Lonely No More: Episode 1: “The Fall”

Life takes a shocking turn when a seemingly normal day on the M4 is disrupted by a series of inexplicable events. As Nina and Nikesh navigate a chaotic motorway pile-up, they witness a chilling phenomenon that defies all logic—a man falling from the sky with no clear explanation. But that’s just the beginning. Strange symptoms, mysterious figures, and cryptic messages start to surface, leaving them questioning everything they thought they knew.

The stage is set for a gripping mystery where survival and answers are anything but guaranteed. Who—or what—is behind the message, Lonely No More? And how far does the truth go?

Transcript

LONELY NO MORE

by SEBASTIAN BACZKIEWICZ

EPISODE 1

SFX                      A TERRIFYING SCENE FROM LATER ON IN THE SERIES

SCENE 1              INT. CAR. LATE AFTERNOON. LONDON.M4

WE MIX TO

                            NIKESH DRIVES AND NINA SITS BESIDE HIM

1. NINA                 Lucette? Liv’s Lucette?

2. NIKESH             Liv’s Lucette.

3. NINA                 And you’re saying, what are you saying?

4. NIKESH             I’m saying she went to lunch and never came back.

5. NINA                 That’s not exactly what I’d call totally disappeared, Niko.

6. NIKESH             It’s also most totally what I’d call disappeared and most exactly not like Lucette.

7. NINA                 Apart from that other time.

8. NIKESH             Oaky apart from that other time, and that time, there was context, right?

9. NINA                 Maybe she’s meeting her secret lover?

10. NIKESH           Most probably. Most probably that’s precisely what she’s doing. Our insanely conscientious office manager has hooked up with her secret lover for an afternoon of wild and uninhibited sexual activity. Mystery solved at last. Stand down Sherlock.

11. NINA               I’m sure she’s not come to any harm.

12. NIKESH           I’m not saying I think she’s come to any harm.

13. NINA               Then what are you saying?

14. NIKESH           I’m just saying I think it’s, it’s weird, Nina. Out of character. Last time you spoke. She didn’t seem upset about anything?

15. NINA               Not upset exactly.

16. NIKESH           Then what exactly.

17. NINA               Well, why would she be upset?

18. NIKESH           I don’t know, I’m asking you.

19. NINA               She seemed fine.

20. NIKESH           What does that mean?

21. NINA               It means I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about. And there’s no sense in overreacting.

22. NIKESH           I’m not overreacting. I’m reacting.

23. NINA               Right.

24. NIKESH           I am.

25. NINA               I know.

26. NIKESH           And, you’re right. There’s probably a perfectly rational explanation. 

27. NINA               I’ll tell you what there isn’t a rational explanation for: my patients getting better.

28. NIKESH           Isn’t that the whole idea?

29. NINA               Not when their symptoms not only improve but disappear entirely. Which is unheard of. Nikesh?

30. NIKESH           Huh?

31. NINA               Did you hear what I just said?

32. NIKESH           What‘s with this traffic today?

SFX                      NIKESH BEEPS THE HORN FOR A LONG TIME. OTHER CARS JOIN IN.

33. NINA               Well, that certainly did me a world of good. How about you Niko?

34. NIKESH           Just can’t see what the hold-up is.

35. NINA               Well, beeping’s not going to make us go any faster. (TINY BEAT) Remember when you thought she liked you. Liked you liked you.

36. NIKESH           What?

37. NINA               Lucette

38. NIKESH           Nina.

39. NINA               When in reality it was all about Liv all the time.

40. NIKESH           I was young.

41. NINA               You’re still young.

42. NIKESH           I was young-er.

43. NINA               Some fires never die.

44. NIKESH           Along with some subjects of conversation. What was that about your patients?

45. NINA               I’ll tell you later.

SFX                      THE CAR BEHIND SPEEDS FORWARD AND OVERTAKES THEM

46. NIKESH           Come on and cut in front of me why don’t you?

47. NINA               Idiot.

48. NIKESH           Idiot.

49. NINA               It’s always an Audi.

50. NIKESH           It’s always an Audi.

51. NINA               For all the super good it’s done him. Idiot.

52. NIKESH           Idiot.

TINY BEAT

53. NIKESH           I’m talking to dad later.

54. NINA               Are you? Great.

55. NIKESH           He’s fussing about the wedding zoom.

56. NINA               But he’ll be talking on the same zoom as the wedding zoom, so.

57. NIKESH           I know, I know. He worries. Dad worries.

58. NINA               That’s one word for what he does. 

59. NIKESH           Nina.

60. NINA               Nina what? He had my mother investigated, Niko. Fucking investigated -

61. NIKESH           - I know -

62. NINA               - Private detectives. 

63. NIKESH           - I know. But I can’t. I can’t apologise for it all again. I’m really sorry. I Just can’t. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry but there it is. I had no idea. And you know that. You absolutely know that.

