yourself in any

way, you use other people, what

with Chris and I? You need to

start accepting some responsibility

for yourself.”

Shaun gets up off the couch and looks at Jessica.

JESSICA:
”Look, I think maybe we should...”

SHAUN:
”... what are you saying Jess?”

JESSICA:
”Look Shaun I’m sorry that it

has to be at a time like this,

but...”
-pauses, turns to face Shaun-

9. ____ ____(CONTINUED)____________________9.

JESSICA:
”... I want to break up.”

SHAUN:
”What! Why?!”

JESSICA:
”Well as you were telling me about

Chris, I noticed his reasons were

similar to mine.”

SHAUN:

-sarcastic-
”Oh great.”

Shaun turns away from Jessica.

JESSICA:

-raising voice, trying to reason-
”You aren’t going anywhere in life

Shaun! You have no job, no money,

no car, no plans.”

SHAUN:

-faces Jessica-
”And now no girlfriend or flat mate.”

JESSICA:
”Yeah... well maybe you should

take this as an eye opener Shaun,

try and get your life on track.”

9. ____ ____(CONTINUED)____________________9.

SHAUN:
”Yeah, great, so where am I

supposed to stay?”

JESSICA:
”That’s not really my problem.”

Jessica turns away from Shaun.

SHAUN:
”Come on Jess, this is probably

the shittest day of my life

and you won’t even lift a finger.

Can’t I stay here just for tonight?”

JESSICA:
”I don’t know Shaun...”

SHAUN:
”Come on, it’s the least you can

do for me.”

Jessica is very hesitant, she turns to face him again.

JESSICA:
”Ok, you can stay for the night,

but you have to be out of here

first thing tomorrow morning,

alright?”

9. ____ ____(CONTINUED)____________________9.

SHAUN:
”Yeah, ok.”

JESSICA:
”You know where everything is,

you’re sleeping on the couch.”

Jessica goes to her bedroom and closes the door. Shaun stands frozen staring at Jessica’s door in disbelief. He sits down on the couch, grabs a pillow and punches it through frustration, then lies down to sleep. This is the second ripple.

FADE TO:

10. INT. JESSICA’S CAR – DAY_________________________10.

Jessica is driving home from work. She calls Chris at his apartment.

CUT TO:

11. INT. CHRIS’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS______________11.

The phone rings, Chris answers it.

CHRIS:
”Hello?”

CUT TO:

12. INT/EXT. APARTMENT/CAR – CONTINUOUS_______________12.

Split screen showing Chris on the left hand side of screen and Jessica on the right hand of screen, they are talking on the phone.

12. ____________________(CONTINUED)___________________12.

JESSICA:
”Hey Chris, it’s Jessica.”

CHRIS:

“Oh hey, how are you, what’s up?”

JESSICA:

“Yeah I’m alright, I’m just

concerned about Shaun. He and I

broke up last night, but also

he told me about you two.”

CHRIS:

“Yeah it sounds a little rough,

but believe me, Shaun would have

taken me completely out of context,

I don’t want you to think I’m the

bad guy here.”

CUT TO:

13. INT. JESSICA’S CAR – CONTINUOUS___________________13.

JESSICA:
”No, no of course not, I’m on

your side, but I’m still worried

about Shaun I don’t know what

he’s going to do. Is it ok if

I come over tonight so we can

talk about it?”

CUT TO:

14. INT. CHRIS’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS______________14.

CHRIS:
-hesitant-
”Um... yeah, sure I suppose

that’s ok, come around

at about seven?”

CUT TO:

15. INT. JESSICA’S CAR – CONTINUOUS___________________15.

JESSICA:
”I’ll be there, thanks.

See you then Chris.”

CHRIS:
”Yep, see ya.”

CUT TO:

16. INT. CHRIS’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS______________16.

Chris hangs up, he has a little laugh to himself to show his surprise, but also his excitement. This is the third ripple.

FADE TO:

17. EXT. BUSY STREET – CONTINUOUS____________________17.
Shaun is walking down the street with his hands in his pockets, looking sad and lonely. He is thinking to himself about what he should do.

SHAUN (inner monologue):

“I hate being like this, I’ve

got to sort things out with

17. ___________________(CONTINUED)___________________17.

