Window-Shopping (1)
Lisamarie Jones

  
  
1. EXT. PARK. DAY

LAURIE TAYLOR, in her late twenties, is walking through a park, looking
at the people around her. She is alone. A YOUNG CHILD runs up to her, chasing a ball.
LAURIE picks up the ball, and gives it to him. They smile at one another, and then the
YOUNG CHILD runs away again. LAURIE looks pensive. She is thinking. She speaks in a voice
over as she continues to walk though the park:

LAURIE (V.O.)

Many people believe there’s no such thing as fate; that it’s
an archaic idea used only to make people feel more comfortable about their situations.
Children don’t believe in fate. Children believe in almost anything, but not fate
– they don’t even know such a thing might exist. For them, things just happen,
whether good or bad, and that’s it. Of course, the people who don’t believe in
fate have a much harder time. They have to find reasons and explanations for whatever
happens. I used to be one of them

LAURIE reaches a park bench and sits on it. She is alone.

LAURIE (V.O.)

People change, though, and it only takes one little thing to do it. For
me, that thing didn’t happen all that long ago, but I thank God, the Fates, or
whatever made it happen, that it did. I’m not going to begin by saying ‘once
upon a time,’ although perhaps I should – my story is a fairy tale of sorts.

We cut to:

LAURIE is sitting on a well-worn sofa in a small living room. She is
reading.

LAURIE (V.O.)

And, as is the case in the majority of fairy stories, it all begins
quite happily. Until, of course, the disaster element kicks in.

ANGELA THURROW, early to mid twenties, enters through the front door,
and sits heavily next to LAURIE who takes no notice of her. ANGELA glances at LAURIE and
sighs loudly, trying to get her attention. It does not work.

ANGELA

You know, every now and then it would be nice to be acknowledged when I
enter a room. All this being ignored could give a girl a complex.

LAURIE finally looks up, and notices ANGELA.

LAURIE

Sorry?

ANGELA

I should think so too!

LAURIE

No, I mean, sorry, I didn’t hear a word of what you just said. (She
gestures with her book). Reading.

ANGELA snatches the book away from LAURIE, and makes herself
comfortable, to relay the events of her day at work. She crosses her legs underneath her.

ANGELA

How can you read at a time like this?

LAURIE

Time like what? What’s going on?

ANGELA

I think I can safely say, without exaggerating, that that was the worst
day of work I’ve ever had.

LAURIE

Okay, what happened? No, wait, let me guess: you got fired?

ANGELA is puzzled. She shakes her head and laughs.

ANGELA

No, no, I didn’t get fired. I lost my lunch-break because one of
the secretaries was off sick, but I didn’t get fired.

LAURIE

You mean you didn’t delete your office’s biggest and most
influential contract from their computer this morning? You didn’t lose your company
hundreds of thousands of pounds when you actually thought you were helping by tidying up
their files?

ANGELA

Er, no.

LAURIE

(Sarcastically) You didn’t? Well, hang on a second; if you
didn’t do it, and I’m sitting at home reading, rather than being at work, then
perhaps I did it! Perhaps today I had the worst day of my life, and I got fired.

LAURIE snatches the book back from ANGELA and continues reading.

ANGELA

God, Laurie, I had no idea. I’m sorry. Think of it this way,
though; you’d only been working there a month, so you’re not exactly going to
miss it! (She laughs).

LAURIE throws the book down on the coffee table in front of her and
stands. She walks angrily around the back of the sofa. ANGELA watches her move. LAURIE is
close to tears.

LAURIE

Angela, this isn’t funny; that was the best chance I had of making
something of myself. I can’t keep skipping from job to job like this. I mean, what
was that one? The sixth? Seventh? This year!

ANGELA

(Quietly) I don’t know, I’m sorry. Is there no way you can get
the job back?

LAURIE

No. They made it very clear that my services were no longer required,
and that I wasn’t welcome to step foot in that building again. It looks like I’m
going back to the job centre, doesn’t it?

ANGELA

They might have something better.

LAURIE

Better? Don’t give me that, Angela. I don’t have any skills or
talents to speak of. In all the times I’ve been down there, that office job was the
best thing I’ve been offered.

ANGELA doesn’t know what else to do so she stands and walks
towards the kitchen. She stops as she nears the door. Without turning around she speaks:

ANGELA

Do you want some tea, coffee, arsenic…?

LAURIE laughs. ANGELA walks back to her and gives her a hug. LAURIE
begins to cry on ANGELA’S shoulder.

ANGELA

Come on, stop that. Tomorrow morning you’re going to march down to
that job centre, head held high, and you’re going to get an even better job than the
one you lost, I promise. You’re going to be fine. Hey, remember the time my little
brother was in that crash? And you said to stop worrying because you knew he’d be
fine?

