The Final Chase
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
A car pulls up on a residential street. ALISON (45), wearing a skirt-suit and heels, gets out of the car with a phone to her ear.
ALISON
Hi Hugh, what can I do for you?...
Passing the phone from her hand to her shoulder, she walks round the back and opens the boot.
HUGH (V.O.)
Alison! Yes, unfortunate timing I know, but would you mind coming back into the office? We’re having an absolute nightmare with the figures for Tuesday, and you know, you really are the best…
ALISON
Er-, well, yeah, it’s not great… but I could spare an hour or two if it’s urgent...
She lifts two bags of shopping out the back and raises her arm to shut the door.
HUGH (V.O.)
Well, if you could that would be great, but of course, no-one’s forcing you to.
ALISON
No, no, it’s not a problem... I’m just about to go into a spin-class though, so if you want to go over things before tomorrow, I’ll have to call you back about...
She checks her watch. It’s 5:03.
ALISON (CONT. )
...Would 6 work?..
HUGH (V.O.)
Yes! Great! You know I’m so awful with this sort of thing! Really don’t know what I’d do without you.
She steps onto the pavement with both bags of shopping and walks up the garden path of one of the houses.
ALISON
Okay great, I’ll speak to you then.
She ends the call and searches for her keys. The roar of a crowd cheering emanates from inside the house.
INT. HOUSE - NIGHT
JEREMY (78) sits in a tattered armchair. To his right is a large red settee, and to his left, a coffee table.
The TV is at a deafening volume. He is watching the UK Athletics Indoor Championship. A row of athletes kneeling at the start line can be seen in the reflection of his varifocals. Mouth agape, he is fully engrossed.
Alison enters and winces. She closes the door and starts picking up letters and leaflets scattered on the hallway floor. Dropping the post and shopping in the kitchen, she then makes her way to the living room.
ALISON
(in a raised voice)
Hi, Dad.
Jeremy, unaware, remains fixed on the TV. Tentatively, she moves closer towards him.
ALISON (CONT’D)
(louder)
Hello, Dad!
Now reaching his armchair, Alison lightly touches Jeremy’s shoulder. He jumps, but realising it’s Alison, he touches her hand gently and smiles.
ALISON (CONT’D)
(Shouting above the sound of the TV)
Hi! Sorry! I’m just going to put the shopping away, do you want a tea?!
He looks at her, confused. She mimes drinking a cup of tea.
ALISON (CONT’D)
(annunciating heavily)
A TEA.
Jeremy smiles and nods. Alison gives a thumbs up.
INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Alison opens the fridge door to face scraps of out-of-date or mouldy food. She sighs. She opens a window and cleans the kitchen and fridge, leaving it spotless. She leans on the counter to catch her breath, before carefully choosing a mug from the cupboard. She then makes them both a cup of tea, and carries it into the living room.
INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Upon seeing her, Jeremy turns off the TV. She sets a mug down next to him and takes hers over to the red settee.
ALISON
You’ve been feeling okay then, Dad?
JEREMY
Yeah, fine.
ALISON
Sorry I’m a bit late, got held up at work.
Jeremy takes a sip of his tea.
ALISON (CONT’D)
The weather’s been awful hasn’t it. God knows what it will be like in November.
Jeremy looks absentmindedly out the window.
ALISON (CONT’D)
Have you eaten Dad? I’ve just put loads of stuff in the fridge.
JEREMY
Sorry, what was that, love?
Alison leans forward.
ALISON
(louder)
Did you have any LUNCH?
Jeremy nods.
ALISON (CONT’D)
What did you have?
JEREMY
Kit-Kat.
He gives a wry smile. Alison smiles too.
JEREMY (CONT’D)
Four finger.
ALISON
Ah, okay then! You must be stuffed! There’s lots of stuff in the fridge for later.
It’s quiet.
ALISON (CONT’D)
You been watching the athletics, Dad?
JEREMY
Yeah, I um- I like that-, that Ennis girl.
ALISON
Jessica Ennis? Yeah, she’s good, isn’t she.
Jeremy nods again.
JEREMY
The er-, the Olympics is on in April.
Alison looks confused.
ALISON
The Olympics, Dad? It’s July.
JEREMY
Oh really? Okay.
Alison leans forward again, concerned. Her phone rings - it’s 5:57 and Hugh is calling.
ALISON
Fuck! Okay, sorry Dad, I’ve got to go - I’ll just grab your WASHING and then I’ll come back down and say a proper GOODBYE, okay?
