Rebecca

FADE IN:

SC1. INT. SMALL COMMERCIAL GALLERY - DAY
[JAMES COLE (DARK-HAIRED, MID-TWENTIES) STANDS IN FRONT OF A BRIGHTLY
PAINTED CITYSCAPE. A SLIM, SHORT DARK-HAIRED WOMAN (REBECCA),
MID/LATE-THIRTIES COMES INTO VIEW AND STANDS ALONGSIDE HIM ].

REBECCA:
That's really nice, isn't it?

[JAMES INDICATES HIS AGREEMENT BY NODDING WITHOUT TAKING HIS EYES OFF
THE CANVAS.]

REBECCA (CONT'D.):
Would you like it to hang in your home?

[JAMES TURNES AND SMILES AT HER]

JAMES:
I wish!

[WITHOUT ANOTHER WORD REBECCA REMOVES A TESCO'S PLASTIC SHOPPING BAG
FROM HER HANDBAG, STRIDES OVER TO THE PAINTING, REMOVES IT FROM THE
WALL AND CONCEALS IT IN THE TESCO'S BAG.]

REBECCA:
There you are. Your wish is my command.

[JAMES IS IN TURMOIL.HIS HEAD TWITCHES ALL AROUND, SEEKING FOR CCTV
CAMERAS OR OTHER SECURITY DEVICES, WHICH MAY HAVE RECORDED THE
INCIDENT.]

REBECCA:(CONT'D)
(IMPATIENTLY) Well, are you going to take it or not?

[JAMES RELUCTANTLY ACCEPTS THE BAG FROM HER]

JAMES:
I don't believe it! You'll never get away with this.

[REBECCA GIVES A NONCHALANT SHRUG]

REBECCA:
I'm not getting away with anything - it's yours - a present from
me.

JAMES:
But it isn't yours to give!

REBECCA:
Isn't it? Just look at the signature.

[HE SQUINTS INTENTLY AT THE BOTTOM LH CORNER OF THE CANVAS]

JAMES:
Rebecca Botrell!

REBECCA
(HOLDING OUT HER HAND) Pleased to meet you. And you are?..

JAMES:
James.. James Cole.

REBECCA
Well, James Cole, what do you say to a drink to celebrate your most
recent acquisition?

JAMES:
I don't believe this! Do you make a habit of going around giving your
work away?

REBECCA:
Only to friends and people I like.

JAMES:
But you don't know me.

REBECCA:
I like my work to go to people who I'm certain will appreciate it. I
saw the way you were looking at it and I knew it would be going to a
good home - better to go to someone like you than some philistine just
because he's got money. Now, what about that drink?

CUT TO:

SC2. INT. GALLERY CAF?/BAR - DAY
[REBECCA AND JAMES SIT AT A SMALL POLISHED WOODEN TABLE WITH SMALL
BEERS IN FRONT OF THEM]

REBECCA:
So, what brought you to the exhibition if you haven't got a clue who I
am?

JAMES:
I happened to be in town and saw the boards outside. It isn't strictly
true that I don't know you. In fact, I've been a fan of your work for
quite a while. I've heard you giving interviews on Radio 4 but not on
TV. I had no idea what you looked like.

REBECCA:
And, now you've seen me, what do you think?

JAMES:
You're not at all how I imagined you.

REBECCA
(CHUCKLING) Am I to take that as a compliment or not?

JAMES:
Definitely a compliment, and not merely because you've just presented
me with a very expensive artwork.

(SHE WAVES A HAND IN A GESTURE OF DISMISSAL.)

REBECCA:
Oh, come on, I know you'd have bought it if you had the money.

JAMES
Yeah, I was thinking about that; the gallery is not going to be very
pleased when they find that blank space on the wall. They might even
report it as stolen. And aren't you doing them out of commission?

REBECCA:
Sod them! They should invest in better security and they're making
enough out of me anyway.

JAMES:
But you're not going to make a lot if you go around giving all your
work away.

REBECCA
(SHRUGS) Arrh, I make enough.

JAMES:
Not a starving artist living in an attic then?

REBECCA:
I'm not super-rich either but I make a living.

[SHE HAS A SUDDEN THOUGHT]

REBECCA
Tell you what, as you're such a big fan of mine, how would you like to
come back to my place to see some more?

[AGAIN JAMES CANNOT BELIEVE HIS LUCK. BESIDES BEING A VERY TALENTED
LADY, REBECCA IS ALSO VERY ATTRACTIVE]

JAMES:
Are you sure? I mean you really don't know me.

REBECCA:
But isn't this the perfect way for me to get to
know you. Of course, if you've got something better you'd prefer to be
doing!..

JAMES
Oh no! Not at all! I've got nothing on for the rest of the day.

