Our Wings

SERAPH

 

EXT. PARK - NOON

A cloudy grey sky over a single pale tree with no leaves on it in the middle of a grassy field. Sound of children playing in the distance. After a moment, two 17 year old girls: SERAPH and ERIN, come and sit under the tree. SERAPH has angel wings, ERIN does not. Both are eating sandwiches.

 

SERAPH

(Pointing to their carved initials)

See, Erin? I told you they would still be there.

 

ERIN

Fine, I was wrong. Thought

they would have worn out by

now. It was so long ago.

 

SERAPH

(Rubbing legs)

You need to have more faith

in things.

 

ERIN

You okay, Seraph?

 

SERAPH

Huh? Oh yeah I'm just not

used to using my legs for so long. I don't know how you stand it. (Smiles) If you'll pardon the pun.

 

ERIN

Good one. You get used to it,

over time.

 

SERAPH

Hmmm.

 

ANGLE ON SPARROW FLYING ON TOP TREE BRANCH

 

Twittering.

 

FAVOURING SERAPH

As she looks up at it and beams. She soon flies up to it and the two begin to fly around each other.

 

CLOSE SHOT OF ERIN

As she glances up at her laughing friend with a hint of sadness. Then looks back down again.

 

ANGLE ON TREE

SERAPH sees her friend's expression and comes back down. The sparrow flies away.

 

SERAPH

Don't you just love nature?

 

ERIN

Nope.

 

SERAPH

You grouch. How can you not

love a itty-bitty sparrow?

 

ERIN

(Looking at chicken sandwich)

Well, for starters it would

be pretty biased of me, seeing as how I'm eating

the body of his cousin.

 

SERAPH

You could go back to being

vegetarian. Then you could

love all of god's creatures, and not be a cold-hearted

carnivore.

 

ERIN

Can't, their meat is too tasty.

 

SERAPH

 

Stop it.

 

ERIN

Can't stop. Wont stop.(Pause) So how did your choir thing go the other day?

 

SERAPH

Oh yeah, it went great. The congregation loved it, and Reverend Wright said I have the voice of a... you know.

 

ERIN

Did he now? Good for you,

Seph. I'm proud of you.

 

SERAPH

Thanks.

 

ANOTHER ANGLE ON SERAPH AND ERIN

ERIN scratches her shoulder blades, SERAPH tries not to notice, but can't help looking with a expression of concern. ERIN sees this.

 

ERIN

What?

 

SERAPH

Nothing, I just...

 

ERIN

No need to be coy with me.

What's on your mind?

 

SERAPH

(Pause)

Can I ask you something?

Something personal I mean.

 

ERIN

Sure, go ahead.

 

SERAPH

Can you... can you still feel

them?

 

NEW ANGLE ON SERAPH AND ERIN

The wind blows.

 

ERIN

(Pause)

Sometimes.

 

SERAPH

Sorry. I shouldn't have asked.

 

ERIN

(Smiles)

Oh shut up. If my best friend

doesn't ask then who will? I

can tell you've been thinking

about it all day. Go ahead.

Ask anything you want.

 

SERAPH

Really? Are you sure?

 

ERIN

Yes I'm sure, stop acting like

an old woman about it.

 

 

SERAPH

(Cheers up, moves closer)

Okay. Was it fun? I mean asides from

the... unpleasant bit.

 

ERIN

Yeah, as a matter of fact, it was. Didn't

quite live up to the hype but... yeah it was nice.

 

SERAPH

Do you feel any different?

 

ERIN

No, not really any changes apart from

the obvious. I'm still me. Why? Were

you expecting me to be different?

 

SERAPH

No. Well... maybe a little.

 

ERIN

I should have come in formal wear

with a briefcase. Really freak you out.

 

SERAPH

That would just have been mean,

you know I have no clue about this

kind of thing.

 

ERIN

No, you? The girl who told me on

good authority that the belly

button was actually -

 

SERAPH

Yeah yeah yeah, very funny. I

went to an all girls' school,

what do you expect?

 

ERIN

A little more curiosity on your

part.

