A FOREIGN GOD - DRAFT 4

Screenplay by Jonathan Hughes & Daniel Murphy

Story by Jonathan Hughes

Jonathan Hughes 2014

Edinburgh College of Art
University of Edinburgh

16-18 Potterrow
Potterrow
Edinburgh
EH8 9BL
http://jonathanhughesfilm.com

FADE IN:
THE PRESENTATION TITLES, THEN CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEY WAY, EDINBURGH - NIGHT
Rain falls hard on this inner city alleyway.
The camera explores the scene: a cross, shards of coloured
stained glass - a crumpled postcard - a conch shell - a
puddle of rain water - ripped fine fabric - flashing blue
lights and SIRENS from off screen - a torn bag blows in the
wind - an increasing trickle of blood - and finally a
crippled hand, desperately trying to cling onto a small
glimmering silver Buddha figurine.
THOMAS (V.O)
Nil Desperandum Auspice Deo:
With faith on my side, there is no
cause for despair.
SMASH CUT TO:
BLACK - TITLE CARD: A FOREIGN GOD
CUT TO:
INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - MORNING
THOMAS (65) has a thoughtful, contemplative demeanour as he
sits on the wooden, dust-covered floor of a large empty
room. His face is worn and battered by experience. Deep
lines mark the brows of his eyes.
THOMAS (V.O)
I had never thought of myself alone
until very recently. People often
ask me why I do not sit or
associate with the others like
myself. The truth is I am not like
them, I refuse to allow myself to
become like them. I have a plan, a
purpose. No. I cannot let my hatred
of a people prevent me from being
just. Justness is nearer
righteousness. Constant solitude. I
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

2.

THOMAS (V.O) (contd)

can only trust myself, fend for
myself. I know you will save me.
He wears a huge grey overcoat, and each breath he takes
lingers in the air - visible against the cold, bleak night
that penetrates the building through its smashed windows.
Signs of danger and peril are everywhere. Exposed wiring,
broken glass, walls falling down, broken beams.
THOMAS (V.O)
Another grey day in a grey city.
The only thing that stops the grey
enveloping me and painting me black
is these four walls. Bricks and
mortar that saved me from the snow.
I had stumbled upon this building
before but on this particular
evening I was drawn to venture
inside. I have found peace where
others have feared to go.
Thomas is surrounded by large pipes that cling to the walls,
casting shadows upon the floor. Nature is slowly reclaiming
the abandoned building, with vines stemming through empty
cracks in the walls and floor.
In one corner of the room is a thin rug laid out on the
floor, barely large enough to cover even half of Thomas
body. This will be his bed for the night.
On hands and knees - under little ambient light - Thomas
begins to carefully remove objects from an old green holdall
to his side. He drums gently on his knees.
The contents of the bag consist of many religious items
(crosses, a candle, shards of colored stained glass,
postcards, jewellery, a hamsa, fabric, a conch shell, Khanda
etc.)
He studies each item as he produces them from the bag, feels
their weight in his palm, gathers their texture, their
shape, before placing them one by one on the floor in front
of himself. He watches the items almost in anticipation of
some miraculous event.
Thomas holds the coloured glass shard totem towards the
window, moonlight glimmers through. He marvels at the light.
THOMAS (V.O)
There are things that cannot be
long hidden: the sun, the moon and
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

3.

THOMAS (V.O) (contd)

the truth. I have found solace in
the shadows of empty buildings, I
still look to your light for
strength. I cannot dwell in the
past, nor dream of the future, I
must concentrate my mind on the
present moment.
Thomas continues to pull items from his bag and jacket and
places them with the others - handling each with extreme
care - the collection now forming some sort of shrine upon
the floor.
He silently counts the objects.
EXT. CARRUBBERS CLOSE - MORNING
Slowly coming into focus - Thomas walks languidly up the
alleyway - his bag weighing heavily upon his back. Carrying
it over his shoulder, he clutches it close to his chest.
As he walks - he looks towards each corner of the narrow
street - always searching for something.
EXT. NORTH BRIDGE
A tide of commuters walk hurriedly past a somewhat
overwhelmed Thomas. Hes jostled from every angle as if
carried by the busy street. Thomas battles the crowds and
continues on his way.
THOMAS (V.O)
No time to look at their
surroundings and understand their
position in the world. Time becomes
relative for a man in my position.
Though I still rely upon routine
like anyone does. I now relish the
daily commute that used to fill
with me with dread. The feeling of
being lost amongst the crowd, and
the warmth of the bustle of people
making their ways.
Walking past a shop window - Thomas notices a gleaming
little Buddha figurine shining in a window full of
knick-knacks.
He momentarily pauses - pondering this object object
carefully.

4.

