INT. BAR – EVENING
NEVIL HUGHES, a middle-aged man in a tattered, unkempt suit
sits three seats from the end of the BAR, a beat up guitar
leans against his stool. The bar is being tended by GEORGE,
a mild-mannered, graying barman.
Nevil smacks the BAR.
NEVIL
Another one, George.
GEORGE
Fine Mr Hughes, butcha better slow
down.
Nevil becomes upset.
NEVIL
George. How many times have I told
you?
GEORGE
Sorry sir.
NEVIL
It’s “Dirty Nevil”!
GEORGE
Of course sir.
SYDNEY, a mid 20’s businessman, sits down at the BAR next
to Nevil.
SYDNEY
Nevil Hughes? Didn’t you used to work
in accounting? “Dirty Nevil” sure is
a strange nickname.
GEORGE
It’s a strange storyNEVIL
George! Let me tell my own story!
Nevil turns back to Sydney.
2
NEVIL
Yeah, I did used to be Nevil Hughes.
But that was another life, and what a
fall it’s been.
INT. KITCHEN – MORNING (FLASHBACK)
NEVIL enters a kitchen as his WIFE, an attractive, well
dressed woman close to Nevil’s own age, stands at the STOVE
preparing a breakfast.
NEVIL (V.O.)
Not that long ago I had a wife, a
home, a life.
Nevil picks up a LUNCH his wife has left for him and WAVES.
WIFE
Bye, darling! Have a good day!
Nevil EXITS the kitchen.
INT. NEVIL’S OFFICE – MORNING
NEVIL sits at a desk looking BORED and UNSATISFIED taking
notes and using a calculator. He slowly SLUMPS more and
more until he seems to be asleep, then he topples over
toward the desk. As his head hits the desk:
DARKNESS.
Maybe have a coworker wake him?
The scene LIGHTENS again to NEVIL waking himself from his
sleep as fellow workers trudge out of the building.
Nevil SLUGISHLY gathers his things and leaves.
3
EXT. STREET INFRONT OF BAR – NIGHT
The area is crowded with an UPPERCLASS group of people.
It’s a ritzy area. NEVIL walks slowly along the sidewalk.
He looks down at his watch and, giving a shrug, SLIPS into
a bar off the street.
INT. BAR – NIGHT
NEVIL walks up to the BAR and sits down.
GEORGE
Hey Mr Hughes, what can I get for
you?
NEVIL
Hey, George. The usual. Just lay ‘em
on me. It’s been a long one.
George puts a drink on the bar and Nevil finishes it.
NEVIL
George, are you happy?
GEORGE
Sure Mr Hughes. I’ve had a good life,
and being around all these fumes sure
does something for ones state of
mind. But I reckon you’re not happy,
Mr Hughes.
George pours another drink.
NEVIL
I don’t know. There are just so many
unpleasantries to life these days.
Work is dull and unrewarding, and I
never have time for the things I
love.
Nevil finishes the drink.
NEVIL
Did you know I used to play guitar?
Professionally I mean. It didn’t pay
well, but I was happy.
4
George pours another drink.
I quit all that for a steady paycheck
and a wife, but I wonder sometimes if
that was the right choice.
GEORGE
If you want my opinion what makes you
happy is the right choice.
Nevil nods and finishes the drink.
EXT. STREET INFRONT OF BAR – NIGHT
NEVIL staggers back out onto the street and looks around,
DAZED. He begins to TRUDGE unsteadily down the sidewalk.
SIDESTREET
As he drags his feet along the pavement one of
off of the sidewalk and into a STORM DRAIN. He
lands in a puddle of mud, TEARING his trousers
STAINING his jacket in the process. In despair
his eyes.
them slips
trips and
open and
he closes
Slowly opening his eyes Nevil sees a worn but strung guitar
lying against a nearby dumpster. He begins to drag himself
toward the instrument.
Picking it up he carries the guitar to the nearest wall and
sits down. He quickly tunes the guitar and begins playing a
happy, fast-paced song. A smile begins to grow on Nevil’s
face.
Passers-by begin to stop and observe as he plays. Some
throw change and bills at Nevil’s feet. Nevil is grinning
by now.
(HOW DO YOU DENOTE THIS) Time passes; Nevil finishes
playing a song for a few people. They give Nevil a few
dollars and walk away. Alone Nevil checks his obviously
expensive wristwatch. He glances around before pulling up
his sleeve to check his obviously expensive wristwatch. He
then slowly leans forward and gathers the money into his
5
pockets. Hiding the guitar behind the dumpster he trudges
away.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
NEVIL enters, trousers torn and coat mud-stained. His WIFE
is at the sink WASHING DISHES. She turns to him.
