Only Me
INT. CABIN - MORNING
JOHN(30-40)is asleep on the staircase of a small, cluttered, open-plan cabin. The place is filled with warm morning sunlight and through the windows we can see nothing but trees.
John is wearing faded pyjamas and a tattered dressing gown. His hair is unkempt and unclean, and his face is covered in a couple of days worth of stubble. This is not a man who knows how to look after himself, or one that cares about doing so.
An empty beer bottle slips out of one of his limp hands and the sound of it clattering down the stairs wakes him with a start. He grunts in slight pain as he comes to his senses. He looks around slightly dazed and is confused for a moment at where he finds himself. He tries to sit up and immediately slides down a few stairs.
Still not fully awake, he pulls himself stiffly to his feet and walks down the rest of the stairs. He walks over to the messy kitchenette and picks up a mug from the counter. He smells the contents, wretches, and pours it into the sink. Not bothering to clean it, he puts the mug back on the counter.
Looking around he grabs a half-eaten croissant from a plate, shoves it into his mouth, and turns to walk away from the kitchenette. But as he does so, he jumps so violently that he almost chokes on the croissant.
Sitting at a table is another man of about John’s age. He is wearing a neat shirt and trousers, and peers at John over the top of a newspaper.
JOHN
(Shouting)
What the hell are you doing in my house?
MAN
(Relaxed)
Good morning to you too.
JOHN
How did you get in?
MAN
I should think through the front door.
John steadies himself from the shock and glares furiously at the man who looks back with a placid smile. Gradually John’s anger fades into resignation and he sighs deeply.
JOHN
Coffee?
MAN
(Eyeing the mug warily)
I’m alright.
John walks over to a small sitting area. There are two armchairs by a coffee table, and a fireplace on the far wall with a large mirror hanging over it. He collapses into one of the chairs.
The man follows him, looking around the cabin as he goes. As he does so we see how unclean and cluttered it really is. He sits next to John in the other armchair.
JOHN
So, what can I do for you?
MAN
I just thought I’d pop round and say hello.
JOHN
Oh… alright.
MAN
That’s not illegal is it?
JOHN
No I don’t suppose so. Although I might make a case that you were breaking and entering.
MAN
No breaking, just entering. That can happen when you leave your front door open all night.
JOHN
(Sitting up, shocked)
Did I?
MAN
You did.
JOHN
I must have been… preoccupied.
MAN
(Pointedly)
Is that also why you slept on the stairs?
John shifts uncomfortably in his chair.
JOHN
I… I suppose.
MAN
Well, at least it’s only me.
There’s a pause and they both sit in silence for a few moments.
MAN(CONT’D)
(Suddenly)
How you holding up?
JOHN
What?
MAN
How you holding up? Out here on your own.
JOHN
I’m fine.
The man gives him a sceptical look.
JOHN(CONT’D)
(Defensively)
I’m fine. Why are you on my case all of a sudden?
MAN
I worry about you.
JOHN
I’m a grown man.
MAN
A grown man who lives on his own. No family, no friends, no steady job.
JOHN
What would I want all that for?
MAN
I don’t know, something to give you purpose perhaps?
John looks at the man with an offended look. There is silence again, a little more tense than before.
JOHN
I’m not lonely… if that’s what you think.
The man responds immediately as if this is the topic he has been waiting to discuss.
MAN
How can you not be lonely?
JOHN
Just because I live alone that doesn’t mean I’m lonely. Anyway, I’m not alone am I. I wish I was but unfortunately you’ve broken into my house.
MAN
Entered… but I’ve only been here a few minutes.
JOHN
(Under his breath)
A few minutes too many.
MAN
(Ignoring him)
What about the rest of the time?
JOHN
There’s always people around.
At that moment there is a knock on the door. John indicates the noise triumphantly as if proving his point.
He gets up, walks across the cabin and answers the door. We watch this from where the man is sitting and cannot see who is at the door. We can only hear John’s muffled voice speaking to them.
He sees the person off and comes back to sit down.
JOHN(CONT’D)
You see.
MAN
Delivery men don’t count.
JOHN
Who said that was a delivery man?
MAN
(Ignoring the interruption)
I don’t see why you’re still here. It’s about time you moved back.
JOHN
I’ve told you, I’m not going back there. That city was far more isolating than this place.
MAN
(Incredulously)
How can you think that?
JOHN
Here there’s room to breathe, to think. I can be in touch with myself at the very least, if no one else.
The man looks around the cabin sceptically. It is hard to believe that its inhabitant is a man who is in touch with himself.
MAN
But we had some good times.
JOHN
Nothing I can’t live without. I don’t miss any of it.
MAN
I find that hard to believe.
