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Black screen… the intro to the Japan cover of All Tomorrow’s Parties starts playing, very slowly the tinny sounds of the inside of a London black cab start to rise and we fade into the back of the cab where the song fades to be now playing on the cabbie’s radio. Lovett and Die are sitting in the back of the cab as it bumps along. They are driving down a busy looking London shopping high street full of people, cars, buses and cabs. Lovett is wearing her big red coat and Die his black suit, white shirt and sky blue tie.
Die: “Well, that was what we call in the SIS a bloody waste of time.”
Lovett: “In the force we say a dead end lead.”
Die: “What a way to ruin a Sunday.”
David Sylvian from the Radio: “And what costume shall the poor girl wear… To all tomorrow’s parties.”
Lovett: “Oh, did you have something else planned?”
Die: “Not really, but four hours looking for a drug dealer that has been dead for three years wasn’t high on my list either.”
Lovett: “I have always hated Sundays.”
Lovett turns to look out the window and we see a young girl in white dress, a yellow cardigan and yellow shoes standing close the edge of the road just staring ahead flash past the window. Lovett turns her head trying keeping her eyes on the little girl.
Lovett: “Is she all alone? What is she doing?”
Die: “Who?”
Lovett is now in an excited kind of panic as she turns to the cab driver and yells.
Lovett: “Stop the car.” “Stop the car! Pull over you bloody idiot.”
Cab Driver: “Alright, alight keep your hair on, it’s a busy road. I’m looking for a space.”
Lovett is now turning back and forth to see out the back window and see that cabbie is pulling over. Die is now looking out the back window too.
Die: “Who are you looking at?”
Lovett: “That little girl!”
The cab pulls over to the kerb and Lovett opens the door and rushes out before it has come to a complete stop. The pavement is packed with people.
Lovett: “She’s going to get herself killed.”
Die: “What little girl?”
Lovett is now out of the cab and running back down the pavement the way they have just come, pushing people to get out of her way. Die gets out of the cab and stands by the open door looking at Lovett running away.
Die: “Lovett! Oh here we go again.”
Die turns to the driver (we can still hear the song play on the radio).
Die: “Can you wait here fella?”
Die starts to run after Lovett trying to keep an eye on her red coat amongst all the people on the crowded street.
Cab Driver: “What about my fare!”
The music swells back to full volume but we can still hear the noise of the crowd and the traffic, we hear David Sylvain singing ‘The silken trimmings of yesterday’s gown. To all tomorrow’s parties…’. Cut to Lovett running and trying to look past the crowds of people as she looks for the little girl.
Cut to a low close up angle of the kerb the song is all we can hear now, as the camera slowly pans up we see a small scuffed yellow pair of patent leather Hampton Classics Kate school shoes and little yellow socks. As the camera moves we see that the little girl is wearing a white summer dress with little yellow daffodils printed on it and it has two pockets, one of which is slightly ripped at the side seem, and she is wearing a yellow cardigan. We get to her face; she has bright green eyes and long dark hair tied back behind her ears with a yellow ribbon. We settle on her face, she isn’t moving or blinking just starting into the camera. David sings ‘She’ll turn once more to Sunday’s clown. And cry behind the door’.
Cut back to Lovett’s eye view, we still hear the song but the people and traffic again now too. Lovett catches a glimpse of the girl, she is still away ahead.
Lovett: “You! Little girl! Move back from the road.”
Lovett bumps hard into a big man walking in the opposite direction to her.
Lovett: “Get out the bloody way!”
Lovett moves into the road trying to avoid all the people and nearly gets hit by a passing car.
Lovett: “oh shit!”
A red double decker bus thunders past as Lovett gets back onto the pavement.
Lovett starts to try and run and push past all the people on the pavement again. She looks behind her and she sees that Die is farther behind her than she thought.
Lovett –to Die-: “Hurry up!”
Die shouts something but we can’t hear him for all the noise from people and traffic; the song is still playing. Lovett is still running and pushing and finally she sees the girl again.
Lovett: “Little girl! Move back form the road!”
The girl still hasn’t moved. A car speeds past really close and moving the girl hair but she doesn’t react to it. Lovett slows down as she gets close to girl and she pulls the little girl back from the edge of the road. The girl is stiff as if frozen but steps back a few steps as Lovett pulls her, she doesn’t turn or look at Lovett at all and doesn’t even seem to know Lovett is there.
Lovett: “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Didn’t you hear me shouting? Where’s idiot your parents?”
The girl doesn’t move or acknowledge Lovett at all. We hear the ending of the song ‘A hand-me-down gown of rags and silks her costume. Fit for one who sits and cries. For all tomorrow’s parties.’ Lovett bends down waving a hand in front of the girl’s face.
Lovett: “Hello! Anyone home?”
The last notes of the music finish as Lovett stands looking behind her for Die. The busy street noise is now loud and Die is nowhere to be seen.