INT. PUBLIC TOILET

The tap pours cold water - a sign above the sink reads: DO
NOT DRINK - Thomas nonchalantly takes a long drink. A
COMMUTER exits one of the stalls and starts to wash his
hands beside Thomas.
COMMUTER
(pointing towards the
sign)
Here pal, youre going to make
yourself sick.
THOMAS
Ive learned to not read too much
into signs these days.
COMMUTER
Its your funeral old man.
The commuter leaves.
THOMAS
(with a smile)
My funeral.
Rapid edits as: Thomas cleans his hands / a few of his
totems / his face / his fingernails.
Thomas grips his holdall close to his chest - real hard.
He pauses - carefully observing himself in the mirror. He
studies his face - his jawline, his brow, his mouth.
He removes a small speck of dust from his eye - and once
again looks at the face staring back at him.
Jaded - he slumps against the mirror - resting his eyes.
INT. ABANDONED FACTORY - NIGHT
Thomas sits on the grimy floor - once more pondering the
totems from his bag as he spreads them out afore him.
He holds up the stained glass shard to the moonlight again,
though the light soon fades to dark as a cloud covers the
moon.
Suddenly - RAISED VOICES echo around the building.
THOMAS (V.O)
Ill never forget the first time
someone broke into my house.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

5.

In darkness, Thomas - disrupted from his pondering - rushes

to gather the items into his bag. Thomas at first places
them in the bag with care - but the droning voices continue
to ELEVATE - Thomas shoves as many items into his bag as
quickly as possible.
MALE VOICE #1
Lets go upstairs.
Thomas now looks to the door to the room in PANIC.
THOMAS
My wife screamed
downstairs and I
hand closing the
exited on to the

to me from
ran down to see a
door as they
driveway.

Thomas needs to hide - now.

FOOTSTEPS as the men walk up the stairs. Some totems remain
left on the floor.
In a state of desperation - Thomas takes refuge in a
wardrobe in the corner of the room. He closes its doors.
THOMAS
What an idiot I am to think I was
safe here. Its no surprise that
others had found this place. You
can never keep the rats at bay for
too long. But this time was
different. This room had become my
sanctum.
Through the crack of the door he can barely still see the
items left behind - his heart sinks with an increasing
nervousness as the men make their way into the room.
He listens as the men look around - they are loud and
intrusive. The men, all three adorning tarnished clothes,
seem to be homeless themselves, two of them carrying bottles
of wine loosely in their hands.
Thomas watches helplessly on.
MALE VOICE #2
Theres nothing here.
MALE VOICE #1
What were you expecting? Thisll
do. It seems warm here.
We hear the men walking around the room, one frustratedly
grunting.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

6.

The man, clearly drunk, stumble around the room in the dark.
From the crack in the wardrobe door - A foot stands on a
totem - CRUSHING and CRUNCHING it beneath its weight.
Thomas inwardly cries in agony.
A short, painful beat.
MALE VOICE #1 (CONT.)
...Where are you going?!
The third man has exited the room down the stairs and the
second man soon follows.
MALE VOICE #3
(in the distant)
Theres nothing there!
Bewildered, the final homeless man pauses before leaving the
room to follow the others.
A quiet beat, as Thomas waits until the footsteps fade away.
Dishevelled, he emerges from the cupboard and fumbles and
trips his way across the room.
He sprawls upon the floor - picks up the broken object nurses it in his weathered hands - He weeps quietly.
THOMAS
Im so sorry.
He holds the object close to his heart.
THOMAS (V.O)
I would never go back to that
place.
EXT. ROYAL MILE - DAY
Thomas spins on the street, begging frantically for money.
As many commuters ignore his pleas, Thomas becomes
increasingly aggressive in his mannerisms. Some people give
Thomas small change. Others rush past timidly.
THOMAS (V.O)
I had never been one to beg. I was
too strong, too independent, a big
man. I was taught that suffering is
a gift of hidden mercy.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

7.

But desperation is a heavy burden

to carry alone. And if you could
not come to me, then I would try to
bring you closer.
Thomas stops a slick, middle-aged BUSINESS MAN, wearing a
black suit and tie, by gripping his arms. Thomas holds the
man in his trembling glance - time seems to slow - as he
begs:
THOMAS
Please.
Thomas distress fades into a smile as the man apprehensively
produces his wallet. He almost licks his lips with delight
and gratitude.
THOMAS
Bless you, son.
EXT. NORTH BRIDGE
Thomas stands looking at the shimmering Buddha figurine seen
in the shop window earlier.
He smiles once again, savours the feeling, and enters the
store.
The store bell RINGS as Thomas enters.
EXT. ST ANDREW SQUARE - EVENING
Thomas sits on the grass beneath a monument examining his
new purchase - he holds the Buddha in either hand, gathering
a sense of its weight.
He seems somewhat disconcerted - his thick brows skewing as
he ponders the object.
With extreme care - after checking no one else is watching
him - Thomas produces another totem from his holdall, and
holds it in his opposite hand. He compares the feel of each
item. Something seems amiss with this new object.
THOMAS (V.O)
Avoid doubt or despair. But where
does reason fit into the equation?
Thomas places the other totem back in the bag - but
hesitates as he goes to place the Buddha in there. He
remains holding it in his hand.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

8.