Chris. Maybe I’ll go there

tonight, try and set things

straight. I’ll prove to him

that I’m determined to get a

job and start supporting myself,

that’ll impress Jess as well.

Yeah, things will be ok.”

FADE TO:

18. INT. CHRIS’S APARTMENT – NIGHT___________________18.

Jessica arrives at Chris’s that evening. She gets there and knocks on the door, Chris opens it.

CHRIS:
”Hey Jess good to see ya.”

JESSICA:
”You too.”

Jessica kisses Chris on the cheek and enters. Chris shuts the door behind her.

CHRIS:
”Make yourself at home, let

me get your coat. Can I

get you anything to drink?”

JESSICA:
”Thanks. Yeah I’ll just

have glass of water.”

-smiles-

18. __________________(CONTINUOUS)___________________18.

Chris takes her coat and puts it away. He gets a glass of water for Jessica and she sets it on the table.

Jessica sits down on the couch. Chris joins her.

CHRIS:
”So, you were saying about Shaun?”

JESSICA:
”Well I’m just not sure how

he’s going to react to what’s

happened to him, he’s in some

pretty nasty shit right now.”

CHRIS:
”Yeah I know, things haven’t

really gone his way.”

JESSICA:
”What about you?”

CHRIS:
”What about me?”

JESSICA:
”Have things gone your way?”

CHRIS:
”In some ways, yes, in some, no.”

JESSICA:
”How do you mean?”

18. __________________(CONTINUOUS)___________________18.

Jessica leans closer to Chris.

CHRIS:
”Well, in the way that Shaun
is out of here makes my life
easier financially, but I feel

that I’m about to lose him as

a mate, and after such a long

time with him, it just doesn’t

feel right. Things have turned
out pretty bad.”

JESSICA:
”Yeah, I can see where

you’re coming from.”

CHRIS:
-sighs-

“Well, what about you?”

JESSICA:

“I like to think that things
have gone my way recently.”

CHRIS:
”Oh yeah?”

JESSICA:
”Yeah, well for one, I got

rid of a relationship that

was going nowhere, and now

18. __________________(CONTINUOUS)___________________18.

I am alone with the man

I’ve had my eyes on since

the day I met Shaun.”

Chris edges back, but is flattered.

CHRIS:

-laughs awkwardly-

“Um, Jess, this isn’t such a
good time to do what I think
you’re doing.”

JESSICA:
”Don’t be ridiculous Chris,

you and I both know we’ve

been circling around each

other since the day we met...

I know you’ve thought about

me too.”

CHRIS:
”Maybe I have, but they are
just thoughts Jess, we could
never go through with them

because of Shaun.”

JESSICA:
”But he’s out of the picture now.”

CHRIS:
”Yeah but he’s still my mate

18. __________________(CONTINUOUS)___________________18.

Jess, I can’t just throw that

out the window.”

JESSICA:
”Trust me, after what happened

between you two, he isn’t

interested in being your

friend anymore.”

CHRIS:

-surprised-
”Really? He took it that hard?”

JESSICA:
”Yes.”

CHRIS:
”I never realised...”

JESSICA:
”So do you see, there’s nothing

that can get in the way of you...”

-pauses-

Jessica rubs her hand along Chris’s leg.

JESSICA:
”... and me?”

Chris takes a deep breath.

18. __________________(CONTINUOUS)___________________18.

CHRIS:
”This is really a bad idea Jess.”

JESSICA:
”I know, but that’s what makes

it fun...”

Jessica starts kissing Chris, he gives in and starts kissing her back. Jessica knocks the table in front of the couch that holds her glass of water, causing the water to ripple. This is the fourth ripple.

FADE TO:

19. EXT. OUTSIDE CHRIS’S APARTMENT – NIGHT___________19.

Shaun is standing outside Chris’s apartment, composing himself before he enters. He takes a deep breath.

SHAUN:
”Ok, this is it.”

He puts the key in the door of the apartment.

CUT TO:

20. INT. CHRIS’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS______________20.

Shaun enters the apartment, he doesn’t turn on any lights. He walks down the hall and he trips on something, it’s a woman’s shoe, he speaks to himself.

