BADMINTON. Written by. Simon K. Parker

INT. S HOUSE - S BEDROOM - NIGHT MATTHEWS, 17, tall, skinny and with tattoo s covering both of his arms is lying out on his bed just a mattress on the floor. He moves his hands behind his head and stares up at his blank ceiling. INT. SPORTS SHOP - NIGHT Dean, in shorts and a T-shirt is looking around at the different sports trainers on sale. INT. SPORTS SHOP - NIGHT Dean s sitting on a bench with several different shoe boxes left down on the floor in front of him. The shop ASSISTANT now turns around and leaves him to get on with it. He puts on a pair of brand new sports trainers, then places his old ones into the box they came out of and closes it shut. He then stands up, still with those band new trainers on and walks out of the shop without paying as though it was the most natural thing in the world to do. EXT. CITY STREET - DAY Dean s still wearing those brand new trainers as he meets up with TAYLOR, 18, tall, handsome with a very neat looking haircut. James is waiting for him on the edge of the street, two badminton rackets in his hands. Hey. Dean gestures to one of the rackets. One for me? James hands one over. You ask and you get.

2. Dean takes it from him. Cheers, I'll try and find enough money to pay you back over the next couple of weeks if I can. James shakes his head, dismissive. It s a gift, so no. But I can if you want me to? I don't, if you give me money it ll no longer be a gift just something you ve brought from me. Alright. So come on, let s go, you still owe me a game. EXT. SPORTS CENTRE - DAY Dean and James head inside. Dean and James are in the middle of a game. A long row of other badminton courts are at either side of them with others playing. Dean slams down a shot, point to him. Dean serves, James replies but Dean just slams down another shot for another point. It repeats like this all throughout the game. James is trying hard but Dean is finding it all too easy. EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT Dean and James are walking home together. Both tired and sweaty.

3. James looks across at him. You should think about going further with this. Dean shakes his head, smiling. No, it s alright. Why not? There would be no point. There would be every point if you could make a decent living from playing it professionally? Says you. James nods. Yes I do. I m the best in my entire school and the head teacher is a badminton fanatic so everyone plays it. I m the best there but yet I can t even get close to you here. I just like it for the workout is all. I m just saying, the chance to take it further is there if you want it. Dean shrugs, doesn t know what else to say to him. INT. S HOUSE - DINNING ROOM - NIGHT James sits at the table with his MUM, 45, and DAD, 52. Each with a large plate of food out in front of them. All three eating in silence.

4. INT. S HOUSE - S BEDROOM - NIGHT James sits on the edge of his king size bed, looks over at his shelves on his wall, all covered in badminton trophies. He s just staring at them, lost in his thoughts. INT. S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT Dean throws in a per-made meal into the microwave, set s it to five minutes. INT. S HOUSE - S BEDROOM - NIGHT Dean s eating his food out of the packet as he sits crossed legged on his mattress. EXT. CITY PARK - DAY Dean and James walk along together across a well worn footpath. I ve signed us up to a small competition that takes place in one week. Yourself? Dean cringes. Both of us. I don t know. You don t know what? If I m good enough? I m doing it with you. But you ve played in stuff like this before, I never have.

5. Dean just shrugs. Then it s about time you give it ago too. Tonight we ll do some practise, yeah? EXT. CITY STREET - DAY James is waiting, badminton racket in hand. He checks his watch. James s is on the court by himself. Hitting a couple of shots high into the air. Still waiting, but Dean s still a no show. EXT. S HOUSE - NIGHT James jogs up to the house, knocks on the front door with the badminton racket and waits to be let in. INT. S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT Dean s sitting at the table, dressed and ready for a game but missing his trainers. James comes in. Stands in front of him. Places his racket down on top of the table. What happened to you, why a no show? Dean nods down to his feet, depressed. Lost my trainers didn t I, can t play without them. What? I lost them. James knows he s lying.

6. A beat. You didn t lose them did you? Dean smiles, embarrassed. Not quite. Don t lie then, tell me the truth. I don't have them anymore. Why not? I stole them. OK. Dean nods. Some people who work in the shop found out who I was and came over here to talk to me. They told me if I handed them over they wouldn t get the police involved. So you did? I did. I had to. What about your old ones, they ll do wont they? Dean shakes his head. Don t have them either anymore. James looks down at him, defeated. You want to play in this tournament?

7. Dean shrugs. (CONT D) You know I think you re good enough. I know. But you don t? Look where I am James. Look at me right now. How can I? By turning up. That s how you can do it. Competition day. Lot s of players are signed up and ready. A couple of matches already underway. A couple of trophies for first, second and third place are up on a table set up on the other side of the courts. A small group of fans are here to watch, taking pictures. James is ready, dressed and raring to go. He looks down at his watch, worried about the time. A beat. Dean enters, dressed for a match and with a badminton racket in hand. James smiles excited so see him. But as Dean gets closer James can see that he doesn t have any shoes on at all, only a pair of black socks. He s horrified. What the hell Dean? I m sorry.

8. James is touched. Why turn up if you ve got no trainers to wear? I didn t want to let you down. You ve put too much faith in me, I couldn t just stay away. But you can t play like that. They won t let you. I know, but I just wanted to turn up. I ll watch. When s your first match? James shakes his head. I m forfeiting. It s now Dean s turn to be shocked. What are you talking about? James kneels down and takes off his trainers. I m not competing. But why? Because this is your turn. He pushes his trainers over to Dean. (CONT D) You can wear mine. James checks his watch again. (CONT D) And it looks like you ve got ten minutes before your first game. Dean looks down at James s trainers, doesn t know what to do.

9. James is sitting out of the way, still without his trainers on. Dean s on the court, warming up with a few quick spirting from one side of the court to the other, James s trainers on and squeaking underneath him at each sharp turn. Dean starts his first match. Hits and scores. Too big, too strong and too fast. Bullies this first opponent. Dean s in the middle of his second game. Hits and scores. Moving fast, getting better. His confidence growing. A serve is hit towards him but he just smashes it right back for another point. Dean s caught up towards the end of his third match, much the same. He quick and strong. Easy. Dean s tired and sweating, but so is his latest opponent. Matched pretty evenly, Dean just wants it more. Scores a point from out deep in his own area. Then another and another and another. He s taking control and loving it. With James at his side, still without shoes on but leading the applause Dean is handed the winners trophy, the others people here and those remaining players still hanging around are all clapping too.

10. Dean takes control of the trophy properly, holds it up above his head, a huge smile and he lets these new feelings of happiness and victory take over. FADE TO BLACK THE END