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EXT. ESTATE. DAY.
Outside of IRIS KRELLs house, JUDEE LEVINSON approaches the door and knocks cautiously.
IRIS opens, and is surprised.
Judee
Hello, Iris.
Iris
Oh, hello Mrs Levinson! I wasn’t expecting to see you today, is there a problem? No more booze has gone missing from your cabinet has it?
Jude
No, no its not that, can i come in?
Iris
Of course! I’ll put a brew on!
INT. LIVING ROOM. DAY.
They enter the house, its quieter than usual as the children arent home, but still just as messy.
Judee
No, I’m not staying, there’s just something I need to talk to you about.
Iris
Oh, is everything alright?
They both sit down on the sofa.
Judee
I’ve just come round to tell you, well, I won’t be requiring your services anymore.
Iris
You what? You’re firing me? Is this about those empty bottles you found in the bin? ‘Cos I told you I don’t know how they get there!
Judee
No, no its not you Iris, it’s just… Well, I’m leaving Royston Vasey, for good.
Iris
What? You’re leaving? When?
Judee
Tonight, I have a flight booked for Paris at 6.
Iris
Oh… Right.
IRIS is relieved, none of this has been real, just another one of JUDEEs pretend trips to Europe or the Caribbean where she hasn’t even left Royston Vasey.
Judee
No, Iris… I mean it.
JUDEE takes the plane ticket out of her purse and shows it to IRIS.
As IRIS reads the ticket her face drops, she’s really leaving.
Iris
Oh, I see. But what about your spa business with Charlie? I thought that was going well?
JUDEE looks away from IRIS.
Judee
Well, I’m afraid thats all rather… Ruined now.
Iris
Why? What’s happened?
JUDEE’s eyes well, she really doesn’t want to talk about it.
Judee
It’s just, I found out Charles has been using the business as a front for his own… Endeavours.
Iris
What? Like money laundering?
Judee
…Not quite, but theres something else, something I havent told anyone…
Iris
Well, you can tell me, love, if you want to…
Judee
Well, when Eddy…
JUDEE puts her hand on her chest.
Judee
When Eddy died, it felt like the end of my life too, I thought there would never be anything that was as important to me as Eddy, but after opening Spit & Polish, for the first time in so long, there was. I finally had something that I built, something I was proud of, and now its gone…
A tear rolls down JUDEEs cheek.
Judee (cont’d)
…But its just made me realise, that if I want to find that again, it won’t be here, so I have to leave Vasey.
IRIS doesnt know what to say.
Iris
…Oh.
JUDEE
So, I’ve come to say goodbye, and, also, to tell you… I love you, mum.
JUDEE breaks down crying.
Iris
Oh, I love you too!
IRIS holds JUDEE as she cries.
After a moment they get up from the sofa and walk back towards the door. IRIS opens the door and JUDEE stops before stepping out and turns to face IRIS.
Judee
Goodbye, mum.
Iris
Goodbye, Judee. You have fun in Paris, love, send me a postcard won’t you, and maybe a bottle of something french!
JUDEE scoffs and rolls her eyes.
Judee
Were all those bottles from my cabinet not enough?
IRIS is shocked.
Iris
You knew that was me?
Judee
Of course I did! you werent exactly subtle!
JUDEE laughs.
IRIS doesn’t.
Iris
I’m sorry…
Judee
Oh, don’t worry about that now dear, it’s all Advacare under the bridge!
Iris
I don’t just mean that, I’m so sorry, Judee.
JUDEEs smile fades at the realisation of what IRIS means, she’s not just talking about stolen bottles of booze. They pause for a moment, decades of pointless arguments and cruel words surround them in the air, but the thought of not knowing when they’ll see each other again emerges the most painful of all.
JUDEE looks at her mother, contemplating the years of heartache and grief, knowing she’s really only ever wanted whats best for her.
Judee
I know, I forgive you.
Together, they feel the weight of their strained relationship get lighter.
Judee
Now, I have to go if I’m going to catch my flight!
Iris
You’re alright, you’ve still got ages yet!
judee
I know, but… There’s still one last person I have to see before I go.
JUDEE walks out of the door and down the stairs stopping at the bottom to look back up at IRIS, they smile at each other one last time. JUDEE walks away, and IRIS closes the door.
