IN LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH - Part Two — The Woman - Script Treatment
IN LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH
Script Treatment
Part Two — The Woman
Genre: Drama / Romance / Bereavement
Tone: Intimate, reflective, emotional
Setting: Contemporary Britain
Principal Characters:
Louise Smithers — a former teacher in her fifties. Warm, capable and independent, but carrying the grief of losing her husband and, later, her only son.
Beatrice — Louise’s longtime friend and former teaching colleague.
Benjamin Smithers — Louise’s son, on the brink of adulthood.
Frederick Smithers — Louise’s late husband, considerably older than her, a successful businessman and property owner.
Benji — the family’s black-and-white collie, jokingly named after Benjamin.
Simon Atkinson — a solicitor and widower whose weekly cemetery visits have unknowingly intersected with Louise’s own.
PC Jones — the senior police officer who brings Louise devastating news.
PC Evans — his younger colleague.
FADE IN:
EXT. LOUISE'S GARDEN — SUMMER EVENING
A warm summer evening.
The last sunlight stretches across a well-kept garden.
Two women in their fifties sit outside with a bottle of wine between them.
LOUISE SMITHERS and BEATRICE.
They are laughing.
Comfortable laughter.
The laughter of two people who have known one another for years.
Beatrice tops up Louise’s glass.
BEATRICE
Louise, would you ever consider going back to teaching?
Louise raises an eyebrow.
BEATRICE
Go on. You know you want to. You were good at it. How long has it been now? Three years?
LOUISE
Three years. Three long years of bliss.
Beatrice laughs.
BEATRICE
Brian would have you back in a heartbeat.
LOUISE
I’m sure he would.
BEATRICE
I hear they’re still relying on supply teachers.
Louise takes another sip of wine.
LOUISE
I’ll have to think about it before I make any decisions.
BEATRICE
You’ve been thinking about it for months.
LOUISE
Then perhaps I need a few more months.
They laugh again.
Their conversation drifts naturally towards former pupils.
The brilliant ones.
The impossible ones.
The ones neither woman will ever forget.
As they reminisce, we begin to understand that teaching was once an important part of Louise’s life.
She had not planned to leave it permanently.
Life made that decision for her.
FREDERICK
FLASHBACK — INT. SMITHERS HOME — VARIOUS
Three years earlier.
Photographs establish the family that once occupied the house.
Louise.
Her husband, FREDERICK.
Their teenage son, BENJAMIN.
Frederick is considerably older than Louise.
A successful businessman, he owns several rental properties and has provided his family with a comfortable life.
Then Frederick dies.
The details of his death are less important than the aftermath.
A family photograph remains on a sideboard.
One place at the table is suddenly empty.
Benjamin, studying for his GCSEs, struggles.
Books remain unopened.
Homework goes unfinished.
His concentration disappears.
Louise watches her son withdrawing.
She makes a decision.
INT. SCHOOL — HEADTEACHER'S OFFICE — DAY
Louise sits opposite BRIAN, the headteacher.
She explains that she is leaving.
Her son needs her.
Teaching will have to wait.
MONTAGE — LOUISE AND BENJAMIN
Louise teaches Benjamin at the kitchen table.
Maths papers.
English books.
Revision cards.
A private tutor arrives for a subject Louise cannot teach herself.
Benjamin gradually becomes more engaged.
More confident.
Then—
An envelope.
GCSE results.
Benjamin opens it.
His expression changes.
Louise leans over his shoulder.
He has done exceptionally well.
Benjamin smiles.
Louise embraces him.
For the first time since Frederick’s death, there is genuine happiness in the house.
The experience plants an idea in Louise.
Perhaps conventional classroom teaching is not the only way she can teach.
Perhaps she could tutor pupils privately.
Visit them in their homes.
Help children who are struggling.
But there is no need to decide yet.
Benjamin still comes first.
FREDERICK'S BUSINESS
MONTAGE — VARIOUS RENTAL PROPERTIES
Estate agents place signs outside houses.
Keys are handed over.
Contracts are signed.
Frederick’s properties are sold one by one.
Benjamin has no interest in taking over his father’s business.
The properties are also beginning to demand more maintenance than Louise wants to manage.
With every sale, another piece of Frederick’s old life disappears.
Eventually the business is gone.
BENJAMIN
INT. SMITHERS HOME — DAY
A year later.
