The Next Step By Adam Amini

INT. THE FLAT. DINING ROOM. DUSK. A small, dimly lit dining room. A simple table in the middle of the room is set for two. A picture of a young, happy couple hangs on the wall. In the photograph they are at a festival. Enter ANNIE (the girl from the photograph), a petite, 20 year old girl in a plain, light blue dress, carrying a set of cutlery. She drops the pile of knives and forks into the centre of the table, glancing up at the clock. ANNIE (Mumbling.) Shit! Almost here, just need to, oh... Annie looks at the variety of knifes, forks and spoons, picking up two similar, but differently sized forks She puts them around the place settings as the front door is heard opening. Turning to face the dining room entrance, she tousles her hair, before trying to push the hemline of her dress further down. INT. THE FLAT. HALLWAY. DUSK. TOM has just closed the front door. Depositing his briefcase on top of an unpacked moving box, he removes his shoes. TOM Babe?! ANNIE (Offscreen.) Dining room! Tom opens the first door on his right, which leads to a walk-in closet. Smirking, he makes his way to the correct door, pausing to look at his reflection in the wall-mounted mirror. He places a hand on his clean-shaven face and then grasps the tight knot of his tie, before heading to the dining room. INT. THE FLAT. DINING ROOM. DUSK. Tom enters and stares at his girlfriend. She laughs nervously at his stunned face. ANNIE I thought, yknow, first night moved in an all, next step of the (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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ANNIE (contd) relationship, wed have a special dinner-but, I mean, its okay ifTOM No. Thatd be great, but wow, you look... Annie walks forwards and kisses Tom on the cheek, before heading out of the door and into the kitchen. Lingering for a moment, Tom slowly walks and takes a seat at the table, pausing as he sits to look at the picture on the wall. He smiles. ANNIE Wine! Shit, I forgot wine! I knew it! Annie storms back into the dining room, upset, Tom stands up to comfort her. ANNIE (CONTD) Ive been so busy, I knew Id forget something, whats the point inTOM Hey, hey! its alright,dont worry, we dont need it do we. Look, Im up early tomorrow anyway arent I, well be better without it. ANNIE You sure? Erm... ok, Ill just sort things out and then well eat She laughs nervously. TOM Im sure. Annie walks towards the kitchen, but Tom grabs her by the arm and kisses her. Nodding towards the kitchen, she exits the room and Tom sits back at the table. FADE TO BLACK.

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INT. THE FLAT. BEDROOM. NIGHT. The bedroom is dominated by a large, wooden bed, with a simple chest of drawers at one side and several unpacked boxes in a corner. Tom is in his underwear, getting into the bed, as Annie walks in, wearing a simple nightdress, and gets into the opposite side, turning off the light as she does. TOM Night, babe. ANNIE Good night! Tom leans over and starts to kiss her. A few moments pass before they break apart. TOM Dyou wanna, you know, because Im up again at six, and its already prettyANNIE Oh? Oh. Oh! No no, its fine really, I just thought youd wanna, but if not thats okay, I mean, Im pretty tired from unpacking and I have more to do tomorrow. Much more! TOM Are you sure, I mean, I feel kindaANNIE No, no, Im sure, dont be silly! Really! Like you said, youre up early and Ive got all the unpacking, its fine. TOM You sure? ANNIE Yeah. Yeah I am. They smile and look at each other for a moment, before sharing a small kiss and laying either side of the bed, each on their back, looking up at the ceiling. FADE TO BLACK.