He continues to make his comparisons as he produces another

item from the bag.
THOMAS (V.O)
A man should not worry in solitude.
It is in this state of mind that
mistakes are made. And mistakes can
have dire consequences. Like
falling asleep in the wrong part of
town.
FADE TO BLACK:
EXT. MEUSE LANE - NIGHT
The repeated sound of a KICK IN THE RIBS.
MANS VOICE (O.S)
Oi, you little shits! What are you
doing?
A group of young men wearing hoods flea the scene quickly.
Thomas lies in a heap on the floor motionless.
FADE TO BLACK:
FADE IN The camera explores: a cross, shards of coloured glass - a
postcard - a puddle of rain water - ripped fabric - flashing
blue lights and SIRENS - a torn bag - an increasing trickle
of blood - and finally a crushed hand desperately trying to
cling to a small Buddha figurine.
THOMAS (V.O)
Nil Desperandum Auspice Deo:
With faith on my side, there is no
cause for despair.
Did I ask for this?
EXT. MEUSE LANE - DUSK
Thomas lies on a stretcher as paramedics help stabilise him
before helping him into an ambulance.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

9.

THOMAS
(distressed)
My totems! dont forget them.
The young paramedic calmly places her hand on Thomas
shoulder to help comfort him.
FEMALE PARAMEDIC
Dont worry we wont. Youre going
to be okay.
She turns to talk to another older female medic. Blue lights
continue to flash over the scene. A police officer takes
brief notes from a witness. The witness shares a concerned
glance with Thomas.
Thomas again turns towards the medic.
THOMAS
I need them now. Cant we bring
them with us?
FEMALE PARAMEDIC
(turning back to face Thomas)
No, just try to calm down, sir.
Youll get them.
She returns to her conversation with the other female medic,
rolling the eyes. The older medic suppresses a snigger
before walking away to the front of the ambulance.
THOMAS
(increasingly panicking)
Have you got them?
FEMALE PARAMEDIC
(frustrated)
Sir, please. Just try to remain
calm. Youre going to be okay.
(turning to male Paramedic)
Could you just give me a hand a
moment, Billy?
The life begins to draw from Thomas face, and the paramedic
eases the pain with a morphine drip.
Everything slows down...

10.

INT. TRAM, WEST END - MORNING

The faint sound of a breeze blowing outside. Through the
window of the modern tram we can see the sun briefly shining
onto the wet streets.
THOMAS (V.O)
"Vanish, and Hell make you shine
like the sun. Become nothing and
Hell make you everything."
And yet where are you now? Why do
you still not speak to me?
Thomas sits alone on one side of the tram. His eyes are
closed, and he seems in deep meditation.
He gently drums his fingers on his knee. Out of habit he
goes to tug and secure the bag on his shoulder - the bag
which is now gone. He frowns.
Opposite him sits a YOUNG MOTHER (early 30s), with shoulder
length brown hair, business attire and a faded smile, and a
YOUNG GIRL dressed in a fading yellow raincoat.
The young girl observes Thomas as he continues to anxiously
drum on his knees, she begins to laugh quietly. The soft
laugh is enough to shake Thomas from his light trance.
He continues to tap but now more playfully, as the girl
watches on. She quietly mimics him - he shares a smile with
the girl.
The young mother - now paying attention and watching Thomas,
distracts her daughter, turning her head away, and thus
breaking her interaction with him.
The young pair exit the tram (off screen), leaving Thomas
alone once again.
He sits stirring for a moment.
EXT. W COATES - DAY
Thomas wanders along the pavement like a stray dog without
any real direction. He walks through an old residential
area. He fumbles anxiously with his fingers.
On the side of the road nearest to Thomas, the street opens
up to a parked area with trees and a small childrens play
area.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

11.

Drawing himself away from looking at the detached houses,

Thomas walks into the green park.
A lone tree stands near the centre.
Thomas is drawn to make his way towards the tree - he
carefully observes its beauty. Things seem somewhat serene,
birds chirp in nearby trees.
The sun though hangs low in the sky and it begins to lightly
rain again.
In a rush of blood - Thomas makes to snap off a branch from
the tree - but is unable to bring himself to do so at the
last moment.
Beneath the tree sit small broken branches. Thomas crouches
to pick two up and considers them a moment.
Using his yellowed teeth - he RIPS material from the sleeve
of his jacket. Thomas flinches from the pain it causes his
teeth.
Rain falls harder on the quiet park.
Thomas forges an almost pathetic cross of sorts - fixing the
sticks together in the centre, using his fabric to do so.
He contemplates this object. Gathers a sense of its weight its worth. He looks dejected and broken.
He clutches the cross close to his heart and looks towards
the sky as if in desperate anticipation of some great event.
THOMAS
(anxiously)
Why do you not answer? Have you
abandoned me too?
The camera pulls away looking down upon Thomas crouching in
the centre of the park alone.
FADE TO BLACK.