Benjamin is older.
More confident.
College books cover the table.
He has completed his course.
University lies ahead.
Louise watches him talk enthusiastically about his plans.
She sees the young man Frederick never got to see.
Before university, Benjamin and several friends decide to go abroad.
They call it—
BENJAMIN
The holiday of a lifetime.
Louise is apprehensive.
She checks everything.
Flights.
Accommodation.
Insurance.
Emergency numbers.
Benjamin is amused by her concern.
But Louise knows she has to allow him to grow up.
Eventually she gives him her blessing.
EXT. AIRPORT DROP-OFF — DAY
Benjamin removes his suitcase from the car.
Louise fusses over him.
Benjamin smiles.
He hugs her.
BENJAMIN
I’ll be fine, Mum.
Louise holds him perhaps a second longer than necessary.
LOUISE
I know.
Benjamin joins his friends.
Louise watches him disappear into the terminal.
She has no idea it is the last time she will see him alive.
THE LETTER
EXT. LOUISE'S GARDEN — SUMMER EVENING
Back to Louise and Beatrice.
Louise gets up.
LOUISE
More wine?
BEATRICE
Do you really need to ask?
Louise goes inside.
A few moments later, she returns carrying another bottle and an envelope.
LOUISE
I know you, Beatrice. I can read your mind.
BEATRICE
Can you?
LOUISE
You’re wondering whether I’ve heard from Ben.
Beatrice smiles.
Louise hands her the letter.
LOUISE
This arrived this morning.
Beatrice begins reading.
Benjamin writes enthusiastically about the trip.
Places they have visited.
Things they have done.
People they have met.
BEATRICE
He seems to be having a good time—
Before she can finish—
A BLACK-AND-WHITE COLLIE bounds out of the house.
BENJI.
He races towards them, barking excitedly.
Louise laughs.
LOUISE
What is it, Benji?
Benji’s tail wags furiously.
Beatrice laughs.
We learn that Benjamin named the dog when he was younger.
He jokingly insisted that the family should have two Bens in the house.
Benjamin and Benji.
Louise had warned that it would cause endless confusion.
Benjamin thought that was the funniest part.
And so the name stayed.
Benji became Benjamin’s companion and a much-loved member of the family.
Louise scratches the dog behind the ears.
LOUISE
What do you want?
Apparently nothing.
He simply wants attention.
Then—
DING-DONG.
The front doorbell.
Louise and Beatrice look towards the house.
Another ring.
DING-DONG.
BEATRICE
That sounds urgent.
THE POLICE
INT. SMITHERS HOUSE — CONTINUOUS
Louise and Beatrice enter.
Louise glances through the front window.
A POLICE CAR is parked outside.
Beatrice sees it.
BEATRICE
What have you done, Louise?
A harmless joke.
Louise smiles.
Benji barks excitedly.
Louise opens the door.
Two uniformed police officers stand outside.
PC JONES, older.
PC EVANS, younger.
Louise’s smile disappears.
PC JONES
Mrs Smithers?
LOUISE
Yes.
PC JONES
May we come in?
Louise immediately senses something is wrong.
She steps aside.
Beatrice takes hold of Benji’s collar.
PC Jones removes his hat.
PC JONES
I’m PC Jones. This is my colleague, PC Evans.
A beat.
PC JONES
Mrs Smithers, I’m afraid we have some very difficult news.
Louise stares at him.
PC JONES
We have been informed that your son, Benjamin, has been killed.
Silence.
Louise does not react immediately.
The words do not seem to register.
LOUISE
What?
PC JONES
I’m very sorry.
LOUISE
No.
Beatrice moves quickly towards her.
LOUISE
No.
Louise’s legs weaken.
Beatrice catches her and helps her into a chair.
PC Jones continues speaking.
There has been an incident abroad.
Authorities are involved.
Further information will follow.
Arrangements will need to be made.
But the sound of his voice begins to distort.
Fades.
Becomes distant.
Louise hears only fragments.
PC JONES
Is there anyone we can contact...?
Another fragment—
PC JONES
Arrangements will be made...
Another—
PC JONES
We’re very sorry.
Louise stares ahead.
Everything else disappears.
Her son is dead.
BRINGING BENJAMIN HOME
INT. SMITHERS HOUSE — NIGHT
The police have gone.
