The Circle
An original screenplay by
Jon Max Spatz
Property of Signature Pictures Ltd | 06604500 | [email protected]
FADE IN:
INT. A LARGE HALL - NIGHT
A MAN drags a chair into the middle of a large hall, where
more chairs are positioned -- in a circle, facing inwards.
He stops to count them.
He frowns, seemingly uncertain as to whether this is the
right number.
He makes his decision and moves back to where the chairs are
stacked at the side of the hall. He returns to the circle
dragging two more chairs into position.
FADE TO BLACK
For a short while there is silence in the darkness before-CRACK!
INT. A TRAILER - NIGHT - PRESENT DAY
A WOMAN [60] opens her eyes as the first strike of thunder
breaks her concentration.
She sits at a table in the living area of a small trailer.
She had been writing: the paper lay in front of her is
scrawled with hand-written notes.
She scribbles something out and puts down her pen. She runs
her hands through her hair, frustrated with the little
progress she has made.
And then-Chikli?
MAN (O.S.)
-- then there is a sudden knock at the trailer door. The man
outside is having to shout through the howling wind and
driving rain.
The woman stands and makes her way over to the door. She
opens it:
A MAN [BILL], very tall, heavy-set and covered in tattoos is
stood at the bottom of the steps into the trailer. He smiles
a gold-toothed grin.
2.
BILL
How’s it goin’?
It’s okay.
WOMAN
BILL
You near ready?
I will be.
WOMAN
BILL
Okay, well we’re goin’ in an hour.
She nods.
BILL (CONT’D)
And you got a letter.
He removes an envelope from his jean pocket and quickly hands
it to the woman.
There are only two words written on it:
CUT TO:
“...FOR WINTER.”
CUT TO:
The woman frowns.
WOMAN
Who’s it from?
BILL
I dunno. It was posted to me.
WOMAN
Okay. Thanks Bill.
She goes to close the door-BILL
And you sure you don’t mind hittin’
the road tonight?
She smiles and nods.
Great.
BILL (CONT’D)
3.
The woman closes the door and turns into the trailer,
removing the contents of the envelope. She unfolds the paper
and scans...
They are song lyrics.
She looks at the title at the top of the page:
CUT TO:
“Spring, Summer and Autumn lie in wait...”
CUT TO:
The woman has stopped playing with her hair. Her hand goes to
her mouth as she suddenly remembers--- a voice, sudden and solemn.
MAN (V.O.)
You must leave those words with
her...
She places the paper onto the table in front of her and
steadies herself.
She shakes her head, disbelieving - and smiles.
She sits and picks up the paper again. She looks to an old
clock stood opposite her, which says 18:30 and--- and she catches sight of herself in the reflection of an
ornate mirror to its side.
She stares at herself, feeling a great sense of déjà vu as-CRACK!
A flash of lightning-FLASHBACK:
INT. THE WAGON WITH THE YELLOW DOOR - SUMMER EVENING - 1958
-- turns to sunlight.
A GIRL [11] stares at her reflection in an ornate mirror as
the sun sets, flaring through the window behind her.
She fiddles absentmindedly with the ends of her bright blonde
hair.
Her eyes are red and wet. She has been crying.
4.
MAN (O.S.)
You must leave those words with
her...
She looks from her reflection to the old clock stood by the
mirror, which says 18:30.
It is the woman from the trailer, fifty years ago.
MAN (O.S.) (CONT’D)
Look at me, Chikli.
She turns from the clock to the man knelt before her, tired
and pale; he stares at her with the same piercing blue
eyes...
It is her FATHER.
FATHER
I know it hurts...
He drifts out of her vision as she looks over his shoulder,
into a room at the opposite end of the trailer, where dust
drifts through the last rays of sunlight and white sheets
hung from the walls billow.
FATHER (O.S.) (CONT’D)
I hurt too.
He wipes sodden strands of straw-blonde hair behind her ears,
reclaiming her attention.
FATHER (CONT’D)
It hurts, but you have to do this
for her. Do you understand?
The girl shakes her head.
FATHER (CONT’D)
No... ‘course not.
She dips her head; he lifts her chin.
FATHER (CONT’D)
You will do.
He holds the side of her face with his hand.
FATHER (CONT’D)
We must get this over and done
soon, before the nightfall, okay?
You do as we spoke...
He waits.