 

SERAPH

I'm being curious now, so stop

teasing me.

 

ERIN

Fine.

 

ANGLE ON SERAPH'S WINGS

They twitch a little against the cold.

 

SERAPH AND ERIN

ERIN looking at SERAPH'S wings.

 

ERIN

They come off easier than you'd think you know.

 

SERAPH

Mmmm, I've been wondering about

that. I mean isn't it supposed

to be really painful? And the

blood.

 

ERIN

It didn't hurt all that much... but I'm not going to lie to you, Seph.

It was a little scary when I first felt

them disconnect.

 

SERAPH becomes overcome with sympathy for her friend.

 

SERAPH

(Hugging ERIN)

Oh Erin.

 

ERIN

(Hugging her back)

Cripes, don't start. You'll get

me all emotional.

 

SERAPH

Too late.

 

ERIN

I'm warning you. I can't pull off

that gentle weeping crap of yours.

I'll ball like a bitch.

 

SERAPH

Potty mouth.

 

ERIN

Goody two shoes.

 

ANGLE ON SKY

As rain starts to pour down.

 

SERAPH AND ERIN

Both look up.

 

ERIN

Haven't picked a great spot for

this, have we?

 

SERAPH

(Chuckling)

No.

 

MOVING SHOT OF SERAPH AND ERIN

Both running through the park to save getting drenched. SERAPH playfully tries to pull her friend up in flight, but she can't manage it. Both laugh.

 

INT. CAFE - EVENING. ANGLE ON SERAPH AND ERIN

Both are sat at a table with a mug of tea each and a plate of biscuits between them. They eat and drink as they talk. Occasionally moving around them are other customers and waitresses who glance at ERIN. The children have wings, the adults do not.

 

SERAPH

So is he nice? I never got to

actually meet him.

 

ERIN

Yeah, he's a keeper. You'll like him, he didn't know what a vagina was until I came along either.

 

SERAPH

(Sarcastic)

You're a comedic prodigy.

ERIN

Appreciate it. Did I ever tell you how we first met?

 

SERAPH

Comic book store wasn't it?

 

ERIN

Bingo. We reached for the same issue of Captain Cosmos, and after an hour of talking about how ridiculous the premise of time terrorists was, we realised

neither of us really wanted it.

 

SERAPH

Aw, young geeky love.

 

ERIN

Romance for the ages. I'll

introduce you two some time.

 

SERAPH

So um, what did you guys do with

your wings after?

 

ERIN

Oh that, we ate them.

 

ERIN sips her drink, SERAPH gives a peeved expression.

 

ERIN

We burnt them, like everyone else does, dummy.

 

SERAPH

That's not true, some people keep

them.

 

ERIN

That's just fucked up.

 

SERAPH

Mmm, it is a bit weird. My mom said

it's because some folks don't want to let go of their innocence.

 

ERIN

What's the point? You've lost the

ability to fly, why keep the limbs

about?

 

SERAPH

I dunno, how are you dealing with

being ground bound anyway?

 

ERIN

Eh, it's a little frustrating how

slow I get around now, sure was nice

being able to wing it everywhere. I

guess I'll just have to deal with it

like every other severed gal. (Pause)

Part I don't think I'll get used to

is the uninvited attention.

 

REVERSE ANGLE TO FAMILY

A FATHER, a MOTHER, and two CHILDREN are eyeing her up from a nearby table, seeing that ERIN has noticed them: the FATHER murmurs and everyone looks away.

 

SERAPH AND ERIN

ERIN looks back to her friend.

 

ERIN

Example A.

 

SERAPH

Forget about them. What business is

it of theirs anyway?

 

ERIN

None, but your church does like to

fill their heads with a few wild tales concerning grounded girls like me. Hell, jumping in the sack before the age of consent and marriage: I'm surprised Reverend Counter hasn't crowned me the queen of the fallen flock already.

 

SERAPH

I have been meaning to speak to him

about his sermons... Oh the church and the rest will come around eventually, I'm sure of it. There are more ground bound girl's popping

up everyday.