LAURIE nods; she is too choked to speak.

ANGELA

Well, I believed you then, and you were right; he pulled through. Now
it’s your turn to believe me, okay? Everything’s going to turn out for the best,
you’ll see.

It is the next morning. LAURIE is walking down the street towards the
job centre. She is humming a tune to herself. As she looks around her, she notices a
COUPLE holding hands walking along the other side of the street. LAURIE deliberately looks
away, as this sight depresses her.

Outside of the job centre, LAURIE sees a man she recognises as MR.
HARDING, a cockney in his early seventies. He has a cane, and when he speaks, he speaks
quickly. LAURIE waves:

LAURIE

Good morning, Mr. Harding.

MR. HARDING

Laurie! I haven’t seen you around here for a little while – I
thought you’d got a job. Don’t tell me, you got fired! (He laughs)

LAURIE

(She smiles awkwardly) Actually…

MR. HARDING

God, I’m sorry, I was just joking, I didn’t realise. You want
to talk about it? You don’t have to, of course, but I always think it’s the best
thing to do in this sort of situation. So, you going to tell your old friend what’s
up?

LAURIE

I made one mistake and they sacked me for it. (She begins to look
happier) Okay, so it was a big mistake, but still… (She even manages to laugh a
little).

MR. HARDING

I told you talking about it was the best thing to do. (He points to the
job centre) Now get in there, girl, there’s no use standing outside talking to silly
old duffers when you could be getting a job! You’d better get in there before all the
best ones are gone!

LAURIE smiles and waves goodbye to MR. HARDING who walks away down the
road. She turns, takes a deep breath, and enters the job centre.

5. INT. JOB CENTRE. DAY

Once inside the job centre, LAURIE scans the cards on the wall. She
finally finds one that she likes the look of, but just as she is about to pick it up, a
horde of people descends on her. When they have all cleared, and LAURIE can see the cards
again, there are only two left. One is for a window-cleaner, and the other is for a dental
nurse. LAURIE does not have the qualifications for the latter, so she must take the
former, but she is not happy with it. She takes the card and queues. When she arrives at
the front of the line, The ASSISTANT, female, in her early 40s, pays no attention to her
whatsoever.

LAURIE

Excuse me?

The ASSISTANT takes her time, and then looks innocently at LAURIE.

ASSISTANT

Name?

LAURIE

Laurie Taylor.

ASSISTANT

Ah, yes… (She pauses and types on the computer in front of her).

LAURIE puts the card on the counter and pushes it towards THE
ASSISTANT, who types the details into the computer.

LAURIE

Do you have anything else like this?

ASSISTANT

What do you mean?

LAURIE

I need a job with these qualifications, but not this particular job. Do
you have any?

ASSISTANT

(She is irritated). If it’s not on the wall, I don’t have it.
Next, please.

The MAN behind LAURIE pushes her roughly to get to the ASSISTANT, but
LAURIE pushes back, and leans on the counter in front of her. The ASSISTANT is not amused.

ASSISTANT

(More insistently than before) Next, please!

Before the MAN can get to the front of the line again, LAURIE stands her ground and
speaks:

LAURIE

Please, you must have something else. I can’t do this job!

ASSISTANT

Oh? And why is that?

LAURIE opens her mouth to speak, and then looks around her, feeling
embarrassed. She leans in conspiratorially to speak with the ASSISTANT:

LAURIE

(Whispering) Because I’m afraid of heights.

ASSISTANT

(Also whispering, but in a spiteful manner) Listen, dear,
it’s either that or the dole. Your choice.

LAURIE realises that the ASSISTANT is correct. She steps out of the
way, still clutching the card, and lets the MAN get to the front of the line. She
resignedly drops her hand to her side, and brushes the other one through her hair. All she
can do is leave the job centre.

LAURIE pushes open the job centre door and steps outside, taking a deep
breath. ANGELA sneaks up behind her and speaks in her ear:

ANGELA

Boo!

LAURIE, lost in thought, jumps. She is startled.

LAURIE

Jesus, Angela! What are you doing here?

ANGELA

(She pretends to be hurt). Well, that’s nice! I mean, I take an
early lunch-break to come and find out how you got on, and all I get is ingratitude! I
feel decidedly unloved!

LAURIE laughs.

LAURIE

Sorry, it’s really nice of you to be here.

She hands ANGELA the card that she picked up.

LAURIE

Look at this. It’s the only thing they had. How am I supposed to do
that? You know how scared I am of heights – that’s the whole reason we live in a
ground floor flat!