Lovett: “Bloody hell.”
Die appears from behind a large woman and comes to a stop in front of Lovett.
Lovett: “Ring for an ambulance will you? I think there is something really wrong with her.”
Die Looks round Lovett.
Die: “Wrong with whom?”
Lovett turns and the little girl has completely vanished. Lovett is shocked.
Lovett: “Oh for fu… where the hell did she go?!”
Die: “Who!?”
Lovett: “A little girl! Just over three feet tall, dark hair, a yellow jumper and white dress.”
Lovett is now pushing people out the way looking for the girl in a panic.
Lovett: “Find her Die! She was catatonic a moment ago, she needs our help!”
Die: “Is that her?”
Lovett looks back at Die. He is pointing. Lovett slowly looks to where he is pointing. The little girl is now across the busy road on the other side of the street, standing right on the edge of the kerb, staring… but this time she is staring at Die. Lovett’s mouth falls open.
Lovett: “How?!”
Lovett starts looking both ways up and down the road trying to see an opening. The traffic is really busy but all moving fast enough to really hurt or even kill any one that gets hit. Die sees what Lovett is trying to do and looks up and down the road too. There is no break in the traffic big enough. A red double decker bus pulls a long in front of Lovett and Lovett steps forward the side of the moving bus is really close to her she gets ready to get behind it and run for the other side.
Die: “Lovett wait!”
Lovett runs out into the road as the bus passes, the car behind the bus narrowly misses hitting her. She is now standing in the middle of the very busy road the traffic rushing pass; the girl hasn’t moved and is still looking at Die. As another double decker comes from the opposite direction and passes between Lovett and the girl hiding the girl from view, Lovett makes break for it again and runs causing the black cab behind the bus to blare its horn, it brushes against Lovett’s coat. Die is still trying to get as far as the middle of the road. Lovett is now on the other side of the road where the girl was standing, the girl has disappeared. Lovett throws her arms in the air.
Lovett: “You little cow!”
Lovett looks over to Die, who still hasn’t got anywhere, and shouts.
Lovett: “Where did she go!?”
Die clearly can’t hear her but he knows what she is saying he shrugs and shakes his head. Lovett turns back to her side of the street looking at the crowds of people everywhere on the pavement.
Lovett: “I am not in the mood for this!”
Lovett pushes her way into the crowd and starts looking for the little girl. From behind her there is loud blaring horn of a bus and she looks round. Die is standing in front of a red double decker bus that has done an emergency stop and the driver is shouting at Die from inside. Lovett see Die’s right hand go into the left inside of his Jacket.
Lovett: “Oh god, don’t shoot him you idiot! Think of the paper work!”
Die’s right hand slowly comes back out from the inside of his jacket; his hand is a fist apart from his middle finger that is sticking up at the driver. Lovett smiles.
Lovett: “Good boy.”
Lovett turns back to the crowd and jumps up and down trying to see over the heads and then crouches low looking through the forest of legs. She sees a pair of little yellow shoes in the distance.
Lovett: “Ha! There you are you little rat bag.”
As Lovett moves towards where she had seen the shoes, she talks to herself.
Lovett: “When no one is looking I am going to give such a clip round the ear young lady… Oh great now I sound I like my mum.”
Lovett gets to where she thinks the girl was and then forces her way to the building side of the pavement and notices about twenty meters down there is a narrow alley between two of the large shops, she makes her way towards it. We see Lovett enter the alley.
Cut to a narrow dirty alley, there is litter everywhere and it is quieter. The little girl is standing facing Lovett but not looking at her, the girl is about twenty meters down into the alley and she is now holding a yellow helium balloon by a long piece of string. Lovett walks very slowly towards the girl with her hands out showing her palms.
Lovett: “It’s ok, I’m not going to hurt you. I’m a police officer and I am here to help you. Are you lost…”
Lovett notices the balloon for the first time.
Lovett: “…Where the hell did you get that?”
Lovett is now only about six meters from the girl and the balloon slips out of the girls hand and floats upwards. Lovett’s face and eyes follow the balloon; it gets higher and higher into the blue sky above until it is a tiny dot. Lovett slowly moves her head back down.
Lovett: “You are a very strange little…”
The girl has disappeared again. Lovett looks at where the girl was and then around the alley, there is seemingly nowhere to hide and the other end of the alley is fifty or more meters away. Lovett turns to face the way she came into the alley, the mouth of which is twenty five meters away.
Lovett: “Oh come on! Can we stop the buggering about now please?…”
Die comes running into the alley.
Lovett: “…Where are you now!?”
Die stops not far in front of Lovett facing her.
Die: “I’m right here.”
Lovett: “Not you, fool. That little sh…”
Die points down the alley behind Lovett.
Die: “She’s right there behind you. What is wrong with you today?”