 

ERIN

Maybe I should start a club. Erin's

society for ostracised hussys. Got

a nice ring to it, don't you think?

 

SERAPH

It'll get better.

 

ERIN

Easy for you to say. You're the most

perfect little angel in town. When

was the last time anyone called you

a slut in the street?

 

SERAPH

What? When did that happen?

 

ERIN

When hasn't it happened? If you

weren't here with me I would probably

have gotten railed at a dozen times by

now.

 

SERAPH

That's horrible.

 

 

ERIN

You're telling me. (Pause) Ah

fuck em, even if your wingless

enlightenment doesn't come about,

it'll stop when I start to look older... or as soon as I buy a

shock gun.

 

SERAPH

(Squeezes her friend's hand)

You're so brave.

 

ERIN

Yep, I'm a regular wonder woman.

What I'm not looking forward to

is getting hit on by other wingless

guys because they think I'm easy.

 

SERAPH

(Playfully)

Well if anyone tries anything to

annoy you when I'm around then I'll

take my bible and whack em round the head.

 

ERIN

You'll whack em round the head huh?

 

SERAPH

I'll whack em round the head with a

furious vengeance.

 

SERAPH mimics the movement and almost spills over her mug, before looking around embarrassedly. ERIN gets out a pen and a notebook and starts scribbling in it.

 

ERIN

(Ironic)

Stop it, Seraph, you're frightening

me.

 

ERIN stops writing, rips out a page and hands it to SERAPH.

 

SERAPH

What's this?

 

ERIN

That is a list of sites I want

you to look over. You're not locked

away in that school of yours any more

so you have no excuse for not getting

into porn.

 

SERAPH

(Surprised exclamation)

Porn?!

 

WIDER ANGLE ON CAFE CUSTOMERS

Their talking stops for a moment, all looking over to SERAPH in confusion.

 

SERAPH AND ERIN

SERAPH blushes.

 

SERAPH

(To them)

Sorry.

 

CUSTOMERS look away and continue their chatting, some titter.

 

SERAPH

(To ERIN, in a whisper)

But this is... this is indecent.

 

ERIN

That's the point. Look, I know you want to be a bride and all, but do you really want to be clueless on your wedding night?

 

SERAPH

(Bites her lip. Pause)

No...

 

ERIN

Well then, get to watching.

 

SERAPH

(Looking at paper)

Fine. (Pause) What does bukake mean?

 

ERIN spits out the tea she was drinking and starts laughing.

 

EXT. STREET - NIGHT.

The pair are walking along together jovially with bags of shopping in their hands, the street is lit by white shining lamps. Every so often a STRANGER walks past the slightly tipsy pair.

 

ERIN

So how are you planning on explaining to your parents why you were out so

late after nine o'clock, lil Miss Perfect?

 

SERAPH

Why, I'll tell them my infamous best friend

Erin led me astray, and that my prior

purchase of the complete series boxset of Charlie's Devils was also of her

nefarious design.

 

ERIN

Ah, sticking the blame on me, eh? A

tried and true tactic, used by

respectable citizens throughout

the entire world.

 

SERAPH

(Hugging her friend)

My poor En-en.

 

ERIN

Don't you condescend me with your

pity, you white winged bitch face.

 

SERAPH

I'll condescend all I like. Wow, the

moon is so beautiful. Makes you wanna

just fly up there, huh?

 

ERIN

I don't think you're in any condition

to fly.

 

SERAPH

I don't think you're in any condition

to stop me.

 

ERIN

Well, you're right about that.

 

SERAPH

That's it settled then, I'm going to

fly to the moon, can you hold my bag?

 

ERIN

Sure.

 

FAVOURING SERAPH

SERAPH hands her bag over and flies up into the night's sky, twirling and giggling as she goes. ERIN watches her with genuine happiness.

 

SERAPH

(Shouting)

Hey Erin, I think I can see my house

from here!

 

ERIN

(Shouting back)

No you can't you big fat liar! You're

house is on the other side of town!

 

SERAPH

Really?! Then what am I looking at?!

Hold on, I'm going to go check!

 

SERAPH flies off screen, leaving ERIN to walk alone.