Louise cries uncontrollably.
Beatrice holds her.
Benji sits nearby, confused.
Louise repeats the same question.
LOUISE
How?
Then—
LOUISE
How could this happen?
The trip had been checked.
Everything was supposed to be safe.
Benjamin was supposed to come home.
He was supposed to go to university.
He was supposed to have decades ahead of him.
Louise eventually asks Beatrice to leave.
She wants nobody there.
Only Benji.
Beatrice refuses.
She stays.
MONTAGE — THE FOLLOWING DAYS
Beatrice sleeping on the sofa.
Telephone calls.
Government departments.
Forms.
Emails.
Passports.
Numbers written on scraps of paper.
A funeral director.
Louise trying to understand procedures while barely capable of thinking.
Questions overwhelm her.
Does she have to travel abroad?
Does she have to identify him?
When can his body return?
Who arranges transportation?
What documents are needed?
Days become weeks.
Eventually—
Benjamin comes home.
Not as the young man who walked through an airport departure gate.
But in the care of a funeral director.
THE PEOPLE BENJAMIN LEFT BEHIND
MONTAGE — LOUISE'S HOUSE
The doorbell repeatedly rings.
Young people arrive.
Friends from school.
Friends from college.
Teachers.
Lecturers.
Neighbours.
Flowers accumulate across the house.
Cards cover the mantelpiece.
Louise reads messages.
Some make her cry.
Some unexpectedly make her smile.
People tell stories about Benjamin she never knew.
Small acts of kindness.
Things he had done for friends.
Ridiculous college incidents.
Moments Benjamin had never thought important enough to tell his mother.
Louise begins to understand—
Her son had been loved.
Perhaps more than Benjamin himself ever knew.
She makes a decision.
His funeral will reflect that love.
It will not simply be about the way he died.
It will celebrate the life he lived.
BENJAMIN'S FUNERAL
EXT. SMITHERS HOUSE — OCTOBER MORNING
A hearse waits outside.
Behind it, a single funeral car.
Louise emerges from the house.
Beatrice accompanies her.
There are no other immediate family members.
No siblings.
No aunts or uncles gathering around Louise.
No cousins.
Just Louise and Beatrice.
They get into the car.
EXT. LOCAL CHURCH — DAY
The funeral car approaches.
Louise looks through the window.
People stand outside.
Dozens of them.
Then she sees more.
She had not expected so many.
INT. CHURCH — DAY
Benjamin’s coffin is carried down the aisle.
Louise and Beatrice follow.
Louise looks around.
The church is full.
Young faces everywhere.
Friends from school.
College friends.
Teachers.
Lecturers.
Neighbours.
Louise is overwhelmed.
The service begins.
But it is not oppressively sombre.
Benjamin’s favourite music plays.
Hymns he liked are sung.
Friends stand to speak.
A lecturer talks about Benjamin’s potential and the future he expected him to have.
A friend tells a ridiculous college story.
Laughter breaks through the grief.
Louise finds herself laughing too.
Then the laugh turns into tears.
Beatrice takes her hand.
THE CEMETERY
EXT. CEMETERY — LATER
The funeral cortege moves slowly along the cemetery road.
Louise looks through the window.
She notices—
A MAN standing alone beside a grave.
SIMON ATKINSON.
Smartly dressed.
Still.
Solitary.
Louise watches him briefly.
There is something about him.
But the funeral car moves on.
She has other things to think about.
EXT. FREDERICK'S GRAVE — DAY
Benjamin’s coffin is carried towards an open grave beside that of his father.
The service continues.
Benjamin is lowered into the earth.
Later, mourners approach Louise one after another.
Condolences.
Hugs.
Handshakes.
Tears.
Gradually they disappear.
The cemetery grows quiet.
Louise remains.
Two graves now stand before her.
FREDERICK.
BENJAMIN.
Her husband.
Her son.
Almost her entire family.
Louise whispers goodbye.
Beatrice waits at a respectful distance.
Eventually she comes forward.
She gently leads Louise away.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS
MONTAGE — PASSING WEEKS
Winter approaches.
Life continues, although Louise knows the old normal no longer exists.
She begins considering teaching again.
Not yet.
But perhaps eventually.
Every Wednesday—
Louise clips a lead onto Benji.
They walk to the cemetery.
EXT. CEMETERY — WEDNESDAY
Louise visits Frederick.