64. NINA               He does get it though, doesn’t he? My own mother. Syed does comprehend that it was a terrible, terrible thing to do?

65. NIKESH           I was as horrified as you were. As you are. And I love you. (BEAT) And I love you. 

66. NINA               And I love you.

67. NIKESH           Thank you. Then there it is.

68. NINA               Least they’ll never meet. Mama and Syed.

69. NIKESH           I’m not going to pretend I’m not sad he can’t make the wedding, Nina. I’m not.

70. NINA               I know, Niko. Fortunately he’s able to afford the best round the clock medical attention Mumbai has to offer, so no worries there.

71. NIKESH           He’s not going to recover, Nina. You know that even better than I do.

72. NINA               With the care he’s getting that heart of his could soldier on for years.

73. NIKESH           You don’t have to say it like that.

74. NINA               Like what?

75. NIKESH           Like that. Like it’s a joke.

76. NINA               I mean it, Niko. I do.

77. NIKESH           Anyway he says in his text he has good news.

78. NINA               What does that mean? What does good news mean?

79. NIKESH           (TO TRAFFIC) Finally. 

SFX                      THE CAR STARTS TO PICK UP A LITTLE SPEED

80. NINA               Wonder what was causing the jam.

81. NIKESH           Long as we’re moving not sure I care.

82. NINA               City doesn’t look so huge from down here, does it?

83. NIKESH           Just crazy, crazy busy. And the fumes, doctor. The terrible fumes.

84. NINA               S’pose you have to be up on the flyover to properly enjoy the (-view).

SFX                      NINA’S PHONE PINGS

85. NINA               Oh for f-. No. 

SFX                      NINA DELETES THE MESSAGE

86. NIKESH           Who was that?

87. NINA               Work. Nothing.

88. NIKESH           Didn’t sound like nothing.

89. NINA               Well it was. (LONG INQUISITORIAL BEAT) It was.

90. NIKESH           What did I say?

91. NINA               I know that face. Fancy a takeaway tonight?

92. NIKESH           Whatever your majesty requires.

93. NINA               Her majesty requires sushi.

94. NIKESH           Well, it’s not as if we have very far to go for that.

95. NINA               Hinata will be very happy to see his number one all-time favourite customer.

96. NIKESH           If the shoe fits, baby.

97. NINA               Did Liv say anything?

98. NIKESH           About what?

99. NINA               About what? About Lucette disappearing.

100. NIKESH         Liv was in a big meeting all afternoon.

101. NINA             This the Japan thing? The meeting?

102. NIKESH         Freddy is literally losing his mind over this deal.

103. NINA             Potential deal.

104. NIKESH         And your intended, your intended who loves you more than the moon and the stars and the solar system –

105. NINA             And the entire universe.

106. NIKESH         And the entire universe - Doctor Markovic - has negotiated the shit out of it which makes me none other than the proud holder of the bollocks of the dog.

107. NINA             Oh, darling the lovely things you say.

108. NIKESH         Facts is facts. 

109. NINA             And Liv goes to Tokyo when?

110. NIKESH         Tucker Lane King’s office is going to let Freddy Grainger know when they’re ready for the sit down, but it could be any time now. Liv’s ready to go.

111. NINA              Tucker Lane King, Niko. Croatia salutes you.

112. NIKESH         I know you don’t mean that.

113. NINA              The very idea. Can you slow down please?

114. NIKESH         You see that.

115. NINA              Huh?

116. NIKESH         There it is again. Lonely No More.

117. NINA              Huh?

118. NIKESH         Sprayed on the pillar back there. The tag.

119. NINA              Lonely No More. Lonely No More. Everywhere you look its Lonely No More. World’s gone nuts for it. 

120. NIKESH         I’ve gone nuts for it. Tucker Lane King’s gone nuts for it.

121. NINA             Has he now?

122. NIKESH         And you know why? Because Tucker’d be nuts to ignore it. 

123. NINA             Yeh but what does it mean?

124. NIKESH         It means you’re not lonely any more.

125. NINA             Right. Brilliant.

126. NIKESH         Y’know Haroun’s absolutely obsessed about it. 

127. NINA             I’d be kinda disappointed if he wasn’t, seeing as it’s manna from conspiracy theory heaven.

128. NIKESH         Can’t deny it’s a global phenomenon with global potential.

129. NINA             Like your old school Beatlemania.

130. NIKESH         Only without The Beatles.

131. NINA             Lonely No More - ania.

132. NIKESH         Doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue does it?

133. NINA             You’re the ad man you tell me.

SFX                      SUDDENLY A FALLING BODY CRASHES ONTO THE BONNET OF THE CAR IN FRONT WITH A TERRIBLE THWACK. 