EXT. CEMETERY. DAY.
JUDEE enters the cemetery of the church of Royston Vasey, in the distance she sees bernice shooing an old man away from the churh, shouting about how shes had a long day and just wants some time to herself.
JUDEE smiles, she will miss vasey, in a way. she approaches a grave with “Eddy Levinson, beloved husband and father” engraved on it, she kneels down next to the grave.
Judee
Hello Eddy, I’m sorry I havent been to see you in a while, gosh, not since Matthew’s graduation, he’s been doing ever so well, he’s off travelling now, he’s in Cambodia at the moment, and he’ll be in Thailand by the end of the month! Nicola, she’s still in the hospital, as you know. I’ve been meaning to come and see you again but I’ve been rather busy, and well, there something I have to confess, you see, recently, I’ve found myself feeling things for someone, things I never thought I’d feel again. But you dont have to worry though, thats all gone away now.
JUDEE puts on a smile and then looks down with tears forming in her eyes.
Judee (cont’d)
There is something else I need to talk to you about as well, I’m afraid I won’t be able to come and see you anymore, because I’m leaving Vasey.
JUDEE pauses, her eyes getting heavier holding back tears.
Judee (cont’d)
I’ve lived here all my life, and when I look around, theres all these reminders of… Well, things I’d rather forget. But Eddy, dont ever think for a second, that I’ll ever forget you, or stop missing you, or stop loving you, because I won’t, not ever. All these years later and still, every time I remember, that you’re gone, I get this pain in my chest, the kind of pain that is so sharp and so shocking that it just… Takes my breath away, and for a moment I can’t do anything but miss you. You’d think 17 years is enough time to start to move on, but, every day I wake up, and I look over to your side of the bed, and you’re not there, and I get that pain in my chest again, because you should be there, you should be there on on your side of the bed, or in your chair in the living room, or sat across from me at the dining table, but you’re not, and it’s not right. sometimes I look in the mirror, and I see a wrinkle or a grey hair, and I have a flash forward to what it would look like, you and I growing old together, and then I remember… That won’t happen, and theres that pain again…
JUDEE puts her hand on her chest again and breaks down crying, after a moment she composes herself, and looks beyond the cemetery towards Vasey.
Judee (cont’d)
I thought, by staying in Vasey, you’d always be nearby, but, I realised, wherever I go, you are nearby, because you’re in here…
JUDEE places her hand over her heart.
Judee (cont’d)
That pain… In my chest, whenever I remember you, it hurts, but for that moment I can feel you again, and I know… I havent forgotten you.
JUDEE takes a deep, unsteady breath.
Judee (cont’d)
So… Eddy, I havent come to say goodbye to you, just to tell you… No matter where I go, you’ll be with me.
JUDEE stands up and walks out of the cemetery, picking up three suitcases she left by the gate.
She stops BARBARA as she drives past, she puts her suitcases into the boot of the taxi and gets in the back seat.
Barbara
Where to, love?
Judee
The train station please, Barbara, and from there it’ll be the airport!
Barbara
Oh! you off on your holidays Mrs Levinson?
Judee
It’s a one way ticket actually Barbara, it’s time to go.
BARBARA drives off.
JUDEE looks out of the window at the cemetery and smiles with content, she’s finally getting out.
EXT. TRAIN STATION. DAY.
JUDEE arrives at the train station and gets out of the car.
Barbara
Here, I’ll help you with those bags, Mrs Levinson.
Judee
No, thats okay Barbara, I’ll have to do these things for myself from now on, thank you though! Goodbye, Barbara.
JUDEE smiles and barbara drives away. BENJAMIN DENTON is sitting on the bench waiting for the train, with a modest black case at his feet.
JUDEE approaches the ticket machine and struggles to hold up her suitcases while getting her ticket.
BENJAMIN notices her struggling and walkes over to her.
Benjamin
Here, let me help you with that.
BENJAMIN holds one of her cases while JUDEE pays for her ticket.
Judee
Oh, thank you dear, I’m Judee, by the way.
Benjamin
Benjamin.
Judee
Benjamin Denton?
Benjamin
Yes, how did you…?
Judee
I’ve heard all about you from Valerie!
