Sing Street_2016

Syntax Warning: Invalid Font Weight BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY John Carney
    SING STREET
    "This is school"
    Written by John Carney Card over Black: "The '60s never really happened in Ireland. So the '80s will be the '60s. And the '80s will make the '60s look like the '50s." AN ALCOHOLIC.: Pre-title:

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - DUBLIN CITY - MORNING
    Two FIFTEEN year-old BOYS stand outside this rough, inner city school on a cold, rainy morning. They are CONOR and DARREN. Conor is a middle class kid with a posh accent. Darren is a local boy, with a tough Dublin accent. They are elbowed by passing STUDENTS entering the school gates. Some of them mince past them, implying that they are gay. These two are outsiders. Conor will be handsome when he grows up. While most of the other boys have standard issue tight haircuts, Conor's is long and tousled. He sports two black eyes, making him look like a panda. Darren has acne, buck teeth, braces and bifocals. His face is a mess. They are both looking across the road. We don't see at what.
    CONOR
    Who's she?
    DARREN
    I don't know. She's always there.
    CONOR
    She's beautiful.
    DARREN
    Yeah. Good luck. She doesn't speak to anyone. Stuck-up cow.
    CONOR
    Who says?
    DARREN
    Ciaran Mackie from third year said he tried to get her digits.
    CONOR
    (confused)
    You mean her number?
    DARREN
    Yeah. No luck. He said she has a boyfriend who's a drug dealer. She's not interested any of the boys in the school.
    CONOR
    Oh yeah? Why's she standing there then?
    Darren shrugs. Conor takes a breath, sets off, crossing the road.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - MORNING
    We track with him over his shoulder, arriving at a 16 year- old GIRL, who is standing on the stoop of a HOUSE, an unlit cigarette dangling from her purple lips. Conor stands in front of her. She has a great look: lots of black. Good makeup. Back-combed hair. Early '80s teen-chic. She's ahead of her time, and anything but ordinary.
    CONOR
    Need a light?
    GIRL
    No. I'm trying to give up.
    CONOR
    Cool. I don't have any matches anyway.
    Silence. He doesn't go away.
    CONOR
    Why aren't you at school?
    GIRL
    I don't go to school.
    (beat)
    I'm a model.
    CONOR
    Cool. Like, for magazines, and stuff?
    GIRL
    I'm going to London soon. Just waiting for my portfolio shots. There's no real work for models in Dublin, you know.
    CONOR
    Yeah. I know.
    He thinks.
    CONOR
    Oh yeah, I meant to ask- do you want to be in a video? For my band?
    GIRL
    You're in a band?
    CONOR
    Yes. And we need a girl for it. There's like a story. It's called a "Story-Board" video. You could be the girl. In the story. If you're free. Have you been in a video before?
    GIRL
    No.
    (beat)
    Is that a problem?
    CONOR
    I hope not. I'll ask the producer.
    GIRL
    Who's the producer?
    CONOR
    That kid behind me.
    She looks over his shoulder, pulling onto Darren, who waves nonchalantly.
    GIRL
    When are we shooting? I'm pretty busy.
    CONOR
    Saturday after next. I can call you with the details. If I had your digits.
    She puts the cigarette away, taking out her pen. He produces his journal, handing it to her. She flicks through it, it's full of thoughts and drawings.
    CONOR
    Lyrics.
    RAPHINA
    So if you're in a band, sing me a song.
    CONOR
    I'm not singing here.
    RAPHINA
    What, you'll have to sing in front of thousands of people. I'm just one. Sing.
    CONOR
    What?
    RAPHINA
    Sing anything off the radio.
    He reluctantly sings a hesitant but tuneful few lines from a popular song. She smiles. She writes down her number on the cover. He smiles, turning back. Score.

INT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - MORNING
    We track back with him across the street as he approaches Darren, who can't believe what he's seen.
    CONOR
    We need to form a band...
    Freeze Frame. A loud, energetic punk song crashes in on the track. SONG and titles run over: TITLE SEQUENCE - MONTAGE A montage of news stories, rock videos, magazine covers, headlines. It's the early eighties, and it's Ireland. Midway through the worst recession since the 1950s. TITLE SEQUENCE - MONTAGE Across the Irish sea, in London, news reports see Thatcher waving to the crowds. City boys talk into early mobile telephones, getting into sports cars. Armani suits, and gold cuff links. TITLE SEQUENCE - MONTAGE But back in Ireland: bombs in the North, petrol queues in the South. Deserted building sites, bricked-up buildings. More black and white, than London's Technicolor.

INT. CONOR'S KITCHEN - DAY
    We start to PULL OUT from an old TV set. The 9 o'clock news is on. The volume turned down low.

INT. CONOR'S KITCHEN (CONTINUOUS) - DAY
    We find ourselves in a large kitchen. High ceilings and rattling sash windows, in what 100 years ago was a fine Georgian home. Now, things are a little faded. The room is cold and unwelcoming. Very little on the shelves. A family on a budget. Sitting around the kitchen table are: Conor (no black eyes yet), and his parents, PENNY and ROBERT, both in their mid forties. They've just finished a meal of Spag Boll. Though it's more Spag than Boll. Penny fills up her glass of cheap supermarket wine. Robert picks his teeth with a toothpick. He is drinking a whiskey and smoking. Penny checks her watch. They are sitting in silence, as if waiting for something to happen. Conor is wearing a woolly hat, and his coat, indoors. Card: ONE MONTH EARLIER

INT. CONOR'S KITCHEN (CONTINUOUS) - DAY
    Finally, the sound of someone racing down the stairs from above. The door opens and BRENDAN, (20), tumbles into the room carrying an ash tray, glass of wine, tobacco pouch, rolling papers and matches. He sits down at the vacant seat, beside his brother. Brendan has long hair, and a moustache. He's handsome.
    BRENDAN
    This meeting has been called to order. Pray proceed.
    He lights a cigarette.
    ROBERT
    Okay, so we wanted to talk about finances. Penny?
    PENNY
    What? Go ahead.
    BRENDAN
    (to his brother)
    This is going to be heavy.
    ROBERT
    Well, as you might have noticed- your mother and I are really struggling at the moment, like the rest of the country. I haven't had a single commission this year. Your mother is on a three day week. It doesn't look like it's going to get much brighter.
    He knocks back his drink. The kids wait for what's coming next.
    PENNY
    So we've had a look through the accounts, and we see quite a significant saving if we were to alter the education situation.
    CONOR
    What "education situation"?
    BRENDAN
    (intuiting)
    He means your school. They're taking you out of school.
    CONOR
    (excited)
    What?!
    ROBERT
    We're not taking you out of school. We're transferring you from one school to another.
    CONOR
    Why!?
    ROBERT
    We have to make some cuts to the budget. I'd suggest taking your brother out of college, but he's already dropped out of his own volition.
    BRENDAN
    (raising a glass)
    Thank you Dad.
    CONOR
    Cuts? I'm already wearing three jumpers, indoors. And a hat. I read by candlelight! And it's the 1980s. I'm like Tiny Tim up there!
    Brendan laughs.
    ROBERT
    Don't act so entitled. I grew up in a council house with five brothers.
    BRENDAN
    (mock surprised)
    Really? Tell us about that dad. For the first time ever.
    PENNY
    A school that's close by. So there's no transport costs. You can cycle in. And you can get lunch back here. There's two savings already! It's a non-fee paying school.
    ROBERT
    Those Jesuits are far too soft on you anyway.
    BRENDAN
    The Jesuits have a long history of education.
    ROBERT
    So do the Christian Brothers.
    Silence.
    CONOR
    Who are the Christian Brothers?
    BRENDAN
    The Christian Brothers, Conor, are a order of the Catholic Church, appointed in the education, formation, and beating of their young charges.
    ROBERT
    Oh be quiet Brendan! Six years at the hands of the Jesuits yourself, and look at what they did for you!
    BRENDAN
    Well they didn't beat me.
    PENNY
    Brendan! Cut that out. Synge Street is a perfectly reputable school. You'll settle in in no time.
    CONOR
    You can't just change in the middle of the year. Just when I'm making friends and settling in. This could scar me. Long-term!
    ROBERT
    Just deal with this, Conor. You know what the Christian Brother's motto is? "Viriliter Age". That means "Act Manly".
    This meeting is over. Brendan gets up. He squeezes Conor's shoulder, big brother style, and exits. His parents go about their business. We push in on Conor, alone.

EXT. CONOR'S HOUSE (CONTINUOUS) - DAY
    The door slams as Conor exits his house, zipping up his jacket. He marches down the driveway. He wears brown cords with a slight flare to them. Leather shoes. Jumper. This is a leafy suburb of Dublin. Middle class, safe, protected. But Conor's house stands out. It has seen better days. It needs a new coat of paint, and the garden could do with a mow. A car is parked in the driveway, but hasn't been used in a good while. Three push bikes are leaning against the gate instead. He walks up the street with his hands in his pockets.

EXT. JESUIT SCHOOL SPORTS GROUND - DAY
    This is a large sports ground in a leafy Jesuit school. Nice, red brick buildings, very peaceful. It's the weekend, and students are practicing track, rugby, cricket. A big copper beech tree shades the Cricket Training net. Conor is at the wicket, bat in hand. Two FRIENDS are playing with him. They all speak with posh, South-side accents.
    CONOR
    So guys, I'm not coming back after the break.
    FRIEND 1
    The hell? Why?
    CONOR
    The old pair are moving me to a different school.
    FRIEND 2
    Dicks. Why?
    CONOR
    They say they have no money.
    The ball whizzes past him. He misses by a mile, throwing down the bat in frustration. They take a break.
    CONOR
    But we still hang out, yeah?
    FRIEND 2
    Totally man.
    CONOR
    At weekends and stuff. Right?
    FRIEND 1
    Absolutely. So where are you going? Conlets?
    Conor doesn't respond.
    FRIEND 2
    Gonzaga?
    CONOR
    Synge Street.
    His friends exchange looks after they see he's not joking.
    CONOR
    What?? It can't be that bad?
    One of them mock-hugs him.
    FRIEND 2
    Seriously bro, it's been nice knowing you.
    His friends laugh. We hold on Conor, the gravity of his situation sinking in.

INT. JESUIT SCHOOL OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
    Conor is sitting in a cosy, large office. Across from him, his history teacher, and headmaster, FATHER WAITS (late 50s). Fr. Waits smokes a pipe, sitting on the edge of his desk. He is prematurely grey, and has a warm, understanding appearance. His SECRETARY, a heavy woman in her fifties, sits in an anteroom, typing, off.
    FATHER WAITS
    We'll be sorry to be losing you. Synge Street was a fine school in its day. It has a poor reputation now, but I'm sure that's exaggerated. The Christian Brothers can be a little tough to my mind, but they get the work done.
    CONOR
    No more rugby. No cricket practice. Debating. School plays??
    FATHER WAITS
    They'll have their own extracurricular activities I suspect.
    CONOR
    Yeah, like flick knife practice. And corporal punishment.
    FATHER WAITS
    I'm sure that's not true.
    CONOR
    I've heard it is. I can't do corporal punishment. I'm light- boned.
    Father Waits laughs. Though Conor is wise-cracking, he's clearly genuinely nervous. Father Waits gets up, putting a hand on Conor's shoulder and walking him to the door.
    FATHER WAITS
    You'll be fine, Conor. Trust me. You know what's gotten us to where we are today, us humans? One quality?
    They pause at the open door.
    FATHER WAITS
    Adaptability.
    He winks, shaking Conor's hand. Conor shuffles off down the corridor. Father Waits looks over to his secretary who has been listening. He makes a doubtful expression. She nods in agreement.

INT. CHURCH - DAY
    A church on a school campus. 30 choir boys are at choir practice on the alter. They are dressed in their own cloths. There is no congregation. It's Saturday rehersal. They sing BACH. We slowly ZOOM in to Conor, who is standing on the edges of the back row. He sings, but is lost in thought. A TEACHER is conducting them.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - EVENING
    Conor walks past Synge Street School that evening. The gates are open. The deserted school looms grey and forboding in the dusk sky. He pushes the gate open and enters, looking around. Litter rolls like tumbleweed across the pot-holed yard. Stripped-down bicycle frames remain locked to the outdoor bike shed. Old windows rattle in the wind. The walls read like a tabloid newspaper: "IRA" "BRITS OUT" "JENNY GREEN IS A SLUT " are among the headlines. The playing field of his previous school is another world.

INT. BRENDAN'S ROOM - EVENING
    Back in his house, we are in Brendan's attic lair. As far away from the rest of the house as possible. This small room is a shrine to music and art. And hash. We have numerous ash trays. A homemade hammock. Posters of bands on the walls. Shelves of books on pop art, philosophy, and music. A poster of SIGMUND FREUD on the wall next to his bed. A voice bubble has been drawn in, saying "It's all your mother's fault". A portable TV on a box. An acoustic guitar with two strings. But most importantly, a huge collection of Vinyl. Proudly alphabetized. The only thing so in Brendan's life. The windows are blacked out with hanging blankets, and the lighting is low; easy on the eternally stoned eye. Brendan sits in his huge, collapsed armchair in a mist of marijuana smoke, a king of his own domain. He is taking a drag from one. The door is ajar. Outside, Conor knocks.
    CONOR
    You in there?
    BRENDAN
    Where else would I be?
    CONOR
    I don't know. The kitchen?
    BRENDAN
    I'm in here.
    Conor enters, leaning against the wall by the door.
    BRENDAN
    (sage-like)
    You appear troubled, my young friend.
    Conor nods his head.
    BRENDAN
    Sit. Share your woes.
    Conor sits on the edge of his brother's bed.
    BRENDAN
    You start tomorrow?
    Conor nods his head.
    BRENDAN
    You'll be fine. You just have to find a way of distracting the thugs from noticing you.
    CONOR
    How do I do that?
    BRENDAN
    How would I know?
    CONOR
    I feel like I'm going to prison.
    BRENDAN
    You are. In a way. All institutions are prisons. You do realize that this is just part of the bigger picture? This school move?
    CONOR
    How do you mean?
    BRENDAN
    I'm pretty sure they're splitting up. I hear them rowing, in the middle of the night.
    CONOR
    Do you? Why aren't you asleep?
    Brendan just laughs at this, as if sleep would be ridiculous.
    BRENDAN
    There'll be plenty of time for that.
    He takes another drag, and then instinctively goes to pass it to Conor. But then realizes, pulling it back.
    BRENDAN
    Oh, no, you're tiny.
    He stands up, taking the record that has been playing quietly. Replaces it carefully, and searches for something else.
    BRENDAN
    ...and this is just the start of a process. They start moving you around. Soon the electricity will be cut off. The bailiff will come. The house will be sold.
    The cave is under threat, brother. From monsters. Conor is genuinely concerned.
    CONOR
    What monsters?
    Brendan finds a record that is pertinent, opening it, and carefully rubbing his sleeve off the vinyl.
    BRENDAN
    Oh, just the three-headed monster of Fear, Infidelity, Ego, Materialism.
    CONOR
    That's a four-headed monster.
    BRENDAN
    The things that are destroying their marriage. And now YOU'RE being tested. This is YOUR time. I had my time.
    CONOR
    And what happened?
    BRENDAN
    (beat, a thousand thoughts in a blink of an eye)
    This is a great chance for you. To break that cycle of shit. That school would have turned you into a doctor, or a lawyer. "Must make money, must make money".
    Conor listens attentively, if a little confused.
    BRENDAN
    (off his look of confusion)
    That was a robot I just did there. Who wants to be a robot? Except R2D2? Who knows what this new prison will do for you, my little friend!
    (beat)
    You're on a hero's journey. How are you going to fare?
    He puts on the record he's been looking for. The needle meets the vinyl with a comforting crunch. A loud, heavy metal song from the late seventies. The room rocks. Brendan smiles at his younger brother, "you feeling me??" Hard cut.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - MORNING
    Song playing loud. Monday morning. Almost in answer to his brother's question, Conor walks into the gate of the school. Numerous kids have gathered in packs. Conor has to walk a gauntlet of new faces. Heads turn towards the newcomer. There is something of a stranger arriving at a new town in a Western. But this is no Western, and the stomping song tells us so. Conor's three- quarter length smart coat and long curly hair draws laughs. He is also carrying a soft, brown leather satchel, which doesn't help. Kids smoke in circles. Kids spit on the ground. Further into the walk, a fight is just breaking out, and a small circle is gathering. Two boys beat it out. Bloody noses and fists. Conor speeds up as he passes. He notices that above them, at a second story window, a BROTHER (50s), in black suit and white collar, is watching the fight down below. He does nothing about it. One KID has a dead RAT skewered on the end of a stick. He chases other kids around with it. He finally throws it at Conor. It hits him on the side of the head. Others laugh. The song ends as he enters the school. The back of his coat is covered in spit.