134. NINA             Look out, Niko!

135. NIKESH         FUCK!!

SFX                      NIKESH HITS THE BRAKES AND DRIVES STRAIGHT INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE CAR BEHIND SHUNTS INTO THEIR CAR. PANDEMONIUM. A KIND OF DELIRIOUS ZINGING, THEN WE RETURN TO THE CAR

SCENE 2              THE CAR. CONT.

                            NINA AND NIKESH ARE DAZED

136. NINA             Niko? Niko? You OK?

SFX                      SOMEONE STARTS SHOUTING OUTSIDE.

137. NIKESH         Fuck just happened?

138. NINA             Dunno.

139. NIKESH         Something fell. I’m sure I saw something fall.

140. NINA             A man.

141. NIKESH         What?

142. NINA             It was a man. It was a man that fell.

143. NIKESH         And there he is. There he is.

144. NINA             What?

145. NIKESH         Car in front. On the bonnet.

146. NINA             Oh my God. 

147. NIKESH         Where are you going?

148. NINA             Pass me my medical bag, please. I’m not going to leave a man to die.

149. NIKESH         He might be dead already. What if he’s dead already?

150. NINA             Stay here.

151. NIKESH         Baby, I’m not going.

SFX                      WE’RE WITH NINA AS SHE GETS OUT OF THE CAR

152. NIKESH         - anywhere. 

SCENE 3              CONT

SFX                      NINA CLAMBERS OUT ONTO THE ROAD. THERE ARE CARS CRASHED INTO EACH OTHER. SOME PEOPLE ARE WALKING ABOUT IN A DAZE

153. NINA             Doctor coming through. Can everyone just stand back please. Doctor coming through. 

SFX                      NINA SHOUTS BACK

154. NINA             Nikesh.

155. NIKESH         What?

156. NINA             I need you to keep those people back.

157. NIKESH         How, how bad is it looking?

158. NINA             Pretty bad. Can you get out of the car, please?

SFX                      NIKESH STUMBLES OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOKS DOWN THE LANES

159. NIKESH         Oh my God that’s a lot of mashed up cars.

SFX                      WE’RE STILL WITH NINA AS SHE MAKES HER WAY TO THE CAR IN FRONT

160. NINA             Excuse me, Ma’am. Are you the driver?

161. MARY            He fell. The man just fell. He fell. You saw that. Tell me you saw that. He fell.

162. NINA             I saw that. Are you allright?

163. MARY            What?

164. NINA             You’re not hurt? Dizzy?

165. MARY            I don’t think so 

166. NINA             Any bumps to your head, ah?

167. MARY            Mary. Mary Kay.

168. NINA             Hi, Mary I’m Nina. And I’m a doctor.

169. MARY            Is he dead? The man. Is he?

170. NINA             I don’t know just yet.

171. MARY            How could he have fallen? How could anyone have just fallen? There are rails. I know there are rails. Barriers

172. NINA             Perhaps you should go and sit over there Mary and let me see what I can do for him.

173. MARY            I didn’t hit him. I didn’t. I really didn’t.

174. NINA             There’s no question of that.

175. MARY            He just fell.

176. NIKESH         (AT DISTANCE) You all right Nina?

177. NINA             Let’s just concentrate on keeping those drivers back and can someone call an ambulance?

178. MARY            I can do that.  I’ll do that.

179. DRIVER 1      (AT DISTANCE BUT APPROACHING) Fuck’s going on up there?

SFX                      NIKESH MOVES TOWARD THE MAN

180. NIKESH         Stay back please, sir. There’s a seriously injured man who’s in need of urgent medical attention. The emergency services are on their way.

181. DRIVER 1      (AT DISTANCE) Well, they’d better hurry up.

182. NIKESH         I’m sure the ambulance will get here soon.

183. DRIVER 1      (AT DISTANCE) People are saying someone jumped. Did someone jump? Who jumped?

                            NINA TAKES NIKESH BY THE ARM

184. NINA             Actually, Niko, maybe just come and sit with Mary. Mary the driver.

185. NIKESH         Right. Yes. Sorry, sir. We’re all in the same boat. (TO NINA) You OK?

186. NINA             Think so.

187. DRIVER 1      (AT DISTANCE) Who’s this now?

188. NINA             My name’s Doctor Markovic and I’m doing all I can to assist. Now, the best thing would be for you to stay with your car, sir. That really would be best. How are you doing, Nikesh?

