FADE IN:
ENGLAND 2003. SUMMER
EXT. HIGHWAY. NIGHT

EXT. A RED CAR TRAVELS ON THE HIGHWAY.

INT. ANTON SARDI DRIVES. -- NIGHT

Anton ( 32 ) is medium height with short red hair. He wears
glasses. He is dressed in a blue suit with tie. The radio
plays. Anton hums. There is a medium sized cardboard box in
the back.
EXT.  PAM FLAUNDERS ( 30 ) STANDS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY
HOLDING A LARGE CARDBOARD SIGN OVER HER HEAD. THE SIGN SAYS
" LONDON " IN RED INK. PAM IS PRETTY AND HAS LONG BROWN
HAIR. SHE IS MEDIUM HEIGHT. DRESSED IN JEANS AND A T SHIRT.
THERE IS A KNAPSACK NEAT HER FEET.
EXT.  ANTON'S CAR STOPS BY PAM. NIGHT
INT.  ANTON ROLLS DOWN THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. PAM
LOOKS IN.

PAM
You going to London?

ANTON
This is what your sign said.

Pam picks up the knapsack and opens the back door.

ANTON (CONT'D)
Put it down gently.

PAM
What?

ANTON
Your things. Don't throw them in. Put them gently on the
back seat way back from the box and don't slam the door.

PAM
Sure.
Pam puts the knapsack on the back seat. She closes the door.
She opens the front door and sits.

ANTON

Safety belt.
Pam puts on the safety belt. Anton drives. The radio plays.

EXT.  ANTON'S CAR ON THE HIGHWAY.NIGHT

INT.  ANTON DRIVES. NIGHT

Pam reaches for something in her pocket.

ANTON
Please don't smoke.

PAM
I was reaching for a chewing gum.
(beat)
You want one ?
ANTON
OK. Thank you.

Pam takes out a packet of chewing gum. She takes two.

PAM
You want me to unwrap it for you?

ANTON
Yes please.

Pam unwraps a chewing gum.

PAM
I'm Pam.

Anton holds out his hand and Pam places the chewing gum in
it. Anton puts it in his mouth and chews.

ANTON
Thank you. Anton.

Pam unwraps the other chewing gum.

PAM
Hi.

Pam chews the chewing gum.
PAM (CONT'D)
French?

ANTON
Yes.

PAM
I've a meeting at the the Haymarket Theatre at 10. Hope I
won't be late.
(beat)
Which part of London are you going to?

ANTON
Victoria Station. If the theatre is on my way I'll drop you
off.

PAM
It's not. Piccadily Circus.

ANTON
You've plenty of time at this hour.
(beat)
You an actress ?


PAM
Writer.

Anton looks at her.

PAM (CONT'D)
I don't look like one I know.

ANTON
How does a writer look like?

PAM
Male. 25, someone with long unkempt hair on head and face,
carries joints ,stinks and spits all over when he talks.
(beat)
I bet you wouldn't have stopped for me if I looked like
that.

ANTON
You didn't.

PAM
True but am still a writer.

ANTON
Movies? Tv?

PAM
Six years of teaching drama at the Liverpool High School and
writing plays for the Liverpool Theatre Group were more than
enough so I decided to ask my agent to send my ten years old
play to certain theatres in London.

ANTON
And?

PAM
The Haymarket was interested but they wanted me to rewrite
it.
(beat)
It took me two months to realize that I couldn't rewrite a
word because I was completely and utterly out of any
worthwhile ideas.  Now I am going there to tell them that I
am washed out.
(laughs)
Get that. One of London's top theatres wants my play and I
can't deliver.

ANTON
Sorry.

PAM
Yeah. Sure. Just my luck.
(beat)
You live in London Anton?

ANTON
No. I'm going back to Paris right after midnight.

PAM
Male Cinderella. Don't leave your glass slipper on the
stairs of the palace. I'm sure our Queen will not
understand.

