Release is feature length film drama about two boys who reunite four years after a traumatic cycling incident. Whilst Kit has adjusted to a new life at the University of Florence, Lockie battles with depression and struggles to move forward. Concerned, and guilt-ridden for leaving Lockie behind, Kit drags him out of London to spend a summer Italy. This extract is taken from near the beginning: Lockie has just arrived in Florence and is immediately whisked into Kit’s flamboyant new lifestyle.
EXT- BAR, FLORENCE – EVENING
A moped pulls up alongside the bar. KIT (English, 19, blonde hair) turns his attention to it. The driver takes off her helmet. Her dark hair falls down past her shoulders.
KIT
Viola?
VIOLA
I thought it was you.
Flustered, Kit stands up. He kisses VIOLA (Italian-English, 20) on the cheek. LOCKIE ((Mixed Caribbean, English, Scottish 19, short-shaved hair) stands up.
KIT
Sorry. Lockie, Viola, Viola, Lockie.
Still seated on her moped, Viola reaches over to shake Lockie’s hand. She smiles warmly.
VIOLA
Ciao Lockie.
Lockie stares at her and holds her hand for a second too long. Kit notices. Lockie lets her hand go looking slightly embarrassed.
KIT
Lockie is…
(Beat)
He’s a friend from home. He going to stay in
Ben’s room while he’s away.
VIOLA
Another English boy! The girls will be excited!
KIT
(To Lockie)
Viola does some of the same modules as me.
Kit looks around for an empty chair.
KIT
Stay. Have a drink.
VIOLA
I can’t, I’m already late back.
(Beat)
A few of us are going up to Apennine for the
weekend. My grandma has a villa there.
I thought you were home for the
summer but you should come.
Kit looks to Lockie.
VIOLA
Your friend too.
(Beat)
Alba and I have space in our car.
My sister is driving up later with Leo.
You remember them right?
KIT
I guess we haven’t made plans.
Kit looks to Lockie. Lockie shrugs.
KIT
What time are you leaving?
VIOLA
I can pick you up at the square…say 10?
KIT
Alright.
Viola grins. She puts her helmet back on. She starts her moped. She shouts over the engine as she moves off.
VIOLA
Don’t forget swim suits!
Lockie smiles to himself as he sits back down.
KIT
What?
(Beat) What?
LOCKIE
Nothing.
(Beat) Uni.
(Beat) Girls inviting you to their Villas.
(Beat) Different life.
Kit sits down.
KIT
I have to work too. It’s not always like this.
LOCKIE
If you say so.
Lockie smiles.
LOCKIE
What’s her friend like?
Kit takes a sip of his beer.
KIT
Alba?
(Beat) Alba is something else.
INT. VIOLA’S CAR, RURAL ROAD, APENNINE MOUNTAINS – LATE MORNING
ALBA (Italian, 19) screeches from the back seat. Lockie sits behind her. Kit and Viola sit up front. Alba reaches into the front of the car and turns up the radio. Elton John’s The Bitch Is Back blares from the speakers.
ALBA
Adoro questa canzone!
(I love this song!)
Lockie stares at Alba as she starts shamelessly singing and dancing in her seat. Viola joins in, taping the steering wheel. Kit wipes sweat from his forehead and looks into the back. Lockie raises his eyebrows.
KIT
This is all they get out here.
Viola tries to make Kit sing but he refuses, laughing and shaking his head. She looks at Lockie in the rear-view mirror.
VIOLA
You don’t like him either, Lockie?
Lockie is staring at Alba who drums on the seat in front.
LOCKIE
I didn’t think anyone still listened to him.
(Beat) Except maybe my parents.
ALBA
So he’s not cool anymore?
LOCKIE
I don’t think he was ever that.
ALBA
I like his outfits.
KIT
You’re probably the only one.
Alba shrugs.
ALBA
At least he knows who he is.
Kit reaches for a bottle, pours some water onto his hand and dabs his neck. Viola winds down the windows and turns up the music. Lockie moves his gaze to the window as the mountain range rushes past.
EXT. VIOLA’S FAMILY VILLA, APENNINE MOUNTAINS – AFTERNOON
Alba bursts out of the car. The others follow. Kit lifts his shirt to wipe his forehead.
Behind them is a beautiful stone villa surrounded by an incredible mountainous view. In the centre of the car park is a water feature. Alba runs towards it and splashes her face dramatically. Viola rolls her eyes. Kit wipes his forehead again.
VIOLA
We have time for a swim before the others
get here if you’re up for it?
KIT
(To Lockie)
Yeah?
Lockie is emptying the boot.
LOCKIE
Sure.
EXT. HILLSIDE, APENNINE MOUNTAINS – AFTERNOON
Viola and Alba lead the way as they climb up the mountain. Lockie and Kit struggle behind – sweating and panting.
KIT
You know when you said swimming,
I assumed you had a pool or something.
Viola looks back and smiles before disappearing over some rocks. Kit watches as Lockie struggles along.
KIT
You good?
Lockie nods.
KIT
It’s not too much?
LOCKIE
(Beat)
I came out here to get away from questions like that.
Lockie takes a large step, overtaking Kit.
EXT. FRESH WATER POOL , APENNINE MOUNTAINS – MOMENTS LATER
Viola stands with her hands on her hips. She looks over the fresh water pool. The sunlight dances across the water. A breeze stirs the trees. The others climb up behind her. She turns and smiles at them.
VIOLA
(To Lockie)
Told you it was worth it.