189. NIKESH         Just attending to the driver.

190. NINA             OK. Ok. Great.

                            NIKESH GOES OVER TO MARY AND GENTLY SITS HER DOWN

191. NIKESH         Over here, Mary. Let’s just go sit over here.

192. MARY            Yeh. Yeh. You a doctor too?

193. NIKESH         I’m the doctor’s fiancé.

194. MARY            Congratulations.

195. NIKESH         Thanks.

196. MARY            Nice to be getting married.

197. NIKESH         It is, yeh.

198. MARY            He just fell. The man. He just fell.

SCENE 4              CONTINUOUS

                            NINA CROSSES TO THE FALLEN MAN ON THE BONNET. SHE GOES UP TO HIM

199. NINA             Hi. Hello. Can you hear me?

                            THE MAN MAKES A STRANGE CLICKING SOUND IN HIS THROAT. NINA RECOILS IN HORROR

                            Oh.

                            AND THEN COLLECTS HERSELF

                            My name’s Doctor Markovic. Nina. And, and I’m going to do what I can to help you until better help arrives. 

                            THE CLICKING SOUND CONTINUES

                            Did something happen to your…? What happened to your eyes?

                            MORE CLICKING

                            I’m going to touch your neck and take your pulse is that all right? 

                            THE CLICKING SOUND INTENSIFIES

200. NIKESH         (AT DISTANCE) What’s happening Nina?

201. NINA             He’s got a pulse, Niko but his eyes are.

202. NIKESH         (AT DISTANCE) His eyes are what?

203. NINA             How’s Mary?

204. NIKESH         (AT DISTANCE) In shock.

205. DRIVER 2      (AT FURTHER DISTANCE) Seriously the hell is going on up there? Cos we need some help back here.

                            WE MIX TO NIKESH PERSPECTIVE AS HE SHOUTS DOWN CURIOUS DRIVERS – BOTH AT A DISTANCE - AS TO WHAT’S GOING ON

206. NIKESH         There’s a man with life threatening injuries. He’s being medically attended to, but it’s really important that everyone stay calm and by your vehicles until the emergency services get here.

207. DRIVER 2      (APPR) The jumper, you mean?

208. NIKESH         We just need everyone to remain calm.

209. DRIVER 2      Who put you in charge? There’s been a bloody pile up. People are fucking injured. People are bleeding.

210. NIKESH         Getting mad at me is not going to help the situation.

211. DRIVER 2      I’m not mad at you, buddy. Just want to know what’s going on.

212. NIKESH         And I’ve told you all I know.

                            FIRST DRIVER APPROACHES

213. DRIVER 1      Get back in your car you stupid bastard.

214. DRIVER 2      What’d you call me? Hey, you I’m talking to you.

SFX                      A SCUFFLE BETWEEN THE TWO MEN. PEOPLE GET OUT OF THEIR CARS TO BREAK IT UP. 

215. NIKESH         Please, please, fighting isn’t going to help anyone.

MEANWHILE, WE MIX TO

SCENE 5              NINA’S PERSPECTIVE - CONTINUOUS

SFX                      THE ABOVE FIGHT AT DISTANCE

216. NINA             I’m. I’m just going to help you stem that bleeding.

SFX                      THE CLICKING CONTINUES. NINA OPENS HER BAG AND TAKES OUT A SCALPEL.

                            But I’m going to need you to stay still while I tie a tourniquet around your leg. OK?

SFX                      THE CLICKING SPEEDS UP AND THE MAN BANGS HIS HAND ON THE BONNET

                            I know, I know it’s a bit scary but it might just save your – now, just hold still for me for just a minute.

SFX                      THE MAN SQUEALS AND CLICKS

SCENE 6              NIKESH’S PERSPECTIVE. CONTINUOUS

SFX                      THE FISTICUFFS ARE DYING DOWN AS PEOPLE CROWD AROUND

217. NIKESH         For the last time can everyone please stay with their cars. An ambulance is on its way. My fiancée’s a doctor and she’s doing all she can until the medics arrive.

SFX                      NORRIS PUSHES THROUGH

218. NORRIS        (APPR) Where is he? Where is he? The man. The jumper.

219. NIKESH         Best you keep back, sir

220. NORRIS        Yeh, but is he allright? The bloke that fell. He OK?

221. NIKESH         Please, sir. Seriously. There’s nothing you can do for him here.

222. NORRIS        He was in my cab, y’see. The man. (SEES THE FALLEN MAN) Oh god. 

223. NIKESH         What?

224. NORRIS        The man on the bonnet there. He was in my cab. Up on the flyover above. 

225. NIKESH         Oh my god. OK. I understand.

226. NORRIS        You understand what? What do you understand? You don’t understand anything. One minute, one minute we’re chatting about the hold up and the Arsenal. The next our boy’s out of the cab and heading for the bloody barrier. 