ANTON
I am not going to any party.

PAM
A ball you mean.

The car's cell phone rings. Anton opens it.

WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
(the phone talk is in French)
Anton?

ANTON
Yes Michelle?

MICHELLE (O.S.)
Larry had a heart attack two hours ago. He is in ER right
now. They have no idea if he'll make it.
(beat)
I'm not leaving him.

ANTON
What was that?

MICHELLE (O.S.)
I said...

ANTON
I heard you.
(beat)
He might be much better by midnight.  Besides this thing at
Victoria station will probably take no more than five
minutes.

MICHELLE (O.S.)
Sorry.

ANTON
Listen Michelle. You know anyone who...?

MICHELLE (O.S.)
No Anton. I wish I could help you find another girl but I
can't. Not from the hospital. Sorry.
(beat)
I got to go now.

ANTON
Say hello to Larry for me. Hope he recovers.

MICHELLE
I will. Thanks Anton.

Michelle hangs up.

ANTON
(in English)
Shit.

Anton closes the cellphne.

ANTON (CONT'D)
Sorry. I usually don't use such language.

PAM
Bad news from home?

ANTON
Bad news from London.

PAM
Someone is sick?

ANTON
Business. A very important meeting.

PAM
With your girlfriend ?

ANTON
Michelle is my cousin.

PAM
And I thought you were taking her to the ball at the
Palace.

ANTON
Please shut up.

PAM
OK.

They ride in silence for some 15 seconds.

ANTON
I didn't mean that.

PAM
OK.

ANTON
It is just that I am a lawyer and have to do an errand for
one of my clients at exactly midnight. Michelle said she
would help and now she tells me that her father had a heart
attack and she can't come.

EXT.  HIGHWAY. NIGHT
A car overtakes Anton's car and gets in front of it almost
immediately. Anton breaks hard.

INT.  ANTON'S CAR. NIGHT.
The box in the back seat falls to the floor of the car.
Anton drives aside and breaks.

ANTON
Shit.

Anton gets out of the car and opens the back door. He lifts
the box off the floor and puts it on the back seat.  He
opens and looks inside.  He takes out a packet of cotton and
opens it. Inside there is a medium sized beautiful decorated
vase. Anton inspects it from all sides. Pam looks at him.

PAM
Is the vase OK?

ANTON
Yeah.

Anton puts the vase back in the cotton pack and places it
inside the box. He closes it and puts it on the back seat.

PAM
Must be a very special one.

ANTON
It is.

Anton closes the back door of the car and goes to the front.
He gets in.

ANTON (CONT'D)
Lucky it didn't break.

PAM
The vase is obviously very important to you. No wonder you
were worried.
Anton drive away.

ANTON
It's not a vase. It's a urn.
(beat)
Not mine.

PAM
You mean this thing holds...?

ANTON
Yeah. Ashes. Ashes of the late Mr. Robert Roches of Nice
France.

Pam giggles

PAM
Didn't figure on riding in a car with a dead man in the
back.

ANTON
It's not a dead man. Just ashes.

PAM
I hope he was dead before they burned his body. Who was he
?

ANTON
Robert Rochas. He died seven years ago.

PAM
And you are now taking it to his family?

ANTON
It?

PAM
The ashes. It's not a "him" any longer.It's like dirt or
sand so it got to be a "it".

ANTON
Looks more like ashes of a cigarette.

PAM
They will prbably put it on top of the fireplace and will
forget all about poor Robert Rocha until a guest uses the
urn as an ashtray.

ANTON
You've seen too many movies.  No one will use it as an
ashtry because I'm going to flush the ashes down a toilet at
midnight.

Pam laughs.

ANTON (CONT'D)
I'm serious Pam.  The ashes in that urn are going to be
flushed down toilet number 3 at the Victoria underground
Station at exactly midnight tonight.
PAM
You must be kidding.