Lovett slowly turns and sees the little girl about twenty meters away, the girl is standing there as she has been standing every time we have seen her, not saying a word and not looking up, but she now has blood all over her left knee from a deep graze. Die moves round Lovett and he slowly walks towards the girl with his hands out palms facing her.
Die: “Hi there…”
The little girl looks up and into Dies eyes at the sound of his voice but doesn’t move or make a sound. Lovett is just standing there mouth open.
Die: “That’s a pretty dress. Don’t worry; we’re here to help you. That lady is a police officer and I am… I am…”
Die shrugs and decide to go with the truth.
Die: “I’m a secret agent with the British Government.”
Die is getting closer and closer to the girl, she hasn’t moved a muscle but she is still looking into his eyes. Die notices that somehow the left side of his jacket has got blown backwards and is now caught over his shoulder holster and the handle of the gun. The girl’s eyes move and see it very clearly. Die pulls his jacket back over the holster and gun. He is stooping a bit now as he gets closer to the girl.
Die: “Don’t worry about the gun that’s not for you, just bad guys ok? Does your knee hurt? We should get that cleaned up don’t you think? And find your mummy and daddy… maybe get you a ride in an ambulance perhaps?”
Die is two meters from her now and is stooping lower. The girl takes two quick steps towards him and launches herself at him, she easily clears the distance between them and her arms wrap tightly around his neck holding on for dear life. Die staggers slightly, puts his arms round her to hold her weight and standing up turns to face Lovett. Lovett is pulling her phone out of one of her coat pockets, looking at Die and the girl. Lovett is shaking her head in disbelief.
Die: “Is this normal for a girl her age?”
Lovett: “Not even close!”
Lovett talks into her phone.
Lovett: “Yeah it’s me. I need an ambulance and a squad car, oh and social services too. What? … Oh.”
She looks at Die and frowns
Lovett: “Where the hell are we?”
Die: “I honestly have no idea.”
Lovett: “I should not have bothered getting out of bed today…” “Bollocks to Sundays.”
Lovett turns and walking slowly down the alley toward the high street talks into her phone again.
Lovett: “Hello? Yeah I’ll go and see if I can find out where we are.” “I really fancy a Chinese now.”
Die looks down at the top of the girl’s head that is pressed against his chest and talks to the girl.
Die: “Don’t worry little one, she isn’t always this grumpy. Only when she is hungry really… Oh, ok so she is always this grumpy but you get used to it, I promise.”
Fade to black.
Fade from black to Lovett sitting crossed legged on the floor of her living room in front the coffee table which is heavy with the Chinese take away on it. It is now dark outside and the living room lights are on. Die is sitting on the sofa on the opposite side of the table to Lovett and there is an open laptop at the far end of the table facing Lovett. They are both eating but Lovett is staring at Die; something is playing on her mind.
Die: “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Lovett: “Like what?”
Die: “I don’t know.”
Lovett: “I can’t help you then, can I?”
Die: “Why are you are such a pain? Like you are studying for a test. Or like you are in biology class and really overly enjoying dissecting a cow’s eyes.”
Lovett: “You know, there are times when you have an amazing way with words and then there are other times, like now for instance, when you talk like a complete tit.”
Die: “And you have a god given talent for avoiding the question.”
Lovett: “Do you believe in god then?”
Die: “Your avoidance is a near perfect art form in fact.”
Lovett: “You going to eat that spring roll?”
Die: “It’s all yours.”
Lovett: “Thanks.”
Lovett grabs the very large spring roll and dips it into the sweet and sour sauce up to half way and slowly starts munching it.
Lovett: “Why did that little girl run away from me and not you? She wanted you to carry her, why not me?”
Die: “Maybe she is just an excellent judge of character?”
Lovett: “You’re a severe looking bloke in a suit and she knew you had a gun by then…”
Die: “Severe?”
Lovett: “And yet she wanted you…” “… to protect her maybe?”
Die: “Has that offended you in some way?”
Lovett: “No, I’d want you to protect me too… if I was that… scared. Which, is the point… I’m sure she was sacred silly, that’s why all that hiding and running about crap. I’m wondering what or who it is she is so scared of.”
Die moves the laptop to face him and starts reading.
Die: “Well, no one has reported her missing today and she doesn’t match the description of any child reported missing in the last two years. The medical report says that she has no signs of physical abuse or injuries at all, not even any scars.”
He frowns and looks at Lovett.
Lovett: “That can’t be right. What about her knee?”
Die: “There is no mention of it here. Must be a mistake. They think she is eight or nine years old.”
Lovett: “That doesn’t seem right either she looked younger to me.”
Die: “I have no frame of reference; she could have twelve for all I know. Oh it does say she’s underweight for her height and that they can’t find any physical reason why she is mute.”
Lovett: “Child psychologist report?”
Die: “There isn’t one yet.”
