INT. CLINIC OF DREAMS (OPERATING ROOM) - DAY
Santina wakes up from her dream.
DOCTOR DRAGO
No. No. This is not good. You are resisting our techniques Mrs Ramirez.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
I don’t want to erase him. I want to keep him.
DOCTOR DRAGO
This will have consequences
SANTINA RAMIREZ
I’m aware of the consequences.
INT. RAMIREZ HOUSEHOLD (KITCHEN) - EVENING
Santina is cooking dinner when Francesca and Bertie approach her.
BERTIE
Mummy, do you know the way you always say that Mr Rodgers isn’t the man that you want.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Yes?
FRANCESCA
And that you’d like to throw him off a bus?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Yes?
BERTIE
And string him up by his ankles?
FRANCESCA
And stick peanut butter up his nose?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Where is this going?
BERTIE
We think you ought to consider alternatives.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Well what’s wrong with your Father?
FRANCESCA
He doesn’t tidy up after himself.
BERTIE
He doesn’t move from the couch
FRANCESCA
He’s always drunk
BERTIE
He’s mean
FRANCESCA
He spews all over the toilet seat.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
This is as good as its going to get honey.
Francesca gives her a stern look.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
And just who are these alternatives?
BERTIE
Well, you know how you said you didn’t want to marry an old billionaire?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
I said millionaire honey, not billionaire.
BERTIE
Well anyway, we think there are at least three options.
FRANCESCA
Mr Donaldson
SANTINA RAMIREZ
No way. The teacher? He’s dull and boring. He spends most of his time reading and correcting homework and never says anything witty.
BERTIE
Well Edgar spends most of his time drinking and watching tv and never says anything witty.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Kids, you’d have to do better than that.
FRANCESCA
Mr Harbinger
SANTINA RAMIREZ
I definitely do not fancy Mr Harbinger.
BERTIE
Do you fancy Mr Donaldson?
FRANCESCA
Mr Noble
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Well, he is... Have you been talking to him behind my back?
FRANCESCA
No
BERTIE
Strictly incognito.
FRANCESCA
Well?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Have you kids done your homework?
The kids walk away with their heads bowed.
BERTIE
I think he’s the one.
FRANCESCA
And I thought he had smelly feet.
INT. LOCAL BAR - EVENING
Calum walks into the bar with a copy of a newspaper in his hand.
CALUM RODGERS
How could you write this? She is my friend.
JULIUS SPECTOR
She was horrible to you. You told me yourself.
CALUM RODGERS
I didn’t say that. You know I didn’t say that. This makes it look like I was assisting you.
JULIUS SPECTOR
She doesn’t love you Calum. She never will. She struggles to even remember your name.
CALUM RODGERS
It’s not a matter of whether or not she loves me. Its a matter of right and wrong.
JULIUS SPECTOR
What kind of woman lives in her dreams Calum?
CALUM RODGERS
What kind of man betrays his friends?
JULIUS SPECTOR
There is a bigger picture Calum. This clinic or whatever it calls itself needs to be brought to task. She is just a pawn in all of this.
CALUM RODGERS
She is a pawn with feelings Julius
INT. LOCAL CAFE - DAY
Mr Noble is seated on his own in the cafe. Santina enters and approaches him.
MR NOBLE: 39, male, attractive, taller than average, shallow, womaniser
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Mr Noble, is it?
MR NOBLE
Santina
SANTINA RAMIREZ
How did you...? May I join you?
MR NOBLE
I have a few minutes
SANTINA RAMIREZ
I know we hardly know each other, so I figure... well, we see each other in passing..
MR NOBLE
Why not?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
What is it you do, Mr Noble?
MR NOBLE
Call me Josh. I do a bit of this and that. And you?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Oh, I just work in the local store. It pays the bills.
MR NOBLE
Can you make it snappy Santina. My 2 O’Clock is on its way. What is it you want?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Oh well I ...
MR NOBLE
Here she is.
A young woman approaches
ARIADNE: 20, female, very attractive.
ARIADNE
Hey honey who is this?
MR NOBLE
A fellow customer. She was just leaving. Weren’t you Mrs Ramirez.
ARIADNE
Did you order yet?
A dejected Santina climbs out of the booth.
INT. DATING AGENCY OFFICE (WITHIN SANTINA’S DREAM) - DAY
Santina is seated at a desk opposite a dating agency employee who is using a computer.