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
    Conor sits in a large, drafty classroom, looking around. The windows rattle in the wind. Worn, wooden floorboards underfoot. The desks are mismatched. Two kids per desk. This is a class of about 35 kids. BROTHER BARNABAS (70), in a black gown and white collar, writes Latin on the blackboard. Even with his hearing aid, he can't hear kids chatting, laughing and fighting when his back is turned. Conor sits in the middle, amazed. To his left, at the back of class, a boy smokes a cigarette, blowing the smoke out the sash window beside him. To his right, two BOYS hold down another, as a fourth farts in his mouth, closing it, and making him swallow. Another kid is getting an Indian ink tattoo: IRA, on his hand. At the blackboard, Brother Barnabas takes a surreptitious swig from a hip flask, returning it under his gown. This old guy should have been put out to pasture a long time ago. The door swings open, and the HEADMASTER enters silently, on his morning rounds. The class stands up. Silence. He is the same Brother we saw watching the fight on the way in.
    CLASS
    (as one)
    Good morning Brother Baxter.
    Brother Baxter surveys the room, landing on the blackboard.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    It's French, brother Barnabas.
    BROTHER BARNABAS
    Hah?
    BROTHER BAXTER
    You're teaching French. Not Latin.
    Brother Barnabas looks at the board, seeing that he is teaching Latin.
    BROTHER BARNABAS
    Oh. How modern.
    Brother Baxter speaks in a tough, no nonsense Dublin accent. His bushy moustache suggests something of a military man.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    Mind you, I'd be surprised if any of ye even knew where France is, not to mind speaking the language.
    Silence. Conor, who thinks this is an actual question, raises a hand.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    Oh. Go on.
    CONOR
    On the continent. Above Spain.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    My my. And how do you know that?
    CONOR
    My parents took us there. One summer. In the car.
    Other kids laugh, jealously.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    You'll be the new lad then, from the Jesuits.
    CONOR
    Yes.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    Yes "Brother". What's your name.
    CONOR
    Conor Lawlor.
    Laughter. Conor looks around, all eyes on him. Brother Baxter is impressed.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    Shut up! You could all take a leaf out of his book. Look at a map once in a while. Right Conor. Morning prayers are at a quarter to nine. Little break is ten minutes. At 11 o'clock. Big break is 45 minutes at 1 o'clock. The canteen is located below the P.E. Hall. They serve chips and bars. The lads will show you the ropes. Welcome.
    CONOR
    Thank you.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    As you were!
    He turns to go. But as he does, he sees Conor's feet under his desk. He pauses. Conor is wearing brown leather brogues. Everyone else is wearing black shoes.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    We have a strict, black shoe policy here, Mr. Lawlor. Your parents should have read it in the introductory rule book. Page 142. We'll let it go today, but from tomorrow on...
    He goes to exit again.
    CONOR
    I don't have black shoes, Sir.
    Brother Baxter pauses at the door. The class goes silent. BB is not used to being questioned like this.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    Well, you'll have to get a pair then. And report to me first thing in the morning with them. Good man.
    Brother Baxter exits. The class takes a sigh of relief. The kid who was smoking releases a lung-full of smoke. Brother Barnabas goes back to teaching Latin. Conor leans into the BOY sitting next to him, MICK MAHON, a really tough kid with a buzz cut and a gold stud earring.
    CONOR
    Sorry, but where did he say the restaurant was?
    MICK MAHON
    The wha?
    CONOR
    The restaurant? The cafeteria?
    MICK MAHON
    You mean the canteen?
    CONOR
    Yeah. Of course.
    Mick just shakes his head in amazement.
    MICK MAHON
    The "restaurant". You're not in France now, you bleedin spanner.

EXT. SYNGE STREET YARD - DAY
    Little break. Kids play football with a punctured football. Others sit on walls eating sweets. Conor wanders about on his own looking for the canteen. He passes by the alleyway towards the P.E. hall. From behind the bike sheds, a low whistle catches his attention. Down the alley way is a 15 year-old. He has a cigarette in his hand. He has a skin head. His uniform is dirty and too short for him. He wears scuffed loafers and a green bomber jacket.
    KID
    Do you smoke, do you?
    CONOR
    Oh. Occasionally. I'm not really a smoker. My brother is, and I sometimes take a little of his tobacco, if my friends are over. And my dad used to smoke a pipe. But he gave up.
    KID
    Why are you telling me all this? Come on and we'll have a smoke. Follow me.
    Conor follows the kid, who enters a prefab marked TOILETS.

INT. THE BOY'S TOILET'S (CONTINUOUS) - DAY
    This is a stinking prefabricated building, with a row of urinals across from three cubicles. The floor is sticky and wet. Conor follows the KID in. He puts a cigarette in his mouth.
    KID
    D'you want one?
    CONOR
    Nah, I'm okay. I'll just watch you. I've already had a couple this morning.
    The kid pulls a Black Widow catapult from inside his bomber jacket, and a large marble.
    KID
    Did you ever see one these, did you?
    He loads it with the marble, and points it at Conor's head.
    KID
    I hear you're a queer.
    CONOR
    What?
    KID
    I hear you're a little queer?
    CONOR
    No. You must have me mixed up with someone else.
    KID
    (scrutinizing him)
    I don't think so. Dance.
    CONOR
    What?
    KID
    Dance. Like a queer.
    Conor doesn't know how to deal with this.
    CONOR
    Are you serious?
    The kid aims the catapult at a light bulb, and fires, hitting it perfectly, re-loading and pointing it back at Conor. Conor starts a merry jig. The KID watches for a while, his catapult ready.
    KID
    Now dance with your pants down.
    CONOR
    What?
    KID
    Get into that cubicle. And dance with your pants down.
    Conor stops dancing.
    CONOR
    No.
    KID
    What did you just say.
    CONOR
    No, I'm not doing that.
    Silence. To his surprise, the kid disarms his catapult.
    KID
    Okay. Bye Bye.
    Conor walks past him, exiting hurriedly, baffled.

INT. THE CANTEEN (CONTINUOUS) - DAY
    Conor is in a basement building. No windows. It's lit with fluorescent lights. Kids of all ages muck about. There's a ping pong table with no net or bats. There's a tuck shop with candy bars and a dinner lady deep frying chips at a window. Music plays through a small ghetto blaster. Many kids are smoking. Conor heads for the tuck shop window, joining a rowdy queue while searching for enough change in his pockets. He manages to get 25 pence together and exchanges it for a Mars bar. As he turns to exit, the KID from the toilet is standing right behind him. He taps him on the shoulder. Conor turns around. People watch on, knowing that something is brewing. The KID lets Conor have it, right on the eye. It's a good shot. People wince. Conor goes down on the ground. The KID picks up Conor's Mars Bar and rips it open; takes a bite and throws away the rest. He turns and swaggers off. People clear the way from him, keeping their distance. The bell rings and everyone starts to shuffle off back to class, some of them step over Conor, laughing. As the room empties out, we hear a voice, off:
    VOICE
    You should've just danced.
    Conor looks over his shoulder. DARREN (who we met in the pre- title scene) is crossing over towards him, putting on his jacket.

EXT. SYNGE STREET YARD (CONTINUOUS) - DAY
    Conor, now in the company of Darren, walks back towards his classroom, holding his eye.
    CONOR
    So you were there? In the toilets?
    DARREN
    I've a touch of the scutters. So I was in one of the cubicles all morning with the liquid shits.
    He smiles.
    DARREN
    Darren's the name.
    He goes to shake hands. Conor take his hand, hiding his reluctance.
    CONOR
    Conor. Who is that psycho?
    DARREN
    That's Barry Bray. He eats hair gel.
    CONOR
    What?
    DARREN
    Yeah. He ate a pot of hair gel in class once. No one knows why. The only problem now is, he'll be out for your blood.
    CONOR
    Why?
    DARREN
    Because you've shown weakness.
    CONOR
    How do you know him?
    We hold on Conor, looking increasingly worried. Synge Street is certainly living up to its reputation.
    DARREN
    He lives in the same flats as me. His ma and da are mad drug addicts. People say he was conceived on acid. And it got into his bloodstream. But don't worry, you just need to come up with a plan for the year. A solution. Here.
    He hands him a slip of paper from a plastic wallet. It reads, in marker: Darren Mulvey. Business solutions. Saint Teresa's Gardens. Flat 221. "Your problem is my solution!"
    DARREN
    Call me any time.
    CONOR
    There's no number on it.
    DARREN
    No, we don't have a phone. Just call around.
    They arrive outside Conor's class.
    CONOR
    This is my class. Where are you?
    DARREN
    Ah they kept me back a year. Or two. I can't really read very well.
    CONOR
    Right. How's that going to work, in business?
    DARREN
    (leaning in)
    I can read people. And you're alright. But you won't survive in here unless we deal with Barry.
    CONOR
    What about telling the Brothers?
    DARREN
    Hah! You could do that, yeah.
    Darren heads off, laughing. Conor heads back into class. The door slams behind him with a menacing "SLAM"

INT. CONOR'S HOUSE - NIGHT
    Penny stands in the hallway, shouting upstairs.
    PENNY
    Bren! Conor! It's on.
    Brendan exits his room quickly. He is carrying his drinking and smoking accoutrements. He passes Conor's door as Conor exits. The two of them run downstairs. It's like a fire drill.

INT. THE SITTING ROOM (CONTINUOUS) - NIGHT
    Brendan and Conor burst into the sitting room. Their father is sitting at the table drinking a whiskey. The collar of his jacket is turned up, and he has a scarf on. In front of him, a few architectural drawings, draftsman kit, sliding rule etc. He is sketching plans for a building that will never be built. Numerous photographs of Brendan are framed and around the place. As a baby. A young boy. A handsome teenager. Etc. Brendan was the golden boy. Brendan turns on the TV as he and Conor take seats on the couch.
    BRENDAN
    Can we turn on the fire?
    ROBERT
    No.
    TV PRESENTER
    (off)
    It's Thursday. It's 7 o'clock. It's Top of The Pops!
    Penny enters, sitting across from her husband, drinking a coffee. She is wearing a big cardigan. As the charts countdown for January starts, they are a family. Sort of.
    VOICE ON TV
    "They can't be here tonight as they're in the USA, so instead, we have to go to... RIO. It's Duran Duran!"
    On the TV, the video for Duran Duran's "Rio" begins. Conor is glued to the screen as Brendan lectures on the clothes, video, song, and lyrics. Conor is an enthusiastic student.
    BRENDAN
    The jury is out on which way these guys will go. They're a lot of fun, and John Taylor is one of the most proficient bass players in the UK right now, giving them a funky edge which I hope they'll go with. Look at this video!
    He laughs with glee as beautiful people aboard a yacht in the Caribbean surround Simon LeBon. The band looks good. The girls are clad in bikinis. At the table, Robert looks back at his sketch. He scrunches up the sheets of paper angrily. Frustrated. Penny watches this.
    ROBERT
    Who am I kidding. Nothing's getting built here for another ten years at least.
    PENNY
    You don't know that.
    He laughs, pouring a whiskey, and turning towards the TV.
    ROBERT
    Not exactly the Beatles, is it.
    BRENDAN
    Oh, I'll just start up the time machine so we can go BACK in time for dad.
    He sighs. Underwater, Simon LeBon drinks a pink cocktail underwater. The pink liquid mixes with the sea. Brendan laughs.
    ROBERT
    Well if that's the future we're all screwed. Look at him, he's not even singing live!
    BRENDAN
    It's a video, Robert. It's a piece of art. Everyone is making them now.
    CONOR
    Yeah Robert.
    PENNY
    (referring to Simon)
    He's very attractive isn't he?
    ROBERT
    You're welcome to him.
    PENNY
    Do you promise?
    On screen, a guy in the video plays a saxophone solo on a raft.
    CONOR
    Wow, a saxophone solo.
    BRENDAN
    That might date.
    ROBERT
    Why can't they get them to play live? What are they hiding?
    BRENDAN
    Because they're in the USA, didn't you hear him? And this lasts forever. It's the perfect marriage of music and visuals. Short. To the point. Look at that...
    He points to the screen. Hedonism and fun, in Technicolor.
    BRENDAN
    What tyranny could stand up to that?
    Conor looks at the screen, transfixed. His brother has a point. Sort of.
    ROBERT
    That's because this is the tyranny.
    BRENDAN
    Oh let's not begin a philosophical argument Robert.
    ROBERT
    Why not?
    BRENDAN
    Because you'll lose.
    This winds Robert up, who is up for a fight, but a stern shake of Penny's head warns him off.
    BRENDAN
    (quietly)
    ...and the thing about Barry Bray is, he's probably a victim himself. Bullying is a cycle. Like with Dad. His dad undermined him, pissed on his dreams. So what do you expect.
    CONOR
    Right.
    BRENDAN
    So we gotta break the cycle. Right? Look at these guys-
    (referring to the band)
    Their dads fought in the Second World War! Wore flat caps and woolen underwear. Look at them now!
    On screen, Duran Duran are the epitome of '80s London: affluence, arrogance, and renewed confidence.
    BRENDAN
    Barry Bray is more than likely gay. And he's struggling with it. And holding you up in the toilets is all part of that.
    CONOR
    Really?
    BRENDAN
    Probably. It's not a good school to be gay in, he's suffering in there, same as you. But the only way to get him off your back is to understand him. To defeat him, you must firstly forgive him.
    He nods, sagely, returning to watching the TV. We hold on Conor thinking about this advice.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL GATE - DAY
    Conor walks into school. He is keeping a low profile, walking in by the wall as the madness carries on all around him. Up ahead, he runs into Brother Baxter. He looks him up and down. We TILT down to reveal... BROWN SHOES. Hold on Brother Baxter's face. An inscrutable look. Deep shock that his warning would be ignored.

INT. BROTHER BAXTER'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
    Brother Baxter sits behind his large desk in his office. Very little in this room, except a statue of the Virgin Mary, and a cross. On the other side of the desk, Conor. Silence.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    What's going on, son?
    CONOR
    About the shoes?
    Brother Baxter just nods.
    CONOR
    Well, I brought it up with my mum. But she said we couldn't afford another pair of shoes at the moment. I bought these before I knew about the shoe colour policy here at Synge Street. But it's not as if these are runners or something. They're brown. They're quite sensible.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    I can see that. They're very nice. Tasteful, as you say. But you see, they're not black?
    CONOR
    I'm not sure... What you want me to do. They're shoes. They keep the rain out.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    (nodding his head)
    Take them off.
    CONOR
    What?
    BROTHER BAXTER
    Seeing as you're so fond of them. You can pick them up here at four o'clock every day until you comply with the rules of the school.
    Conor looks at him in disbelief. Is this really what's going to happen now?

INT. THE CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER
    Close on a pair of stockinged feet. Conor walks down the corridor in his socks. Kids laugh. What is going on.

EXT. THE YARD - LATER
    Now Conor walks through puddles in the yard. His socks are already developing holes.

INT. ART CLASS - LATER
    Conor sits in art class. This class is made up of about twelve kids. Including Conor. There's some interesting art on the walls. Conor rubs his feet together, trying to keep warm. MISS DUNNE (40s), sits on the corner of her desk. She has a curvy figure, and a mane of dyed blonde hair. She has a Dublin accent. She has a scented candle lit on her desk. A few flowers in a glass.
    MISS DUNNE
    Right, so most of yiz picked this class because ye didn't wanna do mechanical drawing. Am I right?
    Most people nod.
    MISS DUNNE
    Yiz think art class will be a doddle? A chance to get a break in the day and scribble a few pictures in between other classes?
    A few lads nod in agreement.
    MISS DUNNE
    Right, well you're not completely off the mark.
    This gets a little laugh.
    MISS DUNNE
    Art should be a break from the rest of the world. It should never be work. It's kind of... therapy. But don't think you're not going to learn something in here. I'm going to impart some information to ye, okay? So when you're out with a girl at the National Gallery, you can look at a painting and SAY something about it. Okay?
    A few nods and mutterings of acceptance. Mick Mahon puts his hand up.
    MICK MAHON
    I'll take you on a date to the National Gallery any day, miss.
    MISS DUNNE
    Ah, thanks, Michael. But I have a fiance already.
    MICK MAHON
    Are you sure?
    MISS DUNNE
    Positive.
    She puts on her glasses to get a closer look at Conor's feet under his desk.
    MISS DUNNE
    What the hell is going on here?
    CONOR
    Oh. I don't have black shoes. So I have to leave my brown ones in Brother Baxter's office every day until I get some.
    She shakes her head.

INT. THE CANTEEN - LATER
    Conor enters the canteen in his bare feet. He looks around. Up ahead in a little group, he sees Barry. He musters up the courage, and approaches, tapping him on the shoulder. Barry Bray turns around. Other kids notice this.
    CONOR
    Hey. I understand that you're in pain. That there is a conflict within you. And that can't be easy to deal with in this school. You publicly humiliated me. So now, I publicly forgive you. Barry Bray.

EXT. THE SCHOOL - MORNING
    Conor now has the TWO black eyes of the opening scene. Darren stands beside him. He marches off towards the GIRL across the street. We hold on Darren this time. In a few moments, Conor returns:
    CONOR
    We need to form a band...

EXT. A SMALL COTTAGE - DAY
    Conor and Darren stand at the front door of a small, run-down cottage on a narrow lane way. They are not wearing their school uniforms. It's out of school. Darren knocks on the knocker.
    DARREN
    Eamon's a genius. He can play every instrument known to man. His hobby is rabbits.
    After a while we hear footsteps thundering down the stairs. The door opens and EAMON (14), stands there. Eamon wears stone-washed denims, matching DENIM (!) jacket, a crew neck jumper, and white, dirty boot runners. He has curly hair, and wears steel-rim glasses. He sports a wicked mullet.
    DARREN
    Hey Eamon. What you doing?
    EAMON
    Nothing. I was just feeding me new bunny. Howareya Darren.
    DARREN
    Cool. This is Eamon. Eamon, this is Conor. He's new in the school, and he's putting together a band.
    EAMON
    So?