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INT. WORKPLACE. DAY. Tom is sitting at his desk in a grey, minimal office, typing ferociously. A muffled vicious shouting can be heard off screen. On his desk there is a picture of Tom sitting on an arm chair with a conventionally dressed Anne standing next to him, one hand on his shoulder, her other arm cradling a baby. He looks at the picture, frowning, before the phone on his desk rings. He answers. SECRETARY Mr. Stephens, THE BOSS would like you to know he will be arriving for the daily inspection shortly. Do be ready, wont you? Tom fumbles with the phone as he puts back the handset, and the shouting in the hallway grows louder as Tom glances side to side around his office, the shouting outside growing louder. INT. THE FLAT. BEDROOM. NIGHT. Tom lays on his back, stirring in his sleep. Next to him Annie keeps tensing her brow, her mouth moving slightly. CUT TO. INT. STEPFORD KITCHEN. DAY. An upbeat piano song plays from a radio on the counter, as Annie wanders around the idealistic, spotless kitchen preparing food. She is wearing a conservative, blue dress with a long-sleeved matching cardigan and heels. She walks unnaturally, as if forced, her heels clacking on the tiles as she does. She walks to exit the kitchen, but trips. A length of rope ties do her ankle is connected to the large, metal oven. She stares for a moment before a clang from the oven causes her to panic, and rush back to preparing her food. She looks up at the clock nervously: 5.55. Panicking, she starts to rush around, not noticing the pan on the hob which is starting to boil dangerously.

(CONTINUED)

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Chaos. The saucepan boils over as Annie grabs it by the handle at rushes it to the sink. However, the now-shorter rope catches, causing her to trip and drop the pan. She leaps back as the boiling contents spill onto the floor. Getting to her knees she turns as she hears the front door open. STEPFORD MAN (Offscreen.) Honey, Im home! The oven lets out another loud clang as Annie gets to her feet, panicking. INT. WORKPLACE. DAY. The door to Toms office opens with a crash. Enter The Boss, a man in his early thirties who is smiling yet also shaking slightly, his eyes darting around the office. THE BOSS Stephens! How are you my man? He takes Toms hand firmly. TOM G-good thank you sir, and yourself..? After breaking the handshake the boss takes out a handkerchief and vigorously wipes his hand. THE BOSS Oh, you know! Same old, board meeting, giving discipline to the failures. Tom looks alarmed as the boss takes out a large, bloodstained kitchen knife and begins wiping it with the handkerchief. The Boss lets out a small laugh at Toms alarm, before throwing the knife up in the air, for it to land, blade down, in the desk between Toms hands. Tom tries to stand up in shock, realising he is unable to rise from the chair. The Boss leans across the desk, placing his hand on Toms shoulder in a fatherly way. He speaks calmly, smiling throughout. THE BOSS Weekly performance reviews came in. Somebodys been slacking, you (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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THE BOSS (contd) naughty naughty boy. Lemme guess, wifey at home bein a bit of a distraction? Ever-time-consuming, too worn out listening to her daily whines and fucking the little bitch senseless? TOM S-sir thats not- what?! P-please, just put down the knife and letTHE BOSS No no. Come on, Stephens. You wanna know whats inappropriate? Some little tearaway drug-rat like you dragging my company down. You think youll find a job after me? Really? Gonna support your family all by yourself are we? TOM F-family? What are you talTHE BOSS You know the best way to deal with a non-functional part any good, wholesome business? Like an infected limb, you cut it out. The Boss smiles and raises the knife, now in his hands, slowly as Tom closes his eyes, still unable to rise from the chair. INT. STEPFORD KITCHEN. DAY. Annie tries to exit to the hallway, but gets to the door when the rope pulls taught. Running back to the oven, she tries to free herself, but upon grabbing the oven door it sears and burns her hands. The door creaks as Stepford Man enters the kitchen, and Annie turns around to greet her husband. Identical to Tom, he is wearing a fine suit and places his briefcase on the worktop as he approaches a shaken Annie. He either doesnt notice, or doesnt react to her being bound to the appliance. STEPFORD MAN What is all this racket? You look hysterical.

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CONTINUED: ANNIE N-nothing, I f-fell and burned myThe man lets out a cheery laugh. STEPFORD MAN Dont tell me you burned my dinner again? Where do we live, a bad movie? (Raising his voice mockingly.) One of these days Annie.