ANTON
I'm not.
(bear)
I need a woman to do it.

PAM
To do what?

ANTON
The flushing down has to be done in the women's toilet and
Michelle can't come.

PAM
Tough luck.

ANTON
Actually you're a woman.

PAM
Took you some time to see that.

ANTON
I didn't mean that.

PAM
Don't even think I might flush down the ashes for you.

ANTON
I have no one else and time is short. Please.

PAM
No.
(beat)
You'll have to find someone at the station to do it for
you.

ANTON
Sure. I'll stop a woman and be arrested before I complete
the first sentence.

PAM
It's your business.

ANTON
I'll give you fifty pounds.

PAM
No way.

EXT.  THE CAR DRIVES ON. -- NIGHT

EXT.  A RESTAURANT ON THE HIGHWAY. NIGHT

INT.  RESTAURANT ON THE HIGHWAY. NIGHT
Pam and Anton sit by a table. Two cups of coffee are on the
table. Pam toys with the coffee.

ANTON
Well?

PAM
It's weird.  Like something out of a Stephen King horror
book.
(beat)
Taking a man's ashes and flushing them down in a women's
toilet.It's sick you know.

ANTON
This is what Mrs. Karen Rochas requested in her will.

PAM
Just because she and this Robert Rochas met forty five years
ago when she stepped out of a number three women's toilet at
Victoria?

ANTON
They did not meet.  He bumped into her and broke her
glasses. She broke his nose.

PAM
You sure you did not cook up this story just to get your
kicks?

ANTON
Two London lawyers are going to be there as witnesses. A
woman and a man. The woman will go with you into the
specific toilet to make sure that you flush it down.

PAM
My mom was the last one who went with me into the toilet
when I was three.

ANTON
It'll take a moment.

PAM
I'll have to be there at 11.30 just to make sure that the
toilet'll be empty at midnight.
(beat)
Make it a hundred. Fifty right now.

ANTON
Sixty. Ten in advance.

A waitress comes to them. She has a coffee mug in her hand.

WAITRESS
More coffee?

ANTON
Yes please.

PAM
No thank you. Just my check. I'm leaving.

Pam gets up.

ANTON
Don't. Please.
(beat)
You said you were a writer.

PAM
So what?

ANTON
So you could build a whole story around this... this...
event.

PAM
Like what Anton?

ANTON
How the hell do I know? Use your imagination.
Pam looks at him and then sits down.

PAM
Tell me more Anton.

ANTON
Will you do it ? I'll give you a fifty now and fifty after
you do the flusihng.

PAM
I'll let you know wheh we reach London.

WAITRESS
You're worth a lot more than a hundred girl.

ANTON

Go away.

PAM
(to the waitress)
I'll have a refill.
(beat)
and a fruit cake plus toppings with extra plate and fork.

ANTON
I don't want any.

PAM
Yes you do. My mother says that you got to share something
to close the deal.

Waitress pours coffee and leaves. Pam drinks.

PAM (CONT'D)
I'll leave you Kermit as a guarantee.

ANTON
Kermit? A guarantee for what?

PAM
So that you will know that I'm going to be there at 11.30. I
never went to bed without hugging Kermit.

Anton takes out a wallet and pulls out a 50 pound note. He
gives it to Pam.

PAM (CONT'D)
You want me to sign for it?

ANTON
No need to. I trust you.
(beat)
Where is Kermit?

PAM
In the car.

The waitress comes back with the cake an extra plate and
fork.  She puts them in front of Pam.

ANTON
How long is your meeting at the theatre?

PAM
Probably be out in thirty minutes unless...

ANTON
Unless what?

PAM
Never mind.

Pam cuts the cake in half and puts it on another plate. She
puts it in front of Anton.

EXT.  VOCTORIA UNDERGROUND STATION. NIGHT

EXT. VICTORIA STATION'S  TOILETS. NIGHT.
Anton stands there with the cardboard box is his hands. He
looks at his watch. Linda Gerson (54) and George Hendrik
(60) approach him.