Jeremy looks at her distantly. Alison gets up from the settee and gives Jeremy a kiss on the head. He clutches her arm as she does so, disappointed when she turns to leave. After a few moments, he turns the TV back on.
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Alison answers the phone as she starts hurriedly picking up Jeremy’s clothes from the floor. In her haste, she becomes slightly breathless.
ALISON
I’m so sorry, Hugh, the instructor was late, they’ve only just let us out.
HUGH (V.O.)
God, I can tell, they must work you hard.
ALISON
Well, yes - can you give me a few minutes?
HUGH (V.O.)
Okay, but don’t be too long now - we need you Alison!
Alison forces a laugh and hangs up the phone. She picks up an item of clothing and gasps, dropping it immediately. Looking closer, they’re Jeremy’s pyjama bottoms, wet with urine. She pulls the duvet back and stares at the bed in disbelief. There’s a large stain on the right side of the fitted sheet.
The phone rings again. She doesn’t answer.
INT. CAR (MOVING) - DAY
Three months later, slithers of sunlight pass over Alison’s face as she drives through residential streets. The radio is on and a comedy show plays unintelligibly in the background. The audience roars with laughter. Alison smiles and turns it up.
She makes a left turn and pulls up next to the pavement on the same residential road as before. She sits for a moment as the next segment is introduced.
ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
Now, for the second of two programmes, Mark Dowd looks at legalising assisted dying. Last week we heard arguments against it, and this week, the other side of the debate. Listener discretion is advised. You might find some of the stories upse-
The audio cuts off as Alison takes the keys out of the ignition and gets out of the car.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Alison heads to the boot, wearing trainers, jeans and a hooded jumper. She gets out three bags of shopping: one now solely dedicated to ‘Shields’ - a brand of male incontinence pants.
Along with these, she tucks a small white ‘Lloyd’s Pharmacy’ bag under her arm and closes the boot behind her. She walks up the same garden path to the same front door and opens it. The heads of daffodils can be seen just above the unkempt grass.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
JEREMY (O.S.)
No, don’t touch me!
MIRANDA (O.S.)
Okay, Jeremy, I understand you’re feeling frustrated.
JEREMY (O.S.)
I want the other woman! Where’s the other one - the fat one!
MIRANDA (O.S.)
She’s on her way, okay? If you don’t need anything right now, I’ll come back and check on you in a few minutes.
Alison drops one of the bags at the kitchen door and heads upstairs, taking the medicines and incontinence pants with her.
INT. LANDING - DAY
MIRANDA (35), leaves the bedroom and closes the door behind her. She is wearing pale purple scrubs and a pair of blue rubber gloves. A navy lanyard with an ID card attached hangs around her neck.
ALISON
You okay?
MIRANDA
He needs a bath - he hasn’t had one for a few days but he won’t let me touch him.
ALISON
Okay, don’t worry.
MIRANDA
Sorry, I couldn’t be of more help. Other than that he’s been ok: he’s eaten, taken his medications for the morning, had plenty to drink.
ALISON
No, it’s okay, I know what it’s like.
MIRANDA
You’re going to put me out of a job, you know.
ALISON
Well, I’ve only got the time for the one irritable elderly person, so you’re alright for now.
Miranda gives a light laugh and smiles too.
MIRANDA
Right, well, onto the next!
ALISON
Yes - and thank you as always, it means a lot.
Miranda passes Alison and makes her way down the stairs.
INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Alison opens the door and unlocks a locked box on top of the chest of drawers, putting the prescriptions from the Lloyds Pharmacy bag inside. She then puts the incontinence pants in one of its drawers, and leaves a pack for easy access on top.
The room is cluttered with a walker, commode, and a reading chair. Jeremy is laying in bed in a white and blue striped nightshirt, noticeably thinner and unshaven. Alison takes a seat next to him in the reading chair at the side of the bed.
JEREMY
Finally! Where have you been?
ALISON
Come on Dad, it’s Monday, we always have a bath on a Monday.
JEREMY
It’s not Monday, it’s Tuesday.
ALISON
No, it's Monday, Dad. It won’t take long.
Alison goes to pull the duvet off Jeremy. He grabs it tightly, pulling the corner up over his chest.
ALISON (CONT’D)
Dad, come on, let go.
Alison tries to pull the duvet back.
JEREMY
No, get off!
Jeremy starts to flail in bed.
ALISON
You’ll feel better after.