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He grins and wags his finger as he winks at her, before he begins to exit to the dining room. Annie looks at the oven, she reaches to open it and get their dinner out, but feels the immense heat and retracts her hand. The rope is now connecting her to the dining room. Like before, her feet follow it as she looks ahead visibly shaken. INT. STEPFORD DINING ROOM. DAY. Tom is in a chair at a lavishly set table for two. Eyes closed tight it takes him a moment to become aware of his surroundings. Enter STEPFORD WIFE in a blue dress, cardigan and high heels carrying a covered platter. STEPFORD WIFE Here you go honey, I made my mans favourite. She places the platter in the middle of the table, leaving it covered as she pours wine into the two glasses. STEPFORD WIFE (CONTD) Youre awfully quiet dear, how was work? Hard day at the office? TOM Work? Oh-er, I was there and then The Boss came in, he was shouting and m-my chair? He clenches the arms of the chair, sighing as he finds he can raise them. STEPFORD WIFE (Angry.) Dont tell me you didnt pass inspection? (CONTINUED)

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TOM What? No, I didntSTEPFORD WIFE Were not children Thomas. I dont know why I bother. Every day I clean and I cook and I look after little Tommy Juniour, but no! Man-of-the-past cant handle some fucking responsinility. TOM Tommy Juniour? What are you talking about? The Wife shoots out of her chair, knocking the bottle over as she advances on Tom, who can no out of her chair. Her face is suddenly covered streaks from her eyes and her lipstick smudges her face. STEPFORD WIFE (Shouting.) What is wrong with you? I work and I work and I work every single day to give us the perfect life and you act like this? Are you mad? She picks up the wine bottle and smashes it on the table, now mostly stained red, advancing on Tom with the broken bottle. STEPFORD WIFE (CONTD) I think its about time you appreciate all I do for you Thomas. CUT TO. INT. STEPFORD DINING ROOM. DAY. Annie enters the dining room, to find the other end of the rope tied to a beautifully set dining table. Stepford Man is in the room, glass of whisky in hand, swaying slighty. STEPFORD MAN You know what, Annie? Im really sick of your fucking face. Annie recoils slighty, pulling on the rope to get away. red wine Longer get in mascara as she wipes

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STEPFORD MAN (CONTD) (Shouting.) I work my ass of every day nine-to-fucking-five and you cant even have dinner on when Im back? What are you, a teenager? Responsibilty have you quaking in your heels? ANNIE Please, just let me go, Im sorry about dinner, just let me leave. The Man throws the glass at the wall behind her where it shatters. STEPFORD MAN Leave? You wanna leave me with your little mistake? Leave a baby to fend for himself while Im working? ANNIE (Sobbing.) A baby? Are you mad? Just please, IHe lunges across the room at her, knocking a bottle of wine on the table over as he does. She tries to run, but the rope trips her. CUT TO. INT. STEPFORD DINING ROOM. DAY. Tom struggles with the Stepford Wife on the floor as she shrieks, trying to force the broken bottle into his face. CUT TO. INT. STEPFORD DINING ROOM. DAY. The Stepford Man grabs Annie and reaches for her throat. CUT TO.

10. INT. STEPFORD DINING ROOM. DAY. The Wife thrusts the bottle at an exhausted Toms face. CUT TO. INT. STEPFORD DINING ROOM. DAY. The Man grasps Annies throat, as she struggles against him and the rope. CUT TO. INT. THE FLAT. KITCHEN. DAY. Annie is wearing a pair of leggings and a baggy jumper. She hums to herself as she walks to the oven, hesitates a second, before opening it and putting in a frozen pizza. CUT TO. INT. THE FLAT. LIVING ROOM. DAY. Annie sits watching television. There are a couple of unpacked boxes next to a small sofa, on which Annie has rested a beer and a plate of pizza. Enter Tom, his shirt untucked and tie undone and sits next to her, kissing her neck. ANNIE I got some unpacking done today. Too tired to do much else, so pizza. TOM Perfect, lets hear it for the weekend. Pub? ANNIE I was thinking a night in, got some wine and a few beers in earlier. TOM Glad to see your priorities are in check. They both laugh as she picks up her beer and Tom snatches it from her, taking a large mouthful. She laughs, leaning back and picking up the plate of pizza. FADE TO BLACK.

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SYNOPSIS: Tom and Annie, a young couple, have just moved into their new flat. Living together for the first time they both worry about the seriousness of their relationship, and how it is maturing. One night, after Annie abandons her carefree attitude to prepare a traditional dinner, they realise and explore their insecurities and fears through a series of surreal dreams.