22. Get out Craig

 

111.

 

 

 

112.




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Craig and Sarah are in the Dog kissing and full of post-holiday glow. John-Paul walks in and sees them, his face falls. Sarah looks up and sees him there

Sarah (going over to him): Hiya John-Paul! You alright? (She kisses him and unseen by her, Craig wipes her kiss from his mouth and looks worried) Did you miss us?

John-Paul (moving towards their table): Yeah, you guys didn’t even tell me you were going.

Sarah: Oh, it was just so last minute. How romantic is that, eh?

John-Paul (with thinly veiled sarcasm): Aww. Oh, I got your photo. Thanks for that.

Sarah (to Craig): Go on, get him a drink.

Craig: Yeah, sorry mate, what would you like?

John-Paul: No, I not actually stopping.

Sarah: Oh, thanks! You’ve not missed us that much then have you?

John-Paul: I was actually looking for Spike.

Sarah: Are you two back on?

John-Paul: No, no. Craig looks quite pleased at this

Sarah: Come on John-Paul, tell us. What have you been getting up to while we’ve been away?

Craig: Just leave it, Sarah. Its none of our business.

Sarah: What is up with you?

Craig: How would you like it if he asked us about our love life?

Sarah: I wouldn’t mind, even if you told him the bit about the pool.

John-Paul has been watching this exchange between them and has been getting angry but he veils is with a smile. The tension between the two boys is palpable to all but Sarah

John-Paul: Well you see, there’s nothing to tell really, we’re just mates again.

Sarah: Oh, really?

John-Paul: Yeah, I wasn’t really into him so I thought “Why bother?”. (Looking at Craig) It’s not nice to be messed around after all is it, eh?
He smiles and Craig winces in his seat

Later. Sarah is babbling about the holiday and John-Paul’s patience is wearing seriously thin. Craig looks like he wants the earth to swallow him whole rather than have to sit there any longer.

Sarah: Well, we only went and jumped in the pool naked right and then we’re having a little snog by the side of the pool and the manager goes and turns all the floodlights on so everyone in the bar can see us. I tell you what, I nearly died of shame!

John-Paul: I’m feeling it for you, believe me.

Sarah: Yeah, but we had to face them the next morning a breakfast.

John-Paul: So, come on then Craig, are you gonna tell us your best bits?

Craig: It was relaxing and we chilled.

Sarah: It was just nice being together alone. It made us realise….

John-Paul: Realise what?

Sarah: Just how serious we are.

John-Paul: And you got all of that from going on a package holiday?

Sarah (defensive): What is up with you today? Are you jealous or something?

John-Paul: What?

Sarah: Well, come on you should be happy for us. Its not our fault you’re on your own, is it?

John-Paul: What, you think that’s what all of this is about?

As if to rescue Craig, Frankie comes over with a tray full of drinks for them and momentarily breaks the tension between them all

Frankie: There you are, on the house cause I missed you and Jack’s at one of his car boot sales. (To Sarah) Haven’t you been home yet, love?

Sarah: No, why?

Frankie: Well, I would have though that you’d want to see them with all that’s gone off.

Sarah: All what?

Frankie: Well, its all come out hasn’t it? You know, about the baby.

Sarah (getting up to leave): I’ve got to go.

Craig: What’s up?

Sarah: I’ll tell you later, I’ve just got to go.

Frankie runs after Sarah apologising, leaving the two boys alone.

John-Paul (smiling again): Well, here we are. Just the two of us again.

Craig: Look, I’m sorry…….

John-Paul (with real anger): Don’t you dare say you’re sorry. Because sorry doesn’t even come close.

John-Paul leaves.

Later. John-Paul opens the door to Craig and turns around not wanting to look at him. He puts his hands on his hips and when he has composed himself finally turns around to to look at him

John-Paul: You didn’t even have the courage to say goodbye to me did you?

Craig (closing the door): I didn’t know we were going.

John-Paul: Did you not see me running after the cab, no?

Craig: So what would you have done if I’d called?

John-Paul: I’d have told you not to go. I mean, as far as I knew, she’d dumped you. (Craig looks at the floor) But you went crawling back to her. You’re pathetic! I thought you were going to finish with her. I should have known you wouldn’t have the guts. I should have done it for you.

Craig: What?

John-Paul: Have you got any idea what it felt like being left here? Mm? I felt like nothing! Thats why I wanted everyone to know. Starting with your mum. John-Paul takes out the letter he wrote and shows it to Craig

Craig: What’s that?

John-Paul: Read it.

Craig: “Who am I? Well that one’s simple, I’m….

John-Paul/Craig: “I’m the boy who’s sleeping with your son”

Craig: You weren’t actually going to send this were you?

John-Paul: Oh, no I sent it.

Craig (shoving John-Paul against the wall) You what?!

John-Paul: Oh, don’t worry I got back! Call it a clash of conscience.

Craig: Have you lost your mind?!