SHAUN:
”What the hell?”

20. __________________(CONTINUOUS)___________________20.

Shaun walks over to a lamp and turns it on. He notices that the main room is covered with clothes hanging off various tables and chairs, but he notices one item in particular. He picks up a bracelet, he recognises it straight away as the one that he gave to Jessica on their six month anniversary (he has a flash back to when he looked at it in her apartment, no audio). Instantly his expression darkens with anger. He marches down to the bedroom and bangs open the door.

Chris and Jessica are lying together sleeping and are woken by the door banging; they see Shaun at the same time. Shaun stands there in shock and anger.

CHRIS:
”Mate it’s not what you...”

Before Chris can finish what he is saying, Shaun has walked out of the room and left the apartment without saying a word. Chris and Jessica look at each other with concern. This is the fifth ripple.

CUT TO:

21. EXT. OUTSIDE CHRIS’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS______21.

Shaun walks angrily out of the apartment. He’s still holding the bracelet; he looks at it and throws it into the street.

The bracelet lands in a puddle, causing the puddle to ripple.

FADE TO:

22. INT. CHRIS’S APARTMENT – DAY_____________________22.

Jessica is leaving the apartment.

JESSICA:
”Thanks for last night Chris,

I don’t know what’s going

to happen with Shaun now

though.”

CHRIS:
”Yeah I know, it’s ok I’ll be

able to talk to him, hopefully...”

JESSICA:
”Well, give me a call if

you have any troubles. I’ll

see you later tonight?”

-winks-

CHRIS:
”Yep, I’ll pick you up at 8.”

Chris and Jessica kiss.

JESSICA:
”See ya.”

CHRIS:
”Bye.”

Jessica leaves, Chris shuts the door behind her.

FADE TO:

23. INT. CHRIS’S APARTMENT – NIGHT____________________23.

Chris is getting ready. He leaves the apartment.

CUT TO:

24. EXT. STREET OUTSIDE APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS________24.

Shaun is standing on a corner waiting for Chris to leave the apartment. As Chris leaves, Shaun walks towards the apartment and enters.

CUT TO:

25. INT. CHRIS’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS______________25.

Shaun walks in and sits down on the couch and waits for Chris to return.

FADE TO:

26. INT. CHRIS’S APARTMENT – SAME NIGHT_______________26.

Shaun is sitting on the couch as Chris walks into the apartment. Chris doesn’t see Shaun immediately because

it’s dark. As Chris walks closer, Shaun flicks on the lamp and startles Chris.

CHRIS:
”Holy shit!”

SHAUN:
-dark tone-

“Have a good night with Jess?”

CHRIS:

“You scared the

crap out of me.”

26. ___________________(CONTINUED)____________________26.

SHAUN:
”I bet you’re not half

as surprised as I was last

night when I walked in on you

SCREWING MY GIRLFRIEND!”

CHRIS:
”Look mate I didn’t intend for that

to happen, she came over because

she wanted to talk to me about

you, she was concerned for you.”

As Chris and Shaun are talking, Chris keeps edging closer to Shaun.

SHAUN:
”You can’t make any excuses

for what happened Chris, you

betrayed me, not once, but
TWICE! I can never forgive

you for what you have done.”

CHRIS:

-pleading-
”You’re right mate, I can’t

undo what has happened, but

if I could I would go back

and change everything that

has happened in the last few

days because your friendship

26. ___________________(CONTINUED)____________________26.

is what means the most to me.”

SHAUN:

-raising voice-
”Yeah? Well you’ve gone and done

everything wrong then haven’t

you mate, the last thing you’ve

seemed to keep in mind is our

bloody friendship!”

Chris is next to Shaun now, standing over him as Shaun is still sitting down on the couch.

CHRIS:
”Come on Shaun, we go back

so far we can’t let this

shit just tear us apart!”

SHAUN:
”You tore us apart!
It was YOU!”

CHRIS:

-defensive-
”Bullshit, you’re the one that’s

been living off me like a lowlife

for the last three years!”

SHAUN:
”WHAT?!”

26. ___________________(CONTINUED)____________________26.