227. NIKESH         Out of the cab. How’d you mean he’s out of the cab?

228. NORRIS        I mean the stupid prick’s just opened the door and, and just jumped. 

229. NIKESH         Right. Right.

230. NORRIS        Wasn’t panicked. Wasn’t in any kind of a tizz. He was calm, cool and cucumber cool. And you saw his eyes right? The way his eyes were.

231. NIKESH         Ah, no. No. My fiancée’s with him. 

232. NORRIS        She a doctor?

233. NIKESH         She is, yes, yes she is and she’s, she’s doing all she can.

234. NORRIS        She mention his eyes? The way they went. The colour. And now there’s all this.

235. NIKESH         Maybe you’d like to sit down.

236. NORRIS        What, in your car? Why would I sit in your car?

237. NIKESH         Just until the ambulance arrives.

238. NORRIS        But my cab’s up there on the flyover. I can’t leave my cab. Not unattended.

                            NORRIS WALKS OFF

239. NIKESH         I’m sure the authorities are going to want to talk to you. Sir? Sir?

240. NORRIS        (STOPS) We were just chatting about the Arsenal. The pair of us. The old days. When the team was world renowned. You remember those days? Those days were the best. The pinnacle. We were something back then. Really something.

241. NIKESH         Yeh, we were. We were really something. We still are.

242. NORRIS        Arsenal til I die!

243. NIKESH         Arsenal til I die!

SFX                      THE AMBULANCES’ SIRENS WAIL AS THEY DRIVE UP THE HARD SHOULDER

244. NORRIS        Here they come then. The cavalry.

245. NIKESH         I’m sure they’re going to want to check you over.

246. NORRIS        They can want all they like, mate I’m going back to my cab.

247. NIKESH         Wait. Wait.

SFX                      HIS CRIES ARE DROWNED OUT BY THE SIRENS

SCENE 7              NINA’S PERSPECTIVE - CONTINUOUS

                            THE CLICKING SOUND HAS SUBSIDED AND HIS BREATHING HAS SETTLED

248. NINA             That’s it. You’re doing really well. Just keep gently breathing in and out.

SFX                      THE AMBULANCE APPROACHES

249. NINA             The ambulance is just arriving now.

                            SUDDENLY THE MAN SPASMS AND SCREAMS A MIXTURE OF CLICKS AND SPEWED BLOOD – THE SOUND IS SUPER EXPLICIT. NINA INSTINCTIVELY LEAPS BACK. THE MAN STARTS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY ON THE BONNET ON THE OF THE CAR. 

250. NINA             Can I get some help here please.

                            NINA TRIES TO CALM HIM BUT ITS NO GOOD BUT THE MAN VIOLENTLY DIES. 

251. TAYLOR         (APPR) Doctor Markovic, is there anything I can do?

252. NINA             He’s gone. You’re too late. He’s gone.

                            SUDDENLY THERE IS A SCREAM (HUMAN) FROM DOWN THE ROAD

253. DRIVER 1      (AT DISTANCE) There’s another one jumped.

254. NINA             What?

255. DRIVER 2      Down there. Look.

                            THERE IS ANOTHER SCREAM (HUMAN)

256. DRIVER 2      And that’s another.

257. NINA             I’m on my way.

                            NINA MAKES TO GO TAYLOR HOLDS HER BACK

258. TAYLOR         Best you let us take it from here.

259. NINA             But you might need me. 

260. TAYLOR         We’ve got everything under control. 

261. NINA             How? How can you have everything under control? You saw what just happened to that man on the bonnet? 

262. TAYLOR         One of our officers will accompany you and your fiancé home.

263. NINA             But what about the car? Our car?

264. TAYLOR         Everything will be taken care of in due course.

265. NINA             Nikesh? Where’s Nikesh?

266. TAYLOR         He’s just over there talking to the police officers. And now you really have to let us take this from here.

267. NINA             Right. Right. Listen, the deceased manifested some very unusual symptoms. His eyes. The change in the man’s eyes.

268. TAYLOR         Rest assured there’s going to be a full and thorough report but for now let’s just get you both home safe and attend to the injured. (SHOUTS) We’re going to need more protective gear, please.

269. NINA             But it really was extremely unusual.

270. TAYLOR         And I’m confident the coroner will deliver a full report in due course.

271. NINA             And his eyes? The change to the man’s eyes?

272. TAYLOR         A seizure perhaps? Epilepsy?

273. NINA             Absolutely not. What’s occurred here can only be explained…

274. TAYLOR         … by what, Doctor Markovic?

275. NINA             … by transformation at a cellular level. Which is actually impossible beyond single cell organisms. Which this person is clearly not. 

