The Scriptwriter Chronicles: MEN ON THE ROAD (Part 4)

Part 4 - When Julian met Gerald

Gerald and Michelle stand outside their house gazing in each other’s eyes. Their lilac matching v-neck jumpers are made less bearable by matching colour with the flowers in their front garden.

Julian approaches the house in his car. He parks up on the roadside looking straight ahead. The bubbly couple give each other a kiss as Gerald picks up his sports bag. Michelle follows Gerald to the car.

GERALD

You alright Jules?

JULIAN

Boot please

GERALD

What?

Julian presses the button for the car boot to open

JULIAN

Put the bag in the boot

GERALD

O...k

Gerald and Michelle shrug. Julian's eyes stay focused ahead as Gerald is overheard putting his bag in the boot. Gerald steps into the car and Michelle peaks her head through the window.

MICHELLE

Enjoy your weekend boys she looks at Julian break a leg. she looks at Gerald And you my little Duracell bunny, don’t miss me too much

GERALD

Too late, give me a kiss for good luck, and another, and another one Gerald and Michelle continue kissing while Julian rolls his eyes. They get to their 9^th kiss when Julian accelerates the gas and drives off with Michelle giving the finger in the background. What you doing man!?! We kiss each other ten times before we leave each other. That was only nine Julian….nine!

JULIAN

This is a face of a man who cares his face remains blank

GERALD

Another argument?

JULIAN

How can you tell?

GERALD

Apart from you being a moron, your ring’s disappeared and your bottom lip's quivering

Julian’s bottom lip begins to quiver

JULIAN

Bollocks…..stop watching my lips

GERALD

You wanna talk about it?

JULIAN
No Gerald….no I don’t, all you need to know is that women are the thorn in the fragile fabric of a sound relationship.

GERALD

…..That was beautiful

JULIAN
You gonna call Ritchie or not?

GERALD
Yes calm down, here was me thinking marriage was making you soft

JULIAN
Well according to Jane it does

GERALD

Ahh so we’re getting somewhere. We’ll get to the crotch epidemic after this Gerald begins to call Ritchie and looks around the car You got any snacks or anything?

JULIAN

Like what?

GERALD

I dunno, some Doritos or sweets or something

JULIAN

Nope, this is a new car mate. I’m not spoiling it with crumbs or stains or what other substance you cant fit in your mouth

GERALD

It’s a ford focus Julian, it aint exactly a Mercedes SLK, they use this car for AA driving lessons….driving lessons Julian Julian opens his mouth to speak just as Ritchie answers on the other line. Hello Ritchie, yeah mate we’re about 5 minutes away so please be ready we’ve gotta schedule…..ok mate……ok mate……ok mate…….ok mate……ok mate

JULIAN

Im loving the variety of vocabulary in your conversation

Gerald hangs up

GERALD

Right

JULIAN

He aint gonna be ready is he?

GERALD

Nope

JULIAN

Great

GERALD

So, about this crotch epidemic

JULIAN

Its not a crotch epidemic per say, Jane was exposing our sex-life like it was minor gossip

GERALD
to who?

JULIAN
erm let me see, London

GERALD

What about your sex life? Julian mumbles his sentence, not clear in delivery but clear enough for Gerald to hear who then smiles I’m sorry? Cant really here anything under those quivering lips, what did you say?

Julian stops at a traffic light and takes a deep breath. A teenager stops on his bicycle at the traffic light at the same time.

PART 5 Next Week....