Shaun shoots up quickly from the couch and pushes Chris backwards. Chris now starts to step backwards cautiously

as Shaun comes towards him with a crazed expression on his face.

CHRIS:

-pleading-
”Sorry mate I didn’t mean that.”

SHAUN:
-yelling-

“BULLSHIT! You think that you

can just fix this?! You can’t

Chris, you can’t! I can

never forgive you, I can’t

even bear to look at you!”

CHRIS:
”Okay Shaun look calm down...”

Shaun punches Chris in the face, sending him flying to the floor, landing on his back. Shaun gets on top of him and punches him repeatedly in the face while yelling at him.

SHAUN:
-yelling-

“I won’t let you ruin my

life! You’ve taken away

everything that is important

to me. My home! My girl!”

26. ___________________(CONTINUED)____________________26.

As Shaun is punching, images of the events that occurred up to this point flash in his head: getting kicked out of apartment; Jessica breaking up with him; discovering Chris and Jessica sleeping together. The visions of these

events only anger him more and cause him to punch harder and harder.

SHAUN:
-yelling-

“I can’t let you get away

with this, I won’t let

you get away with this!”

Shaun loses energy and his arms fall to his sides, he sees that Chris’s body has gone limp. He looks at his face which is all smashed and bloody. He stands up, shocked and devastated. Shaun looks at his clothes and notices there’s blood all over them, he wipes his face and sees that there is blood on it as well.

SHAUN:
-horrified-

“Oh shit... oh shit!”

He looks around, wipes his hands on his clothes and leaves the apartment in a hurry. As he leaves, a low shot is shown next to Chris’s body as Shaun is exiting the apartment in the background. This is the sixth ripple.

CUT TO:

27. EXT. STREET – CONTINUOUS ___________________27.

Shaun runs onto the street. When he gets there he stops, composes himself, and continues to walk but constantly checks over his shoulder and tries to hide his face from the people he walks past with his jacket collar. A car pulls to a stop in the street in front

of Shaun but he doesn’t take any notice. It’s an undercover police car. The policemen inside see Shaun.

COP 1:
”Hey is that guy covered

in blood?”

COP 2:
”Yeah looks like it, get on it.”

The police put up the siren and turn towards Shaun. He looks up and sees them and he sprints off back the way he came. Shaun runs around the corner and down an alley way. The car stops, one policeman gets out and chases Shaun down the alley, the other continues to speed around the block to try and catch Shaun at the other end of the alley way. A split screen is shown of Shaun being chased by the policeman in the alley way and of the car driving around. The car pulls to a screeching halt in front of Shaun as he comes out the end of the alley way, causing Shaun to hit the bonnet and roll in front of the car. A shot of Shaun’s silhouette in the headlights is shown. The policeman gets out of the car with the sirens still going and points his gun at Shaun. The other policeman catches up.

27. ___________________(CONTINUED)____________________27.

COP 1:

-yelling-

“Get down on your knees,

and put your hands behind

your head!”

Shaun is crying and yelling as he follows their orders.

SHAUN:
-crying/yelling-

”I didn’t mean to do it!
It wasn’t my fault! I

didn’t want to hurt him!”

Flashes of the events re-occur in Shaun’s mind as he looks down at his bloody hands. Shaun slumps as he realises there’s no point resisting.

COP 2:

-yelling-
”Keep your hands on your head!”

The policeman who chased him down the alley comes over to Shaun and grabs his hands and puts cuffs on him and starts leading him towards the car. As he is being put into the backseat of the car, the audio from the news journalist at the beginning of the film starts to play over the footage of Shaun and the police.

REPORTER:

“A local neighbourhood in Melbourne

city is in shock and distress after

the discovery of a body in a near by

apartment. This event has rocked the

neighbourhood and left the neighbours

and family members distraught.”

CUT TO:

28. EXT. BUSY STREET – DAY___________________________28.

The footage of the news journalist returns and links with the audio and the journalist finishes her report.

REPORTER:

“The senseless death that shocked

this community has now come to a

close. We believe the defendant

will plead guilty to charges of

manslaughter in the second degree.
Hopefully the town can sleep easy

knowing that this case, has been put

to rest.”

CUT TO:

Screen filled with static. Screen switches off (a la television).

END.