Benjamin
All good i hope…
BENJAMIN laughs, nervously, at what Val could have possibly told her.
Judee
Oh, of course! She just adores you, she’s ever so sad your leaving, but she knows you have your reasons.
BENJAMIN is relieved, but it’s accompanied by a strange sense of guilt at leaving her behind.
They walk back over to the bench and sit down next to each other.
Benjamin
So, are you off anywhere nice?
Judee
Paris.
Benjamin
Those bags are pretty heavy, you must be going a while.
Judee
Actually, I’m not coming back.
Benjamin
Oh?
JUDEE nods.
Judee
As I’m sure you know, this place, it closes in on you, after a while every stroll around town, every trip to the grocery store, becomes a slideshow of memories and well… Recently, it’s just all gotten a bit too much, I need to be somewhere new, somewhere with less… History.
Benjamin
I know what you mean, I was only supposed to be here two days, it’s been six months!
Judee
What?
Benjamin
I was supposed to be going hiking with my friend Martin and then getting the train home, but it didn’t work out like that. Like you said, this place has a way of keeping you here, and I worry, if I dont leave now… Well, I might not get another chance, martin didn’t.
BENJAMIN looks down, remembering his friend.
Judee
What happened to him?
Benjamin
I’ll never know for sure, but after a brief, and involuntary, stay at a certain local shop… I have a pretty good idea. I didn’t even get to say goodbye.
Judee
I’m sorry.
Benjamin
Thank you.
They pause for a moment, there is an understanding between them that neither have felt for a long time.
Benjamin
So, is that the whole reason you’re leaving or is there… More? Didn’t you just open a new business with Charlie Hull?
Judee
Oh, you heard about tha-
JUDEEs face drops.
Judee (nervously)
You were never a customer were you?
Benjamin
No, no I just…
JUDEE sighs with relief.
benjamin
I did hear Charlie was providing a little more than back rubs-
JUDEE cuts him off before he can humiliate her any more.
Judee
Yes, alright, thank you Benjamin, thats quite enough.
BENJAMIN stops smiling when he realises shes serious.
Benjamin
Sorry…
Judee
It’s fine, it’s just… I was really excited about that, it made me feel like I was good at something, like I had a purpose. But I suppose it’s what I deserve, it was all built on a lie anyway.
Benjamin
You can’t think of it like that.
Judee
There’s no other way to think about it, I thought I was the clever manager pulling all the strings, and all that time he was…
JUDEE sighs and puts her hand over her face.
Benjamin
I’m sorry, I didnt mean to upset you.
Judee
It’s not you, it’s been an emotional day.
Benjamin
I’m sure.
BENJAMIN pauses for a moment, obviously trying to think of a way to change the subject.
Benjamin (cont’d)
This is a big deal, leaving your hometown. Did you know I was actually born here, in Vasey?
Judee
No! Really?
Benjamin
Yeah, my dad, Harvey’s brother, grew up here. Then he met my mum, and we stayed here for a bit after I was born but, I think they knew, about this place, the effect it has on people who stay here too long, they wanted something bigger for me, so we got out, moved down to london, but I always wondered, what it would have been like to grow up here. Now, after being here so long, I’m so grateful I didn’t have to.
Judee
Hmm, from where I’m sitting it seems like your parents did a very good job!
They both smile.
The train arrives at the station, they look at each other as if to say “This is it!” and they both get on.
INT. TRAIN. DAY.
BENJAMIN helps JUDEE load her suitcases into the overhead storage.
Judee
Thank you.
Benjamin
It’s no problem, would you like to sit together?
Judee
I’d love to but… I think I have to do this on my own from here.
Benjamin
I understand, it was lovely talking to you. I hope you’re happy in Paris.
Judee
Thank you, love, I’m really glad I met you benjamin. I’ll be sure to keep in touch, let you know how its going, and maybe one day you could come and visit!
Benjamin
Yes, I’d love to visit. Goodbye Mrs Levinson.
Judee
Goodbye Benjamin…
They both smile and BENJAMIN walks down to the other end of the train to find a seat, JUDEE sits down and looks longingly out of the window.
Judee (cont’d)
…And goodbye Vasey, I’ll miss you.
THE END