276. TAYLOR         And you say this because you have experience in the field?

277. NINA             I studied under Professor Urqhart at Cambridge…

278. TAYLOR         The geneticist?

279. NINA             You’ve heard of him?

280. TAYLOR         Your theory and the details you’ve shared with us will be investigated thoroughly.

281. NINA             But that can’t be it, can it? How can that be?

282. TAYLOR         Best thing for you now is that you let us get you and your fiancé home. But, sorry, we will need your clothes. 

283. NINA             My clothes? Why do you need my clothes?

284. TAYLOR         We’ll find you a robe. It’s all under control. I promise. If we need any further information, we’ll be in touch. 

285. NINA             Then is this something you’ve encountered before?

286. TAYLOR         Again. Thank you for your assistance, Doctor Markovic. Really.

287. NINA             How did you know my name and that I have a fiancé?

288. TAYLOR         Your fiancé just told us. We’ll issue you a receipt for your clothes.

289. PARAMEDIC  We need some assistance here.

290. TAYLOR         I’m on my way.

SCENE 8              THE APARTMENT.

                            NINA AND NIKESH SIT ON THE FLOOR

291. TV                 More on this evening’s top story - the pile up of more than forty cars which brought the M4 to a halt shows no sign of being cleared soon. Over to Bethany Gold at the scene who has more

292. BETHANY      Thank you Laura – the most miraculous thing about today’s dreadful incident was that – apart from the three fatalities - only a few people reported serious injuries. Despite a doctor from the West Middlesex Hospital– 

293. NIKESH         Go Nina!

294. TV                 - being there and doing her best to assist, all three died at the scene. The identities of the three individuals who appear to have leapt to their death from the flyover some forty feet above the congested road below has not been released. The authorities have not ruled out the possibility that this was some sort of coordinated protest, but this remains speculation, as no group has come forward to claim responsibility. 

295. NINA             Can we please turn this off.  Please.

296. NIKESH         I want to see if there’s another shot of you.

297. NINA             I’m serious, Niko. And that’s disgusting.

298. NIKESH         What’s disgusting.

299. NINA             What you said. It’s not You’ve Been Framed.

300. NIKESH         I was there, you know. I was right there.

SFX                      NIKESH CLICKS THE TV IS TURNED OFF. LONG BEAT

301. NINA             Well.

302. NIKESH         Well.

303. NINA             Today was. What was today?

304. NIKESH         What was today? Today was. Today was.

305. NINA             You’ve not had anything more from the police?

306. NIKESH         Nope. You?

307. NINA             Nothing.

308. NIKESH         You said you.

309. NINA             Hm?

310. NIKESH         You said you wanted a takeaway.

311. NINA              I did?

312. NIKESH         Yeh, you did. Earlier.

313. NINA             That’s right. Sushi.

314. NIKESH         Shall I call downstairs?

315. NINA             I can pop down. I don’t mind popping down.

316. NIKESH         No, no. You’ve done enough for one day.

317. NINA             It made the news, Niko. It made the evening news.

318. NIKESH         Three people leaping to their deaths and a major pile up on a motorway will do that.

319. NINA             And you saw where that reporter was standing.

320. NIKESH         Huh?

321. NINA             Right in front of where it said Lonely No More.

322. NIKESH         So?

323. NINA             So, I don’t know. Nothing. Just saying.

324. NIKESH         You sure you’re Ok?

325. NINA             Don’t I seem OK?

326. NIKESH         No, you seem fine. You seem very fine indeed.

327. NINA             Then why the face?

328. NIKESH         Today’s been quite the.

329. NINA             I’ll order food now. Is now good?

330. NIKESH         I can just go down and see Hinata in person. I am his all-time number one customer after all. Best sushi in London.

331. NINA             According to Hinata.

332. NIKESH         And we live right above it - boom.

333. NINA             It’s not that exciting.

334. NIKESH         His eyes?

335. NINA             Huh?

336. NIKESH         You said something about his eyes. You and the taxi driver.

337. NINA             Did anyone get to help him? The taxi driver?

338. NIKESH         I didn’t see. Poor guy was completely traumatised.

339. NINA             I can imagine.

340. NIKESH         But he talked about the man’s eyes too. He said they’d changed too.

341. NINA             Can’t help feeling I could have done more.

342. NIKESH         You’re not to blame for any of this, Nina.

343. NINA             I know that.

344. NIKESH         Because what you did today was very very brave and I’m proud of you.

345. NINA             The man died.

346. NIKESH         Maybe that’s what he wanted.

347. NINA             You can’t know that.

348. NIKESH         He leapt to his death. Him and two others. How do you process a thing like that. I mean where’d you even start. I mean what does it mean? It’s got to mean something, hasn’t it? Because everything means something. 