His knees and feet hit Alison again and again, repeatedly in the chest.
JEREMY
Get off me, get off me now, GET OFF!
With one particularly harsh blow, Alison lets go and stands to leave.
INT. LANDING - CONTINUOUS
She runs downstairs, landing heavily on each step.
JEREMY (O.S.)
Where have you gone?! Come back! Come back now!
INT..EXT. LIVING ROOM/GARDEN - CONTINUOUS
She walks through the living room and opens the French doors to the garden. Standing still for a moment, she desperately tries to collect herself, but fails and begins to cry.
After a few sobs, she wipes her tears and takes a shaky deep breath. She then steps back inside, closes and locks the French doors, and heads back upstairs.
INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Alison stands at Jeremy’s bedroom door and peers in nervously.
ALISON
Tea, then?
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
They both sit in silence with a cup of tea in hand. Jeremy, oblivious, is sitting up happily in bed. Alison, in the reading chair beside him, stares blankly at the floor.
INT. ALISON’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Four months later, Alison and her husband, GREG (47) are asleep in bed. They have only a bed sheet over them, and fans perched on their bedside tables whir as they oscillate from side to side.
Alison’s phone rings - ‘LIFE CONNECT PEOPLE’ appears on her home screen. It’s 1:23am. She wakes up panicked and answers.
ALISON
Hello?
EMMA
Hi, I’m Emma, I’m from the LifeConnect24 response team, is this Alison?
ALISON
Hello? Yes, is everything okay?
She turns the bed-side lamp on and sits up.
EMMA (V.O.)
Your father has activated his personal alarm - but don't worry, he seems to be ok. We’ve spoken to him through the loudspeaker and he doesn't appear to need medical assistance, but he is quite distressed and claims that there’s someone in his room. We’ve called the police just to be safe, but he is also asking for you. Are you available?
Alison pulls back the duvet and kicks her legs out the bed. She starts putting on a pair of fluffy grey slippers.
ALISON
Yes, of course, so he’s okay? Just scared?
EMMA (V.O.)
Well, yes - from what we can gather he’s physically fine, just very upset.
Alison grabs a jacket out the wardrobe and starts putting it on.
ALISON
Okay, great, that’s great, thank you. I’ll er- I’ll head over now.
EMMA (V.O.)
No, it’s no prob–
Alison hangs up the phone and wakes Greg.
ALISON
It’s Dad, he’s set his alarm off so I’m going over. I don’t know when I’ll be back, can you sort Sophie out in the morning? I’ve done her lunch already - it’s in the fridge.
GREG
Erm- yeah, but I’m getting the 8:17 and you’ll have the car.
ALISON
Oh fuck, okay, that’s fine - if you get her ready I’ll take her.
GREG
Okay love. See you later.
Greg turns over and goes back to sleep. Alison grabs her handbag from her side of the bed and leaves immediately.
INT. LANDING - NIGHT
Police officer, GARY (39) stands outside Jeremy's bedroom. The door is open. Jeremy is slumped in the farthest corner, with another officer, LUCY (25), crouching beside him. His nightshirt is scrunched up around his waist, exposing his incontinence pants and his pale-blue varicose-veined legs.
The front door slams and Alison runs up the stairs.
ALISON
Is he okay?
GARY
He’s quite upset but as far as we can tell, he’s alright, yeah.
ALISON
He said there was someone in the house?
GARY
Yes, we had a look, we can’t see anyone, or any signs of forced entry.
ALISON
Okay, good. He suffers from dementia so I–
GARY
Yeah, we thought so. That’s the closest Lucy’s been able to get to him - he flinches when we touch him.
ALISON
Yeah, he doesn’t like to be touched - but I can get him up, you can go now.
GARY
Are you sure? We—
ALISON
Yes, yes. It’s all fine. I can manage. Thank you though.
GARY
That’s okay, but if you do need help though don’t be afraid to call.
Alison does not respond. She rushes past Gary into Jeremy’s bedroom.
INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Gary beckons Lucy with a wave. She says goodbye to Jeremy and heads out the bedroom door.
LUCY
If you need us, just–
ALISON
Yep.
Alison crouches down beside Jeremy.
ALISON (CONT’D)
Dad, it’s Ali. It’s all going to be alright, okay?
She grabs his hand and wipes the tears off his face. She pulls his nightshirt down over his legs and looks around the room for his walker.
JEREMY
There’s a m-, m-...man...