A horsefly BUZZES and lands on Lockie’s leg. Viola starts stripping off. Kit and Alba do the same.
Lockie winces and looks down brushing the fly away. He rubs his thumb over a red mark on his leg. He smudges a tiny bit of blood. Viola notices.
VIOLA
Are you alright?
LOCKIE
It’s just a bite or something.
Viola moves towards him and bends down to look at his leg.
LOCKIE
It’s fine.
Viola puts her hands on his leg. Lockie is embarrassed. There is a lump where Lockie has been bitten. Alba and Kit watch.
VIOLA
We get horseflies up here a lot.
Viola stands up.
VIOLA
The water will help.
Viola takes off her shorts. She walks to the edge of the pool and dives in gracefully. She holds herself under the water. The others watch as the ripples she caused slowly flatten. She resurfaces, treading water.
Kit and Alba continue undressing. Lockie looks down at his bite before taking off his shoes. Kit drops his t-shirt to the floor, revealing a small scar that runs just above the top of his trunks. Lockie clocks it.
SPLASH – Alba leaps in. Lockie takes off his t-shirt holding it in-front of him to hide his stomach.
Another SPLASH as Kit jumps in.
Lockie watches the others. He waits till they aren’t looking and drops his t-shirt, revealing a large scar which stretches right the way down his abdomen. He jumps in.
Viola smiles at him as he resurfaces. She lies on her back and floats looking up at the canopy of trees. Lockie hesitates before copying her. He watches the breeze rustle the leaves.
EXT. GARDEN, VIOLA’S FAMILY VILLA, APENNINE MOUNTIANS – EARLY EVENING.
Their swimsuits sway on the washing line.
INT. BEDROOM , VIOLA’S FAMILY VILLA – APENNINE MOUNTIANS -EARLY EVENING.
Lockie stands in-front of a mirror. We get a longer glimpse of his scar. He slowly buttons up a pale pink shirt. The sleeves are slightly too big. He rolls them up.
Behind him are two single beds. There is a plain chest of draws with flowers on it, a single shuttered window and a fan in the corner. The bathroom door is closed but you can hear the shower running.
Lockie walks over to the flowers (white lilies). He rubs a petal between two fingers.
The bedroom door is slightly ajar. Lockie hears a noise in the corridor. He looks but there is nothing but a marble sculpture.
INT. CORRIDOR, VIOLA’S FAMILY VILLA , APENNINE MOUNTAINS -MOMENTS LATER
Lockie approaches the sculpture. It is a marble Venus, a robe wrapped around her lower half. Her body twists emphasising her torso and breasts. Shells are carved into the stone around her feet.
A door opens at the other end of the corridor. Viola steps out in a blue summer dress. She smiles when she sees Lockie. She walks to join him.
VIOLA
She’s beautiful isn’t she?
Lockie becomes embarrassed by the sculpture. Viola reaches out and touches it.
VIOLA
(Beat)
I think she is.
Lockie looks back at the sculpture awkwardly.
LOCKIE
She has to be beautiful.
(Beat)
She’s the goddess of beauty.
Viola removes her hand from the sculpture. Lockie watches.
VIOLA
I feel sort of cheated by it.
LOCKIE
What do you mean?
VIOLA
(Beat)
Well, as you said – Venus is always beautiful.
(Beat)
All the artist has done is take something
beautiful and made it look beautiful.
Lockie stares at her.
VIOLA
Taking something ugly and making it beautiful.
Surely that’s more impressive?
LOCKIE
(Beat)
Is that what they teach you at that university of yours?
VIOLA
I study history but maybe I should switch.
Lockie looks back to the statue.
LOCKIE
(Beat)
Manet tried that.
VIOLA
Tried what?
LOCKIE
Mixing ugly with beautiful.
(Beat) When he painted Olympia.
VIOLA
The temple of Zeus?
Lockie smiles (Maybe slightly proudly).
LOCKIE
(Beat)
Olympia was a Parisian prostitute.
VIOLA
Oh.
LOCKIE
Manet uses Titian’s composition of Venus
as a template. He paints Olympia in the same
position with the same surroundings. She is
meant to be an the object of desire but he makes her
cold, stumpy and ugly.
Lockie looks to Viola.
LOCKIE
(Beat)
When you look at Venus she dares you
to desire her but when you look at Olympia
she almost forces you to look away.
VIOLA
I’ve never heard of it.
LOCKIE
(Beat)
People hated it.
(Beat)
They are far more interested in beauty than reality.
VIOLA
(Beat)
I assume you like art, then?
Lockie shrugs.
LOCKIE
I did photography at school.
VIOLA
What did you take pictures of?
LOCKIE
Bits of rusting metal mostly.
Viola smiles, amused.
LOCKIE
My… my Mum’s an artist.
A car horn BEEPS several times outside. Viola looks out the corridor window before walking to the stairs.
VIOLA
It’s the others. You coming?
LOCKIE
(Beat)
I said I’d wait for Kit.
Viola heads down the stairs. She disappears around the corner.
Lockie walks to the corridor window, he watches as SENA (Italian-English, 23, Viola’s sister) and LEO (Italian, family friend, 21) get out of the car. Viola walks out and hugs them.
Kit comes out of the bedroom. He rubs his hand through his wet hair. Like Lockie he wears jeans and a shirt.
KIT
It fits then.
Lockie moves from the window.
KIT
I guess we’re still about the same size.
(Beat)
It looks good.
Lockie looks downs at the shirt.
LOCKIE
It’s pink.
Kit smiles.
KIT
You look good.
END OF EXTRACT