INT. EAMON'S LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
    Eamon's small living room has been transformed into a band- rehersal space. In a semicircle in the corner of the room is a drum kit, guitar amp, keyboard, and microphone. Conor looks about, impressed.
    CONOR
    Wow! Where did you get all this gear??
    EAMON
    Me da's in a covers band. Weddings, parties, pubs.
    Close up on the logo on the kick drum: "EAZY LIVIN'" with some glittery stars.
    DARREN
    Eamon can play every instrument known to man, can't you Eamon?
    EAMON
    Probably.
    DARREN
    Show him.
    FOUR VERY QUICK SHOTS: Eamon plays the bass guitar, slapping. The drums. The guitar, soloing. And the keyboard, playing jazz.
    CONOR
    Wow. So/
    But Eamon isn't finished. SIX more very quick shots. Eamon is playing an African Balaphone. Next, he's playing an Indian flute. Then the Uilleann pipes. Then a shaker. Then a Conga drum. Finally he is done. He's clearly something of a prodigy.
    EAMON
    What do you play yourself?
    CONOR
    (thinking on his feet)
    I'm more of a singer.
    Eamon waits for him to go on.
    CONOR
    And I write songs. Well, I mean, lyrics. Words. But I haven't put them to music yet.
    EAMON
    So what do yous want from me?
    DARREN
    We want to hire your instruments.
    CONOR
    (interrupting)
    No way. You've got to be IN the band. You're amazing. Right Darren?
    DARREN
    Are you into that Eamon?
    We can see that Eamon is very glad to be asked, but bluffs a little:
    EAMON
    What kind of music are you going to be doing?
    CONOR
    I don't know yet.
    EAMON
    You have to know what you're going to play. What are you into?
    CONOR
    I'm a futurist.
    EAMON
    What does that mean?
    CONOR
    Like no nostalgia. Not like your dad's band. Not looking backwards. Just forwards.
    EAMON
    Cool. Like Depeche Mode?
    CONOR
    (not knowing them)
    Okay.
    EAMON
    Or Joy Division?
    CONOR
    (bluffing)
    Right.
    Eamon sure knows his stuff.
    EAMON
    Or Duran Duran. What do you think of them?
    CONOR
    (beat, then parroting Brendan)
    The jury is out on which way those guys will go. They're a lot of fun, and James Taylor is one of the most proficient bass players in the UK right now, giving them a funky edge.
    Silence. Eamon is impressed, even though Conor has got John Taylor's name wrong.
    EAMON
    JOHN Taylor.
    CONOR
    Yea. John. Of course.
    They stand there, sizing each other up.
    EAMON
    I'll be in the band. I'll play guitar. And help write the songs. We can rehearse here because me da's in Saint John Of Gods.
    DARREN
    Is that a pub?
    EAMON
    No, Darren. It's where alcoholics go to get off drink and stop beating up their wives and kids.
    DARREN
    Right.
    EAMON
    And neighbors.
    CONOR
    Okay.
    EAMON
    And the police.

INT. EAMON'S KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
    Conor, Eamon and Darren sit around the kitchen table continuing their plans. Eamon's MOTHER (45), is pouring Cup-O-Soup into three bowls in front of them, and giving them slices of bread. Eamon is stroking a bunny on his knee.
    EAMON
    Who's going to be the manager?
    DARREN
    Me.
    EAMON
    Have you managed bands before?
    DARREN
    No. (thinks) I'm just breaking into the market?
    EAMON
    Nice. How are we going to cut things up?
    DARREN
    I'll draw up contracts?
    EAMON'S MUM
    Do you need a pen?
    EAMON
    Ma, we are trying to have a band meeting here?
    She smiles as she pours.
    EAMON
    Gotta have everything straight first. Get everything down on paper. Otherwise you can get ripped off by the big record labels when they come a huntin'. That's what me dad says.
    Eamon's mum laughs conspicuously.
    EAMON
    When do you want to rehearse?
    EAMON'S MUM
    Not the weekends. He's got a job packing shelves in Quinnsworth on Saturdays. You're not leaving that job. Not for any jaysis band.
    CONOR
    How about Mondays and Wednesdays after school.
    EAMON
    Sounds good.
    EAMON'S MUM
    That's fine.
    DARREN
    Now all we need is other musicians. Do either of you know any other musicians?
    CONOR
    No. You?
    DARREN
    No. Eamon?
    EAMON'S MUM
    He usually just plays on his own, don't you son?
    She squeezes his shoulder.
    EAMON
    Right, we can't get any peace here. Let's continue this meeting out the back.
    They get up, following Eamon out back.
    EAMON'S MUM
    No smoking now!
    EAMON
    Ma! How many times do I have to tell you? I don't smoke!
    They exit.

INT. A SHED - MOMENTS LATER
    The three of them stand in a VERY small shed. They are all smoking. They are continuing their plans. From the window at the kitchen where Eamon's mum is washing up, she can plainly see smoke wafting out the window. She shrugs. Darren clicks his fingers.
    DARREN
    There's a black guy in 3B?
    EAMON
    So?
    DARREN
    Be cool if he was in the band.
    CONOR
    Why?
    DARREN
    He's the one colored guy in the whole school. Probably in Dublin! Having a Golliwog in the band would give us a real edge.
    CONOR
    You can't say Golliwog.
    DARREN
    Why not?
    CONOR
    Trust me. You just can't.
    Darren looks to Eamon for this. Eamon shakes his head, agreeing with Conor. Darren shrugs.
    CONOR
    Anyway what if he can't play anything?
    DARREN
    He'll be able to play something. He's black!
    Close on a FLYER up on a notice board in school. It reads: Futurist band forming. Looking for Bass player, drummer, and keyboard. Own instruments not essential, as we have them. Influences include DEPECHE MODE, DURAN DURAN and many more! Contact Management Solutions at 221 St. Teresa's Gardens. No telephone. Just call in.

EXT. A HOUSE ON A HOUSING ESTATE - DAY
    Conor, Eamon and Darren knock on the door of a small house on a shitty housing estate. In a moment, an enormous, beautiful woman answers the door. She speaks in a strong Nigerian accent, wearing colorful headgear and dress. They've never seen anything like it.
    EAMON
    Wow.
    WOMAN (EARLY 30S)
    Can I help you?
    DARREN
    Is this the house where the colored lad lives?
    WOMAN
    What do you think? How many black people do you think live on this shitting estate!?
    (beat)
    Do you know Ngig?
    DARREN
    What is that?
    WOMAN
    My son! Do you know my son?
    CONOR
    No. But we're in his school. And we're putting a band together. Does he play any instruments?
    WOMAN
    (opening the door wider)
    Why don't you ask him yourself.
    They enter.
    DARREN
    Does he speak English?

INT. NGIG'S SITTING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
    The three lads stand in a small, tidy living space. In front of them, NGIG (14), a black kid, stocky, well built.
    DARREN
    (very slowly)
    WE-ARE-PUTTING-A-BAND-TOGETHER. I-: AM-THE-MANAGER.:
    NGIG
    What the hell is wrong with him?
    When he speaks, he speaks in a tough, inner city Dublin accent.
    DARREN
    Oh. You sound different from your ma?
    NGIG
    'Course I do, I've been here half me bleedin life. What did you expect.
    CONOR
    Would you have any interest in being in a band?
    He clearly is.
    NGIG
    Maybe. What kind of music are yous playing?
    EAMON
    We're not 100 percent sure yet. But do you play any instruments?
    He is about to shake his head, when his mother interrupts.
    NGIG'S MOTHER
    Of course he does. He's black.
    Ngig looks doubtfully at his ma. She nods her head. Music starts up on the track. It's sketchy, out of time, but vaguely recognizable. It's a bad cover version of RIO, by Duran Duran.

INT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY
    Song over. TRACK out from the flier. Two KIDS are writing down the number from the flier on the wall. They are identical twin rhythm section, GARRY and LARRY (14). It is hard to read the number, as the poster is covered in an array of Spunking Dick drawings.

INT. EAMON'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
    Conor sings into a microphone. Eamon plays rhythm guitar. Garry fingers a bass guitar. His twin brother Larry sits behind the drum kit. Ngig cycles through sounds on an early synthesizer. He has no real idea what he's doing. Conor is hesitant and nervous. Though he can sing, he has zero presence. It's chaos. They are all dressed in their school uniforms and look awful. TRACK down to find a tape casette recorder on a chair in the middle of them. It is RECORDING. The song ends.
    NGIG
    Not bad.
    GARRY
    Sounds great.
    NGIG
    I think we sped up a little.
    EAMON
    Really? We were shit.
    LARRY
    Yeah, it's a shit song. We should be a metal band.
    CONOR
    It's not the song. It's us. It was all over the place. Let's try it again.
    LARRY
    Smoke break!
    EAMON
    What?
    NIGIG
    Cool. I'm gasping for a smoke!
    They all run out. Eamon sighs, looking at Conor, the only other one who hasn't left his station.

INT. THE SHED - MOMENTS LATER
    ALL of the band are crammed into the shed smoking.
    NGIG
    So what are we called?
    They think.
    EAMON
    The Rabbits?
    NGIG
    What is wrong with you and Rabbits??
    EAMON
    I just love them. So fluffy. Those ears. Not a dog. Yet not quite a cat. And manageable shit. Just, the perfect pet.
    CONOR
    I have an idea. What about "La Vie".
    Silence. Darren looks at him, witheringly.
    DARREN
    What does that mean?
    CONOR
    It French for "The Life"
    GARRY
    What's French for "That's not going to be the name of the band"?
    CONOR
    (beat)
    "C'est nes pas le nom du groupe"
    GARRY
    Right. There you go.
    EAMON
    What about Sing Street.
    They think about this. Not bad.
    CONOR
    I like that.

INT. BRENDAN'S ROOM - NIGHT
    Song continues. Pull out from Brendan's tape machine. Conor is playing his brother his first demo tape. The tape reads "SING STREET" DEMO 1. If it sounded bad live this afternoon, it sounds worse played back on a small tape machine. Conor chews his nails in anticipation of his big brother's response. Brendan finally ejects the tape before it's over.
    BRENDAN
    This is BAD. And there's nothing as bad as bad music. And you must never play this again.
    To Conor's surprise, he begins unspooling the tape, pulling it out in a pile at his feet.
    CONOR
    You know you can record over tapes?
    BRENDAN
    No no. All evidence of this day must be destroyed.
    He finally bins the tape.
    BRENDAN
    That's a novelty act. You want to get the girl right?
    CONOR
    What?
    BRENDAN
    (shouting, impatient)
    The Girl! That's what this is about? Right?
    CONOR
    (thinking)
    Oh. Yes. The girl. Right. Okay.
    BRENDAN
    Right. So you're going to get her with someone else's art? Are you kidding me?
    CONOR
    I suppose. But we're just starting out. We need to learn how to play.
    BRENDAN
    Play? PLAY? You don't need to know how to play! You think the Sex Pistols knew how to play? Who are you, Steely Dan?
    Brendan is coming into his own. He leaves his chair, pacing the room. Pulling different records from his collection. He now has the first project of his adult life: his brother.
    BRENDAN
    You have to learn how to NOT play. That's rock n roll. And that takes practice.
    (beat)
    And you're not a covers band!
    CONOR
    Really?
    BRENDAN
    Every school has a covers band. Every wedding. Every pub. And in every covers band there's a middle aged man who never knows if he could have made it because he never had the balls to write a song for someone. Rock n Roll is a risk. You risk being ridiculed.
    Conor thinks about this.
    CONOR
    I don't know how to write a song.
    Brendan now has a large pile of records in his arms. He points at the door.
    BRENDAN
    Close the door. And sit down.
    CONOR
    Really? I have school in the morning.
    BRENDAN
    THIS... is school.
    Conor closes the door. Sits down. It's going to be a long night.
    DISSOLVE TO:
    SONG 1
    A song is formed...

INT. EAMON'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
    Conor and Eamon are alone in the rehearsal room. Conor reading from a little notebook of scrawled thoughts and pictures. Eamon sits on the edge of the couch with an acoustic guitar.
    CONOR
    (reading)
    "Well she's standing on the corner. Like an angel in disguise. And I want to try and warn her, but She's got dangerous eyes."
    EAMON
    Dangerous eyes. I like that. What does that mean?
    CONOR
    I don't know.
    EAMON
    What's this song about Conor?
    CONOR
    It's like, when you don't know someone, they're more interesting. They can be anything you want them to be. It's like you know them better, when you don't know them. You know?
    EAMON
    No that doesn't make any sense. What's it called?
    CONOR
    "The Riddle of the model"
    EAMON
    Epic. What about a rhythm like this.
    Eamon plays a chord. A funky rhythm.
    CONOR
    Nice. Slow it down a little.
    Conor tries this lyric over it. Eamon drops to an F, and it starts to sound like something. They smile at the change. Conor takes out a pen from his school bag, adding a lyric, as Eamon continues to play. We start to see how this might work- Conor the director/lyricist/visionary, Eamon the pragmatic musical prodigy. The sound of their first song coming together plays over the following scenes. Just guitar and voice for now.

INT. IRISH CLASS - DAY
    Song over. Conor sits at the back of Irish class. The TEACHER reads PEIG SAYERS while sitting behind his desk. Conor writes feverishly in his notebook, looking out the window for inspiration. The teacher calls a BOY up to his desk, and slaps him, really hard across the face. ( SCENE 41 INTENTIONALLY DELETED )

INT. CONOR'S BEDROOM - DAY
    Conor writes in his bed. His parents rowing on the corridor, off.
    ROBERT
    (off, muffled)
    That's funny, coming from you!
    PENNY
    Keep your bloody voice down!
    Two doors slam, separately. He listens out, then continues writing.

INT. EAMON'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
    Song over. The song is really coming together, as Conor and Eamon jam it. Though complete opposites, this combination of songwriters is coming together. Through the window behind them, the rest of the band are playing football in the garden. Conor taps on the window, waving at them to come in and give it a spin. They run in.

INT. EAMON'S LIVING ROOM - LATER
    Now the FULL band play the song. And it sounds pretty good. Conor is still a little shy of his own voice, and is frozen at the microphone. Eamon gestures for him to enjoy it. But he just smiles and stays static. Again, the tape recorder records it on the chair in the middle of them.

EXT. SYNGE STREET - MORNING
    Song over. The song plays over as Conor walks across the street. From his satchel he produces a casette tape as he meets the GIRL, standing on her stoop smoking. He hands her the tape.
    GIRL
    What's this now?
    CONOR
    That's the song. I mentioned it to you.
    GIRL
    Oh yeah. The song. You're the kid in the band! That's cool.
    CONOR
    You should probably learn the lyrics. So you can lip sync. We're shooting down the lane at the back of Quinnsworth. This Saturday. At 12 o'clock. See you there.
    He nods, not waiting for a response. She blows smoke, watching him go. Then she looks at the tape in her hand.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - NIGHT
    By moonlight, Conor, Darren and Eamon peel back a sheet of corrugated metal at the back of school. This allows them a gap to slip through into the yard.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - NIGHT
    Darren opens a little back door with a key. They are in.

INT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - CORRIDOR - NIGHT
    The three of them sneak down a basement corridor. Conor guides them with a clunky bicycle lamp. They arrive at a door. A handwritten sign says "Audio Visual Room". Darren tries numerous keys until he gets the right one. They open it.
    DARREN
    (with the flair of a master criminal)
    Gentlemen, I give you the Audio Visual Department....

INT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - THE AUDIO VISUAL ROOM - NIGHT
    This is hardly a room at all. More like a broom closet. Conor's torch reveals a steel shelving unit, bare, except for the camera and VCR machine on the top shelf. And three or four VHS tapes. They start taking it down.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - NIGHT
    The three of them run back across the road by moonlight laughing. Music plays over.

EXT. A LANE-WAY - MORNING
    The band are setting up their instruments on a rainy morning. They are down a little laneway at the back of a row of shops. Piles of rubbish, old bins, and an abandoned car. It's overcast and depressing. And cold. Their guitar amps and drum kit look pretty small out in the open.
    EAMON
    It looks like loads of gear back home, doesn't it? And yet it looks shit here.
    Conor is setting up the video camera across from them on a tripod. He looks through the viewfinder. It does look shit. He checks his watch.
    DARREN
    Where is this chick?
    CONOR
    (worried)
    I don't know.
    DARREN
    Did everyone bring some clothes?
    They start rooting through plastic bags stuffed with clothes from home. Larry holds up a pair of flares. Garry, a child's cowboy outfit.
    DARREN
    Who the hell brought a cowboy outfit?
    GARRY
    Me. It's all I could find.
    DARREN
    No one dresses as a cowboy in a band!
    LARRY
    There's a cowboy in The Village People.
    GARRY
    Yeah. And Adam Ant.
    EAMON
    Adam Ant is a highway man.
    LARRY
    So we can have a highway man, but not a cowboy? Are you mentally ill?
    GARRY
    So what did you bring then?
    Hard cut.

