BETWEEN FOUR JUNCTIONS

1. ext. may and ben’s House. day micHael Run, Run, Run!

HENRY JACOB and MICHAEL squat behind a shrub outside MAY and BEN’S HOUSE. MICHAEL sits with one leg bouncing up and down and distractedly picking his lip. In the other hand he holds a BROWN PAPER BAG folded at the top. He occasionally looks repulsed at the bag and turns his face away.

HENRY JACOB squats behind the bush and pulls out the mottled BOX OF MATCHES from his trouser waistband. Only three MATCHES remain. He looks at them intently and his eyes widen.

Like a meerkat, HENRY JACOB peeks over the top of the bush looking into MAY and BEN’S FRONT ROOM. We see them on the sofa; MAY is reading and BEN is doing a puzzle in the newspaper.

HENRY JACOB signals to MICHAEL with a nod of his head. The two boys crawl to the entrance of the house. When out of view of the front-room window they stand up straight.

No words are said but MICHAEL looks to HENRY JACOB to speak. HENRY JACOB responds by shaking his head.

HENRY JACOB signals again by tilting and nodding his head. MICHAEL looks at him then places the BROWN BAG. MICHAEL positions his body to run. HENRY JACOB lights a MATCH and sets light to the BAG. We hear the crackle and MICHAEL covers his face with his hand. HENRY JACOB presses the DOORBELL and we hear the bongs of BIG BEN. MICHAEL begins to run but stops as he notices HENRY JACOB staring at the fire as it lights up his face.

HENRY JACOB admires the dancing FLAMES. He suddenly jolts, hearing a key turn in the door. He looks at the door, then to MICHAEL, and runs off. We hear his thundering heartbeat as he catches up to MICHAEL.

MAY is frail and in her late 60s. BEN is equally as thin and older.

MAY opens the door and screams at the FLAMING BAG on her porch. She recognizes HENRY JACOB running away. BEN, hearing MAY’S screams, rushes to the door and stomps out the fire. His shoe is damaged by the heat and covered in the dog faeces. MAY sobs quietly at the mess and looks to her husband whilst shaking.

The interior of the house is dimly lit. ELEANOR and FRANK sit in the living room reading and working. HENRY JACOB and MICHAEL are in their respective rooms.

A LOUD KNOCK at the door shocks the household. We see ELEANOR jump and FRANK turn to her. ELEANOR goes to the front door with FRANK close behind her.

The KNOCKING grows louder and angrier. ELEANOR opens the front door revealing TWO POLICEMEN. The positioning of the POLICEMEN mirrors the position of ELEANOR and FRANK.

Policeman 1

Good Evening Mr. and Mrs. Jones, we are sorry to interrupt you so late, but we have received a few worried calls and we would like to ask you and your boys a few questions.