MISS ARVELADZE: 32, female, average height, fair shoulder-length hair, glasses, moderately attractive, slim
MISS ARVELADZE
Now, Mrs Ramirez, what attributes would your ideal candidate have?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Well, he’d have to be handsome and smart and strong.
MISS ARVELADZE
Anything else?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Kind, a good cook and great in bed.
MISS ARVELADZE
Anything else
SANTINA RAMIREZ
He’d have to sit through romantic movies and take me away on weekend getaways and be well... rich.
MISS ARVELADZE
Ok, I’ve keyed this into the computer. Lets see the results
The computer sounds like it might explode
MISS ARVELADZE
Well unfortunately, you’re looking for the perfect man, who doesn’t exist.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
What can I do?
MISS ARVELADZE
There must be some flaws that you can accept in your ideal candidate.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Maybe an extra few pounds. I mean he doesn’t have to be totally ripped. Maybe he doesn’t have to be a cordon bleu chef...
MISS ARVELADZE
You must remember Santina, that this is a man we’re talking about. You’ve got to do better than that.
INT. LOCAL POLICE STATION - EVENING
Bertie enters the local police station again where Officer Dumble is seated behind a desk.
BERTIE
Please Officer Dumble, can you check on my mom?
POLICE OFFICER DUMBLE
Look Bertie, there’s only so much I can do. Your Father seems alright to me compared to the more extreme cases we’ve had.
BERTIE
Can’t you check on her?
POLICE OFFICER DUMBLE
No Bertie I can’t. If something actually happens, then you can come to me. Now go home and do your homework.
INT. ST FINIANS ELEMENTERARY SCHOOL (CORRIDOR) - DAY
Santina confronts Calum in the corridor of the school
SANTINA RAMIREZ
How could you do this to me?
CALUM RODGERS
I didn’t...
SANTINA RAMIREZ
I always knew you were a phoney. He was your best friend and he’s made me out to be some kind of..
CALUM RODGERS
I’m sorry this had to happen
SANTINA RAMIREZ
So, you agree with him, that I’m neglecting my responsibilities and becoming an addict for some sort of evil corporation?
CALUM RODGERS
Well..
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Do you agree with that?
CALUM RODGERS
You have two wonderful children. They deserve a mother who supports them and...
SANTINA RAMIREZ
So you’re saying I don’t love my own children? How dare you.
CALUM RODGERS
I believe you’re a good person Santina..
SANTINA RAMIREZ
You're just a conniving yellow coward. Can you name one person you rescued or saved? Anything that shows you’re not yellow
CALUM RODGERS
I’m no hero Santina. I never will be.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Your such a suck up and a phoney. Stay away from my kids. I don’t want you near them again.
EXT. SEVENTEENTH CENTURY INQUISITION (WITHIN CALUM’S DREAM)- DAY
Within Calum’s dream he sees a woman (Santina) bound and restrained by an executioner with an axe on a platform. A crowd of people including Calum have gathered. A judge addresses the crowd.
JUDGE
What say you of this woman?
WOMAN 1 (SIXTEENTH CENTURY)
This woman started the black plague. I saw it with my own eyes
JUDGE
But the black plague started hundreds of years ago.
WOMAN 1 (SIXTEENTH CENTURY)
Are you calling me a liar?
WOMAN 2 (SIXTEENTH CENTURY)
She had her way with my Lionel. She put a curse on him. Now he is no good to me.
MAN 1 (SIXTEENTH CENTURY)
She’s a witch. She put a curse on my crops. Now they’re no good. She is the root of all evil.
JUDGE
Did you see her put a curse on it?
OLD WOMAN (SIXTEENTH CENTURY)
I did with my own two eyes.
JUDGE
But you’ve been blind for twenty years. What say you?
All attention focuses on Calum.
JUDGE
Speak up
Calum freezes and can’t say anything
JUDGE
Have you nothing to say?
WOMAN 1 (SIXTEENTH CENTURY)
She’s cursed him too and all.
WOMAN 2 (SIXTEENTH CENTURY)
He used to have a fine voice and look what she did to him.
JUDGE
Well if nobody is going to support this woman I shall have to find her guilty of all charges. Off with her head.
CROWD (IN UNISON)
Off with her head. Off with her head.
Calum closes his eyes. He can hear the axe fall and when he opens them he sees Santina’s head fall at his feet.
Calum wakes up from the dream.