GEORGE
Mr. Sardi. Anton Sardi?

ANTON
Yes. Mr. Hendrik ?

GEORGE
May I introduce my colleague Ms. Linda Gerson.

ANTON
Please to meet you both.

LINDA
Do you have the documents Mr. Sardi?

Anton touches the inside pocket of his jacket.

ANTON
Right here.

George look at his watch.

GEORGE
Eleven thirty.

ANTON
The girl should be here any minute now.

GEORGE
Your cousin Michelle ?

ANTON
No. Pamela Flaunders.
(beat)
Michelle's father had a heart attack. I gave this Pam a
lift. She said she'll be here at eleven thirty.

LINDA
I will go in to make sure that number 3 is vacant.

Linda walks into the toilet.

GEORGE
May I look at the urn?

ANTON
Sure. You probably want to inspect the seal and the
signature before...

GEORGE
I better do it now.

George takes the box and moves to a neaby bench. Anton looks
around. Pam comes behind him. She carries a large cardboard
sign. Pam touches Anton back. He turns.

PAM
Bet you thought I wouldn't be here.

ANTON
It did cross my mind.

PAM
Somweone got out of a taxi outside the Haymarket and I
grabbed it.

ANTON
How was your meeting?

PAM
Tell you later.
(beat)
I'm going to hang this on the toilet's door.

Pam holds up the same sign that she had on the road. It says
"London".

ANTON
"London"?

Pam looks at it.
PAM
Sorry. Wrong side.

Pam turns it. Now it says "Out of Order".  Linda comes
back.

LINDA
We got a problem Anton.

ANTON
What's wrong?

LINDA
There is someone in number 3.
(beat)
She says she is going to be there for a very long time.
Maybe forever.

Londa looks at Pam.

ANTON
This is Pam.  She's going to flush down the ashes. Pam this
is Ms. Linda Gerson. Ms. Gerson is a lawyer and she is here
as a witness to the flushing.

PAM (O.S.)
(to Linda)
Hi Ms Gerson.

ANTON
(to Linda)
What do you mean she is going to be there for a very long
time?

PAM
Did she tell you why?

LINDA
She didn't say but she sounded as if she was crying.

ANTON
She has to be out out of there in 24 minutes.

PAM
Can she do that? I mean can she stay there as long as she
wants to?

ANTON
I doubt that. Let's find a policwoman.

LINDA
And ask her to do what ?

George comes back with the box.

GEORGE
Ask whom to do what  ?

LINDA
There is a woman in number 3 and she has no idea how long
she'll be in there.

Anton looks at his watch.

ANTON
Eleven forty.

PAM
I'll talk to her.

GEORGE
Who are you?

PAM
I'm Pam the Flusher.

ANTON
(to George)
How long can this woman stay in number 3?

GEORGE
As long as she wants to.

LINDA
George is right. I don't know of any law that says that a
person has to vacate a public toilet after a certain
period.

PAM
I say there is something that is called "common sense".
(beat)
I'm going in. No one will prevent Robert Roacha from
becoming a part of the sewer system of London as of
midnight.

GEORGE
You can't force her out you know Ms....

PAM
Pam.

ANTON
You have exactly fifteen minutes to get the woman out of
toilet nimber 3 Pam.

PAM
We got only ten minutes because if that woman flushes down
the toilet when she comes out there won't be enough water
left in the tank to flush down Robert Rocha and we have to
do it twice.

GEORGE
Why twice Pam?

PAM
Because you don't want to leave one of Robert's arms or legs
in the urn after the first flush. Ashes to water.

Pam walks away.

GEORGE
Trust a French to give a lift to the right girl.

EXT.  WOMEN TOILET. PADDINGTON STATION. NIGHT

Pam enters and walks to toilet number 3. She knocks on the
door. No answer. She tries the knob and the door does not
open. She knocks harder.