349. NINA             Syed, Niko.

350. NIKESH         Huh?

351. NINA             Aren’t you supposed to be zooming?

352. NIKESH         Oh my God.

353. NINA             You don’t want to keep your dad waiting. We never know how he’ll react do we? Might have the apartment bugged. Anything.

354. NIKESH         Nina.

355. NINA             Come on, Niko. Chop chop.

356. NIKESH         Maybe you should close your eyes and rest a minute.

357. NINA             Maybe. I don’t know. Maybe. Today was.

358. NIKESH         Today was the kind of thing that only happens to other people.

359. NINA             And now we’re the news.

360. NIKESH         But we’re not other people.

361. NINA             No, we’re not. We’re us. We’re still us.

362. NIKESH         We’re still us.

363. NINA             You don’t sound so sure.

364. NIKESH         Oh, I’m positive.

SFX                      THE PHONE RINGS. NIKESH PICKS IT UP

365. NIKESH         Hey Liv, everything alright with Tokyo? Great. No, I haven’t heard anything from Lucette. No, not since lunch. But Nina’s here, would you like to speak to her? Great. Hold on.

366. NINA             (SOTTO) Nikesh!

                            NIKESH HANDS OVER THE PHONE

367. NIKESH         (SOTTO) I’ve got to call my dad. 

368. NINA             (ON PHONE) Hey Liv, I know, I know quite a day, right? Oh, baby I know. But I’m positive Lucette won’t have done anything silly. No, you’re not to think like that, Liv. Seriously I’m sure she’s OK.

SCENE 9              BEDROOM/ZOOM CALL

                            NIKESH IS ON A ZOOM CALL TO SYED

369. NIKESH         We’re fine, dad. We’re both fine.

370. SYED            (REMOTE) And the car?

371. NIKESH         Car’s probably a write off. Along with dozens of others.

372. SYED            Dozens?

373. NIKESH         I’ve never seen anything like it.

374. SYED            And this man just jumped you say?

375. NIKESH         It was insane. Totally insane. One minute this fella’s talking to the taxi driver about Arsenal football club, the next he’s jumping over the flyover barrier and smashing into the bonnet of the car in front of us. It’s a miracle that there weren’t more people seriously hurt.

376. SYED            It’s a miracle that you weren’t hurt.

377. NIKESH         Nina was amazing. Absolutely amazing. Rushed straight over to assist.

378. SYED            He wasn’t dead? The man who jumped.

379. NIKESH         Nina did all she could, but.

380. SYED            Nikesh?

381. NIKESH         Then there were the others.

382. SYED            The others?

383. NIKESH         The other people who fell. Authorities are calling it a major incident.

384. SYED            And no explanation was given?

385. NIKESH         One second we’re all in our cars and the next. The next, we’re... Sorry, dad.

386. SYED            Nikesh?

387. NIKESH         I’m fine. Really.

388. SYED            You’re sure?

389. NIKESH         We’re both fine aren’t we, Nina?

                            NINA LEANS IN

390. NINA             Yes, we’re both fine. Hi Syed.

391. SYED            Hello Nina.

392. NINA             A bit shaken but fine, and I just ordered us some sushi for supper.  

393. SYED            Nikesh tells me you were on the news.

394. NINA             In the worst possible circumstances. How’s Mumbai today?

395. SYED            I’ve not been out today. Too hot.

396. NINA             Did you not feel well enough?

397. SYED            On the contrary, Nina. I’ve never felt better.

398. NIKESH         Sorry?

399. SYED            This is the good news I was telling you about. Jamila says I’m strong enough to fly to London.

400. NINA             She? But that’s impossible.

401. SYED            Apparently not. Never seen anything like it in thirty-five years of nursing. And you don’t argue with Jamila, do you?

402. NINA             I don’t understand.

403. SYED            My heart is healed.

404. NIKESH         What?

405. SYED            They did all the tests and checked me out not once not twice but three times. I’m one hundred percent.

406. NINA             But the condition is. What you have, Syed there’s no known/

407. SYED            Until there is. Until there is a bloody cure for it, Doctor Markovic.

408. NIKESH         Dad.

409. SYED            The hotel in Brighton has my booking confirmed for next Friday. Wedding rehearsal dinner. Thank you very much.