Lovett: “DNA tests?”
Die: “Awaiting results. There is a note from social services saying, they have taken her to… the Saint Nicholas’ care home for children. They also say she is virtually unresponsive to anyone or anything other than food. Maybe you two are related? And apparently she has a bit of a passion for croissants.”
Lovett: “I have never had a croissant. She was responsive to you. Her little arms were so tight around your neck I thought she was trying to strangle you. But she did let go and didn’t seem upset when you left her in the ambulance with the medics.”
Die: “She just shut down again. I… I didn’t want to leave her.” “We don’t even know the poor little things name…”
Lovett is slowing (which is unlike her) eating her spring roll and staring into Die’s eyes but seemingly not seeing him.
Die: “Okay; I can see we have stumbled on to something that you’re not going to let go of and I can’t say I blame you at all. You want to go and see her tomorrow don’t you?”
Lovett: “Yes. Very much.”
Die: “I doubt she will talk to you.”
Lovett: “I know she won’t; I want to see how she reacts to seeing you again.”
Die: “You think I make her feel safe?”
Lovett: “Yes, but it’s more than that, she didn’t even make eye contact with me but she did with you. She listened to what you said; she didn’t seem to notice I was even there.” “Where did she get that balloon?” … “There is something about you that made her trust you and I want to know what that is and I want to know what the hell is going on!”
Lovett’s eyes focus as if seeing Die at last.
Lovett: “You don’t have much experience with kids do you?”
Die watches a long slow sticky drip of the sweet and sour fall from her spring roll onto the table, Lovett doesn’t notice.
Die: “Other than being one for a while, no not really. What balloon?”
Lovett: “She had a yellow balloon. I can’t imagine you as a young boy.”
Die: “I was shorter but still as charming as I am now. I didn’t see any balloon.”
Lovett stands up and goes over to her book shelves and starts looking at the books.
Lovett: “She let it go in the alley.”
Die: “What are you doing?”
Lovett: “I have a dictionary here somewhere.”
Die: “And you are looking for it now because…?”
Lovett: “Because, apparently…”
She pulls out a large English dictionary and brings it with her as she sits back down on the floor and she starts leafing through the pages.
Lovett: “‘Charming’ doesn’t mean what I thought it meant.”
Die: “You cheeky sod.”
Lovett: “Ah here we are…”
She silently reads it. And then closes the book and puts it down next to her.
Lovett: “Nope. I was right, you were wrong.” “I bet you were a right cheeky git when you were a little boy.”
Die is now looking at Lovett with a look of concentration on his face.
Lovett: “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Die: “Like what?”
Lovett: “I don’t know.”
Die: “I can’t help you then, can I?”
Lovett: “You can pack that in! What?”
Die: “I was trying to picture you as a eight year old girl.”
Lovett: “And?”
Die: “All I can see is that frightened little mute girl we found today.”
Lovett: “We’re going to see her tomorrow.”
Die: “Yes. Yes we are.”
Die fishes his mobile phone from his jacket next to him and dials a number.
Lovett: “Who are you calling?”
Die: “Harry.”
Lovett: “Oh… her. Little Miss broom stick up her bum.”
Die -talking into the phone-: “Harry, I’m going to send you a photo. Can you do a D.I.F.S. for me? Yes I know you don’t work for me anymore but this is important…please? Thank you.”
Die hangs up the phone and puts it on the coffee table.
Lovett: “What’s a difs?”
Die: “Deep Internet Facial Search. If there has ever been a picture of her face put on the net it will find it. Might take a couple of days but better than nothing.”
Lovett: “And nothing is basically what we have right now.”
Die: “Exactly. Apart from your obsession with balloons, which is new.”
Lovett: “She had a yellow balloon!”
Die: “Of course she did, it’s just that I never once saw her with one. Do you read a lot of Stephen King?”
Lovett: “Shut up.” “You going to sleep on the sofa again tonight?”
Die: “I was thinking of your bed in fact.”
Lovett: “In your dreams pal.”
Die: “Constantly.”
Lovett dunks all of what is left of her spring roll into the sweet and sour sauce and stuff the whole dripping sticky mess into her mouth making her cheek bulging. And talking with her mouthful.
Lovett: “I really hate Sundays.”
Cut to black.
David Sylvain sings from ‘All Tomorrows Parties’
‘When Monday comes around
She’ll turn once more to Sunday’s clown
And cry behind the door’
Fade from black to the back of another London cab. Lovett and bumping along again but this is a much more suburban street.
Die: “What’s this place called we’re going to again?”
Lovett: “Saint Nicholas’. It a children’s care home.”
Die: “So an orphanage?”
Lovett: “It’s that too but it deals with and homes troubled kids, if they are orphans or not.” “We need a car. Why haven’t you got a car?”
Die: “SIS took it back when I started doing this with you.”