GIRL (O.S.)
It's locked.

PAM
Are you coming out?

GIRL
Don't know.

PAM
All the other toilets are taken and I need to go in.
Please.

GIRL (O.S.)
I don't give a shit. Not anymore. Not ever.

PAM
What's your name?

GIRL (O.S.)
Barbara.

PAM
Hi Barb. I'm Pam

BARBARA (O.S.)
(screams)
Don't call me Barb. You hear that.

PAM
It's just a nickname.

BARBARA (O.S.)
He called me that.

PAM
Who is he ? He got a name?

BARBARA (O.S.)
He had a name. The fucking Henry Smith.

PAM
Your brother? Father?

BARBARA (O.S.)
He said that he loved me but he didn't.

PAM
What made you think that he didn't?

BARBARA (O.S.)
Because he left me for good.

PAM
Why would he do that Barbara?

BARBARA (O.S.)
We were having coffee when I saw Roger Turnbull and waved at
him.

Barbara cries.

PAM
You want a tissue Barbara?

BARBARA (O.S.)
Got plenty of toilet paper in here.
(beat)
Thank you.

Silence. Barbara blows her nose.

PAM
And Henry didn't like you waving at Roger?

BARBARA (O.S.)
He hated me. He said that any friend of Roger can't be his
friend. Ever.
(beat)
I waved only because he lived in our neighborhood. I was
never his friend.

PAM
Did you tell Henry?

BARBARA
Started to but then he almost hit me.

PAM
What do you mean almost ?

BARBARA (O.S.)
He raised his hand and I was sure he was going to hit me but
then he probably changed his mind because he just touched
his hair.He's so cute when he does that.
(beat)
I ran away. I didn't mean to. Honest. I love Henry.

PAM
Where is he now?

BARBARA (O.S.)
We were going to Manchester on the 00.15 train.

PAM
Will you get out of the toilet if Henry asks you to?

BARBARA (O.S.)
I'm sure he's not there any longer.

PAM
Suppose he is waiting for the only girl he ever loved or
better still wandering around looking for you and by now
everyone in Victoria station knows your name.

BARBARA (O.S.)
You think so?

PAM
Sure. I'm going to find him for you and make him come back
Barbara.

BARBARA (O.S.)
You won't find him. There's no time. The train leaves in
fifteen minutes.

PAM
Trust me Barbara.
(beat)
What was his name again?

BARBARA
Henry Smith. He is tall with brown wavey hair...

PAM
I don't need his description.

BARBARA
But how...

PAM
Leave that to me.
(beat)
You have some makeup with you in there?

BARBARA
Got my purse and bag.
PAM
Make yourself beautiful Barbara becasue Henry is coming for
you.

BARBARA
Thank you Pam.

PAM
Save it. No time. I'm gone.

EXT.  WOMEN TOILETS. PADDINGTON. NIGHT
Pam rushes out of the toilet. She rushes by Linda, George,
Anton and a policeman standing together.

PAM
(she runs without stopping)
It'll be OK.

She runs on while the three look at her.

LINDA
What was that?

ANTON
That was Pam.

LINDA
I know but the girl is still in there.

GEORGE
Somehow I got the feeling that Pam knows what she is doing.

POLICEMAN
She also a lawyer?

ANTON
No. Just a friend. A writer.

POLICEMAN
My brother in law is a writer of children's books. Have no
idea where he gets them crazy stories.

ANTON
Imagination will get you everywhere.

A loadspeaker comes to life. Pam's voice is heard.

PAM (O.S.)
Now hear this. Now hear this. Urgent message for a Mr. Henry
Smith. What the fuck is the matter with you ? When Barbara
tells you that she has nothing to do with Roger Turnball all
you got to do is say three words "I believe you". Now if you
are half the man that Barbara says you are you will rush to
toilet number 3 at the women's toilet, take her into your
arms. kiss her and tell her how much you love her. Now
move!!