EXT. LANEWAY - MORNING
    Conor is dressed as a low-budget New Romantic. A mash-up of ideas from a cross section of TV. Nothing quite works. He's wearing sunglasses, bangles, his father's long overcoat with the sleeves rolled up, and a blouse that definitely belongs to his mum. Eamon is dressed in his Dad's show-band uniform. A purple, velvet suit that is way too big for him. He's a little Austin Powers.
    EAMON
    It's me Da's showband outfit.
    Garry, Larry and Ngig are unimpressed. Darren isn't sure.
    GARRY
    Is this a gay band?
    CONOR
    Coming from the one who wants to look like The Village People.
    GARRY
    What's gay about The Village People??
    As the others squabble, Conor's attention is drawn to the end of the lane, where Raphina has just appeared. He smiles. She approaches carrying a large bag. She looks great, in a huge Angora sweater, pencil skirt and high heels.
    RAPHINA
    Hello all. Sorry I'm late. I was out last night. At a night club. Still recovering.
    She takes off her sunglasses, dramatically, looking them up and down.
    RAPHINA
    Jesus Christ. What in God's name are ye all wearing?
    CONOR
    Yeah, we're just working that out. Maybe you can help.
    RAPHINA
    Who's your wardrobe person? Stevie Wonder?
    CONOR
    We don't have a wardrobe person.
    RAPHINA
    Right. Who's the camera man. Maybe he can make some of this work.
    CONOR
    Em... We don't really have...
    DARREN
    I'm the camera man.
    RAPHINA
    I thought you were the producer.
    DARREN
    AND camera man. Saving money all the way.
    Conor takes her by the elbow, walking her out of earshot a little.
    CONOR
    What did you think of the song?
    RAPHINA
    I liked it. It's the only reason I'm here. Did you write it?
    CONOR
    Pretty much. Eamon wrote most of the music.
    RAPHINA
    So you wrote the lyrics? They're cool. Who are they about?
    CONOR
    Just a girl, I see her about.
    RAPHINA
    You know you've got really good cheek bones?
    CONOR
    What?
    RAPHINA
    Yeah. Look at you. Can I do your makeup?
    CONOR
    Really?
    RAPHINA
    Yeah. This light is going to be really harsh on camera. You should totally take the edge off it. I'm actually wearing some make up right now.
    She's wearing a lot of makeup.
    RAPHINA
    In fact, guys! You should ALL wear makeup.
    The band turn around.
    DARREN
    Let's get one thing straight. I am NOT wearing any makeup.
    RAPHINA
    Relax. You're not even in the band.
    DARREN
    Yeah, thank God!
    GARRY
    I am in the band. And yet I'm not wearing makeup.
    RAPHINA
    Why not? You've got great lips.
    GARRY
    Piss off would you?
    RAPHINA
    Whatever. Those who actually care about how their band look and want to do this half-properly, queue over here.
    GARRY
    Who's saying we don't care about the band? This band is my life!
    DARREN
    You've been in it for three days.
    EAMON
    Alright, stop rowing.
    GARRY
    Bitch.
    Raphina sets up her stall on a rubbish bin, taking out her makeup kit. Conor sits down on an upturned box and she begins applying his make up.
    GARRY
    Who is this chick anyway? She's here two minutes and she's threatening to break the band up!
    EAMON
    Shut up Garry.
    GARRY
    Bleedin Yoko Ono.

EXT. LANEWAY - MORNING
    All of the band are now wearing makeup. It's a little full- on, but they look sort of cool. Conor directs Darren as to what the shot will be, referring to his notebook. Darren looks through the viewfinder.
    CONOR
    Okay, so we're playing here. Raphina is standing over there, against the wall. I go up to her. Start singing to her. Make sure to pan up to her eyes, when I sing "She's got Dangerous eyes".
    DARREN
    I think a zoom would be better.
    CONOR
    Okay. A zoom, whatever.
    RAPHINA
    What if I have little lightening flashes on my eye lids when I close them?
    CONOR
    Can you do that?
    RAPHINA
    I can try.
    CONOR
    Cool. So then, for the chorus, you walk off, and I follow.
    Circling you like when he's following her in Thriller. Do you think you can keep the camera steady, Darren?
    DARREN
    What do you think?
    CONOR
    Okay, so then I follow her up the lane. Keeping behind her. Then we'll go around and get that angle in front.
    DARREN
    Love it!

EXT. LANEWAY - MOMENT'S LATER
    Conor presses PLAY on the tape machine. It is plugged into a small speaker. He signals to Darren to start filming. Then runs back to the band, who have started miming to the song. Raphina is standing against the wall. Conor approaches her, Darren following. Conor starts lip syncing to the song:
    CONOR
    "Well she's standing on the corner. Like an angel in disguise. And I'd really like to warn her. But she's got dangerous eyes."
    Darren crash zooms into her eyes. Raphina closes them, she has little lightening flashes on her lids.
    CONOR
    "Well she tells me she's a model. Of international reputation. She's lightening in a bottle. But there's a stipulation..."
    She sets off and Conor follows her. Darren walks backwards in front of them. Conor yells "Cut", and makes some adjustments. Ngig has moved his synthesiser and stand about three feet to try get in the back of Conor's shot.
    CONOR
    Cool. How does it look Darren?
    DARREN
    Pretty epic. It's hard keeping focus on that zoom. And Ngig, stop moving into the back of his shot.
    NGIG
    I haven't moved an inch!
    DARREN
    You started about three foot that way!
    NGIG
    It was windy.
    CONOR
    And it's not too shaky when you're following us?
    DARREN
    No, it's grand.
    CONOR
    Okay, take 2!
    FIRST VIDEO. SHOT ON ACTUAL EARLY VHS. Here we see their actual results, edited crudely together. INTRO: Some zooms into hands playing instruments. Keyboard. Bass. Guitar. Ngig is wearing leather gloves. FIRST VERSE: Conor breaks away from the band, singing into camera in front of Raphina. Ngig edges into his shot. Four quick shots of each band member turning their heads and looking into camera. Raphina signing autographs for the band members, over the line "She has an international reputation". CHORUS Raphina breaks away, walking down the laneway. Conor walks around her, singing to her, ala Michael in Thriller. But Darren's camera work is RIDICULOUSLY shaky. Like sea sick inducing. SECOND VERSE: The band are using the abandoned car as their set. Some sitting on the roof. Some on the boot (or hood, for our American colleagues), and others in the body of the car. Raphina is standing on the sidewalk. Conor gets out of the car, offering her a lift. She sits in. Up front, Conor is "driving" Raphina. She looks into camera for the last line, and mouths "The riddle of the model" End. The group laugh as they prepare to watch playback through the viewfinder. But this moment is interrupted when Barry Bray appears up the laneway. He is walking with an unshaven man in his mid- thirties who is drinking a can of beer. A friend, or brother, maybe. They are carrying a few plastic bags of shopping.
    CONOR
    (under his breath)
    Oh shit.
    Barry and THE MAN pass them, THE MAN slowing down to check out what's going on. He looks like he's had a few cans already.
    MAN
    It's just kids filming something. What are you filming lads?
    CONOR
    A video for a band. Hi Barry.
    Barry shrugs.
    MAN
    Are these in your school, Barry?
    Whatever has come over Barry, he is less confident in the presence of THE MAN. Less of a bully.
    MAN
    They're wearing bleedin make up! Jaysus lads, are yous making a movie, is it?
    His laugh turns into a coughing fit. His tattooed hands over his mouth as he coughs.
    DARREN
    A video for a band.
    MAN
    Why don't you get in the band Barry? Hah! Dress up and all. You'd be bleedin' great.
    He starts laughing at the idea of Barry in costume.
    BARRY
    Ah piss off.
    But he doesn't like this. He hits him a slap on the side of his head. It's a sucker punch, and totally out of proportion.
    MAN
    What did you say?
    The mood has suddenly changed. Barry hardly flinches, but you can see his eyes are watering up. The MAN calms down. Lights a cigarette. Barry catches eyes with Conor, who looks away.
    MAN
    See yous boys. Good luck. See yous at the Oscars! Come on Barry.
    Barry follows behind. They turn the corner up ahead. The others don't know what that was.
    DARREN
    Knackers. Come on. Never mind them.
    Darren presses play on the machine as the others watch. But Conor's attention is momentarily taken by Barry, who makes a throat-slitting gesture back to Conor. All the colour drains from Conor's face. ( SCENE 55 INTENTIONALLY DELETED ) ( SCENE 56 INTENTIONALLY DELETED )

EXT. LANEWAY - DAY
    Raphina diverts his attention back to the viewfinder. On screen, Conor begins singing. Raphina smiles at him. She grabs his hand in excitement as she appears on screen. And doesn't let go. Conor looks down at his hand in hers.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT
    Conor is cycling his rusty racer through the city. Raphina is sitting on the cross bar, holding on to the handlebars, enjoying the wind in her hair.
    RAPHINA
    So where do you live?
    CONOR
    Not far from the school. Harcourt Terrace?
    RAPHINA
    Oh, by the canal. You grew up there?
    CONOR
    Yeah. Though we might be moving. My parents are broke. That's why they sent me to that school.
    RAPHINA
    Yeah, I wondered about that. You're a bit posh for around here!
    She laughs.
    CONOR
    Speak for yourself. Your house is massive!
    She is silent.
    CONOR
    And my parents are probably splitting up.
    RAPHINA
    That's sad. You doing okay with it?
    CONOR
    Oh yeah. It's sort of intense being around them. They'll probably get separate flats. We'll live between two places. Me and my brother. Which will be cool. I'm like "Guys, split up, you're killing each other".
    He is experimenting with this. It is not how he feels about it at all.
    RAPHINA
    A bit like an American movie. You'll be all complicated and divorced and sophisticated.
    CONOR
    (bluffing)
    A bit, yeah.
    He doesn't quite know what she means, as they pull up outside her house across from the school. She jumps off the bike.
    RAPHINA
    Jesus, all that drama! I'm glad I don't have parents.
    CONOR
    Right.
    He has no idea what she means. Though intrigued, he is polite enough not to ask. A Ford Granada screams into the street, and skids up beside them. The window winds down, and a smiling man (22) is at the wheel. Music blaring, smoking a cigarette.
    MAN
    Hey baby.
    RAPHINA
    Hi. This is Evan Adams.
    MAN
    Word.
    CONOR
    How do you do.
    RAPHINA
    This is Conor, the singer in the band I mentioned.
    EVAN
    Ah! Cool. She played me your song. Good vibes. Bitta Duran Duran in there, little bitta New Romance. What style would you say you are?
    CONOR
    I'm a futurist.
    EVAN
    Epic. See you in the future then. You ready, baby?
    RAPHINA
    Yeah. See you soon.
    She gives Conor a very European kiss on either cheek. He is blushing awkwardly. Evan looks very dangerous and cool, wearing a dirty leather jacket and sunglasses. He is listening to GENESIS. Raphina gets into the passenger seat and the car revs up.
    EVAN
    Nice blouse!
    He shouts as he spins off. She rolls down her window and gives him a big, white smile.
    RAPHINA
    Let's make another video soon, yeah?
    Evan U-turns. But but has over estimated the width of the street, and the coolness of the U-turn is undermined by the fact that he has to do a five point turn. Finally, the car drives off. Conor stands around. Suddenly, he feels very young and self conscious. And he's wearing his mother's blouse. He looks over towards the gate on her house. As he passes it, he sees a detail he missed before. It's a small sign on the gate. It reads KIRWIN HOUSE ESTABLISHED 1940 He continues past.

INT. BRENDAN'S ROOM - NIGHT
    Conor is playing Brendan the dailies of his first video. They are watching it on a small TV at the end of Brendan's bed. On screen, a wobbly camera follows Raphina down the laneway.
    CONOR
    You have to imagine it's not as...
    BRENDAN
    Shit?
    The take ends. Conor nervously awaits his brother's reaction. Below the table, we see that Conor's fingers are crossed.
    BRENDAN
    (finally)
    This will be good.
    CONOR
    (delighted)
    Really?
    BRENDAN
    Yeah. If you had proper cameras and a good director. As long as it's in your head, that's the important thing. This is an exercise in imagination.
    CONOR
    Really?
    BRENDAN
    Yeah. Think big, Conor. This is all just a means to an end. SHE looks amazing.
    They both watch Raphina on screen. Frankly, she is the only good thing about this whole affair. She has a confidence and sultry beauty that totally belongs on screen.
    BRENDAN
    The "Riddle of The Model" isn't a great title.
    But your chorus is promising. You gotta get her in all the videos.
    CONOR
    Yeah?
    BRENDAN
    Oh yeah. She should connect them all. She's world class. Looks a little like Dee C Lee, from the Style Council? Without her, you're just a bunch of gay looking children down an alleyway. She elevates it. So did you kiss her yet?
    Surprised by his forthrightness.
    CONOR
    What? No way.
    BRENDAN
    Why not?
    CONOR
    She's a year older than me. And anyway, she's got a boyfriend.
    BRENDAN
    Oh yeah. Who?
    CONOR
    Evan Adams. He's like, a grown man. He has a car and all, and stubble.
    BRENDAN
    What's he doing hanging out with a kid?
    CONOR
    She's not really like a kid.
    We hold on Brendan. He doesn't like the sound of this. He has pulled three albums out of his collection. He hands them to Conor.
    CONOR
    What's this?
    BRENDAN
    Homework. You're good. Get better.
    Conor studies the sleeve. A Joe Jackson record. The Police. The Jam.
    BRENDAN
    How do you know he's her boyfriend anyway?
    CONOR
    Well it seemed like he was. They pulled off in his car, music blaring. He's pretty cool.
    BRENDAN
    What was he listening to?
    CONOR
    Genesis?
    BRENDAN
    He won't be a problem.
    CONOR
    Really?
    BRENDAN
    Trust me, no woman can truly love a man who listens to Phil Collins.
    Off, we hear a row breaking out downstairs between the parents. Brendan lowers the volume.
    BRENDAN
    Shh. Listen.
    They listen. Raised but muffled voices. Slammed doors. The smash of a plate.
    BRENDAN
    I think she's having an affair.
    CONOR
    What? Why?
    BRENDAN
    I see her getting a lift home from her boss a couple of times a week.
    CONOR
    She doesn't drive. What's wrong with that?
    BRENDAN
    She always gets out of the car about a hundred yards up from the house. It's a nervous thing. She's overcompensating.
    We hold on Conor considering this. It clearly makes him very sad.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT
    On bike. Conor free wheels. He is preoccupied. In his satchel over his shoulder, the three albums.

EXT. SYNGE STREET - RAPHINA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
    Conor cruises by Raphina's house. He leans against a tree, still sitting on his bike. He's not sure what he's doing here. He is about to cycle off, when the Ford Granada pulls up, and Raphina gets out, crossing over to the driver's door. Evan Adams holds onto her hand, pulling her back. She laughs, and pulls away, making her way up her steps. He accelerates off, wheel spinning, burning rubber. She rings the doorbell. In a moment, a WOMAN (60s) opens the door and lets her in. Across the street, Conor checks his watch. Just coming up to 9 pm. He cycles off.

EXT. EAMON'S HOUSE - NIGHT
    Conor knocks on the front door of Eamon's house. Checks his watch hoping it's not too late. In a moment, Eamon answers, carrying a rabbit.
    EAMON
    Howareyou Conor. What's going on.
    CONOR
    I don't know. What are you doing?
    EAMON
    Just rabbit stuff.
    CONOR
    Do you want to write a song?
    Eamon opens the door wider, meaning, YES.

INT. EAMON'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
    Eamon sleeps in the attic room. The room is covered in posters of bands and football teams. And some rabbits. Conor and Eamon are studying the records, playing and replaying parts. Now they are working on a song. They are laughing and having a good time. Conor writes words down. Eamon tries different chords. They record parts on a tape machine.

EXT. SYNGE STREET - RAPHINA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
    Conor returns down Raphina's street. He pulls up outside her house across the school, and walks through her gate, climbing the steps. He takes a brown envelope covered in sellotape from inside his jacket and looks at it. RAPHINA He stuffs it through the letter box and heads off, cycling away, looking up at one of the lights in the window.