ANGELA

Whoa, calm down, Laurie! Relax. Let’s have a look at this. (She
reads the card). Oh, I see… window cleaning. (She thinks) You know, I could always
try to get you a job where I work – I could recommend you and everything. It’d
even be fun, us working together!

LAURIE

What? Don’t you think I’m capable of getting a job on my own
merit?

ANGELA

That’s not what I meant, and you know it! All I meant was-

LAURIE interrupts ANGELA:

LAURIE

I’m going to try for this job.

ANGELA

Really? (She is so surprised that she is no longer angry).

LAURIE

I need an employer and these people (she points to the card) need an
employee. It’s perfect.

ANGELA

But the height thing!

LAURIE

It’s an irrational fear. From now on I’m going to be a
rational person. The job equals money, and money equals what I need, therefore, the job
equals what I need. I have to do it.

ANGELA

Are you sure? Because I can always-

LAURIE stops her talking with a look.

ANGELA

(Laughing) Okay, okay, Superwoman, I can take a hint!

LAURIE smiles as they walk back to ANGELA’S office. As they walk
away down the street, they chat to one another.

7. INT. MR. OLMAN’S OFFICE. DAY

MR. OLMAN, a man in his fifties, wearing an expensive grey suit, is
sitting behind a large oak desk. LAURIE is sitting on a single chair in front of the desk,
hands clasped. She is dressed smartly for her interview.

MR. OLMAN

I think that’s all I need to ask you, but do you have any questions
for me about this?

LAURIE

Well, I was wondering if you had any jobs where you didn’t have to
go, er, very high. I’m a bit afraid of heights, actually.

MR. OLMAN laughs heartily and bangs his hands on the desk.

MR. OLMAN

That’s a good one, Laurie! I like employees with a sense of humour.

MR. OLMAN stands and offers his hand to LAURIE. She stands to take it.

MR. OLMAN

Welcome to the company, Laurie. On behalf of ‘Clearway Window
Cleaning Services,’ may I say how happy we are to have you, and we hope that you will
be just as happy working here.

LAURIE smiles, hiding the fear she is actually feeling.

LAURIE

Thank you, Mr. Olman.

MR. OLMAN

(He gestures to a piece of paper on his desk) If you would just be so
kind as to sign this contract? That’s great. Now, I shouldn’t really do this,
there’s a whole load of training rigmarole you’re supposed to go through, but if
you’ve got nothing else to do, then I say you could just start today and learn on the
job. Of course, if anyone finds out about that, we could both be in serious trouble, but I
think you’re a smart girl. Now, come with me, and I can introduce you to your
partner.

LAURIE hesitantly picks up a pen, and signs her contract. MR. OLMAN
smiles. LAURIE follows him out of the room.

MR. OLMAN takes LAURIE into the cafeteria. He takes her over to a table
where one woman in her late thirties is sitting, and eating a salad. She is wearing a pair
of "Clearway" overalls, and the name badge says "PAULINE." This is
PAULINE HASLAM

MR. OLMAN

Pauline, this is Laurie. She’s going to be your new partner here.
What time are you going out today?

PAULINE

(Looking at her watch) In about ten minutes.

MR. OLMAN

Good, then Laurie can start today. I’ll leave her here with you,
and you can explain to her anything she might need to know.

MR. OLMAN pulls out a chair for LAURIE to sit on. She does so, smiling
at PAULINE. PAULINE looks at her with no expression on her face. After winking at both of
the women, MR. OLMAN leaves them to talk. Once he has gone, LAURIE decides that she should
break the silence.

LAURIE

Hi. How long have you been working here?

PAULINE

Too long.

LAURIE is a little shocked at the unexpected answer. She is unsure of
what to say next. She decides that PAULINE must be making a joke, and so she laughs.

LAURIE

You should be able to teach me a thing or two then!

PAULINE

Did you think I was making a joke?

LAURIE

Well, I- Yes. (She sees PAULINE’S expression). Or, (she pauses) no,
I didn’t. Sorry.

PAULINE

I hate this job, that’s all I can tell you about it, and so, if you
don’t mind, I’d rather eat the rest of my lunch in peace. Thank you.

LAURIE opens her mouth to speak, but noticing the frown that PAULINE
has adopted, she changes her mind. She sits back in her seat and looks around her. There
are various CLEARWAY EMPLOYEES eating, reading newspapers, or chatting. She sees how happy
they all look, and then she looks back at PAULINE, who still looks miserable. LAURIE
notices the vast contrast. LAURIE turns once more to look around her, and when she comes
back to PAULINE, she has gone. LAURIE quickly gets up from the chair, just in time to see
PAULINE going out of the cafeteria exit. LAURIE has to run to catch up with her.