Then Benjamin.
Benji waits beside her.
There is comfort in bringing him.
Frederick loved Benji.
Benjamin loved Benji.
And Benjamin gave him his name.
Occasionally Louise calls—
LOUISE
Benji!
The dog returns to her.
Every time she says the name, there is an echo of Benjamin.
A tiny connection she never discusses with anybody.
EXT. CEMETERY — ANOTHER WEDNESDAY
Louise notices the solitary man again.
Simon.
At the same grave.
SERIES OF SHOTS — WEDNESDAYS
Simon standing at the grave in rain.
Louise walking Benji.
Simon in winter cold.
Louise and Simon passing at a distance.
A polite nod.
Nothing more.
Spring arrives.
Again—
Simon at the grave.
Always Wednesday.
Always alone.
Always smartly dressed.
Louise becomes curious.
EXT. LUCY'S GRAVE — AFTERNOON
One Wednesday, Simon leaves.
Louise watches him walk away.
After a moment, she approaches the grave.
She reads the name.
LUCY ATKINSON
Louise looks towards Simon disappearing along the path.
His wife.
She understands.
He is doing the same thing she is.
Visiting somebody he loved.
From that moment, something changes.
Simon is still a stranger.
But no longer a complete stranger.
There is something they understand about each other without speaking.
BENJI
INT. VETERINARY SURGERY — MAY
Benji lies quietly beside Louise.
He has become ill.
Louise listens as the VET explains that his condition has deteriorated.
There is nothing more that can reasonably be done.
The kindest option is to put him to sleep.
Louise looks at Benji.
Another goodbye.
CLOSE ON — LOUISE'S HAND
Stroking Benji’s fur.
INT. LOUISE'S HOUSE — LATER
Silence.
The dog's bed is empty.
His lead hangs unused.
Louise looks at it.
Benji had been more than a pet.
He was the final living connection to the family she once had.
Frederick had stroked him.
Benjamin had played with him.
Benjamin had named him.
After Frederick died, Benji remained.
After Benjamin died, Benji remained.
He followed Louise through the house.
He gave her a reason to get up.
A reason to walk.
A reason to speak.
Every time she called—
“Benji”—
there had been a little of Benjamin in the name.
Now the house is silent.
For the first time, Louise feels completely alone.
THE BENCH
EXT. CEMETERY — WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
Louise walks alone.
No dog.
No lead.
No paws beside her.
She visits Frederick.
Then Benjamin.
She stands between the graves.
After a while, she moves towards a nearby bench.
She sits.
Looks towards the familiar path.
She remembers Benji walking beside her.
The tears come.
Louise lowers her head.
She begins quietly weeping.
Not only for Benji.
For Benjamin.
For Frederick.
For the home that once contained all of them.
And for herself.
SIMON AND LOUISE
EXT. CEMETERY — CONTINUOUS
Simon has finished his usual Wednesday visit to Lucy.
He begins walking towards his car.
Then he notices Louise.
Sitting on the bench.
Crying.
Simon slows.
For months, they have occupied this same place at roughly the same time.
They have never properly spoken.
He knows nothing about her.
Not even her name.
He could continue walking.
Perhaps that would be easier.
Simon hesitates.
Then changes direction.
He approaches.
SIMON
Hello.
Louise quickly wipes her eyes.
SIMON
Are you all right?
Louise does not quite know how to answer.
Simon gestures to the empty space beside her.
SIMON
Would you mind if I joined you?
Louise looks up.
LOUISE
Yes.
Simon pauses.
Louise realises what she has said.
The faintest smile.
LOUISE
I mean, no. I don’t mind. Please sit.
Simon sits beside her.
Silence.
Neither seems uncomfortable with it.
Eventually—
LOUISE
I’m Louise.
SIMON
Simon.
A beat.
LOUISE
I know.
Simon turns towards her.
SIMON
You know?
LOUISE
I’ve noticed you coming here. Every Wednesday.
Simon glances towards Lucy’s grave.
Louise follows his gaze.
LOUISE
You come to visit your wife, don’t you?
Simon is surprised.
His Wednesday visits have always felt private.
Something belonging only to himself and Lucy.
Yet Louise has noticed.
SIMON
Yes.
A pause.
SIMON
I do.
Louise looks across the cemetery.