INT. RAPHINA'S ROOM - NIGHT
    This is a tiny, monastic little room. There are some posters on the wall, and a small single bed under an alcove. A small dresser with mirror. A chair. Raphina enters, carrying a bowl of cereal. She sits down on her bed. She is still wearing her clothes. In a moment, a knock on the door, and a head pops in. This is MRS. KIRWIN (60), a matronly looking woman in an apron. She is carrying Conor's envelope. She passes it to Raphina.
    MRS. KIRWIN
    This came through the letter box for you.
    RAPHINA
    Oh. Thanks.
    MRS. KIRWIN
    Is it from that older lad?
    RAPHINA
    No.
    MRS. KIRWIN
    You know how I feel about that, Raphina, don't you?
    RAPHINA
    Yes. Thank you. Night.
    Mrs. Kirwin nods, exiting.
    MRS. KIRWIN
    Lights out in ten.
    She pulls the door closed, and Raphina opens the envelope. There's a cassette in side. With NEW SONG written on it. She locates a little tape player from under her bed, and puts it in, pressing play.
    SECOND SONG
    The song begins on acoustic guitar with Conor singing. Raphina smiles as she recognizes his voice. She sits down at her dresser and begins combing her long hair, starting to take off her makeup and kicking off her shoes.
    The song is instantly catchy, and clearly a love letter from Conor to her.
    As the song hits the chorus, we PAN off her face, and start a 360 slowly around her room as the song plays over.
    There's a family photograph on her locker. A 10 year-old Raphina in the company of her parents. They all look very stiff and awkward.
    A school profile of Raphina in her uniform, a couple of years ago. Very troubled.
    Off this to various pictures she ripped out of glamour magazines. Models. Big hair. Lots of make up.
    A poster of Tom Waits.
    Of The Cure.
    Of Siouxsie and the Banshees.
    There's a teddy bear on her bed, with a pair of sunglasses on his nose, and an unlit cigarette stuffed into his mouth.
    An ash tray with a few sticks of incense.
    A collection of cassette tapes.
    Cartons of cigarettes.
    Two books on her locker- Catcher in the Rye and To Kill A Mocking Bird. Numerous magazines. Vogue, You, Cosmopolitan.
    As the song comes towards its end, we have arrived back around on Raphina. She has transformed. She's changed into her pyjamas and dressing gown. And she's taken off her makeup to reveal a bruise, under her eye, and a cut lip underneath. She has paused what she's doing, and her eyes have filled with tears as she listens to the song.

EXT. A STREET - NIGHT
    The song cross cuts with Conor cycling at night through town. FADE TO BLACK.:

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL GATES - A NEW DAY
    Music plays over as Conor turns the corner into the school gates. There is a little confidence in his step this time. He has bleached his hair blonde, and styled it so this falls over his eyes a little in a NEW ROMANTIC way. He is wearing a little mascara and a little shadow. People stare at him. As he passes us, we PULL onto BROTHER Baxter, who watches from above.

INT. ART CLASSROOM - DAY
    Conor sits in art class. He is painting a picture of his band. Miss Dunne leans over his shoulder.
    MISS DUNNE
    I like it. What is that?
    CONOR
    My band.
    MISS DUNNE
    You're in a band? Cool. What are they called?
    CONOR
    I don't know yet! What about "La Vie". It's French for "The life".
    MISS DUNNE
    I know. I like that.
    In a moment, there is a knock at the door, and a FIFTH FORM KID enters.
    FIFTH FORMER
    Headmaster wants to see Conor Lawlor.
    Miss Dunne nods. Conor gets up, heading out with the fifth former, worried.

EXT. SYNGE STREET YARD - DAY
    Conor follows the fifth former as he marches across the empty yard. He looks over his shoulder at Conor.
    FIFTH FORMER
    What are you wearing on your face?
    CONOR
    Bit of make up. I'm in a band. What do you think Brother Baxter wants?
    The fifth former shrugs.
    FIFTH FORMER
    Hurry up.

INT. BROTHER BAXTER'S OFFICE - DAY
    Brother Baxter is filling out files. He doesn't look up. Conor is led into the room.
    FIFTH FORMER
    Conor Lawlor, Brother.
    He closes the door, leaving Conor standing there. Finally, Brother Baxter looks up.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    What's going on?
    CONOR
    With what?
    BROTHER BAXTER
    With...this.
    He gestures the face.
    CONOR
    Oh. Well, I checked the rule book. The one you mentioned, about the brown shoes? I couldn't find anything about makeup. Or altering hair colour.
    He shrugs. He lifts his foot up, revealing the newly painted black shoes.
    CONOR
    I painted them. With paint from the art room.
    Brother Baxter doesn't even look at them. He is seething underneath.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    Head down to the toilets and remove the make up right now.
    CONOR
    Why?
    BROTHER BAXTER
    Because I told you to.
    CONOR
    I'm in a band now. A school band. And I think it's important for us to have a "look".
    BROTHER BAXTER
    You're a man. Men don't wear makeup.
    CONOR
    Yeah, but why not? Like, people in the 18th century would have worn make up. So that means that people like Mozart would have. And he was a man.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    So you're Mozart, are you?
    Conor shrugs, a little embarrassed. Shakes his head.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    That makes me Salieri, is it?
    CONOR
    Who's Salieri?
    BROTHER BAXTER
    Take the make up off, and stop acting like you deserve special treatment.
    CONOR
    I don't want special treatment. At all.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    You've a fine face, I wouldn't worry about covering it up with make up.
    He smiles. Conor stands there, trying to work this one out.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    You can use me own bathroom there. If you like.
    He gestures a door off his office.
    CONOR
    I'm going to go back to class now.
    Conor exits. We hold on Brother Baxter.

INT. THE CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER
    Conor exits the office, but Brother Baxter is hot on his tail. He grabs Conor by the hair, and drags him down the corridor. Conor shouts and wriggles, but BB means business. It's like a red mist has descended over him. He slaps him a couple of times across the side of the head. Other kids look on, clearing the way. BB kicks in the door to the students' bathroom, pushing Conor through in front of him.

INT. THE TOLIETS - CONTINUOUS
    Conor falls into the toliets. BB follows, picking him up and forcing him over to one of the sinks.
    CONOR
    You can't do this!
    BROTHER BAXTER
    You wanna bet?
    BB turns on the taps, and as the sink fills up, plunges Conor's head into the water. Conor bucks like a drowning animal. Brother Baxter pulls his head back out. Conor gasps for air, spluttering water. Brother Baxter slaps a bar of soap into Conor's face, mushing it into his face.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    (shouting)
    We'll get you clean! Don't worry! We'll clean you up! And get that shite off ye.
    Then down into the water again. Conor splutters. Again, he is pulled back out, now crying and coughing, his make up mixing with soap and dripping down his face. Brother Baxter wipes his hand with a towel, and turns to go, leaving Conor leaning over the sink shivering. He exits. We hold on Conor.

INT. ART CLASSROOM - LATER
    Conor is back in regular class. He has makeup stains under his eyes, and his hair is wet. He looks like a drowned rat. He is shivering, but holding back tears. All eyes are on him. Some giggling, others shocked. He looks very alone.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - DAY
    Students exit the main gate at the end of the day. Conor pushes his bike out. To his surprise, Raphina is leaning against the school gates up ahead. She is listening to music on massive, 1970s-style headphones with a curly lead. They are plugged into her battery operated tape player from home. She's smoking a cigarette. She gives him a wave and one of her killer smiles. Just seeing her lifts him.
    RAPHINA
    Hey Cosmo.
    CONOR
    Who?
    RAPHINA
    That's what I'm calling you now. Cosmo. You need a catchy name if you're going to be in a band.
    CONOR
    Right. What are you doing here?
    RAPHINA
    Waiting for you. What happened to you?
    He looks pretty rough.
    CONOR
    Oh. Nothing.
    (off her tape machine)
    Does that work?
    RAPHINA
    (shouting)
    For about half an hour. Then the batteries run out. And I have to rob more. But it means I can take my tapes anywhere.
    CONOR
    Wow. Portable music.
    She smiles. Links his arm, and walks off with him.

EXT. THE PARK - LATER - DAY
    A small, city centre park. Some kids play on the swings. Others drink cider and smoke on a bench. Conor and Raphina enter.
    RAPHINA
    I really liked your song. It made me cry.
    CONOR
    Oh, I'm sorry.
    RAPHINA
    No no, that's a good thing. But write me a happy one some time.
    CONOR
    What if I don't feel happy?
    RAPHINA
    What have you got to not feel happy about? Big house. Family. And we don't live in the Lebanon!
    He smiles. She has a point.
    CONOR
    Who's the guy, with the car?
    RAPHINA
    Evan?
    CONOR
    Yeah. Is he your boyfriend?
    RAPHINA
    We're on and off. It's complicated. We're kind of on a break right now.
    CONOR
    Yeah. That's a good idea. Take a break for a year or so. Get some perspective.
    RAPHINA
    You're funny. He's actually a really nice guy.
    CONOR
    Yeah. Shit taste in music though.
    She smiles.
    RAPHINA
    He's taking me to London. I'm too young to go on my own. He's organized everything. Booked the tickets, and got us an apartment and all. We're going after I get my portfolio shot. It's a really big deal to get your shots done just right. For modelling. Your whole career can depend on it.
    CONOR
    Yeah. And what's in it for Evan?
    She pauses, falling behind.
    RAPHINA
    Are you jealous, Cosmo?
    CONOR
    Why would I be jealous?
    RAPHINA
    Exactly. Write me a happy song. I need a laugh.
    CONOR
    What if I don't feel happy?
    RAPHINA
    Your problem is that you're not happy being sad. That's what love is, Cosmo.
    (beat)
    Happy/Sad.
    Cosmo searches her for the meaning of this. She just smiles back. She checks her watch.
    RAPHINA
    Shit, I gotta go. We only have a half an hour dinner window at my house.
    CONOR
    Oh yeah, so what's that house like, where you live?
    RAPHINA
    It's fine. Better than some of the other places I've been.
    CONOR
    Cool. So... where are your parents?
    RAPHINA
    My da's brown bread. He got hit by a car.
    CONOR
    Oh my God. Sorry.
    RAPHINA
    No, don't be. He was drunk. He deserved it. Me ma's in and out of hospital.
    CONOR
    Why?
    RAPHINA
    She's a nurse.
    She laughs. He gets it.
    RAPHINA
    No. She's a manic depressive.
    Cosmo is shocked by this. But tries to lighten it.
    CONOR
    So, like, "Happy/Sad"?
    RAPHINA
    You're funny. I like that.
    She kisses him on either cheek again, and turns to go, but then turns.
    RAPHINA
    Let me know if you need me for another video before I go.
    CONOR
    Okay. When are you going?
    RAPHINA
    Soon.
    (beat)
    You don't have any problems, Cosmo.
    She winks, and sprints off, leaving Cosmo to decode.

INT. BRENDAN'S ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
    Conor is standing in the doorway of his brother's room. Brendan sits on his usual chair.
    CONOR
    ...what did she mean by that?
    BRENDAN
    She means that you've got to get to a place in life where you're okay with your sadness. That you're not fighting it anymore, but that you're almost... happy with it. It's monastic. She's like a monk. I like this girl.
    CONOR
    (Half-getting it)
    Right. Happy/sad.
    BRENDAN
    So her dad's dead, and her mum is mental? And you thought you had problems?
    (beat)
    So that's what the older boyfriend is about. Daddy issues. I used to know chicks like her. They can be tricky. And need a lot of protecting. Think you're up for that, Conor?
    CONOR
    I don't know. She's not even my girlfriend.
    BRENDAN
    So what's it all about then?
    CONOR
    I think she's just an amazing human being. I've never seen anything like her. The way she talks. And looks. She wears these sunglasses, and when she takes them off, her eyes, it's like the clouds clearing past the moon. And sometimes, I just want to cry looking at her.
    Brendan pauses, smiling. Brendan has taken a new album down from his shelf. He slips out the record, and throws the sleeve to Conor. An 80's band, all dressed in black, looking gloomy. Conor is mesmerized by their look.
    BRENDAN
    They're happy/sad.
    A Gothic, pop/love song starts up on the turn table and Brendan smiles.
    BRENDAN
    Close the door.
    Conor pushes the door closed, transfixed by the sound. Brendan takes his seat. Conor, his. It's going to be a long night.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL GATES - ANOTHER DAY
    As the song continues, Conor walks through the school gates. He is with Eamon and Darren. Conor is now dressed in a long, black overcoat. (Possibly his Mum's), an endless scarf, and has dyed his hair black, and back combed. A junior Sherlock Holmes/Cure-head.
    EAMON
    How do you mean, you're "Happy/Sad"?
    DARREN
    Yeah. How am I supposed to market that?
    CONOR
    It means that we're not pop anymore.
    EAMON
    Were we pop? I'm happy being any type of band. I just want to play.
    CONOR
    That's fine. Be who you are, Eamon.
    EAMON
    I don't know who I am. Maybe I'm Happy/Sad too? I don't know.
    DARREN
    (shouting)
    What does Happy/Sad mean??! How can you be both bleedin things?? It makes no sense.
    CONOR
    (stopping)
    It means that I'm stuck in this shithole, full of morons and rapists and bullies, and I'm going to deal with it. Okay? It's just how life is now. And I'm going to try and accept that and get on with it, and make some art!
    DARREN
    Right.
    EAMON
    How does it affect our music?
    CONOR
    Positively.

INT. THE DART TRAIN - DAY
    Song continues over. The whole band, with Darren and Raphina, ride the dart train out of the city. They are carrying the camera, and a few props- picture frames and paint brushes. The band are all Cure Heads now, and look quite good. But it's low-budget Cure Heads. Conor and Raphina sit across the aisle from them. Music plays over, as they ride out towards the sea. A welcome break from the city. Conor watches the sun burst behind Raphina's profile. He smiles, taking out the camera and filming her. Conor describes to the gang what this video will be about, reading from his journal...
    CONOR
    So the idea of this video is about a guy standing halfway down a pier. And a beautiful woman walks past him. Towards the lighthouse. Half an hour later, she hasn't come back. So he investigates. But she's gone.
    DARREN
    Wha?
    CONOR
    There's nowhere to go. And yet she's not there?
    DARREN
    She's vanished?
    EAMON
    She's jumped in. She's killed herself.
    CONOR
    Correct. She's really sad.
    RAPHINA
    No she's not. She's a mermaid. She's jumped back into the sea. You see, she got washed up in a fishing net. And she's been in the city. But she's been dying to return to the water. To her friends. Where she belongs.
    Conor likes this. He smiles. He starts writing this into his journal.
    CONOR
    Yeah. That's better.

EXT. THE PIER - DAY
    The band have set up their gear at the end of the pier, looking out to the Irish sea. Conor is framing up the camera. The wind threatens to blow it over on its tiny, lightweight tripod.
    CONOR
    Okay, so we're playing here, and Raphina walks past. Then I'll show you where you can jump off. From here it will look like you've gone into the sea.
    He shows Raphina and the others a little ledge behind the wall, where it will appear as though she's dropped into the sea, but is in fact just on the other side.
    RAPHINA
    It's not far enough down. You'll see the top of my head.
    CONOR
    You'll have to dip your head down to make it look real.
    The others look doubtful, including Raphina.
    CONOR
    Trust me.

EXT. THE PIER - LATER
    They are halfway through another song, miming to playback. Darren is operating the camera. They all look very gloomy and introspective; ala The Cure, staring down at the ground, and barely playing their instruments. But the song is brilliant. Darren holds up the picture frames in front of the musicians in separate shots. Conor stands with his hands in his pockets. Now Raphina enters frame, walking towards the end of the pier. She pauses for a moment, and NGIG holds up a picture frame in front of her as she walks. She is mouthing the lyrics. As she gets to the end of the pier, she stares out to sea dramatically. Conor is watching her in the background, singing. Then she jumps. But NOT onto the ledge. In fact, she jumps way past it and into the sea. For a moment, Conor hasn't seen what's happened. He goes on singing. But Darren looks up from the viewfinder.
    DARREN
    (shouting over the music)
    Em, I think she went into the sea. Seriously.
    Conor looks over towards the wall. No sign of Raphina.
    CONOR
    Shit!
    He breaks away from the group and runs over, jumping up onto the wall. Down below, Raphina is struggling in the choppy water.
    CONOR
    What the hell??
    RAPHINA
    KEEP-BLOODY-FILMING!
    CONOR
    What?
    Behind him, Darren runs with the camera and tripod. He has heard her, and is rolling. Now the camera is on Conor.
    CONOR
    What'll I do?
    DARREN
    Stop looking in the camera.
    RAPHINA
    Save me!
    CONOR
    What?
    RAPHINA
    Jump in. It'll look great!
    CONOR
    But my clothes??
    RAPHINA
    I can't swim!
    CONOR
    You mean the character or actual you?
    RAPHINA
    ACTUAL ME!
    She is thrashing around in the water, starting to get pulled under. Conor throws off his coat and looks towards Darren. Darren steadies the shot. Gives the thumbs up. Raphina is shouting for help, off. Conor dives into the sea. Darren tilts down as he hits the water. A perfect shot.
    DARREN
    YES!
    Conor swims over to Raphina who is genuinely starting to drown, and pulls her towards the ledge. The camera follows. The rest of the band have gathered on the edge of the pier, looking down and cheering.