 

ERIN

Crazy broad.

 

ERIN walks a little way more, when down from the shadows of the building above comes a winged STALKER, looking grave. He closes the distance between them and then addresses her from behind.

 

STALKER

A nice girl like that shouldn't

be associating herself with a common whore like you.

 

ERIN turns on her heel and slowly and puts her hand in her bag.

 

ERIN

Is that a fact?

 

STALKER

Yeah, it is. There's already been

too many angels enticed into hell

as it is. So why don't you do that

one a favour and leave her well

alone?

 

ERIN

(Eyeing him up and down)

Still got your wings, looks like

your mom dresses you, cross around

your neck. Let me guess, one of

Seraph's silent admirers at church?

 

STALKER

Of course your corrupted mind would see it in such base terms. I am a guardian of the faith.

 

ERIN

That's a funny way of pronouncing

creepy stalker.

 

STALKER

You watch your mouth, slut.

 

ERIN

Or what, you'll hit me?

 

STALKER

Someone ought to.

 

ERIN

And there's the provoking

statement...

 

She gets a shock gun out of her back.

 

ERIN

Which will sanctify use of this as self defence in court.

 

STALKER

Oh, and who are the judges going

to believe? A grounded bitch,

or a winged Arch Angel?

 

ERIN

I'm pretty sure the CCTV camera

over there will vouch for me.

 

STALKER

Not if I cover it first.

 

ERIN

Go ahead, make a move, cherry boy. See if you can out-fly an electric current.

 

Both eye each other in a stand off, until ERIN eyes something coming from behind the STALKER.

 

ERIN

Oh no.

 

SERAPH comes flying down, bible in hand, and whacks the STALKER over the head with it, giving him a concussion, before stumbling into ERIN'S arms.

 

SERAPH

Are you okay?

 

ERIN

Yeah, I'm fine. Which is more than I can say for sleeping ugly over there. God, Seraph, you really knocked him senseless.

 

SERAPH

Yeah, I don't think I'll being doing that again any time soon. Vertigo to

go, but it's like I said, if anyone

bothers Erin then I'll whack him over

the head with my oh fuck that's

Clive.

 

ERIN

You know him?

 

SERAPH

He's in my choir club.

 

ERIN

I figured you two would be familiar.

 

SERAPH

Is that blood? I think that's blood, oh dear.

 

ERIN

Don't feel bad for him, Seph. Creep

had it coming.

 

SERAPH

Should we call for an ambulance?

ERIN

Fuck no.

 

SERAPH gives ERIN a pleading look.

 

ERIN

Hell no.

 

EXT. STREET - MIDNIGHT

An ambulance drives away, ERIN is sitting on a bench, SERAPH turns off her mobile and comes to sit with her. Both are now sober.

 

SERAPH

Well, that's that. I've phoned his

parents and the police. We're going

in for questioning tomorrow. Though Mr and Mrs Gabriel didn't seem like they wanted to press any charges.

 

ERIN

Guess they know their son is rotten.

 

SERAPH

I really am shocked, he seemed so

polite up till now.

 

ERIN

Yeah well, apparently some of us

aren't worthy of the same curtsey.

 

SERAPH thinks for a moment.

 

SERAPH

I think I'm going to take a break

from the church.

 

ERIN

Really?

 

SERAPH

Yeah, at least, until they grow

up a little. I don't want to be

a part of something that inspires

this sort of... nastiness.

 

ERIN

(Hugging her friend)

You're a babe you know that?

 

SERAPH

Aw shucks.

 

ERIN

Hey, what time do we have to go

to the police station tomorrow?

 

SERAPH

Twelve, why?

 

ERIN

Well, that gives us a good eight

hours to watch Charlie's Devils

at my house before we go.

 

SERAPH

Mmm, I guess I could leave off

going come for a little bit.

 

The pair rise and start walking away.

 

ERIN

We could even check out some of

those adult sites too, there's a fetish for flyers like you you know.

 

SERAPH

Okay now you're pushing it.

 

ERIN

Heh, stubborn little angel.

END