LAURIE

(Shouting) Hey, Pauline!

PAULINE stops where she is, but does not turn around.

PAULINE

Stop irritating me.

LAURIE

What? What did I do?

PAULINE

I’m going to make this as clear as I can for you. I’m not good
at working with people-

LAURIE

(Sarcastically) You could have fooled me!

PAULINE spins around, and glares at LAURIE.

PAULINE

As I was attempting to say, I’m no good with people. You
haven’t done anything specific, but you’re here, and that’s all the
information I need to dislike you. It’s not personal, but there’s no one else
around.

Before LAURIE can think of an answer, PAULINE strides away down the
hall. LAURIE runs after her.

PAULINE and LAURIE are standing next to their Clearway van, taking the
cleaning materials out of it and putting them on the platform that is going to hoist them
up to clean the higher windows. They are not talking at all. They both look up at the
skyscraper towering above them. LAURIE closes her eyes, swallows hard and takes a deep
breath. When she opens her eyes again, PAULINE is staring at her.

LAURIE

I’m okay.

PAULINE steps up onto the platform.

PAULINE

Why did you bother to tell me that? Do I even look as though I care if
you’re okay? You’d better get those overalls on. (She points to the open door of
the van). We don’t want those nice clothes getting spoiled, do we?

LAURIE goes into the van, and re-emerges with "Clearway"
overalls on. She has no name badge. The overalls are rather large and unflattering.

PAULINE

Are you coming or not?

LAURIE tries to prepare herself. She looks up to the top of the
building, and then at the platform where PAULINE is waiting, hands on hips. She takes a
couple of steps forward, and then stops.

PAULINE

What the hell is the matter with you? Would you please, for the
love of God, just get up onto this platform so we can start earning some money? Or do you
want to get fired on your first day?

LAURIE is upset and looks up sharply at PAULINE. The thought of being
fired yet again makes LAURIE realise how much she needs this job. She walks slowly towards
the platform, and this time steps up onto it. As it begins to ascend, LAURIE clings to the
safety railing for dear life. In order to take her mind off of the ground disappearing
beneath her, LAURIE begins to talk:

LAURIE

This is quite a coincidence, and you’ll probably laugh, but this is
the building I was fired from the other day!

PAULINE does not laugh. In fact, she ignores LAURIE totally. LAURIE
tries again:

LAURIE

So, er, what happened to the other people you worked with?

PAULINE

Other people?

LAURIE

Yeah, before me. I was just wondering-

Just at that moment, the platform tips to one side, causing LAURIE to
fall over. PAULINE is still standing.

PAULINE

It’ll do that from time to time – don’t stand anywhere
where you could lose your balance. I don’t want to explain another dead colleague.

LAURIE

Dead? Oh my God, I think I’m going to be sick!

PAULINE

(She laughs at LAURIE’S expense). I was joking.

LAURIE

That was evil; you scared me!

PAULINE

Just look at me not caring.

LAURIE glares at PAULINE as they reach the top of the building. She is
so angry that she has forgotten how high up she really is. Once the platform has stopped,
PAULINE immediately begins working. LAURIE copies what she does, as no one has told her
anything different. As the women are not talking, LAURIE watches what is happening inside
the offices, through the windows. In one office, there is a meeting in progress. A
business man, JEFF CROSSLEY (mid to late thirties, smart, attractive), gets up from his
seat and starts to walk around the large table in the middle of the room, talking to the
other BUSINESS MEN and WOMEN. Both LAURIE and PAULINE watch him as he moves. PAULINE
notices that LAURIE has not taken her eyes from JEFF the entire time. PAULINE nods her
head in JEFF’S direction:

PAULINE

Bit of all right, isn’t he?

LAURIE is surprised that PAULINE has spoken to her. PAULINE can see
this.

PAULINE

Look, love, I may be an evil cow, but I’m not dead. However, I
should tell you that there’s no way on God’s green earth you are ever going to
get anywhere near him.

LAURIE

Why?

PAULINE

What are you going to do to get his attention? Write on the window with
soapsuds? Face it, darling, he’s never going to notice you. (She laughs). It’s
quite amusing, really. (She looks LAURIE up and down). Have you ever even had a boyfriend?

LAURIE

(She turns to face PAULINE). Hey, there’s no need for that! All I
was saying was-

Before LAURIE can finish what she was going to say, the platform jerks
again, causing her to fall over the railing. She holds on with both hands, and screams.
PAULINE runs to the side and leans over.

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Copyright © 2000 Lisamarie Jones
Published on the World Wide Web by "www.storymania.com"