EXT. ON THE WATER - CONTINUOUS
    Down below, Conor pulls her onto the safety of the ledge as she spits mouth fulls of water.
    CONOR
    Jesus Christ! What were you thinking?
    RAPHINA
    (up to Darren)
    Did you get it??!!
    Darren gives a thumbs up, as he scans back over the shot.
    RAPHINA
    Fantastic!!
    The band laughs.
    CONOR
    Can you really not swim?
    RAPHINA
    Nope.
    CONOR
    Then why did you do that?
    RAPHINA
    For our art! You can't do things by half, Cosmo.
    He shakes his head, searching her. They are both shivering and wet. Suddenly, he reaches in, and steals a kiss. She is silenced by it. Amazed.
    CONOR
    Sorry... I... I'm sorry. That was...
    RAPHINA
    Great. Is what it was. Fair play.
    CONOR
    (happy)
    Was it? What about Evan?
    RAPHINA
    Evan's just a means to an end.
    ( SCENE 82 INTENTIONALLY DELETED ) ( SCENE 83 INTENTIONALLY DELETED ) ( SCENE 84 INTENTIONALLY DELETED ) ( SCENE 85 INTENTIONALLY DELETED ) ( SCENE 86 INTENTIONALLY DELETED ) ( SCENE 87 INTENTIONALLY DELETED ) ( SCENE 88 INTENTIONALLY DELETED ) ( SCENE 89 INTENTIONALLY DELETED )

EXT. THE PIER - LATER
    The gang haul their gear back up the pier. Conor and Raphina fall back. Raphina is looking out to sea.
    CONOR
    You know, on a clear day you can actually see the mainland of England? Ireland is actually only 30 Miles from the coast of Wales. It has to have just rained. No dust in the air. Then you can just about see it.
    RAPHINA
    No way. How do you know stuff like that?
    CONOR
    My grandad worked on the ships to Holyhead. He used to bring me out here. We used to go out on his little boat. Fishing.
    RAPHINA
    Wow. So I can wave back to you when I'm in London!
    Conor's heart sinks. They both stop and look out to sea. The others carry on.

INT. THE TRAIN - RETURNING - DAY
    The gang returns to the city at dusk; tired and worn out from all the sea air. The rooftops of Dublin spreading out through the window. Raphina leans her head against the glass looking out. Conor sits next to her.
    CONOR
    My brother says all the great artists had to get off this island. The ones who stayed just got depressed. Or turned into alcoholics.
    RAPHINA
    That makes sense. You mention your brother a lot, don't you? Do you really love him?
    Conor shrugs. He's never been asked a question like this.
    CONOR
    Well, he's kind of like my dad in a way. He seems to be the only one who cares how I turn out. Like take music- when we were kids, we shared a room- and he'd play me records every night. Falling asleep. He said that way, the music entered into your subconscious. He's a bit mad like that.
    RAPHINA
    He sounds cool. My dad used to sing songs to me falling asleep. And it got so I couldn't fall asleep until he was back from the pub. Which was usually after 11. Then he'd sit there on the side of the bed, singing The Auld Triangle, or whatever, old mad rebel songs! The smell of drink, and I'd fall asleep with the music.
    (beat)
    Always had trouble sleeping since he died.
    She smiles.

INT. CONOR'S HOUSE - DAY
    Conor and Brendan sit at the top of their stairs. Down below, Penny is sitting in the porch, catching the last few minutes of evening sun. They watch her, her shoulder straps pulled down a little, a glass of wine poured, and a cigarette in the ashtray. It is a beautiful, sad image.
    BRENDAN
    (watching her)
    Look at her. She races home in the evening to get that last little bit of sun. She sits there and reads the evening paper. She's always talking about a holiday to Spain. But he never takes her. This is all she gets. Then that tall tree blocks it, and she comes in. I often wonder what she's thinking about.
    We hold on Conor, watching his mother.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL YARD - ANOTHER DAY -
    Conor walks with the band through school. He is wearing massive sunglasses and a porkpie hat. The rest of the band are a little ABC. Outside his class, they disperse, back to their individual classes. Conor joins his queue. Barry is waiting with the rest of the class to get in. He laughs at Conor.
    BARRY
    I hear you're in a band now. What are they called? The queers?
    A few lame laughs from the group.
    CONOR
    Good one, Barry. Is someone getting these down? You know who you're like, Barry? Oscar Wilde.
    BARRY
    What class is he in?
    Conor shakes his head. Some people laugh at Barry. Another, bigger kid, standing with some fifth formers, overhears this.
    BIGGER KID
    He's not in school, Barry, you spanner.
    BARRY
    Wha?
    BIGGER KID
    You spa.
    The crowd laughs. Barry is not used to this.
    BARRY
    I'm going to kill you some day, do you know that?
    CONOR
    No you're not. Because you don't even exist.
    BARRY
    What?
    Barry comes up close to him. This time, Conor stands his ground. A small group is gathering.
    CONOR
    You're living in my world, I'm not living in yours. You're just material for my songs.
    BARRY
    Be careful what you say now, you'll get a battering.
    CONOR
    Go ahead Barry. Beat me up while you still have the power. This is the best year of your life. But it'll all come crashing down when you leave school. You only have the power to stop things. But not to create.
    He turns. Barry doesn't stop him. It's a minor triumph for the little man. Conor joins the back of the group, on his own. Barry makes a wanker gesture with his fist. This bomb is diffused, but the battle is far from over.

INT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL CORRIDOR - ANOTHER DAY
    Conor is excitedly leading Darren and Eamon down a corridor towards the notice board. There's a poster for the END-OF- TERM disco. End of Term disco. School hall Fri 15th. DJ and lights! Tickets £2.
    EAMON
    So?
    CONOR
    I say we ask if we can play at it. Our first gig!
    DARREN
    When is it?
    CONOR
    Three weeks.
    EAMON
    We're not ready.
    CONOR
    We could be. We need a deadline. Something to prepare for.
    EAMON
    We have exams next week. I need to prepare for that.
    CONOR
    They're mid term exams. They mean nothing.
    EAMON
    They do to me Ma. She wants me to go to college an all. Get qualifications. Will there be girls at the disco?
    CONOR
    Yes!
    EAMON
    I say we do it.
    CONOR
    We've got five songs. We need a half hour set. So three more...

INT. CONOR'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
    Conor is working away with an acoustic guitar and notebook and pen. He writes lyrics, trying them out.
    CONOR
    "Well the boots's on the other foot now, Look alive we're taking you down. Your curtain's falling, take a bow".
    As he plucks away on the acoustic, his composition is interrupted by raised voices, off.
    ROBERT
    (off)
    Well you're sure as hell not moving in here with him!
    PENNY
    (off)
    It's my mother's house!
    ROBERT
    (off)
    I've been paying a mortgage on this house for fifteen years. I must own some part of it by now!
    PENNY
    (off)
    You came into this relationship with nothing but a bicycle and a raincoat! And you've never had anything. My mother was right!
    ROBERT
    (off)
    Oh give me a break. Go to his place. Go on, piss off.

INT. CONOR'S HOUSE - HALLWAY - NIGHT
    Conor sets out into the corridor. His mother is filling a large suitcase in the hallway below from her wardrobe. Robert is standing with his arms folded, watching her. Conor looks up at Brendan's attic door. It is closed.

INT. BRENDAN'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
    The two brothers sit in Brendan's room listening to a popular 80's tune. This drowns out their parent's rowing. They are laughing, and having a good time, air guitar and air drumming.
    BRENDAN
    People sort of laugh at this chap, but he's actually the dogs bollocks!
    Conor looks at the album cover.

INT. CONOR'S BEDROOM - MORNING
    Conor wakes up on a Saturday morning. We hold on him overhead, as he lies there, considering his lot. He finally pulls himself out of bed and exits.

INT. CONOR'S HOUE - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
    Conor is greeted by a MAN (40s) directly outside his door, who is measuring the corridor with a tape, taking notes in his pad.
    CONOR
    Who are you?
    MAN
    I'm with the surveyor.
    CONOR
    Oh.
    MAN
    Can I do your room now?
    Conor shrugs, heading down stairs.

INT. CONOR'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
    Conor enters the living room. Penny and Robert are going through paper work.
    CONOR
    Who's the guy upstairs?
    ROBERT
    He's from the surveying company. We're having the house evaluated.
    CONOR
    You mean, sold?
    PENNY
    No, I don't mean sold. We're having it valued. It might be a good time to sell it and downsize.
    CONOR
    Are you people going your separate ways?
    PENNY
    What is this "You People"? And Robert and Penny? What ever happened to "Mum"? "How was your day, MUM", or " "You look really stressed, MUM" or "I Love you, MUM."
    She looks like she might cry. Conor is sort of surprised.
    PENNY
    That might be nice. What is wrong with kids who won't call their mother MUM.
    CONOR
    A lot is wrong! Look at us. We're lunatics who can hardly leave their bedroom.
    And wimps who can't defend themselves in school. With parents who can't stop arguing for twenty years. We're far from normal.
    ROBERT
    Shut up, Conor. There's people in the house.
    In the background, through the window, a FOR SALE sign is erected. Conor points at it.
    CONOR
    Oh look. A For Sale sign.
    ROBERT
    (bluffing)
    We're testing the market.
    Conor gets up, annoyed, heading out.
    CONOR
    I'm going to band practice.
    ROBERT
    Oh, about that. It's great that you're doing something extracurricular, but don't you have end of term exams soon?
    CONOR
    Yeah. So?
    ROBERT
    Shouldn't you be spending your weekends doing revision?
    CONOR
    THIS is school.
    He walks out.

EXT. CONOR'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
    Conor marches past the For Sale sign, and off up the street.

INT. EAMON'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
    Conor and the band finish off a song. In a moment, Eamon's ma enters.
    EAMON
    What, Ma!? We're working.
    EAMON'S MUM
    Mr. Griffen from next door has just been rushed into hospital this morning. He had a heart attack.
    EAMON
    So?
    EAMON'S MUM
    So, you'll have to stop playing. They're all inside.
    EAMON
    But we're in the middle of writing a song! We have a gig.
    EAMON'S MUM
    Eamon! They're just back from the hospital! Show some respect. It was probably this racket that gave him the heart attack in the first place.
    EAMON
    That's a mean thing to say.
    She exits. They look at each other, shrugging.

INT. SYNGE STREET - ART CLASSROOM - DAY
    Lads filter out of Miss Dunne's art class. Miss Dunne calls Conor back as he goes.
    MISS DUNNE
    How's that band of yours going, Conor?
    CONOR
    Oh, Good, Miss. Well, yeah. Okay.
    MISS DUNNE
    When are we going to hear yiz play?
    CONOR
    Well we were going to play at the end of term disco, but now we've lost our rehersal space.
    MISS DUNNE
    That's a bit shit. What about asking Brother Baxter? There's loads of vacant rooms here.
    CONOR
    He hates me. So I asked Brother Byrne for the P.E. Hall, but he said no.
    MISS DUNNE
    Freaking Brothers. They've driven this school into the ground. You know they're almost outnumbered now?
    CONOR
    No?
    MISS DUNNE
    Yeah. There's half us lay teachers now. And rising.
    (beat)
    One day...
    (beat)
    Why don't you use here?
    CONOR
    What?
    MISS DUNNE
    It's my classroom, isn't it?
    CONOR
    That'd be amazing, miss.
    She walks him out.
    MISS DUNNE
    Let me look into it.
    She winks, returning to her work. Conor exits with a smile.
    MISS DUNNE
    But ye better be good now!
    CONOR
    (pausing)
    We are.
    He heads out.

INT. SYNGE STREET EXAM HALL - DAY
    Conor takes the mid-term test. An exam supervisor stands at the top of the hall looking at his watch.
    SUPERVISOR
    And...begin.
    The swish of a hundred students opening their paper. They start to write. We focus on Conor reading the questions. He is baffled by them. Scattered about the hall are the rest of the band, scratching their heads and shrugging their shoulders to each other, as everyone else is writing. We see that Conor has given up, and is writing lyrics in his journal instead.

INT. SYNGE STREET ART CLASSROOM - DAY
    The band finish a song in the classroom. They are sounding a lot better than before. In fact, they are tight. And Conor is more and more confident at the mic.
    CONOR
    So I've got an idea for another video. Who's free on Saturday?
    NGIG
    Sometimes I think you're only shooting these videos so you can see your one. The chick.
    CONOR
    No I'm not.
    The others laugh in agreement. We know he is right.
    CONOR
    Shut up! Let me tell you what happens.

EXT. SYNGE STREET - RAPHINA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
    Conor walks up the steps to Raphina's door. As he does so, the front door opens silently, and Raphina sneaks out, carrying an overnight bag. She closes the door silently, bumping into him with a yelp. He laughs.
    RAPHINA
    Jaysis! Shh.
    CONOR
    What are you doing?
    RAPHINA
    Sneaking out. She thinks I've gone to bed already. Come on!
    She drags him down the stairs and around the corner, giggling, under a tree.
    CONOR
    Where are you going?
    RAPHINA
    (evasive)
    Just out for the night. What are you doing here?
    CONOR
    Oh. We're shooting another video. This Saturday. In the school. But it's a really big one. We've got extras coming, from the girls school and everything. It's going to be amazing.
    RAPHINA
    Sounds epic. I'll try to come.
    CONOR
    You have to come! I've got the whole video working out in my head.
    From down the street, the Ford Granada pulls up outside Raphina's house. Evan is sitting in the driver seat. He doesn't see them around the corner. Conor looks at the car. Then at Raphina's overnight bag. Gets it.
    CONOR
    Come on. Let's go. You don't need to be with him.
    RAPHINA
    How else do you expect me to get to London? He's connected. And he has money.
    CONOR
    What's so special about London? Jesus. It's just there! It's not like all your problems are going to go away because you're in England!
    RAPHINA
    Shut up now, and don't be getting jealous. Leave it. This has been nice.
    CONOR
    Just lets go. We'll think of something.
    RAPHINA
    You're a kid. Don't be crazy. If we're not gone, then I'll swing by Saturday. Okay? Love ya.
    She smiles. She runs off. Conor watches as she jumps into the car and it speeds off. We hold on Conor.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - DAY
    Conor exits the school, carrying his report card in his hand. Other kids study their's. He meets Eamon, who is looking at his at the school gate. Darren joins them.
    CONOR
    Did you do as badly as me?
    He shows Eamon his card. Fail. Fail. Fail.
    DARREN
    I failed too.
    EAMON
    Shit. I scraped a pass.
    CONOR
    Well done!
    CONOR
    My ma is going to kill me. What are you going to say to yours?
    CONOR
    I haven't thought about it yet...
    They walk out. In the background, Barry tears his report card in half and throws it away without even reading it. He then boxes another kid in the face and approaches Conor, Eamon and Darren. He reaches in his school bag and takes out a homemade knife. A metal bar with a plastic scalpel welded it to it.
    BARRY
    I made this in metal work class. What do you think? And you said I couldn't create anything?
    Conor is silent. It looks gnarly, and lethal. Barry smiles.
    BARRY
    And I'm going to mark you with it. One of these days. And you won't be so handsome then. In your little band.
    Conor looks at it, then at Barry.
    CONOR
    Why are you targeting me, Barry? What did I do to you?
    BARRY
    I don't like you.
    CONOR
    Is it because your brother beats you up? And you're taking it out on someone else. Like that day down the laneway?
    BARRY
    (laughs)
    That's not me brother. That's me da. What are you saying about me da?
    He leans in, laughing menacingly, raising the knife to Conor's face. A millimeter from his mouth. Just then, Brother Baxter appears out of a doorway behind them. Barry quickly pockets the knife, before Brother Baxter sees it.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    What's going on here? Is there a problem, Lawlor?
    CONOR
    No, Brother.
    Brother Baxter just turns and re-enters his office, closing the door. Barry is as surprised as the rest of them. He looks around, then skulks off.
    BARRY
    See you around.
    We hold on Conor.

INT. SYNGE STREET ART CLASSROOM - DAY
    About ten local teenage girls sit on desks. Ten boys stand around the classroom. They've turned up to be extras. A number of tables have been turned upsidedown to make a small stage. On this, the band's gear has been set up. Garry checks his drum kit on stage. Miss Dunne is hanging decorations up, including a disco ball. Darren is moving about with the camera, looking for shots. Across the room, Miss Dunne checks her watch.
    MISS DUNNE
    So you'd better film something. I have to lock up in an hour.
    DARREN
    Yeah. She's not coming. Let's do it without her.
    Conor reluctantly agrees. He gets up on stage.
    DARREN
    So, all of you come and stand here. You have to pretend it's a live gig. And you're the audience.
    CONOR
    Okay, so everyone. This is like a school video. But not like an Irish school. More like an American school. And it's the prom night. We'll rehearse it.
    He presses playback, and the band mime. Conor sings into a microphone. But his eyes are on the door. We hear the first verse. The band are really coming along. Conor is really developing some stage presence. Again, he looks towards the door. But this time... it opens. Raphina is coming through. But she's dressed up in an amazing, 1950's style prom dress. As she enters, we start to notice that we are not in the classroom anymore. We are in a huge school hall. It's prom night in a big, American school. Conor's band are transformed on stage. All wearing cool, 50's clothes. In this video, Conor's parents will arrive, all dressed up and happy together to see their son on stage. Brendan shows up, like Jimmy Dean in Rebel Without A Cause, and makes a fool of the bungling Brother Baxter. And Conor will defeat the evil Barry, who is dressed like the lead Scorpion in Grease. Then the ENTIRE audience start a choreographed DANCE sequence, which brings us out. We pull out from the view finder, and find ourselves back in the mean little classroom in Dublin. The group is huddled around the view finder. There's no sign of Raphina. It's all been in Conor's head. ( SCENE 107 INTENTIONALLY DELETED ) ( SCENE 108 INTENTIONALLY DELETED ) ( SCENE 109 INTENTIONALLY DELETED ) ( SCENE 110 INTENTIONALLY DELETED )

EXT. CONOR'S HOUSE - AFTERNOON
    Conor returns home. He pauses at the door, looking at his report card. He enters.