The loudspeaker is cut off.

LINDA
Was that her?

ANTON
I guess it was.

POLICEMAN
The station master shouldn't use the loudspeaker for private
announcments. I'll have to report it.

LINDA
You won't officer.

POLICEMAN
Why not?

LINDA
Because there was nothing private about the announcment. It
was meant to all the people in the station.

ANTON
Yeah. It sure was.

P.O.V.  OF THE FOUR PEOPLE.
INT.  VICTORIA STATION. NIGHT
A man rushes into the women's toilet. A few seconds pass and
then he comes out with a girl. One of his arms is around
her. She is seen wiping her nose. He carries a bag in his
other hand. They walk away. Pam comes along.

PAM
(to Linda)
What're you waiting for. Let's get it over with.

Pam picks up the cardboard box with the urn and walks to the
toilet. Linda follows her. Anton looks at his watch.

POLICEMAN
Happy end.

GEORGE
Yeah.

POLICEMAN
You'll be OK now?

ANTON
Yes. Thank you.

The policeman walks away.

ANTON (CONT'D)
(to George)
11.59

GEORGE
Just in time.
(he looks at Anton)
A piece of advice if I may.

ANTON
Sure.

GEORGE
Hold onto her Anton.

ANTON
Pam?
(beat)
Yeah.

INT.  RESTAURANT. NIGHT
Anton and Pam sit at a table. Dishes in front of them and
glasses of wine. A bottle of mineral water on the table.

PAM
A palm reader once told me that one day I'll stand in front
of a lot of people and talk.
(beat)
Well I did. Tonight.

ANTON
How come they let you use the loudspeaker?

PAM
Can you believe that ? The whole office was empty. All I had
to do was to grab the microphone, pull the switch and talk.

ANTON
And talk you did.

PAM
We where plain lucky that John was still there looking
everywhere for Barbara.
(beat)
Don't forget to give me back my Kermit when I pick up my bag
from your car. I'd hate to leave him behind.

ANTON
He isn't in the car.

PAM
(upset)
What do you mean he isn't...

ANTON
He's in my hotel room.

PAM
I thought you were going back to Paris tonight.

ANTON
After leaving you at the Haymarket I decided that I'll
probably be too tired to go back tonight. I checked into the
Cumberland.
(beat)
How did your meeting go Pam?

PAM
Remember that I said that my meeting at the Haymarket was
going to be short unless?

ANTON
Yeah. So?

PAM
Well the "unless" did happen
(beat)
Thanks to you.

ANTON
I've never been a part of "unless" before.

PAM
What you said about me being a writer and building a whole
story around the event gave me an idea for the rewrite of my
play.The Haymarket liked it and gave me the green light to
work on it.

ANTON
You used my words to sell your play? How nice.

A waiter comes to the table

WAITER
Dessert Sir Madam? Coffee?

PAM
Tea please.

ANTON
I'll have coffee.

WAITER
Thank you.

The waiter turns to leave.

ANTON
(to the waiter)
Just a minute.

WAITER
What sir?

ANTON
(to the waitress)
You got choclate cake?

WAITRESS
Yeah.
(to Pam)
For you too Ms?

PAM
No. Thank you.

ANTON
One chocolate cake and please bring us two plates and two
forks.

WAITRESS
Ok.

The waitress leaves.

ANTON
My mom says that the only way to make sure that you are
going to see a certain person again is to share a chocolate
cake with him.

Pam laughs

PAM
You just made that up.

ANTON
Sure. You invested my words in your play and now we are
partners all the way up to the premier.

The waiter comes back with the chocolate cake and the extra
plate and fork.

PAM
Take back the extra plates please. We don't need them. We
will eat from the same plate.

ANTON
How do I know that you'll eat only a half ?

PAM
Trust Anton. Plain trust.

They start eating and the camera pulls back very slowly.


END.