Gentleman's shave

INT: HAIRDRESSERS

A female receptionist smiles up at a female customer, with flowing blonde ringlets, who is just leaving. She disappears off camera

RECEPTIONIST: Bye now!

A bell chimes when the door shuts. Then, a man dressed in scruffy tracksuit bottoms, a ripped parka and a stained t shirt approaches the desk. The receptionist looks up slowly and disbelievingly. With greasy hair and a patchy beard, he chuckles at her.

RECEPTIONIST: … can I help you?

MAN: Uh, I’ve come for the gentlemen’s shave… (woman frowns) you know, it’s advertised, in the window.

RECEPTIONIST: It’s thirty pounds if we can fit you in for an appointment today.

MAN: That’s quite alright I’m only at the office Mondays through Thursdays

… I’m joking I live in extreme poverty.

RECEPTIONIST: Yes… you are aware that it’s thirty pounds upfront for the gentlemen’s shave?

MAN: No problem at all.

The man pulls out three ten pound notes and hands them over. The receptionist takes them reluctantly.

RECEPTIONIST: Thank you…

MAN: (Walking off) Wait over here, shall I?

Music begins.

Cut to: 10 minutes later. The man is sat on an armchair reading Chat magazine.

Cut to: 15 minutes later. The man is sat back with a dark cloak covering everything but his feet and head. A young woman places a wet towel on his face. Inaudible conversation.

Cut to: 20 minutes later. The man is covered in shaving foam as the young woman carefully uses a blade. Inaudible conversation and laughter.

Cut to: 40 minutes later. The man gets up off the chair as the young woman shows him his reflection in the mirror.

Music stops.

The man walks past the receptionist’s desk.

MAN: (Shouting at the young woman) Thanks a lot, see you next time! (Then, to receptionist) Cheers.

YOUNG WOMAN: See you soon George!

The door chimes on his way out.

RECEPTIONIST: (To the young woman) Have you done him before?

YOUNG WOMAN: George? No actually, but what an interesting guy…

Cut to: The man, smiling as he wanders down the street in his scruffy clothing. The man’s actions are narrated by the young woman and the receptionists’ conversation.

YOUNG WOMAN CONT’D: (Off camera): … he tells me he’s lived on a disused balcony of this closed down factory for the last three years. He’s lost his kids and all of his family after he was made redundant there.

The man pulls apart a gap in a fence, and wanders through into the disused factory’s car park.

RECEPTIONIST: Of the factory?

The man throws his sports bag onto the balcony before climbing a short way up a drainpipe to join it.

YOUNG WOMAN: Think so. Says he lost everything but one privilege he’ll never do away with is a gentlemen’s wet shave every two months.

RECEPTIONIST: Oh, right…

The man is asleep on the balcony.

Fade out.