EXT. PARK - NIGHT - WARNING! Coarse language...

Anna, a 16-year-old girl, dressed in a short denim mini-skirt, tank top and six inch heels totters across the grass of a clearing amongst trees and overgrown bushes.


She shivers and rubs her hands quickly over her bare arms, a lit cigarette hanging from the fingers of her left hand.  She takes a long drag as she walks past a thick tree trunk shrouded by branches and leaves that dance across the ground in the wind.


Anna crouches down as she walks and strains to see beyond the tree branches.  A COUPLE can be seen making out heavily against the tree trunk.

ANNA

                               Benny?

Anna stops in her tracks and continues to smoke her dwindling cigarette, waiting for a reply.  When nothing comes she takes another drag of her cigarette.

COUPLE

                               FUCK OFF.

Anna squints her eyes again in the direction of the couple.

ANNA

                               Hiya, Nick.

Anna smiles, then stands and continues straight ahead on her path across the grass clearing towards a break in the trees.

Once at the break in the trees, Anna looks back across the clearing where the moonlight caresses the grass.  She takes her high heels off and leans against the nearest tree trunk.  Anna sighs, closes her eyes and rests her head against the tree trunk.

BENNY (O.S.)

                               Where's my money?

Anna jumps in fright before quickly looking around her.  BENNY, a tattooed giant in his mid-thirties, emerges from behind the trees on the opposite side of the tree break.

ANNA

                               Shit!  What's with all the

                               creeping?

BENNY

                               Where's my money?

Anna slips her high heels back on her feet as Benny walks towards her, a large palm opened out in front of him.  Anna reaches into the front of her tank top and rummages around the front of her bra before pulling out a roll of notes.

Anna hands the money to Benny who counts the money in front of her.  Once counted Benny takes a couple of notes from the roll and hands them back to Anna.  Anna puts them back in her bra.

BENNY (cont'd)

                               You done for the night?

Anna shrugs, watching Benny closely.

BENNY (cont'd)

                               Right, come on then.  I'll

                               take you home.

Benny walks away further into the trees.  Anna walks slowly behind.  They disappear into the darkness.

(written listening to 'Weeping Willow' by The Verve)

INT. BREAK ROOM - DAY

Brenda, Aisha and Leigh sit huddled around a low coffee table in the one spacious corner of the office break room.  WORKERS walk back and forth behind them as they talk.

LEIGH

                              So do you think this will 

                              be a suitable quiz for our

                              students?

Leigh points to a sheet of paper on the coffee table while Brenda sits looking out of the break room into the office beyond, which is buzzing with life.  Aisha nods.

AISHA

                              Sure, sounds fine with me.

They look to Brenda who turns back to the group and immediately reaches out to touch Leigh's shoulder.

BRENDA

                              You seem very stressed today 

                              Anna.  Are you okay?

Leigh smiles tightly as Aisha furrows her brow in confusion.

LEIGH

                              Yeah.  I'm fine.  I've just 

                              got a lot on my mind.

BRENDA

                              Are you sure?  You just don't 

                              seem like yourself.

LEIGH

                              Well, I'm a bit hot in here 

                              today but I'm not stressed.

AISHA

                              So, Brenda, do you agree with 

                              Leigh and me that this quiz is 

                              appropriate?

Aisha looks at her watch as she speaks.  Leigh writes something on a note pad which is lying in her lap.

BRENDA

                              Yeah.  It's fine.

LEIGH

                              So, the other thing I wanted to 

                              talk to you about was the issue 

                              of the writing project that the

                              students need to complete.  I 

                              was thinking about what you 

                              said Brenda and feel it's best 

                              if each teacher decides how best 

                              to approach the work with their

                              class rather than me dictating.

BRENDA

                              That's what I was meaning when 

                              I spoke to you about this 

                              yesterday.  I didn't mean you 

                              needed to change anything or add

                              anything to what we already have 

                              in the syllabus.  Anyway, if we

                              teach the lesson comparing 

                              the two buildings that we have

                              coming up with a focus on the 

                              project then that will be 

                              enough for the students to work 

                              with.

Aisha and Leigh nod their heads in agreement.

LEIGH

                              Well, that's all I wanted to 

                              talk to you about so I guess 

                              we're done.

BRENDA

                              Are you absolutely sure 

                              nothing's bothering you Anna?

LEIGH

                              No, I'm fine.

BRENDA

                              Okay.

LEIGH

                              Thanks then guys.  I'll send 

                              you the minutes tomorrow for 

                              your signature.

Aisha, Leigh and Brenda all get up and exit the room.  

BRENDA

                              I'll meet you in the restaurant

                              for lunch Aisha.  Bye Anna.

Brenda turns and waves at Leigh as she walks away.  As Brenda nears the office entryway ANNA walks into the break room towards her.

BRENDA

                              Hi, Anna.

Anna smiles at Brenda as she walks past and then immediately bursts into laughter along with Leigh who holds back in the room.  Leigh moves towards Anna.

LEIGH

                              D'you see what I mean?

Leigh shakes her head with a smile as she walks away into the office leaving Anna laughing alone in the break room.