INT.CONOR'S HOUSE - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
    As Conor enters the hallway, he is met by his mother coming down the stairs.
    CONOR
    So before you get angry...
    PENNY
    Oh good, there you are.
    (calling)
    He's back. You get Bren.
    ROBERT
    (off)
    Okay.
    PENNY
    We want to chat to you both. Kitchen. Two minutes.
    She passes.

INT. CONOR'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
    Conor, Penny and Robert sit around the table in the kitchen, as they did a few months ago. Waiting. In a moment, we hear Brendan running down the stairs. He enters, carrying all his smoking and drinking shit.
    BRENDAN
    Pray begin.
    He sits down.
    ROBERT
    Well. So, firstly, we don't want to make a big deal about this. Lot's of married couples-
    PENNY
    Your father and I are splitting up.
    BRENDAN
    (getting up)
    Thank you! Knew it was just a question of time. Let me know when we're moving. I'll be packed.
    ROBERT
    Why don't you sit down Brendan, for a second, and we'll tell you what we're thinking. See if you agree.
    BRENDAN
    Oh. A consensus? Well that's novel. Go ahead.
    He sits down. We push in on Conor for the following.
    ROBERT
    So your mother's fallen in love with Tony. And they're going to move into his apartment for a while. We got an offer on this house- it's half what it's worth, but we're going to take it. I can't afford to stay here on my own.
    CONOR
    So are you, like, getting a divorce?
    PENNY
    No, you can't get divorced in Ireland. We'll be legally separated. It's better for everyone.
    ROBERT
    I'll get an apartment, and you guys will live between there and... there.
    BRENDAN
    I won't be staying in Tony's. Let's get that very straight. I'd rather sleep on the street.
    Brendan seems unusually angry. Even twitchy.
    ROBERT
    We'll talk about all the details. Tony's a very nice man. I can vouch for that.
    This is very hard for him to say. Penny is surprised.
    PENNY
    (almost silently)
    Thank you.
    BRENDAN
    Wow. Look at you two. This is the first time I've seen you being nice to each other in ten years!
    He lights up a cigarette, raising his eyes to heaven.
    CONOR
    Maybe he's right. Maybe this is what you needed to do, you know, to get back. Closer than before.
    Everyone looks at Conor. Suddenly seeing how young he is. And how vulnerable.
    CONOR
    You don't love Tony. You hardly know him. You got that job a few months ago. It's just an excuse. A way of ending this relationship because you don't know how to keep it together.
    ROBERT
    Now Conor. You don't know what you're talking about.
    He gets up and exits, slamming the door. After a moment, Brendan gathers his stuff and exits, shaking his head, leaving the parents sitting there on their own.

INT. BRENDAN'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
    Brendan enters his room to find Conor sitting on the hammock. Brendan sets his stuff down.
    CONOR
    So you were right.
    BRENDAN
    It was obvious.
    CONOR
    They're our parents. They're supposed to look after us. So we can do stuff.
    BRENDAN
    That's bullshit. They're just human beings. I told you that.
    CONOR
    I was sort of hoping they'd come to my gig on Friday.
    BRENDAN
    What? You thought they'd suddenly become different people? And start noticing what you were doing? Or wanted? They have their own shit going on. They're not going to come to your stupid gig.
    This is not the usual Brendan.
    CONOR
    Why is it stupid now?
    BRENDAN
    It's not that it's stupid. It's that it's annoying.
    CONOR
    What is wrong with you?
    BRENDAN
    I don't know! I'm having withdrawal.
    CONOR
    From what?
    BRENDAN
    From hash. I haven't smoked in two days.
    CONOR
    Why?
    BRENDAN
    So I can do something with my life!
    CONOR
    Like what?
    BRENDAN
    Look at you. You little punk. You know nothing, do you? You're the youngest. You get to follow the path that I macheted through the jungle that is our mad family. They took all their shit out on me. I got bitten by every insect, and snake. And fell into every river. For six years I was alone with those two. You think they're mad now, think what they were like when they were in their late twenties with a screaming baby in a rented flat who got married because they were two Catholics who wanted to sleep with each other. They didn't even love each other. And I was in the middle of that. On my own. And then you came along, thank God, and followed the trail I cut for us. You just moved in my jet stream. Untouched. And people laugh at me now. At the stoner. The college dropout. And praise you.
    And that's fine. But once, I was a fucking jet engine. On this, he takes a pile of Vinyl off the shelf and flings them across the room smashing them. Conor's eyes are glazing over.
    CONOR
    I'll just be back in a second. I have to go to the toilet.
    He exits.

INT. CONOR'S HOUSE - TOILET - CONTINUOUS
    Conor cries his eyes out in the toilet.

EXT. CONOR'S HOUSE - MORNING
    Darren rings on Conor's bell. In a moment, Conor answers. He is wearing his pyjamas.
    DARREN
    You can't run away from this, you know that? You have to face him.
    CONOR
    He'll kill me.
    DARREN
    Yeah. But you're just kicking it down the line. Come on. As your manager I've let you down. I haven't solved this problem. I can't sleep.
    He walks off.

EXT. A BLOCK OF COUNCIL FLATS - DAY
    Conor follows Darren up the steps to the fourth floor of a block of flats. They walk past numerous doors, stopping at one.
    DARREN
    Now, leave this to me.
    He knocks. In a moment, Barry opens the door. He is very surprised to see these two. From inside, the sound of the TV.
    BARRY
    What do yous want?
    CONOR
    We want to talk to you.
    VOICE (O.S.)
    Who the hell is it?
    BARRY
    (re Conor)
    Get him away from me door, I'm going to kill him.
    DARREN
    No you're not, Barry! Because he had a chance to rat you out the other day, and he didn't. He made a choice.
    (beat)
    You think you're different from us. From everyone. And you are. You're nuts! But we have one thing in common, you, me and him. (Meaning Conor).
    BARRY
    No we bleedin' don't. He's a queer, and you're a fag, probably. Because who else would hang around with a queer, except a fag.
    DARREN
    Do you want to know what it is?
    (beat)
    We're all shit at school. We've all failed these exams, and we'll be out of school next year. We're bleedin useless!
    Silence. Barry doesn't disagree.
    BARRY
    So?
    DARREN
    So what are you going to do when you're kicked out of school? Stay at home with your Ma and Da? Get wasted? Watching daytime telly?
    BARRY
    Okay.
    BARRY'S DA
    (off)
    Barry? Who is it, son?
    DARREN
    Well we're going to be in a band. Gigging. On the road.
    Different venues each night. Different women. A bleedin band! And do you know what bands need?
    BARRY
    What?
    Darren leans in.
    DARREN
    Roadies.
    (beat)
    Someone who is strong, and knows how to fight! Protect themselves, and the lads. And carry gear.
    BARRY
    Are you talking about me?
    DARREN
    Why not? You'd be great at it. You're tough. Ane you're off your head.
    He thinks about him. His Da screams, off
    BARRY'S DA
    (off)
    Barry! Get in here and get me another bottle. You worthless shite.
    BARRY
    I'm a worthless shite. What would you want with me? In a fag band.
    DARREN
    A band is like being in the army. Everyone has everyone else's back. Fag or not. Think you're up to it?
    BARRY'S DA
    (off)
    Where are you, you lazy prick? Do you hear me? Get in here and get us a bleedin bottle!
    BARRY
    Hold on a second.
    Barry disappears for a moment. Darren and Conor exchange looks. We hear a SMASH from inside. Followed by a groan. His father is silenced. In a moment, Barry reappears. He has a broken bottle neck in his hand. And some blood on it. He chucks it away, as we hear groans of his father, off.
    BARRY
    Could I drive the van?
    CONOR
    We don't have a-
    DARREN
    (elbowing him)
    Of course you'll drive the van! When we get one.
    Barry exits, grabbing his jacket, and pulling the door behind him.
    BARRY
    Come on.
    DARREN
    We have a gig this Friday. Are you free? I've got a fiver for you for it. You can do the lights.

EXT. THE FLATS - CONTINUOUS
    They set off, away from Barry's house, Barry following behind in between them. Conor and Darren exchange a smile of surprise. The bomb has finally been diffused.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - DAY
    The three of them arrive at school. As they cross the road, Conor looks over his shoulder towards Raphina's house. There's a YOUNG GIRL walking back towards the house carrying a bottle of milk. She's been looking at them. But she quickly looks away. We think we recognize her. But we're not sure. Conor double takes, then breaks away from the lads and runs towards her as she runs up the steps.
    CONOR
    Hey. Wait.
    But the girl hurries up. Conor catches her up. Spinning her around. It is Raphina. But a much younger looking Raphina, wearing a dowdy jumper, stone washed jeans and trainers. Her hair hasn't been back-combed. She's wearing no make up. She looks like a kid.
    RAPHINA
    Wha?
    CONOR
    Is it you?
    RAPHINA
    Who?
    CONOR
    Raphina?
    RAPHINA
    I'm not Raphina. I'm her younger sister.
    CONOR
    No you're not. What are you doing? I thought you were in London?
    RAPHINA
    My sister? Yeah, she's in London. Getting on great.
    She walks on. Conor follows, spinning her around. She stares him in the face, finally giving up.

INT. THE LITTLE PARK - DAY
    Conor and Raphina sit on a bench. She really does look different. Without the war paint and clothes, she's lost something of herself.
    RAPHINA
    ...it was a mad idea anyway. I don't know anyone in London.
    CONOR
    I thought he had booked tickets?
    RAPHINA
    No. It was all just an act. To get a ride like. He doesn't have a flat there. Or friends. Or any of that.
    CONOR
    So where is he now?
    RAPHINA
    (ashamed)
    I don't know. He left me in a B&B in town. I've been trying to ring him. I'm like me Ma.
    She blushes a little.
    CONOR
    So what are you going to do now?
    RAPHINA
    I don't know. I was going to print up some CVs. But I haven't done anything. Except your videos. So I don't know where to start.
    CONOR
    CVs for what?
    RAPHINA
    I don't know. McDonalds have an ad in their window. Would you still fancy me if I was saying "Do you want chips with that?"
    CONOR
    I'd fancy you no matter what, as long as you were happy.
    RAPHINA
    Oh shut up, you sap. You make me sick. I don't know what I'm doing half the time. I live in a dream world. Who's going to put me in an ad? Or the cover of a magazine? I'm telling you- I'm like me Ma, thinking like that. There's something wrong with me.
    She hits her head, her eyes filling with tears.
    CONOR
    There's nothing wrong with you. But you have to follow one dream at a time. I was actually happy I thought you were in London. Even though I was jealous. And I missed you.
    (beat)
    I have to go now. I have a gig to rehearse for.
    He gets up. She looks at him. Then gets up and they both wander back.
    RAPHINA
    Tell me about that...
    CONOR
    It's our first gig. At the school. Will you come?
    They chat as they wander off. We CRANE UP.

INT. CONOR'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
    Conor sits down and picks up pad and pen. He thinks about what he wants to say. Then writes down TO FIND YOU. He starts writing a first verse.

EXT. EAMON'S HOUSE - DAY
    Eamon opens the door to his house. Conor's is outside, with his journal of lyrics.
    CONOR
    Want to write a song?
    EAMON
    (smiling)
    Always.
    He enters.

INT. BRENDAN'S ROOM - DAY
    Conor knocks on Brendan's room. Brendan is just sitting there. The window open, looking out.
    CONOR
    Hi. I'm off to school. Got that gig tonight.
    BRENDAN
    Excellent. What time?
    CONOR
    Starts at 9.
    BRENDAN
    Okay. I'll see you there, probably. Is your girlfriend going?
    CONOR
    She's not my girlfriend. I don't know. She's totally unreliable. I might try and get a new girlfriend tonight. If the gig goes well like.
    BRENDAN
    You know I was in a band once?
    CONOR
    Really.
    BRENDAN
    Oh yeah. We never got to play a gig. But we practiced for about a summer. It was really just an excuse to get high with your friends. But we weren't half bad. I wrote some pretty good lyrics.
    CONOR
    What happened?
    BRENDAN
    Ah, parents. Mum always wanted me to be a doctor. Or a lawyer.
    He shakes his head.
    BRENDAN
    You should be glad they don't give as much of a damn about you.
    CONOR
    Maybe that's what you'll do.
    BRENDAN
    When?
    CONOR
    When you get off your arse. Re-form a band? Write some lyrics.

INT. CONOR'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
    Conor passes through the kitchen. Penny and Robert are eating breakfast and reading the paper. Conor grabs a slice of toast and his school bag and goes to exit.
    CONOR
    Oh, I'll be late tonight.
    Neither of his parents look up.
    CONOR
    School gig.
    PENNY
    Okay. What time is it at?
    CONOR
    We're on at around 9. Are you coming?
    PENNY
    Ohh. I might be busy. A work do. I'll try and get out of it.
    CONOR
    Cool. Dad?
    ROBERT
    Where is it at?
    CONOR
    At school. It's a "school" gig.
    ROBERT
    Oh yeah. Okay. I'll try.
    Conor smiles, happy. He exits.

EXT. CONOR'S HOUSE - DAY
    Music over. Conor exits his house. He looks up at a "SALE AGREED" sign in his garden. He is carrying an envelope. He stuffs it into his jacket and gets on his bike.

EXT. STREETS - DAY
    Music over, as Conor cycles through streets. RAPHINA'S STOOP - DAY Conor drops in the envelope through Raphina's door.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - NIGHT
    People arrive for the school disco. They enter the gym hall.

INT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - GYM HALL - NIGHT
    A DJ plays music. There are a few colored lights. Gangs of teenagers assemble in groups. No one dances. Brothers and teachers supervise things. On stage, the band's gear is set up.

INT. BACK STAGE - NIGHT
    Behind the stage is a little changing area, where our boys are assembled. They are dressed up. Conor wears pretty funky makeup. They nervously check behind the curtain.
    DARREN
    It's filling up lads. There's chicks from Saint Annes, Notre Dame. And St. Louis!
    This just makes the band more nervous. All except Eamon, who sits on a desk, his guitar strapped on practicing. Conor notices that he's quiet. He approaches.
    CONOR
    You alright?
    EAMON
    Yeah bro. I'm good.
    (beat)
    Showed me Ma me test results.
    CONOR
    Oh yeah? What did she say.
    EAMON
    She killed me! Have to get the marks up by end of year. Gotta leave the band.
    CONOR
    Really?
    EAMON
    Da's not coming out for a while. I have to help take care of things. She's on the dole. She can't manage.
    CONOR
    But we can't break up. Maybe if we just practice once a week.
    EAMON
    Nah. If we were to do it we should do it properly.
    CONOR
    You're too good not to do this. This was your dream, right? Be in a band? Write music? Get out of Dublin?
    EAMON
    Maybe later. After school or whatever. I'll still play. And write and stuff. But I have to focus on school and jobs. I can't afford to have that dream right now.
    Conor understands.
    GARRY
    (o.s.)
    So what's our set list?

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - NIGHT
    More and more kids show up. Kids of all ages. Some of them drunk.

INT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL GYM - NIGHT
    Things are turbulent in the school hall. Brothers and teachers have a tough time keeping things under control. A few local skinheads have shown up, drinking bottles of cider. Girls have started kissing guys. On stage, a fifth former (17) speaks into a microphone as the DJ turns down the music.
    FIFTH FORMER
    Okay. So now, some live music.
    No one claps. Except Miss Dunne, who is there with her boyfriend, a man in his late thirties. They are drinking orange juice. The band take to the stage. Conor's look gets laughs: he's wearing a dress and heavy makeup. A few "Faggots" from the crowd, etc. Conor begins a riff.
    CONOR
    Hello Dublin. We are Sing Street. From Dublin.
    CROWD
    (collectively)
    BOO!!!!!!!
    THUG VOICE
    Faggot band!
    CONOR
    Dad, you shouldn't have come if you're going to slag us.
    (beat)
    This is called "Words".
    The band crash into their first song, a lively, up-tempo stomper. Cosmo is transformed on stage. He's stepped outside himself. He's carefree and confident with the microphone, and his weeks of rehersal have paid off. The band is tight. Miss Dunne is delighted. The other teachers aren't so sure of the angry, passionate performance and risqué lyrics, as the crowd begrudgingly starts to come around, gathering at the front of stage. Barry is working their backline. Darren winks at him. The play through their first song passionately, and it ends to some applause, mostly from girls.

INT. RAPHINA'S HOUSE - EARLIER
    Raphina opens the envelope Conor dropped in, and puts the tape into her machine. Through her window, Conor jumps on his bike earlier that afternoon, and cycles off. She presses play.

INT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL GYM - NIGHT
    Back at the hall the band are well into their gig. They are sweating, and ending a song to applause. Conor changes out of his dress -- he's wearing a school uniform underneath.
    CONOR
    Thank you. Here's one called "I will Find you" It's a slow song.
    The crowd boo. The rest of the band shake their heads. The band have an unplanned discussion on stage, off mic.
    NGIG
    We're not doing a bleedin slow song at a gig! Are you mad?
    CONOR
    No?
    GARRY
    They love us. We'll totally blow it. And we haven't rehearsed it properly.
    CONOR
    But it's a great song. And it's really simple. And it'll test our audience. Girls will love it. Eamon?
    They all look at Eamon.
    EAMON
    It's a bold move. Let's do it.
    Eamon takes a seat by the piano.
    CONOR
    This is a slow song. Anyone ever had a girlfriend for a day? Then that's it?
    Lots of rowdy shouting from the crowd. This is turning into a proper gig.
    CONOR
    What is that about? Anyway. This is called "I Will find you".
    He begins a mid tempo song. It's beautiful. Soulful yet forceful. We hear the first verse.