EXT. ST FINIANS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (PLAYGROUND) - DAY
Calum notices that Bertie is despondent
CALUM RODGERS
What’s the matter Bertie?
BERTIE
I really don’t like my dad.
CALUM RODGERS
I’m sure he’s a great guy if you get to know him.
BERTIE
He’s always drunk and he criticises everything. I wish you were my Dad.
CALUM RODGERS
Bertie that’s not going to happen.
BERTIE
I thought we could make you jealous but that didn’t even work. You don’t even like her.
CALUM RODGERS
Some people are just not made for each other Bertie. It doesn’t mean we can’t play catch with a baseball and glove, now can we?
BERTIE
I’d rather play with Miss Sanchez. She knows more about baseball than you.
CALUM RODGERS
Isn’t baseball meant to be fun, even when Mrs Sanchez isn’t around?
BERTIE
I don’t like you anymore. Everything mom said about you was true. Everything Chester Hames said was true. Just leave me alone.
INT. LOCAL BAR - EVENING
Talia, Jasmine and Santina are seated around a table in a bar.
TALIA
It must be months since we were all together.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
I know its been a while, but I have to hire someone to look after the kids when I go out.
TALIA
Isn’t that what your husband is for?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Well I can’t always ask Edgar
TALIA
Why not?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Maybe this is the real reason I don’t want to go out. You judging me.
TALIA
I’m just worried about you Santina. I’m worried that you’re living in your dreams and you don’t have the appetite for real life.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
I’m happy Talia
TALIA
Just look at Jasmine here.
Talia waves her hand in front of Jasmine’s face. Jasmine is in another world
JASMINE
Huh?
TALIA
Do you want to become like Jasmine? She’s been taking the tablet for so long now that she spends her time day dreaming. Is she happy?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
When Edgar gets better, I’ll give up the drug but for now its making me feel good.
TALIA
Really? You used to be fun Santina. Edgar is sucking the life out of you as much as this pill is.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
No he’s not.
TALIA
How do you know this mystery man of yours isn’t someone from the real world?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
It’s just my imagination.
TALIA
What about Calum?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
The janitor? Give me a break. Everything is different. He’s handsome. He has a wonderful cologne. He’s kind and considerate.
TALIA
But you don’t even know what he looks like.
SANTINA RAMIREZ
Mr Rodgers is far from perfect. I heard he butters his toast on both sides. He’s carrying a few extra pounds and he’s yellow. I want a strong man. A man who will protect me and love me.
TALIA
I’m not saying he’s the one but does Edgar really protect you?
SANTINA RAMIREZ
I just want to be happy. Why can’t you understand that? I’m going home to...
Santina climbs off her chair
TALIA
Your dreams.
Santina leaves
JASMINE
Where’s Santina gone? Just the girls...
Jasmine dozes off and falls off her chair.
Nearby, in the same pub, Mr Noble is talking to Ariadne. Both seated at a table.
MR NOBLE
I’m sure it’s just a phase honey
ARIADNE
You call, five times in a row, a phase?
MR NOBLE
Please don’t leave me. I’ll do anything.
Ariadne stands up.
ARIADNE
General Noble, consider yourself demoted.
INT. CLINIC OF DREAMS (DR DRAGO'S OFFICE) - DAY
Dr Beshovich enters Doctor Drago’s office, with Mr Veratini in attendance
DOCTOR DRAGO
Thank you for coming Doctor.
DR BESHOVICH
I was told very little about why you want me here other than Mr Veratini indicating that it would be worth my while.
DOCTOR DRAGO
The matter concerns a man who goes by the name of Calum Rodgers.
DR BESHOVICH
I’m not at liberty to discuss my clients with anyone without their permission.
DOCTOR DRAGO
Lets start off with five grand
DR BESHOVICH
Mr Rodgers was a client of mine, on and off for about four years. He lost his father at the age of twelve and he came to see me. He suffered from depression for a while and was badly affected by it.
DOCTOR DRAGO
You told a court of law that he was unstable. Isn’t that correct?
DR BESHOVICH
Yes it is.
DOCTOR DRAGO
How much were you paid by the mobster Igor “six fingers” McGinty to make those comments?
DR BESHOVICH
I am a reputable psychiatrist
DOCTOR DRAGO
How does twenty grand sound
DR BESHOVICH
Thirty sounds better.
DOCTOR DRAGO
We have an issue with Calum Rodgers. We think it needs fixing.