WIFE
What happened to you?
Nevil, hanging up his coat on the back of the door, smiles
a bit.
NEVIL
It’s been a long, interesting day.
WIFE raises her eyebrows.
INT. KITCHEN – EARLY MORNING
The KITCHEN is empty as NEVIL tip-toes in carrying his TORN
TROUSERS on his shoulder. He takes a TRASHBAG from a drawer
and shoves the trousers into it. He then takes his dirty
coat from the back of the door and puts it in the bag.
NEVIL’S WIFE enters, rubbing her eyes. NEVIL spins around.
WIFE
What are you doing?
Nevil looks very surprised and a little guilty.
NEVIL
I was going to work early and I
thought I might as well take out the
trash.
His wife stares QUESTIONINGLY at him for a moment before
smiling.
WIFE
Thanks Hun! Well have a good day at
work.
6
Nevil swings the bag onto his shoulder and gives a nervous
laugh.
NEVIL
Alright, will do.
Nevil leaves the kitchen, taking the TRASHBAG with him.
EXT. STREET INFRONT OF BAR – MORNING
NEVIL walks past, carrying the TRASHBAG on his shoulder.
SIDESTREET
NEVIL enters. After looking around to be sure he’s alone he
hides the TRASHBAG behind a dumpster with the GUITAR.
INT. NEVIL’S OFFICE – MORNING
NEVIL looks unhappier to be at work than the previous day.
He doodles on a notepad and stares into space. Finally it
is time to leave, and he RUSHES out.
EXT. STREET INFRONT OF BAR – NIGHT
NEVIL runs across the sidewalk, and through the area’s
usual crowd of WELL DRESSED and WELL PAID pedestrians.
SIDESTREET
NEVIL slips behind the dumpster and grabs the TRASHBAG.
When he emerges he is wearing his TORN TROUSERS, STAINED
JACKET, and has smeared MUD on his face. Guitar in hand he
then leans himself up on a corner of a building facing the
busy street.
As he plays there the passerby throw change and small bills
into a pile at Nevil’s feet. Nevil smiles, nods and thanks
his audience.
Eventually Nevil gathers the money into his pockets and
EXITS.
7
INT. BAR – NIGHT
The bar is mostly EMPTY. NEVIL sits down on the third seat,
still tattered looking.
GEORGE
You look rough.
NEVIL
And I feel great George.
INT. BAR – EVENING (PRESENT)
NEVIL still sits on the third seat down.
NEVIL
So basically, I ended up making
almost as much standing on the street
covered in dirt playing that guitar
than I could working myself to death
in that office. So I quit my job and
now I’m street musician. Really puts
a new spin on the old saying “work
smarter, not harder”, doesn’t it? And
of course I can’t tell my wife any of
this.
SYDNEY
Yes. But what were you doing with the
money? Only having change would be
mighty suspicious, and I’m sure your
wife would notice.
Nevil gives a sly smile.
NEVIL
Ah! See I thought of that. I started
an account under the façade of a
company that operates cannedvegetable vending machines; a
business just strange enough to
exist, but far too boring to be worth
an investigation.
8
SYDNEY
Brilliant! So how’s the home life?
Suddenly Nevil’s face drops.
NEVIL
Nonexistent, actually.
Sydney looks at Nevil and tilts his head questioningly.
EXT. SIDESTREET – DAY (FLASHBACK)
Nevil’s WIFE is walking with many Boxes in her arms. She
can barely see where she is going. NEVIL leans against a
building playing exuberantly not far from where she is
walking. A small group of people is standing close to him.
As she rounds the corner she passes right in front of
Nevil. She catches a glimpse of him behind the boxes,
shrieks, and drops everything.
CUT QUICKLY BACK TO
INT. BAR – EVENING (PRESENT)
NEVIL
And now, as you’d expect, she wants
nothing to do with me. Threw me out
with only these cloths. I’m a selfconfirmed retch. Hence the name
“Dirty Nevil”; it fits.
Both SYDNEY and GEORGE look SYMPATHETIC. All three sit in
silence for a moment.
SYDNEY
Anyway! A drink for myself and my
friend here, George. Have one
yourself.
GEORGE pours THREE drinks and puts them on the bar. They
all pick up their glasses.
9
SYDNEY raises his glass.
SYDNEY
To a simpler life!
ALL THREE
A simpler life!
They TOAST and DRINK. As the glasses hit the
bar again,
FADE OUT:
THE END