INT. RAPHINA'S ROOM - EARLIER THAT DAY
    Raphina is listening to the music. It is the same song he is playing live at the gig. She is dressed as we saw her earlier, hair in a pony tail, no make up, sensible jeans and jumper. The song is an address to her to follow her dreams. About being who you're supposed to be. That she must at least find out if she could have made it as a model. And made it to London.

INT. OFFICE - NIGHT
    Music plays over Penny is making love to A MAN (45), on the couch in an office. She is smiling and happy.

INT. CONOR'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
    Music plays over. Robert is sitting in front of the TV with a sandwich and a glass of whiskey. He is watching violence on TV from Northern Ireland.

INT. BRENDAN'S ROOM - NIGHT
    Music plays over. Brenden enters his room. Restless. He is trying on his jacket to go out. Looks in the mirror. The song from the gig still playing over. He checks his watch and looks at his guitar and smiles. Picks it up, sits back and strums it. Blows some dust off it. Tunes a string. Then gives up. Crosses the room, puts the needle onto the vinal. Picks up his hash paraphernalia and begins rolling a joint on the back of the guitar, tapping his feet to the music. Takes off his jacket. He's not going anywhere.

EXT. THE PARK - NIGHT
    Raphina sits on the bench listening to the same song Cosmo is playing live. She's been listening over and over. She's smiling and crying at the same time. It is a call to her from someone who really cares about her.
    LYRICS
    "I got to find out who I'm meant to be. I don't believe in destiny. But with every word you say to me... something's going to change...
    We hold on her, eyes full of tears.

INT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - GYM - NIGHT
    Back on stage, they have lost most of the crowd. Many are outside the windows, smoking. Others in groups chatting. Only a few GIRLS have stayed put, looking up adoringly at the young band. Now, at the back of the hall, the door opens, and Raphina steps in out of the cold. But she's OLD RAPHINA again. The hair is done, the make up. And she's dressed in a cool skirt, doc boots, and jacket. She can't believe what she's seeing. Conor, is singling with his eyes closed. She smiles, walking through the hall towards the stage. Conor sees her and smiles, singing the last verse to her. She stands at the front of stage looking up at him.
    LYRICS
    "So bring the thunder bring the lightening, bring the fall. I know I'll get my heart through. I've miles to go, but since the day I started crawling I was on my way to find you."
    They finish to applause. A SKINHEAD tries to get up on stage but Barry, who has been standing, arms folded like a bodyguard, punches him off the stage.
    CONOR
    Okay. This is our last song. It's about this school. It's for Brother Baxter.
    People hoot and whistle. Brother Baxter, who stands at the back of the hall is not impressed. He signals to another Brother to turn on the hall lights. Florescent lights blink on, ruining the dark, cavernous atmosphere. The crowd collectively BOO. One of the skinheads turns them off again. The crowd cheer. On and off again. Things are getting chaotic. The crowd is getting pissed. The Brother turns them on again. Then the skin head turns them off, then takes a fire extinguisher and smashes it down on the light switch, ensuring they stay off. Brother Baxter is making his way towards stage. He stands at the side of the stage, gesturing for Cosmo to come over. Conor heads over, leaning down.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    Lad, don't push it.
    CONOR
    What? It's a tribute song.
    BROTHER BAXTER
    If you want to keep this band going next term you'd better be careful.
    CONOR
    Oh. Okay.
    He goes back onto stage.
    CONOR
    (to Eamon)
    You ready? This may be all of ours first and last gig man. You ready to do it?
    EAMON
    Let's go!!
    CONOR
    And you better come back to this after school. You're a bloody genius man!
    Eamon laughs.
    CONOR
    (shouting, into mic)
    This is called "Brown Shoes". It's for every Christian Brother, and for every bully you ever knew.
    Larry starts with a thumping bass lick. Eamon and Garry join in. Conor approaches the mic, singing angrily
    CONOR
    "Who the hell are you, to tell me what to do... you wear a dress and tell me not to wear Brown Shoes..?"
    The crowd gets it. They start moshing. An angry guitar riff soaring over the top line. Conor sings a verse about being stabbed by a bully. Then the chorus:
    CONOR
    (singing)
    "Well the boots on the other foot now, buckle up, we're taking you down. Your curtain's falling so take a bow."
    He spots Raphina as he sings, smiling.
    CONOR
    "...yeah you've had your time in the sun, so step aside it's time for some fun. Yeah the boot's on the other foot, take a bow!"
    Raphina joins in the dancing. A few people stage dive. The Skinhead jumps around the room letting the fire extinguisher off, drenching everyone. They love it. The lights come on again, adding to the chaos. Cosmo laughs as he screams a mantra into the mic
    CONOR
    "Brown shoes, Brown Shoes, Brown Shoes!!!!"
    Brother Baxter turns and exits, unnoticed.
    CONOR
    "Brown Shoes, Brown Shoes... BROWN SHOES!!"
    And the song crescendos into a loud stab. And ends. The crowd roars. Conor and Raphina fix eyes, laughing.
    CONOR
    We are Sing Street.
    The DJ takes over as the crowd cheer.

INT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL GYM - BACKSTAGE - CONTINUOUS
    Conor and the band get off stage, hugging. Raphina runs over to meet him. She kisses him. They SHOUT above the music and crowds.
    RAPHINA
    You look great!!
    CONOR
    So do you!
    RAPHINA
    You guys were brilliant!!
    CONOR
    Really? Shit. Because I have to break the band up!!
    RAPHINA
    What? Why??
    CONOR
    I failed my exams. And Eamon's Mum won't let him be in a band anymore. And my parents are selling the house. So we'll be moving... So I won't be able to call in and leave tapes for you and stalk you!
    She shrugs.
    CONOR
    We should go.
    She nods her head without needing to think.
    RAPHINA
    How?
    CONOR
    On a boat.
    RAPHINA
    On the ferry, like? They won't let us travel. You're too young! I mean, I'd get away with it. But you're just a baby.
    He's shaking his head, all this coming to him like a bolt from the blue.
    CONOR
    No. We borrow a boat. From Dalkey. It's 35 Miles. How far can that be? It's like 45 minutes in good weather.
    RAPHINA
    You mean steal a boat?
    CONOR
    Are you ready? There's nothing going on here right now.
    She thinks about it. They look at each other, wide-eyed.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL / RAPHINA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
    Conor and Raphina run, hand in hand out of the school gates.
    RAPHINA
    Do you forgive me? About Evan?
    CONOR
    Was he any good? At sex?
    RAPHINA
    Not great.
    CONOR
    Cool.
    RAPHINA
    You need to tell me you forgive me?
    CONOR
    Something tells me I'll always be forgiving you.
    They run on. She runs towards the steps of her house.
    RAPHINA
    Two minutes. I need to pack a few things.
    CONOR
    GO!
    She laughs.

EXT. CONOR'S HOUSE - NIGHT
    They run around the corner and up to Conor's house, hand in hand. Raphina is carrying a bag.

INT. BRENDAN'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
    Brendan is writing something in his writing pad, and smoking one. Conor knocks and enters, followed by Raphina.
    BRENDAN
    Hey. What's going on?
    CONOR
    Shhh. Where are the parents?
    BRENDAN
    In bed. Why?
    RAPHINA
    Hi.
    BRENDAN
    Hey. You're Raphina?
    She bows.
    CONOR
    We need your help. Can you drive us to Dalkey?
    BRENDAN
    What for?
    CONOR
    Grandad's little pleasure boat is still moored there. We're going to sail to England. The two of us. We're all set. But we need a lift to the harbour.
    Brendan looks at them. They are totally serious. He thinks about it.
    BRENDAN
    Sure. When are you talking about?
    CONOR
    Now.
    BRENDAN
    What!!? Do you have any friends there?
    CONOR
    No.
    BRENDAN
    Do you have any sterling?
    CONOR
    No. Not a penny. She has her photographs. And I have my demo tapes and videos.
    He looks at them, smiling. He puts on his jacket.
    BRENDAN
    Let's go.
    Raphina and Conor smile.

INT. CONOR'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
    In a frenzy, Conor throws things in a shoulder bag.

INT. ROBERT AND PENNY'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
    Conor sneaks in to his parents' room. He tip toes over to the bedside locker. The car keys are under the lamp. He fishes them up silently, and as he does so, looks at his parents, asleep. Robert is sleeping on the floor beside the bed. Penny is on the bed, in a shaft of moonlight. Conor pauses, looking at them, almost smiling. Then his eyes fill up with tears. They look very vulnerable. He leans in to his Mum...
    CONOR
    I love you. Mum.
    She repositions herself in the bed. But she doesn't hear him. We hold on him, smiling.

EXT. CONOR'S HOUSE - NIGHT
    Conor and Brendan pull the tarpaulin off the old car in the driveway. The old car reverses out of the driveway. Conor and Raphina jump in.

INT. THE CAR - NIGHT
    Palpable excitement in the car as Brendan drives it south, out to the sea...

EXT. COLIEMORE HARBOUR - DAWN
    The car pulls up to a small jetty. A few old boats bob up and down in the moonlight. They all get out, carrying their bags down towards one small pleasure cruiser. Dalkey Island just across the water.
    RAPHINA
    Jesus, you were right, it's really close.
    She smiles.
    CONOR
    It's a little bit further than that.
    They approach the hero boat. It's an open boat, with a steering wheel, and a little tarpaulin shelter area at the back. It's pretty basic.
    RAPHINA
    Is that it? It's tiny!
    They look out to sea.
    CONOR
    Nice and calm.
    BRENDAN
    You DO know it can get pretty choppy once you get out past the island?
    CONOR
    We'll be grand.
    He heads. They follow him to the edge of the jetty. He jumps on board the boat, getting it ready. Brendan and Raphina stand watching him. He appears to know what he's doing. Kind of. He finds a can of petrol in the boat next to it, and steals it, looking in his own engine.
    CONOR
    I don't believe it. There's still petrol in it. We'll take this one as a spare. Ready?
    He pulls the cord. The engine coughs. But doesn't take. Raphina jumps in, helping him, as Brendan does lookout. Finally, the engine comes to life, spluttering and coughing out smoke. Conor jumps back off, handing Raphina her bag, photographs, and his stuff. She secures them under the little tarpaulin. Conor unties the boat from its mooring, throwing the rope on board. Then he turns to his brother.
    BRENDAN
    Call home as SOON as you get there, okay? No messing around.
    CONOR
    I will. We'll get into the Welsh coast. Then hitch down to London. Be there this evening.
    BRENDAN
    Okay.
    CONOR
    You'll get some flak from the parents for driving me out.
    BRENDAN
    I'll be fine. I'm bulletproof.
    He smiles. He is far from bulletproof.
    BRENDAN
    Oh, here. I wrote some words down. For a song.
    Brendan reaches in his pocket and produces a foolscap of paper with loads of lyrics written on it.
    BRENDAN
    They're just a stream of consciousness thing. It's about this kid and a girl. In the future. If you get there, put some music to them some day. I'm serious. Could be a good song.
    CONOR
    Okay. I will.
    Conor takes it and folds it up carefully, and puts it in his inside coat pocket. Conor jumps back onto the boat.
    RAPHINA
    Come and visit us. You seem like a mad bastard.
    BRENDAN
    Oh yeah. You look after that brother of mine. He's going to be lost without me.
    RAPHINA
    Hah! I will.
    BRENDAN
    And I hope you can swim.
    Raphina shakes Brendan's hand and hugs him from the boat. Brendan is getting a little emotional as A SONG starts to fade up on the track. He hugs his brother one more time. But this is no time for tears. Conor steers the little boat out of the harbour. They wave back to Brendan, who stands on the jetty waving.

EXT. THE BOAT - DAWN
    The boat sets out onto the sea. The shelter of the harbour is immediately met by a strong wind. The song swells...

EXT. THE BOAT - DAWN
    The sun is coming up, but a heavy mist is refusing to lift. The waves are growing in force as the little boat sets off. Raphina looks nervous. It starts raining.

INT. THE CAR - DAWN
    Brendan watches them from behind the wheel of his car. They look very vulnerable in the distance, bobbing up and down. He starts screaming. For no reason. Shouting and screaming and cheering, looking at the little boat making its escape. In a way, heâ€Syntax Warning: Invalid Font Weight ™s on that boat. The boat disappears around the side of the island. Brendan smiles, shouting.

EXT. THE BOAT - MORNING
    Now it's raining hard. The boat is buffeted by waves.
    CONOR
    (shouting)
    You'll want to sit down around now
    RAPHINA
    (shouting)
    WHAT?
    In answer to her question, the boat is hit by a good wave, knocking Raphina over.
    She huddles up under the tarpaulin, soaked.
    Conor steers the boat with focus and determination. She watches him, scared, as the song soars.
    Ahead, nothing but mist and rain. No sign of a coastline.
    Then, a bellowing HORN is heard, off.
    Conor looks out. Out of the mist a HUGE CAR FERRY is appearing, travelling in the same direction, but cutting across their boat's course.
    RAPHINA
    Jesus Christ!!!!!
    Conor slams the boat into reverse. The engine grinds in protest. The FERRY passes them by. Up on deck, countless Irish immigrants stand, smoking, drinking cans of Guinness, watching the sun come up etc. Some of them see the little boat below, pointing and laughing.

EXT. THE CAR FERRY - CONTINUOUS
    P.O.V. Shot from deck of ferry.

EXT. THE BOAT - CONTINUOUS
    Conor waves up at the people on deck. Then speeds onwards. Raphina smiles, looking at his back. She tries to light up a cigarette. Then gives up. She starts laughing. The SONG really takes off now. It's Conor's voice singing. The lyrics are about him and Raphina. About their future. A model and a singer. About staying together. Written from an older brother's perspective. What we're hearing is clearly a marriage of Brendan's lyrics and Conor's music. From the future. And it's the only clue to whether Conor and Raphina ever made it. Because right now, all we can see is mist, rain, and grim determination on COSMO'S drenched face.... Snap to black. FOR YOUR CO N S I D E R AT I O N
    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
    John Carney
    www.TWCAwards.com

Summary: In inner-city south Dublin in 1985, Robert Lalor struggles with his architecture practice and his marriage, and drinks and smokes to excess. At a family meeting, he announces he is taking his youngest son Conor out of his expensive school and moving him to a Christian Brothers school, Synge Street CBS, which Robert asserts is of equally high repute. Conor's older brother Brendan ribs him about the change as well as about the state of the family unit. Conor appears in his new uniform but without the regulation black shoes. The school principal, Br. Baxter, chastises him despite Conor's pleas of being unable to afford new shoes. To avoid going shoeless, he paints his shoes black. An encounter with the school bully, Barry, introduces Conor to Darren, an ally and budding entrepreneur. When Conor recruits aspiring model Raphina for a music video, Darren agrees to manage his band and introduces him to multi-instrumentalist Eamon. The band practices in Eamon's living room, playing covers until Brendan encourages him to develop the band's own style. He writes original songs with Eamon, describing themselves as "futurists". The band films their first music video wearing comical costumes; Raphina acts as ingénue and makeup artist. Conor goes into school the next day wearing make up, and Brother Baxter forcibly removes it. Raphina gives Conor his nickname "Cosmo", which she says is more in keeping with his new band's image. After spending the day filming a music video for a new song, Conor and Raphina kiss. Conor also stands up to his bully, Barry by pointing out the insignificance of both their lives, which greatly upsets Barry. Robert and Penny's marriage falls apart while Raphina and Conor's relationship blossoms. Conor takes Raphina out to Dalkey Island in his granddad's motor cruiser. Here, they view the car ferry leaving Dún Laoghaire for the UK and discuss Raphina's dream of leaving Ireland for London. Conor, Raphina and the band prepare to film a Back to the Future-inspired music video for their new song, but Conor is disheartened when Raphina fails to show up. She reveals that she was set to leave for London with her boyfriend, but he abandoned her. Hurt by her lack of disclosure and offended by her nonchalance, Conor breaks up with Raphina. Because of the break-up and his family's problems, Conor finds difficulty in writing or playing music, but Brendan urges Conor to continue so he can make a better future for himself. Penny and Robert announce to the family that they are getting legally separated and selling the house. Penny plans on moving in with her affair and boss, Tony, whilst Robert plans on getting a small apartment. They will share custody. An opportunity arises for the band to play live at an end-of-year party at school. Conor strikes up a friendship with Barry, offering him the chance to be the band's roadie and escape his abusive family. Conor prepares a new song mocking Baxter, which the band perform as an encore while distributing homemade masks of Baxter's face. Raphina arrives before the band finishes and reconciles with Conor. Both of them leave the party and the school in uproar. After secretly saying goodbye to his family later that night, Conor and Raphina persuade Brendan to drive them to Dalkey, so they can escape in the motor cruiser and head to London. Brendan agrees and drives them to the harbour, where Brendan and Conor embrace. Conor and Raphina sail out to sea, following the ferry across the rough Irish Sea to a new life in London. Brendan watches them disappear into the distance and cheers, overjoyed that his younger brother has left to go on to greater things.