JOHN
That life just wasn’t for me alright. Not everyone likes the same things. It’s not a crime to be different.
MAN
Then why do you refuse to get to know people who are different to yourself?
There is another knock. John goes to answer the door and again we watch from a distance, unable to see who is at the door. He returns more quickly this time.
JOHN
I’m all the company I need. Me, myself and I get on just fine.
The man gives him another sceptical, knowing look. John looks slightly confused.
JOHN(CONT’D)
(Defensively)
How would you know anyway? What’s with the whole interrogation? You don’t know how I like to live.
MAN
I know you better than anyone don’t I. You haven’t got anybody else.
JOHN
Well, you don’t know me better than myself.
MAN
If you say so.
JOHN
What’s that supposed to mean?
The man shrugs casually and looks away. John’s anger has flared, and he has become very defensive.
JOHN(CONT’D)
You don’t know anything about my life and what I like to do with it, and quite frankly it’s none of your business.
MAN
I’m not attacking you. I’m trying to help you.
JOHN
Well I don’t remember asking for your help.
MAN
(Exasperated)
Your lifestyle is one big cry for help!
JOHN
That’s no—
Another knock on the door cuts him off. He exhales in frustration, glares at the man, and goes to answer the door. Again we do not follow him and instead watch from a distance. He returns quickly and the man gives him a questioning look to which he gives no response.
MAN
It’s not healthy, living like this. And if anything were to happen to you I would hold myself accountable.
JOHN
Well don’t. I think you’ve got a slightly overinflated view of the role you play in my life.
MAN
Even so. I worry about you. Constantly.
JOHN
(Restraining himself)
Again, I’m a grown man, you don’t need to treat me like a child.
MAN
Then don’t act like one.
JOHN
Just because my life isn’t as neat and tidy and conventional as some people’s, it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with me.
MAN
And who are you trying to convince of that, me or you?
There is yet another knock. John is visibly irritated now and jumps up aggressively to answer it.
MAN(CONT’D)
Who is that?
John doesn’t answer him but goes to open the door. The man looks suspiciously towards the door, still unable to see who is there. John returns.
JOHN
Look, I admit I could clean up a little better, but I’m perfectly fine.
MAN
It’s not just about what’s on the outside. If all this is any indication of what’s going on up there… (indicates his head)
JOHN
(Indignantly)
Excuse me?
MAN
It can’t be good for your mental state.
JOHN
(Aggressively)
Oh so now you think I’m crazy; is that it?
MAN
(Defensively)
I’m just saying, if you’re not careful… you might start to go a bit sideways.
John looks at the man in offended astonishment. There is another knock at the door.
MAN(CONT’D)
If you haven’t already.
John looks slowly and suspiciously towards the door, then back to the man. There is a beat before John shakes his head in annoyance.
He gets up to answer the door and this time we begin to follow him. The man’s arguments continue as he goes and fade into the background as John gets further away.
MAN(CONT’D)
You’ve got to look after yourself better than this.
John opens the door roughly but the door blocks us from seeing who is there.
MAN(CONT’D)
Greater men than you have lost their minds in isolation.
John closes the door with considerable force and turns quickly to walk back, but as he gets half way there is another knock. He makes a noise of great frustration and rushes back to the door.
JOHN
(Shouting)
How am I supposed to be lonely when there are so many bloody people around?
He opens the door aggressively and this time we are watching over his shoulder, but…
there is no one there. John is shocked into stillness. He just stands for a moment, staring at the empty doorway looking stunned and confused. There is silence.
He pokes his head out of the door and looks left and right. Slowly he goes outside and looks around to see if there is anyone walking away from the house. There is no one there.
John stops, suspicious comprehension dawning. Very slowly, almost fearfully, he turns and walks back inside.
We watch from John’s perspective as he re-enters the cabin. As the chairs come into view we see that they are empty. There is no one in the room.
JOHN(CONT’D)
Hello? Are you there?
There is no reply. He walks back into the centre of the room. As he looks around the cabin he catches sight of his reflection in the large mirror. He flinches.
He walks towards it, confused and afraid. Reflected in the mirror is not his own image, but that of the man. John moves his head slowly from side to side and the reflection follows this movement.
MAN(REFLECTION)
Of course I’m here.
The man in the mirror speaks, but as we look back towards John we see his lips are moving to the words. By the time we look back to the mirror the reflection is showing John’s own image. The voice is also now his.
JOHN
(Still looking in mirror)
I’m always here.
As if breaking out of a trance, John backs away from the mirror in horror. He stops in the middle of the room frozen, alone and diminished. There is complete stillness. The cabin feels suddenly overwhelming and confining as it stands empty, silent and cold.