John-Paul (shoving Craig off him): Yeah, I have lost it! I mean, look what you’ve turned me into! I’m acting like one of my sisters, yelling, shouting, wanting revenge! Craig, I just want to get back to being me. Alright, I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough.

Later. John-Paul walks into his bedroom and Craig follows him. John-Paul looks incandescent with rage. Craig closes the door behind him.

Craig: I don’t know what to say.

John-Paul: Try “See you” (Craig walks over to him as if he wants to seduce John-Paul into forgiving him. It doesn’t work and John-Paul moves away from him) Shouldn’t you be getting back to Sarah? Comparing your white bits? Pretending you find hers attractive?

Craig: You’re ending this because I went away?

John-Paul: That just put a cherry on top.

Craig (moving towards him again): I didn’t forget you. I thought about you loads.

John-Paul: When you were in bed with Sarah?

Craig: No. Why do you have to go on like that?

John-Paul: I’m a person, Craig! I’m not a blow-up doll!

Craig (putting his hand on John-Paul’s neck): I’m just trying to say sorry..

John-Paul (slapping his hand away): Too late.

He moves towards the door and opens it, his eyes glittering with anger at Craig

Craig: So, that’s it then?

John-Paul: Get out.

Craig leaves and John-Paul doesn’t even look at him. He closes the door and takes a deep breath.

John-Paul stands in front of the mirror and Craig is behind him. John-Paul turns around and Craig puts his hand on John-Paul’s cheek. John-Paul smiles and puts his own hand over Craig’s. The camera pans in on John-Paul’s face as he smiles and closes his eyes. He suddenly opens them and he is alone in his room, his hand on his cheek.

Later. John-Paul is in the pub with a drink reading a magazine and listening to his iPod. Craig comes up behind him and awkwardly tries to start up a conversation

Craig: Are you on your own?

John-Paul: Sorry?

Craig: Are you expecting anyone?

John-Paul: I was supposed to meet Carmel for a drink but she hasn’t shown up.

He smiles at Craig and goes back to his magazine. Craig tries again

Craig: I’ve been thinking…….

John-Paul (taking one of his earphones out): What?

Craig: About yesterday.

John-Paul: Yeah, I’ve been thinking too. About the fantasy football league.

Craig (taken a bit by surprise): What about it?

John-Paul: I’ve got to get my team together haven’t I or I’ll miss the start of the season.

Craig: Me too.

John-Paul: There’s some pretty good strikers around.

John-Paul puts the earphone back in and goes back to his magazine but clearly he can still hear what Craig is trying to say

Craig: I can’t leave things like this, alright? I can’t just pretend that nothing’s happened.

John-Paul (taking his earphone out again): I’m sorry, what?

Craig (mumbling): Midfielders……I was just saying about midfielders.

John-Paul: Midfielders, yeah. Okay, listen, I’m gonna pack this up and go home but I’ll see you later, okay?

John-Paul leaves and Craig realises that this is going to be harder than he thought.

Later. John-Paul opens the door to Craig who greets him with disdain

John-Paul: Yeah?

Craig: Are you alone?

John-Paul (moving into the house): No, Sarah’s upstairs. We’re sleeping together. Oh no, wait, sorry that’s your line! (Craig follows him into the house) What do you want Craig?

Craig: I don’t know.

John-Paul (taking out an iron from under the sink): Were you having a bad day? Is that what it is?

Craig: What do you expect?

John-Paul: Oh, don’t expect any sympathy from me!

Craig: I’m the one who’s caught in the middle here!

John-Paul: Craig, I’ve been trying to finish it for good.

Craig: That’s the worst thing you could do. You know how I feel about you.

John-Paul: Craig, its just lies all the time! (Imitating Craig’s accent) “I’m gonna finish with Sarah today, oh maybe I’ll finish with her tomorrow, oh I’m not too sure, maybe I’ll….. “(he knocks the iron off the ironing board and onto his foot) Ow!!! (he clutches his foot) I’m alright, I’m fine.

Craig: Are you sure? You don’t want me to kiss it better?

John-Paul: No, I don’t want you to kiss….(he laughs and the tension is broken between them.) Craig……..

Craig reaches out and kisses him with passion that John-Paul lovingly reciprocates.

Later. They are in bed, John-Paul resting on Craig’s shoulder and his arm draped over him.

Craig: I was gonna tell Sarah, you know.

John-Paul: Hush.

Craig: Yeah, but we’ve gotta talk about it…..

John-Paul: Look, lets not ruin it with talking, eh?

Craig: But….

John-Paul: Let’s just enjoy the moment.

Craig smiles slightly and John-Paul kisses him. Craig reaches out his hand and caresses John-Paul’s cheek. John-Paul smiles.

Later. John-Paul looks in the mirror and Craig comes behind him. He turns around and Craig puts his hand on John-Paul’s cheek. He covers it with his own and smiles. Its real this time and they close their eyes and their foreheads touch. Everything is as it should be.