500. NIKESH         Well, that’s great, dad. That’s just great. Isn’t that great Nina?

501. NINA             That’s great. That’s really great.

SCENE 10             INT. HINATA’S RESTAURANT

502. HINATA          Here he is.

503. NIKESH         Here he is.

504. HINATA          All time number one customer.

505. NIKESH         How are you this evening Hinata?

506. HINATA          Better than you look my man.

507. NIKESH         You got our order?

508. HINATA          On its way.

509. NIKESH         Great. Great.

510. HINATA          You OK?

511. NIKESH         Been a hell of a day.

512. HINATA          You seen that pile up thing?

513. NIKESH         Yeh. Yeh, I’ve seen it.

514. HINATA          I mean what kind of people jump off motorways. 

515. NIKESH         Don’t ask me.

516. HINATA          Crazy people. Terrorists. You think they were terrorists?

517. NIKESH         I don’t know what I think. Nobody seems to know anything. 

518. HINATA          They closed off west London. West London they closed off.

519. NIKESH         Yeh, I heard that. How’s the order doing?

520. HINATA          Be with you in two. How’s the better half?

521. NIKESH         Nina’s fine, she’s good. We really going to be ready in two?

522. HINATA          Have my number one chef for my number one customer right on it.

523. NIKESH         Lonely No More.

524. HINATA          Huh?

525. NIKESH         Someone sprayed it on the wall outside. I just saw.

526. HINATA          Oh, yeh. Pesky kids.

527. NIKESH         Pesky kids.

528. HINATA          You seen what the astronauts on the space station did? 

529. NIKESH         No.

530. HINATA          One word they wrote on each of their helmets. Lonely. No. More. Mad.

531. NIKESH         Mad.

532. HINATA          Say what you like there’s no getting away from it.

533. NIKESH         Hashtag global sensation.

534. HINATA          May even get me the T-shirt. When you flying to Tokyo?

535. NIKESH         That was never me, that’s my colleague. Liv.

536. HINATA          Crazy town Tokyo.

537. NIKESH         So they do say.

538. HINATA          Never been myself. One day, eh?

539. NIKESH         One day.

540. HINATA          You sure you’re OK, man?

SFX                      THERE IS THE PING OF THE ORDER

541. HINATA          Here we go. Best sushi in London. 

542. NIKESH         Thanks. Thanks. I was there today.

543. HINATA          Huh?

544. NIKESH         The pile up

545. HINATA          You were there?

546. NIKESH         Like you say, Hinata. Crazy. 

547. HINATA          Just here on the reader, thanks.

SFX                      NIKESH TAPS HIS CARD ON THE READER IT PINGS AND NIKESH PICKS UP THE BAG

548. HINATA          And that’s all done. Best to Nina.

549. NIKESH         Thanks.

                            NIKESH LEAVES

550. HINATA          Crazy town Tokyo. Crazy crazy town.

SCENE 11             INT. THE FLAT

                            NIKESH COMES IN TO THE HALL WITH THE SUSHI

551. NIKESH         Nina. Sushi.

                            NIKESH WALKS INTO THE MAIN ROOM

552. NIKESH         Nina? Hey, Nina.

552. TAYLOR         Please don’t be alarmed, Nikesh.

553. NIKESH         Who are you?

554. TAYLOR         I was at the incident today.

555. NIKESH         Yeh, yeh you were talking to Nina. Where’s Nina?

556. TAYLOR         Nina’s quite safe and will be home tomorrow.

557. NIKESH         What?

558. TAYLOR         There are just a few outstanding issues we’d like her assistance with.

559. NIKESH         So, she’s not here?

560. TAYLOR         No, she’s not here. She’s with us.

561. NIKESH         And who’s us?

562. TAYLOR         This is us.

SFX                      SHE HANDS NIKESH HER CREDENTIALS

563. NIKESH         Taylor? As in Tinker?

564. TAYLOR         Or soldier or sailor or candle wick maker. Take your pick.

565. NIKESH         I’ve never heard of the VUA.

566. TAYLOR         No you haven’t. 

567. NIKESH         What have you done with her? What have you done with Nina? Where the hell is she?

568. TAYLOR         There’s no need for the tone.

569. NIKESH         The tone?

570. TAYLOR         What I’m doing is trusting you Nikesh. I’m trusting you with information that is not only extremely grave but an issue of national security. And I’m trusting you to respect the fact that I’m telling you this and that you’ll keep this information to yourself.

571. NIKESH         This isn’t happening?

572. TAYLOR         No, no it isn’t. Not officially anyway.

SFX                      THE PHONE PINGS

573. NIKESH         She didn’t take her phone?

574. TAYLOR         No she didn’t.

575. NIKESH         Well, why didn’t she. Nina always takes her.

576. TAYLOR         What’s in the bag?

577. NIKESH         Sushi.

578. TAYLOR         Handy to have a Japanese restaurant right downstairs. Five whole stars on Tripadviser. Lovely.

SFX                      THE PHONE PINGS AGAIN

579. TAYLOR         Night

580. NIKESH         Where are you going?

581. TAYLOR         You enjoy that sushi.