LOUISE
I thought so.
Simon studies her.
SIMON
And you?
Louise looks towards two graves further away.
LOUISE
My husband is buried here.
A beat.
LOUISE
Frederick.
Simon follows her gaze.
Then Louise looks towards the second grave.
LOUISE
And my son.
Her voice changes.
LOUISE
Benjamin.
Simon turns back to her.
LOUISE
He died last year. He was away with some friends. It was supposed to be the holiday of a lifetime.
She manages a sad smile.
LOUISE
He’d just finished college. He was going to university.
Simon searches for the right words.
There are none.
SIMON
I’m sorry.
LOUISE
Thank you.
Louise looks towards Benjamin’s grave.
LOUISE
After Frederick died, Benjamin was all I had.
A moment.
LOUISE
Well... Benjamin and Benji.
SIMON
Benji?
LOUISE
My dog. The collie you used to see me walking.
Simon nods.
SIMON
I wondered what had happened to him.
Louise looks down.
LOUISE
He became ill. I had to have him put to sleep last week.
SIMON
I’m sorry.
Louise nods.
LOUISE
Benjamin named him.
Simon looks at her.
LOUISE
After himself, actually.
A tiny smile breaks through the sadness.
LOUISE
He thought it would be funny to have two Bens in the house. Benjamin and Benji. I told him it would cause nothing but confusion.
SIMON
Did it?
Louise smiles.
LOUISE
Constantly.
For the first time—
Simon smiles.
A genuine smile.
Only briefly.
But Louise notices.
Her expression softens.
LOUISE
People say they’re only animals. But Benji wasn’t just a dog to me. He belonged to all of us. Frederick loved him. Benjamin loved him. He was there when we were still a family.
She looks towards the empty path.
LOUISE
After Frederick died, Benji was still there. After Benjamin died, Benji was still there.
A beat.
LOUISE
Whenever I called his name, I suppose part of me was still calling Benjamin’s name as well.
Simon understands.
LOUISE
Sometimes I think that stupid dog was the only reason I got out of bed in the morning.
A faint smile from Simon.
Louise returns it.
LOUISE
And now he’s gone.
SIMON
I’m very sorry.
LOUISE
Thank you.
Silence.
But unlike the silence inside either of their homes, this one is shared.
Eventually Louise looks towards Lucy’s grave.
LOUISE
What was her name?
SIMON
Lucy.
LOUISE
Your wife?
SIMON
Yes.
LOUISE
How long ago?
SIMON
Last September.
Louise considers this.
LOUISE
So it hasn’t even been a year.
SIMON
No.
A pause.
LOUISE
Was she ill?
Simon hesitates.
SIMON
Yes.
Louise waits.
SIMON
She was in hospital.
Something about the way he says it tells Louise that there is more.
LOUISE
Were you with her?
Simon looks away.
A long silence.
SIMON
No.
Louise says nothing.
Simon looks towards Lucy’s grave.
SIMON
I wasn’t there when she died.
Another pause.
SIMON
I should have been.
Louise hears the guilt immediately.
She could offer an easy reassurance.
She could tell him not to blame himself.
But she has lived with grief long enough to know that sometimes words meant to comfort only close a conversation.
So she simply waits.
Simon looks at her.
For twenty years, Simon Atkinson has listened to other people.
Clients sit across from him and explain their problems.
He listens.
He questions.
He advises.
He solves.
But Simon rarely talks about himself.
Louise leans back against the bench.
LOUISE
You know, I’ve just told you quite a lot about myself.
The faintest smile touches Simon’s face.
SIMON
You have.
LOUISE
So perhaps it’s your turn.
Simon looks at her.
Louise smiles gently.
LOUISE
I’ve got time.
Simon looks towards Lucy’s grave.
The hospital.
The telephone call.
The funeral in the rain.
Every Wednesday he has stood beside her grave and spoken to Lucy.
He has told her about work.
Clients.
People.
The ordinary events of his week.
But he has never managed to say the thing that matters most.
That he is sorry.
Simon turns back towards Louise.
This woman is not demanding an explanation.
She is not asking him to be strong.
She is not expecting the successful solicitor.
She is simply prepared to listen.
Simon takes a breath.
SIMON
All right.
Louise waits.
And there, on a cemetery bench between the people they have loved and lost, Simon begins to tell Louise about Lucy.
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