Alison spots Jeremy’s walker a few feet behind her and pulls it over. Jeremy briefly opens his eyes, before turning his face and closing them tightly again. He looks in the direction of the opposing corner of the room. Alison follows his line of sight. She looks up to see her and Jeremy’s reflection in a full length standing mirror.
ALISON
Oh, Dad.
Alison walks over to the mirror and turns it to face the wall. She then returns to Jeremy.
ALISON (CONT’D)
Okay, he’s gone. Can you see?
Jeremy shakes his head and moans.
ALISON (CONT’D)
The man, er- he, he just got confused. He thought this was his house. But he’s gone now.
Jeremy slowly opens his eyes again.
ALISON (CONT’D)
That’s it, see - he’s gone, Dad, he’s gone.
Jeremy breathes a sigh of relief, and Alison helps him get to his feet. It is a slow, agonising process, but eventually he makes it with the help of his walker.
Still recovering, Jeremy sniffles and pants making his way over to the bed, wincing and moaning occasionally in pain. He sits on its edge, breathless, and leans forward, clinging to Alison’s arm.
JEREMY
I- I- hate- this.
ALISON
I know.
With Alison’s help, he gets under the covers and drifts off to sleep. Alison sits in the reading chair next to him, watching on anxiously.
INT. BEDROOM - DAWN
The sun shines faintly through the curtains. Jeremy and Alison are soundly asleep - Jeremy, in his bed, and Alison, in the chair, still at his bed-side. Her legs are pulled up into her chest and her jacket is draped over her. Her ankles and feet, in her fluffy grey slippers, poke out the bottom.
Alison’s phone vibrates. It wakes her. She has a text from GREG. It reads - ‘have you left yet?’. Alison grabs her handbag, keys and jacket and looks over at Jeremy. He’s still soundly asleep. She leaves the room, gently closing the door behind her.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Alison shuts the front door and scrolls past a list of unanswered calls from Hugh to find Miranda’s number. She calls her, and it goes straight to voicemail.
ALISON
Hi Miranda, so sorry, this is just a quick call to say Dad had a bad night last night - I’ll explain later, but would you mind letting me know how he is when you get there? Just want to make sure he’s okay. Don’t worry if you forget though - I hope you have a good day! It’s Ali by the way.
INT. ALISON’S HALLWAY - DAY
Alison opens the front door and SOPHIE (6) is sitting at the bottom of the stairs. She is doing her shoes up with Greg.
GREG
She’s all ready, she just needs some breakfast. I’m off, okay? Alison gives Greg a kiss on the cheek.
ALISON
Yes! Thank you!
Greg leaves and Alison turns to Sophie.
ALISON (CONT’D)
Okay then, you little monster!
Alison gently tickles Sophie and she giggles.
ALISON (CONT’D)
You know you’ve got a very special breakfast today!
She pulls a four finger Kit-Kat out of her pocket and gives it to Sophie, then grabs Sophie’s book bag and lunch box. They head out the door together.
EXT. SCHOOL PLAYGROUND - DAY
Alison and Sophie run onto the playground. Alison gets odd stares - still wearing her pyjamas and fluffy grey slippers.
ALISON
Okay, so be good now. Daddy will come and pick you up later, okay? I love you.
SOPHIE
Love you too!
Sophie runs over to her teacher and Alison starts swiftly walking back to the car. Her phone rings. It’s Miranda.
ALISON
Hiya, I’m so sorry! How is he? Okay?
MIRANDA (V.O.)
Oh, Ali, I’m - I’m so sorry.
Alison halts to a stop.
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
The kettle boils and the switch flicks up. Jeremy’s kitchen has never looked so clean, and so empty. Greg is making tea - he pours the boiling water into two mugs and stirs them.
INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Alison sits in the corner of the red settee. The room is bare. Card-board boxes clutter the corners, and all that remains are the sofa, TV and Jeremy’s tattered armchair. Alison fiddles with Jeremy’s varifocals, staring at them vacantly.
Greg walks in with the tea and hands a mug to Alison. He grabs the TV remote and sits down next to her.
GREG
Do you mind?
ALISON
No, go ahead.
He turns the TV on. It’s the last heptathlon event of the 2012 Olympic Games - the 800 metre race.
COMMENTATOR (V.O.)
...Here’s Ennis, coming through for glory. A gold medal for Great Britain, a Gold Medal for Jessica Ennis. She’s been fighting for that for so long, and it’s now happened - so much pressure, and she has delivered. What a magnificent performance!