CUT TO:
SC3. INT. GALLERY FOYER - DAY
[WE SEE JAMES AND REBECCA LEAVING THE GALLERY PASSED A DESK MANNED BY A
SMILING SECURITY GUARD (FIT LOOKING, IN HIS EARLY FORTIES].
]
SECURITY GUARD:
Good day Ms Botrell. I trust everything is in order.

REBECCA:
Perfect, thank you.

CUT TO:
SC4. INT. REBECCA'S APARTMENT - DAY
[THE ROOM IS FURNISHED WITH VARIOUS OBJETS D'ART, INCLUDING SEVERAL
NICE PAINTINGS. REBECCA AND JAMES SIT SIDE-BY-SIDE SIPPING BRANDY AND
EATING NIBBLES FROM A COFFEE TABLE. JAMES IS LOOKING AROUND THE
APARTMENT. WE BREAK IN ON THEIR CONVERSATION].

JAMES:
It must be difficult to produce work like yours and keep this place
looking so good.

REBECCA:
Oh, this is where I live, not work. I have a studio on the other side
of town. Painting's a passion with me, but it's also my job. As with
most other people, I like to distance myself from my work from time to
time.

JAMES:
I suppose I'm affected by the stereotype.

[REBECCA FIDGETS WITH THE HEM ON THE SKIRT OF HER TAILORED SUIT]

REBECCA:
And, perhaps you've noticed, I don't go around in a smock or paint
splattered dungarees all the time.

[JAMES INSTINCTIVELY GLANCES AT HER LEGS. HIS FACE IMMEDIATELY BETRAYS
A HINT OF EMBARRASSMENT].

JAMES:
Yes I have noticed!

CUT TO:
SC5. INT. A DIMLY LIT BEDROOM
NIGHT
[WE SEE JAMES IN A DEEP SLUMBER WHILE REBECCA SITS UP NEXT TO HIM,
HOLDING THE TELEPHONE TO HER EAR.]

REBECCA:
Yes OK. I can't see that being a problem.

[SHE REPLACES THE PHONE ON A BEDSIDE TABLE AND BEGINS TO SHAKE JAMES
INTO LIFE.]

REBECCA:
James, James!.. Come on I'm sorry but you'll have to go.

HE ROLLS ONTO HIS BACK AND RUBS HIS EYES.

JAMES:
Huh!.. What?.. What's up?

REBECCA:
It's Clive. He's on his way home.

JAMES
(STILL HALF ASLEEP) Clive? (BEAT) Clive? (BEAT) Who the bloody hell's
Clive?

REBECCA:
My fella. I thought I told you. He's on his way. There'll be murder if
he catches you here.

JAMES COMES TO LIFE AND BEGINS PULLING ON HIS CLOTHES.

JAMES:
Right fuckin' time to tell me now, isn't it?

CUT TO:
SC6. INT. BEDROOM (CONT'D) - NIGHT

[FROM HER P.O.V. WE SEE JAMES IN THE STREET BELOW. HE IS REBECCA STANDS
SIPPING AT A GLASS OF BRANDY AS SHE LOOKS OUT OF THE WINDOW.
SCURRYING PASSED A MALE FIGURE APPROACHING THE BUILDING. ONCE JAMES HAS
PASSED HIM, THE FIGURE PAUSES UNDER A STREET LAMP TO SMILE UP AT
REBECCA.]

CUT TO:

SC7. INT. REBECCA'S LOUNGE - NIGHT
[WE SEE REBECCA ENTER FROM THE BEDROOM AND MAKE HER WAY ACROSS THE
LOUNGE AND OPEN THE DOOR TO CLIVE.

CLIVE ENTERS. A CLOSE-UP SHOWS HE IS THE SECURITY GUARD FROM THE
GALLERY. REBECCA THROWS HER ARMS AROUND HIS NECK AND WELCOMES HIM WITH
A PASSIONATE KISS. THEY DWELL IN ONE ANOTHER'S ARMS FOR A WHILE BEFORE
PARTING AND SMILING AT EACH OTHER.]

CLIVE:
Ahhh, Sophie, I knew you wouldn't let me down.

SOPHIE:
How could I fail? He was in such a hurry to get his trousers on he
forgot all about his present. Shame really, he was quite cute.

[CLIVE REMOVES A VIDEO TAPE FROM HIS PUFFER JACKET POCKET AND WAVES IT
AT REBECCA.]

CLIVE:
And he's the only person on here with anything that could be that
painting. All we've got to do now is edit out those few seconds of you
taking it off the wall.

SOPHIE:
Are you sure it can be done?

CLIVE:
No problem, I've practiced to perfection on some old obsolete tapes.
Fills in the time when I'm on long shifts - well, that and working out
our next scam.

FADE OUT.